《Runaway Wife: Please, Have Another Baby!》 Chapter 1 - 1 1 I Want Her to Serve Me 1 ?1: Chapter 1 I Want Her to Serve Me (1) 1: Chapter 1 I Want Her to Serve Me (1) Huangfu Jue had always thought of women as the synonym for trouble and boredom until he met her and realized there were exceptions to everything. Like her, for instance, who could make him unable to let go of her from morning till night! ... ... ¡°Mommy!¡± Her shoulder was shaken vigorously, and Gan Yuan felt like she suddenly fell off a cliff, jerking awake from a dream. Opening her eyes to the somewhat yellowed ceiling above, she was dazed for a few seconds, unable to distinguish between reality and dream. In the dream, she had once again returned to that intimate night with that man six years ago. The memory of that night was so vivid, everything in the dream was just like that night six years prior, even the temperature of his body felt real. And she, would still be thrilled by him. ... A few seconds later, she came back to her senses and raised her hand to wipe her still flushed face, turning her head to look at her son by the bed. Six years had passed, and the little one was already more than five years old, his features now deeper and more refined than when he was born, with neatly trimmed short hair neatly covering his forehead. His little face was exquisite, and beneath the beautiful and thick eyebrows, a pair of eyes as deep as the night sky. If you looked closely, you could also make out a distinct blue-purple color shimmering within the depths of the dark pupils. Those were the eyes he had inherited from his father. Not just the eyes. That brow, that temperament... The child in front of her was becoming more and more like that guy. Gan Yuan raised an eyebrow. Don¡¯t they say sons resemble their mothers? Why on earth did her son resemble his father?! Could it be that the guy was not only dominant in personality, but his genes were just as strong?! She reached out to ruffle the little guy¡¯s smooth short hair and leaned in to plant a kiss on that delicate little face, then Gan Yuan threw herself back onto the pillow. ¡°Good boy, see you tonight!¡± The little one not only inherited that person¡¯s genes but also his intelligence, and could now wait for the school bus on his own, without the need for her to drop him off or pick him up. Pulling the covers over her head, she closed her eyes ready to go back to sleep, when a small, fair hand quickly pulled the blanket off her head. ¡°Today you have a client meeting.¡± Those seven words were like an injection of adrenaline, waking Gan Yuan under the blanket instantly; she threw off the covers and jumped out of bed, slipping on shoes and dashing into the bathroom. Having been on vacation for a week, her body clock was still on holiday time, and had it not been for her son¡¯s reminder, she would have forgotten all about having to start work early today. Chapter 2 - 2 2 I Want Her to Serve Me 2 ?2: Chapter 2 I Want Her to Serve Me (2) 2: Chapter 2 I Want Her to Serve Me (2) ¡°Mommy!¡± Suddenly shaken awake as if she was falling off a cliff, Gan Yuan¡¯s body jolted from her dream. Opening her eyes to stare at the somewhat yellowed ceiling above her, she was bewildered for a few seconds, unable to distinguish between reality and dreams. The dream was too real, just like that night six years ago; even the sensation of him inside her felt like the truth. Seconds later, she came back to herself, wiped her still-hot face with her hand, and glanced sidelong at her son by her bed. The little guy was already over five years old, his features more profound and delicate than when he was born, his short hair neatly trimmed, his small face carved out of fine porcelain, and beneath his beautiful thick eyebrows were a pair of deep eyes like the night sky. If one looked closely, it was even apparent that his pupils were tinged with a significant shade of blue-purple. Those brows, that aura... he was increasingly resembling that guy. Gan Yuan raised an eyebrow. Isn¡¯t it said that sons resemble their mothers? Could that guy¡¯s genes be so dominant?! She reached out to ruffle the little guy¡¯s smooth short hair and sat up to give his delicate little face a smooch before throwing herself back onto the pillow. ¡°Sweet dreams, my good son, see you tonight!¡± Pulling the blanket over her head, she closed her eyes, ready to go back to sleep, but a tender little hand quickly pulled the blanket from her head. ¡°Today, you have to meet a client.¡± These seven words, like a shot of adrenaline, woke Gan Yuan right up. She flung off the blanket and jumped out of bed, slipped on her shoes, and rushed into the bathroom. Still adjusted to vacation time after a week off, she had forgotten she was supposed to start work early today had it not been for her son¡¯s reminder. Grabbing the toothbrush her son had prepared with toothpaste for her, Gan Yuan peeked her head out from the bathroom, looking toward the little fellow opening the wardrobe door. ¡°Son, what time is it?¡± Gan Tang, dressed in his kindergarten uniform, stood on tiptoe to get her uniform from the closet, ¡°Half an hour, and you won¡¯t be late.¡± Making a funny face at her son, she went back to brushing her teeth. Lifting her head, she saw herself in the mirror, cheeks flushed, eyes misty. Gan Yuan frowned, annoyed at her reflection, and cast a scornful look at herself in the mirror. ¡°Dreaming of him after six years, and such a spring dream at that, Gan Yuan, that¡¯s really something!¡± With no time to dwell on this, she quickly finished her morning routine. Ten minutes later, with her long hair pulled into a prim updo, black plastic glasses hiding her sharp eyes, the loose uniform concealing her graceful figure, and light, old-fashioned makeup¡ªshe was the epitome of plain and dull. Gan Tang, sitting across from her, frowned as he watched her lift a cup of milk, ¡°So ugly!¡± Without looking up, she responded, ¡°A son doesn¡¯t find his mother ugly.¡± The little wise guy scrunched up his beautiful eyebrows, ¡°You won¡¯t be able to marry off looking like that!¡± Her eyes and brows lifted lightly, ¡°Then you¡¯ll provide for me!¡± Gan Tang shrugged his shoulders, ¡°I¡¯m taking a day off tomorrow; we¡¯ll stick to the same story¡ªI¡¯ll say my grandpa died.¡± Gan Yuan frowned into her cup of milk, ¡°I remember your grandpa just died last month.¡± ¡°That was granddad.¡± The little fellow corrected her indifferently. Gan Yuan set down her milk cup and stared at him, ¡°Why are you taking a day off?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t want to go.¡± ¡°Reason?¡± She raised an eyebrow, a probing look in her eyes. With a pout, the little guy said, ¡°Arbor Day activities, boring!¡± Gan Yuan showed a smile, put down her cup of milk, and spoke in a gentle voice, ¡°It won¡¯t be that boring. You could enjoy nature, breathe some fresh air in the countryside¡ªand if a parent could accompany you, I¡¯d take a leave to go with you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to go,¡± the little fellow stubbornly stated. Observing the clean little face of the child across from her, Gan Yuan¡¯s eyes behind her glasses narrowed slightly. This little one matured earlier than most children. Quiet and composed, he inherited more from that man, very different from her character. In the kindergarten, whenever parents were asked to participate in activities, he always found an excuse to be absent, citing boredom. In truth, Gan Yuan knew exactly what he was concerned about¡ªthe not yet six-year-old had a pride beyond his years and did not want anyone to know that he didn¡¯t have a father. Catching the subtle changes in her son¡¯s expression, Gan Yuan lifted the corners of her mouth, showing him a big smile, ¡°How about Mommy finds a daddy to go with us?¡± Across the table, the undisturbed little guy glanced at his watch, clearly unimpressed by the suggestion. ¡°You¡¯ve got nine minutes left. If you don¡¯t want to be late, don¡¯t talk!¡± Gan Yuan withdrew her gaze and continued with her sandwich, eyeing the little fellow across from her as the tips of her eyebrows lifted behind the lenses. A sour face at the slightest disagreement¡ªthis temper most likely came from that man as well! Finishing breakfast in three minutes, she hastily cleaned up the plates, throwing them into the sink before rushing out the door with her son. After putting him in her second-hand Volkswagen and watching as his little form disappeared at the entrance to the kindergarten, she immediately started the car and drove to the hotel where she worked. Chapter 3 - 3 3 I Want Her to Serve Me 3 ?3: Chapter 3 I Want Her to Serve Me (3) 3: Chapter 3 I Want Her to Serve Me (3) The model Nana was set to stay at the hotel today, and Manager Li, facing an emergency, had summoned her back from her annual leave. It was all to serve this lady, and having just been promoted to head of housekeeping, she of course wanted to show her worth, to prove that her salary was well-earned. Before Gan Yuan¡¯s car even entered the parking lot, she could see the bustling crowd at the hotel entrance and immediately furrowed her brow. These fans really were omnipresent, and it was a mystery where they got their information from. The other party had been specifically instructed before to ensure privacy, and this lady, with a temper bigger than her fame, would likely be troublesome to handle later on. She sped up and drove into the parking lot, quickly walking towards the elevator when she met the head of security, Zhou Dacheng, rushing toward her with a look of urgency. ¡°Manager Gan, you¡¯re finally here. There are hundreds of fans outside, and we can¡¯t drive them away. What should we do?¡± Gan Yuan inserted the wireless earpiece into her right ear and turned on the walkie-talkie in her hand. She spoke calmly, ¡°Open the safety door of the parking lot, let them come in through the side door, and go directly upstairs.¡± ¡°But, this... this is not according to the rules!¡± Zhou Dacheng was a bit troubled. The safety door was a fire escape, and traditionally it was not to be used casually. ¡°Special conditions require special treatment. I¡¯ll take responsibility if anything happens.¡± Gan Yuan adjusted her earpiece and stepped into the elevator. ¡°Go and arrange it right away, clear the driveway.¡± Zhou Dacheng agreed and jogged away. Just as the elevator door closed, the voice of the duty manager in the lobby came through the earpiece. ¡°Manager Gan, the motorcade has arrived!¡± So soon? Gan Yuan¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, and she quickly pressed the walkie-talkie to her mouth, ¡°All security personnel immediately proceed to the lobby, do everything possible to block the fans!¡± Pressing the elevator open button, she turned and dashed out, and from a distance, through the glass doors, she could see a swarm of fans, like flies, heading toward the motorcade outside the lobby. Damn it! They had agreed on 9:40, but it was only 8:30, and yet they had come an hour early. Was this lady conducting a surprise inspection? Gan Yuan silently cursed in her heart, quickening her pace, her high heels crisply clicking against the marble floor as she breezed through the lobby. ¡°Nana, I love you!¡± ¡°Nana!¡± ... Outside the lobby, as soon as the motorcade stopped, the fans frantically rushed forward. ¡°Everybody, hurry!¡± Gan Yuan barked the order as she sprinted through the automatic doors. At her command, the security guards had already converged from all directions, joining together to form a human wall against the fans crazily trying to get close to the cars. Several bodyguards from the vehicles in front and behind also jumped out, rushing to the side of the central Rolls-Royce. Gan Yuan dashed forward two steps, supporting herself on the car door held open by a bodyguard. ¡°Miss Nana, welcome to....¡± The welcoming words stuck in her throat halfway, as Gan Yuan¡¯s eyes behind her glasses widened in shock. How could this be? Sitting in the back seat of the car wasn¡¯t the famous model Nana she had imagined, but a man¡ªa young and handsome man. He was in a black tailor-made suit, with a peacock-blue patterned tie under the collar of his white shirt. As Gan Yuan looked his way, he was just closing a file in his hands. The morning sunlight streamed through the car window, accentuating his facial features, with his dark sunglasses covering his eyes, a tall nose bridge, and his thin lips pursed into a beautiful straight line. That face was extremely handsome, bearing a striking resemblance to Gan Tang. Chapter 4 - 4 4 I Want Her to Serve Me 4 ?4: Chapter 4 I Want Her to Serve Me (4) 4: Chapter 4 I Want Her to Serve Me (4) That¡¯s right! The man inside the car was none other than Huangfu Jue, the very male lead who had appeared in her spring dream an hour ago. Her heart suddenly tightened, and a hint of unmistakable panic flashed in Gan Yuan¡¯s eyes behind her glasses. What a nemesis! After six years, to encounter him again. Having signed his name neatly at the end of the document, Huangfu Jue stretched out his hand to pass the document to his assistant. The assistant received it and then turned to look at Gan Yuan with a smile. ¡°You are... Manager Liu?¡± Hearing the voice, Gan Yuan snapped back to reality and immediately flashed an appropriately measured smile. ¡°Welcome to Dynasty Hotel. I am Gan Yuan, the head of the housekeeping department.¡± Gan Yuan stepped back, professionally raising her right hand with a politeness that was neither servile nor haughty, just right. ¡°Mr. Huangfu, please!¡± Now that they had come, backing out now would only seem odd; the best course was to remain calm and see how things unfolded. Huangfu Jue nodded slightly, a simple gesture that effortlessly conveyed the elegance and presence of a superior, polite but distant. He stepped out of the car, his left hand in his pocket and his right hand casually hanging by his side, the deep blue gemstone cufflinks on his white shirt cuff catching a wink of navy as they passed by the sunlight. His tall figure stood out amongst his stout and tall bodyguards, still as distinguished as a crane in a flock of chickens. The two had been at a distance, but with the man¡¯s stance, he now stood before Gan Yuan, less than a step away. His commanding presence, laced with a masculine scent, rushed over her, bringing to mind the images from her dream and causing her heart to inadvertently beat faster. ¡°NANA...¡± The fans, unaware of what was happening, naturally mistook the car for their idol Nana¡¯s and, seeing the car door open and someone alight, immediately joined the crowd swarming towards the vehicle. Screams, shouts, and the security¡¯s barking... all mixed together. The security guards desperately held back the crowd, and the bodyguards were all tensed up. Huangfu Jue, however, looked straight ahead, walking neither hastily nor slowly, bearing himself as though even if the sky fell, he would not alter his pace. Gan Yuan led him towards the lobby entrance, glancing at the frenzied fans with puzzlement. This guest¡¯s status surpassed Nana¡¯s by far, and it was strange that such an important guest was not received by someone assigned specifically for the task. Earlier, they had referred to her as ¡°Manager Liu,¡± which seems to indicate that this guest was under Liu Chang¡¯s responsibility. Liu Chang always loved to show off; what was going on this time? The group quickly entered the lobby, leaving all the frenzied fans outside. The elevator doors parted, and the General Manager of the Housekeeping Department, Manager Li, hurried out along with Manager Liu Chang and several subordinates. A guest of the President Suite was, of course, of extreme importance to the hotel, especially since this guest had booked the entire floor. It was just that Huangfu Jue had arrived earlier than expected and so suddenly that it took these few a bit late to come down upon receiving the news. Upon seeing Huangfu Jue, Manager Li came forward with a smile, greeted him, and then immediately introduced Liu Chang to him. ¡°This is our Housekeeping Manager Liu Chang. For this visit, she will be in charge of all your affairs at the hotel!¡± ¡°Mr. Huangfu!¡± Liu Chang immediately stepped forward, bowing humbly as she spoke, ¡°I apologize for the delay in welcoming you; we hadn¡¯t expected your early arrival. I¡¯m Liu Chang, the head of the housekeeping department. During your stay at the hotel, I will be providing comprehensive quality services for you. If there¡¯s anything you need, feel free to ask me,¡± Chapter 5 - 5 5 I Want Her to Serve Me 5 ?5: Chapter 5 I Want Her to Serve Me (5) 5: Chapter 5 I Want Her to Serve Me (5) ¡°I will do my best to satisfy all your requests, knowing you like blue, so...¡± Such insincere flattery failed to gain Huangfu Jue¡¯s approval. In his eyes, the other party was merely wasting his time. Uninterested in listening to her lengthy rhetoric, he strode past her. Liu Chang hurriedly cut off her own words, taking a few quick steps to help him press the elevator button, her voice still persisting attentively, ¡°Not only that, we have also specially air-freighted ingredients from Australia for you...¡± The man paused in his steps, turning his face towards Liu Chang, his beautiful long eyebrows furrowed. His eyes, obscured behind dark lenses, were difficult to read, but a powerful aura enveloped Liu Chang instantly, as if the air temperature had suddenly dropped a few degrees; her open mouth stiffened mid-air. Relying on her experience working in the hotel, she sensed his displeasure but didn¡¯t know what she did wrong. Halting her spiel, she smiled awkwardly. ¡°Mr. Huangfu, you...¡± The hand that had been hanging by the man¡¯s side was raised, turning 45 degrees in mid-air, and then stopped. ¡°I want her to serve me!¡± The neatly manicured beautiful finger pointed at Gan Yuan, who was shrinking back into the crowd, ready to take the chance to slip away. Compared to the incessantly chattering Liu Chang, who always looked infatuated when she saw him, Huangfu Jue preferred to be served by Gan Yuan¡ªat least, this woman wasn¡¯t as infatuated like the others and didn¡¯t talk too much. Watching the man point in her direction, Gan Yuan raised her eyebrows in confusion. Her? Could there be a mistake? A flash of resentment flickered in Liu Chang¡¯s eyes, yet her face still bore a smile, ¡°Manager Gan is not very familiar with the President Suite service, I¡¯m worried...¡± President Li stepped forward, grabbing Liu Chang by the arm and pulling her aside, ¡°Each of our employees can provide you with the highest quality service. Manager Gan!¡± Gan Yuan internally frowned but still walked over, stopping in front of everyone as President Li spoke with a smile, ¡°From now on, you will be responsible for all of Mr. Huangfu¡¯s affairs in the hotel.¡± Gan Yuan¡¯s face tilted slightly downwards, yet her gaze discreetly observed Huangfu Jue¡¯s expression. ¡°But...¡± Had this man who suddenly requested her service recognized her? ¡°Cough!¡± President Li coughed, the implication clear without words. Burning with jealousy within, yet wearing a barbed smile on her lips, Liu Chang said, ¡°Mr. Huangfu favoring you is your honor. Could Manager Gan possibly be refusing Mr. Huangfu?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Gan Yuan¡¯s lips curled slightly, ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll leave the reception work for Miss NANA to the care of Manager Liu.¡± This task was inevitably hers, and Gan Yuan certainly wouldn¡¯t give Liu Chang the chance to slander her, opportunistically passing on her own troublesome task. Liu Chang¡¯s face turned sour immediately. NANA wasn¡¯t new to the hotel, and everyone knew how difficult she was to serve; the next few days were probably not going to be pleasant. Handing the room card to Liu Chang, Gan Yuan¡¯s lips quirked lightly. ¡°Manager Liu, thank you for your hard work!¡± Liu Chang, so angry she could feel pain in her lungs, could only reach out and take the room card. Ding! The elevator doors parted, and without waiting for President Li¡¯s silent command, Gan Yuan had already taken the initiative to hold the elevator door open. ¡°Mr. Huangfu, after you!¡± Holding the room card, Liu Chang stood in place with an awkward smile, her gaze lingering on Gan Yuan¡¯s back, a flash of anger in her eyes. Liu Chang had never had a good impression of Gan Yuan. This time, this single mother with no education or background had actually stolen her guest, which was nothing short of an insult to her. Chapter 6 - 6 6 I Want Her to Serve Me 6 ?6: Chapter 6 I Want Her to Serve Me (6) 6: Chapter 6 I Want Her to Serve Me (6) Several people filed in one after another, with Gan Yuan being the last to enter, standing in a corner of the elevator. Her face turned towards the front, a professional smile on her lips, her eyes secretly drifted to the corner to observe the man standing right in the center. Six years had passed, yet he remained the same; it seemed as if heaven had especially doted on that handsome face, leaving not a single trace of the years on it. Compared to the past, he had become even more reticent and inscrutable, making it even harder for her to see through him. The man kept his gaze straight ahead and did not spare her even a glance, which, on the contrary, made Gan Yuan feel more at ease¡ªit seemed that he hadn¡¯t recognized her, which was for the best. Indeed, for a man like him, a one-night encounter was nothing to linger on. Gan Yuan¡¯s tense nerves slightly relaxed, yet deep down, she felt a faintly inexplicable emotion stirring within her. In a blink, they reached the top floor. President Li personally ushered Huangfu Jue into the guest room. The entire 56th floor had been booked out by him, with no other guests around. Several bodyguards automatically stayed in the corridor, with only two personal bodyguards and two assistants following him into the room. President Li also sensed Huangfu Jue¡¯s temperament and, without unnecessary talk, left Gan Yuan behind and excused himself. The man walked up to the sofa, the two bodyguards began to check the room, one assistant went to pour him some tea, and the other took the sunglasses he had removed, respectfully stepping aside. The spring morning sun was just right, the light streaming in from the living room floor-to-ceiling windows casting a bright glow on the man¡¯s face, those deep blue eyes like jewels sparkling with the clear azure of a sunlit lake. The man sitting on the sofa resembled a master¡¯s oil painting, exuding a heavy and compelling presence. Gan Yuan drew in a breath, lowering her eyelashes. ¡°If Mr. Huangfu doesn¡¯t have any other orders...¡± ¡°I do,¡± the man said sparingly. Gan Yuan lifted her gaze, looking through the lenses, her eyes meeting his. He had turned around by then, his back to the light, the color of his blue eyes darkened, as profound as the night sea. Eyes locked, her heart suddenly tightened, but her mouth maintained polite courtesy. ¡°Please speak, Mr. Huangfu.¡± ¡°I need to be able to find you at any time.¡± The man¡¯s tone was imperiously unquestionable, his long jade-like fingers lifted lightly to signal an assistant, and then he got up to walk to the window. ¡°Miss Gan,¡± the assistant approached, giving her a polite nod, ¡°Please give me your contact information.¡± This was clearly within her job description, and of course, there was no reason for her to refuse. Smiling, Gan Yuan produced a business card and handed it over, her demeanor cooled to its usual professional politeness. ¡°Here is my card, if you need anything at all, please feel free to call me.¡± Stepping out of the presidential suite and into the elevator, Gan Yuan¡¯s heartbeat was still a bit erratic. Huangfu Jue¡¯s sudden appearance was a scenario she had never anticipated. Just back from a week-long annual leave to continue working, she still didn¡¯t know why he was here, but from the current situation, it seemed likely unrelated to her and her son. As long as he didn¡¯t recognize her, this matter would soon pass. Returning to her office, she inquired with the front desk about Huangfu Jue¡¯s booking details and immediately called Zhou Dacheng, the head of security, to carefully arrange the security detail for the 56th floor. ¡°The secure passageways from the 57th and 55th floors to the 56th must be guarded 24 hours by security personnel, and under no circumstances can we allow any unauthorized individuals to enter the 56th floor.¡± Chapter 7 - 7 7 I Want Her to Serve Me 7 ?7: Chapter 7 I Want Her to Serve Me (7) 7: Chapter 7 I Want Her to Serve Me (7) ¡°Is he just a tycoon? Do we really need to treat him like we¡¯re facing a formidable enemy?¡± Zhou Dacheng was somewhat puzzled. ¡°Just because someone spends money like water, does that make him a boss? Well, our guest can afford to book an entire floor; it¡¯s always right to be a bit more attentive,¡± Gan Yuan said. Others might not know Huangfu Jue¡¯s true identity, but she was fully aware of it. This ¡®sir¡¯ was not just an ordinary rich man; as a Prince of A Country and the future heir to the throne, he was more than just a scion from a wealthy family¡ªhe was genuine nobility. Having arranged the security work, she hurried to the control room to personally check if all surveillance equipment near the 56th floor was functioning properly. She had already checked the reservation records; Huangfu Jue had only booked a room for five days. She prayed for five days of smooth sailing to successfully see off this esteemed guest, and then all would be well. Earlier, Liu Chang had done a thorough job preparing, and Gan Yuan¡¯s transition to her work had been smooth. The entire afternoon passed without incident, she arranged dinner for Huangfu Jue, then issued instructions to the person in charge of the 56th floor, and only after that did Gan Yuan leave work and drive to pick up her son from kindergarten. At the school gate, her son¡¯s headteacher was waiting with the little guy at the entrance. Upon seeing Gan Yuan, the teacher immediately showed a face full of kind sympathy. ¡°I heard that little Gan Tang¡¯s grandfather passed away. Please accept my condolences!¡± Gan Yuan glanced at her son standing next to the teacher, serene and unaffected, and had no choice but to put on a pained expression of losing a relative. ¡°Thank you, we¡¯re holding up,¡± she said. After bidding the teacher farewell and getting into the car, Gan Yuan started the vehicle, her gaze sweeping over Gan Tang seated in his child¡¯s car seat in the back. ¡°Next time, are you going to say your dad died too?¡± In the backseat, Gan Tang¡¯s young eyes turned to face her through the rearview mirror. ¡°Isn¡¯t he dead?¡± Gan Yuan was taken aback. Gan Tang had certainly asked about his father before, and she had long ago told him that his father was dead. ¡°I was just saying,¡± Gan Yuan said quickly, trying to change the subject. ¡°Sit tight, I¡¯m driving now.¡± In the backseat, Gan Tang leaned back into his seat, ¡°A modeling agency came to the kindergarten this afternoon looking for child models.¡± ¡°They must have chosen my son, right?¡± Gan Yuan asked with a smile. The little guy had perfectly inherited her and that man¡¯s genes, plus an aura that surpassed that of ordinary children, making people often approach him for pictures when walking down the street. The last time she took him to an amusement park, people mistook him for a child star, so him being chosen made sense. ¡°Yeah,¡± the child replied. ¡°Then should you consider it, to help your mom share some of our family¡¯s financial burden?¡± she teased with a laugh. She had expected the little guy to respond with an emotionless ¡°Boring.¡± But unexpectedly... ¡°I agreed,¡± came the soft, childlike voice from the backseat. Gan Yuan¡¯s eyebrows twitched; she stopped the car at a red light, turning to look at her son in complete puzzlement. ¡°Why?¡± Usually averse to having his photo taken and not fond of bustling scenes¡ªshe had to take stealthy pictures of him, so his willingness to become a little model was quite out of character. ¡°The agency said if I get chosen as their spokesperson, there will be a reward of more than a million dollars a year,¡± the little guy calmly watched his mother, his eyes glowing blue-violet in the twilight, ¡°We can buy an apartment and won¡¯t have to move all the time.¡± The child¡¯s adult-like tone suddenly warmed Gan Yuan¡¯s heart. Their landlord had just called a few days prior to inform them that the house was being sold and they needed to move out soon. Chapter 8 - 8 8 I Want Her to Serve Me 8 ?8: Chapter 8 I Want Her to Serve Me (8) 8: Chapter 8 I Want Her to Serve Me (8) These past few years, she had been running around with the little guy and hadn¡¯t felt it much, but she hadn¡¯t expected the little guy to take this matter to heart. ¡°Actually...¡± She flashed a radiant smile at her son, ¡°moving houses often isn¡¯t that bad. We can live in different houses all the time. Buying a house and then having to decorate is such a hassle. Plus, even if we were to buy a house, Mommy would work hard to make money. You don¡¯t need to worry about these things.¡± Her son was the apple of her eye, and of course, she wouldn¡¯t let him do something he didn¡¯t want to for money. He was still so young; he shouldn¡¯t have to worry about the hardships of survival. ¡°I¡¯ve already decided.¡± Gan Tang said solemnly, ¡°Tomorrow morning I¡¯ll go for the audition.¡± No one knows a child better than its mother. The little guy may be small, but he was stubborn and resolute; once he had made up his mind, not even Gan Yuan could easily change it. Just by the tone of his voice, she knew the little guy was determined. ¡°Well... okay then.¡± Gan Yuan reached out and gently pinched the little guy¡¯s face, ¡°My son is so young but already thinks about making money for the family, Mommy hasn¡¯t doted on you in vain! How about this, tonight Mommy will treat you to a big meal. What would you like to eat?¡± ¡°The steak from your hotel.¡± Gan Yuan raised an eyebrow; Huangfu Jue was still at the hotel, and she didn¡¯t want to take the little guy there. ¡°I know of a newly opened Italian restaurant. Shall we give it a try?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Oh, right, I also know of another restaurant...¡± The little guy crossed his arms and squinted his eyes slightly. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t Mommy want me to go to the hotel?¡± That posture was eerily similar to the man she had seen during the day. So sharp, he had noticed her reluctance so quickly? ¡°What? No!¡± Gan Yuan replied with a smile, ¡°I just wanted to take you to try something new. Since you insist, let¡¯s go and see if Uncle Qiao has any new dishes recently.¡± ... ... Mother and son rushed back to the hotel together and headed to the western restaurant on the thirteenth floor. The restaurant staff recognized them and immediately greeted them warmly, leading them to a table by the window. While Gan Yuan was ordering, Gan Tang got up and went to the restroom to wash his hands. He had been to the hotel countless times and knew his way around well. He quickly arrived at the restroom, washed his hands under the tap, and was just about to reach for a paper towel. Then he heard a flurry of hurried footsteps in the corridor, and a drunken man staggered into the restroom. Seeing that the man was about to bump into him, Gan Tang quickly stepped back, just as someone else came out of the restroom, and he bumped right into them. He swayed, nearly falling. A warm palm reached out in time, steadying his small shoulders, and righted his tilted body. After standing straight, the little guy turned to look at the person who had helped him¡ªa tall young man, sharply dressed, with handsome features and deep blue eyes as profound as the sea. ¡°Thank you.¡± The little guy politely expressed his gratitude. Huangfu Jue didn¡¯t normally care about such minor incidents. Upon hearing the little guy¡¯s voice, his gaze naturally moved over and landed on the small figure in front of him. A short-sleeved white shirt, black suspenders... a simple kindergarten uniform, yet the little guy still emanated a sense of elegance and nobility. When his gaze touched those purple-blue glowing ink-black eyes on the little guy¡¯s face, Huangfu Jue¡¯s pupils constricted slightly. Such unique eyes! In his heart, an unconscious wave of tenderness emerged, and the usually cold man spoke in an uncharacteristically gentle tone. ¡°Are you okay?¡± The little guy shook his head lightly. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Chapter 9 - 9 9 I Want Her to Serve Me 9 ?9: Chapter 9 I Want Her to Serve Me (9) 9: Chapter 9 I Want Her to Serve Me (9) Wow! The drunken man leaned over the trash can and began to vomit. Huangfu Jue and Gan Tang turned their heads at the sound, both men, one big and one small, furrowed their brows simultaneously. As neat freaks, they naturally disliked seeing such a scene. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now, uncle, goodbye.¡± After bidding farewell to Huangfu Jue, Gan Tang turned around and swiftly trotted out of the restroom on his tender little legs. Huangfu Jue turned and quickly washed his fingers at the sink, reaching for a paper towel to dry his hands when he suddenly remembered something and turned to hurry back through the corridor. In the corridor, there was no sign of the little guy. ¡°Mr. Huangfu,¡± the assistant greeted him as he approached, ¡°all the guests have arrived.¡± Huangfu Jue nodded slightly and stepped out of the corridor, scanning the restaurant with a glance. In the restaurant, guests were eating and chatting in groups of three or two. There was no sign of the little guy, and he felt a slight disappointment. He had no choice but to turn and head toward the private booth he had reserved. In a corner of the restaurant, Gan Tang was already seated in a high-backed chair, elegantly holding a knife and fork, ready to cut into the steak in front of him. The table they were at was tucked in the corner of the restaurant, invisible from the main hall, somewhat private, with a good view¡ªit was Gan Tang¡¯s favorite spot. After only a few bites of steak, Gan Tang lifted his hand and smiled towards someone in the distance. ¡°Uncle Qiao.¡± Gan Yuan turned her face and indeed saw the tall man walking out with a tray, his handsome figure wrapped in a black chef¡¯s uniform, moving with a suave gait. The man walked casually, yet he had already attracted the attention of all the women in the restaurant. Gan Yuan shook her head slightly. It was a pity for Qiao Liang not to be a model. Smiling as he arrived at their table, Qiao Liang lifted the corners of his lips, showing a warm smile to the little guy. ¡°Have you had fun going out with Mom these past few days?¡± The little guy nodded with a smile, and Qiao Liang reached out to tousle his hair. His clear eyes then turned to Gan Yuan, his tone carrying a concern, ¡°I heard the guest on the 56th floor is a bit difficult to deal with. Did everything go smoothly?¡± Gan Yuan returned the smile, ¡°No problem.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Qiao Liang straightened up and placed the dishes from the tray onto their table, ¡°I just happened to have been working on a couple of new dishes these days. Give them a try.¡± Gan Yuan glanced at the exquisite dishes on the table, ¡°I will try them, but let¡¯s settle this first, I am paying the bill.¡± Qiao Liang¡¯s smile broadened, ¡°I should be the one grateful for you helping to taste-test my dishes. How could I let you pay?¡± Gan Yuan put down her knife and fork, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I can only stop bringing Xiaotang here to eat.¡± One should not accept reward without rendering service. Half a year ago, when Qiao Liang was new to the hotel restaurant, a customer deliberately made things difficult for him. Gan Yuan, who couldn¡¯t stand to watch, stepped in to help him out. Since then, Qiao Liang had been exceptionally kind to her and Xiaotang. Every time they came to the restaurant, Qiao Liang would find a way to send over one or two dishes. The hotel had its rules, and these accounts would inevitably be charged to him. He had only been at the hotel for half a year, and as the sous chef, his salary wasn¡¯t very high. Gan Yuan felt bad about always letting him pick up the tab. Qiao Liang shrugged his shoulders, ¡°Alright, you can pay for these two dishes, but I¡¯ll treat you to dessert later!¡± Gan Yuan could only nod, ¡°Xiaotang, thank Uncle Qiao.¡± Since he had conceded, it would be somewhat ungracious to refuse further. ¡°Thank you, Uncle Qiao.¡± The little guy politely spoke up. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Smiling at the little guy, Qiao Liang turned his head to nod at Gan Yuan, ¡°I have to get back to work now. We¡¯ll chat later.¡± It was the peak time for meals, and the kitchen was bustling; he didn¡¯t have much time to chat with them. Chapter 10 - 10 10 I Want Her to Serve Me 10 ?10: Chapter 10 I Want Her to Serve Me (10) 10: Chapter 10 I Want Her to Serve Me (10) Before the two could finish their main course, the two most expensive desserts and fruits had been served at the table. Gazing at the large dessert in front of him, Gan Yuan turned his face toward the direction of the kitchen, and his brows slightly furrowed. Qiao Liang was really too generous for his own good. At this rate of splurging, his salary of a few thousand would probably be gone within a week. As far as she knew, Qiao Liang didn¡¯t live in the staff dormitory. Could he really afford his expenses on such a salary? Across from her, Gan Tang picked up a piece of fruit from his plate. ¡°If you date Uncle Qiao, I wouldn¡¯t object,¡± he said. Gan Yuan looked up to see the little guy opposite her pointing a finger, continuing seriously. ¡°Height, looks, temperament, character... Uncle Qiao is pretty good,¡± he folded another finger, ¡°And, his cooking is delicious. If you date him, wouldn¡¯t we need to order takeout all the time?¡± Gan Yuan smiled. Was this little thing trying to find her a partner or a chef? ¡°Do you want him to be your dad?¡± The little guy immediately shook his head. ¡°No!¡± Reaching for a piece of the cake on the plate, Gan Yuan rolled her eyes at her son, ¡°Then don¡¯t matchmake for me randomly.¡± The little guy shrugged his shoulders and quietly ate his fruit without speaking anymore. After dinner, Gan Yuan took the little guy to her office. The little guy took out his drawing board to draw, while she made a thorough round of the 56th floor to make sure everything was normal before returning to the office. Seeing that the little guy had finished drawing, she took out his swimsuit and her sportswear from the cabinet. ¡°Let¡¯s go, time to exercise!¡± Since he was young, Gan Yuan always paid close attention to the little guy¡¯s health. He was in excellent physical condition, not only taller than average but also seldom caught a cold through the year. Because he was too young for other sports, Gan Yuan specifically got him a swimming pass at the hotel, insisting on swimming at least three to four times a week. After taking the little guy to the Kangle Center¡¯s changing room, waiting for him to change and come to the poolside to warm-up, Gan Yuan stood by the poolside and waved at him. ¡°Mommy¡¯s going to the gym to exercise, I¡¯ll come back for you later.