The next morning, when Qi Xi woke up, the other side of the bed was already empty.
Clearly, Gu Yan had exerted himself more last night, but how was he still so much more energetic than her? Qi Xi had slept until the sun was high in the sky, yet her waist still felt sore and weak. She suddenly felt that her previous doubts about Gu Yan's kidney function were extremely unwise.
Although she was awake, Qi Xi felt completely languid, like a contented cat, wanting only to lie there. Gu Yan's bed was very comfortable, and the mulberry silk duvet felt incredibly smooth and pleasant even against bare skin.
But Qi Xi's dream of continuing to lie lazily was soon shattered, because Gu Yan gently pushed open the door and sat down on the edge of the bed. Perhaps because Qi Xi was still pretending to sleep with her eyes closed, Gu Yan didn't immediately realize she was awake. His movements were very careful. Qi Xi only felt the bed dip on one side as someone sat down. After that, Gu Yan didn't say anything, nor did he make any movements. It seemed like there was nothing in the room except sunlight and silence.
However, even with her eyes closed, Qi Xi could feel Gu Yan's gaze.
Perhaps it was Gu Yan's gaze that was too intense, or perhaps it was the intensity of the sunlight in the room, but Qi Xi's face gradually began to feel flushed.
It seemed that when one closed one's eyes, one's imagination became even more unrestrained. She began to think of random things, the details she had overlooked in last night's frenzy, the nearly crazed kisses between the two of them, and...
The more Qi Xi thought about it, the more she felt that even the thin silk duvet was making her so hot that she wanted to throw it off.
But...
But under the silk duvet, she was wearing nothing at all.
Perhaps it was the gradually flushing cheeks and the slightly erratic breathing rhythm that finally made Gu Yan realize Qi Xi was pretending to be asleep.
This man very unfairly leaned down and kissed Qi Xi.
And what was originally a good morning kiss, for some reason, began to spiral slightly out of control.
Qi Xi was afraid of repeating last night's mistakes, so she had to abandon her pretense of sleep, emerged from the silk duvet, and lightly punched Gu Yan. "Go away, go away."
Gu Yan pretended to cry out in pain. "Why are you so fierce? First thing in the morning, is this how you hit your husband?"
Qi Xi was so teased by him that she had no way to fight back, and could only cover Gu Yan's mouth with her hand.
She was furious. "What husband! Gu Yan! You're being indecent!"
Gu Yan just smiled, took Qi Xi's hand and kissed it, then leaned close to her ear. "We did even more indecent things last night."
"As for husband, that's not wrong, it's your future husband."
Qi Xi was about to hit him again, but she found that Gu Yan, who had been sharp-tongued and debating with her about his husband status, suddenly turned his head and looked away. His voice also became a little stuttering and unsteady. "Qi Xi. If I hadn't known you for so many years, I would have thought you were doing this on purpose."
?
Before Qi Xi could react, she heard Gu Yan look back at her, his gaze lingering for a moment on a certain part of her body, before he continued to look away and said, "But you weren't lying, you really do have a great figure..."
The place Gu Yan had just looked at was...
Qi Xi followed Gu Yan's previous gaze, and then felt awful.
The silk duvet was indeed smooth and comfortable, but it was also a little too smooth. Qi Xi only then realized that during her playful tussle with Gu Yan, the damn silk duvet had already slipped off her shoulder.
So just now, her entire body had been...
Qi Xi looked at the red marks on her chest, and couldn't utter a single word of argument. She could only retreat in defeat, burrowing into the duvet and wrapping herself tightly in several layers of silk, leaving only her eyes exposed to watch Gu Yan warily—
"You, you stay away from me."
It was strange, even though she and Gu Yan had done everything, both appropriate and inappropriate, the next day, both of them were still very shy. Gu Yan still didn't dare to look directly at Qi Xi's body, and Qi Xi also seemed unable to flirt with Gu Yan as naturally as before.
Both of them were quiet and silent for a moment, as if they were just barely calming their previous heartbeats and nervousness.
