Chapter 17: Compliment Him

Gu Qichen had long been puzzled by his lack of desire for women. Even Shen Manbing hadn't stirred his affections. He'd considered the possibility of a personal deficiency, but everything changed the night he met Xia Yangyang. It was as if a dormant beast within him awoke, now irrepressible. Years of carefully held principles crumbled. He'd acted as a villain, a pseudo-gentleman exploiting her vulnerability. He knew she acted unwittingly, yet he still took advantage. That night, sleep eluded him.

Watching her sleep, innocent as a kitten, he felt confused for the first time. Why her? He'd never believed in fate, but with Xia Yangyang, he felt a sense of destiny. He experienced a fluttering heart, a sensation akin to an electric shock when she kissed him—a completely novel experience.

It wasn't without internal struggle. She shattered his principles like a stone disturbing still waters. And yet, she dared ask him why? He craved the answer more than she did.

Xia Yangyang's heart skipped a beat at his words. He confessed his feelings from the moment he saw her. Fireworks exploded in her mind; her heart overflowed with happiness. Bashfully, she asked, "So, are you confessing?"

Gu Qichen raised an eyebrow. "It would seem so."

Overjoyed, Xia Yangyang was abruptly confronted with his next question: "What about you? That morning, why did you agree to marry me so readily?"

"I was heartbroken," she explained. "A new relationship is the best way to get over a breakup. Besides, we'd slept together. Who else could I marry? Let's not forget your status and eligibility. I reluctantly agreed."

Turning to look at him, she saw a half-angry expression. He gnashed his teeth. "So you used me to cope with your feelings?"

"What else?" she teased, amused by his increasingly sullen expression.

His voice turned icy. "What about now?"

Xia Yangyang pondered, glancing at him. To her surprise, he looked rather adorable when upset. Deciding she'd pushed him far enough, she softened her approach. Smiling, she blurted out, "Of course my husband's the best! He's the greatest! I love my husband most! Husband, you're unbearably handsome when you're angry!"

It was the first time she'd spoken so gushingly. Repeating "husband" four times gave her goosebumps, but it seemed to please him. His icy expression softened, a faint smile touching his lips. "Continue," he said calmly.

Continue what? He was addicted to praise? She racked her brain. "My husband, Young Master Gu, is handsome, elegant, intelligent, and dignified. His attractiveness incenses the gods and grieves the ghosts. There's a poem 'A pear tree in bloom outshines all the peach blossoms, a branch of red apricot blooms beyond the wall'"

He coughed. "Enough," he said.

She'd already praised him as "a branch of red apricot blooms beyond the wall"—what more could he possibly want? Sticking out her tongue, she leaned in and kissed his cheek. It seemed she was truly falling for him.