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The little guy waved back at her, then deftly jumped into the pool and began swimming skillfully. After leaving a message with the lifeguard at the Kangle Center, Gan Yuan rushed out of the swimming pool area and went to the gym. After changing into her sportswear, she headed to a treadmill in the corner, stretched briefly, and then started jogging. She hadn¡¯t been running for more than twenty minutes when a staff member from the Kangle Center burst in urgently. ¡°Manager Gan, you should come quickly. Xiaotang and Manager Liu are having an argument,¡± they said. Upon hearing her son was involved, Gan Yuan¡¯s complexion changed instantly, and she raced out of the gym with her phone in hand. Rushing into the swimming hall, she saw from a distance the little guy in his swimsuit standing by the pool, facing the menacing Liu Chang, with several staff members from the Kangle Center nearby. Liu Chang crossed her arms, looking down at the little guy with disdain and anger in her tone, ¡°Apart from you, there¡¯s no one else in the entire swimming center. If it wasn¡¯t you, then who was it?¡± ¡°Boring.¡± The little guy replied impatiently, making to walk towards the swimming pool, intending to continue his swim which had been interrupted by Liu Chang. Naturally, the little guy wasn¡¯t in a good mood. ¡°You stop right there!¡± Seeing him about to leave, Liu Chang reached out to grab his arm. Before her hand could touch Gan Tang, another hand stretched out and grabbed her wrist. ... ... The new story arrives as promised. Are you still there? Chapter 11 - 11 11 I Want Her to Serve Me 11 ?11: Chapter 11 I Want Her to Serve Me (11) 11: Chapter 11 I Want Her to Serve Me (11) The hand was fair-skinned, with slender and beautiful fingers that seemed delicate yet possessed astonishing strength. Liu Chang only felt her arm might break from the pain; when she looked up, she was met with a pair of eyes filled with anger. Gan Yuan flicked her wrist, and Liu Chang staggered back two steps before stabilizing herself. Pushed nearly to the point of falling by Gan Yuan, Liu Chang was about to erupt when Gan Yuan, like a hen protecting her chick, shielded her son in front of her. She met Liu Chang¡¯s gaze with cold eyes and spoke in a deep voice, ¡°Manager Liu, what are you doing?¡± Gan Yuan never spoiled her son but when it came to defending him, she was second to none. Her son, she could scold, she could punish. Others? Not even allowed to touch a finger! ¡°What am I doing?¡± Liu Chang rubbed her sore wrist, and snorted coldly, ¡°Your son stole my stuff, and I was making him hand it over. Is that wrong?¡± Stole? The moment she heard this word, Gan Yuan¡¯s face turned even colder. ¡°Nonsense, my son would never steal.¡± Gan Yuan would never believe such a thing, not even if it killed her. ¡°Right, Sister Liu, Xiaotang would definitely not steal,¡± the lifeguard nearby also spoke up in defense of Gan Tang. ¡°Look again carefully, maybe you left it in the office?¡± Gan Tang was a regular at the pool and was very familiar with the staff there, partly because of Gan Yuan and partly because the child was good-looking and sensible, loved by everyone. ¡°Impossible?¡± Liu Chang lifted her chin, ¡°In the entire swimming pool, it was just him and me. My phone disappeared from my bag; if not him, then who?¡± ¡°My son is definitely not a thief!¡± Gan Yuan turned to her side, steadied the little guy beside her, grabbing the towel on his shoulder to wipe the water off his hair, and her gaze fell on Song Guowen, the manager of Kangle Center who was jogging over, ¡°Manager Song, please check the surveillance videos at D56 and D59 to see who took Manager Liu¡¯s phone.¡± After speaking, Gan Yuan turned her face, and her dark eyes, through the lenses, looked at Liu Chang again. ¡°Manager Liu, after the truth comes out, I want you to apologize to my son.¡± ¡°This...¡± Song Guowen looked troubled, ¡°The cameras have been off the past couple of days because Kangle Center has been rewiring.¡± ¡°Forget it!¡± said Liu Chang, shaking the swimming goggles in her hand, gazing at Gan Tang. ¡°Just return the phone to me, and I¡¯ll act as if today¡¯s incident never happened, how about that?¡± Gan Tang frowned, ¡°Are you deaf? I already said no!¡± The small figure spoke with a proud tone. Liu Chang paused, then let out a cold laugh. ¡°Fine... since you say so, I must find out the truth today! Manager Li, let me borrow a phone to call the police!¡± Both were high-level customer managers for the hotel; Li Guowen didn¡¯t want to offend either, and moreover, bringing the police would not be good for the hotel¡¯s reputation. He immediately tried to mediate with a smile. ¡°Maybe it was misplaced somewhere... you guys, go help Manager Liu look for her phone right away.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve looked everywhere already.¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve checked all over.¡± ... Li Guoli pointed at the lifeguard, ¡°Weren¡¯t you here the whole time? Didn¡¯t you see anybody?¡± The lifeguard also looked innocent, shrugging and saying, ¡°I was just gone to the restroom for a moment; at the time, there were only Manager Liu and Xiaotang in the swimming pool, it seemed like there was no one else.¡± Chapter 12 - 12 12 I Want Her to Serve Me 12 ?12: Chapter 12 I Want Her to Serve Me (12) 12: Chapter 12 I Want Her to Serve Me (12) ¡°Hmph!¡± Liu Chang slightly lifted her chin and glanced sideways at Gan Yuan. ¡°Manager Gan, you¡¯ve heard it too. Now you can¡¯t say I¡¯m falsely accusing your son, can you? There were only the two of us in the entire swimming hall. If he didn¡¯t steal it, are you suggesting my phone sprouted legs and ran away?¡± Gan Yuan took a step toward Liu Chang, her eyes narrowing slowly behind her glasses. ¡°If you think the phone was stolen, then call the police right now. Until the truth is confirmed, watch your mouth. I absolutely won¡¯t allow anyone to slander my son!¡± Meeting her gaze, Liu Chang¡¯s heart tightened. Those eyes behind the lenses, sharp as blades, were cold and piercing. Feeling her skin tighten, Liu Chang couldn¡¯t help feeling a chill rising from her tailbone, instantly turning her entire back cold. ¡°You...¡± Liu Chang stepped back timidly, ¡°What do you want to do?¡± ¡°Manager Liu!¡± Before her words even fell, hurried footsteps were heard from the entrance of the swimming hall; a housekeeping staff member ran in, holding up a phone, ¡°We¡¯ve found you at last. Is this your phone?¡± Everyone turned their attention, and Liu Chang, taking the phone from the staff member¡¯s hand, saw the familiar case and felt a flush of embarrassment on her face, ¡°Where... where did you find it?¡± ¡°I found it while cleaning the guest rooms.¡± The staff member smiled, ¡°I saw your selfie on it and guessed it might be yours, so I brought it over immediately.¡± ¡°Idiot!¡± Gan Tang spoke disdainfully. ¡°You!¡± Liu Chang¡¯s face turned green. Initially feeling somewhat embarrassed for misunderstanding, she did not expect to be called an idiot in front of everyone by such a brat, and suddenly felt unable to save face, ¡°Just as expected, born of a father without a mother¡¯s teaching, completely lacking in home training!¡± Upon hearing the last remark, both mother and son furrowed their brows. Gan Yuan reached out to stop the little one from acting out and looked at Liu Chang, speaking again. ¡°Manager Liu, apologize to my son right now!¡± Her voice wasn¡¯t loud, yet it carried an air of authority. ¡°Hmph!¡± Liu Chang snorted, ¡°Apologize to this wild child? Don¡¯t even think about it... Ah¡ª¡± Before Liu Chang could grasp what was happening, she was already flung into the water, landing with a plop. Splash went the water. Except for Gan Tang, all the people by the pool stood there in shock. No one had expected Gan Yuan to push Liu Chang into the water; they were so stunned they forgot to pay attention to Liu Chang. After gulping down two mouthfuls of dirty water, Liu Chang coughed as she stood up in the pool, ¡°You... cough... you dare push me?¡± From her elevated position by the poolside, Gan Yuan looked down at the disheveled Liu Chang, a slight smile playing on her lips. ¡°Son, do you see? This is what Mommy teaches you: if no one offends me, I offend no one, but if anyone offends me, there¡¯s no need to tolerate it.¡± The little one nodded gently, ¡°Mommy, I understand.¡± Ignoring the stunned onlookers around her, she lifted her hand and rested it on her son¡¯s shoulder, ¡°The water has been dirtied by trash. We won¡¯t swim today. Let¡¯s change and go home.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The little one turned and followed her to the changing room. ¡°You... you stop right there!¡± Liu Chang yelled, rushing to the edge of the pool, ¡°Who... who are you calling trash... you stop! ...¡± Only then did the bystanders come to their senses, hurriedly helping Liu Chang out of the swimming pool. ¡°Get lost!¡± Shaking off the bystanders, Liu Chang wiped the dirty water off her face with her hand, ¡°Gan Yuan, you... cough... just wait, this isn¡¯t over between us!¡± Chapter 13 - 13 13 I Want Her to Serve Me 13 ?13: Chapter 13 I Want Her to Serve Me (13) 13: Chapter 13 I Want Her to Serve Me (13) Li Guoli frowned at the sight of a thoroughly soaked Liu Chang and noticed her half-fallen false eyelashes. He barely suppressed a laugh. ¡°Manager Liu, perhaps you should go change your clothes first?¡± Liu Chang snapped back to reality and finally noticed her appearance¡ªher uniform shirt was soaked and clung to her body, revealing the clear outline of her underwear. Something flickered before her eyes, and as she reached to touch it, the dangling half of her false eyelashes fell into her hand. Always considering herself superior, Liu Chang felt both ashamed and infuriated by her public humiliation. With a cold snort, she snatched her bag, which a staff member had picked up for her, and huffed towards the exit. Her high heels slipped on the wet floor, and she almost did the splits, which finally provoked laughter from the crowd behind her. When Liu Chang turned her head to look back, everyone immediately straightened their faces; some looked at the floor, others at the sky, and the rest at their feet... As she huffed out of the swimming pool, the crowd burst into collective laughter. ¡°Serves her right. She¡¯s just a manager but acts so high and mighty every day!¡± ¡°Exactly. Lucky for Xiaotang being here, otherwise, they¡¯d probably accuse us of stealing, right?¡± ¡°But honestly, I never realized Manager Gan had such a fiery temper.¡± ¡°Yeah, the way Manager Gan pushed her into the pool earlier was so cool!¡± ... Li Guoli turned his face, and at that moment, Gan Tang had changed her clothes, and Gan Yuan was taking him to the exit. The woman was now dressed in sportswear, standing tall and straight with a graceful figure. Her silhouette... was worlds apart from the usual Gan Yuan who wore loose-fitting uniforms and looked prematurely aged. Li Guoli took a deep breath, ¡°If the higher-ups ask about today¡¯s incident, remember to speak favorably of Manager Gan. It¡¯s not easy for a woman to raise a child on her own.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The crowd responded in unison. Even without Li Guoli¡¯s instruction, they wouldn¡¯t side with Liu Chang. When Gan Yuan first started working at the hotel, her position was that of a room service attendant. In just a year and a half, her dedication and ability had taken her from that to the role of Senior Room Supervisor. She always kept a low profile, was earnest and responsible at work, and didn¡¯t put on airs even after becoming a supervisor. Treating everyone from the general manager to the cleaning staff equally, she naturally won more hearts than Liu Chang, who had an overseas education and an air of arrogance. The mother and son changed their clothes and headed downstairs to the parking lot. The little guy, Gan Tang, frowned slightly. ¡°You¡¯ve offended Liu Chang this time; she¡¯ll surely seek revenge.¡± Gan Yuan¡¯s lips curled with nonchalance, ¡°Your mommy is not someone to be trifled with, you know!¡± Liu Chang had always disliked her, and this morning, because of Huangfu Jue, she outshined her again¡ªfriction with her was inevitable, and this incident was just an excuse for Liu Chang to make a scene. Gan Yuan reached for a towel to dry her son¡¯s still damp hair, smiling as she spoke, ¡°If you let those you dislike affect your mood, then you¡¯ve lost. Understand?¡± Liu Chang was a paper tiger, incapable of any new tricks beyond deliberately causing trouble or giving her the cold shoulder, none of which Gan Yuan cared about. The little guy thought for a moment, nodded his head, and relaxed his expression, ¡°Mommy, I understand.¡± Gan Yuan bent down to kiss his forehead and casually put an arm around his small shoulders. ¡°My son is so smart. Let¡¯s go, we¡¯re heading home!¡± ... ... The next morning, as soon as Gan Yuan arrived at the hotel, she received a call from Li¡¯s assistant, informing her to report to the general manager¡¯s office. Chapter 14 - 14 14 I Want Her to Serve Me 14 ?14: Chapter 14 I Want Her to Serve Me (14) 14: Chapter 14 I Want Her to Serve Me (14) As she had anticipated, Liu Chang sat on the sofa with tearful eyes in the office, and there was no need to guess that she had just been complaining about her. Liu Chang was a master¡¯s degree returnee from abroad with a specialization in hotel management. She had interned in large international hotels overseas. Despite holding the same position as a senior manager in the customer department as Gan Yuan, she had never regarded Gan Yuan, an uneducated single mother, as worthy of her attention. Having finally found an opportunity, she naturally would not let it slip away. When Gan Yuan walked in, Liu Chang was sobbing pitifully in front of CEO Li, tears and snot streaming down her face. Seeing Gan Yuan enter, Liu Chang¡¯s crying intensified. ¡°Look at my arm, it¡¯s all bruised... It¡¯s from when she pushed me yesterday... If my work isn¡¯t up to par, she¡¯s free to criticize me, but what is this, taking advantage of the situation... CEO Li, I really can¡¯t work like this...¡± Gan Yuan didn¡¯t even glance at her, ¡°CEO Li, you wanted to see me?¡± ¡°Gan Yuan, this...¡± CEO Li gestured with his chin towards Liu Chang, ¡°Did you push her?¡± Gan Yuan replied with decisive brevity, ¡°Yes.¡± CEO Li was slightly taken aback; he had thought that as long as Gan Yuan casually mentioned it was not intentional, he could easily smooth things over and have her apologize, and that would be the end of it. Why did she admit it outright? In the year and a half since Gan Yuan had been working at the hotel, her capability was evident to all; no matter how difficult the customers were, she could handle them. CEO Li had always had a good impression of her. He had always seen Gan Yuan as low-key and diligent. That she would have done such a thing this time was somewhat unexpected to him. ¡°Why did you do it?¡± Gan Yuan smiled, ¡°We¡¯re all colleagues, how could I intentionally push her? It was obviously an accident...¡± Liu Chang lacked the ability to oust her; this would all just blow over, turning a big deal into a small one, and a small one into nothing. Gan Yuan was very clear about this. At this moment, Liu Chang couldn¡¯t even bother to cry and abruptly stood up from the sofa. ¡°You... you¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± Her phone vibrated in her pocket. Gan Yuan took it out and saw the room number displayed on the screen, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes. Huangfu Jue¡¯s call couldn¡¯t have been more timely! ¡°I¡¯m sorry, CEO Li, it¡¯s a call from Mr. Huangfu¡¯s room.¡± CEO Li¡¯s expression changed immediately, ¡°Answer it, quickly!¡± Liu Chang was so angry she could spit blood, yet at this moment, she dared not make a sound. She wasn¡¯t a fool; acting pitiful in front of CEO Li had limited effectiveness, and if she dared to throw a tantrum in front of a customer, she would simply be slapping her own face. Gan Yuan answered the phone immediately, ¡°Hello, this is Gan Yuan... Yes, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± After hanging up, she smiled at the general manager, ¡°CEO Li, Mr. Huangfu needs me, what do you think... may I go?¡± Compared to such an important customer, such a trivial matter was of no account. CEO Li immediately waved her off, ¡°Go ahead, this is a very important client; you must make sure he¡¯s satisfied.¡± Chapter 15 - 15 15 I Want Her to Serve Me 15 ?15: Chapter 15 I Want Her to Serve Me (15) 15: Chapter 15 I Want Her to Serve Me (15) ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Gan Yuan said, the corners of her lips lifting as she nodded at him before turning to face Liu Chang, ¡°Manager Liu, try to wear shorter heels next time. If you really took a fall, it would be bad for work if it affected your job!¡± After speaking, she headed toward the door. Liu Chang was livid, her face turning an iron blue. ¡°Director Li, you see... ¡± ¡°Let it go, you¡¯re colleagues after all. There¡¯s no need to quibble like this,¡± Director Li said, glancing at his watch. ¡°I have another meeting to attend, and you should get back to work too!¡± Liu Chang had no choice but to leave his office. Standing in the hallway, she gritted her teeth in frustration. ¡°Gan Yuan, you just wait!¡± ... ... Gan Yuan took the elevator to the 56th floor, arriving at Huangfu Jue¡¯s hotel room and gently knocked on the door with her right hand. The door was opened by Huangfu Jue¡¯s assistant, who greeted her with a smile before pulling open the door to let her in. ¡°Please follow me.¡± The assistant led her to the study door, knocked softly, announced her arrival, then opened the door for her, signaling her to enter. The study was filled with light, and the man stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows wearing only a white shirt. His entire silhouette was edged with gold, and his long shadow was cast upon the luxurious Persian carpet. Like a deity, he was dazzling to behold. Gan Yuan walked up, stopping four steps behind him. ¡°Mr. Huangfu, did you need something from me?¡± Huangfu Jue, with his back to her, raised his hand and made a signal to his assistant, who immediately handed a document to Gan Yuan. The document was clear in black and white ¡ª HR Summer Release Event Planning Proposal. ¡°We¡¯d like to use the hotel¡¯s rooftop for the release event. Please, Manager Gan, negotiate with the hotel. As the schedule has changed, Mr. Huangfu will need to stay here an additional ten days, so please arrange that as well.¡± Ten days? Was there some mistake? Was this person planning to camp out here indefinitely? Gan Yuan closed the document she held, the tone apologetic, but her intent was far from it. ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, but some rooms on the 56th floor are already booked. I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t accommodate Mr. Huangfu¡¯s request.¡± On any other day, she would¡¯ve gone out of her way to retain a guest and generate revenue for the hotel, but this time, she just wished he would leave as soon as possible. The man by the window turned around, his blue eyes landing on her face. ¡°I¡¯ll pay the penalty fees, you negotiate with the guests,¡± he said. Just as uncompromising as Gan Tang, this guy was equally stubborn. Gan Yuan inwardly cursed but maintained a smile on her face. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do my best to arrange it.¡± The other party was a guest after all; she couldn¡¯t very well throw him out the door. The assistant handed Huangfu Jue his phone. ¡°Here¡¯s your call.¡± ¡°Mr. Huangfu is busy, so I won¡¯t disturb you. I¡¯ll find a way to arrange for the room,¡± she said. After nodding at him, Gan Yuan turned and left his room. When she reached the elevator, she curled her lips and mockingly swung her fist at the imagined handsome face of Huangfu Jue in midair. Had she been too accommodating, making him want to stay an extra ten days? How could he not be aware of how annoying he was? Ding! The elevator doors opened. Gan Yuan stepped into the elevator and was about to press the floor button when she saw Huangfu Jue, accompanied by his assistant and bodyguard, heading in the direction of the elevator. Their eyes inadvertently met, and Gan Yuan couldn¡¯t pretend not to see him, so she had to hold the elevator door and wait for them to enter. The man walked in unhurriedly, and the assistant gave her a thankful smile. ¡°No problem,¡± Gan Yuan quickly replied with the trademark smile of a service worker, ¡°Which floor are you going to?¡± ¡°First floor, thank you,¡± the assistant answered with a smile. Chapter 16 - 16 16 I Want Her to Serve Me 16 ?16: Chapter 16 I Want Her to Serve Me (16) 16: Chapter 16 I Want Her to Serve Me (16) She reached out to help press the elevator button for his floor, then turned around, facing the elevator doors. The walls of the elevator were so smooth they clearly reflected his figure. She narrowed her eyes slightly, observing the man¡¯s silhouette. Had he suddenly decided to extend his stay for work, or was it for another reason? Huangfu Jue glanced sideways, his gaze sweeping over her profile. Clad in the hotel¡¯s uniform, her black hair was meticulously arranged at the back of her head, and a pair of wide-brimmed plastic glasses obscured her face; the only makeup on her otherwise bare face was a bit of lipstick. Unlike other women who always try to look younger, she had a youthfully tender and smooth neck, but wore a mature, dark red lipstick. The uniform she wore was slightly loose, hiding her curves. The legs that showed beneath the skirt of the uniform were toned and shapely, without an ounce of superfluous fat. She clearly had a good figure, so why deliberately hide it? Huangfu Jue¡¯s eyes returned to Gan Yuan¡¯s face, and from the side of her glasses, he could see her eyes, now slightly squinted, focused on the reflective elevator wall like a sly and scheming little fox. Those eyes... unconsciously reminded him of someone. ¡°Has Manager Gan been working here for a long time?¡± Gan Yuan didn¡¯t expect him to suddenly ask a question, and after a two-second pause, she turned her face and revealed a trademark professional smile. ¡°Almost two years.¡± ¡°Then... where did you work before?¡± Is he checking my background? She secretly curled her lips but kept smiling on her face. ¡°They were some insignificant small hotels that Mr. Huangfu has probably never heard of.¡± The elevator stopped, the doors parted, and guest dragged their suitcases inside. The two of them stepped back at the same time to make space, and Huangfu Jue¡¯s bodyguard stepped forward to shield him from the other passengers. The elevator, originally spacious, now felt a bit crowded; the man retreated to an inner position, and his fingers hanging by his side inadvertently touched hers, sending a jolt through both of their hands. Gan Yuan raised an eyebrow and shrank back into the corner, withdrawing her fingers as if in evident dislike. Noticing her motion, Huangfu Jue¡¯s blue eyes narrowed slightly. It was always him who felt disdain for others, so was he actually disdained by a woman this time? The elevator reached the fourth floor, and Gan Yuan hurried out of the elevator, walking briskly to her office where she sighed with relief upon closing the door behind her. At her chest, her heart pounded more urgently than usual. Gan Yuan circled her office and threw herself into a chair, then irritably slammed the folder in her hand onto the desk. It was just a touch of the hands, Gan Yuan, was it really that upsetting? ... ... At HF Building, in the audition room. Gan Tang, dressed in a little suit, sat calmly on the oversized leather sofa, composed and unfazed under the scrutiny of the camera. The small child leaned against the back of the sofa, hands resting on the armrests, naturally exuding the aura of a young king, every move dripping with nobility. The door to the audition room swung open, and Huangfu Jue stepped inside. This time, the company was acquiring a children¡¯s clothing company and developing a new children¡¯s clothing brand. They were searching globally for a suitable brand ambassador. He had already visited several countries and hadn¡¯t found any boy that satisfied him. Having just received a report about a boy who perfectly matched the brand¡¯s image, he had come personally to see for himself. As he looked up and saw Gan Tang sitting on the sofa, turning his face to the side, Huangfu Jue¡¯s blue eyes briefly showed surprise, followed by a bright gleam. ... ... Good morning, kisses~!~ This new story needs care, so remember to vote and leave comments. Chapter 17 - 17 17 I Want Her to Serve Me 17 ?17: Chapter 17 I Want Her to Serve Me (17) 17: Chapter 17 I Want Her to Serve Me (17) It¡¯s actually this child! ¡°Mr. President,¡± the advertising director in charge of this audition, Xu Anran, trotted over, ¡°You¡¯re here, the child I just mentioned is him. What do you think?¡± Huangfu Jue nodded slightly. ¡°I knew you would be satisfied.¡± Xu Anran turned back to the photographer¡¯s area and gestured to his assistant, ¡°Hold on, call this child¡¯s parent over.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t bring a parent.¡± Sitting on the sofa, Gan Tang straightened her back, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the contract first. If you agree to my terms, I will sign with you.¡± This tiny thing actually wants to negotiate terms with him? Xu Anran was amused, ¡°You want to discuss a contract with me?¡± ¡°Can you make a decision?¡± Gan Tang looked at him and asked, her face resembling a little adult, both dashing and adorable. ¡°I can,¡± Huangfu Jue said. ¡°This is our company¡¯s chairman, he definitely can make decisions,¡± Xu Anran said with a smile. Because of the lighting, Gan Tang had not noticed Huangfu Jue at first. Hearing his voice, the little guy turned his face and recognized him at a glance. ¡°Is it you?!¡± Seeing Huangfu Jue, a trace of surprise also appeared in Gan Tang¡¯s eyes. ¡°The two of you know each other?¡± Xu Anran asked in astonishment. Huangfu Jue didn¡¯t explain and walked over to sit in the main seat. Having an eye for detail, Xu Anran quickly called the little guy over and settled him in a small chair used for auditions. An adult and a child sat opposite each other, and then, simultaneously, they lifted an arm to rest on the armrest and propped up their cheeks slightly. Noticing the other¡¯s action, both raised their brows slightly. Huangfu Jue¡¯s hand on his forehead raised his fingers gently, ¡°What are your terms?¡± ¡°I want to advance two years¡¯ worth of endorsement fees,¡± Gan Tang answered seriously. The people around them laughed softly upon hearing the little guy¡¯s words. This little one isn¡¯t big, but his appetite sure is. Huangfu Jue didn¡¯t laugh but looked at the little guy¡¯s face calmly. Although it was only the second time they met, he felt an inexplicable liking and approval for the little guy before him. ¡°Do you need money that badly?¡± The little guy shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m short of money; I¡¯m short of a house. Moving is hard and troublesome, and I don¡¯t want my mommy and me to always be moving.¡± ¡°Mommy and me¡±?! It seems to be a single-parent family. Huangfu Jue nodded gently. The man of few words, unusually, felt in the mood for a chat. ¡°Do you think I will agree?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The little guy was certain. ¡°Oh?¡± The man raised his beautiful long eyebrows slightly, his tone more intrigued, ¡°Why?¡± The little guy lifted his chin, his tone proud and confident, ¡°Because you won¡¯t find a model more suitable than me.¡± Huangfu Jue narrowed his eyes slightly, ¡°Reasons?¡± The little guy spread out a pretty little finger, ¡°First, during the photo shoot, other kids only took a few pictures, but I took dozens. Second, I just heard them say that you have been looking for a suitable model in several countries. Third...¡± The little guy¡¯s gaze met Huangfu Jue¡¯s, he lightly smiled and stretched out a third finger, ¡°You¡¯re the big BOSS here, negotiating terms with me personally, which means you¡¯ve already chosen me.¡± The people around were all showing surprised expressions. A five-year-old child had such meticulous thinking. ¡°I agree to your terms,¡± Huangfu Jue nodded in satisfaction, ¡°Get his guardian to sign the contract immediately.¡± Chapter 18 - 18 18 I Want Her to Serve Me 18 ?18: Chapter 18 I Want Her to Serve Me (18) 18: Chapter 18 I Want Her to Serve Me (18) ¡°Thank you.¡± The little guy stood up, stepped forward to approach him, and extended his right hand, ¡°Mr. Chairman, it¡¯s a pleasure doing business with you.¡± Glancing at the tiny hand stretched out in mid-air, Huangfu Jue couldn¡¯t help but smile. He rose to his feet and extended his large hand to grasp the little one. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure doing business with you!¡± The hands of the tall and the short clasped in mid-air. As they let go of their hands, a staff member immediately came over to take Gan Tang away. Watching the little one¡¯s retreating figure, Huangfu Jue suddenly spoke up. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Gan Tang turned his face towards him, ¡°Uncle, is there anything else?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Gan Tang, the ¡®Gan¡¯ from ¡®sweet¡¯ and the ¡®Tang¡¯ from ¡®crabapple¡¯.¡± ¡°¡®Let the sweet crabapple grow, do not prune or chop¡¯...¡± Huangfu Jue gently nodded, ¡°That¡¯s a good name.¡± ¡°My mommy picked it for me.¡± Gan Tang looked up at him, ¡°What about you, what¡¯s your name?¡± The staff member by their side was about to speak up, ¡°This is our...¡± Huangfu Jue raised his hand to signal for silence, then introduced himself. ¡°Huangfu Jue.¡± He was still contemplating how to explain the ¡®Jue¡¯ character in his name to a child, when the little one already asked him about it. ¡°¡®Jue¡¯ as in ¡®an evening¡¯s promises are like rings, night after night they form a bangle¡¯?¡± Huangfu Jue was taken aback. Such a young child knew this line of poetry? ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Gan Tang nodded as if he were a little adult, ¡°Nice name.¡± The pose was a perfect echo of Huangfu Jue just moments before. Xu Anran laughed, ¡°The two of you really do resemble each other. If I didn¡¯t know better, I might have mistaken you two for father and son!¡± Father and son?! The two men looked at each other, their gazes falling upon each other¡¯s faces that bore some resemblance, and surprise flickered in their eyes simultaneously. Ding¡ª¡ª The wristwatch phone on Gan Tang¡¯s wrist suddenly rang. Seeing the words ¡°Mommy¡± on the screen, the little guy lifted his hand to press the answer button, and Gan Yuan¡¯s voice came through the watch¡¯s speaker, ¡°My dear son, how is it going... Did mommy¡¯s house situation get resolved?¡± Huangfu Jue immediately recognized that it was Gan Yuan¡¯s voice, so the child was her son; no wonder he had appeared at the hotel yesterday. ¡°The other party has agreed to sign a contract with me. Do you have time to come over to sign the contract?¡± Gan Tang replied with a smile. ¡°You little thing, not bad!¡± Gan Yuan chuckled softly, ¡°I just managed to send away a pest, and I still have work to do, so you come directly to the hotel.¡± A pest! Huangfu Jue raised an eyebrow, was she referring to him? ¡°Okay.¡± Gan Tang hung up the phone and politely nodded at Huangfu Jue. ¡°Then we shall go to the hotel where my mom works to sign the contract. Can we leave now?¡± Xu Anran waved her hand, and a staff member immediately jogged over to escort Gan Tang away. Huangfu Jue walked out of the audition room, his gaze lingering on the little figure growing distant, his blue eyes narrowing once again. That woman just called him a pest; did she find him so repulsive?! ... ... Dynasty Hotel. Gan Yuan looked over the contract brought by the staff member with a serious expression and didn¡¯t immediately sign her name. Instead, she turned to look at Gan Tang sitting on the sofa. ¡°Xiaotang, are you really sure you want to take this job?¡± From the beginning to the end, she hadn¡¯t glanced at the check on the table once; money wasn¡¯t much of a desire for her. For Gan Yuan, her son¡¯s happiness was what mattered most. The little guy kept his gaze on the book in his hands, not even raising his head. ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± Gan Yuan opened the pen on the table, ¡°If you¡¯ve changed your mind, it¡¯s not too late.¡± Chapter 19 - 19 19 I Want Her to Serve Me 19 ?19: Chapter 19 I Want Her to Serve Me (19) 19: Chapter 19 I Want Her to Serve Me (19) The little fellow turned another page of the book. ¡°No.¡± Gan Yuan shook her head gently and picked up the pen to sign her full name in the last column for guardian. Seeing her complete the signing of the documents, the staff member who had brought Gan Tang back immediately put down the glass of water in hand and rose from the sofa. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll head back now. Follow-up matters will be handled by specialized staff who will contact you. Please cooperate as much as possible.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Gan Yuan smiled, stood up, and escorted the person to the door, watching them walk away before turning around to sit beside her son, who was reading. She wrapped her arm around Gan Tang¡¯s small shoulders, ¡°My son is truly amazing, making enough money for a new house so quickly. It looks like mommy might be able to retire early, huh?¡± The little guy put down his book and looked at her seriously, ¡°I can make money now, so if mommy doesn¡¯t want to work, she can quit. I¡¯ll support you.¡± Looking at his little face, Gan Yuan felt a wave of warmth in her heart and kissed his cheek gently before pulling him into an embrace with a deep breath. ¡°Good son.¡± Her palm gently caressed her son¡¯s soft short hair as the corners of Gan Yuan¡¯s lips curved slightly upwards. For her son, she had given up much and endured hardships, yet she never regretted it. Indeed, time proved that she was right; the child was the best gift life had bestowed upon her. Even now, she firmly believed that keeping him had been the most correct decision of her life. ¡°Since my son is going to be a model soon, of course, he needs to buy some new clothes.¡± Gan Yuan glanced at her watch, ¡°Just give me a few minutes to finish my work, and then we¡¯ll go to the mall.¡± Getting up and walking over to her desk, she spotted the cheque on it and casually picked it up, her lips curling lightly as she scanned over the figures. ¡°Speaking of which, the head of this company is quite amusing, directly giving two million to this little brat.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because your son is worth that price.¡± The little guy spoke calmly. Gan Yuan casually placed the cheque into the chequebook, ¡°Wrong, my son is priceless!¡± The phone on the desk rang, and Gan Yuan frowned as she glanced at the number. ¡°What does this annoying devil want now?¡± She reached out to answer the call, ¡°Hello?!¡± ¡°Come to my room.¡± Huangfu¡¯s voice was pleasant and authoritative on the other end. Gan Yuan¡¯s fingers tightened around the receiver, yet her tone remained gentle. ¡°May I ask what Mr. Huangfu needs?¡± ¡°You have a son, Miss Gan, right?¡± Her heart skipped a beat. Why would he suddenly ask about that? Could it be he knows who she is, who Gan Tang is? Gan Yuan clutched her fingers tightly, striving to keep her voice calm. ¡°Why do you ask, Mr. Huangfu?¡± ¡°To meet in person.¡± Then the call ended. ¡°Hello? Hello!¡± Only the dial tone came through the receiver. ¡°Damn it!¡± Muttering a curse, Gan Yuan circled the desk and rushed to the door, pulling it open but halting in her tracks. She turned to look at Gan Tang, who was back to reading intently on the sofa. ¡°Xiaotang, you...¡± The little guy lifted his face, looking at her with confusion. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Gan Yuan held back the question on the tip of her tongue, ¡°Just wait here for mommy a moment, I¡¯ll be back quickly.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xiaotang dropped his gaze back to his book and continued reading. Biting her lip, Gan Yuan strode out of the office, rushed into the elevator, and as it ascended, she crossed her arms and fell into deep thought. How did that guy find out, and what did he want to talk to her about... Chapter 20 - 20 20 I Want Her to Serve Me 20 ?20: Chapter 20 I Want Her to Serve Me (20) 20: Chapter 20 I Want Her to Serve Me (20) Could it be that he suddenly appeared just for Gan Tang... Thinking of this possibility, she immediately pursed her lips. Don¡¯t even think about it! That was her son, and no one was going to take him away, not even him. Ding¡ª The elevator stopped at the 56th floor, and Gan Yuan strode out of the elevator. She swept down the hallway like the wind to Huangfu Jue¡¯s guest room and pressed the doorbell. The one who opened the door was still Huangfu Jue¡¯s assistant, who politely invited her in. As soon as she entered the living room, Gan Yuan saw Huangfu Jue sitting on the sofa, flipping through a stack of photos. Her gaze immediately caught sight of Gan Tang in them. Huangfu Jue¡¯s eyes shifted, and he gestured with his chin to the sofa opposite him. ¡°Sit,¡± he said. Taking a deep breath, Gan Yuan stepped forward and sat across from him, her eyes scanning the table and pausing for two seconds on the fruit knife. ¡°What would Director Gan like to drink?¡± the assistant asked politely. Gan Yuan smiled sideways at him, ¡°Please get me a freshly ground black coffee from the restaurant on the tenth floor, thank you!¡± The assistant was slightly taken aback. Isn¡¯t she being quite impolite? Catching a glimpse of Huangfu Jue¡¯s unruffled demeanor, the assistant put on a smile again. ¡°Alright, please wait a moment!¡± Since the gentleman had invited this guest, naturally, one shouldn¡¯t be negligent. With a sidelong glance, watching the assistant leave the guest room, a smile flashed in Gan Yuan¡¯s eyes. The bodyguards weren¡¯t in the room, now it was just the two of them. If there truly was a conflict, one-on-one, she shouldn¡¯t lose! Huangfu Jue put down the photos in his hand. ¡°I will take Xiaotang to Europe in three days,¡± he said. This time¡¯s children¡¯s clothing brand was focusing on high-end formal wear, and the ancient buildings and streets of Europe were most suitable for street photography. Talking about straightforward, he thought he could just take his son away that simply? Gan Yuan sneered, ¡°Impossible!¡± His blue eyes lifted from the photos, and his gaze landed on Gan Yuan¡¯s face across the void as Huangfu Jue slightly raised his eyebrows. ¡°Reason?¡± he asked. Gan Yuan leaned forward, her hands on the coffee table, fingers surreptitiously pressing down on the fruit knife. ¡°Simple! He is my son, and wherever I am, that¡¯s where he¡¯ll be!¡± she declared. After a moment¡¯s contemplation, Huangfu Jue nodded slightly. ¡°You can go with him.¡± She was the child¡¯s guardian, and such a request wasn¡¯t unreasonable. For a child of his age, it was only logical to be accompanied by his mother on such a long trip. Gan Yuan was speechless. Who did he think he was, thinking he could take her along as well? Gan Yuan clenched the fruit knife in her hand and abruptly stood up. ¡°My son isn¡¯t going anywhere!¡± Watching the Gan Yuan who was aggressively confronting him, Huangfu Jue¡¯s gaze shifted from her tightly clasped hands to her face, his tone carrying a hint of irritation. ¡°Director Gan, do you have an objection to the contract?