Only then did Qi Xi gradually find her rhythm again. She glared at Gu Yan, as if intending to change the subject, and said with feigned naturalness, "I didn't hit you hard just now. Saying it hurt was a bit of an exaggeration, wasn't it?"
Gu Yan had also regained his composure at this moment, but his gaze towards Qi Xi was still quite accusatory. "You hit me on my wound."
Wound?
Perhaps Qi Xi's confused expression was too obvious, Gu Yan pursed his lips, as if kindly explaining, "You scratched me last night."
"..."
Qi Xi's heartbeat, which had finally calmed down, started to jump like oil in a hot pan.
She felt that she really needed to find a place away from Gu Yan where she could calm down. However, pathetically, she was currently in Gu Yan's home, lying on Gu Yan's bed. Everything around her seemed to have Gu Yan's shadow, and was filled with Gu Yan's scent, as if there was no escape.
Fortunately, although Gu Yan was full of youthful vigor, he at least retained his rationality. He got up from the bed, deliberately not looking at Qi Xi, and walked awkwardly towards the door. "I'll go calm down too."
Even though he was trying to appear calm, Gu Yan's voice was still a little shaky at this moment. He cleared his throat, as if he had finally found the trick to calming down, and only then did he turn back to look at Qi Xi. "Get dressed and get up quickly. I made preserved egg and lean pork congee. Have some."
Qi Xi didn't have the brainpower to think about anything else. She blushed, nodded her head repeatedly in agreement, "Okay, okay, okay." Only when she heard the sound of Gu Yan leaving and closing the door did Qi Xi breathe a sigh of relief.
Really.
Falling in love was like committing a crime, and Gu Yan was like an accomplice.
It seemed that every time she saw him, she couldn't help but feel her adrenaline surge, her heart beating without any rhythm, and her head becoming hot and unable to think.
Gu Yan needed to calm down, and so did Qi Xi.
Fortunately, after a while, she got dressed, washed up, and went out of the room. On the table was already a visually perfect bowl of preserved egg and lean pork congee. Gu Yan was very thoughtful, and had also put out several small side dishes, and even fried a golden egg for Qi Xi. It looked very appetizing.
Qi Xi silently ate the congee under Gu Yan's gaze. Gu Yan's cooking skills didn't disappoint her either. The congee was warm and fragrant, making Qi Xi feel warm all over. The sun was shining, and it felt like she was floating, as if stepping on cotton candy, completely immersed in a soft, sweet atmosphere.
At this time, looking at Gu Yan again, he seemed much more pleasing to the eye.
Qi Xi thought fairly that Gu Yan was more handsome when he was wearing clothes, because he was gentler and more accommodating when he was dressed.
Although Gu Yan had prepared breakfast, judging by the time, it was already Qi Xi's lunch. She slowly finished the preserved egg and lean pork congee, and felt a little more energetic, but still very lazy.
Gu Yan, on the other hand, was full of energy, and had even started working on his computer.
When he saw Qi Xi's dumbfounded expression, he also seemed a little embarrassed and briefly explained, "This client is a bit urgent. It's a document that was sent over temporarily and needs to be urgently translated into English. I was originally planning to translate it last night."
Qi Xi also knew about this job. If she remembered correctly, this was what Gu Xuehan had assigned to Gu Yan yesterday at noon, but...
"But didn't you decide to do that with me last night?"
So he still scheduled translation for the evening?
Gu Yan hummed, his tone quite calm. "I originally planned to finish what we should do, and then I would work overtime to translate."
"..."
Speaking of this, Gu Yan also seemed a little embarrassed. He lowered his gaze. "But it took longer than expected, so I didn't have time to translate."
He had the nerve to say that!
Qi Xi wanted to roar internally.
Yes, you only do it once, and once lasts all night, of course you don't have time to work overtime on translation!
But was Gu Yan some kind of demon, needing to schedule his time so precisely and meticulously?
Especially since he had barely slept all night, had engaged in physical labor all night, not only got up early this morning to prepare food, but didn't even plan to take a nap in the afternoon, and was actually going to work overtime on mental labor...
