Gu Chengyu was pleasantly surprised by her sudden initiative.
Instinctively, he opened his arms and caught the delicate, fragrant figure rushing into his embrace.
She buried her face in the expensive fabric of his dress shirt, her slender arms tightly wrapped around his waist.
"What's wrong?" Gu Chengyu's heart melted at the sight. His arms naturally encircled her slender waist, pulling her even closer.
He lowered his head, his chin brushing against the sweet-scented crown of her hair, his voice soft and tender. "Did you miss me that much, hm?"
The little head in his arms shook slightly, still refusing to look up or speak.
But the faint sound of sniffles reached his ears unmistakably.
Gu Chengyu's heart sank.
The initial surprise faded, replaced by concern and a flicker of panic.
What happened? Over the past couple of weeks, aside from the times he'd been a little too rough in bed, he'd spoiled and indulged her at every turn. Surely, he hadn't upset her...
Without hesitation, he slid one arm under her knees and the other around her back, effortlessly lifting her into a bridal carry.
Tall and broad-shouldered, his muscular frame—wrapped in a fitted black dress shirt—made carrying her delicate form look effortless, almost picturesque.
Su Qianqian's feet dangled briefly before she instinctively looped her arms around his neck, burying her face deeper into the crook of his shoulder. Her warm breath fanned over his sensitive skin.
Gu Chengyu carried her to the spacious living room sofa and sat down, keeping her settled sideways on his lap as if cradling something fragile.
One arm secured around her waist, while the other hand—gentle yet insistent—tipped her chin up from where she hid against his shoulder.
"Look at me, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice low and coaxing. "Who made my girl cry? Tell me, and I'll skin them alive, hm?"
Su Qianqian reluctantly lifted her face under his guidance.
Under the soft light, her delicate features were flushed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, brimming with unmistakable hurt as she stared at him.
Gu Chengyu's chest tightened sharply, a pang of aching tenderness shooting through him.
The only time he'd ever seen her cry like this was when he'd pushed her too far in bed. Who dared upset the one person he cherished and never wanted to see in tears?
"Talk to me," he urged, his calloused thumb brushing the redness at the corner of her eye, his voice thick with worry. "Who hurt you, baby? Let me make it right, hm?"
The moment the endearment left his lips, Su Qianqian's restraint shattered. A single tear spilled over, landing on the back of Gu Chengyu's hand with a quiet plink.
That tiny drop might as well have been scalding—the heat of it searing straight through his skin, sending a jolt up his arm.
Damn it. She's really crying.
All his usual composure—the ruthless decisiveness that ruled his business world—vanished in an instant.
Fumbling, he wiped her tears with uncharacteristic clumsiness, his voice rough with desperation. "Don't cry, don't cry... My fault, I came home too late... Shh, it's okay..."
But his attempts to soothe her only made Su Qianqian's tears fall harder, her quiet sobs muffled against him.
She sniffled and buried her face into the warm, broad curve of his neck again, her voice muffled, tinged with a nasal whine and a hint of jealousy. "...It's your ex-girlfriend..."
"Ex-girlfriend?" Gu Chengyu stiffened, his brows knitting into a frown instantly.
Since when did he have an ex-girlfriend?
In his world, that term had never existed before.
None of those fluttering socialites had ever been worthy.
Only recently had there been her—this delicate little thing, cherished in his heart, given a name and a place.
In a flash, Lin Shu’s striking face flickered through his mind. Was she the so-called ex-girlfriend?
Gu Chengyu recalled how Lin Shu had tearfully accused him in the backstage corridor the last time they met.
Before he could even untangle his thoughts, the faint trace Lin Shu had left in his mind was swiftly erased by the sound of the girl sniffling in his arms.
"She’s not my ex-girlfriend," Gu Chengyu denied firmly.
But seeing the stubborn pout on her face—the "I don’t want to hear it" look—he sighed in resignation. "Fine, if you insist, then she is."
His arm tightened around her slender waist, his voice dropping low, edged with coldness. "Did she bully you? Lin Shu?"
"I can have someone teach her a lesson, alright? I’ll make sure she avoids you from now on."
"No!" Su Qianqian jerked her head up, her red-rimmed eyes glaring at him with childish defiance. "You stay out of it!"
"Hmm?" Gu Chengyu was taken aback by her reaction, then chuckled.
He pinched the tip of her nose, flushed from crying. "Little vinegar jar spilled over? Can’t I even stand up for you?"
"You’re not allowed to interfere!" Su Qianqian repeated, her voice soft and sticky from crying, more like a petulant whine.
"You promised—our relationship stays private. No one can know… Don’t let her find out."
As she spoke, she nuzzled her face back into the crook of his neck, rubbing against him like a small, needy animal. "...You can’t go looking for her..."
Gu Chengyu was both exasperated and amused by her logic, but the way she clung to him, her soft complaints, melted his heart entirely.
He lowered his head, resting his chin atop her hair, and exhaled—a mix of helplessness and adoration.
"Alright, alright. Whatever you say, my Qianqian." He pulled her closer, his large hand soothingly stroking her slender back as if calming a fussy child.
"I won’t go after her. But tell me, how did she bully you? Hmm? Let me hear it."
Nestled against him, breathing in the comforting scent of sandalwood that clung to him, Su Qianqian finally let the grievances she’d bottled up all week spill out.
In a small, halting voice, she began her complaint...