¡± The contract clearly stated that as a guardian, she should cooperate with the company¡¯s work arrangements. What kind of attitude was this? Contract? Gan Yuan was taken aback. Her gaze swept over his face and settled on the photos on the coffee table. The backgrounds and lighting in the photos were very sophisticated, not looking like paparazzi shots. They rather seemed like audition photos. Could it be that the children¡¯s clothing company her son signed with belongs to him? Impossible, she had specifically checked the details of that company at work today. It had no connection with HF Group... Bang! A muffled sound came from the bathroom across the room, followed by the sound of rushing water. Both were stunned for two seconds, then Gan Yuan quickly put down the fruit knife and rushed towards the washroom, while Huangfu Jue stood up and followed her. Reaching the bathroom door, Gan Yuan reached out and pulled it open. Chapter 21 - 21 21 I Want Her to Serve Me 21 ?21: Chapter 21 I Want Her to Serve Me (21) 21: Chapter 21 I Want Her to Serve Me (21) As soon as the door opened, a cold jet of water hit her square in the face and body, the glasses fortunately shielding her eyes, but other places were not so lucky. Ignoring the water on her body, Gan Yuan dashed into the washroom. Through the water droplets on her glasses, she could see the shower switch malfunctioning, spurting water like a fountain. ¡°Damn it!¡± She cursed softly, turned, and rushed to the sink to turn off the water valve. Just as she was turning around, she saw a tall figure in front of her. Taken by surprise, she bumped right into him. A familiar scent invaded her nostrils, and she instinctively stretched out her arms to brace against his body, attempting to dodge backward. But just as she raised her arms, they were caught by two warm, strong hands. The next second, her back pressed against the cold, damp bathroom wall. Her hands were grabbed and held above her head, and Gan Yuan instinctively bent her right knee to kick back, but she soon put her foot back down and softened the fierceness in her eyes to reveal the panicked expression of an ordinary, startled woman. ¡°Mr. Huangfu, what... what are you doing?¡± If it was just about the contract, then that meant he didn¡¯t know anything yet. How could she reveal herself? Using his body to pin her against the wall, he lifted his right hand and yanked off the black-rimmed glasses from her face. Her hair was already drenched, with strands sticking to her pale, full forehead. Her eyes, normally hidden behind wide-rimmed glasses, were now exposed to him without any cover. Her eyes carried a hint of panic, and their shiny pupils reflected his silhouette. Making eye contact with him made Gan Yuan feel guilty, and she immediately looked away, ready to lower her face. She had to be extra careful to avoid slipping up around this astute man. As she lowered her head, his hand reached out to her chin and lifted her face to meet his gaze. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, can¡¯t look at me?¡± Gan Yuan struggled with a stern face, feigning the anger and confusion that seemed appropriate for the situation. ¡°Mr. Huangfu, please show some respect. If you keep this up, I¡¯m going to call for help!¡± The man tightened his grip on her chin, his handsome face moving closer to hers. In the air, the water continued to spray, gradually soaking his hair and clothes. Their faces were inches apart, and she could clearly see a pearl-like water droplet hanging from his gold-brown lashes. The water trickled down his short hair, over the straight bridge of his nose, and onto her cheek. The droplet was cold, yet his breath was scaldingly hot. A layer of goosebumps arose on her skin, blood rushing to her cheeks, turning them red, as Gan Yuan¡¯s breathing tightened and her heartbeat uncontrollably quickened. She struggled forcibly, ¡°Let go of me, release me...¡± His arms were like iron clamps, impossible to break free from. Meeting her gaze at close range, Huangfu Jue¡¯s blue eyes stared deeply into her pupils. ¡°Was it you that night six years ago?¡± His tone was inquisitive, which meant he was not yet certain. Gan Yuan¡¯s heart relaxed a bit, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about, Mr. Huangfu has mistaken me for someone else.¡± The fingers on her chin tightened even more, forcing her face up until her lips grazed his chin. Staring into her eyes, his tone laced with a hint of mockery. ¡°Then what are you nervous about?¡± ... ... Good morning. A new day begins, let¡¯s work hard~!~ Chapter 22 - 22 22 I Want Her to Serve Me 22 ?22: Chapter 22 I Want Her to Serve Me (22) 22: Chapter 22 I Want Her to Serve Me (22) Gan Yuan laughed angrily, ¡°Because I¡¯m a normal person, of course, I would be anxious if a disagreeable man of the opposite sex had me pinned against the wall!¡± The implication being, not only did he dislike her but was also abnormal?! From childhood to adulthood, only two women had ever used the word ¡®dislike¡¯ to describe him, once was Gan Yuan, and once was someone six years ago. Height, physique... the unyielding attitude when facing him... everything was similar to the woman from six years ago, especially those eyes, nearly identical to those in his memories. Squinting his blue eyes, he earnestly studied Gan Yuan¡¯s face in front of him. At this moment, Gan Yuan¡¯s face was covered in water droplets, her already delicate skin looking even more translucent and radiant, with the old-fashioned lipstick moistened by the water, appearing to tantalize him. Focusing on her lips, Huangfu Jue naturally recalled how intimately entangled he had been with her that night. Feeling his grip slightly relax, Gan Yuan used all her strength to free her arm and pushed him to the side, turning to escape. After taking just one step, Huangfu Jue¡¯s arms had already circled around from behind, trapping her waist, and then, her back was pressed against the man¡¯s chest. ¡°Still trying to run away?¡± He murmured and his right hand reached out, grabbing her coat, and with a snap, the buttons popped off and the jacket split open. ¡°Bastard, what are you doing... let go...¡± Watching the buttons fly off, Gan Yuan cursed under her breath, reaching out to grab his arms, trying to pull them apart. Damn it! His strength was much greater than she had imagined, and she couldn¡¯t pry apart his grip with both her hands. As she struggled, Huangfu Jue¡¯s palm had already seized the blouse under her uniform, pulling forcefully to extract the shirt from her skirt. The blouse clung to her damp body, and coupled with her continuous struggling, his efforts were clumsy. Suddenly, the strength gave out, and with a ripping sound, the back of her white blouse had been torn apart by him. Her coat had already crumbled into a mess, and with the blouse split open, her waist was now completely exposed. The slender waistline, from the back down to her waist, presented a sleek, smooth curve, with a deep back groove, the waist dimple peeking out above the band of her half skirt. Catching her elbow as she retorted, Huangfu Jue lifted his hand to press her against the sink and leaned over to look at her tailbone. Realizing what he was doing, Gan Yuan instantly tightened inside. Stepping firmly on the sink with her right foot, she used her back to bump against Huangfu, who was looking at her waist, and managed to break free from his clasp, immediately rushing towards the bathroom exit while shouting for help. ¡°Help...¡± The man chased after her and, before she could open the door, grabbed her arm. His dress shoe stepped on a shampoo bottle that had fallen to the floor, and he staggered, losing control and falling to the ground, not loosening the grip on Gan Yuan¡¯s hand. Inertia caused Gan Yuan to be dragged back and crash heavily onto the man. Her nose struck his chin, the sour pain nearly bringing tears to her eyes. The hairpin holding up her hair snapped and flew off, with her wet hair cascading down and landing on the man¡¯s face. Just as she managed to lift herself up, he had already rolled over, pinning her beneath him. With the stinging in her nose and such heavy weight pressing down on her, lying on the cold, damp ground, her discomfort couldn¡¯t be greater. Anger rose from within, and without a second thought, Gan Yuan raised her hand and slapped him. Chapter 23 - 23 23 I Want Her to Serve Me 23 ?23: Chapter 23 I Want Her to Serve Me (23) 23: Chapter 23 I Want Her to Serve Me (23) Huangfu Jue dodged to the side, avoiding her palm but not her fingers, and instantly, three bright red scratches appeared on his handsome face. For the first time in his life, he was slapped on the face. Feeling the burning pain on his skin, anger surged through Huangfu Jue in an instant. One hand pressed against her body, his right hand was raised in the air. Before he could bring it down, Gan Yuan had already shouted furiously, ¡°Get your hand off me!¡± His right hand froze mid-air as Huangfu Jue suddenly realized that beneath his left hand was nothing but softness. Her coat was already open, and her shirt was soaking wet. Because of her previous movements, her bra had long shifted from its proper position. Between her chest and his palm, only a layer of thin, wet shirt remained. He was distracted for a second, and Gan Yuan¡¯s fist had already flown out. A beautiful and fierce left hook landed on his chin without any courtesy. Her left hand grabbed his tie and pulled hard. Seizing the opportunity, she tried to flip over and get up. The man pressed down again, pinning her back to the ground. One hand held her shoulder while the other reached for the waist of her skirt, pulling it down with force. As she felt her skirt come loose, Gan Yuan froze on the spot. It¡¯s over! She¡¯d hidden for six years, yet still couldn¡¯t escape. As the skirt loosened, the girl¡¯s waist was immediately exposed. Ivory skin, an inviting navel, and black lace underwear peeking through the parted clothes... Such a sight was enough to arouse any man who laid eyes on it. However, seeing her fair and beautiful waist without any imperfections, Huangfu Jue was immensely disappointed and became rigid. He remembered clearly that she had a palm-sized tattoo on her waist, and even if it was removed, it should have left some trace. Could it be that he really mistook her for someone else? ¡°Sir!¡± The door to the restroom was pushed open, and the assistant rushed in with a bodyguard. Seeing Huangfu Jue over Gan Yuan, whose clothes were in disarray, and holding onto the other¡¯s skirt, everyone was shocked into stillness. Everyone knew that their boss was not usually interested in women, and their most common task was dragging away those women who tried to climb into his bed. To think that he would... The scene was overly ambiguous, so it was no wonder his subordinates would think too much into it. ¡°Help me, somebody help me!¡± Gan Yuan cried out loud. Huangfu Jue came back to his senses. ¡°Get out!¡± Without hesitation, everyone quickly exited the room, and the assistant even thoughtfully closed the door behind him, completely ignoring Gan Yuan¡¯s cries for help. His gaze lingered on Gan Yuan¡¯s waist for another two seconds before Huangfu Jue let go of her and stood up. Knowing that these people only listened to him, Gan Yuan didn¡¯t waste her energy shouting for help again. She slowly got up from the ground and stealthily watched the man through the mirror. His reaction was a bit off. Discovering it was her, shouldn¡¯t he be enraged? What was that expression on his face? It looked like disappointment... Standing there, watching Huangfu Jue leave the restroom, Gan Yuan raised an eyebrow, turned to the mirror, and lifted the bath towel from her body to reveal a fair waist. No wonder that man let her go. So that was it. She smiled secretly, relieved. That was close! The knock on the door rang, and Gan Yuan casually pulled a bathrobe around her body and walked over to open the door. Outside stood his assistant, holding a neatly folded set of men¡¯s sportswear. ¡°This is from the sir for you,¡± said the assistant, glancing over her disheveled hair and lifting a check, ¡°Take this check as well. Consider it compensation... Just forget about today¡¯s incident.¡± Chapter 24 - 24 24 I Want Her to Serve Me 24 ?24: Chapter 24 I Want Her to Serve Me (24) 24: Chapter 24 I Want Her to Serve Me (24) It seems that this gentleman often deals with such matters; his assistant is already handling it with practiced ease. Gan Yuan glanced at the check in his hand. ¡°Where is he?¡± ¡°The gentleman is in the room.¡± Is this world his? He does as he pleases and then dismisses the other party with a mere check afterwards? Pushing aside the assistant in front of her, Gan Yuan strode out of the restroom and headed straight for the master bedroom door. ¡°Miss!¡± By the time the assistant rushed to stop her, it was already too late; Gan Yuan had pushed open the door to the master bedroom. Inside, Huangfu Jue was still clad in that set of soaking wet clothes, standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing outside, lost in thought. Hearing the sound of the door being pushed open, he assumed it was the assistant entering and didn¡¯t even turn his face, simply tossing over two words displeasedly. ¡°Get out!¡± ¡°Miss Gan...¡± The assistant, having been by Huangfu Jue¡¯s side for several years, of course, understood his temper. Just by the tone of his voice, he knew that the gentleman was in a very bad mood¡ªit was not the time to provoke him. ¡°Back off!¡± Gan Yuan shook off the assistant¡¯s arm, her wet shoes stepping over the Persian carpet to come face to face with Huangfu Jue. Hearing the assistant¡¯s voice, Huangfu Jue turned around, eyes resting on Gan Yuan as she entered. His gaze swept over her face, plastered with damp hair, and he narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. At this moment, his emotions had calmed considerably. For the first time in his life doing something like that to a woman, he knew he owed her an apology for the incident a moment ago. ¡°About what just happened...¡± Before he could utter the words ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Gan Yuan spoke up firmly. ¡°Cancel the contract with my son immediately!¡± The apology that was on the tip of his tongue was blocked. The pride and domineering nature ingrained within him immediately surged, taking over his thoughts once again. ¡°No.¡± He had searched almost the entire world to find a boy like Gan Tang, suitable for the role. With the brand about to launch, he wasn¡¯t about to let go of such an excellent model. Gan Yuan scoffed coldly, ¡°Huangfu Jue, listen carefully, I¡¯m demanding this of you, not pleading with you!¡± ¡°No.¡± The man¡¯s tone was obstinate, leaving no room for negotiation. Gan Yuan gritted her teeth, ¡°If you refuse, I¡¯ll tell everyone that you tried to rape me!¡± A threat, is it? His blue eyes narrowed slightly, and Huangfu Jue¡¯s expression grew even more somber. ¡°As you wish!¡± The bastard, Gan Yuan nearly crushed her teeth in frustration. ¡°Fine, just wait and see!¡± Turning around, she stormed towards the door. ¡°Miss Gan!¡± The assistant hurriedly followed, intercepting her before she could leave, ¡°Miss Gan, I¡¯m very sorry about what happened earlier, and I apologize on behalf of the Duke. If you find the sum on the check too low, we can still negotiate... As for what you just mentioned, I advise you against it, as it will do you no good... You should be very clear that without any evidence, the media won¡¯t believe you. I think the Duke was just impulsive. Please, Miss Gan... could you forgive him just this once?¡± His words sounded like dissuasion, but beneath them was a veiled threat. Gan Yuan laughed coldly, ¡°Does the assistant sir do this often?¡± The assistant¡¯s own heart was in distress; in truth, this was an absolute first. ¡°I believe Miss Gan is a smart person. Or, if you have any other requests, feel free to mention them.¡± ¡°Fine, I can act as if this never happened.¡± Gan Yuan said seriously, looking him in the eye, ¡°However, I demand that your company terminates the contract with my son Gan Tang.¡± Even though Huangfu Jue hadn¡¯t recognized her this time, she wanted nothing further to do with him or her son from hereon. Chapter 25 - 25 25 I Want Her to Serve Me 25 ?25: Chapter 25 I Want Her to Serve Me (25) 25: Chapter 25 I Want Her to Serve Me (25) Night brings many dreams, and who dares guarantee that she won¡¯t slip up next time? ¡°This...¡± the assistant frowned with difficulty, ¡°I cannot guarantee, but... I can promise to try and communicate with the Duke.¡± Communicate my ass! With that guy¡¯s temperament, he is certainly not going to let Gan Tang out of the contract. ¡°Whatever you say, but... my son will no longer work with you!¡± Leaving that behind, Gan Yuan slammed the door and left. The assistant looked at the clothes and check in hand, shaking their head helplessly. Their own master too, so many socialites throw themselves at him but he doesn¡¯t care. With just a wave of his hand, the number of women willing to sleep with him could circle half the Earth... Yet he insists on using force, and the target is a woman who has given birth, his tastes really are... unique! ... ... Barely managing to organize her dress, Gan Yuan casually tied up her wet hair, tightened the towel around her body, and thought of that guy¡¯s face a moment ago, feeling a surge of dark irritation. ¡°Yo!¡± A woman¡¯s mocking voice came from not too far away, ¡°Manager Gan, who are you trying to seduce with this wet body game?¡± Letting down the towel she used to wipe her face, Gan Yuan looked up at Liu Chang standing in front of the elevator doors. ¡°I¡¯m not as idle as Manager Liu.¡± She pulled out a wireless microphone from her body, looking at the broken end of the wire, her frown deepening as she looked towards Liu Chang, ¡°Notify the engineering department, the Presidential Suite has a leak; they need to fix it right away.¡± Since it was a work-related issue, Liu Chang did not dare to neglect it and immediately gave orders through her own wireless microphone. ¡°Engineering department, this is Liu Chang, immediately arrange for someone to go help Mr. Huangfu fix the bathroom. Now, right now!¡± Releasing the talk button, Liu Chang watched Gan Yuan with a sneer, ¡°I¡¯ve always said that Manager Gan isn¡¯t suitable for overseeing the Presidential Suite. Ah... some people really are, just asking for trouble!¡± The elevator doors opened, and Gan Yuan was about to walk in when she heard this remark and paused, stepping back out. It was work hours now; what business did she have, having nothing better to do than to come to the 56th floor? ¡°You... what are you looking at me for?¡± Liu Chang involuntarily took a step back as she met her gaze. The incident had occurred so suddenly, and with Huangfu Jue¡¯s entanglement, she was only dealing with that guy and didn¡¯t think too much about it. But now, seeing Liu Chang, Gan Yuan immediately realized there was something unusual about this situation. Because she didn¡¯t want to confront Huangfu Jue directly, in addition to arranging daily room checks, she would personally inspect after he left, always following up on the room condition, from the air conditioning and sheets to the placement of tissues, nothing was too small or large to escape notice. The hotel¡¯s pipes and switches were all made of the highest quality material, especially the Presidential Suite, which underwent routine checks every month. How could the pipes just suddenly burst? Gan Yuan¡¯s gaze was cold as she watched her, ¡°Was it you who sabotaged it, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°What nonsense are you spouting!¡± Liu Chang raised her voice to mask her guilt, ¡°I... I did nothing.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Gan Yuan stepped closer, ¡°Then how did you know it was the water pipe in the bathroom that was leaking?¡± ¡°I... ¡± Liu Chang¡¯s face flashed with panic and then she calmed down, ¡°I deduced that. If there¡¯s a leak in the room, where else could it be but the bathroom? Ah... what are you doing... hands off!¡± Gan Yuan did not care, grabbing her arm and dragging her into the bathroom, locking the door behind them and shoving her aside. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to complain to President Li, then remember every word I say carefully.¡± Crossing her arms, she looked down condescendingly at Liu Chang sitting on the floor, ¡°This is the last time, stop targeting me, or else... you won¡¯t know how you died!¡± Chapter 26 - 26 26 I Want Her to Serve Me 26 ?26: Chapter 26 I Want Her to Serve Me (26) 26: Chapter 26 I Want Her to Serve Me (26) Liu Chang climbed up from the ground, ¡°I... I didn¡¯t!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Gan Yuan crossed her arms, ¡°Then... should I take President Li to check the surveillance video on the 56th floor?¡± Liu Chang¡¯s face instantly turned as pale as paper. Gan Yuan captured her expression and smirked coldly. ¡°Take off your clothes!¡± The woman before her was as cold as a ruthless deity, looking down on her from high above, like a god gazing upon an ant, instilling an innate fear. Liu Chang timidly curled up. ¡°What... what are you going to do?¡± Gan Yuan tossed the bath towel aside and casually pulled off her wet clothes. ¡°What do you think?¡± Going downstairs dressed like this would be humiliating, being seen by others was the last thing she wanted. Most importantly, if she went back to the office and her son saw her, the little guy would surely become suspicious, and she wouldn¡¯t have a reasonable explanation for him. Finding herself in need of a change of clothes, how could she not be thankful for this person who had so timely offered herself up? Liu Chang, already scared stiff by her, only now realized her true intentions. Though reluctant, she still shakily unbuttoned and took off her jacket, handing it over to Gan Yuan. Gan Yuan reached out and took her jacket and slightly arched her eyebrows. ¡°Need help with the rest?¡± Liu Chang, with no other choice, also took off her shirt and skirt. Gan Yuan unceremoniously put them on, casting a glance at her chest and could not help but laugh. ¡°Stuffing so many water bags, aren¡¯t you afraid they¡¯ll leak?¡± Liu Chang¡¯s face immediately turned beet red. She was tall and slender but flat-chested. To appear more flattering, she wore padded bras and even stuffed them with water bags. After adjusting her clothes in the mirror, Gan Yuan looked at herself and raised her eyebrows slightly. There was a noticeable scent of perfume on the clothes, which she found somewhat unusual. Gan Yuan habitually raised her hand to push up her glasses, then realized there was nothing on her face¡ªher glasses had been taken off by Huangfu Jue earlier and were left in his restroom. Thinking of that man, Gan Yuan frowned again, then turned her face to look at Liu Chang, who stood covering her chest, looking helpless. A gleam flashed in Gan Yuan¡¯s eyes, ¡°Now, go and tattle on me!¡± Liu Chang was startled, then hurriedly waved her hands, ¡°Supervisor Gan, rest assured, I... I definitely won¡¯t do that!¡± Gan Yuan stepped forward, ¡°I am telling you to go!¡± Liu Chang looked at her, puzzled, ¡°You... you¡¯re telling me to go?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Gan Yuan turned around and pulled open the door, then paused and turned back, smiling at Liu Chang, ¡°Make it sound worse¡ªaren¡¯t you the best at this kind of thing? Remember to be quick, I still need to take my son shopping later.¡± This incident could be made a big deal or a small one, and if Liu Chang went to complain, Gan Yuan could conveniently get out of the President¡¯s suite work, so she wouldn¡¯t have to serve that gentleman anymore. The most troublesome thing now was Xiaotang. Getting him to give up modeling was not going to be easy. After all, that child was not as easy to coax as other kids. If she couldn¡¯t find a good reason, it was very likely to arouse his suspicions. Riding the elevator down, she walked toward her office, pondering suitable reasons all the way. Back in the office, seeing Xiaotang sitting on the sofa reading, she took a deep breath and put on a smile again. ¡°Handsome boy, are you hungry?¡± The little guy lifted his face for a glance, his tiny eyebrows slightly furrowing. ¡°Mommy, what happened to your clothes?¡± Gan Yuan was speechless. This little sharp-witted fellow had indeed noticed. ... ... Good morning. If nothing unexpected¡ª[emphasis here]¡ªupdates around seven o¡¯clock in the morning. Chapter 27 - 27 27 I Want Her to Serve Me 27 ?27: Chapter 27 I Want Her to Serve Me (27) 27: Chapter 27 I Want Her to Serve Me (27) ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who said my clothes were ugly? So I ordered a new uniform,¡± Gan Yuan spun around on the spot. ¡°How is it, not bad, right?¡± The little guy looked her up and down and hopped off the couch, walking over to her and sniffed. ¡°This is that woman¡¯s clothing; I remember her perfume smell.¡± Fine! This is the downside of having a too clever son, it¡¯s so hard even to tell a small lie. ¡°This clothing, actually, it¡¯s...¡± The phone on the table rang promptly, and Gan Yuan quickly walked over to pick up the receiver. The voice on the phone was President Li¡¯s, ¡°Gan Yuan, come to my office immediately.¡± That Liu Chang, so efficient. Gan Yuan hung up the phone. ¡°Son, I¡¯ll explain to you after I get back.¡± She hurried to President Li¡¯s office, did not see Liu Chang, but noticed Huangfu Jue¡¯s assistant sitting on the sofa, President Li was bending over pouring tea for him. Could it be that this person also came to make a preemptive complaint? Well, it wouldn¡¯t be too bad to lose this job and save the trouble of writing a resignation letter. ¡°Gan Yuan, you¡¯re here!¡± President Li turned around and saw her, immediately smiling and waving to her, ¡°Come, come, take a seat!¡± This atmosphere... something¡¯s not right! ¡°President Li, you...¡± ¡°The earlier incident, this assistant has explained it all to me. Mr. Huangfu had drunk a bit too much, mistook you for someone he knew, and that¡¯s why he treated you as an acquaintance. He came in person to apologize,¡± President Li winked at her subtly, ¡°Such a minor issue, no need to make a big deal out of it, right?¡± ¡°Miss Gan,¡± the assistant stood up with a smile, ¡°For the harm caused to you before, we are very sorry, therefore... Mr. Huangfu has decided to invite you and your son to dinner tonight.¡± ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not available.¡± Gan Yuan did not intend to accept any favors, taking this opportunity to sever ties seemed like the wisest decision. ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand, Mr. Assistant; she means she has overtime work tonight.¡± President Li blinked at her, laughed, and then spoke, ¡°How about this, I¡¯ll have someone cover your shift tonight. You can leave work now to get ready and have a good meal with Mr. Huangfu.¡± Gan Yuan frowned, ¡°President Li...¡± ¡°Littleyuan!¡± President Li grasped her arm, not giving her a chance to speak, ¡°I know work is your priority, but Mr. Huangfu is showing such sincerity, how can we disappoint his goodwill? That¡¯s settled then, you¡¯ll leave work early today, go home, change your clothes, and get ready.¡± The assistant chimed in with a smile, ¡°Then... I¡¯ll come to pick you both up in an hour.¡± ¡°All right, no problem.¡± Without waiting for Gan Yuan to speak, President Li had already eagerly agreed for her, and he continued with a smile to escort the other out the door. Gan Yuan watched the assistant walking away, her face a picture of helplessness, ¡°President Li, I really have something tonight.¡± ¡°Gan Yuan!¡± President Li turned around with a distressed look, ¡°I know that you have been wronged in this matter, but we truly cannot afford to offend that person. If you¡¯d oblige me, just keep him happy tonight, and I¡¯ll immediately put you in charge of the President suite, how about that?¡± Gan Yuan¡¯s expression was neutral, ¡°President Li, you know that I don¡¯t care about the position.¡± ¡°I know, but you have to consider my situation,¡± President Li sighed helplessly, ¡°You know it¡¯s a critical period for my promotion. I¡¯ve been in this position for ten years, and this may be my last chance. I¡¯m begging you, will you do it?¡± Chapter 28 - 28 28 I Want Her to Serve Me 28 ?28: Chapter 28 I Want Her to Serve Me (28) 28: Chapter 28 I Want Her to Serve Me (28) Gan Yuan was at a loss for words. Objectively speaking, President Lee had been kind to her, having overcome all objections to promote her from an ordinary room service attendant to her current position. Considering she was raising a child on her own, there were times when this inevitably affected her work, yet he had always been tolerant and never held it against her. ¡°You can rest assured, it¡¯s just dinner, there definitely won¡¯t be anything else. If he dares to try anything with you, I won¡¯t accept it either,¡± President Lee beseeched her with a face full of earnestness, looking into her face, ¡°Gan Yuan, Little Yuan... please, just do me this favor, okay?¡± The higher-ups were currently looking for a suitable general manager for the hotel, and President Lee was the most promising candidate. He had been making great efforts to show his competence recently. If this gentleman was displeased and complained to the higher-ups, President Lee¡¯s promotion would surely be in jeopardy. Gan Yuan was always more responsive to a gentle approach than to a forceful one. President Lee was nearly fifty now, and seeing him plead like this, she truly felt unable to refuse. ¡°Okay, I can go to dinner,¡± Gan Yuan conceded to gain an advantage, ¡°However, I don¡¯t want to work in the presidential suite anymore. Could you let Liu Chang take over my duties?¡± Seeing her agree to dinner, President Lee readily consented to her request, ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll arrange it. You go and get ready first!¡± When Gan Yuan stepped out of the door, she ran into Liu Chang who had come to ¡°inform¡±. Seeing Gan Yuan, Liu Chang hurriedly stopped and made way. ¡°Manager... Manager Gan.¡± This time, Liu Chang was quite frightened by Gan Yuan. Secret scheming and tampering in the presidential suite, if this matter were to come out, her job was surely at risk. Observing the other¡¯s actions, Gan Yuan simply sneered internally. Did she really think she could compete with her with such little skill? Taking a step forward and holding Liu Chang¡¯s shoulder, Gan Yuan leaned in close to her ear. ¡°I haven¡¯t mentioned that matter. Remember, you owe me a favor!¡± ¡°I... I understand.¡± ¡°Good, when I need it, I will claim it.¡± Patting her shoulder, Gan Yuan walked away briskly. ... ... Heading back to the office, Gan Yuan had already made up her mind. She would go to tonight¡¯s dinner, but she would not bring Gan Tang. The little guy was always cunningly observant, and she didn¡¯t want him to catch on to anything. She didn¡¯t like lying to her son. So, upon entering, she put on a smiling face. ¡°Handsome guy, are you hungry? How about we go for hotpot?¡± Inside the office, Gan Tang was packing his school bag. Hearing Gan Yuan¡¯s voice, the little guy immediately turned his head. ¡°Someone is inviting us to dinner tonight.¡± A sense of foreboding rose in her heart, and Gan Yuan asked with suspicion. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Uncle Huangfu,¡± Gan Tang replied, fastening his backpack, ¡°He said he wants to talk to Mommy about our trip abroad. I¡¯ve already agreed, someone will pick us up at home at 6:30 PM.¡± Huangfu... Uncle?! Gan Yuan was so angry her teeth itched; Huangfu Jue, that bastard, was playing the trick of luring the tiger away from the mountain, making plans with her son while she was absent. ¡°Despicable, shameless!¡± Gan Tang¡¯s gaze shifted back to her, his clear, distinct large eyes fixed on her face. ¡°Who is Mommy scolding?¡± ¡°Of course... a bastard,¡± Gan Yuan shrugged her shoulders, edging closer to the young boy, ¡°My son, Mommy... has a little something tonight, so we might not be able to keep the appointment.¡± ¡°Is that so!¡± the little guy frowned slightly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to go by myself.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do!¡± Gan Yuan strived to keep her voice calm, ¡°It¡¯s too impolite for you to go alone. How about another time?¡± Chapter 29 - 29 29 I Want Her to Serve Me 29 ?29: Chapter 29 I Want Her to Serve Me (29) 29: Chapter 29 I Want Her to Serve Me (29) ¡°It won¡¯t do, we¡¯re leaving the country in three days, and I need to bring the passports tonight, so the company can help us book the flights.¡± Gan Yuan continued to make excuses, ¡°But, Mommy still has to work, how can we just leave the country like that?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that, Uncle Huangfu said he¡¯s got it covered. He mentioned he¡¯s very familiar with your Mr. Li.¡± Damnit, was he trying to block all her possible escape routes? She knew very well that it was a case of mistaken identity, yet he persisted. What exactly was his game? She was still pondering this when the little one had already hoisted his backpack. ¡°So we¡¯re going home now? Otherwise, it¡¯ll be too late later!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Gan Yuan snatched up the keys from the table, ¡°Then... Mommy will come with you and see what this Uncle Huangfu really wants to talk to me about!¡± If there¡¯s no avoiding it, then face it head-on. She was curious to see how he intended to play his game! Mother and son went downstairs and got into the car. On the way, Gan Yuan seemed to be focusing on driving, but internally she was covertly devising a strategy. When they returned to the two-bedroom they rented, she opened the door and then slapped her forehead. ¡°Right, speaking of which, where did I put the passports?¡± Pretending not to find the passports could at least delay the departure. ¡°In the bottom layer cowhide pouch of Mommy¡¯s safe.¡± Gan Yuan helplessly gave her son, who she always took pride in, a sidelong glance. Was this little rascal sent to ¡°sabotage his mom¡±? ¡°Is that so?¡± She feigned confusion on purpose. The little guy ran into the inner room with his backpack, and by the time she had finished changing her shoes, he had already fetched a kraft paper bag. ¡°Look.¡± She didn¡¯t need to look to know that inside were their passports and Gan Tang¡¯s birth certificate. How could she possibly have genuinely lost such important documents? ¡°Mommy must be getting old, the memory is clearly fading,¡± she mocked herself. ¡°Go change your clothes and get ready, Mommy¡¯s going to take a shower.¡± Her underwear, soaked earlier, hadn¡¯t been changed and was uncomfortable sticking to her skin. Plus, her fragrant uniform was becoming a bit unbearable. The most pressing matter at the moment, of course, was to take a shower. ¡°Okay.¡± The little guy headed into his room with the backpack, while Gan Yuan went to the bathroom in her bedroom, letting down her hair and stepping under the shower after stripping off her clothes. Hot water washed away the fatigue from her body, steaming up the bathroom, and once again Huangfu Jue¡¯s face flashed before her eyes. The man¡¯s voice echoed in her ears once more, ¡°Was it you that night, six years ago?¡± Though she had thought he would have forgotten all about that night six years ago, it turned out he still remembered. She wiped the water off her face and, along with it, his image from her mind, then she grabbed the shampoo to cleanse her hair and reached for the body wash. Her hands swept the foam over her shoulders, and as her fingers brushed over the rough skin, she stopped her movements and wiped away the steam on the bathroom mirror. In the reflection, her back was clearly visible, smooth and beautiful, except for a noticeable scar on her right shoulder, like a flaw on an otherwise perfect painting. The scar was old, about the size of a one-yuan coin in the center, with several smaller traces around it. Though it had been years, it still looked quite shocking, and it wasn¡¯t hard to imagine the injury from back then must have been severe. The water gradually washed away the foam from her body, flowing down the attractive groove of her back to the area near her tailbone, where a lurid red spider lily tattoo stood out, red as blood. Her gaze swept over that splash of red, and Gan Yuan frowned, turning off the shower and wrapping herself in a bath towel. Whether it was the scar or the tattoo, she concealed them all beneath the towel. Chapter 30 - 30 30 I Want Her to Serve Me 30 ?30: Chapter 30 I Want Her to Serve Me (30) 30: Chapter 30 I Want Her to Serve Me (30) Presidential Suite, Study. Huangfu Jue sat in front of the desk, documents spread out before him, his eyes gazing at the papers, yet his focus wasn¡¯t truly on them. It wasn¡¯t until the door was knocked that he snapped back to reality. The assistant carefully pushed open the door to the study, ¡°Sir, the Tattoo Artist has been brought here.¡± Huangfu Jue nodded slightly, the assistant left, and shortly after, brought a Tattoo Artist inside. This was the Tattoo Artist¡¯s first visit to such a place, already intimidated by Huangfu Jue¡¯s bearing, sitting on a chair pulled up by the assistant, awkward in every move. ¡°Mr. Huangfu, would you like to get a tattoo?¡± Huangfu Jue leaned back in his chair, ¡°I want to ask you a few questions.¡± ¡°Please ask.¡± ¡°Can tattoos be removed?¡± ¡°In theory, they can be. There are many methods for tattoo removal, with laser being the best option.¡± ¡°After removal, will there be any differences from the original skin?¡± ¡°If the previous tattoo was light in color, or the area small, it might not be noticeable. However, it¡¯s quite unlikely to match the original skin exactly; there will be some traces. If Mr. Huangfu is considering tattoo removal, I suggest visiting a cosmetic clinic abroad, as they might have better advice.¡± Huangfu Jue nodded, gestured softly to the assistant, and the assistant promptly escorted the Tattoo Artist out of his study. Moments later, the assistant returned and placed a pair of wide-rimmed, plain glasses on his desk. ¡°These were found in the bathroom.¡± Huangfu Jue glanced at the glasses at the edge of the desk, picked them up to scrutinize them closely¡ª the view through the lenses remained unchanged¡ª they were plain glasses. While Huangfu Jue examined the glasses, the assistant handed over the neatly folded fax as well. ¡°This is Gan Tang¡¯s application form you requested.¡± The form clearly listed Gan Tang¡¯s information. Name: Gan Tang, Nationality: M Country... His gaze fell on the birthdate entry, and Huangfu Jue¡¯s blue eyes narrowed. August 10th? Based on this date, the conception would have been around the previous November, the timing perfectly aligned. Fingertips clutching the fax on the desk, Huangfu Jue recalled the details of his recent encounter with Gan Yuan... His blue eyes grew more intense. ¡°Gan Yuan! Gan Tang?¡± His lips moved slowly, uttering her name and his child¡¯s, and then, the man abruptly stood up. ¡°Get ready, I¡¯m going to pick them up personally.¡± ... ... When Gan Yuan came out of the room, Gan Tang was already prepared. The little guy was dressed in a white shirt, a gray suit, a little black bow tie around his neck, looking every bit the elegant young gentleman. Compared to her son¡¯s formality, Gan Yuan was just in a casual home outfit¡ª an oversized T-shirt, gray sweatpants, wholly giving off the vibe of a post-dinner walk. ¡°Mommy,¡± the little guy said with a tone of dissatisfaction, ¡°you¡¯re too casual!¡± Gan Yuan straightened her slightly damp hair, ¡°We¡¯re not going on a blind date, why dress up so fancy?¡± No sooner had she spoken than the doorbell rang. ¡°Coming!