#68: The Battle of Wild Roses (3)

Li Nian was quite adept at gauging Shi Yin’s rising anger. After a brief pause, she asked: 【Teacher Shi Yi, are you upset?】

Shi Yin let out a cold laugh.

She finally understood what this so-called “innocent little white lotus” had come to her for.

To feel out the situation and, in passing, assert herself a bit.

Her vague words—about an editor from Yaoguang Publishing reaching out to her, how they had such a great conversation, and all the other rambling nonsense—were clearly meant to convey one thing: Your editor came to me first, and we hit it off. I’m thinking about pursuing something romantic with him, and I’ve even taken the time to annoy you about it.

With a sharp thud , Shi Yin slammed her mouse down.

Was she upset?

Why should she be upset?

She wasn’t upset at all!!!!!

________________________________________

In the evening, Gu Congli arrived carrying a bag of crayfish from You Ji.

When he entered, Shi Yin was in her study drawing. Hearing the sound, she didn’t lift her head, instead gripping her pen tightly and focusing intently on her digital tablet, the scratching of her stylus filling the silence.

The study door was open, and the living room lights were off, leaving the space quiet and dim. Gu Congli turned on the lights, and soon the faint sounds of unpacking mingled with the unmistakable aroma of spicy crayfish wafted through the air, seeping into her nostrils in waves.

No woman could resist the allure of crayfish, and Shi Yin was no exception. Unfortunately, You Ji was a one-of-a-kind establishment, located far across the city from Shi Yin’s home, with lines that stretched endlessly every time she tried to go.

Shi Yin had initially assumed that Gu Congli was the health-conscious type. She once knew a beautiful model whose boyfriend, a high-and-mighty “untouchable flower,” wouldn’t even let her drink cold water, much less indulge in crayfish. His lifestyle seemed almost otherworldly.

But Gu Congli wasn’t like that. Upon getting to know him, she realized he was the type who smoked, drank, stayed up late, and lived rather carelessly.

Shi Yin even suspected that he might have been a nightclub prince in his younger days.

Meanwhile, Gu Congli approached and knocked lightly on the study door.

Shi Yin ignored him.

In his hand, he held a plastic bag containing a foil-wrapped box of crayfish, with a bit of sauce leaking out. The transparent bag revealed traces of the reddish-orange liquid.

He lifted the bag slightly and leaned against the doorframe. “I bought crayfish.”

Shi Yin ignored him.

Gu Congli said indifferently, “You don’t want any?”

Shi Yin kept her head buried behind the computer screen, silent.

“Then I’ll eat them all.”

Holding her breath, Shi Yin casually raised her head, glanced at the papers on the desk, picked one up, and lowered her gaze to read it.

Her expression was cold, completely ignoring him as if he didn’t exist.

Silence settled at the doorway.

After a minute, she cautiously peeked out from the side.

Gu Congli was no longer there.

He had actually walked away.

The study door remained open, and the outside was quiet, save for the faint glow of the lights.

The frustration lodged itself in Shi Yin’s throat, unable to rise or fall, making her feel utterly miserable.

The scent of crayfish grew stronger. She had been too upset during the day to eat, and now her hunger gnawed at her relentlessly.

The thought of Gu Congli happily eating alone outside only worsened her mood.

Once again, Shi Yin found herself overwhelmed by feelings of injustice.

What kind of man was this?

That girl outside was strutting around right under her nose, and this man acted as if nothing was wrong.

She had made it abundantly clear that she was angry with him. Even if he didn’t understand why, he should at least have noticed something was off.

But he didn’t ask a single question.

Shi Yin felt as though she were being bullied by both a cheating boyfriend and his mistress.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Her eyes reddened with suppressed emotion.

Television dramas were right—men were all liars.

They tricked her into confessing her feelings, confirming her heart’s intentions, and now the careful tension he used to show toward her had vanished entirely.

As she stared at the cold, frosty face of Hong Ming on the screen, for a fleeting moment, it overlapped with the similarly detached face of someone else.

Frustrated, Shi Yin threw down her pen, took a long, deep breath, and exhaled slowly, wrinkling her nose to suppress the prickling sensation threatening to bring tears to her eyes.

If he felt uneasy, then so did she.

The person who had repeatedly rejected her during her teenage years now liked her, even pursued her. This sense of unreality and uncertainty naturally brought intense unease.

And then there was Gu Congli’s personality to consider.

He was absolutely not the type to comfort a girl; he didn’t even know how to sweet-talk.

If they ever argued or grew distant in the future, it would either be up to her to heal herself or endure prolonged periods of cold treatment.

Shi Yin no longer wanted to keep looking up to him. Ever since she first met him, she had always gazed at him from below, as if he were some untouchable figure on a cloud.

But in a romantic relationship, if one party only idolizes or admires the other, the one standing lower will inevitably be consumed in the end.

Even once or twice was bearable, but if this went on for the long term, she didn’t know how much longer she could endure.

Shi Yin sat slumped in her chair, sniffing softly. She raised her hand and rubbed her eyes vigorously.

Her temples began to ache from the rubbing, but then she heard a sound near the doorway.

She looked up.

Gu Congli walked in, holding a white porcelain bowl. Seeing her red-rimmed eyes, he paused momentarily.

Shi Yin turned her head away, wiping at her eyes again. She felt embarrassed, not wanting him to see her like this.