Qi Xi suddenly remembered the rumor that other colleagues had joked about when she first joined Jinghe Law Firm—Gu Xuehan and Gu Yan, this pair of siblings, seemed to have some secret method of replenishment. No matter how much overtime they worked or how much physical exertion they expended, they always looked radiant, while the others in the team were all exhausted and turned yellow...
Although she knew it was just a joke, thinking of this, and looking at Gu Yan, who was typing away with a bright spirit, Qi Xi suddenly shivered for no reason. If she continued like this with Gu Yan, would she become a dried-up husk...?
Although Zhao Yiran was young, she had started on the path of health preservation early on, buying a lot of Chinese medicine, iron supplements, and even seeing a traditional Chinese medicine doctor to prescribe a tonic paste at home. Qi Xi used to scoff at this, but now she felt that she might also need to follow Zhao Yiran's lead and start preparing for health preservation early, so as not to fall behind Gu Yan and Gu Xuehan's pace.
Once Gu Yan entered work mode, he quickly became very engrossed. Qi Xi sat beside him, and he didn't seem to notice, completely forgetting himself.
Qi Xi was lost in her own thoughts for a while, looking at Gu Yan's profile as he typed with a slight frown, and felt a surge of resentment.
Why?
Why was she the only one with a sore back and wild thoughts, while Gu Yan was still so refreshed and focused?
She secretly glanced at Gu Yan's computer and found that his translation was nearing completion.
The little mischievous thoughts in Qi Xi's heart began to stir. She couldn't help but want to cause a little trouble.
She hugged Gu Yan from behind, not saying a word, just obediently resting her head on Gu Yan's shoulder, her cheek pressed against Gu Yan's cheek. She looked very innocent and upright, as if she wanted to help, and looked at Gu Yan's computer screen.
Then Qi Xi deliberately whispered in Gu Yan's ear, somewhat coquettishly, "Husband, is there anything I can help with?"
In Qi Xi's embrace, Gu Yan froze completely. His ears almost instantly turned red as if they were on fire. His fair neck was like absorbent paper, allowing the layer of red to spread and expand.
She said she was helping, but Qi Xi's actions clearly not only didn't help Gu Yan, but also completely incapacitated the enemy, with a very significant effect—Gu Yan couldn't type a single word, couldn't read a single word.
He was a little annoyed, and also a little helpless, and could only whisper, "Qi Xi!"
"Hmm?" Qi Xi asked knowingly. "Didn't you ask me to call you husband? Why are you still calling me by my name? Shouldn't you call me wife?"
Gu Yan didn't expect that his own words would eventually backfire on him.
He was a little helpless, but seemed completely unable to deal with Qi Xi. He just stopped his work, hugged Qi Xi back, stroked her head, and leaned down to kiss her.
"Be good."
Gu Yan's face was also a little red, and he looked a little shy and uncomfortable. "Let your husband finish his work first, so he can earn money to support you."
Now it was Qi Xi's turn to blush.
Gu Yan was afraid that Qi Xi would make another move, so he kissed her again to comfort her. "Just wait for me a little longer. It's not possible right now. With you by my side like this, I can barely even concentrate."
He pointed to the door. "Go inside and wait for me. I promise, you only need to wait a little while."
Qi Xi didn't know if she was under Gu Yan's spell, but when she came to her senses, she had already obediently returned to Gu Yan's bedroom.
She glanced at the unmade bed, and felt that Gu Yan's phrase "wait a little while" might be ambiguous.
Did he misunderstand her meaning?
Did he think she was waiting for him to do that?
No way!!!
Qi Xi felt that she needed to clarify, but just as she reached the door, she met Gu Yan, who was about to push the door open. He glanced at Qi Xi, his eyes a little shy and pure, but his actions were completely mismatched with his eyes.
He had already started unbuttoning his jacket!
Who could tell Qi Xi when Gu Yan's work efficiency had become so terrifying?
...
And unfortunately, Qi Xi's clarification was never spoken, because before she could open her mouth, Gu Yan's kiss sealed off all sound.