¡± Gan Tang scurried over to open the door. ¡°Wait!¡± It was too late for Gan Yuan to stop him; Gan Tang had already pushed the security door open. Seeing Huangfu Jue standing outside, the little guy cried out in surprise, ¡°Uncle Huangfu!¡± From above the little guy¡¯s head, glancing at Gan Yuan standing in the living room with a comb in hand, Huangfu Jue withdrew his gaze. ¡°May I come in?¡± ¡°Of course, please do!¡± The little guy politely stepped aside to let him in and led Huangfu Jue into the living room, ¡°Let me introduce you.¡± Chapter 31 - 31 31 I Want Her to Serve Me 31 ?31: Chapter 31 I Want Her to Serve Me (31) 31: Chapter 31 I Want Her to Serve Me (31) ¡°No need for introductions, we¡¯ve known each other for a long time,¡± Huangfu Jue said as he arrived in front of Gan Yuan, his blue eyes staring unflinchingly at her face, ¡°Right, Gan Yuan?¡± The words ¡°for a long time¡± were pronounced with emphasis, and he did not call her Manager Gan, but rather used her name directly. Gan Yuan was aware of his shift but pretended not to understand anything. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± She raised her hand to support her son¡¯s shoulder, ¡°This is Mr. Huangfu, a guest of our hotel, so... you should call him Mr. Huangfu, not Uncle Huangfu.¡± He was deliberately being friendly, she was intentionally keeping her distance. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Huangfu Jue smiled slightly, ¡°I like it when Xiaotang calls me that.¡± He liked it, she did not! At that moment, the assistant had already closed the door and came over, placing the gift he was carrying on the coffee table. ¡°This is a gift the gentleman bought for you both.¡± Several large paper bags, ranging from toys for Gan Tang to clothing for Gan Yuan. ¡°Thank you,¡± Gan Tang politely expressed his gratitude. Gan Yuan didn¡¯t even glance over, ¡°No pay, no acceptance of rewards. Please take it back, Mr. Huangfu.¡± ¡°My upbringing does not allow me to visit someone without bringing a gift,¡± Huangfu Jue said calmly, his eyes fixed on hers, ¡°If you don¡¯t like them, you can throw them away.¡± Gan Yuan shrugged her shoulders, ¡°Then please, Mr. Huangfu, do me the favor of taking them out when you leave.¡± The assistant¡¯s eyelids twitched heavily; this was the first time his boss had bought gifts for a woman outside of relatives and friends, and she was so unappreciative? The assistant, worried, glanced at Huangfu Jue, already feeling a chill run down his back. Given Huangfu Jue¡¯s temper, he was bound to blow up, right? Huangfu Jue took a deep breath, his handsome brows slowly knitting together. He didn¡¯t lose his temper, but his emotions were on the verge of erupting. An aura of authority naturally emanated from the man, and the air in the living room seemed almost to freeze. ¡°Uncle Huangfu, don¡¯t mind it, Mommy is just joking with you,¡± Gan Tang said. The child¡¯s young voice broke the heavy silence. Hearing his voice, Gan Yuan realized her lapse and immediately smiled, ¡°You don¡¯t mind, do you, Mr. Huangfu?¡± Huangfu Jue relaxed as well, ¡°I like your sense of humor.¡± Gan Yuan silently curled her lip, ¡°Then let¡¯s go!¡± She had planned to dry her hair, but now, she hoped to drive the visitor out as soon as possible. ¡°There¡¯s no hurry, it¡¯s still early,¡± Huangfu Jue said nonchalantly as he made himself comfortable in his seat, resting his hand on the back of the sofa, ¡°The restaurant we¡¯re going to requires formal attire.¡± She hadn¡¯t realized before how thick-skinned he could be. ¡°Then please, Mr. Huangfu, wait your turn!¡± She turned and walked back to the bedroom, blowing her hair a few times with the dryer, and opened the closet to check out the clothes inside. Gan Yuan raised her lips in mischief. Formal attire, huh? Fine! Then she would change into her most formal attire. She casually pulled a few pieces of clothing from the closet, threw them on, and took a look at herself in the mirror. She grabbed a pair of spare prescription glasses from a drawer, put them on her face, and quickly returned to the living room. By the looks of it, Huangfu Jue was here on an unfriendly visit; leaving him alone with her son made Gan Yuan quite uneasy. There was now a glass of water in front of Huangfu Jue, and Gan Tang was sitting on a sofa diagonally opposite him. The two seemed engaged in a pleasant chat. When Gan Yuan entered, Huangfu Jue was leaning over to help the little guy remove a lint ball from his shoulder. Hearing her footsteps, Huangfu Jue spoke up indifferently. ¡°Xiaotang, how come... I haven¡¯t seen your dad?¡± ... ... Good morning Chapter 32 - 32 32 The Son Who Pits His Mother 1 ?32: Chapter 32 ¡°The Son Who Pits His Mother¡± (1) 32: Chapter 32 ¡°The Son Who Pits His Mother¡± (1) Gan Tang¡¯s gaze dimmed slightly, ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡± Gan Yuan lifted her lips into a smile. Truly her obedient son, making her proud! Hearing footsteps, Huangfu Jue turned his head to look over, just in time to catch the fleeting smile at the corner of Gan Yuan¡¯s lips. Mentioning the ¡°deceased¡± child¡¯s father, she could actually smile happily? A playful light flashed through Huangfu Jue¡¯s eyes. Noticing her outfit, his gaze darkened. Black skinny pants, a black thin trench coat, even the silk blouse was black... Was she planning to attend a funeral? However... His gaze fell on her face. Because she had come out in a hurry, Gan Yuan¡¯s long hair was still loosely draped over her shoulders. Although she still wore those damned black-rimmed glasses and couldn¡¯t be bothered to apply lipstick on her face, the woman who always liked to put her hair up and dressed conservatively, at this moment, unusually showed a touch of softness and beauty. Taking steps forward, Gan Yuan reached out and grabbed the car keys from the table. ¡°I¡¯m ready, let¡¯s go.¡± The group went downstairs together. The driver had already brought Huangfu Jue¡¯s car to the entrance of the unit, opening the door and waiting. Gan Yuan didn¡¯t pay any heed, pulling Gan Tang towards her second-hand Volkswagen. Huangfu Jue got into his car first and turned to find that the mother and son had already walked over to the Volkswagen. The assistant, looking helpless, said, ¡°Sir, what do you think?¡± The man raised an eyebrow. ¡°Drive!¡± The assistant hurriedly got into the passenger seat, commanding the driver to start the car. Thus, the black Bentley led the way, followed by Gan Yuan¡¯s old Volkswagen, one in front of the other, exiting the complex. Sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, Gan Yuan watched the car in front and laughed softly. With that man¡¯s pride, he must be fuming with rage right now, right? In the back seat, Gan Tang subtly curled his lips. ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re so childish!¡± ¡°Childish?¡± Gan Yuan gave him a roll of the eyes from the rearview mirror, ¡°Even if I¡¯m childish, I¡¯m still your mom!¡± The convoy continued on, arriving at a Three-Star Michelin Restaurant. The three of them got out of the car and went upstairs, Gan Yuan intentionally lagging behind with her son to maintain a distance from Huangfu Jue. Arriving on the third floor, they seated themselves separately. The meal had already been ordered in advance, so there was no need to choose dishes. A little later, the first course was served. Watching the two across the table, Huangfu Jue was the first to break the silence. ¡°Xiaotang, does the food suit your taste?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± the little guy nodded, ¡°Not bad.¡± Gan Yuan gently shook the fork in her hand that¡¯s still holding food, ¡°Don¡¯t talk while eating, it¡¯s not good for the stomach.¡± The little guy shrugged his shoulders and continued eating. With a flick of her hand, the sauce that was stuck to Gan Yuan¡¯s fork flew off, landing on Huangfu Jue¡¯s face and clothes. ¡°Oops!¡± Gan Yuan exclaimed softly, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry.¡± While she said sorry, there was not even a hint of apology in her eyes, even a trace of a smile could be spotted. The assistant¡¯s face turned white, hurrying over to help Huangfu Jue clean up. ¡°Let me help you wipe that off!¡± Gan Yuan reached for a napkin and strode over, carelessly wiped Huangfu Jue¡¯s suit with her hand. What was originally a few drops of sauce immediately spread into a stain. With his obsession for cleanliness, he surely wouldn¡¯t be able to continue the meal, would he? Watching the stain on his suit, Gan Yuan thought maliciously with a smirk. Yes, now she could enjoy a great meal with her son in peace. ¡°Sir, why don¡¯t you go to the restroom and clean up?¡± the assistant suggested quietly at the side. Huangfu Jue frowned and stood up. He glanced at Gan Yuan, who was engrossed in eating across the table. Then he turned and walked away from the table, with the assistant following hurriedly behind. Chapter 33 - 33 33 The Son Who Pits His Mother 2 ?33: Chapter 33 ¡°The Son Who Pits His Mother¡± (2) 33: Chapter 33 ¡°The Son Who Pits His Mother¡± (2) Watching the man¡¯s retreating figure, Gan Yuan chuckled lightly, ¡°Son, eat up quickly, so we can go home after you¡¯re finished.¡± The little fella swallowed the steak in his mouth, ¡°Is he chasing after you?¡± Gan Yuan glanced at him sideways, ¡°Little rascal, where did you learn such nonsense. Didn¡¯t I tell you, he¡¯s a guest of the hotel.¡± The little fella wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin, ¡°An explanation is a cover-up.¡± ¡°Pshaw!¡± Gan Yuan pursed her lips, then thought for a moment and looked sideways at her son, ¡°What do you think... How is he?¡± Although she was reluctant to admit it, she couldn¡¯t help but be curious about what kind of impression her own son had of this biological father. Gan Tang stared at the empty seat of the man opposite, ¡°Besides having a bit of a bad temper, he¡¯s not too bad otherwise.¡± She had thought Gan Tang would definitely list numerous flaws of Huangfu Jue, so how could it be ¡°not too bad¡±? To know, for the usually provocative Gan Tang, ¡°not too bad¡± was already quite a high praise. Gan Yuan raised her eyebrows unconvinced, ¡°Arrogant, domineering, shamelessly thick-skinned... What¡¯s so good about him?¡± ¡°Ahem!¡± In the hallway, a heavy cough echoed. Footsteps sounded, Huangfu Jue returned after leaving. The assistant sighed as he glanced at Gan Yuan, who was criticizing her husband behind his back, and then stealthily observed Huangfu Jue¡¯s expression. With the tone Gan Yuan had just used, the assistant had heard everything clearly, so there was no way the man himself hadn¡¯t heard. The man had removed his stained tie and suit, leaving only a gray-blue shirt on his body. Probably to facilitate cleaning the dirt on his collar, he had unfastened two buttons. The usually meticulous man now had an added touch of allure. After scanning the steak that was more than half eaten by her son, Gan Yuan laid down her cutlery. ¡°Son, we should thank Mr. Huangfu for his hospitality, and it¡¯s time we left.¡± The little fella sat in his chair without moving, ¡°I haven¡¯t had dessert yet.¡± Spoiled brat, what country are you from?! Gan Yuan reached out and took hold of the little fella¡¯s arm, her lips curved in a smile gentle as a loving mother¡¯s, but her eyes were filled with threat. ¡°Good son, you have bad teeth, and the doctor has forbidden you from eating sweets, remember?¡± Gan Tang had no choice but to put down his cutlery and stand up. ¡°Uncle Huangfu, goodbye.¡± Huangfu Jue stopped in front of the dining table, his blue eyes dark and unreadable, showing neither happiness nor sorrow. ¡°I¡¯ll send you off.¡± Having said this, he walked ahead toward the exit. Gan Yuan curled her lip and took her son¡¯s hand to follow him out. As they reached the second-floor staircase corner, a familiar call came from behind them. ¡°Littleyuan, Xiaotang!¡± Several people stopped in their tracks simultaneously and looked toward the direction of the voice. A figure emerged from behind the greenery, a tall build wrapped in a light gray short trench coat, with a handsome face smiling like a mild spring breeze... It was none other than Qiao Liang, the hotel¡¯s second chef, appearing before everyone. Gan Tang immediately showed a smile. ¡°Uncle Qiao.¡± Gan Yuan glanced over Qiao Liang¡¯s attire, a hint of a smile flickering across her lips. Second Chef Qiao, truly a hidden talent! That getup of his, even if he worked as a second chef without eating or drinking for twenty years, it might still not be enough. ¡°What a coincidence.¡± Gan Yuan smiled as she spoke. ¡°Indeed!¡± Qiao Liang approached and reached out to ruffle Gan Tang¡¯s hair in her arms, ¡°Are you heading home? It so happens I¡¯m on my way out too, how about we go together?¡± The deep blue pupils slowly contracted, and a chill immediately enveloped Huangfu Jue¡¯s frame. He turned around and took a step forward without being noticeable, positioning himself over Gan Yuan. He reached out to hold onto Gan Tang¡¯s shoulder. That posture was like that of a male lion discovering a foreign male in its territory. Chapter 34 - 34 34 The Son Who Pits His Mother 3 ?34: Chapter 34 ¡°The Son Who Pits His Mother¡± (3) 34: Chapter 34 ¡°The Son Who Pits His Mother¡± (3) ¡°There¡¯s no need to trouble Mr. Qiao, I¡¯ll take my own people home.¡± Bending slightly, he reached out to scoop Gan Tang into his arms and stretched the other hand to grab Gan Yuan¡¯s hand, ¡°We¡¯re leaving.¡± ¡°Goodbye, Uncle Qiao.¡± Gan Tang waved to Qiao Liang. Under the circumstances, Gan Yuan found it inappropriate to say much, and simply smiled at Qiao Liang, ¡°Then we¡¯ll be going first.¡± Without waiting for Qiao Liang¡¯s response, Huangfu Jue had already pulled her down the steps. ¡°Xiaotang, Littleyuan, see you tomorrow.¡± Qiao Liang walked to the stairs entrance, smiling as he bade farewell to the two. The beautiful woman in the purple dress walked over slowly from behind, stopping beside him, her eyes lowered as she watched Gan Yuan disappear around the corner of the staircase, ¡°Is it because of this woman that you refuse to go back?¡± ¡°My affairs are none of your business.¡± Qiao Liang raised his hands and stuffed them into his trench coat pockets, ¡°Please tell the old master for me that I¡¯ll go back when I feel like it, and one more thing...¡± he glanced sidelong at the beautiful girl beside him, ¡°I need to remind you, don¡¯t try any petty tricks on Gan Yuan and the child, or I won¡¯t let you off.¡± The face that was once as genial as a spring breeze was now devoid of any smile, icy as the winter frost. The girl pursed her lips, ¡°What about... our engagement then?¡± Qiao Liang¡¯s lips lifted into a smile again, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me chasing other women and leaving you alone in our room day after day after we¡¯re married, I don¡¯t care. We can marry whenever you want! Besides, I don¡¯t have my documents with me, so you can go register for the marriage yourself.¡± Shrugging his shoulders, he began to walk downstairs. ¡°Lu Ziliang!¡± The girl cried out sharply, ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being too much?¡± Qiao Liang stopped in his tracks and lazily turned his face around. ¡°The one who made an engagement with you was him, not me. I neither deceived your heart nor slept with you. How have I been too much?¡± The girl¡¯s face turned pale as she bit her lip, ¡°You...¡± ¡°I have an early shift tomorrow, so I¡¯m heading off.¡± Qiao Liang turned and continued downstairs, then paused after a few steps, ¡°Oh, and remember to go Dutch on tonight¡¯s dinner, don¡¯t forget to pay your share.¡± Finishing his words, he quickly continued down the stairs. The girl stood at the stair entrance, stamping her foot in frustration and yet feeling helpless. ... ... Downstairs. The driver opened the car door, Huangfu Jue stooped to place Gan Tang inside the car, and then sat down next to the little fellow before turning to look at Gan Yuan. ¡°Miss Gan, please!¡± The assistant held the car door, his tone courteous. Using her son to force the mother¡¯s hand? Gan Yuan was so angry she gritted her teeth and furiously threw the car keys into the assistant¡¯s chest, sat down in the car, and slammed the door shut with force. ¡°Drive.¡± At Huangfu Jue¡¯s command, the driver started the car and headed toward the apartment complex where Gan Yuan rented. The rear seat was originally very spacious, but with Huangfu Jue sitting in the middle, it was impossible for her to move far from him. She just turned away, offering him her back. Huangfu Jue glanced at her profile and spoke gently. ¡°Xiaotang, your birthday is in August, right?¡± ¡°Yes, August 10th.¡± ¡°That¡¯s close to mine; I¡¯m at the end of July. By the way, did you bring your passport?¡± The little guy immediately pulled out two passports from his small backpack, ¡°Here are mine and Mommy¡¯s passports.¡± Gan Yuan reached out to snatch them but was preempted by the hand of Huangfu Jue sitting in the middle, who grabbed them and managed to capture her palm in the process. The man looked sideways at her as she sarcastically let go of his hand. ¡°Mr. Huangfu, as I told you, we need to discuss the terms of the contract again.¡± Chapter 35 - 35 36 The Son Who Pits His Mother 5 ?35: Chapter 36 ¡°The Son Who Pits His Mother¡± (5) 35: Chapter 36 ¡°The Son Who Pits His Mother¡± (5) Gan Yuan crossed her arms, ¡°Every second, there are five babies born in the world, which makes over four hundred thousand in a day. If all the babies born on August 10th were your sons, Mr. Huangfu, wouldn¡¯t you be afraid of being exhausted to death?¡± ¡°And the blood type?¡± ¡°There are only four blood types in the whole world. The probability of having the same blood type is 25%. I could randomly throw a mineral water bottle on the street and hit two people with the same blood type as mine.¡± ¡°What if all of this is a coincidence,¡± Huangfu Jue stared into her eyes, ¡°why did you suddenly go back on your word?¡± She was prepared for this, ¡°Because I suddenly realized that a certain someone has a twisted personality and is psychologically disturbed. I don¡¯t want my son to be around such a person.¡± The lights in the hallway silently dimmed. In the dark, the man suddenly closed the gap between them, his palms grasping her shoulders. In the next second, she was enveloped in his arms, her face pressed against his chest. One hand on her waist, the other on her head, the man completely imprisoned her in his embrace, speaking softly above her head. ¡°Why did you leave that morning?¡± In the darkness, the man¡¯s voice was very low, tinged with deep helplessness. At her nose was a familiar scent, the fresh aroma of pine, the smell of rosemary, wrapped around the bouquet of the evening¡¯s red wine, the same as that night six years ago. Her heart tightened, her body stiffened for two seconds, and for a moment, she forgot to fight back. Not until the phone in her pocket vibrated did Gan Yuan come back to her senses and break free from his embrace. Behind her was the staircase, and as she stumbled against the stairs, she uncontrollably fell toward the ground, grabbing the handrail to steady herself. Her watch struck the handrail, making a crisp noise. The sound-activated lights came on, and the worry on her face, like the dark, was wiped away. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, Mr. Huangfu, you have the wrong person. I have never met you before, and my son is not your son. Goodbye.¡± Turning around, she stepped onto the stairs. As soon as her right foot touched the staircase, she was pulled back by him and pressed against the wall. ¡°Have you done...¡± Before the word ¡°done¡± could leave her mouth, his breath was already closing in. Her head hit the wall with a dull pain, and she instinctively took a breath. In that moment, her lips were overtaken by his. After two unsuccessful attempts to push him away, Gan Yuan, out of patience, clenched her teeth and bit down on his lip. Between her teeth, a metallic sweetness spread. The pain caused the man to loosen his grip, and she found the opportunity to dodge his kiss, drawing a breath to comfort her lungs, which ached from the lack of oxygen. The guy¡¯s kissing skills were still as lousy as they were six years ago. Hasn¡¯t he kissed in these six years? Just as she was about to push him away, the man turned his head and bit down hard on the side of her neck. ¡°Bastard!¡± she gasped for air, struggling to push him away, ¡°Are you a cannibal?!¡± The mark he left was so obvious that it should be visible to everyone. Narrowing his blue eyes, he glanced at the distinct red mark on her neck. Satisfied, Huangfu Jue straightened up. ¡°See you tomorrow.¡± Kissed, bitten... See you tomorrow?! Is something wrong with his brain? ... ... Good morning [Monday, routine request for a ticket] Chapter 36 - 36 37 You Kissed 1 ?36: Chapter 37 You Kissed (1) 36: Chapter 37 You Kissed (1) ¡°Huangfu Jue!¡± she called out his name loudly, ¡°I¡¯ve made myself very clear, what exactly do you want?¡± The man stopped in front of the building entrance, turned his face towards her, and watched her calmly, his lips stained with blood saying two words. ¡°Chasing you.¡± The answer was so unexpected that Gan Yuan was a bit slow to react. By the time she snapped back to reality, the man had vanished outside the door, and she hurried to pull open the building door to chase after him. Outside, the assistant had just helped Huangfu Jue close the car door and sat in the passenger seat; seeing Gan Yuan chasing out, the driver kindly lowered the window on Huangfu Jue¡¯s side. Gan Yuan stopped on the stairs, ¡°Huangfu Jue, you needn¡¯t waste your efforts, I¡¯m not interested in you.¡± The man looked at her with his side profile, his blue eyes as deep as night, his tone imperious and profound. ¡°I¡¯m interested in you.¡± ¡°You...¡± she was at a loss for words. The man withdrew his gaze, ¡°Drive.¡± The car speeded away, leaving Gan Yuan on the stairs, speechless. Standing there, she watched the car¡¯s taillights disappear from view and sighed softly, taking out her cell phone from her pocket. The displayed son¡¯s phone number, looking at the screen showing ¡°Precious Son,¡± she straightened her back and strode into the building, simultaneously tapping the screen to dial her son¡¯s number. ¡°Open the door.¡± The little guy helped her open the room door, letting her in and proactively took out her slippers from the shoe cabinet. Without changing her shoes, Gan Yuan simply smiled and steadied his tiny shoulders, kissing his forehead lovingly. ¡°My son is the best behaved!¡± Not like some people, clingy as a plaster. The little one sniffled and looked up at Gan Yuan changing her shoes. ¡°Did you kiss?¡± Gan Yuan tossed the shoes onto the shoe rack, watching the little creature before her with a mix of amusement and helplessness. ¡°Both parties need to be willing for it to be a kiss, he tried to kiss me, and I bit him.¡± The little one furrowed his brows, ¡°You don¡¯t like someone like Uncle Qiao Liang, and you also don¡¯t like someone like Uncle Huangfu, what kind of type do you like in the end?¡± ¡°I like your type,¡± Gan Yuan teased him. The little guy put on an adult-like demeanor, ¡°I¡¯m having a serious conversation with you, be serious.¡± Gan Yuan sat up straight, lifting the corners of her lips as she gazed at his delicate little face, ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s talk seriously. Do you really want mommy to get married?¡± The little guy shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to get married, I want you to be happy.¡± That one sentence hit her heart like a bullet. Gan Yuan¡¯s nose felt a bit sore, but a smile formed on her lips, her tone naturally becoming tender. ¡°So... you want to marry off mommy?¡± ¡°A woman needs to be adored by a man to be happy.¡± ¡°Who says?¡± The little one raised a finger towards the front. ¡°That¡¯s what the TV says.¡± Gan Yuan curled her lip; this is why children shouldn¡¯t watch TV, such logic. ¡°Mommy is telling you, having you to dote on me is enough. It¡¯s late, go bathe and sleep. We Xiaotang need to grow up fast, then we can protect and spoil mommy like a real man.¡± After saying that, she didn¡¯t forget to lean in and plant a heavy kiss on his little face, ¡°Good night.¡± ¡°Mommy, good night,¡± Gan Tang walked towards his own room door, pushed it open, then turned around, ¡°Mommy, I love you.¡± Gan Yuan smiled, ¡°Mommy loves you too.¡± Returning her smile, Gan Tang turned and entered his room. Watching the little one close his room door, Gan Yuan stood up and walked to her own room. Chapter 37 - 37 38 You Kissed 2 ?37: Chapter 38 You Kissed (2) 37: Chapter 38 You Kissed (2) She touched her still aching neck and walked to the vanity to look at the rose on her neck, pursed her lips, and immediately strode to the wardrobe. Opening the suitcase, she yanked open the closet doors and quickly pulled out several sets of clothes to throw into the suitcase, then she walked over to the desk and opened the safe. She took out two bundles of cash and some important documents and placed them on the desk. She raised an eyebrow and then took an envelope from a secret compartment in the safe. Inside the envelope was a golden card, which shone gleamingly under the light. If Huangfu Jue were here at this moment, he would immediately recognize that the card was the gold card only available to high-level VIP customers of Swiss Bank. She put the card back in the envelope, stood up, and threw the important items she had gathered from the desk into the suitcase in one go. Crouching down, she sorted through the contents of the suitcase, cursing under her breath. ¡°Xiaotang had finally found a suitable school and had just begun to adapt to life here¡ªwhy did you have to come looking for us... Damn it!¡± She understood Huangfu Jue¡¯s temperament well; the man always kept his word. At this time, trying to get him to give up was impossible. If she could not face him, at least she could hide from him. After packing everything neatly in the suitcase, Gan Yuan stood up and walked out of the bedroom, tiptoeing to the door of the little one¡¯s bedroom and gently pushing open the door. Inside, only a small nightlight was on. The little one had already taken a bath and was lying in bed, sleeping sweetly at the moment. Under the dim light, the child curled up slightly with both small hands outside the blanket, fingers like jade, face delicate, resembling a sleeping angel. Looking at her son, her gaze immediately softened again. No matter how great the difficulties or bad her mood, just seeing him could make her feel joy deep from the bottom of her heart. ¡°Mummy...¡± The little one seemed to be dreaming, mumbling softly. Bending down, Gan Yuan gently adjusted his blanket and kissed his short hair. Her hand reached out and soothingly patted his back. ¡°Mummy is here... Sleep well, Xiaotang...¡± The kid settled down again, and Gan Yuan straightened up ready to leave when she felt something hard by his pillow. With a look of puzzlement, she lifted his sheets and saw a large hard-covered book lying wide open underneath. On the cover was a half body portrait of a man with the words ¡°My Daddy¡± written above it. It was a children¡¯s picture book. When mother and son were browsing a bookstore previously, the salesperson had recommended it, but the little one just turned his face away and retorted with a ¡°Childish.¡± Now, the book was at his bedside¡ªcould he have bought it himself? My Daddy? Gan Yuan flipped through the book in her hands; it was a picture book. On the first page, there was an illustration with only one line of text below it. ¡°This is my daddy; he¡¯s really great.¡± Next to it, written in crayon were several lines of slightly naive Chinese, clearly added by the kid himself. ¡°My daddy is definitely not this ugly and fat.¡± Gan Yuan turned to the next page and immediately saw the drawing paper clipped in the book. At the top of the paper were the words ¡°My Daddy,¡± and below was a simple sketch of a man. The body was fully drawn, but the face was unfinished. The nose and mouth were drawn, but the eyes and hair were yet to be filled in. Staring at the unfinished drawing before her, Gan Yuan tightly pursed her lips. Chapter 38 - 38 39 You Kissed 3 ?38: Chapter 39 You Kissed (3) 38: Chapter 39 You Kissed (3) She understood her son; when it came to painting, he always had a great talent, which must have been inherited from that man. The reason he never painted hair and eyes on this portrait was simple: he wasn¡¯t certain which colors to use¡ªbecause she had never told him anything about his father. What he looked like, what his job was, what he excelled in... She didn¡¯t want to deceive him, but that man was too outstanding; she couldn¡¯t speak of him. Gently closing the book in her hands and returning it to its place, Gan Yuan tucked in her little one and tiptoed out of his bedroom. Back in her own room, she stepped onto the terrace and was lost in thought as she gazed into the night. The spring night was warm yet chilly. The wind blew from afar, sneaking in through the cuffs and collars, like a cold hand caressing the skin. Hugging her arms, she casually glanced around; a black sedan parked downstairs caught her attention, and she raised a curious eyebrow. Ever since she stood on the balcony, that car had been there. Under the streetlights, she could see the driver still sitting inside, not having left the car for two hours. Was he planning to spend the night in the car? Curving her lips, she turned back to her room, grabbed Xiao Jue¡¯s binoculars from the living room, turned off the main lights, and quietly returned to the terrace. Downstairs, a light came on inside the black sedan¡ªthe driver was making a call. Using the light, Gan Yuan could clearly see the face of the person inside. That face was familiar to her, one of Huangfu Jue¡¯s many bodyguards. She thought as much; he left so cleanly because he had left a dog to watch her. Huangfu Jue, you bastard! ... ... ¡°Achoo!¡± On the terrace of the Empire Hotel¡¯s presidential suite on the 56th floor, Huangfu Jue sneezed loudly and rubbed his nose, then licked the wound at the corner of his lips with the tip of his tongue. The wound bitten by Gan Yuan had scabbed, still stinging slightly under the sting of alcohol. He didn¡¯t pay much attention to it but pursed his lips and gently swirled the glass in his hand. His tall figure stood on the spacious terrace, alone. Footsteps approached him from behind. Huangfu Jue lowered the glass, ¡°How is it?¡± The assistant stood beside him, handing over a mobile phone, ¡°So far, Miss Gan hasn¡¯t shown any signs of leaving. She was just staring blankly at the night sky from the terrace.¡± Huangfu Jue took the phone and placed it to his ear. ¡°Is she still on the terrace?¡± On the other end, the bodyguard¡¯s voice said, ¡°No, she just went back into the room and turned off the lights, she¡¯s probably asleep.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t take it lightly. If you notice any movements from her, notify me immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, Duke.¡± Huangfu Jue handed the phone back to his assistant and took a shallow sip from the wine glass. ¡°The person you told me to look into, did you find anything?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the assistant flipped through the file in his hands, ¡°Qiao Liang, joined half a year ago, currently a sous-chef at the hotel¡¯s restaurant. Real name Lu Ziliang, 25 years old, Michelin three-star chef, the only son of the grand culinary tycoon Lu Shaojie. Reportedly, he had a conflict with a guest when he first joined, but it was Gan Yuan who stepped in to resolve it. As a result, he has always been very considerate of Miss Gan and her son. Besides, he dined with a woman tonight named Chu Xinqing, daughter of a hotel chain magnate, and the fiance?e selected by Lu Shaojie for his son. Of course, Lu Ziliang doesn¡¯t approve of this arranged marriage. Changing his name and coming here was mainly to escape the economic marriage arranged by his father.¡± Chapter 39 - 39 40 You Kissed 4 ?39: Chapter 40 You Kissed (4) 39: Chapter 40 You Kissed (4) Huangfu Jue gave a light nod. Despite having met Qiao Liang only once, his keen observation skills and experience in dealing with people told him that this man was no simple character. Being a man himself, he understood men, and from the way Qiao Liang looked at Gan Yuan, Huangfu Jue knew that this man had ulterior motives towards her. He had never been in love, nor pursued anyone. However, the saying that love is like a battlefield could be found both in books and movies. ¡°The Art of War¡± states, know thyself, know thy enemy, and you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles. Since it was a battlefield, it was of course necessary to understand how many enemies he was competing with and who they were. The assistant continued, ¡°Regarding Gan Tang, I couldn¡¯t find much other information. His teachers say he is very talented, especially at drawing.¡± Huangfu Jue pressed on, ¡°What about Gan Yuan?¡± ¡°She joined the company a year and a half ago, initially hired as a customer service representative; it only took her a year to rise to the position of guest room director. I¡¯ve asked Mr. Li about her, and he said she has a strong work capacity. In the hotel, she doesn¡¯t seem to have any particularly close friends, other than Qiao Liang, and it seems she has no other suitors.¡± Huangfu Jue, passing his empty cup to him, lifted his hands to support himself on the railing. ¡°Book a flight and hotel for three days from now, and cancel all engagements within the next ten days. Also... prepare a gift to be sent to her office first thing tomorrow morning.¡± Holding the cup, the assistant stood still, ¡°Duke, what gift should I prepare?¡± As this was the first time their master was pursuing a woman, the assistant naturally didn¡¯t dare to show any neglect. One question left Huangfu Jue at a loss for words. This was also a first for him, naturally he had no concept of it, as his life experience revolved more around rejection. ¡°How about a bouquet of flowers?¡± the assistant suggested. ¡°Tacky!¡± ¡°Then... chocolates?¡± ¡°No good!¡± ... Several suggestions from the assistant were ruthlessly rejected by him. ¡°Forget it,¡± he raised his hand to stop the assistant¡¯s next suggestion, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you tomorrow morning.¡± ... ... Morning arrived as scheduled, and the mother and son had a simple breakfast before descending the stairs one after the other. Seeing the backpack slung over the little one¡¯s shoulders, Gan Yuan immediately remembered the drawing she had hidden under her pillow and the children¡¯s book. After descending the stairs and getting into the car, she started the engine while casually striking up a conversation. ¡°My son is getting more handsome, more and more... like your dad!¡± Mentioning his father, the little guy¡¯s eyes immediately lit up. ¡°Do I really look like Dad?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Gan Yuan glanced at the rearview mirror, noting the black sedan following at a close distance, ¡°he was tall, handsome, with a great figure... He had such strength that he could lift you high with just one hand...¡± ¡°What color is his hair?¡± Gan Tang asked excitedly. ¡°Hair...¡± Gan Yuan bit her lip, ¡°just like yours, of course.¡± ¡°And his eyes?¡± ¡°The eyes...¡± The image of Huangfu Jue¡¯s sea-blue eyes flashed before her; she couldn¡¯t bear to lie to her son anymore, ¡°They¡¯re blue, the most beautiful kind of blue. Under the sunlight, they are brighter than the sky, and at night, they¡¯re as profound as the deep sea...¡± ¡°Just like Uncle Huangfu¡¯s?¡± Gan Yuan took a deep breath, ¡°No, even more beautiful than his.¡± ¡°Is he as tall as Uncle Huangfu?¡± ¡°Almost.¡± ¡°Is he as handsome as Uncle Huangfu?¡± ¡°Even more handsome!¡± ¡°Then... what about his personality? Is he like Uncle Qiao, or like Uncle Huangfu?¡± Chapter 40 - 40 41 You Kissed 5 ?40: Chapter 41 You Kissed (5) 40: Chapter 41 You Kissed (5) Gan Yuan was not stingy with her praise; what she extolled was not Huangfu Jue, but the father of her son. She wanted her son to perceive his father as an exceptionally outstanding figure. ¡°When he smiles, he¡¯s even gentler than Uncle Qiao, and when he¡¯s serious, he¡¯s more imposing than Uncle Huangfu...¡± The little guy leaned forward, supporting himself on the back of her chair. ¡°Mommy, do you love him?!¡± Gan Yuan hesitated for two seconds, then, her lips lifted into a smile. ¡°Of course, otherwise, how would you be here?¡± ... That day was the first time Gan Yuan mentioned the father to her son. Along the way, the little one asked all sorts of questions, from the father¡¯s hair color to his favorite color... sparing no detail. Gan Yuan satisfied each query, telling him everything she knew about Huangfu Jue except for his name and true identity. Latter on, the little guy simply took out an unfinished drawing from his backpack and used his colored pencils to fill in the parts he had missed before. When the car stopped at the school¡¯s entrance, the little guy held up the completed drawing. ¡°Mommy, look, does it look like Dad?¡± She adoringly nodded at the image on the paper, ¡°Yes, it looks very much like him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to give it to the teacher now, goodbye Mommy.¡± The little one pushed open the car door, clutching the drawing and ran towards the teacher waiting at the entrance. Watching him hand the drawing to the teacher with a smile, Gan Yuan¡¯s lips curled into a gentle smile, observing her son until he entered the school gates. Only then did she look away and glanced at the black sedan that had been following her from the residential area to the school. Since the other party was a man of Huangfu Jue, there was no need for her to deal with it. She wasn¡¯t prepared to leave just yet, so if he liked following, then let him follow. She drove to the hotel, parked the car, walked into the elevator, and when she met a familiar colleague, she politely greeted them. Everything was as usual. The difference was, as soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Huangfu Jue¡¯s assistant standing outside. Seeing her, he immediately came over with a smile, ¡°Miss Gan, hello.¡± Gan Yuan stopped, ¡°You wanted to see me?¡± The assistant spoke with a smile, ¡°Mr. Huangfu would like you to visit his room. He asked me to tell you that he has prepared a gift for you.¡± Early in the morning, what was he up to now? Gan Yuan looked at the hotel staff on both sides, who were curiously watching, ¡°Please tell him that I am very busy with work and don¡¯t have time to play these boring games with him.¡± ¡°Miss Gan,¡± the assistant caught up with her, ¡°If I remember correctly, your most important job now is to provide service to Mr. Huangfu.¡± ¡°So...¡± Gan Yuan stopped, ¡°Is this an order?¡± The assistant smiled apologetically, ¡°Of course not. Actually, in addition to the gift he prepared for you, Mr. Huangfu also wants to discuss with you the details of the upcoming photo shoot in Europe.¡± Truly an assistant of Huangfu Jue, knowing what mattered to her the most. Gan Yuan thought for a moment, ¡°Then please tell Mr. Huangfu that I will be there on time in half an hour.¡± She had no intention of refusing this trip to Europe. This time, she would give Gan Tang the opportunity to bond with his father, even if it was a special gift she was offering to her son. Since that was the case, discussing the shooting process was only proper. ¡°Um...¡± the assistant glanced at his watch, ¡°Could you perhaps... come a bit sooner?