"Just because you can look at others, doesn’t mean I can’t either. Why should you get to decide?"
Su Qianqian, both aggrieved and furious from his harsh tone, couldn’t hold back her stubborn streak and snapped back without thinking:
"I’ll go to the bar tomorrow and order eight male models! I’ll stare at their abs all night!"
Her words grew increasingly reckless, laced with a defiant, self-sabotaging edge: "Not just looking—I’ll touch them too!"
"Su. Qian. Qian."
Gu Chengyu’s expression darkened completely.
A wave of offended anger surged through him.
He released her delicate face from his hands, his tall frame stepping back as he slid his hands into his trouser pockets.
His jaw was clenched tight, his deep, phoenix-like eyes fixed on her with an icy, unyielding intensity—devoid of warmth, radiating only an oppressive, chilling authority that sent shivers down her spine.
"Say it again. I dare you." His voice was low, almost deceptively calm, yet more terrifying than anything he’d ever said to her before.
Su Qianqian froze under the sudden shift in his demeanor.
This cold, unfamiliar version of Gu Chengyu bore no resemblance to the man who’d once coaxed her tenderly or lost control for her sake.
This was the true heir of the Gu family—his innate arrogance and aloofness laid bare, making her instinctively recoil in fear.
She stumbled back two steps, her slender back lightly hitting the wall.
Her head bowed hurriedly, too afraid to meet those frigid eyes again, her small hands clutching desperately at the hem of her skirt.
Large teardrops rolled down her cheeks in silence.
Her petite frame trembled with quiet sobs, making no sound.
Gu Chengyu’s heart twisted at the sight of her frightened expression.
Before his anger could fade, an overwhelming tide of guilt and tenderness drowned him.
He told himself repeatedly—women were creatures who’d push boundaries if given an inch. He couldn’t afford to soften now.
Yet no matter how he tried to steel himself, his cold facade lasted barely a minute before crumbling.
"Qianqian…" His voice was hoarse, laced with remorse.
Pulling his hands from his pockets, he closed the distance between them in one stride, grasping her small, chilled fingers where they gripped her skirt.
His palms were searing against her soft skin, his thumb stroking her knuckles gently before tugging her toward him.
But the little rebel resisted fiercely, her body stiff against the wall, unmoving—only her tears flowing harder.
Gu Chengyu’s chest ached at the sight of her bowed head and trembling shoulders.
He was seven years her senior—a grown man picking fights with a girl? What was wrong with him?
What if she cried herself sick?
He shut his eyes, forcing down his frustration and damned pride.
When they reopened, only helplessness and heartache remained.
Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her stubborn little frame, pulling her firmly against his chest.
One arm locked around her slender waist, anchoring her to him, while the other hand smoothed over her silky black hair, patting her delicate, shaking back in slow, soothing circles.
"Shh… it’s alright. Don’t cry, sweetheart."
His chin rested atop her head, his voice tender. "My fault. I’m an idiot. I shouldn’t have yelled, shouldn’t have scared you…"
Pressed tightly against him, the dam broke.
Her silent tears became muffled sobs, her face buried in his chest, drenching his expensive shirt.
"W-we… weren’t wrong in the first place," she hiccuped, her voice thick with tears.
Her hands finally unclenched from her skirt, wrapping around his lean waist instead.
"You had s-so many women before…"
"But when I came to you, I’d never even held hands with anyone else."
"My first kiss was yours… my body only ever yours…"
Each broken confession stabbed at Gu Chengyu’s heart.
"I know, I know…"
His grip tightened around her waist, his hand on her back gentler than ever as he murmured apologies:
"My mistake. I’m the worst. I’m sorry, baby. Please don’t cry."
Her muffled voice rose from his chest again: "You just… shut down when you can’t argue back. Then glare at me like that."
"I was… really scared… wuuh…"
The words left him hollow with regret.
He wanted to throttle his earlier self—the jealous fool who’d terrified her like this.
"No more fear. Never again."
His lips brushed her sweet-scented hair as he whispered, voice thick with remorse:
"Gu Chengyu’s the bastard here!"
"I swear—never again. No more yelling, no more scaring you."
"Believe me?"
Feeling her tremble in his arms, his heart ached so sharply he could only hold her tighter, murmuring comforts, stroking her back with infinite care.
This was his girl—pure-hearted, sweet-tempered, her occasional tantrums as endearing as a kitten’s playful hiss.
And she was utterly, irrevocably his.
