The next day, early morning.
Su Qianqian was still sleeping deeply, her cheeks flushed with the rosy hue of sound slumber, her breathing light and shallow. Nestled entirely within the soft quilt, she looked exceptionally delicate and fragile.
Gu Chengyu had been awake for a while, but couldn't bear to get up.
He lay on his side, propping his head up with his elbow, gazing at the girl's sleeping face, his heart brimming with tenderness and affection.
After a moment, he leaned down and placed a light kiss on her forehead.
Looking at her peaceful sleeping countenance, his gaze involuntarily drifted downward, settling on her waist and abdomen.
He remembered how last night, in the throes of passion, her slender waist had arched into a beautiful, fragile curve under his palm, so small he could almost span it completely.
As if guided by some unseen force, he reached out and slowly lifted a corner of the quilt.
His large hand gently covered her flat stomach.
It was still flat, lovely and slender, showing no sign of anything unusual.
But secretly, he was hopeful.
His Qianqian... could it be that their baby was already here?
It should be possible, right? He never held back, so many times, and so... intensely.
And his Qianqian was so remarkable, not only was her body utterly intoxicating, driving him to lose control every time, but more importantly, she always... Could that make conception easier?
He hoped his little warriors would swim upstream diligently.
Had the bravest, most spirited one already successfully found a home? Perhaps even quietly settled down in her warm body?
Who would the little one resemble more?
Hopefully, the eyes would be like hers, big and dewy.
The nose and mouth like his, more defined, more handsome.
As for personality, it would be better to take after her—soft and sweet. He would lay all the world's finest treasures at her feet.
Wait, Gu Chengyu dismissed the thought of wanting a baby girl first.
The first baby should be a strong little boy. He would teach him to protect his mother.
Gu Chengyu carefully covered her with the quilt again, tucking her exposed little hand back under the covers, fearful she might catch the slightest chill.
He lay back down, gently gathering her and the quilt into his arms. Resting his chin on the top of her head, breathing in the faint fragrance of her hair, he closed his eyes. His mind began to paint a picture: a tiny, soft bundle babbling and calling him 'Daddy'...
Gu Chengyu's lips curved into an irrepressible smile.
It seemed the wedding preparations needed to start soon.
His Qianqian, and their baby, must have everything rightful and celebrated in the full spotlight.
...
The sun was already high in the sky when Su Qianqian finally stirred awake.
A deep, pervasive ache lingered throughout her body, the distinct soreness in her lower abdomen and inner thighs vividly reminding her of last night's abandon.
The culprit lay beside her on his side, idly twirling a strand of her hair around his finger, his gaze burning as he watched her.
"Awake, sweetheart?" His voice was husky from sleep, deeply magnetic.
Remembering how he had coaxed her, entangled her, and exhausted her in every way imaginable last night, Su Qianqian puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. She let out a soft "hmph," turned her back to him, and burrowed deeper into the quilt.
Even the set of her small shoulders seemed to radiate a petulant "I'm ignoring you" aura.
Gu Chengyu chuckled lowly, not annoyed in the least. He found her little display of temper utterly adorable.
He scooted closer, wrapping his arms around her from behind. He nuzzled the crook of her neck with his chin, his breath warm against her ear. "Are you angry?"
"Go away." Su Qianqian's voice was muffled and soft from sleep, lacking any real force.
"My fault," Gu Chengyu readily admitted, his large hand gently massaging her waist. "I'll be gentler next time, okay? It's just that you're too sweet, Qianqian. I couldn't help myself."
His sweet talk came effortlessly, laced with a shameless, coaxing tone.
Su Qianqian relaxed slightly under his massage, but the remnants of her pique remained. She still refused to acknowledge him.
Gu Chengyu's eyes darkened as he took in the faint red marks he'd left on her pale nape. He lowered his head to kiss the spot. Then, as if performing a magic trick, he produced a black card from under the pillow and held it in front of her.
"Here, a peace offering," he said casually, as if presenting an ordinary card.