¡± Gan Yuan¡¯s lips curved slightly, ¡°No.¡± The assistant, having expected her answer, could only shrug helplessly. ¡°I will inform Mr. Huangfu. This is from Mr. Huangfu for you.¡± He took something out of his pocket and handed it to Gan Yuan, not giving her the chance to return it, turned around and ran off, no longer concerned about maintaining a professional image. ... ... Good morning. Chapter 41 - 41 42 Overbearing CEOs Flirting Mode 1 ?41: Chapter 42 Overbearing CEO¡¯s Flirting Mode (1) 41: Chapter 42 Overbearing CEO¡¯s Flirting Mode (1) Actually, some people don¡¯t lack the will to speak; they simply haven¡¯t met the person they wish to open up to. ¡ª Son of Snow ... ... Turning to walk forward, Gan Yuan lifted her right hand. Between her fingers was a hotel¡¯s proprietary envelope, thin so one couldn¡¯t make out if there was anything inside, its cover so clean it lacked even a single superfluous word. Could it be that guy really wrote her a letter? Reaching the corridor¡¯s corner, Gan Yuan stopped, casually holding the object her assistant had given her above the trash can. The fingers pinching the envelope began to loosen bit by bit, and just as the envelope was about to leave her grasp, she suddenly pulled it back, tearing it open and casually pulling out a card from inside. On the card was a pen drawing, exquisitely done. The drawing depicted a girl¡¯s silhouette from the back; she stood by the window, one hand on the frame, the other holding a glass of red wine, seemingly gazing at something, her long hair casually swept up revealing a pretty neck, a floor-length mermaid dress with its trailing gauzy fabric being brushed up by the wind... Despite being just a backdrop, it was breathtakingly beautiful. Gan Yuan recognized the dress at a glance¡ªit was her! After being stunned for two seconds, Gan Yuan contemptuously curled her lip. ¡°Not even as good as my son¡¯s drawings!¡± ¡°Manager Gan, good morning!¡± The janitor, pushing the trash cart past, greeted her with a smile upon seeing her. ¡°Good morning!¡± Stuffing the card back into the envelope, Gan Yuan glanced at the ¡°tail¡± that was following her and casually raised her right hand, tossing the envelope into the janitor¡¯s trash cart. The movement was executed extremely quickly¡ªlifting her hand, throwing, retracting her arm, turning around; the whole motion was fluid and continuous. The bodyguard stepped aside, allowing the janitor to push the trash cart by, then reached for his Bluetooth headset. ¡°Miss Gan... she...¡± ¡°Did she look at it?¡± ¡°She did look... but she tossed it away as soon as she was done!¡± the bodyguard said resignedly. ¡°Are... are you sure you saw it clearly?¡± On the other end of the call, Huangfu Jue¡¯s assistant Will was almost ready to scream. The painting that the Duke himself took two hours to finish was at stake here. If put up for auction, it would go for at least several hundred thousand. If the socialites who wanted to win his favor knew, they¡¯d likely be willing to bid up to a million or even higher for the piece, yet she had nonchalantly thrown it away. The bodyguard glanced at the departing janitor, ¡°Should I pick it back up?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not...¡± What to do with it after retrieving it? If the Duke found out his meticulously drawn painting had been tossed away, he¡¯d probably be livid to the point of spitting blood, ¡°Alright, carry on with your duties, and let me know if she goes upstairs.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Will.¡± The bodyguard replied, moved to find a concealed place from which he could keep an eye on Gan Yuan¡¯s room door, and stopped. Inside the office. Gan Yuan sat down at her desk, her right hand retracting from her pocket, conspicuously holding the small envelope. The previous action had been a feint; she had never actually thrown the item away. That person¡¯s drawings are quite rare; this item could be kept as a keepsake for her son. Saving the envelope in the inner compartment of her backpack, Gan Yuan picked up her work journal, scrutinized the contents earnestly, and then picked up the phone to arrange the ensuing tasks one by one. Huangfu Jue wouldn¡¯t simply let things be. With the situation as it was, resignation was the only option. This trip to Europe would mark the time for her to take her son and leave. After handing over her work, she closed the work journal and made her way to President Li¡¯s office. Chapter 42 - 42 43 Domineering CEOs Flirting Mode 2 ?42: Chapter 43 Domineering CEO¡¯s Flirting Mode (2) 42: Chapter 43 Domineering CEO¡¯s Flirting Mode (2) Before she could speak, Manager Li had already happily ushered her to the sofa. ¡°Mr. Will has already informed me. You just relax and take Xiaotang to have fun for a few days. I¡¯ll count it as paid leave.¡± Smiling, Gan Yuan thanked him and left Manager Li¡¯s office, then took the elevator upstairs. By the time she stood in front of Huangfu Jue¡¯s guest room door and pressed the doorbell, it was exactly as she had promised¡ªhalf an hour later. Will opened the door, politely let her into the room, and led her to the terrace. At the small dining table on the terrace, Huangfu Jue was earnestly reviewing a document. ¡°Sir, Miss Gan is here,¡± Will reminded softly. ¡°Sit.¡± Huangfu Jue didn¡¯t lift his head; he was always focused when working. Will helped Gan Yuan pull out a chair, and after she sat down opposite him and Will asked what she would like to drink, he went back into the room to prepare her beverage, leaving only Huangfu Jue and Gan Yuan on the terrace. The man worked intently, occasionally scribbling something on the document, a faint rustling sound accompanying the motion. The brilliant morning sun cast on the side of his face, making his hair shine with a dazzling golden color. From his brow shape to his lips, from his earlobe to the tip of his fingers holding the pen, the man before her was undoubtedly God¡¯s chosen, without a single flaw. After signing his name on the final page, Huangfu Jue closed the document and looked up. ¡°Be my woman, and you can gaze at me like this every day.¡± So narcissistic! With a lifted lip, Gan Yuan replied, ¡°Your type is fine to look at occasionally, but seeing it every day would make me nauseous.¡± His deep blue eyes fixed on her face, Huangfu Jue spoke calmly, ¡°To get nauseous, just looking isn¡¯t enough, you have to sleep together, too.¡± Even though he was speaking nonsense, he still managed to be as elegant as a prince. Shamelessness is indeed invincible! Gan Yuan truly understood that now. She wasn¡¯t content to let him take advantage of her. ¡°Duke, considering you can¡¯t even kiss properly, expecting anything else is hard to look forward to.¡± His blue eyes narrowed dangerously, ¡°Why not try it out then?¡± Unimpressed, she retorted, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in men who are poor kissers.¡± Will came out just in time to hear their exchange, regretting his poor timing, and found it inappropriate to retreat. Thus, he could only steel himself, come forward, and place the prepared refreshments in front of Gan Yuan. ¡°Miss Gan, your tea.¡± The doorbell rang, and just like being pardoned, Will let out a sigh of relief and quickly went to open the door. Two waitstaff pushing a cart entered the room, followed by Qiao Liang wearing the hotel restaurant¡¯s uniform, who stepped onto the terrace following the waitstaff. ¡°Chef Qiao Liang at service number six is here to serve both of you.¡± Standing by the side of the dining table, Qiao Liang smiled and said, ¡°May I know Mr. Huangfu¡¯s preferences for breakfast? How well do you like your eggs done?¡± Qiao Liang? Gan Yuan turned her face with confusion. The in-room dining service for the Presidential Suite is always handled by the head chef. So why is he here? Huangfu Jue and Gan Yuan both turned their faces toward him. Qiao Liang smiled and nodded at Huangfu Jue, then smiled at her and winked. ¡°Littleyuan likes them medium-well, I know,¡± he said. Glancing at Qiao Liang¡¯s name tag, Huangfu Jue spoke indifferently. ¡°A sous chef can also provide service for the Presidential Suite?¡± This question was directed at Gan Yuan, and his posture made it clear he wasn¡¯t interested in speaking with Qiao Liang at all. ¡°Mr. Huangfu, I apologize for the inconvenience. Our head chef wasn¡¯t feeling well today, so I am temporarily taking over to serve you,¡± responded Qiao Liang. Chapter 43 - 43 44 The Overbearing Presidents Flirting Mode 3 ?43: Chapter 44 The Overbearing President¡¯s Flirting Mode (3) 43: Chapter 44 The Overbearing President¡¯s Flirting Mode (3) ¡°If you insist on having the chef complete it, then you¡¯ll have to wait for him to come out of the washroom. Of course, I must remind you that he might need to use the washroom during the service process.¡± Qiao Liang¡¯s lips curled into a wide smile, ¡°If Mr. Huangfu doesn¡¯t mind, I can call the chef in the washroom right now.¡± Gan Yuan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly. With his obsession with cleanliness, he probably won¡¯t be able to stomach his breakfast, will he? ¡°No need.¡± Huangfu Jue turned his gaze, his eyes landing on Qiao Liang¡¯s face, ¡°Medium-rare, for both her and me.¡± He was the customer, and he set the rules, although he, like her, preferred his steak medium-well. Qiao Liang shrugged his shoulders, ¡°And the bread? Does sir prefer it burnt or not burnt?¡± ¡°Somewhere in between.¡± ¡°And the tea?¡± ¡°30% Indian tea, 40% Ceylon tea, 30% Kenyan tea.¡± ... Such a demanding request. ¡°No problem.¡± Qiao Liang smiled and turned to Gan Yuan. Before he could ask, Huangfu Jue added, ¡°Same for her.¡± ¡°Alright, please wait a moment.¡± Qiao Liang moved back to the side of the cart, where his two assistants had already prepared the ingredients and the stove. He had just taken his position in front of the stove when Huangfu Jue¡¯s voice rang out again. ¡°I don¡¯t like the smell of grease.¡± Since it was an in-room service, the stove was certainly top-notch. But, it was just a breakfast, how could there be any smell of grease? This statement was nothing more but a way to avoid having this guy in his sight. Will, of course, knew his master¡¯s thoughts best and immediately stepped forward, ¡°Gentlemen, would you mind cooking outside, please?¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Qiao Liang waved at his two assistants, ¡°Take the stuff outside.¡± In a hotel, the customer is king, especially when that customer has booked the entire Presidential Suite. Naturally, he couldn¡¯t be offended. The two assistants internally complained about how difficult Huangfu Jue was to serve, though not a trace of it showed on their faces as they pushed the two carts out to the terrace. Gan Yuan withdrew her gaze and spoke seriously, ¡°How many days will this shoot take approximately?¡± She was here to discuss business and didn¡¯t want to waste too much time in front of him. ¡°If all goes well, about a week.¡± Huangfu Jue took the towel offered by his assistant and wiped his fingers. ¡°The passport will still be needed for some related procedures, so it will have to stay with me for the time being.¡± Before she could speak, he had already rejected this request she might have made. Footsteps sounded lightly, and Qiao Liang came in holding a tray, placing two breakfast plates in front of them. Cooked to seventy percent, the eggs were paired with artistically cut fresh fruits and vegetables, making a pleasing presentation that whetted the appetite. Yet, someone was a picky little expert! ¡°Change it.¡± Huangfu Jue glanced indifferently at the plate in front of him. ¡°I don¡¯t like getting juice on my hands.¡± The orange peel in the plate was only half-cut, forming a beautiful rose shape, not only pleasing to the eye but also handy for eating. Qiao Liang nodded calmly, ¡°I apologize, I¡¯ll have it changed for you right away.¡± So, the plate was taken away and soon brought back again, with the orange peel neatly removed and a cute little fork with a nice design inserted into it, ensuring that hands would stay clean. But the man didn¡¯t even glance at the plate. ¡°The eggs are cold.¡± Qiao Liang smiled and took out a temperature-test fork, gently poking the egg on Huangfu Jue¡¯s plate, ¡°Mr. Huangfu, please look, 40 degrees, it¡¯s the perfect temperature for the stomach, just right.¡± Chapter 44 - 44 45 Overbearing CEOs Flirting Mode 4 ?44: Chapter 45 Overbearing CEO¡¯s Flirting Mode (4) 44: Chapter 45 Overbearing CEO¡¯s Flirting Mode (4) Huangfu Jue¡¯s eyebrows lifted faintly, ¡°What a pity, your fork has already ruined its perfection.¡± Gan Yuan lost her patience, sighed deeply, and started to rise to her feet. ¡°I think, I¡¯d better wait until you¡¯ve finished breakfast before coming!¡± Can¡¯t we have a pleasant conversation about the progress of the shoot? It¡¯s just breakfast, and he¡¯s obviously nitpicking. At this rate, when will we finish? Before she could fully stand, the man¡¯s right hand stretched out and covered the back of her left hand that was resting on the tabletop. When he spoke again, his tone shifted from the arrogance and severity he had shown Qiao Liang to something... softly tender. ¡°Be good, sit down, don¡¯t be angry!¡± A shiver of goosebumps ran down her arms instantly; Gan Yuan raised her eyes to look at Huangfu Jue across from her, and for a second, she thought she had misheard. After a moment, she snapped back to reality. She tried to retract her arm, but the man¡¯s palm seemed casual while it precisely seized her wrist. It was not enough to cause her pain, but it was enough to firmly imprison her hand between his fingers. If she insisted on withdrawing, their breakfast on the table might end up overturned on the floor. Qiao Liang¡¯s gaze swept over Huangfu Jue¡¯s hand holding onto Gan Yuan¡¯s and stretched out to take his plate. ¡°I¡¯ll make a new one for the gentleman.¡± The plate was under Huangfu Jue¡¯s arm, and unless he retracted it, Qiao Liang wouldn¡¯t be able to take it away. It seemed like a compromise, but it was actually a roundabout way of saving Zhao, forcing Huangfu Jue to release Gan Yuan. It was just unfortunate that Huangfu Jue did not give him the opportunity. Sitting unwaveringly, his fingers gripped Gan Yuan, immovable as if Mount Tai. ¡°There¡¯s no need, I don¡¯t want Yuanyuan to be unhappy.¡± Yuanyuan? Yuanyuan?! ¡°Cough!¡± Will nearly choked on his own saliva. Was this person before him really the same high and might Duke who considered women beneath his notice? Across from him, Gan Yuan too was frozen in place, looking at Huangfu Jue before her with the kind of gaze one might use for an extraterrestrial being. Duke, does your family know you¡¯re this cheesy? With a smile on his face, Qiao Liang spoke while holding the plate. ¡°I think, Littleyuan wouldn¡¯t mind. Our hotel¡¯s creed is to provide the best service to guests, no matter if it¡¯s Littleyuan or myself, we hold that creed as a tenet. I¡¯ll still replace it for you?¡± The word ¡°we¡± easily shortened the distance between him and Gan Yuan, relegating Huangfu Jue to a different category. ¡°We¡± are close colleagues, and you, are merely a guest. ¡°Now, Yuanyuan is my distinguished guest.¡± Huangfu Jue countered beautifully, turning his opponent¡¯s attack back on him. Gan Yuan was his distinguished guest, and he was Qiao Liang¡¯s guest, successfully drawing Gan Yuan into his camp. A herd of mythical beasts seemed to stampede through Gan Yuan¡¯s heart. It didn¡¯t matter to her if these two waged war, but did they have to drag her into it? At this rate, breakfast could last until the next morning. Resettling in her chair, she lifted her left hand to pick up the fork, readying herself to eat. ¡°Qiao Liang, since Mr. Huangfu doesn¡¯t mind, let¡¯s not change it. Could you go prepare some tea for us?¡± She was aware of Qiao Liang¡¯s intentions but did not want him to draw Huangfu Jue¡¯s ire because of her. Regardless of Qiao Liang¡¯s status, the man before her was not one he should afford to offend. There was no need for him to wade into these troubled waters. He and she were merely colleagues, and Gan Yuan did not wish to get closer to Qiao Liang just because of Huangfu Jue. ¡°Alright.¡± Qiao Liang nodded lightly, released the plate from his grasp, and turned to exit onto the terrace. Casting a sidelong glance at the man¡¯s fingers still resting on the back of her hand, Gan Yuan suppressed her anger. ¡°Are you done touching?¡± Chapter 45 - 45 46 Overbearing CEOs Flirting Mode 5 ?45: Chapter 46 Overbearing CEO¡¯s Flirting Mode (5) 45: Chapter 46 Overbearing CEO¡¯s Flirting Mode (5) ¡°No.¡± What were clearly two shameless words, when uttered from his lips, still managed to qualify as elegant. As he spoke, the man¡¯s thumb slightly curved, its pad stretching past her arched palm, landing gently in the center of her hand and caressing it lightly. That gesture, natural and affectionate, was like the ambiguous moves between lovers. As fingertip and palm touched, an odd sensation of tingliness spread like an electric current from where they made contact... She lifted her hand, shook off his palm, and took hold of the dinner knife. Determined in her heart, she resolved that if this guy dared to continue, she would stab the back of his hand with the knife she was holding. Huangfu Jue did not continue; he withdrew his hand and took up his own cutlery instead. ¡°When is the flight?¡± Gan Yuan asked while holding her utensils. Across, Huangfu Jue calmly cut into the egg on his plate. ¡°One shouldn¡¯t talk while eating; it¡¯s bad for the stomach.¡± The day before, during a meal with the three of them, she had used the same line to stop him from talking to Gan Tang. This guy was indeed using her own tactic against her, a truly petty and vengeful spirit. Muttering in her heart, Gan Yuan lifted her knife and fork and cut into the egg. She knew Qiao Liang¡¯s cooking skills; with deliciousness in front of her, wasting was not a good habit. After all, one needed a full stomach to have the energy to argue, right? Footsteps sounded, and Qiao Liang came in holding tea. The first cup was given to Gan Yuan, and the second, to Huangfu Jue. ¡°The black tea is blended to your liking, wish you a pleasant meal.¡± Having said that, he stood aside with his hands behind his back. Huangfu Jue glanced sideways, casting a look at him. ¡°I¡¯ll always be at your service according to your requests, not disturbing your meal with Little Yuan. That¡¯s the hotel¡¯s policy,¡± Huangfu Jue then spoke faintly, ¡°With such a lousy sous-chef, I bet the restaurant¡¯s business can¡¯t be that great!¡± Qiao Liang responded with a smile, ¡°Mr. Huangfu is mistaken, the restaurant is very busy. Many customers come specifically for me.¡± Huangfu Jue raised an eyebrow, ¡°For the face, huh?¡± That statement was clearly a mockery; suggesting Qiao Liang¡¯s cooking skills were not as good as his looks. Unperturbed, Qiao Liang kept smiling, ¡°Is Mr. Huangfu complimenting me on being handsome?¡± Huangfu Jue put down his knife and fork, ¡°I was just saying that their aesthetic sense is even worse than their taste buds.¡± Qiao Liang¡¯s smile didn¡¯t fade, ¡°Hegel said ¡®what is rational is real¡¯, and since so many recognize me, that means my cooking skills and my looks perfectly match the public¡¯s taste. If Mr. Huangfu doesn¡¯t approve, it can only prove that your aesthetic and taste are completely out of touch with the general public.¡± It sounded highbrow, but in essence, he was mocking Huangfu Jue for being different... abnormal. ¡°In my eyes, only Yuanyuan meets the standards of beauty,¡± Huangfu Jue affirmed, his gaze tenderly fixed on Gan Yuan across from him, drinking tea, ¡°Drink slowly, don¡¯t scald yourself. Didn¡¯t your tongue hurt from being kissed by me last night?¡± Cough! Gan Yuan almost sprayed out her mouthful of tea; was he trying to choke her to death? Qiao Liang passed a napkin over, his tone intimate. ¡°Look at you, your chin is covered in tea.¡± Just as Gan Yuan was about to reach for it, Huangfu Jue already leaned over, his long arm steadied her face, and his thumb gently wiped the corner of her lips, clearing away the trace of tea stain. Then, he withdrew his arm and brought his fingers to his lips. Noticing his movement, both Gan Yuan and the assistant Will¡¯s eyes widened, as they watched the typically germophobic Duke nonchalantly bring his finger to his mouth, gently sucking off the tea from the side of it. Chapter 46 - 46 47 Overbearing CEOs Flirting Mode 6 ?46: Chapter 47 Overbearing CEO¡¯s Flirting Mode (6) 46: Chapter 47 Overbearing CEO¡¯s Flirting Mode (6) Will swallowed a gulp of water and blinked hard. Impossible, how could this be possible? He must be dreaming; this couldn¡¯t be real! The instigator, Huangfu Jue, was only nonchalantly wiping his fingers with a napkin. ¡°Tastes different from yesterday. Did you change your lipstick?¡± Any smart person could tell he was still alluding to the kiss with Gan Yuan. ¡°Oh, right...¡± Qiao Liang put on a face as if he just remembered, ¡°Littleyuan, is my coat still with you?¡± Even though they were in her office, and he had intentionally left it there, his words were laden with ambiguity. Qiao Liang glanced sidelong at Huangfu Jue with a raised eyebrow, knowing he had already caused at least ten thousand points of damage. Towards Gan Yuan, he had always been gradual, his heart had been set on her for months, yet he hadn¡¯t even held her hand. This guy suddenly appeared and even kissed Gan Yuan. Just thinking about it infuriated Qiao Liang. Gan Tang stacked the cups back on the tea tray, unable to contain her anger any longer. ¡°Both of you shut up!¡± Dealing with Huangfu Jue alone was headache-inducing; with Qiao Liang causing trouble as well, even her patience was running thin. Standing up, he walked over, bent down and enveloped Gan Yuan¡¯s head in his arms, pressing her head against his chest with his hand. ¡°Be good, don¡¯t be mad!¡± He held her struggling shoulders and turned his face towards Qiao Liang, his blue eyes fierce. ¡°Get out!¡± He didn¡¯t use the word ¡®roll,¡¯ which was the highest respect he could show him. Qiao Liang¡¯s gaze swept over Gan Yuan¡¯s right hand, tightly clutching a fork, ¡°I¡¯ll head out first, and I¡¯ll look for you in the office later.¡± For months, he had concealed his feelings, little by little trying to enter her world. Today, it was Huangfu Jue¡¯s provocation that made him lose his composure. As the assistant escorted Qiao Liang out, Gan Yuan finally struggled her head out of his hold. Her neatly arranged hair was now disheveled, her glasses askew on her nose. Raising her hand to remove the bent glasses, she glared at Huangfu Jue, who had returned to his seat, her teeth clenched. ¡°Huangfu Jue...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk while eating; it¡¯s bad for digestion.¡± Gan Yuan stood up abruptly, ¡°I¡¯m warning you for the last time, don¡¯t lay your hands on me again.¡± He looked up, his eyes crinkling with an alluring smile. ¡°Then... what about using my mouth?¡± Whether she was angry or furious... it was always better than her feigned smile, calling him Mr. Huangfu. Her pupils constricted as she grabbed the teacup beside her and flung it, her mouth could not outdo him, but when it came to action, she was far from hesitant. He lifted his hands, holding a napkin, and unfurled it just in time to shield himself from the tea she had thrown. Setting down the soggy, tea-soaked napkin, his tone was still mild. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to eat, then let¡¯s chat, let¡¯s talk about... you, me, and Xiaotang.¡± Gan Tang stacked the cup back on the saucer forcefully, ¡°I¡¯ve told you, I don¡¯t know you, and Gan Tang is not your son.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Huangfu Jue casually tossed the napkin on the table, ¡°how about we do a paternity test? If it turns out Xiaotang and I have no connection, I¡¯ll believe you.¡± Feigning concession to capture control?! Gan Yuan sneered inwardly, Huangfu Jue, you¡¯re really underestimating me. I can play that game too. She raised her hand to smooth down the hair that had slipped to the side of her face, her expression unruffled. ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s meet at the hospital tomorrow morning! But let me make it clear, we can only tell Xiaotang it¡¯s a health checkup, and also, you¡¯re paying for the test.¡± ... ... Good morning, Little Princesses, remember to have breakfast~!~ Chapter 47 - 47 48 Playing for Real 1 ?47: Chapter 48 Playing for Real (1) 47: Chapter 48 Playing for Real (1) Huangfu Jue narrowed his blue eyes, staring at Gan Yuan through the air, watching her expressions, trying to capture some traces on her face. But he failed. The woman sitting across the table simply looked at him calmly. Her delicate face betrayed little emotion, its inky depths unfathomable and collected. Did he really mistake the person, with her answer so straightforward? Yet why, the sense of familiarity she gave him, the matching timelines, the same blood type... Could all of that really have been just coincidence? Or perhaps it was just a stalling tactic, thinking that way he wouldn¡¯t become suspicious. Even someone as astute as Huangfu Jue couldn¡¯t deny the truth at this moment. ¡°Fine,¡± Huangfu Jue straightened from the chair back, ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up tomorrow morning.¡± If deduction was impossible, let facts do the speaking. The bastard, he thought it was just a probe, yet he was actually serious? Gan Yuan cursed in her heart, but rose from the chair undisturbed. ¡°Okay, then... See you tomorrow.¡± ¡°This is for you.¡± Gan Yuan halted in her steps, as Huangfu Jue rose from his chair and stepped up behind her. She turned with a puzzled look, only to see him reach into the inside pocket of his suit and pull out something wrapped in a velvet cloth¡ªa pair of black-rimmed glasses encased in silk, the ones she had left with him previously. The glasses from earlier were twisted out of shape; this pair would serve as a replacement. ¡°Thanks.¡± She took the glasses, turned, and headed for the exit, separating the arms of the glasses and placing them on the bridge of her nose. ¡°Wait.¡± The man spoke up again. Will this ever end?! She stopped, looking back at him impatiently. The man was already in front of her, raising his hand to remove the strand of hair trapped under the arm of her glasses. Instinctively, she turned her head to dodge, but her hair caught on the arm of the glasses, pulling painfully at her scalp. ¡°Ouch¡ª¡± She inhaled sharply, flicking Huangfu Jue¡¯s hand away, ¡°More trouble than you¡¯re worth!¡± As she adjusted her hair and glasses, tugging a few times but unable to free her hair, she pulled so hard on the side of her forehead that her eyebrows knitted together in annoyance. Watching her wince and grimace, Huangfu Jue raised his hand again. ¡°Let me do that.¡± ¡°No need!¡± She pushed him away irritably, turned her back to him, and continued to struggle with the bothersome strands of hair. Unable to see, she pulled at them blindly; after several attempts, still unable to untangle them, she held the glasses with one hand and the hair with the other, intending to just break the hair off. Two hands reached out, grasping hers from both sides. As she struggled again, the pain on her scalp grew worse. ¡°Stop moving!¡± His voice rang beside her ear, uncompromising, and already exasperated by those few strands of hair, she withdrew her hands, letting him help her. Standing behind her, Huangfu Jue peered from one side of her head, carefully removing the strand of hair from the glasses one by one. His movements were gentle and precise, not hurting her at all. From his angle, he could see the bite mark he had left on her neck the day before. After a night, the mark was no longer as conspicuous as it had been initially. Having turned into a ring of dark purple spots, it bloomed on her skin like an unusual flower. His gaze lingered unintentionally on that flower he had planted, and he thought involuntarily of the kiss from the previous night. Earlier, he had only been focused on her hair, but now he noticed the fragrance lingering amidst them. It wasn¡¯t the cloying scent of perfume, just a faint hint of pine, the smell of rosemary he favored. Chapter 48 - 48 49 Playing for Real 2 ?48: Chapter 49 Playing for Real (2) 48: Chapter 49 Playing for Real (2) The strands of hair beneath his finger possessed a smooth touch. Inhaling that tempting scent, he couldn¡¯t help but lower his face closer to her neck. ... After a while, not feeling his movement, Gan Yuan voiced her impatience. ¡°Hey, are you done yet?¡± The man reined in his amorous thoughts, unraveled the last two strands of her hair from her glasses leg, and reached to pinch the hair clip that held her hair up. Click! The sound of the hair clip releasing was faint. She turned her head in confusion, her long hair slipping out, cascading down like a black waterfall. In the morning light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, her ink-black hair scattered, casting faint blue halos; the smooth strands brushed past his fingers, even grazing his cheek. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she frowned in annoyance. He twirled a strand of her hair around his finger and gently caressed it with the pad of his thumb. ¡°Next time you see me, don¡¯t tie up your hair.¡± Gan Yuan laughed aloud, reaching to pull her hair away from his hand. ¡°And who do you think you are?¡± Huangfu Jue straightened up, looking down at the disdainful expression on Gan Yuan¡¯s face, his baritone voice like music echoing in the night, deep and striking straight to the heart. ¡°A man who will make you fall so deeply in love you can¡¯t extricate yourself.¡± Gan Yuan opened her mouth, stunned for a couple of seconds before bursting into laughter. At first, it was a soft giggle, but gradually the laughter grew until she was shaking all over with mirth, as if she had heard the world¡¯s funniest joke. After a while, she finally caught her breath and stood up straight again, suppressing her laughter. ¡°I won¡¯t disturb your self-love any longer, take care,¡± she said, and turned on her heel. She strode through the luxury living room, flung the French doors wide open, and walked out of his room without looking back. Bang! The door closed firmly, separating them into two different worlds. Walking to the elevator, Gan Yuan eventually lifted her right hand to remove her glasses, wiping away the tears twinkling at the corners of her eyes. ¡°Huangfu Jue, you¡¯re the most narcissistic person I¡¯ve ever met!¡± Putting her glasses back on, she gathered her hair on top of her head, took a hair tie out of her pocket to secure it, and her face regained its usual unflappable expression. Ding¡ª The elevator stopped at the fifth floor, and Gan Yuan walked to her office. As she entered, she saw Qiao Liang leaning on her desk, his long legs crossed languidly, the light tapping of his fingers betraying an impatience contrary to the casualness he displayed. ¡°Littleyuan, you¡¯re back.¡± Seeing her, he immediately greeted her with a smile. Gan Yuan walked over smiling and nodded toward the coat rack. ¡°You¡¯re here for your jacket, right? It¡¯s on the rack.¡± Her tone was neutral, perfectly detached. Qiao Liang turned around, watching her tidy up the desk, ¡°Littleyuan, that guy... didn¡¯t he give you any trouble?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Qiao Liang coughed lightly, ¡°Actually, about the jacket thing earlier...¡± Gan Yuan grabbed the keys on the desk, ¡°I know you were helping me, thanks.¡± She stood up, took his coat from the rack, and extended it towards him. ¡°Such an expensive coat shouldn¡¯t be carelessly left behind.¡± Taking the coat and draping it over his arm, Qiao Liang stood up straight with a roguish smile. ¡°Littleyuan, how about we turn this pretend act into something real? What do you say?¡± Gan Yuan chuckled, ¡°For the sake of our restaurant¡¯s business, let¡¯s not. I don¡¯t want your female patrons chasing me with knives and forks.¡± Chapter 49 - 49 50 Playing for Real 3 ?49: Chapter 50 Playing for Real (3) 49: Chapter 50 Playing for Real (3) ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Qiao Liang took a step forward, standing in front of Gan Yuan, ¡°I heard you took the day off, why not... find a place to sit and chat?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not like you bachelors.¡± Gan Yuan was still smiling, ¡°Xiaotang has a lot of clothes waiting for me to wash!¡± He crossed his arms, ¡°Speaking of which, I think I¡¯ve never been to your place, aren¡¯t you going to show me where you live?¡± ¡°The landlord has already notified me to move out, so recognizing it would be pointless, maybe next time.¡± It seemed like a joke, but she was parrying his moves, allowing Qiao Liang to save face while not giving him any chance to get closer. ¡°When are you moving? I¡¯ll come and be your free labor and take the chance to see your place.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see how it goes. If there are any heavy items I can¡¯t move, I¡¯ll definitely call you.¡± Gan Yuan grabbed the keys from the table, ¡°Then, shall I go now?¡± ¡°Together.¡± He had come out ahead of her and, like a gentleman, he helped her open the door. Gan Yuan raised her brows lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t you have to work?¡± Qiao Liang leaned against the door frame and shrugged, ¡°I resigned.¡± ¡°Really?¡± There wasn¡¯t much surprise on Gan Yuan¡¯s face; how could someone like him possibly stay here? Watching her leave the office, Qiao Liang closed the door for her and quickly took two steps to catch up with her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious about the reason?¡± Gan Yuan pressed the elevator button to go down, ¡°You never belonged here in the first place.¡± The man smiled playfully, ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Just a feeling.¡± Gan Yuan stepped into the parting elevator doors, ¡°Let¡¯s have a meal together when you have time, as a way to celebrate your new start.¡± This time, she was planning to take Gan Tang and leave this place; it seemed unlikely that she would have another chance to meet him. In the past six months, Qiao Liang had done a lot for her and her son. It was only right to repay the favor. Qiao Liang¡¯s smile brightened, ¡°I¡¯m always available. But don¡¯t worry, even if I¡¯m not working here anymore, we¡¯re still friends, right?¡± Friends, huh? Yes! After all these years, Qiao Liang was probably the only person she had grown somewhat close to. So, she nodded lightly. ¡°Of course.¡± As she spoke, the elevator reached the ground floor and the doors opened. Qiao Liang, the gentleman, held the elevator open, and when he looked up, he saw a tall woman standing outside. Their eyes met, and the girl¡¯s eyes immediately lit up, while Qiao Liang frowned in confusion. Chu Xinqing, what was she doing here? At that moment, Chu Xinqing, standing outside the elevator, had also noticed Gan Yuan beside him, a flash of odd color passing through her eyes before she put on a smile again. ¡°Aliang!¡± She called out Qiao Liang¡¯s name affectionately, quickly approaching and hugging his shoulder, ¡°You¡¯re naughty, telling me on the phone that you were busy. Was this supposed to be a surprise for me?¡± Coming to B City this time was to take him back, and Chu Xinqing certainly wasn¡¯t going to let it go. Seeing him with Gan Yuan, no matter how many grievances she harbored in her heart, Chu Xinqing wouldn¡¯t reveal any flaws in front of Gan Yuan. ¡°You guys talk, I¡¯m going to go ahead.¡± Gan Yuan waved to Qiao Liang and then walked away. Who the woman before her was and what her relationship with Qiao Liang was... all of that had nothing to do with her. What she needed to focus on now was the upcoming paternity test. Qiao Liang raised his hand and pulled away Chu Xinqing¡¯s arm that was wrapped around him. ¡°Littleyuan, wait a minute.¡± It was hard enough for Gan Yuan to invite him for a meal, and Qiao Liang didn¡¯t want to lose this chance. He also wanted to explain things about Chu Xinqing to avoid any misunderstanding. Chapter 50 - 50 51 Playing for Real 4 ?50: Chapter 51 Playing for Real (4) 50: Chapter 51 Playing for Real (4) Gan Yuan halted her steps, and immediately Qiao Liang moved away from Chu Xinqing trying to walk towards her, embracing Qiao Liang¡¯s arm with both hands, Chu Xinqing spoke with a smile. ¡°Aliang, this is your colleague, isn¡¯t it? Why not introduce us?¡± As she spoke, she reached out her right hand to Gan Yuan with a smile, ¡°Hello, I am Aliang¡¯s fiance?e, Chu Xinqing. Please take good care of us in the future.¡± She emphasized the word ¡°fiance?e¡± strongly, as a warning to Gan Yuan to back off. Gan Yuan certainly caught the hint in her voice, and with an inward chuckle, she extended her right hand in a calm and dignified manner, shaking hands with her lightly. ¡°I am Gan Yuan.¡± Chu Xinqing smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you from Aliang before. Thank you for taking care of our Aliang. He can be quite willful, he hasn¡¯t caused you any trouble, has he?¡± ¡°How could he?¡± Gan Yuan retracted her hand, ¡°I have other matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll leave you two alone, goodbye.¡± ¡°Goodbye!¡± Chu Xinqing waved at her smilingly. Her hand clung tightly to Qiao Liang, not giving him a chance to escape, and she kept her eyes on Gan Yuan¡¯s figure until it disappeared outside the lobby door. Only then did she withdraw her gaze and pull Qiao Liang into the elevator. ¡°Let¡¯s go upstairs first, and then we¡¯ll visit the restaurant where you work.¡± Watching Gan Yuan¡¯s figure fade away, Qiao Liang pulled his arm away from her grasp, and his brow furrowed with confusion, ¡°How did you know I work here?¡± Chu Xinqing lifted her chin slightly, a look of pride on her face, ¡°Secret!¡± She had only been in B City for three days, and here he had used a pseudonym, there was no way she could have found him so quickly. ¡°How exactly did you find me?¡± Qiao Liang was eager to know where he had gone wrong that allowed her to latch onto him. ¡°Want to know?¡± Chu Xinqing tilted her chin towards the luggage, ¡°Take me to my room, and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± With her temperament, she wouldn¡¯t let him just walk away, so Qiao Liang took the luggage from the bellhop and helped her drag it into the elevator. ¡°Tell me?¡± Chu Xinqing pouted her lips, ¡°We¡¯re not in the room yet!¡± Helpless, he had no choice but to patiently take her to the room. Seeing him put down the luggage, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. ¡°Aliang, I¡¯ve missed you every day...¡± Placing his hand over hers, Qiao Liang slowly turned his face and smiled as he gazed at her, ¡°Let me guess, you couldn¡¯t have found me so soon. If I¡¯m not mistaken, someone must have reported my whereabouts to you, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not important. What¡¯s important...¡± Before she could finish, Qiao Liang swiftly grabbed her arm. ¡°Who was it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re hurting me!¡± Chu Xinqing cried out in a coquettish tone. Qiao Liang¡¯s grip on her hand tightened even further, ¡°You didn¡¯t report my whereabouts to the old man, did you?!¡± If it were within her abilities, she couldn¡¯t have found him so quickly unless she had already divulged his location to the old man. If that was the case, Gan Yuan and her son might also get dragged into this mess because of him. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t!