CHAPTER 123: CHAPTER 123: TIME UNFOLDS LIKE SILKEN THREADS

"What?" Qin Xueyao’s eyes widened in shock. She glanced at Qin Yiheng and then turned to Qin Zhennan, "Dad, is what big brother said true?"

A person who hides a tremendous secret in their heart year after year, living in constant fear of being discovered, has their mental world always covered with a protective shield. When it’s suddenly torn apart, it sends their heart into shock.

At this moment, Qin Zhennan was feeling just that.

His heart beats uncontrollably fast.

After several seconds of calming down, he felt slightly better. With a face turning pale from anger, he pointed at Qin Yishu and cursed, "You damn girl!"

Qin Yishu had never seen Qin Zhennan like this before, as if he would eat someone alive at any moment. She was scared, "Dad, we’re all family. Is it not okay to share secrets?"

Qin Zhennan’s chest heaved with anger, feeling powerless, he slumped into a chair, sighed helplessly, and finally spoke in a deep tone, "Listen to me carefully, this matter must never be mentioned again. If it gets out, our whole family’s lives will be in danger."

Qin Yiheng and Qin Yishu dared not ask any more questions.

Qin Xueyao, emboldened by the child in her belly, took a step forward, "Dad, what exactly is going on?"

Qin Zhennan slammed the table with a "bang", clenching his teeth and scolding angrily, "Didn’t you understand what I just said? You’re not allowed to bring this up again, and even if you know, you must keep it to yourself!"

Although they didn’t know the full story, seeing Qin Zhennan’s serious yet jittery reaction, Qin Yiheng and the others knew the situation was quite serious and dared not ask any more questions.

...

Gu Jiayin returned to the room with Sheng Qianchi, suddenly being pinned against the door by him.

He trapped her between him and the door, his hot breath spraying on her face, his eyes dark like an ink-washed sky, "Found Wei Yang pleasing to the eye?"

Gu Jiayin, "..."

It took her several seconds before she realized this man was jealous.

At the time, she had discovered one of Wei Yang’s secrets, so she watched him a little longer.

"He’s quite handsome, isn’t he?"

"Am I not handsome enough? Am I not enough that you have to look at other men?"

Gu Jiayin pouted, "Different types, looking more pleases the eye a bit more."

Sheng Qianchi nodded ambiguously, his eyes unfathomable, "Forgot what I told you before?"

He said that if she dared to mess with other men, he would destroy each one she attracted, even two if needed.

Gu Jiayin rolled her eyes, "I haven’t forgotten. You only said you’d deal with the men I mess with, not that you’d punish me. What do I have to worry about?"

Sheng Qianchi smirked in anger, pinching her chin and giving her a light peck, "Gu Jiayin, you’re getting more spoiled, aren’t you?"

Gu Jiayin didn’t deny it, "Didn’t you say you fell in love with me? Didn’t you say you’d spoil me? If so, being spoiled is only natural, right?"

Sheng Qianchi smiled and nodded, "Yes, naturally, with me, you can act wilfully, but next time, stop, and don’t look at other men again."

As soon as he spoke, his kiss fell. The whole evening, he’d longed to pull her into a secluded corner and kiss her freely.

Gu Jiayin, quick and smart, raised a finger to stop their lips from meeting, "What are you doing?"

They were still in a contractual relationship. He confessed, even making it clear he loves her, wanting to pursue her, but she never agreed to him, so such intimacy was inappropriate.

Sheng Qianchi had long been used to her rejection. If one day she stopped refusing his closeness, he would find it strange, "Tonight, you used me to retaliate against Dou Chuanyan. I even gave you an antique painting worth a hundred million, but you won’t even let me kiss you?"

Gu Jiayin pretended to push away the man pressing so close, "I didn’t make that kind of deal with you... Mmm."

As always, her resistance was in vain, and she ended up pinned against the door, kissed passionately and lingeringly.

He held her like a precious treasure, each touch full of fondness.

Gu Jiayin felt she was even a bit greedy for his touch.

Gradually, she became weak in his embrace. If it weren’t for his big hand supporting her waist in time, she would have surely slipped down.

In this embrace, she seemed to lose herself in his grasp. She was ice, and he was a cup of warm water, covering her, trying to melt her and merge with him.

Gu Jiayin couldn’t help but clutch his collarbone’s clothing to support herself, or use the pressure of her fingertips to force herself to stay awake.

Her mind reminded her to reject, but her body craved his warmth.

Such a conflict.

He buried his handsome face into her neck, calling her name in a low, hoarse voice, "Jiayin," the rich voice seemed to carry magic, bewitching every nerve, "I love you."

This was the second time he had said he loves her.

A man like him never says love lightly. Saying it means a commitment.

Gu Jiayin was unwilling to deny it forcefully.

So, she stayed silent.

The space fell into silence.

His body was hot, pressed against her, making her feel like she was being burned.

His breaths were rough yet steady, she could feel his heart beating strongly, rhythmically.

Some say that a woman will ultimately belong to one man, a destined man who will pass his heat and heartbeat onto her, protecting her through life’s storms.

Once, she thought Pei Nianchen was her destined man, but they broke up.

Now, in Sheng Qianchi’s arms, she could truly feel him, but her heart was still confused.

After about ten minutes, Sheng Qianchi gently carried the woman in his arms, placed her on the bed, then turned and went to the cloakroom.

Half a minute later, he came out with a nightgown, "Go take a shower, change, and sleep."

Gu Jiayin followed instructions, took the nightgown, and went to the bathroom.

Unwilling to take a bath, she quickly showered and changed into her nightwear.

When she came out, she stepped barefoot onto the carpet, casually drying her hair with a towel.

Seeing the man sitting on the bed, scrolling through his phone with slender fingers, she realized they needed to sleep in the same bed tonight because this wasn’t Shuiyunjian; there were no extra quilts.