Jiang Li flushed scarlet as she wriggled out of Xiao Yanzhi's embrace, her eyes glistening with moisture. "Alright, I really should go back..."
As she turned around, she saw Sheng Shuocheng standing by the French window. She had no idea how long he'd been there, and they locked eyes.
...She wished she could just disappear on the spot.
What could be more embarrassing than getting caught kissing your boyfriend by your own father!
Jiang Li's first instinct was to shove Xiao Yanzhi away and quickly pull her hand out of his.
"What's wrong?" Sensing her sudden change in demeanor, Xiao Yanzhi turned his head with her and naturally saw Sheng Shuocheng too.
"We're screwed," Jiang Li said, panic-stricken, spitting out just these two words.
Xiao Yanzhi remained calmer than her, his expression barely changing as he stayed right where he was.
Now that he'd been spotted, Sheng Shuocheng stopped hiding and stepped out, holding that red sandalwood walking stick in his hand.
Xiao Yanzhi even calmly greeted him, "Mr. Sheng."
Jiang Li had no choice but to follow suit and softly call out, "Dad."
Looking at the two of them, one composed and the other nervous, Sheng Shuocheng felt a complex mix of emotions.
He felt like the bad father who was tearing a loving couple apart.
He stared coldly at Xiao Yanzhi, their eyes locking for a few seconds.
Finally, he spoke slowly, enunciating each word to Xiao Yanzhi, "Take her away."
Jiang Li's heart pounded like crazy. At that moment, it sank, and she said pitifully, "Dad, don't you like me anymore?"
Sheng Shuocheng looked down at her. "Then don't you want to go with him?"
Jiang Li quickly denied it. "That's not it."
Sheng Shuocheng: "..."
This little girl was quite honest.
He waved his hand helplessly, the walking stick swinging in the air. "Go, go. It'll be quieter with just me in this house."
Jiang Li blinked her eyes, detecting a hint of loneliness in his words. She bit her lip and made a choice. "I'll stay at home with you."
Sheng Shuocheng glanced at her. "What's the use of staying with me? Your heart's not here anyway."
Jiang Li: "..."
She was speechless.
Sheng Shuocheng leaned on his walking stick with one hand and shifted his gaze to Xiao Yanzhi. He'd already prepared himself mentally. "Aren't you two going to be busy with the domestic release of the movie in a few days? Remember to come back for dinner during the Chinese New Year."
He'd made it clear that he was letting her go. Naturally, Xiao Yanzhi didn't decline further. He just straightened his body and bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Mr. Sheng."
Jiang Li carefully glanced at Sheng Shuocheng and then at Xiao Yanzhi. After making sure there was no hostility in their eyes, she waved her little hand. "Well, bye, Dad."
Watching his youngest daughter about to leave with a man, even though he'd prepared himself mentally, Sheng Shuocheng's blood pressure spiked a bit.
He'd have to take some blood pressure medication when he got back.
He'd also have to keep some quick-acting heart pills handy.
"Oh, right, Dad," Jiang Li said as she was about to get in the car. Suddenly, she seemed to remember something. She turned to look at Sheng Shuocheng. "Is big brother back?"
"Not yet. Why?"
"He has a crush on a girl recently," Jiang Li winked playfully. "You can think about his marriage."
Later that evening, Sheng Jingxi finally came home.
As soon as he entered the house, he saw his father sitting on the sofa, seemingly waiting for him.
Sheng Jingxi didn't think much of it and just blurted out, "Dad, your daughter's been taken away by her boyfriend. She probably won't be back tonight."
He really had a knack for saying the wrong thing. Sheng Shuocheng's veins twitched.
Sheng Shuocheng: "I don't need you to remind me about her."
He tapped his walking stick on the ground. "Come here. Tell me about that girl of yours."
...
Back at Ruiyuan, Xiao Yanzhi's hand never left her body. His palm clung tightly to her waist. As soon as they entered the door, he kissed her almost breathless.
He'd been holding back for days while she was spending time with her family.
Xiao Yanzhi was undoubtedly calm. He understood Jiang Li's longing for family and the need to maintain those relationships.
That's why he'd been considerate enough not to bother her recently. But even though his reason and mind knew the right thing to do, his yearning and desire still got the better of him.
"I shouldn't have seen you tonight," he said hoarsely after kissing her. "You're in trouble, Jiang Li."
His voice was laced with restraint, and his eyes were dark and intense.
Jiang Li slumped into his arms. Her beautiful eyes were already misty, and she kissed him back. "People who've abstained for a long time usually last a short time for the first time."
Her words were like a provocation.
His hand tightened slightly as he unfastened the metal buckle on the back of her dress. His eyes grew even darker. "Who told you that?"
His kisses didn't stop, making it hard for her to speak clearly.
"Um... I read it online..." she said intermittently. "And you've been holding back for so long... you should last a short time too..."
"Li Li, your words today are very dangerous."
He was dissatisfied with her remarks, and finally, his lips and tongue silenced her.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. The two of them were already extremely aroused, and the man wanted to prove with his body that the information she'd read online was false.
She missed him, from the bottom of her heart.
So he filled her from the inside out.
The same yearning, filled in a passionate way.
---
Jiang Li wrapped herself in the quilt and rested her head on Xiao Yanzhi's shoulder, staring intently at his profile.
Xiao Yanzhi leaned against the headboard and looked down at her dazed eyes. He couldn't help but kiss her forehead again. "Aren't you tired yet, huh?"
This sentence was filled with a dangerous signal.
"I met Qin Yaoyao in the bar today. She's working as a waitress there," she suddenly changed the topic. Xiao Yanzhi raised his eyebrows.
"At this time, you shouldn't bring up irrelevant people," he said in a slightly deep voice, half warning, half reminding. "I'm not interested in topics about her."
Jiang Li curled her lips. She deliberately said, "But you don't want to talk about her, and I just want to."
Xiao Yanzhi nodded helplessly. "Okay, you can talk."
Who else could spoil her like this?
Jiang Li took a deep breath, looked at him intently, and propped her chin up. "She said I'm just relying on your love for me and can only be your mistress for the rest of my life."
After she finished speaking, she blinked her eyes, her eyes bright. "I wonder what Mr. Xiao thinks of this?"
Xiao Yanzhi gave a half-smile. He looked at her for a while and then slowly said, "It's rare for her to tell the truth."
Whether she was a mistress or not was debatable; in fact, she wasn't. But she was indeed acting so recklessly because of his love for her.
"Which part?"
Jiang Li noticed his eyes growing darker, and suddenly, she felt nowhere to hide. "I'm suddenly so sleepy. Let's go to sleep quickly..."
Xiao Yanzhi casually grabbed her wrist again and pinned her firmly to the bed.
Jiang Li said weakly, "I haven't rested enough. I protest your actions."
Xiao Yanzhi let out a soft snort and replied word by word.
"Your protest is invalid."