¡± ¡°Then how exactly do you know I¡¯m here?¡± Chu Xinqing shook off his arm with a jerk, ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask me to come?¡± Qiao Liang was baffled, ¡°I... asked you to come?¡± ¡°Otherwise, do you think I booked this room myself?¡± Chu Xinqing chuckled, steadying his arm, ¡°Alright, I know you care about your pride, we¡¯ll just say I found you...¡± Qiao Liang narrowed his eyes, ¡°Phone call, message, or what?¡± Seeing Chu Xinqing still in a daze, he turned around, fished out her mobile phone from her bag, and checked the call log. He found nothing unusual, so he checked the text messages. Chapter 51 - 51 52 Playing for Real 5 ?51: Chapter 52 Playing for Real (5) 51: Chapter 52 Playing for Real (5) Instantly, a message from an ¡°unknown number¡± was discovered inside. ¡°Dynasty Hotel Room 907, come to the restaurant after checking in. Just mention Qiao Liang¡¯s name and you¡¯ll meet the person you want to see the most.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± Qiao Liang cursed angrily, ¡°Huangfu Jue, you¡¯re ruthless!¡± He had said, with Chu Xinqing¡¯s intelligence and ability, she couldn¡¯t possibly have found him so quickly. Who else could be behind this if not Huangfu Jue? Chu Xinqing, used by others without her knowledge, asked, ¡°Huangfu Jue... that name sounds so familiar. Who is it?¡± Tossing his phone onto the bed, Qiao Liang strode out. ¡°Aliang...¡± Chu Xinqing followed, but he had already left before her, storming out the door. ¡°Lu Ziliang!¡± she called out in the hallway, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± First he helped her book a room, then he invited her over willingly, and she thought he had changed his mind. But here he was, giving her the cold shoulder again. What did this all mean? Qiao Liang stopped at the elevator, ¡°You should go back sooner rather than later. Don¡¯t waste your time here because I have resigned!¡± ¡°Lu Ziliang!¡± She ran after him, but he had already closed the elevator door and descended. She kicked the elevator in frustration and roared, ¡°You bastard. You just wait!¡± She turned her face to the side and noticed a man in a suit nearby. Aware of her outburst, she hastily retracted her foot and turned away in humiliation. The man in the suit raised his hand to his earpiece, ¡°Mr. Will, Chu Xinqing has checked into the hotel, and Mr. Second Chef has just left her room.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve got it.¡± On the other end of the call, Will hung up, went back to the study, and stood in front of the desk. ¡°As per your arrangements, Ms. Chu Xinqing has checked into the hotel. When she checked in, she happened to see Qiao Liang leaving with Miss Gan. Ms. Chu stopped Mr. Qiao halfway and dragged him to her room. They seem to have had an argument, and Mr. Qiao has left. By the way, I¡¯ve received news from the restaurant that Mr. Qiao has resigned.¡± Huangfu Jue slightly lifted the corners of his lips and signed his name at the bottom of the document. ... ... Sitting in the car and glancing at Gan Tang, who was looking at the traffic flow with her head tilted from the back seat, Gan Yuan sighed softly. With that guy¡¯s stubbornness, since he said he would do it, there was no escaping the paternity test. From the moment she agreed to Huangfu Jue¡¯s request, she had been thinking about how to deceive him. The car stopped at a red light, and Gan Yuan paused as her phone in her pocket began to ring. She took it out and answered. ¡°Miss Gan, Mr. Huangfu has booked a place in Imperial Garden and arranged a meeting with the photographer to discuss the photoshoot arrangements. May I come to pick you up now?¡± ¡°No need, we¡¯ll go there directly.¡± ¡°Okay then, I¡¯ll send the address to your phone, drive carefully on your way.¡± After hanging up, Gan Yuan stuffed her phone back into her purse, casually fixing the hair that had slipped from her grasp. Both hair clips had been left with Huangfu Jue, and now with just a rubber band casually tying her hair, it seemed somewhat loose. Her fingers returned to the steering wheel, and she glanced at the rearview mirror, noticing the way the setting sun dusted her little one¡¯s black hair with golden specks. Suddenly, she had an inspiration. She had an idea! Huangfu Jue, this time I will make you give up for good. ¡°Mommy, where are we going?¡± the little one asked from the back seat. ¡°To have dinner with the photographer to discuss the photoshoot,¡± she replied. ¡°Then... is Uncle Huangfu going to be there?¡± Chapter 52 - 52 53 Playing for Real 6 ?52: Chapter 53 Playing for Real (6) 52: Chapter 53 Playing for Real (6) ¡°Do you hope he¡¯s there?¡± The little guy answered earnestly, ¡°Yes!¡± Was it really such a deep bond of blood? She had not seen him take such a liking to anyone he¡¯d just met before, not even Qiao Liang, with whom he had become familiar only after a long time. She took her gaze off him and continued driving, Gan Yuan lifting her lips indulgently. ¡°As you wish, he¡¯s also there.¡± Although she didn¡¯t want to see him at all, for her son, she¡¯d endure it this once. ¡°Then...¡± the little guy lifted his hands to prop up his chin, his big eyes full of hope as he looked at her through the mirror, ¡°Can you two not fight tonight?¡± She rolled her eyes in response. ¡°Acting cute is shameful!¡± ¡°Mommy¡ª¡ª¡± The little guy drew out his call. Knowing that he was deliberately acting cute, she still couldn¡¯t help but go soft. ¡°That will depend on his behavior,¡± Gan Yuan looked at her son, finally compromising, ¡°Alright, I promise you, as long as he doesn¡¯t provoke me, I won¡¯t target him.¡± Upon hearing this, the little guy immediately dropped the cute act and reverted to a cool little adult, but his lips curled up into a slight smile. Seeing his expression, Gan Yuan felt annoyed and gritted her teeth. ¡°You little ingrate, why are you elbowing me out?¡± Did all her years of raising him not measure up to a few days of acquaintance with that guy? ¡°Not at all,¡± the little guy spread his hands, ¡°I¡¯m helping you.¡± ¡°Helping me?¡± ¡°I looked him up online. He¡¯s the big BOSS of HF, and also a prince of A Country. I think... he¡¯s worthy of you, Mommy.¡± The little guy crossed his arms, his tone filled with confidence and pride. In his eyes, his mommy was the best woman in the world, and of course, only the most capable man deserved her. Gan Yuan couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry. He was truly her son; no one could outdo his self-love. ¡°Which eye of yours sees us as a good match?¡± ¡°Both eyes.¡± Gan Yuan smiled and said nothing. He was still too young, and he couldn¡¯t understand that she and he... were like black and white, light and darkness, destined to be worlds apart. The car arrived at Imperial Garden, and Huangfu Jue¡¯s assistant Will had already been waiting at the gate with two bodyguards, who, upon seeing her car, promptly came to assist them out, welcoming the mother and son into the dark gates of Imperial Garden with the pomp due a head of state. Outside the gate, a sign indicated a temporary closure, and apart from Huangfu Jue¡¯s and the bodyguards¡¯ cars, only her shabby Volkswagen was in the parking space. A private event? Gan Yuan caught a glimpse and immediately started to contempt. The little guy stopped, ¡°Mommy, they¡¯re not open today.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Will explained with a smile, ¡°Mr. Huangfu has reserved the place for today.¡± They passed along corridors and courtyards, through a moon gate, and suddenly, a bright expanse opened before them, a two-story waterside pavilion surrounded by rockeries and beautiful plantings. With pink walls and dark tiles, it was substantial yet elegant. At the entrance, white gauze danced in the wind, and within the veils, Huangfu Jue stood in his overcoat, solitary and peerless. ¡°Uncle Huangfu.¡± The little guy greeted him with a smile. The man had originally been turned to the side, instructing another assistant on the dinner arrangement, but when he turned and saw the little guy, his blue eyes immediately softened. ¡°Xiaotang.¡± He ruffled the little guy¡¯s hair with his large hand, then raised his eyes, scanning over Gan Yuan¡¯s hair tied back with a rubber band, swinging precariously at the back of her head. Noticing his gaze, Gan Yuan lifted her hand, pulled off the rubber band, and retied her hair tightly. She wouldn¡¯t let her hair down just because he wanted her to. Absolutely not! The man squinted slightly, a sly smile flashing in his eyes. No matter how much she pretended, she couldn¡¯t hide the rebelliousness in her bones. ... ... Good morning. Thank you for the rewards, much appreciated. Chapter 53 - 53 54 Paternity Test 1 ?53: Chapter 54 Paternity Test (1) 53: Chapter 54 Paternity Test (1) Three people went upstairs, and before Gan Yuan even entered the room, she saw that there were still two people standing by the dining table. ¡°You must be Miss Gan. My name is Xu Anran, the executive director of Prince Children¡¯s Apparel,¡± Xu Anran said with a smile as he introduced himself. ¡°This is the photographer Xiaowu, who will be in charge of Gan Tang¡¯s photo shoot this time.¡± Gan Yuan politely shook hands with the two of them, and Will placed Gan Tang in the high child¡¯s dining chair prepared for him. Huangfu Jue then came over and pulled out the chair next to the main seat for Gan Yuan. The child¡¯s chair was to the left and right of the main seat, and her spot was on the immediate right side. This way, a mother and her son were arranged on either side of him. If it had been any other time, Gan Yuan would certainly have tried to exchange seats to take care of her son, but this time she didn¡¯t say a word and just seated herself in the chair. Ever since he was little, her son had never been pampered by his father, and she wanted to give her son a chance. Xu Anran, standing off to the side, was already secretly clicking his tongue in wonder. The photographer didn¡¯t know the depths of Huangfu Jue, but Xu Anran had been by his side for more than two years. Not only had he pulled out Gan Yuan¡¯s chair but also arranged her seat at his side... These signals already hinted at something unusual. Of course, Xu Anran was a smart person. It was enough that he understood this to himself, and he surely wouldn¡¯t foolishly ask for more details. The assistant helped Huangfu Jue with his chair, and only after he was seated did Xu Anran dare sit down in his own chair. Even the photographer was naturally cautious, being careful as he took his seat. While waiting for the food to be served, Gan Yuan inquired about the details of the photoshoot to Xu Anran, as it concerned her son, she naturally wanted to understand everything clearly. Xu Anran then explained in detail the locations for the shoot and the itinerary. ¡°Miss Gan, don¡¯t worry. If you have any objections to the arrangements, we can discuss it further. As long as it doesn¡¯t affect the schedule, we will do our best to accommodate the needs of you and Xiaotang.¡± Being the person whose chair was pulled out by the big BOSS himself, how could Xu Anran not be gracious? Gan Yuan wasn¡¯t a difficult person¡ªof course, that was excluding when dealing with a certain someone. After carefully considering the other party¡¯s arrangements and finding nothing too hectic or tiresome, she immediately felt relieved. The conversations were still ongoing, and the dishes had already been served. Huangfu Jue hadn¡¯t even picked up his chopsticks yet when he had already pushed them towards the little guy. ¡°Thank you, Uncle Huangfu,¡± Xiaotang said. Huangfu Jue nodded lightly, picked up the utensils, and only then did Xu Anran and the others dare to touch their chopsticks. During the meal, Huangfu Jue ate very little but kept helping Gan Tang and Gan Yuan with dishes. Gan Yuan lazily chewed on a piece of green vegetable, her gaze slanting from behind her glasses at the father and son. She hadn¡¯t noticed before, but now that the pair were sitting together, their resemblance was strikingly obvious. Halfway through the meal, Xu Anran, who had already realized he was the third wheel, quietly tugged at the photographer¡¯s sleeve and got up with him to excuse themselves. Huangfu Jue simply responded with an indifferent remark, and Gan Yuan politely attempted to rise from her chair. As her back just left the chair¡¯s back, a hand stretched out, blocking her way. Worried that she also wanted to leave, Huangfu Jue originally intended to stop her. Gan Yuan was unprepared. As she leaned forward and started to get up, his hand reached out, and by coincidence, it landed right on her chest. Both of them froze for a moment, and Gan Yuan flicked his hand away, hurrying to stand. ¡°Don¡¯t leave,¡± Huangfu Jue said, stretching a hand out to stop her. She glared at him, ¡°I can¡¯t even go to the restroom?¡± Gan Tang gently lifted the corners of his mouth. The assistant stood to the side, like a sculpture that heard nothing and saw nothing. Chapter 54 - 54 55 Paternity Test 2 ?54: Chapter 55 Paternity Test (2) 54: Chapter 55 Paternity Test (2) Huangfu Jue lifted his arm without moving, ¡°The door is behind you.¡± Gan Yuan curled her lips and turned to walk into the bathroom. As she entered the bathroom and turned on the tap, letting the water run, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a folding knife. She scattered her long hair with a lift of her hand, carefully pinched a strand, and carefully cut several hairs with the folding knife, placing the segments with follicles onto a piece of tissue paper. This hair was short; it should be similar in length to her son¡¯s hair. After putting away the folding knife and tying up her hair again, she carefully disposed of the excess fragments on the sink into the drain and then delicately picked up the shortened hairs from the tissue, stuffing them carefully into her pocket. After washing her hands, she turned off the tap and walked out nonchalantly. At the dining table, Gan Tang was saying something unknown, and that usually stern man was now laughing out loud. Nodding to Gan Tang as he walked to take his seat, he smiled lightly. ¡°Is that so?¡± The little guy put up a finger to his lips and gave a ¡°shush¡± sound. ¡°Are you talking behind my back?¡± Before Gan Tang could speak, Huangfu Jue had already preempted. ¡°This is a secret between Xiaotang and me.¡± The little guy nodded, laughing. Tch! As if that¡¯s something impressive. Gan Yuan picked up her chopsticks and continued eating, while the little one signaled to Huangfu Jue. Huangfu Jue leaned in, listening as he whispered in his ear, his gaze fixed on Gan Yuan, nodding incessantly. After a moment, he turned to whisper in Gan Tang¡¯s ear. The little guy glanced at his mom and giggled. He put a finger to his lips, gently shaking his head; Gan Tang immediately clamped her mouth shut, feigning profundity. Boring! Gan Yuan inwardly scoffed, though she couldn¡¯t help but feel curious. From their expressions, they must be talking about something related to her. Could it be that Huangfu was probing for information about her from her son? At that thought, her heart clenched. Even though her son didn¡¯t know about her affairs, some details, which she wasn¡¯t hiding, could raise suspicions if noticed... Seeing the two still whispering, she slammed her chopsticks down. ¡°Gan Tang, what have I taught you? How should you behave when eating?¡± ¡°When eating, focus on the food; don¡¯t play or multi-task during meals.¡± ¡°And what are you doing?¡± The little one looked at her innocently, ¡°I¡¯m full already.¡± Huangfu Jue chuckled softly. Suppressing the urge to slap the food from her plate onto his handsome face, Gan Yuan stood up from her chair once again. ¡°In that case, we should be going.¡± ¡°Miss Gan, the dessert hasn¡¯t been served yet.¡± The assistant tried to deter her actively. ¡°Xiaotang is teething; no sweets for him tonight,¡± Gan Yuan stepped up to her son¡¯s side. Before she could reach out, Huangfu Jue scooped the little one up from the chair, ¡°I¡¯ll see you out.¡± ¡°No need.¡± She declined. But the other party did not pay attention to her, merely holding the little one¡¯s hand and leading him out the door by himself. Helplessly, she followed after them. On the way out, the father and son naturally started to critique tonight¡¯s menu, complaining together. Two people, usually not fond of talking much, were chatting away merrily. As they reached the front door, Huangfu Jue escorted the two to the car and stopped, gently rubbing the little one¡¯s head. ¡°We¡¯ll go for French cuisine tomorrow.¡± ¡°Xiaotang¡¯s busy tomorrow,¡± Gan Yuan quickened her pace down the steps, pulled out her hands to steady Xiaotang¡¯s shoulders, ¡°Get in the car!¡± ¡°Goodbye, Uncle Huangfu.¡± Gan Tang shrugged at Huangfu Jue and turned to open the car door. Chapter 55 - 55 56 Paternity Test 3 ?55: Chapter 56 Paternity Test (3) 55: Chapter 56 Paternity Test (3) ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Gan Yuan called out to him, walking over and plucking a strand of his hair quickly. The little guy winced in pain and turned his face in confusion, ¡°Mommy, what are you doing?¡± ¡°I thought I saw a white hair, that¡¯s all!¡± Gan Yuan tilted her chin toward him, ¡°Get in the car. I want to talk to him for a minute.¡± The little guy climbed into the back seat, and Gan Yuan came over, presenting the few strands of hair she was holding to Huangfu Jue. ¡°Here¡¯s what you asked for. I have an appointment tomorrow, so I won¡¯t be joining you.¡± With her back to Gan Tang, the little guy curiously poked his head out, but didn¡¯t clearly see what Huangfu Jue took from her hands. Watching him take the strands of hair, Gan Yuan turned and walked away. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know?¡± Huangfu Jue asked from behind her. Gan Yuan opened the car door, ¡°It¡¯s my own business. Of course, I know about it.¡± Slipping into her seat, she started the car smoothly and drove off. ¡°Goodbye, Uncle Huangfu,¡± the little guy poked out his body, waving his hand at Huangfu Jue. Looking at him through the rearview mirror, Gan Yuan¡¯s heart ached. When that guy finds out the ¡°truth¡± and realizes that Xiaotang ¡°isn¡¯t his son,¡± he will definitely become distant. She hoped the little guy wouldn¡¯t be too upset by it. Son, I¡¯m sorry! Murmuring an apology in her heart, she raised the car window, pressed the gas pedal, and the car sped up, merging into traffic. Watching the taillights of her car disappear in the traffic, Huangfu Jue immediately lifted his right hand, plucking a few hairs from his own head and placing them in his palm. ¡°How long will it take?¡± Will took out a handkerchief and carefully accepted the few strands of hair, ¡°The appointment is set for tomorrow. The staff has left for the day, and after the test, it needs to be verified. The earliest we can get the results is the day after tomorrow morning.¡± Huangfu Jue nodded slightly, his expression became serious. ¡°This matter must be kept in strict confidence.¡± Given his special status, if the child is indeed his, the fact must not be revealed until the mother and child¡¯s safety can be ensured. Will nodded earnestly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± ... ... Since she was about to go abroad, Gan Yuan had already asked for leave from Gan Tang¡¯s teacher, so that next day Gan Tang could enjoy the rare luxury of sleeping in. That night, she did not sleep well. She went to bed late the night before, was tormented by hazy dreams, and didn¡¯t wake up until nine o¡¯clock in the morning, still feeling exhausted. Listening attentively, she didn¡¯t hear any activity from the little guy, so she threw off the covers, got out of bed, walked through the living room to the door of the little guy¡¯s room, and pushed it open. ¡°Little Lazy Pig, it¡¯s so late and you¡¯re still sleeping...¡± She stopped mid-sentence, retreating to remove a sticky note from the door panel that the little guy had written on. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯ve gone to buy breakfast.¡± She breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at the clock on the wall. Hearing the sound of keys, she immediately stepped forward to greet him and, sure enough, saw the little guy entering with a small basket filled with breakfast. ¡°Thanks for your hard work!¡± She reached out to take his basket and, in one smooth motion, pulled the little guy into her arms for a kiss. ¡°Son, why don¡¯t you marry me?¡± ¡°Boring,¡± the little guy rolled his eyes at her, snatching the basket back from her hands, ¡°Go wash up and eat.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± She pinched his little cheek, detaching herself to head to her own room, not forgetting to remind him, ¡°Be careful not to burn yourself.¡± In a moment, she had finished washing up and sat down at the table to eat with the little guy, starting a conversation about the preparations for going abroad. ¡°We¡¯ll go shopping in a bit, and Mom will buy you a few sets of clothes.¡± Chapter 56 - 56 57 Paternity Test 4 ?56: Chapter 57 Paternity Test (4) 56: Chapter 57 Paternity Test (4) The little guy glanced at her old tracksuit, ¡°Okay.¡± After dinner, the two of them got ready and headed straight for the largest mall in the city. Gan Yuan was always willing to spend money on her son, all the money she earned apart from the basic necessities went to him. Once they arrived at the mall, they went directly to the children¡¯s clothing department, where Gan Yuan quickly picked out three or four sets of clothes for the little guy: a formal suit, a casual outfit, a comfortable tracksuit, and several matching shoes and scarves. ¡°Shall we buy two more pairs of shoes?¡± The little guy stood still, refusing to move, ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Tired?¡± Gan Yuan took back the credit card from the salesperson, ¡°How about just one pair, okay?¡± ¡°No need!¡± the little guy repeated. ¡°Alright, alright, no more shopping,¡± she conceded. Thinking he was tired of browsing and didn¡¯t want to shop anymore, Gan Yuan did not insist further. Carrying the paper bags in one hand, she held his hand with the other as they walked towards the elevator. Noticing the chairs meant for resting nearby, the little guy immediately pulled her in that direction. ¡°Mommy, wait here for me for a moment.¡± ¡°And you?¡± ¡°Bathroom.¡± ¡°Be careful on your own, it¡¯s no big deal,¡± she assured him. ¡°I know.¡± The little guy waved at her and turned to run to the right. ¡°Wrong direction, it¡¯s on the left,¡± Gan Yuan reminded him from behind. ¡°Oh!¡± The little guy laughed, turned back, and ran to the left. Taking advantage he wasn¡¯t being watched, he immediately crouched down, stealthily made his way back, slipped behind her, and snuck onto the escalator, heading up to the third floor. Gan Yuan sat waiting on the chair for a while, and when the little guy didn¡¯t return, she glanced toward the direction of the bathroom and pursed her lips slightly. ¡°Little rascal, did you fall into the toilet?¡± She had taught him to be independent since he was young. The little guy was already adept at buying breakfast and browsing supermarkets on his own, so Gan Yuan naturally wouldn¡¯t worry about a simple trip to the bathroom. She looked at her watch and rested her hand on her forehead. Today Huangfu Jue might be going for a paternity test, and she wasn¡¯t entirely sure she could fool him. She had deliberately taken Gan Tang out shopping to avoid unexpected revelations and being cornered by that guy. After waiting a little longer and still not seeing the little guy, Gan Yuan couldn¡¯t help but start to worry. She got up and walked over to the bathroom area. After waiting for a while and not seeing Gan Tang come out, she stopped a man who had just come out of there to ask. ¡°A child? There¡¯s nobody in the bathroom.¡± Startled, she immediately disregarded any impropriety and rushed into the men¡¯s bathroom. Indeed, the bathroom was completely empty; there was no sign of the little guy. Feeling her heart suddenly tighten, Gan Yuan turned and dashed out of the bathroom, searching around while pulling out her phone to dial his number. ¡°You little stinker, if you don¡¯t answer the phone, you¡¯ll see what I¡¯ll do to you... Gan Tang... Xiaotang...¡± ¡°Mommy!¡± She heard the little guy¡¯s voice behind her. Turning around and seeing him, Gan Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. She rushed over and steadied his shoulders. ¡°Where did you go, making mommy search like that!¡± ¡°Went downstairs for a bit.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you find the bathroom on this floor?¡± Gan Yuan looked at him with disdain, ¡°Didn¡¯t I remind you? Whenever you go to a new place, first check for the emergency exits, and second, make sure to notice where the bathrooms are.¡± The little guy smiled faintly, ¡°Got it. Mommy, shall we go back?¡± ¡°Since we¡¯re already out, why not... how about we have lunch?¡± ¡°It¡¯s only 11 o¡¯clock.¡± ¡°Then... oh, right, there seems to be an arcade on the upper floor, shall we go up and play for a while?¡± ¡°Boring!¡± ¡°How about we do it to keep mommy company?¡± Gan Yuan playfully bumped his shoulder, ¡°Go-karting, dare you?¡± Chapter 57 - 57 58 Paternity Test 5 Revised ?57: Chapter 58 Paternity Test (5) [Revised] 57: Chapter 58 Paternity Test (5) [Revised] ¡°Of course,¡± the little guy immediately agreed, ¡°But you need to be prepared to lose, okay!¡± Darn it, if she hadn¡¯t let him, could she have lost? Gan Yuan smiled without a word, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go upstairs!¡± Mother and son went up to the arcade on the sixth floor. Gan Yuan took out some bills to exchange for a handful of coins, and they headed straight for the racing game machines. ¡°Ready, start!¡± They both inserted coins at the same time, grabbed the steering wheels, and started playing seriously. Gan Yuan glanced at her son, who was already lagging behind, and deliberately twisted the steering wheel, making the on-screen motorcycle swerve off the track. ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re so clumsy!¡± The little guy sighed helplessly. She laughed indulgently, ¡°Even if I¡¯m clumsy, I am still your mom!¡± Formula One, shooting games... The two of them played their way through until they had used up all the coins in their pockets, and then left the arcade. Gan Tang noticed that quite a few children were drawing in the art area and paused. ¡°Mommy, shall I draw a picture for you?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Gan Tang immediately paid the fee and found a chair to sit down. The little guy sat in front of an easel, took out some color pencils, and started mixing watercolors. Watching her son focus, Gan Yuan¡¯s lips curved in a light smile; her son just kept getting more handsome. Watching the familiar contours of his face, the image of Gan Tang in her eyes gradually morphed into Huangfu Jue¡¯s... Was the appraisal result out by now? Sometimes lifting his hand, sometimes sketching with a pencil, the little guy was serious and focused, and soon an outline appeared on the paper. Around them, children of all sizes were quietly drawing, but the chubby boy sitting in front of Gan Tang was clearly not interested. He scribbled a few strokes on his paper, quickly lost patience, looked around, and after squirming in his chair, a mischievous smile flickered across his lips as he reached out with his pencil to mar the drawing of the girl sitting next to him. ¡°Mommy!¡± The girl immediately burst into tears with a loud cry. As though finding satisfaction in such mischief, the boy stood up, looked around, and several younger children quickly hugged their drawings and moved away. His gaze swept around and then settled on Gan Tang. The little guy, absorbed in his own work, was completely unaware of him. The chubby boy with bushy eyebrows raised an eyebrow, a wicked smile flashing in his grey-green eyes. The blonde, chubby boy stretched out his paintbrush and made a bold stroke across Gan Tang¡¯s drawing. Immediately, a crooked streak of color appeared on the paper. Gan Tang looked up in surprise, his little eyebrows furrowing tightly. ¡°Jerk, go away!¡± The nice drawing was spoiled, and the little guy was already angry. The blonde, chubby boy sneered in English, counter-questioning, ¡°What are you saying, asking me to make a few more strokes, huh?¡± Even though he couldn¡¯t understand Chinese, his guess was clear from Gan Tang¡¯s expression. He reveled in the thrill of destruction and was about to scribble more on Gan Tang¡¯s drawing. Gan Tang slapped his paintbrush away and shouted sternly. ¡°GET OUT!¡± The blonde, chubby boy was taken aback, glanced over Gan Tang¡¯s livid face, lifted his left hand, and dumped all the paint from the palette onto Gan Tang¡¯s drawing. What could¡¯ve been a salvageable painting was now ruined, and Gan Tang¡¯s clothes weren¡¯t spared either. Gan Tang, furious, stepped forward and pressed the palette onto the chubby boy¡¯s face. ¡°Ah!¡± The boy hadn¡¯t expected the smaller boy to fight back. He jumped away, screaming, wiping his face, and upon seeing his dirty clothes, his pudgy face instantly twisted into a snarl, ¡°You dare hit me, you poor wretch?!¡± He shoved the easel aside, stepped forward, raised his hand, and pushed Gan Tang to the ground. The stool toppled, the easel was knocked a few times, causing a clattering din. Gan Yuan, startled back to reality, saw her son being pushed down and immediately charged over. ¡°Xiaotang!¡± Chapter 58 - 58 59 Gan Yuans Wolfish Education 1 ?58: Chapter 59 Gan Yuan¡¯s Wolfish Education (1) 58: Chapter 59 Gan Yuan¡¯s Wolfish Education (1) Picking the little guy up from the ground, Gan Yuan carefully checked him from head to toe before lifting a hand to wipe the paint that had splattered onto his cheeks. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± The little guy shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the pitiful sight of the painting on the floor. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m very angry.¡± ¡°Mommy knows,¡± Gan Yuan said, holding his small hand as she stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s go seek justice now.¡± The noise from the two children had already drawn the attention of the people around; the parents and staff nearby had gathered. A man in black, who had been drinking coffee not far away, immediately put down his cup and hurried over, rushing to the side of the blond-haired boy to help him wipe off the paint on his body. ¡°Oh, my God!¡± Accompanied by the woman¡¯s exaggerated exclamation, two women had already run over, one after the other, and rushed to the side of the blond-haired boy. The woman in the black dress walking ahead appeared to be in her thirties. She was quite beautiful, but her thin lips made her seem somewhat harsh. The woman following her was younger. The two bore a resemblance to each other, clearly indicating they were sisters. ¡°How did it come to this? Are you pigs? How could you look after the young master like that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am,¡± the man in black apologized. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this to happen.¡± Gan Yuan, leading Gan Tang, stopped in front of them. Before Gan Yuan could speak, the chubby blond boy pointed at Gan Tang, accusing him first, ¡°It was him, he dirtied my clothes!¡± Both women turned their faces to look at them, and as their eyes swept over Gan Tang, anger immediately flared in the black-dressed woman¡¯s eyes. ¡°Dammit, we have an important banquet tonight; do you know how much his outfit cost?¡± Indeed, like parents, like child. Gan Yuan spoke with a faint smile, ¡°I don¡¯t know how much his clothes cost, but I do know that your child should apologize to my son.¡± ¡°He started it!¡± The little girl whose painting had been ruined by the blond boy pointed at him with sobbing indignation. ¡°He also destroyed my work!¡± ¡°I saw it too!¡± ¡°It was him; he¡¯s a bad child!¡± ... A group of children pointed at the chubby blond boy together. ¡°You heard that?¡± Gan Yuan looked proudly at the other party. ¡°Now, apologize!¡± The woman in the black dress bit her lip. With so many children and parents pointing it out, of course, she couldn¡¯t overturn the case for her son either. The chubby boy immediately sulked, ¡°Dream on!¡± ¡°Such bad manners!¡± ¡°Yes, his clothes may be fancy, but he doesn¡¯t even understand politeness!¡± ... Around them, the crowd was commenting in a buzz of voices. The woman in the purple dress smiled, ¡°He¡¯s still a child who doesn¡¯t understand; as guardians, you should keep a better eye on your own children... A work of art? Your drawings are nothing more than doodles on paper!¡± That arrogant attitude was truly infuriating. Gan Tang clenched his small fists, ¡°Mommy, I can¡¯t hold back any longer.¡± Gan Yuan looked at the two women in front of her and loosened her grip on his shoulder, ¡°When forbearance is no longer possible, there¡¯s no need to endure.¡± The little guy nodded and then stepped forward to face the blond boy. The boy was two or three years older than him and a head taller, with a frame that was a whole size larger. Seeing Gan Tang step forward, he just sneered. ¡°You pauper, what do you want?¡± Leaning forward slightly, Gan Tang bent his right arm, and his small fist struck fiercely, landing squarely on the face of the blond boy. With one punch, the boy¡¯s face twisted. Chapter 59 - 59 60 Gan Yuans Wolfish Education 2 ?59: Chapter 60 Gan Yuan¡¯s Wolfish Education (2) 59: Chapter 60 Gan Yuan¡¯s Wolfish Education (2) He stepped back two steps, raised his hand to cover his nose, and crouched on the ground, screaming like a butchered pig. ¡°Jerry!¡± Two women instantly screamed and rushed out, frantically supporting his shoulders. The boy named Jerry lifted his face, with blood already seeping between his fingers covering his nose. Ever since Gan Tang was beaten at kindergarten when he was three, Gan Yuan had started teaching him simple combat skills. The key points were only three words: fast, accurate, ruthless! The little guy was small and not very strong; he wasn¡¯t likely to break someone¡¯s nose, but making it bleed was more than enough. Walking forward, Gan Yuan took her son¡¯s hand and turned to leave. If they couldn¡¯t get justice, they¡¯d fight back¡ªthat was the wolf-like lesson she taught her son. This world was naturally a place where the strong preyed on the weak. To not be wronged, you had to be the stronger one! ¡°Stop right there!¡± The woman in the purple dress shouted angrily, ¡°You think you can just hit someone and walk away?¡± Gan Yuan stopped, turned to the other woman, and smiled. ¡°Kids don¡¯t know any better, do they? As a guardian, you should keep an eye on your child. It¡¯s just a bit of blood, what¡¯s the big deal?! The hospital charges 800 for 400 milliliters of blood; I reckon he¡¯s lost no more than 10 milliliters, so...¡± Gan Yuan casually pulled out the fifty yuan left over from earlier coin purchases and tossed it in front of the other party, ¡°Fifty yuan, no need for change!¡± By hospital blood transfusion standards, 10 milliliters was worth about twenty yuan. Fifty yuan was indeed an overpayment. That posture, that tone... was even more arrogant and haughty than the other¡¯s previous attitude. With gentlemen, she would be more courteous than a gentleman. With villains, she would be an even bigger villain. Around them, the onlookers burst into laughter. ¡°Serves them right!¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t educate your child at home, then be prepared to have others do it!¡± ... The woman in the purple dress understood Chinese; hearing everyone accusing her, her pretty face turned green with anger, and she cursed in French on the spot. ¡°Idiots!¡± Knowing that the crowd couldn¡¯t understand, she shouted the insult very loudly. ¡°Mommy, what did she say?¡± a child asked his mother curiously. The mother just shook her head. Gan Yuan watched the proud woman in the purple dress with a sneer, ¡°She was speaking French, she called us ¡®idiots¡¯!¡± The woman in the purple dress stiffened when she realized she had been understood. As soon as everyone around heard what had been said, they all became indignant. ¡°Think you¡¯re special because you¡¯re a foreigner? I say you¡¯re an idiot times three!¡± ¡°Kicked by a donkey when you were little!¡± ¡°What donkey kick? I think she is the offspring of a donkey!¡± ¡°Saying these things, she won¡¯t understand. Watch me!¡± A young man handed his child over to his wife and directed a string of English swear words at the woman in the purple dress. One can hardly fight against a multitude of voices; the woman in the purple dress turned red with rage, but was powerless to respond to the crowd¡¯s reproaches. With her esteemed status and eloquence, she usually had few rivals in social circles. Unfortunately, faced with a bunch of commoners, she couldn¡¯t possibly retort to each and every one, and by now she was so angry her heart felt like it was about to explode. At this point, the woman in the black dress had ordered her assistant to pick up her son and had run a few steps; seeing her sister still standing still, she immediately spoke out loudly. ¡°Annie, hurry up!¡± The woman in the purple dress gave Gan Yuan a deep look and turned to follow. Gan Yuan took out her wallet from her bag and handed several hundred yuan to the young female staff member at the entertainment zone, apologizing, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, this money is for compensation for the damaged goods in the store. Xiaotang, apologize to the auntie.¡± Chapter 60 - 60 61 Gan Yuans Wolfish Education 3 ?60: Chapter 61 Gan Yuan¡¯s Wolfish Education (3) 60: Chapter 61 Gan Yuan¡¯s Wolfish Education (3) ¡°Auntie, I¡¯m sorry.¡± The little guy obediently apologized. The girl was moved, ¡°It¡¯s... it¡¯s not your fault, nothing is damaged, this money...¡± The incident was caused by the blond boy, and Gan Tang was actually the victim. The other party even took the initiative to compensate, which made her feel somewhat embarrassed. ¡°Keep it, please just tidy up the things, sorry for the trouble.¡± After stuffing the money into the girl¡¯s hand, Gan Yuan grabbed Gan Tang, picked up her own things, and walked out of the crowd. She took the little guy to the restroom to change out of his dirty clothes and wash his face and hands. Then Gan Yuan directly took him out of the mall and found a nearby restaurant for lunch. After the meal, the two of them went to the bookstore to buy some books, paper, and paints needed for the little guy¡¯s drawing, and then had dinner outside... Gan Yuan had been trying to drag things out until seven in the evening, her mobile phone had been silent the whole time. Seeing that the little guy was starting to yawn, she had no choice but to take him back to the neighborhood. There was no sign of anyone following them on the way, and nothing unusual as they returned to the neighborhood. The two went upstairs to their home, Gan Tang went to his room to change clothes and get ready for a bath, and she returned to her room to pack the newly bought clothes for the little guy into her suitcase. On the table, the phone suddenly rang, startling Gan Yuan. She hurriedly got up to answer it. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up at eight in the morning,¡± It was Huangfu Jue¡¯s deep voice on the other end, faintly revealing a hint of exhaustion. To take time out and go to Europe with them, he had to finish his work ahead of schedule. He had been busy all day. ¡°No need, we¡¯ll just go straight to the airport. That will save time.