But out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him approach, placing the bowl on the table beside her.

Unable to resist, she glanced over.

The bowl was filled with crayfish meat, the shells already peeled off. The sauce had been poured over it, soaking the tender, pink-and-white morsels.

Shi Yin was momentarily stunned, blinking rapidly.

Gu Congli circled around the table and came to stand beside her. He pressed his hand against the backrest of her chair, turning it toward him. With a gentle tug, the wheels slid across the floor, pulling her closer to him.

Shi Yin tilted her head up.

Gu Congli lowered his gaze, his fingertips brushing lightly against the damp corners of her eyes. His brown eyes carried a hint of exasperation. “You’re so delicate.”

Her eyes were red like a little rabbit’s, looking utterly pitiful.

He had probably just washed his hands; they were cool and smelled faintly of soap as he gently touched the corners of her eyes, then lightly pinched the tip of her nose. “Are you about to cry again?”

Shi Yin pouted, accusing him: “Can’t you tell I’m mad at you?”

Gu Congli chuckled softly. “I can tell.”

“If you knew, why didn’t you do anything? You even planned to eat them all by yourself!” Shi Yin accused sternly.

“I wanted to peel them all for you first, thinking it would make you happy,” Gu Congli explained, raising a finger to tap lightly on the edge of the porcelain bowl. “I haven’t eaten any. They’re all for you.”

Shi Yin glared at him, speechless, her anger waning slightly.

Two seconds later, realization struck her—her initial anger wasn’t about this at all.

She had almost been placated by a bowl of crayfish.

Taking another two seconds to gather her thoughts and organize the chain of events that led to her anger, she prepared to have a serious talk with Gu Congli. But before she could begin, she found herself scooped up into his arms.

Gu Congli casually swept the digital tablet, mouse, and bowl aside, lifting her onto the desk and planting a kiss at the corner of her lips.

Shi Yin leaned back, turning her face away. “Gu Congli, I have something serious to ask you. Confess now, or face the consequences.”

Gu Congli hummed in acknowledgment, kissing her earlobe and murmuring obediently, “I confess.”

She pushed his head away with her hand. “What’s going on between you and Li Nian?”

His kisses trailed down her pale, slender neck. One hand caught hers as she tried to push him away, playing idly with her fingertips. “Nothing’s going on.”

“What do you mean, ‘nothing’? You went out for tea with her—”

A warm kiss sent shivers through her body. As he sucked gently on her neck, a sharp sting made Shi Yin gasp softly. Pushing herself backward with one hand braced on the desk, she protested, “I’m talking to you! Stop kissing me!”

Gu Congli lifted his head slightly, gazing at the faint reddish mark left on her alabaster-like neck. After a few seconds of silence—

It was like a lone flower blooming on an endless snowy plain.

He grew restless, imagining the sight of her skin covered in blossoms caused by him. His gaze darkened.

Shi Yin shifted further away, creating some distance. Noticing where his silent gaze lingered, she blushed and pulled up the collar of her pajamas, slapping the desk warningly. “Did you see that Weibo post your little ‘beauty’ Li Nian put up?”

Gu Congli: “Mm.”

Shi Yin was exasperated. “If you saw it, how could you not know why I’m angry?”

“I have an idea.” His gaze returned to her neck. The collar of her pajamas was now pulled high, covering the mark he’d left. Dissatisfied, Gu Congli frowned slightly and reached to pull it down.

Shi Yin let out a small protest, slapping his hand away and scooting back again. “We’re having an argument here! Why are you being so handsy?” Already sitting near the center of the desk, her feet resting on its edge, she continued, “Do you know that your ‘little beauty’ even came to brag to me?”

Gu Congli paused, finally lifting his gaze to meet hers.

This, he truly hadn’t expected.

Shi Yin stared at him angrily, counting off on her fingers. “She said you went to see her, that you had a great conversation, and that you agreed to meet for dinner next time. She even asked what kind of girls you like.” She sneered. “So, I’m curious—does Teacher Gu like someone like Li Nian?”

Gu Congli shook his head. “No.”

She leaned closer, glaring at him fiercely like an indignant little lioness. “Then why did you meet with her alone? And why didn’t you tell me?”

“She approached me, so I went,” Gu Congli replied calmly. “She bullied you.”

Shi Yin froze.

Gu Congli wasn’t good at explaining things, so his words were brief, leaving the rest for her to interpret.

She recalled what Li Nian had told her about handling the video incident. Her anger gradually subsided as realization dawned. Blinking slowly, she finally spoke in a measured tone: “Did you go to exact revenge for me?”

“So you hold such a grudge.”

Using words like “revenge” was quite heavy-handed.

“We didn’t have a problem before, but the moment she thought about pursuing something romantic with you, we did,” Shi Yin said solemnly. Leaning forward slightly, she scooted closer to the edge of the desk.

Reaching out, she gripped his chin. “From now on, you’re not allowed to secretly meet other women.”

Gu Congli let her hold his chin without resistance, lowering his gaze. “Alright.”

Still unsatisfied, Shi Yin tilted his chin upward slightly, frowning. “Whoever approaches you, you must get my permission first.”

Her commanding presence was regal, like that of a queen.

The feeling of owning him, of having complete control over him, filled Gu Congli with satisfaction. He willingly submitted to her authority.

“Alright,” he murmured softly.