Su Qianqian glanced at it. A black card.
She didn't have much concept of these things. He'd given her one before, which she'd never used.
She lost interest and looked away, still refusing to engage.
Gu Chengyu persisted, pushing the card closer. His voice took on a coaxing lilt. "Take a look. This one's different."
Annoyed by his persistence, she asked curtly, "How is it different? It's just a card."
Gu Chengyu leaned close to her ear and said slowly, "I had some pocket money deposited into this one."
"I have my own pocket money," Su Qianqian replied, still unimpressed.
"Mine's probably a bit more than what you earn. Hmm... just about a hundred billion."
Su Qianqian's small hand, which had been about to push his away, froze.
Thinking she must have misheard, she slowly turned over. Her watery almond-shaped eyes were wide as she stared at him, then glanced at the black card. Her voice stammered, "H-how much?"
"A hundred... billion?"
In her past life, her family had been wealthy, but that was for her younger siblings. She herself had only been comfortable, never having seen such astronomical figures, and certainly not labeled as "pocket money."
Watching her adorable, dazed expression—utterly stunned by the monetary bombardment—filled Gu Chengyu with immense satisfaction, though he kept his face deliberately calm.
"Mm, just a hundred billion. It's nothing much."
He pressed the card into her small hand, pinched the tip of her nose playfully, and said in a doting tone, "Just say yes to marrying me, and all my money will be yours. That amount is what's truly vast. This hundred billion isn't even a fraction of it."
A hundred billion is a fraction?
Su Qianqian's eyes grew even rounder. Wah, why wasn't I born the female lead favored by fate? Heaven is so biased!
Dizzy from his straightforward, brute-force monetary assault, her lips parted slightly. A "Okay!" almost escaped her.
But a last shred of reason painfully held her back.
She shook her head vigorously, as if trying to shake off the tempting piles of cash, and forced her features into a stern expression.
However, the stern look on her delicate face held no intimidation, only making her appear more charming. "Who said I'd marry you! I haven't decided yet!"
She paused, remembering the plot of the original novel, and shot him a suspicious glance, muttering under her breath, "Besides, even if we got married, someone like you, a young master from a powerful family, could just keep as many mistresses as you want outside."
"A man's promises are as good as his word... which is to say, worthless..."
Hearing this, Gu Chengyu's face instantly darkened. He tightened his arm around her waist, his tone serious. "Su Qianqian! What kind of man do you take me for? If I, Gu Chengyu, marry you, you will be the only one in my eyes and heart! I wouldn't spare another glance at any other woman! I swear!"
He raised his hand as if to take a solemn oath.
But Su Qianqian merely tilted her head, fiddling with the card in her hand, her mind still reeling: A hundred billion... a hundred billion... How much was on that other card he gave me? I need to check as soon as I get back...
She wasn't really listening to his renewed assurances.
After all, a man's promises... you just listen to them.
In the original book, after he married his well-matched wife, didn't he still play around as he pleased?
Gu Chengyu looked at her, clearly distracted and completely absorbed in the card, and felt both exasperated and amused. He lowered his head to give her earlobe a punishing nip.
"Ungrateful little thing, did you even hear a word I said?"
"Ouch, that hurts!" Su Qianqian cried out softly, covering her ear and shooting him a coquettish glare.
"I heard you, I heard you! You said you wouldn't!" she agreed casually, but her tone made it perfectly clear she hadn't taken it to heart.
Gu Chengyu was helpless against her. He could only hold her close, showering her with kisses and embraces, making his assurance for what felt like the thousandth time: "Qianqian, please believe me, alright?"
Su Qianqian, tickled by his kisses, giggled and squirmed away, thinking to herself: Hmph, as if I'd believe you.
But then again, this ten-billion in pocket money... she'd better accept it first!
Gu Chengyu watched her lovely little face, knowing she still didn't fully trust him.
Well, she was already his. And her heart? He would firmly grasp it in his hand sooner or later.
He had all the time and patience in the world.
As for the money, if it could make her happy, then it was all hers.