¡± Gan Yuan parted her lips but held back her curiosity about the appraisal result, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, may I hang up?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hang up.¡± Gan Yuan raised an eyebrow and held the receiver, waiting for him to continue. For a full five seconds, there was silence on the other end of the phone. ¡°Hello? Huangfu Jue?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Then why aren¡¯t you speaking?¡± ¡°I¡¯m drinking.¡± What was wrong with him? She was waiting for him to continue, but he was busy drinking. ¡°Then take your time drinking, goodbye.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hang up.¡± ¡°What exactly do you want?¡± ¡°To see you.¡± Gan Yuan curled her lips. Did he think he was an emperor, expecting to see anyone he wished to see? ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± She clenched her teeth and hung up the phone, then turned it off. The world was quiet for three seconds, and then the landline in the living room rang. Crazy! She cursed and rushed out to unplug the telephone line, but Gan Tang, who had just come out of the bath, had already picked up the receiver. ¡°Hello... Uncle Huangfu, this is Gan Tang... What¡¯s up? My mom... please hold on a second.¡± The little guy handed the receiver to Gan Yuan, ¡°Mommy, Uncle Huangfu is looking for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not taking it.¡± The little guy looked at her like an adult would at a child having a tantrum. ¡°Mommy, can you not be so childish?¡± Gan Yuan rolled her eyes, walked over, and yanked the telephone line out. ¡°Bedtime!¡± She turned and headed for her room, with the little guy shaking his head behind her like a little adult. ¡°Mommy, do you like Uncle Huangfu?¡± Gan Yuan stopped at the door, turned around to look at her son, and pointed to her own nose. ¡°Me? Like him?! It seems I need to take you to get your eyes checked!¡± ¡°So many men chase after you, but you only ever get angry at Uncle Huangfu.¡± The little guy crossed his arms and approached her, Chapter 61 - 61 62 Gan Yuans Wolfish Education 4 ?61: Chapter 62 Gan Yuan¡¯s Wolfish Education (4) 61: Chapter 62 Gan Yuan¡¯s Wolfish Education (4) ¡°Mommy once said that you shouldn¡¯t let people you dislike affect your mood, but Uncle Huangfu affects your mood every time; doesn¡¯t that mean you like him?¡± Gan Yuan smiled as she bent down to lift the little one from the floor and kissed his little face. ¡°Little detective, I just don¡¯t want him to disturb my beauty sleep. How about you sleep with mommy tonight?¡± The little guy wrapped his arms around her neck and pressed his little face against hers, ¡°Since you insist so passionately, I agree.¡± After all, he was still a child, and he was very attached to his mother. ¡°You little brat, acting as if it¡¯s such a burden!¡± Gan Yuan carried him into the bedroom, threw the little guy onto the bed, and then pounced on him, ¡°I¡¯m going to tickle you to death!¡± ¡°No... hahaha...¡± The little one immediately curled up his small body; there was nothing he feared more than being tickled. Mother and son had a laughter-filled tussle for a while before Gan Yuan lay down and pulled him into her arms, pressing her nose against the little one¡¯s soft, short hair. ¡°Sleep now, we have to get up early to catch a flight tomorrow!¡± The little one curled up in her arms, lightly sniffing the warm scent of his mother. ¡°Mommy, good night.¡± ¡°Good night!¡± It didn¡¯t take long for the little guy to fall asleep in her embrace. After making sure the little one was covered with a blanket, she took out her pajamas and went to the washroom in the living room to bathe, not wanting to disturb her son¡¯s sleep by blow-drying her hair. She poured herself half a glass of wine and had just taken a sip when she heard a soft knock at the door. In the middle of the night, could it be a burglar? Gan Yuan frowned as she tiptoed over to look through the peephole, only to see the voice-activated light on and casting the shadow of a tall figure. Raising his hand, the man knocked on the door again. She turned and walked back to the living room to continue drying her hair. The door was knocked again. She ignored it, and he knocked again. Snap! The comb in her hand made a crisp sound as it broke a wooden tooth. ¡°Just my luck!¡± She complained, then strode over and yanked the door open, ¡°Huangfu Jue, have you had enough... Who let you in?¡± She reached out to close the door but it was already too late; the man had squeezed half of his body through, grabbing her hand that was trying to shut the door. She jerked her hand back, and a deep voice came pressing down on her throat. ¡°Get out right now!¡± Huangfu Jue glanced at the living room, only lit by a standing lamp, ¡°Where¡¯s Xiaotang?¡± ¡°He¡¯s already asleep, so... please leave.¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± The man took off his suit and hung it on the hook beside the entrance, ¡°Where¡¯s the wine?¡± Come on, this was her house; did this man have any sense of boundaries in someone else¡¯s home? ¡°There isn¡¯t any.¡± The man tilted his head, his blue eyes meeting hers, before he reached out and pulled her over. Gan Yuan was about to resist when a wet warmth touched her lips¡ªit was the man¡¯s tongue teasing them. Gan Yuan pushed him away and wiped her lips with the back of her hand, ¡°You...¡± ¡°You lied.¡± His gaze shifted away, and immediately he noticed the wine and glass on the dining table. He stepped over, picked up her wine glass, and sniffed it. ¡°A ¡¯98 Bordeaux, I like that too.¡± ¡°Put it down!¡± She had spent over a month¡¯s salary on that wine, and it wasn¡¯t for him to drink. Huangfu Jue paid her no mind, lifted the glass to his lips, and gently took a sip. ¡°The wine¡¯s still a bit cool.¡± Gan Yuan stopped two steps in front of him with her arms crossed. ¡°Stop wasting time, out with it. What are you really here for?¡± In the middle of the night, had he come because the appraisal results were out, or had he discovered her trick? Chapter 62 - 62 63 Gan Yuans Wolfish Education 5 ?62: Chapter 63 Gan Yuan¡¯s Wolfish Education (5) 62: Chapter 63 Gan Yuan¡¯s Wolfish Education (5) The man gently swirled the glass in his hand and turned his face to gaze at her. She had just finished bathing, her long hair was not blow-dried and hung wet on her shoulders, wrapped in nothing but a white bathrobe. The warm light of the standing lamp cast her profile in a soft golden hue. The bathrobe was loosely tied and, because of her arms crossed over her chest, the neckline fell open further, revealing the tempting curves of her collarbones and a swath of enticing porcelain skin. Below that, shadows whispered of even more allure. He suddenly felt his lips were dry. He had been working overtime these past days so he could take a week off to spend with their mother and son. The whole day had been hectic, and it wasn¡¯t until the evening that he finally got some downtime. As soon as he relaxed, this woman appeared in his mind like a spell. He wanted to see her. So he made that phone call, but her voice wasn¡¯t enough, he still wanted to see her. The desire was so intense, like a flame scorching his heart and lungs, making him restive, prompting him to venture out in the middle of the night, crossing most of the city and climbing four flights of stairs to see her. Now that he saw her, he understood what he truly wanted. He put down the glass and extended his arm to hook around her waist. With a slight exertion of his strength, he pulled her into his embrace. ¡°Hey...¡± She struggled, but unable to break free, raised her hand to strike back. The man caught her wrist in one hand and, with a fluid movement, pulled her towards him again. She kicked out with her foot, he dodged backward, bumping into the dining table, causing the red wine in the glass to slosh violently, and the Wine Bottle fell, rolling toward the edge of the table. ¡°Damn!¡± She stepped forward, reaching to catch the Wine Bottle as it rolled to the edge of the table. Before she could steady herself, the man was already behind her, his hands on her shoulders turning her around, and with a gentle lift of his hands at her waist, he set her down on the dining table. ¡°Huangfu Jue!¡± Gan Yuan pressed the bottle against his face, ¡°This is your last chance. If you dare touch me again...¡± Before the word ¡°I¡± even left his mouth, the man leaned in, prying her fingers from the bottle and kissing her cheek. She turned her head to dodge, but his fingers pinched her chin, not allowing her the opportunity to escape as his lips pressed down on hers. Her body squeezed by his, one hand pinned by him, she raised her left hand, which was resting on the table, in a desperate attempt to punch his face. With her support gone, she fell heavily onto the dining table, him still on top of her, and her left punch missed. Bent back and pinned by him on the dining table, she couldn¡¯t muster much strength, just using her left hand to push and shove, trying to get him off of her. Huangfu Jue, who had finally claimed his prey, was not about to let go, even as she ripped off the buttons of his shirt, he kept kissing her relentlessly. After several fruitless attempts, he simply changed his strategy, moving to attack her neck. The kisses traced a path downward... Raising her left hand, she brought it down hard like a blade, aiming for his jugular, intending to incapacitate him with a single strike. As her hand was coming down, a sudden sharp, tingling pain pierced her chest. Her skin tensed, and her action was deformed; the blade of her hand hit his neck, already bereft of much of its force. ^ ^ Good morning Chapter 63 - 63 64 Who Will Undress Whom 1 ?63: Chapter 64: Who Will Undress Whom (1) 63: Chapter 64: Who Will Undress Whom (1) The wine bottle tipped over, and the wine spilled out from the neck, spreading across the table before trickling down its edge to the floor. In her mind, she involuntarily recalled the madness of six years ago, the wonderful experience, the kiss before... ¡°You¡¯re crazy, let go!¡± Gan Yuan reached out to grab his shoulder and yanked hard. The buttons on his shirt popped off, bouncing onto the table and floor. His already loose shirt was immediately yanked off, scattering apart. The man felt a surge of blood to his head, momentarily distracted. Seizing the chance, Gan Yuan forcefully withdrew her palm, and her fingers instinctively retracted, grabbing his shoulder and pushing the man away from her. Pushed back two steps, the man watched her, his gaze brazen. Feeling the peculiarity of his stare, Gan Yuan subconsciously glanced at herself and, seeing her half-exposed body, her heart skipped a beat. She quickly lifted her left arm to pull her robe back over her shoulder. ¡°I told you to get out, did you hear me?!¡± Huangfu Jue stood still, unmoved, his blue eyes deeply fixated on hers. ¡°Gan Yuan, be my woman!¡± This woman, he wanted to possess her, be with her every day. Whenever he wanted, he could see her, kiss her, touch her... do all the things he wanted to do with her! She was panting, her chest heaving. ¡°In your dreams!¡± The man¡¯s focus remained intently on her face, ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡± ¡°What do I care?¡± Gan Yuan met his gaze, enunciating each word, ¡°I, reject, you!¡± He narrowed his eyes, ¡°The reason?¡± ¡°Reason?¡± She scoffed, ¡°Huangfu Jue, do you really love yourself so much that you think all the women in the world will love you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in the women of the whole world, I only want to know what you think.¡± ¡°My thoughts are that I don¡¯t like you.¡± ¡°Then start liking me from now.¡± Gan Yuan was speechless. How on earth did this guy¡¯s brain work? Tap! A light sound echoed as the bedroom door across the way opened. Both adults turned their heads just in time to see the little one stepping out in pajamas, looking at the pair by the dining table. The child paused, then immediately retreated back into the room. ¡°It¡¯s so dark, I can¡¯t see anything, I better go back to sleep!¡± And with that, the door closed again. This little rascal, seeing his mom being bullied and pretending as if nothing happened, what a waste of upbringing! Gan Yuan tightened her robe with her hand. ¡°If you still want to see me at the airport tomorrow, leave now!¡± She suppressed her anger. If it weren¡¯t for worrying about scaring her son, she would have already smashed a wine bottle in his face. ¡°These past few years... I¡¯ve been searching for you.¡± The man stood in the dimly lit dining room, his voice hoarse yet eerily beguiling. ¡°I¡¯ve told you, you¡¯ve mistaken me for someone else.¡± ¡°Impossible.¡± ¡°Wait for the paternity test result, then you¡¯ll know whether it¡¯s possible or not.¡± She turned and walked to the foyer, opening the front door, ¡°Get out.¡± Buzz¡ª On the coat rack, his phone in his pocket vibrated. Huangfu Jue walked over, picked up his suit, and answered the phone. ¡°Duke, the paternity test result is out.¡± Chapter 64 - 64 65 Who Takes Off Whose 2 ?64: Chapter 65 Who Takes Off Whose (2) 64: Chapter 65 Who Takes Off Whose (2) He lifted his gaze, looking intently at Gan Yuan in front of him. ¡°Well?¡± On the other end of the phone, Will coughed lightly, ¡°It¡¯s not.¡± His expression froze for a moment. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°The other party has double-checked. There¡¯s absolutely no blood relation between the two samples.¡± The hand holding the phone slowly dropped, and Huangfu Jue reached out to hang up the call. Gan Yuan glanced at Will¡¯s name on the phone screen, then at the man¡¯s expression, and had already guessed the gist of the phone conversation. ¡°I told you, you¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± Huangfu Jue took a step forward, came up to her, and raised his hand to press her against the wall. ¡°You tampered with it, didn¡¯t you?¡± How could that be possible? How could there be someone so similar in this world, how could such a coincidence exist... He didn¡¯t believe, he refused to believe his own feelings could be wrong. Gan Yuan didn¡¯t resist, but simply spoke calmly. ¡°Mr. Duke, you really have the wrong person. I¡¯m just an ordinary woman, how could I possibly have any connection with you?¡± His large hand lifted, holding her face, and he gently stroked her skin with the pad of his thumb. Bending down, he drew closer to her face inch by inch, his blue eyes intently gazing into hers. ¡°It was you that night, tell me, I wasn¡¯t wrong.¡± In just a short sentence, a rich wave of emotion came through¡ªthere was desolation, doubt... and hope. Science isn¡¯t infallible, is it? What could a few strands of hair prove? There had to be a mistake somewhere, there must be! Gan Yuan took a deep breath. ¡°It wasn¡¯t.¡± The man¡¯s fingers, holding her face, trembled slightly, then, he slowly straightened up, the fingers on her face trembling faintly before finally moving away bit by bit. Feeling his warm fingers leaving her skin, her heart also experienced a tearing pain. After watching her for a moment, the man turned and stepped out of the room, walking past her. The sensor light outside the door dimmed down, and the sound of the man¡¯s footsteps retreated step by step. In the darkness, Gan Yuan took a deep breath, stretched out her hand, and gently closed the door, took out a mop and cloth, and quietly cleaned up the spilled alcohol and glass on the floor. Downstairs, the sound of an engine hummed. She stood up and looked out the window to see a black sedan starting slowly and driving towards the gate of the complex. Even though this outcome was what she had wanted, why did she feel so terrible at this moment? The little one gently cracked open the door, seeing Gan Yuan in the dining room, he curiously opened the door wider and walked up to her side. ¡°Has Uncle Huangfu left?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t come over, be careful of stepping on something sharp.¡± Gan Yuan quickly turned her attention back, bending down to sweep up the glass shards from the floor, ¡°Alright, go back to bed, Mommy will be there soon.¡± The little one stood by without moving. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m sorry.¡± She lifted her face in confusion and asked, ¡°Why are you apologizing?¡± The little one pouted, ¡°I just heard a noise outside and thought it was a thief, I didn¡¯t know it was you and Uncle Huangfu... I... I didn¡¯t mean to disturb you.¡± Because he didn¡¯t know what was going on between the two, the little one thought he had interrupted something good. His mom finally ¡°dating¡± someone, and he had messed it up. The little one felt very guilty. Gan Yuan wiped the alcohol from the floor with a cloth, looking up at the little one¡¯s remorseful expression. ¡°It¡¯s nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really.¡± ¡°Then...¡± the little one¡¯s expression brightened anew, ¡°are you and he officially dating now?¡± Chapter 65 - 65 66 Who Takes Off Whose 3 ?65: Chapter 66 Who Takes Off Whose (3) 65: Chapter 66 Who Takes Off Whose (3) ¡°What are you thinking about? That¡¯s not true!¡± The little guy pouted, ¡°Mommy¡¯s lying, I saw you taking off Uncle Huangfu¡¯s clothes.¡± ¡°Nonsense, it was clearly him taking off my...¡± she stopped midway, realizing her mistake, ¡°What do you know? It¡¯s not what you think.¡± ¡°Then what is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s...¡± Gan Yuan trailed off, knowing she couldn¡¯t tell him the truth, ¡°Why must a little brat like you be so nosy? Go on, off to bed!¡± Gan Tang smirked like an adult, reaching out to pat her on the shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s normal for adults to date, you don¡¯t have to be shy!¡± This little rascal! Gan Yuan lifted her face, ¡°I¡¯m going to say it one more time seriously, nothing happened! Go back to sleep!¡± ¡°If nothing happened, then nothing happened, why are you yelling!¡± The little guy curled his lip, turned around, and headed towards the bedroom, his small mouth turning up again. He hadn¡¯t expected his mom to be so shy about dating, unwilling to even admit it. This time, he was determined to find a way to help his mom win over Uncle Huangfu. ... ... The next day, everything went as planned. Gan Yuan drove Gan Tang to the airport and met Huangfu Jue again in the VIP lounge. The man sat on the sofa, his face weary, the bloodshot in his blue eyes apparent; he clearly hadn¡¯t rested well. ¡°Uncle Huangfu, good morning.¡± Gan Tang approached him proactively with a greeting, and he responded with a nonchalant hum, his entire demeanor reverting to that cold and distant air. ¡°Xiaotang,¡± Gan Yuan, fearing the little one might feel neglected, hurried over to take his hand, ¡°Mr. Huangfu seems to have not rested well. Don¡¯t bother him.¡± But the little one wasn¡¯t ready to give up; he pulled his hand free and took a box of pastries out of his little backpack and set it on the table in front of Huangfu Jue. ¡°Uncle Huangfu, this is from my mommy.¡± Her?! Gan Yuan raised an eyebrow, ¡°Gan Tang!¡± The little guy immediately covered his mouth, ¡°Oops, I forgot, Mommy didn¡¯t want me to say that!¡± ¡°Gan Tang!¡± Gan Yuan exclaimed angrily. She had prepared it for him, but in his mouth, it had turned into something specially bought for Huangfu Jue. Was this kid trying to make things even more complicated between her and Huangfu Jue? Huangfu Jue furrowed his eyebrows; he wasn¡¯t a fool. Without guessing, he knew this couldn¡¯t possibly have been prepared by Gan Yuan for him. Glancing at the pastries sent to Huangfu Jue, then at the man¡¯s expression, Gan Yuan pressed her lips together worriedly. Ignoring Gan Yuan¡¯s angry shout, the little guy opened the box, took out a piece of delicate pastry, and, holding it with his hand, offered it to Huangfu Jue. ¡°This is from Zhengming Restaurant¡¯s ice skin green bean cake, it¡¯s really tasty.¡± Huangfu Jue looked up, his serious gaze fixed on the little one before him, his clear eyes smiling back at him, his small palm presenting a translucent piece of cake. Looking at the child before him, he momentarily saw himself as a boy. He had been mistaken; this child was not his son... ¡°I¡¯m not lying, it¡¯s really good. Try it?¡± the little one insisted, moving his hand closer to Huangfu Jue¡¯s mouth. ¡°Xiaotang,¡± Will, noticing that things were taking an unfortunate turn, hurriedly interjected to find an excuse for Huangfu Jue, ¡°The gentleman doesn¡¯t like sweets... ¡± He was about to say Huangfu Jue did not like sweets, but before he could finish, Huangfu Jue¡¯s hand had already lifted from the chair. Thinking he was about to lose his temper, Will quickly whispered a reminder, ¡°Sir, Xiaotang means well.¡± Opposite, Gan Yuan¡¯s breathing also grew tight. Chapter 66 - 66 67 Who Takes Off Whose 4 ?66: Chapter 67: Who Takes Off Whose (4) 66: Chapter 67: Who Takes Off Whose (4) The bastard Huangfu Jue, if he dares to lose his temper at her son, she¡¯ll definitely wipe him out! Pale fingers stretched over, inching closer to the pastry in Gan Tang¡¯s hand. Will had already imagined the pastry hitting the ground, the astonishment on the child¡¯s face, but he just turned his face slightly away, not daring to look any longer, while Gan Yuan also tensely gripped her fingers. Glancing at the pastry brought to his lips, his gaze lifted back to the little guy¡¯s face and noticed the radiant smile, which seemed to rise a glimmer of sunlight in Huangfu Jue¡¯s gloomy mood. He realized he had mistaken someone, and how could he possibly take out his temper on a child? Could it be that, if the child was not his son, he wouldn¡¯t like him anymore? It was just a feeling of pity, and the disappointment that came with hopes dashed... Reaching over, he took the pastry from the little guy¡¯s hand, nibbled a small bite off the edge. As a grown man, he naturally wouldn¡¯t have much of a liking for such sweet treats. It was only out of affection for the little guy in his heart that he gave it a courtesy bite. ¡°Tastes good, doesn¡¯t it?¡± the little guy asked with a smile. These were the kind of sweets that the little guy loved to eat on regular days. The thin mochi wrapper was not overly sweet, and the fillings felt like ice cream when frozen overnight in the refrigerator and taken out the following day¡ªit was one of the little guy¡¯s favorite desserts. ¡°Mhm.¡± The man nodded lightly, tasting the faint fragrance of the green beans in his mouth, the sweet refreshing flavor not cloying at all. Because the little guy had thoughtfully prepared an ice bag, the pastry still maintained the just-out-of-the-fridge coolness. On such an irritable mid-spring morning, taking a bite of such a refreshing sweet seemed to clear his mood a bit too. Gan Yuan silently heaved a sigh of relief, relaxing her clenched fist. Will pulled out a handkerchief, wiping the thin sweat from his brow. Since learning the results of the paternity test yesterday till now, Huangfu Jue had been silent, not uttering a word. Will could feel his disappointment, and he had been treading lightly all morning, not even daring to suggest breakfast when Huangfu Jue wouldn¡¯t eat. ¡°Then have some more!¡± Gan Tang pushed the box of pastries towards him, leaning over the table, pressing down on his throat as he spoke, ¡°Mummy bought these especially for Uncle Huangfu.¡± ¡°Gan Tang!¡± Gan Yuan squeezed his name through her teeth, ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the restroom.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to go.¡± ¡°You want to go!¡± ¡°Okay then!¡± He shrugged his shoulders and winked at Huangfu, ¡°Women are really hard to please.¡± Huangfu Jue¡¯s lips almost imperceptibly curved upwards. Catching his subtle expression, Will looked up at Gan Tang who was leaving with Gan Yuan. ¡°If the Duke really likes him, why not... take the child as his adopted son?¡± Huangfu Jue glanced sideways, giving him a look. ¡°Cough!¡± Will immediately straightened his back, ¡°I¡¯m just... suggesting, suggesting!¡± Withdrawing his gaze, watching Gan Tang enter the restroom, his eyes naturally moved to Gan Yuan, who was waiting outside the door. Today, she wore a light grey casual outfit, her long hair casually tied in a ponytail at the back of her head, and although the soft fabric wasn¡¯t tight-fitting, it still outlined her figure somewhat. Watching her back, the image of her in a bathrobe, with one side slipping off her shoulder, flashed through his mind, and a warmth rose in his lower abdomen... He withdrew his gaze, Huangfu Jue bit down hard on the pastry by his lips. The delicate mochi wrapper, as fair as her skin... Damn it! He exhaled sharply in irritation, hoisting himself up from the chair, and slapped the remaining pastry into Will¡¯s hand. ¡°We¡¯re boarding immediately.¡± Chapter 67 - 67 68 Who Takes Off Whose 5 ?67: Chapter 68: Who Takes Off Whose (5) 67: Chapter 68: Who Takes Off Whose (5) ¡°It was fine just a moment ago, why the sudden outburst?¡± ¡°But...¡± Will held the desserts in his hands, ¡°Miss Gan...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare mention her name in front of me.¡± Huangfu Jue strode towards the exit, and Will hurriedly waved his hand; several bodyguards quickly followed suit. By this time, Gan Yuan and her son had already returned from the restroom. Will picked up the desserts from the table and motioned for them to board the plane together. Following Huangfu Jue from afar, through a special passageway towards the boarding ramp, Will began to speak with a smile. ¡°Miss Gan, Xiaotang, the Duke is not in a good mood... If he loses his temper at you, please don¡¯t take it to heart. He has been... too tired recently.¡± Gan Yuan of course understood why the other party was in a foul mood and immediately nodded in silent agreement. ¡°Okay.¡± After a moment, they had all arrived at the tarmac. Below the white private jet, the flight attendants were lined up waiting. Ignoring the greetings of everyone, Huangfu Jue quickly boarded the plane. Will led Gan Yuan and her son up, arranged for them to sit in the seats behind Huangfu Jue. Gan Yuan voluntarily sat on the other side, some distance from Huangfu Jue. As the plane taxied onto the runway and prepared for takeoff, Huangfu Jue ordered Will to bring the documents that needed processing and spread them out on the table. He had intended to use work to distract himself, but resistance seemed to grow where pressure was applied. Gazing at the design drafts in his hands, his mind once again conjured up Gan Yuan¡¯s face, imagining what she would look like in that outfit... Damn it! Realizing his thoughts had long since strayed from the documents in his hands, he closed the files with a thud. ¡°Coffee!¡± Will hurried over with a cup of coffee for him, and as he bent down to place the coffee on Huangfu Jue¡¯s table, he mustered the courage to speak. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten anything all morning. Would you like... some breakfast to go with that? Maybe a fried egg sandwich with some fruit...¡± As his assistant, Will¡¯s job was not only to attend to work-related matters but also to take good care of his boss¡¯s health. After all, he wasn¡¯t just anyone. As a **** of A Country his health was intricately linked to the well-being of the nation. ¡°Or, a vegetable sala...¡± Sensing the man¡¯s impatient expression, he quickly shut his mouth and retreated to his own seat on the other side. From the seat behind, Gan Tang unbuckled her safety belt and jumped down, walking up to Huangfu Jue¡¯s side. ¡°Uncle Huangfu, is it boring to eat alone? How about Mommy joins you? She may not know how to cook, but she¡¯s quite good at eating.¡± Gan Yuan was speechless. Was this a way to describe one¡¯s own mother? Hearing the concern in his voice, Huangfu Jue gently shook his head. ¡°No need, I¡¯m not hungry.¡± ¡°Or maybe...¡± Gan Tang thought for a moment, ¡°You probably don¡¯t know, but my mommy is super good at chess. How about playing a game with her?¡± Gan Yuan adjusted her chair flat, pulled the blanket over her, and covered herself. ¡°I¡¯m tired, I want to sleep.¡± Turning to look at her, Gan Tang turned back and whispered in Huangfu Jue¡¯s ear. ¡°She was missing you all night yesterday and couldn¡¯t sleep. Otherwise, how about the two of us play?¡± Gan Yuan clenched her teeth under the blanket. If she weren¡¯t currently pretending to sleep, she would have thrown this little rascal out of the plane. Huangfu Jue glanced sideways at the ¡°sleeping¡± Gan Yuan. ¡°Okay.¡± His current mood wasn¡¯t conducive to working anyway; it might be better to pass the time playing chess with the little one. Chapter 68 - 68 69 Who Takes Off Whose 6 ?68: Chapter 69: Who Takes Off Whose (6) 68: Chapter 69: Who Takes Off Whose (6) Seeing his gentle tone, Will hurried over to help Huangfu Jue adjust his seat, aligning it to face Xiao Jue¡¯s. He settled the little guy back into his chair, opened the small table between the two seats, and then asked what kind of chess they liked to play. ¡°It¡¯s up to Uncle Huangfu. International chess, Chinese chess, Go... I can play them all.¡± Oh? A flash of surprise crossed Huangfu Jue¡¯s eyes. This little one doesn¡¯t seem simple at all! ¡°How about... international chess?¡± Will asked, and seeing a slight nod from his boss, he quickly retrieved the chessboard and pieces and diligently set them up. ¡°I want to eat some fruit. Can we eat while playing?¡± the little guy asked. Will was secretly pleased. ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll go prepare it for you two right away.¡± ¡°You go first,¡± Huangfu Jue said. The little guy wasn¡¯t shy; he reached out his small hand and made his move, and Huangfu Jue casually moved a piece in return. At first, nothing significant showed, but soon the little guy¡¯s chess skill began to reveal itself. His layouts, setting traps... a variety of strategies, all very systematic. Huangfu Jue had originally intended just to pass the time and hadn¡¯t been serious, but he quickly lost several pieces and found himself in danger. He didn¡¯t get angry but laughed, his interest finally piqued, and he began to pay serious attention to the game. After one game ended, Huangfu Jue started at a disadvantage and took the win. Having lost the game, the little guy wasn¡¯t angry or anxious, just extended his hand to set up the pieces again. ¡°Another round.¡± In his tone, there was a hint of refusal to admit defeat. Huangfu Jue looked at his little face, set up the chessboard, and continued to play. It¡¯s after the end of a chess game that one¡¯s character can be truly seen. Despite having lost the game, the little guy remained calm, a remarkable thing for a child of his age. Huangfu Jue had been playing chess since he was a child; beating a five-year-old was nothing to be proud of. He just wanted to see how skilled the little guy really was, which is why he took the game more seriously. The little guy initially showed weakness, but he kept his composure, playing steadily and managed to capture most of Huangfu Jue¡¯s pieces before going down with honor. ¡°Not bad,¡± Huangfu Jue nodded slightly, giving advice while setting up the pieces. ¡°The Queen should have held back just a bit...¡± The plane continued forward. Gan Yuan initially closed her eyes to listen to the pair playing chess, but eventually drifted off to sleep. It wasn¡¯t until the plane hit some turbulence, jolting intensely, that she woke up startled. The first thing she did when she opened her eyes was to look at her son. The little guy wasn¡¯t in his seat but was sitting in Huangfu Jue¡¯s lap, gazing out at the ocean through the window, holding a plate with pastries and fruit, listening intently to Huangfu Jue speak. Occasionally, he would lift his fork to pick up a piece of fruit, eating one himself and not forgetting to feed Huangfu Jue one as well. Tired from playing chess, the little guy crawled down from his chair to look at the ocean, and because of the turbulence, Huangfu Jue, worried he might fall, held him in his arms. The two originally talked about chess, but the conversation drifted to Huangfu Jue¡¯s childhood stories about playing chess with his twin brother, Huangfu Qi. ¡°Xiaoqi always wanted to be the older brother, so he was always thinking of ways to beat me and then he could have the thrill of acting as the older brother for a while.¡± The little guy, holding the fork, leaned against his shoulder and giggled. ¡°Uncle Xiaoqi sounds fun.¡± ¡°Yes, he is a very interesting person.¡± Speaking of his brother, warmth could be detected in Huangfu Jue¡¯s tone. ... The sunlight from outside streamed in, falling upon the father and son, their refined faces glowing with the same soft golden light, like an intimate family scene. Watching this heartwarming sight, Gan Yuan withdrew her gaze and pulled the blanket back over her face. She had initially thought that after last night¡¯s incident, he might grow distant from Gan Tang, but it seemed her worries were unfounded. This time, she would let the little guy thoroughly enjoy his father¡¯s love! ... ... Good morning [I have opened an interactive post; everyone is welcome to leave questions, and I¡¯ll answer when I have time. I can¡¯t guarantee a reply to each one, and questions too sharp or private will be ignored~!~] Chapter 69 - 69 70 Underestimated Her 1 ?69: Chapter 70: Underestimated Her (1) 69: Chapter 70: Underestimated Her (1) After a ten-hour flight, the group arrived safely in Paris, where, due to the time difference, it was only the afternoon. Before exiting the airport, staff from the local subsidiary had already prepared vehicles for their reception. Surrounded by people, they left the airport. Gan Yuan had thought they would go directly to the hotel, but to her surprise, the convoy left the city area. Just as she wondered and was about to ask, the car turned a corner and drove up a sycamore-lined avenue to an old castle hidden at the end of the forest. Squinting her eyes and gazing at the long-missed castle that appeared in her view, Gan Yuan straightened her back and took a deep breath. She had not expected him to choose this place. ¡°How beautiful.¡± Sitting beside her, Gan Tang rested her hands on the window sill of the car, peering through the glass at the castle outside and softly exclaimed. The heavy iron gates slowly parted, and security personnel in black suits respectfully stood on either side as the convoy slowly drove over the white stone pathway, circling the fountain to stop at the steps of the castle. An English butler in black tailcoats, accompanied by servants, was already waiting to greet them and politely ushered everyone into the grand hall, while the young one excitedly asked, ¡°Uncle Huangfu, are there horses here?¡± ¡°There are two.¡± The young one¡¯s eyes immediately lit up, ¡°Then... can I go see them?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The man turned his face immediately and instructed the butler in English, ¡°Take him to see the horses.¡± The butler gestured, and a male servant came forward, respectfully approaching Gan Tang. ¡°Please follow me.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The youngster politely thanked the servant in English and promptly let go of Gan Yuan¡¯s hand to follow. ¡°Be careful not to get too close to the horses,¡± Gan Yuan hurriedly reminded. ¡°Got it.¡± Without looking back, the youngster responded and ran down the steps. The group continued upstairs, where Huangfu Jue headed straight for the third floor, and two servants brought Gan Yuan and her child¡¯s luggage to a room on the second floor. The butler had arranged for them a double suite with a private sitting area, which was larger than the two-bedroom apartment they had rented in B City, with separate bedrooms and bathrooms for mother and child. After Gan Yuan declined their help with unpacking, a maid carefully inquired about any dietary restrictions and living habits and showed her the location of the service bell on the wall before leaving quietly on tiptoe. Washing her face in the restroom and arranging her son¡¯s luggage, she immediately left the room and hurried downstairs to the stables in the back. The young one was new here and on his own to see the horses; she was naturally a bit concerned. Downstairs, turning right, she confidently crossed the garden¡¯s grape trellis... On the fourth floor. Huangfu Jue stood on the main bedroom¡¯s terrace, watching the sun-drenched garden below, while his mind was filled with images of a brightly-lit city at night, elegantly dressed men and women, a bustling scene... Behind him, there was a soft tread of footsteps. Will quietly stepped over the wool carpet, his gaze falling on the man in front of the terrace, and he sighed softly in his heart. ¡°Sir, should I prepare lunch?¡± Huangfu Jue snapped back to reality. ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat, prepare something for them, mother and child.¡± Will acknowledged and stepped outside the door. As he turned to leave the terrace, a glimpse of someone appeared in the garden from the corner of his eye. He instinctively shifted his gaze and saw Gan Yuan briskly walking down the path, bending her body as she stepped through the lawn under the grape trellis. Chapter 70 - 70 71 Underestimated Her 2 ?70: Chapter 71: Underestimated Her (2) 70: Chapter 71: Underestimated Her (2) Huangfu Jue turned back around, only to face forward again as Gan Yuan appeared in the garden, ostensibly there to find Gan Tang in the stable. Could this woman be lost? As he pondered, Gan Yuan changed direction, emerging from beneath the grape trellis, passing between the two trees with fiery-red blossoms, and made her way to the back of the stable. On the balcony, Huangfu Jue¡¯s blue eyes narrowed. When he first bought this castle, there was a path under the grape trellis that led directly to the stable. Later, when the garden was redesigned, that path was covered with grass. The route Gan Yuan just took was exactly along that old path. It¡¯s not just the guests, even the new servants aren¡¯t aware there ever was a path there, yet she knew to take this shortcut? ... ... In front of the stable, Gan Tang watched the workers bathe the white horse. ¡°Xiaotang, don¡¯t approach from behind!¡± she immediately cautioned upon seeing the young one¡¯s eager demeanor, ¡°If you approach from the back, it will perceive you as an enemy!¡± Walking over to take his small hand, she led him to the front of a black horse while handing a freshly picked apple to Gan Tang. ¡°Well... make friends with it, but be careful not to get bitten!¡± The little one raised the apple towards the black horse, which snorted on it and without hesitation opened its mouth wide, biting into the large apple and unceremoniously snatching it from Gan Tang¡¯s hand, gulping it down in just a few bites. ¡°You greedy fellow...¡± Gan Tang laughed as he extended his hand to gently stroke its neck, ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s really beautiful!¡± Gan Yuan had taken him to ride horses at a riding club a few times; swimming and horseback riding were his favorite sports. He had a particular fondness for horses... ¡°Since you like it so much, why don¡¯t we draw it when we have time? Then we can take it home with us,¡± Gan Yuan proposed with a smile. ¡°Yeah!¡± the little one nodded, ¡°I¡¯m going to draw the castle too, and take it with us. When I grow up, I also want to earn enough money to buy a big house like this for mommy, so she can ride every day.¡± Gan Yuan laughed happily, ¡°The happiness of mommy¡¯s later life depends on you!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± the little one grinned in reply. ¡°Sorry to disturb you both,¡± a maid approached them, ¡°Lunch is ready. Please come to the dining room.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s eat!¡± With a hand on the little one¡¯s shoulder, the two followed the maid back to the dining room. Will happened to be at the entrance of the dining room and respectfully opened the way for them to enter upon seeing them. Not seeing Huangfu Jue, Gan Tang asked with curiosity, ¡°Where is Uncle Huangfu?¡± ¡°The master says he¡¯s not hungry; you two go ahead and eat.¡± Will replied. With concern, the little one turned, ¡°Is he not feeling well?¡± Will returned a reassuring smile, ¡°No worries, don¡¯t fuss over it.¡± The three of them took their seats, and the meal was served casually¡ªnot the Western fare, but authentic Chinese cuisine. ¡°Fearing that you might not be used to Western food, the master specially instructed me to hire a Chinese chef,¡± Will raised his hand, ¡°Please enjoy your meal. If there¡¯s anything that doesn¡¯t suit your taste, just let the servants and chef know, and they can make adjustments.¡± Because Huangfu Jue wasn¡¯t there, Gan Yuan felt especially relaxed, and the meal tasted exceptionally good. After the meal, Gan Yuan originally planned to take the little one for a walk to relax before a nap, to adjust to the time difference. With filming set to begin tomorrow¡ªa sure sign of a hectic schedule¡ªshe didn¡¯t want him to be too tired. Chapter 71 - 71 72 Underestimated Her 3 ?71: Chapter 72: Underestimated Her (3) 71: Chapter 72: Underestimated Her (3) The little guy had hardly left the restaurant when he turned around and climbed up the stairs. ¡°You just finished eating, slow down,¡± Gan Tang cautioned him as she followed, but when he stepped onto the stairs leading to the third floor, she immediately called out to him. ¡°Xiaojue, don¡¯t run around!¡± The little guy stopped in his tracks, ¡°I¡¯m not running around, I want to go see Uncle Huangfu.¡± He wasn¡¯t seriously ill, what was there to see? Gan Yuan pursed her lips, ¡°If you want to go, then go, but I won¡¯t!¡± ¡°Mommy¡ª¡± ¡°Acting cute won¡¯t work.¡± The little guy turned his head and went upstairs, and Gan Yuan turned to walk towards her own guest room. She had only taken two steps when she heard a muffled sound followed by a scream from upstairs. ¡°Ouch!¡± ¡°Xiaotang!¡± Turning around, she rushed to the third floor, two steps at a time, only to see the little guy standing in the middle of the corridor giving her a mischievous smile. ¡°You¡¯re going downstairs to take a nap in half an hour.¡± Giving her son a roll of her eyes, she dropped the command and turned to go downstairs. The little guy shrugged helplessly, turned around to check the doors on both sides of the corridor, and his little brows knitted slightly. ¡°Uncle Huangfu, where are you?¡± As he pushed open the double wooden doors directly opposite the corridor, Huangfu Jue stepped out, ¡°Is there something you need?¡± ¡°Uncle Will said you weren¡¯t feeling well. My mommy is really worried about you, so she sent me to come up and check on you.¡± That woman was worried about him? This little guy, truly considerate. Huangfu Jue reached out to stroke his hair, ¡°Uncle is fine, don¡¯t worry. You must be tired after such a long flight, go downstairs and take a nap. Later, I¡¯ll take you horseback riding.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I always keep my word.¡± The little guy immediately showed a smile, ¡°Then you also rest well. You should... eat first before resting.¡± The man nodded. The little guy waved goodbye to him and turned to head towards the stairs. ¡°Xiaotang,¡± Huangfu Jue called out to him, ¡°Has your mommy been to France before?¡± The little guy stopped and after a moment¡¯s thought, shook his head, ¡°Not since I can remember, I don¡¯t know about before. But, I know she likes France a lot.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± the little guy nodded, ¡°Every time she sees promotional videos of famous French landmarks, she gets lost in thought. When I ask her what¡¯s wrong, she says... she finds them beautiful and wants to see them. Oh, and Uncle Huangfu, since my mommy is here in France, could you take her out and show her around? I¡¯m afraid she¡¯ll get lost by herself.¡± Huangfu Jue did not hear what the little guy said next; his mind was occupied with some other thoughts. Seeing that he did not respond, the little guy looked a bit disappointed. ¡°If it¡¯s not possible... never mind then.¡± ¡°Go downstairs and tell your mommy to come to the study. Tell her I have something very important to discuss with her.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± the little guy immediately agreed, ¡°I¡¯ll go tell her right now.¡± Waving at him, the little guy turned and dashed to the stairs, and Huangfu Jue hurriedly called out. ¡°Xiaotang, go down the stairs slowly, don¡¯t run!¡± The little guy joyfully agreed, quickly going downstairs. As he reached the edge of the stairs and safely turned into the second-floor corridor, Huangfu Jue turned to go up to the fourth floor. The fourth-floor room had been knocked through and remodeled; it was his workroom and study. On the western side of the room was a neat ebony bookshelf, with books neatly arranged, while the eastern side was the work area with movies, models, fabric... all orderly placed. He walked over, took a record from the shelf, placed it on the turntable, turned on the switch, and stepped back leaning against the workbench as he waited. Chapter 72 - 72 73 Underestimated Her 4 ?72: Chapter 73: Underestimated Her (4) 72: Chapter 73: Underestimated Her (4) Time trickled away moment by moment. At last, footsteps echoed. Squinting his blue eyes, Huangfu Jue watched Gan Yuan, who appeared at the door with a look of reluctance, a barely perceptible glint flickering in the depths of his eyes. In the room, the sound of music flowed softly, a swinging mulberry tune, lazily sung by a woman. Last night I dreamt of San Pedro just like I¡¯d never gone, I knew the song a young girl with eyes like the desert it all seems like yesterday, not far away ... Catching the familiar melody through the door, Gan Yuan gazed at the man leaning against the workbench, took a deep breath, and nonchalantly leaned against the doorframe. It seemed she hadn¡¯t noticed anything different about the song. ¡°If you have something to say, hurry up, I¡¯m very tired!¡± Having learned her lesson from the previous night, she thought it safer to maintain a certain distance from him. Huangfu Jue glanced sidelong at the woman leaning against the doorframe and raised his hand to turn off the turntable with the remote. ¡°Tomorrow morning at eight, someone will take you to the filming site.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°You can go now.¡± Having said that, the man raised his hand to let the music continue. He called her down just to say this? Did he think playing with her like this was amusing? Gan Yuan stood by the door, gritted her teeth, and started descending the stairs. Just then, she encountered Will, gave him a nod, and continued downstairs, moving aside. Will, puzzled, watched Gan Yuan as she went down the stairs and then entered the workshop. ¡°Sir?¡± ¡°Contact the best DNA experts and have them on standby.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Without another word, Will turned and left. Having been with Huangfu for many years, his creed was simple: execute. In the workshop, only Huangfu Jue and the low music remained. ... ... That evening, Huangfu Jue was still absent from dinner. The next day, Gan Yuan and Gan Tang had breakfast together without seeing him; the man seemed to have disappeared without a trace. Gan Tang was visibly worried, but Gan Yuan found it more relaxing. After the meal, the mother and son packed up briefly and got into the car already waiting on the steps to head into town and meet with the photographers and other crew members. Sitting in the back seat, Gan Yuan¡¯s brows suddenly furrowed, an odd premonition faintly arising in her heart. Intuition told her that unseen eyes were watching her from somewhere. She turned and looked behind at the receding castle, scanning the surroundings without noting anything amiss. Her gaze settled on the main bedroom window on the third floor, and she narrowed her eyes slightly. The curtains of the master bedroom on the third floor were still tightly closed. Was that guy still not up so late in the morning? ¡°Mommy, what¡¯s wrong?¡± The little one, seeing the change in her expression, asked in confusion. ¡°Nothing,¡± Gan Yuan replied, withdrawing her gaze. She reached out to pluck a strand of hair from his shoulder while handing over a water bottle, ¡°The weather is dry in spring. Drink more water.¡± The little one took the water bottle to drink, and she quickly slipped the strand of hair into a small plastic bag in her pocket. Even though Huangfu Jue hadn¡¯t shown any signs, Gan Yuan still felt it best to be cautious, considering that man¡¯s extraordinary mind. Who could be sure that he wouldn¡¯t try to conduct a second DNA test? Chapter 73 - 73 74 Underestimated Her 5 ?73: Chapter 74: Underestimated Her (5) 73: Chapter 74: Underestimated Her (5) As the car drove out of the ancient castle gate, the maid had already gone upstairs with the clean sheets, intending to tidy up the room for the mother and son. Upon reaching the second floor, she saw Will standing at the top of the stairs. ¡°From now on, without the gentleman¡¯s orders, no one is allowed upstairs.¡± The maid immediately nodded her head and retreated down the stairs. ... ... On the third floor. Behind the gauze curtain of the master bedroom, Huangfu Jue watched the two get into the car and drive away. He kept his gaze on the car¡¯s taillights until they disappeared around the corner of the tree-lined path. Only then did he turn around and walk out the door. He descended to the second floor, and as soon as Will saw him, he followed him into the room where Gan Yuan and his son stayed, then turned left into Gan Tang¡¯s room. The bed and pillows were neatly arranged, and the books and paintbrushes that Gan Tang had brought were orderly placed on the table next to it. It was evident that the little guy was just like him, a very organized person. Huangfu Jue gently raised his finger, and Will immediately approached, carefully lifting the quilt and taking out a magnifying glass to search meticulously on the pillow. Glancing around, Huangfu Jue strolled over to the table. On the table was an almost finished drawing by the little guy, depicting the castle in the background. On the lawn in front of the castle, there were several unusually posed horses. One of the horses bore a woman with long hair fluttered by the wind, with a short-haired boy in her arms, presumably depicting him and Gan Yuan. Beside the horse was another man leading it for them. Golden-brown short hair, blue eyes... that man was unmistakably his double. Written below the drawing in somewhat childlike Chinese was the word ¨C ¡°Home¡±. Gazing at the affectionate family of three in the drawing, Huangfu Jue¡¯s lips curled slightly upward. Although Gan Tang¡¯s brushstrokes were still somewhat immature, his grasp of color and lines was handled very well... ¡°Sir,¡± Will came over, ¡°I... didn¡¯t find any hair.¡± Huangfu Jue frowned and commanded sharply, ¡°Then search again, the bathroom, the wastebasket, the dressing table... every possible place.¡± Will pursed his lips and turned to continue the search. After a while, he came back. ¡°Sir, there really isn¡¯t any!¡± Huangfu Jue turned around, looked at him for a moment, then couldn¡¯t suppress the urge to step forward and pulled him aside. He carefully picked up the pillow that Gan Tang had slept on. On the white sheets, it was impeccably clean without a single strand of hair to be seen. How could that be possible? ¡°Could it be, has the room been cleaned already?¡± ¡°Impossible, I¡¯ve already given orders for them not to tidy up the rooms.¡± Huangfu Jue raised an eyebrow and strode out of Gan Tang¡¯s room into the opposite bedroom of Gan Yuan, pulling back the quilt. The bed was just as clean, with not a hair in sight. ¡°Damn girl!¡± he cursed through clenched teeth. It defied all logic unless someone had meticulously cleaned up. Otherwise, it was impossible for a woman with long hair to sleep on a bed all night without leaving a single strand behind. Will stood by, not daring to take a breath. Suddenly, the man chuckled lightly. ¡°It seems you really do have something to hide!¡± Not even her own hair was left behind; that damn girl must have made a fake with her own hair. Indeed, he had underestimated her! Seeing his expression soften, Will finally spoke softly, ¡°Sir, what do we do now?¡± Huangfu Jue put Gan Yuan¡¯s pillow back in place, his fingers gently gliding over its surface. The silk pillow was cool and smooth, like her skin. He slowly withdrew his fingers and stood up straight. ¡°Inform them to courier the previously tested samples here. Also, arrange a banquet after the photoshoot is complete.¡± ... ... Good morning Chapter 74 - 74 75 Clothes Covered in Grass 1 ?74: Chapter 75 Clothes Covered in Grass (1) 74: Chapter 75 Clothes Covered in Grass (1) ¡°Alright,¡± Will took a breath and began cautiously, ¡°Should we... send Xiaotang¡¯s toothbrush and other personal items to the lab to see if we can extract DNA?¡± Huangfu Jue turned around, ¡°Rather than that, it¡¯d be more accurate to just take him to get a blood test.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± Will¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile, and then he felt a chill envelop him. He looked up, meeting the man¡¯s grim gaze. Will¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly understood, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Duke, I wasn¡¯t thinking things through.¡± With Huangfu Jue¡¯s meticulous thought process, how could he not have thought of these things? But doing so would inevitably startle the snake in the grass. The little guy¡¯s daily items had all been brought over by Gan Yuan, and with that woman¡¯s caution, the slightest move on his part would immediately be noticed by her. This time, he couldn¡¯t afford any more mistakes. ... ... Louvre Museum. Gan Tang wore a retro brown suspender outfit, with lake blue that made his complexion gleam like jade. Round plastic glasses added to his urbane temperament. Standing in the art-filled corridors of the Louvre Museum, he appeared to be a piece of art created by God himself. Visitors who had come to admire the artworks even took out their cameras, wanting to take his photo, only to be stopped by the staff members who accompanied them. This photo shoot was for a new formal wear series. Before the company had officially advertised it, naturally, the images couldn¡¯t be leaked. Gan Yuan, with a backpack on, stood to the side. Her phone was always in hand, taking two pictures every time the little guy changed outfits. After completing the shoot at the Louvre Museum, the work team had lunch at a nearby restaurant, then headed to the Seine River for exterior shots. ¡°That¡¯s brilliant... very good... keep that pose, don¡¯t move... OK...¡± ¡°Great, let¡¯s take two more here, just turn a little towards uncle... perfect!¡± ... Throughout the entire photoshoot, the photographer was in an exhilarated state, other than his profuse praises, he was mainly snapping the shutter... snapping the shutter... snapping the shutter... Normally, child photography is among the most challenging. Very few children so young have an awareness of the camera. At five or six years old, they¡¯re usually very active, and without the understanding that adult models have, plus the fact that most children are spoiled and willful, he was worried the shoot wouldn¡¯t go smoothly. Yet the results were completely unexpected. The little guy had an outstanding temperament, much more poised than children his age, a natural nobility, coupled with elegant children¡¯s attire, plus the backdrop of the Seine River, rich in history and culture¡ªan effortless snapshot could produce an impressive photo. He didn¡¯t even need to instruct or design movements and expressions; along the way, his role felt more like that of a recorder. Whether it was a wide shot or a close-up, a smile or serious, running, turning around... or even the casual silhouette of him bending down to tie his shoes... All the feelings he needed were found in the little guy, without any pretense. As a mother, Gan Yuan was also extremely accommodating, not only carrying things but also buying drinks for everyone from time to time, without the trouble other parents typically caused. In short, the work went incredibly smoothly. What was expected to take at least two days to complete was finished early in just one day. ¡°Miss Gan, your son is truly amazing,¡± the photographer said as he showed her the photos on the camera, ¡°You see... these pictures don¡¯t even need editing...¡± ¡°It¡¯s because you photographed them well.¡± ¡°Uncle Xiaowu,¡± Gan Tang came out, ¡°Can you help me and Mommy take a photo together?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Xiaowu responded with a smile, ¡°Let¡¯s do it, I¡¯ll take it for you.¡± Gan Yuan was busy declining, ¡°No need, I can just take it with my phone.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t capture the entire scene with a phone. The sunset is beautiful right now, let me take a panoramic shot for you.¡± Chapter 75 - 75 76 Clothes Covered in Grass 2 ?75: Chapter 76 Clothes Covered in Grass (2) 75: Chapter 76 Clothes Covered in Grass (2) Xiaowu enthusiastically stepped back to prepare for the shoot, and Gan Tang walked over, reaching out to remove Gan Yuan¡¯s glasses. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Placing the glasses on her own head, the little one helped tidy her hair, then steadied her face toward the camera and cozied up to kiss her cheek. Xiaowu was ready and captured these series of movements in the shutter clicks. Gan Yuan took back the glasses that Gan Tang had taken and put them back on her face, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± She didn¡¯t like having her picture taken, and it was all to accommodate Gan Tang. ¡°Shall I organize the documents tonight and send them to your email?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Gan Yuan then took out a business card from her bag and handed it over, ¡°Thank you for the trouble.¡± ¡°You are too polite.¡± Xiaowu accepted the business card, and then seriously looked at her face, ¡°Miss Gan, if I may be so bold, have you ever considered a career in modeling?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Gan Yuan smiled, ¡°I¡¯m not suitable.¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you be suitable? With your height, looks, and presence... If you¡¯re willing, I can contact the agency and get you signed up right away. I¡¯ll do the photoshoots myself. Trust my judgement, you¡¯ll be famous in no time.¡± ¡°Thank you for your compliment, but I still think I¡¯m not suitable.¡± Gan Yuan said with a smile, resting her hand on the little one¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s go and change our clothes.¡± She took Xiaotang to the nanny van to change clothes, while Xiaowu turned his gaze to her retreating back and sighed softly. He didn¡¯t know how many models he had photographed; of course, he had an eye for it. Normally, this woman always wore glasses and seemed quite ordinary, but the few photos just now were different. The sharpness and insight in those eyes and the grace when she turned her head, the delicate features nearly at the golden ratio... These were things many top models could only dream of. ¡°Such a presence... What a waste!¡± ... ... As they were ahead of schedule, when the mother and son returned to the mansion, the sun hadn¡¯t set, casting a fiery glow on the ancient castle and highlighting its solemn beauty. The little one ran to the window as soon as they entered, leaning on the windowsill looking outside. ¡°The view is so beautiful. I wonder if Uncle Huangfu is around, I really want to go horse riding.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired from running around all day?¡± Gan Yuan took off her backpack and placed it on the sofa, then turned and walked into the washroom, turned on the tap, and washed her hands. She casually grabbed a paper towel, and her gaze fell on the electric toothbrush placed to the side. Her dark eyes narrowed slightly. She always had the habit of placing the toothbrush on the right side, so why was it now on the left? On the washstand, there were still faint water stains, likely left from her washing her hands in the morning. This indicated that the servant hadn¡¯t cleaned it. If not the servant, who would have touched her toothbrush? ¡°Uncle Huangfu.¡± In the living room, Xiaotang¡¯s excited voice could be heard. Gan Yuan immediately pursed her lips. This guy really was like a lingering spirit! Huangfu Jue entered the guest room, his gaze sweeping over the open door of Gan Yuan¡¯s room, ¡°How did the shoot go? Was it smooth?¡± ¡°Yeah, we shot at the Louvre Museum and also took some external shots by the Seine River.¡± Xiaotang looked up and down his chic riding outfit, ¡°Uncle Huangfu, are you going to ride horses?¡± ¡°I was about to go riding, but I heard you guys were back, so I came to check on you.¡± Huangfu Jue extended his palm and gently tousled his short hair, ¡°Are you tired?¡± Xiaotang immediately shook his head. ¡°Then... would you like to go horse riding with uncle?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Xiaotang answered excitedly, then he looked up at Huangfu Jue with hope, ¡°Can you take mommy with us?¡± Chapter 76 - 76 77 Clothes Covered in Grass 3 ?76: Chapter 77 Clothes Covered in Grass (3) 76: Chapter 77 Clothes Covered in Grass (3) ¡°If... she wants to go.¡± That woman, she should refuse, right? ¡°What are you two discussing so happily?¡± Gan Yuan walked out with a smile, and as she lifted her gaze, she saw Huangfu Jue. The man was dressed in a white riding jacket with dazzling gold buttons, long riding boots encasing his slender calves, and a pair of gloved hands holding a riding crop embellished with beautiful gold patterns. Tall and straight, graceful and elegant, brimming with heroic spirit. ¡°Uncle Huangfu is going to take me riding, Mummy, do you want to come along?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Gan Yuan walked over with a smile, ¡°I happen to want to go out for some fresh air too.¡± If it wasn¡¯t for his permission, no one could simply enter her room or touch her belongings. It seemed, as she feared, that this guy hadn¡¯t given up because of that one DNA test; she still needed to be doubly careful and certainly wouldn¡¯t let him take her son out alone. If he managed to take a DNA sample from Gan Tang, all her efforts would be in vain. His blue eyes swept over her smiling face, and Huangfu Jue¡¯s blue eyes narrowed slightly. She actually agreed? ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± The little guy had been worried that Gan Yuan would refuse, but seeing her agree so easily, he felt secretly excited. In a moment, he would have to think of a way to give the two some alone time, to let them further their relationship. Thus, the three of them, each with their own thoughts, walked out of the old castle toward the stables. The coachman had already been notified and had saddled two horses, waiting outside the stable. Huangfu Jue bent down to lift the little guy onto the saddle, then swiftly mounted the horse behind him. Seeing this, Gan Yuan went to another horse and mounted it. Just seeing how she mounted the horse told him she was an experienced rider, and Huangfu Jue chuckled inside, with one hand holding the reins to protect Gan Tang and his legs gently nudging the horse¡¯s belly. ¡°Xiaotang, sit tight.¡± The black horse moved forward, and Gan Yuan followed lightly with her horse. The little guy caressed the glossy black mane of the horse beneath him, ¡°Does it have a name?¡± ¡°His name is Bray,¡± Huangfu Jue shook the reins lightly, ¡°When I first saw him, he had just been born and was weaker than the other foals. Everyone thought he would die when I bought him.¡± ¡°But he didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Of course he didn¡¯t.¡± Huangfu Jue smiled, ¡°Moreover, he can easily outpace all the young horses from the same ranch.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± Gan Tang stroked Bray¡¯s satin-like mane, ¡°He must run very fast.¡± ¡°Definitely.¡± Huangfu Jue wrapped his arms around him, ¡°Hold on to me!¡± The little guy guessed what he intended to do and clung to his arm, leaning his back against his chest. Huangfu Jue gently led the reins, and Bray immediately picked up speed and began to gallop. As expected of a top-quality horse, bursting with power, it left Gan Yuan behind in a moment. ¡°This is awesome!¡± The little guy wasn¡¯t afraid at all, one hand holding onto his arm while the other stretched out to feel the wind slipping through his fingers, ¡°Uncle Huangfu, faster!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Embracing the little guy tightly, Huangfu Jue lifted his riding crop and lightly struck Bray¡¯s side. The big fellow let out a soft neigh and instantly accelerated again, rushing up the grassy slope like the wind. Initially, Gan Yuan had been lazily following behind, keeping an eye on Huangfu Jue to prevent him from doing anything sneaky. Seeing him take Gan Tang far away, her heart filled with worry, and she hurried to spur her horse to catch up. Chapter 77 - 77 78 Clothes Covered in Grass 4 ?77: Chapter 78 Clothes Covered in Grass (4) 77: Chapter 78 Clothes Covered in Grass (4) Left with no choice, the horse simply couldn¡¯t keep up and fell behind the other two. Rushing up the slope, Huangfu Jue grasped the reins with one hand, and with a sharp pull, Bray sprang up, beautifully and gracefully stopping at the side of a tree on the hilltop. Tsk! Watching the man¡¯s handsome riding skills on the grassy slope, Gan Yuan could only curl her lip in response. To ride is one thing, but showing off is another! ¡°Ha!¡± On horseback, the little guy showed no sign of fear, but laughed out with excitement, ¡°That¡¯s so thrilling, when I grow up I¡¯m going to have a horse like this... No, even faster than Bray!¡± ¡°I believe you certainly can.¡± Huangfu Jue dismounted sideways and reached out to lift him down from the horse. Riding a horse requires skills, and he always preferred a hard saddle. The little guy was small, and riding for too long could likely injure the insides of his legs. ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re so slow!¡± Looking at Gan Yuan catching up, Gan Tang didn¡¯t hesitate to tease her. ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m slow, it¡¯s the horse that¡¯s slow.¡± Gan Yuan also dismounted and came over, leading the horse by the reins with her hands behind her back. ¡°Grasshopper!¡± With an exclamation, the little guy ran towards the bushes, ¡°You two just chat for a while, I¡¯ll come back as soon as I catch a grasshopper.¡± Heading for the bushes, the little guy parted the grass in search of grasshoppers, while keeping an eye on the man and woman not far away. Moving slowly while they catch up, they can start their romance at their leisure, right? Watching the little guy run into the distance, Gan Yuan withdrew her gaze and tied the horse¡¯s reins to the tree. ¡°The filming is progressing rapidly. I¡¯ve asked the photographer, who said he could wrap up in three days. After work is done, I¡¯m planning on taking Xiaotang back early. Mr. Huangfu doesn¡¯t have any objections, does he?¡± Her tone was strictly business, hinting at coolness. Huangfu Jue loosened the reins, letting Bray graze on his own while idly flicking his riding crop in mid-air. ¡°That won¡¯t do.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± She turned her face unhappily, her voice already tinted with a hint of anger. ¡°Because I don¡¯t have the time.¡± ¡°We can leave on our own.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do.¡± Fury tinged her voice, ¡°Why the hell not?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel safe about it.¡± ¡°You...¡± Her gaze caught the sight of the short black hair on his chest, and Gan Yuan frowned instantly¡ªwas that Gan Tang¡¯s hair? Huangfu Jue turned his face, looking her way, just as she met his gaze. Gan Yuan hurriedly looked away, clearing her throat, ¡°Actually, Mr. Huangfu, there¡¯s really no need for you to worry...¡± Staring at that single hair fluttering on his chest, she grew anxious within. Why wear any color but white? The contrast between black and white was so distinct that a simple glance down would make it easily visible. Why wasn¡¯t there a gust of wind to blow that hair away or off? The base of the hair had a little bit of white¡ªprobably the follicle. That guy must be looking for suitable DNA evidence. If he found it... A plan formed in her mind, and she stepped toward him. As she approached, she pretended to trip, exclaiming in alarm as she fell toward Huangfu Jue. This fall was carefully calculated; her hand should¡¯ve landed right on his chest, allowing her to snare the hair he hadn¡¯t noticed. She had accounted for everything, but she miscalculated one thing¡ªHuangfu Jue was human, and he could move. Hearing her exclamation, he instinctively turned towards her, resulting in Gan Yuan colliding heavily into Huangfu Jue, The man¡¯s boots slipped on the grass, and he lost his balance, falling to the ground with her on top of him, Feeling something wrong, she raised her face, only to find herself staring at his belt. Belt...?! Chapter 78 - 78 79 Clothes Covered in Grass 5 ?78: Chapter 79 Clothes Covered in Grass (5) 78: Chapter 79 Clothes Covered in Grass (5) Realizing where she was lying, her face flushed with embarrassment, and she hurried to prop herself up from the grass, but her gaze was drawn to that stray hair. It had been on his chest, but the impact had shifted it to now rest at his neck, its tip dancing lightly in the breeze, brushing against his face. Feeling an itch on his face, Huangfu Jue instinctively raised his hand to sweep it away. Seeing his fingers reaching for the hair, Gan Yuan panicked and lunged forward, pressing down on his hand. Huangfu Jue was startled by her action and looked at her face with puzzled eyes. ¡°You...¡± ¡°That is...¡± Gan Yuan quickly extended her left hand and casually plucked a blade of grass from beside his head, ¡°You have a piece of grass in your hair!¡± Even if she held a Thousand-Year Ganoderma in her hand, he didn¡¯t care at that moment. ¡°Get off!¡± He commanded in a low growl. Just a moment ago, she had crashed into his most sensitive spot, and now, this damned woman was sitting on his waist as if she wanted to kill him. How could he bear such stimulation? Did she think she wanted to sit on top of him? If it weren¡¯t for that stray hair, she wouldn¡¯t bother touching him at all. Gan Yuan quickly stood up from him, straightened her clothes, and then hurriedly checked on him. Speaking of which, where was the hair? She swiftly scanned the area but didn¡¯t spot the stray hair on him; it must have fallen somewhere when she tumbled onto him. Her heart relaxed slightly, and she was about to look away when the corner of her eye caught a glimpse of a short patch of black hair peeking out from his collar. Damn it! Even the heavens were conspiring against her. Gan Yuan silently gritted her teeth. As if to taunt her, the hair swayed gently in the breeze. Helpless, she approached him again. ¡°Mr. Huangfu, I... I didn¡¯t hurt you when I bumped into you, did I?¡± She feigned concern on her face while pondering how to retrieve the stray hair. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± The man¡¯s reply was a low murmur, his voice husky. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± She smiled and lifted her hands to pat his shirt, ¡°Look at you, your clothes are all covered in grass.¡± Yet, the hair clung to his neck, unmoved. ¡°Your collar is crooked too...¡± She reached for his collar, her heart set on claiming that hair. The moment her fingertips brushed his shirt, her wrist was already seized by his hand. ¡°Gan Yuan, do you know what you¡¯re doing?¡± The man leaned in closer to her, his tone low and dangerous. Looking up at the hair beneath his neck, she lifted her face and coughed forcefully into his neck, taking the opportunity to blow a breath of air. The hair finally detached from his collar and drifted downwards. She silently breathed a sigh of relief, ready to retreat, but her waist was already encircled by the man¡¯s arm, pulling her forcefully into his embrace. ¡°Huangfu Jue, let go!¡± To be hugged without warning, she wasn¡¯t some doll. ¡°Gan Yuan.¡± The man gazed into her eyes, ¡°What exactly are you trying to do?¡± Before, she had been cold to him in every way. But now, not only had she come out to ride with him, she was also straightening his clothes. This woman... What was she really thinking? ¡°It¡¯s you who are holding me, not me holding you. If anyone is supposed to be doing something, it should be you, shouldn¡¯t it? He raised an eyebrow, and then, his lips curled. ¡°You mean, you want me to take the initiative?¡± Men truly are creatures of the lower half, always thinking of such things. ¡°What I mean is, let go!¡± She tried to withdraw her arm with force, but he tightened his grip, and the little distance that was between them immediately shrank to nothing. Her chest pressed against his, his waist against hers. Chapter 79 - 79 80 Clothes Covered in Grass 6 ?79: Chapter 80 Clothes Covered in Grass (6) 79: Chapter 80 Clothes Covered in Grass (6) The thin spring attire couldn¡¯t even keep out body warmth. Her complexion flushed¡ªnot with shyness, but with anger. ¡°Get lost, you pervert!¡± ¡°It was you who threw yourself at me.¡± ¡°That was just an accident.¡± ¡°But I think, you did it on purpose.¡± Upon saying that, something suddenly crossed his mind, and he looked down at himself¡ªcould there be a reason she had thrown herself onto him? Gan Yuan strenuously pulled her arm back, ready to push him away, but her gaze caught on the strand of black hair on his body again. That short hair was still on him, now caught in his collar. As she reached for it, her palm created a gust of wind, and the hair silently slid into his collar. Feeling her movements, the man looked down. Quick-witted in her urgency, she lifted her arm and wrapped it around his neck. Caught off guard by her sudden embrace, Huangfu Jue was taken aback. ¡°Actually...¡± her fingers cautiously moved around his collar, searching for the strand of hair, ¡°actually I... I¡¯ve had something I wanted to tell you...¡± She groped and groped, finally finding the hair and pinching it between her fingertips. She immediately stood upright. The man seized her arm, ¡°What do you want to say?¡± She turned her back, loosened her grip, letting the hair fall from her fingers and drift into the bushes. ¡°I wanted to say... actually... it¡¯s nothing much...¡± she looked up at him with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ll go to the restroom first, I¡¯ll tell you once I¡¯ve thought it through.¡± She flashed a mischievous smile and turned to leave. The footsteps of the man behind her grew close; before she could turn around, he had already pulled her back and pressed her against the large tree trunk that was as thick as two people hugging. Wait? He couldn¡¯t wait anymore! ... Push? She couldn¡¯t push him away. Bite? He held her chin, preventing her jaws from meeting. The trunk pressed harshly against her back, but the man in front of her was even harder... Even though she should have been thinking of ways to push him away, her thoughts uncontrollably slipped back six years to the time he had kissed her in this same spot under the tree... Her physical struggles gradually became feeble, yet that kiss had already fermented. This man, just as clumsy at ending kisses as he was six years ago, could nonetheless make her surrender every time. Her body grew soft, and her hand, seemingly having a will of its own, uncontrollably moved from his shoulder to his neck. The wind blew in from afar but could barely squeeze between the two, so it had to detour, discontentedly lifting his clothes and her hair. Gan Tang sat in the tall grass at a distance, parting the weeds to watch the couple kiss beside the tree, then let go of the grass in front of her with a smile. ¡°Carry on, I didn¡¯t see anything.¡± ... ... Good morning [Suddenly realized it¡¯s already Tuesday, so... time for a poll, ha~!~] Chapter 80 - 80 81 Come to My Room Tonight 1 ?80: Chapter 81: Come to My Room Tonight (1) 80: Chapter 81: Come to My Room Tonight (1) Her clothes were rolled up, the coarse bark of the tree grazing her skin, causing a slight abrasive pain that was entirely ignored. He was panting as he moved his lips away from hers but did not let go; instead, he turned his face to kiss her neck. ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck!¡± Anger was evident in her tone, not at him, but at herself. To think she had responded to his kiss, and even let him take liberties... Gan Yuan, where was your self-control, your reason?! As he lifted his hand to remove a small piece of bark caught in her hair, his palm slid down to cradle her cheek. ¡°Come to my room tonight.¡± She swatted his hand away and Gan Yuan¡¯s face turned cold, ¡°Duke, if you¡¯re looking to take care of physiological needs, find someone else. I am not a ¡®call girl¡¯.¡± ¡°I never ¡®call¡¯ for prostitutes!¡± ¡°Then go find your lovers, your bedmates...¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any.¡± ¡°Who would believe that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± ¡°That has nothing to do with me.¡± She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, ¡°Don¡¯t read too much into what just happened. That kiss was just a physical reaction, nothing more.¡± ¡°What you mean is...¡± The man raised both hands, stuffing them into the pockets of his riding trousers, leisurely watching her face flush, ¡°your body feels something for me?¡± What did it mean to shamelessly flirt? The man before her was a living example. She lifted her eyebrows lightly, her tone filled with disdain and scorn. ¡°With such lousy kissing skills, it would be strange to feel anything.¡± Ignoring him, she turned around trying to walk away from him, but after just one step, his hand already reached from behind, his arm encircling her waist. ¡°So... your heart naturally beats fast?¡± She didn¡¯t dodge or flinch, but instead, she threw back her elbow, striking hard at his stomach. The man grunted but his arm still didn¡¯t let go of her. ¡°If your body misses me, come find me anytime.¡± Raising her hand to grab his, she arched her foot to the side, exerted force, and with a beautiful shoulder throw, the man heavily crashed onto the grass. Lying on the grass, he watched her angry face with a slant glint in his eye and laughed rather than getting angry. ¡°What¡¯s the hurry? Trying to pin me down so soon?¡± She was so angry she clenely clenched her silver teeth, yet she was powerless to do anything about it. What a perfect gentleman, what a cold and aloof heir... This guy was simply a rogue at heart. She clenched her fists and turned to pull the reins off the tree. ¡°Xiaotang, come out here this instant!¡± That little thing hadn¡¯t shown up for so long; there was no need to guess¡ªhe must be sneaking a peek from the sidelines. ¡°Coming!¡± The youngster crawled out of the bushes, looked at Huangfu Jue lying on the grass, and hurried over to help him up.