Shi Sui didn't know where his anger came from.

She had already actively avoided helping Zhou Xuyan ask, yet he was the one who gave out his WeChat number.

Now, after adding her, he was unhappy, and when unhappy, he came to bully her!

Even a rabbit will bite when cornered. Shi Sui angrily bit down on Yan Tingli's neck.

Yan Tingli's dark lashes lowered as he calmly watched her actions.

Shi Sui's originally vicious bite, upon meeting his gaze, slowly retracted her teeth.

Whimper.

Shi Sui resigned herself-cowardice was in her nature.

Instead, Shi Sui used her nails to scratch the expensive leather sofa beneath her. Scratch it, scratch it all up! Make him go bankrupt!

Yan Tingli seemed pleased by this pathetic display, his chest trembling twice.

He moved straight closer.

Taking her cheek into his mouth, sniffing every inch of her skin's scent.

His other hand pinched her soft nape, even his breathing chaotic. Shi Sui's spine sensitively bristled with goosebumps-the natural reaction of prey facing a predator.

She felt like she was about to be devoured.

In a physical sense.

Yan Tingli's lips meandered down from her cheek.

Shi Sui had a small frame and soft flesh. Every pinch and squeeze left little dimples, a water-like texture.

Just as she resignedly closed her eyes, waiting for a storm, she suddenly heard Yan Tingli say: "Say you love me."

Because it was so unexpected, Shi Sui's expression went blank for a second.

"Say," he gripped her jaw with his thumb and forefinger, repeating, "say you love me."

With some threatening undertone.

Given that Yan Tingli always had random whims, forcing her to say all sorts of nonsense, Shi Sui was about to comply. She opened her lips but couldn't say it.

Love and sex were different things.

"...Why do I have to say this?"

"Do you love me or not?"

"I don't... mmph-!" She was suddenly pinched hard.

"I love you," Shi Sui never did anything foolishly stubborn, saying with a trembling voice, "I love you." Anyway, these words would just pass-why make herself suffer unnecessarily?

Yan Tingli's pupils fixed, then he suddenly smiled. When someone usually cold smiled, it was like snow and ice melting.

"Then delete her." His voice was still cool, but his movements gentled.

"Me?!" Shi Sui couldn't believe it. After all this circling, he just wanted her to delete the WeChat contact?!

"Mm, you."

Shi Sui was baffled: "Is there a difference between me deleting and you deleting?"

"I want you to delete."

"No, you delete it yourself." Shi Sui instinctively resisted.

Yan Tingli looked at her for several seconds, gave a cold laugh, then suddenly pressed the voice message button: "Sorry, Shi Sui wants me to delete you-"

Shi Sui startled, first covering his mouth, then realizing she should grab the phone.

"Don't talk nonsense," unable to grab it, she said urgently, "I'll delete, I'll delete, okay?"

Yan Tingli threw the phone to her.

Shi Sui didn't even know if he had sent it. While she was panicking, in the blink of an eye she was flipped and pressed beneath him.

Instantly, the sofa was soaked with her gasping breaths.

After Shi Sui finished bathing, holding Yan Tingli's phone, she thought for a long time before coming up with the most dignified reply possible: [Sorry, I want to focus on my studies in college and have no plans to date for now. Sorry for wasting your time, you can delete me.]

This was responding to Zhou Xuyan's previous question, "Do you have a girlfriend?"

[OK, let's delete each other.]

Zhou Xuyan also replied straightforwardly.

At the same moment, messages popped up in the group.

Zhou Xuyan: [No chance, hands up/hands up/]

She posted a screenshot of their recent chat.

Xue Jing: [My intuition told me Yan Tingli would be hard to pursue, as expected...]

Lin Anran: [Actually, this is quite respectable, speaking clearly without leading anyone on.]

Zhou Xuyan: [True, still has class]

Xue Jing: [So what kind of woman could conquer him?]

Zhou Xuyan: [I haven't deleted yet, want me to ask for you?]

Xue Jing instantly chickened out: [Never mind...]

The group kept buzzing with messages, gradually shifting to other topics. Shi Sui closed her phone, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

Though she hadn't deliberately hidden anything, she was still being dishonest with people.

Yan Tingli came out of the kitchen, placing two bowls of noodles on the dining table.

Looking at the time, it was already past eight. Shi Sui walked over to eat.

Clear broth noodles with fried eggs. Shi Sui lowered her lashes, quietly slurping noodles.

There was no housekeeper here, and she had never seen anyone else in this house.

The food Yan Tingli made could only be described as barely edible.

But Shi Sui wasn't picky and found everything delicious. Now extremely hungry, she ate with both cheeks puffed out.

When she looked up, Yan Tingli had already finished and was watching her.

He had showered, his hair not completely dry, hanging over his forehead. His skin was very white, his features light and clear.

Sensing his good mood, Shi Sui quickened her pace and swallowed the last mouthful of soup: "I just used your WeChat to explain things clearly to Weiwei."

"Mm."

Shi Sui was quiet for a moment, then still spoke up: "Actually, if you didn't want to add her, you could have just refused then."

The air was quiet. Yan Tingli showed no reaction.

Shi Sui continued: "Don't do this anymore in the future."

Yan Tingli: "Don't do what, add girls on WeChat?"

Shi Sui felt stung. "You know that's not what I mean."

"Then what?"

His posture was relaxed and casual. Shi Sui couldn't help saying: "I just don't want you to involve me. Weiwei is my friend-doing this behind her back feels strange."

Yan Tingli said nothing, his lips turning down with a few degrees of self-mocking coldness.

Shi Sui didn't dare look at him either, continuing on her own: "Just because you chose this class, my roommates mention you every day. I'm caught in the middle. I don't want to lie to them at all."

"And every time you leave very heavy marks, they've seen them on my back many times."

"Also, I have to come here every weekend. I tell people I'm going home, but it's getting too frequent..."

"Finished?" Yan Tingli said.

Shi Sui nodded silently, secretly glancing at him while her heart pounded.

"Let me summarize," he said. "I should stay away from you, preferably disappear from your life, just like the first half of the month."

He leaned toward her, asking in a clear, gentle tone: "Is that what you want?"

Shi Sui felt a bit breathless, mumbling: "That's not what I meant either..." Her words didn't match her heart.

Her cheek was lifted. Yan Tingli asked: "Then what do you mean?"

Shi Sui's mouth felt dry: "I just hope we can maintain an appropriate distance in public."

"That won't work." Yan Tingli smiled slightly, saying lightly, "How can I control you if we keep a distance?"

"Whether you've added any males, how many messages you've exchanged, whether you've had physical contact with them-I need to know everything."

His expression was utterly peaceful, but Shi Sui suddenly felt a chill down her back.

Her rebuttal seemed pale and powerless: "But if you keep appearing around me, I'm afraid we'll be exposed. I'm not good at acting-what if someone finds out about our relationship?"

"Simple," Yan Tingli said. "You can make our relationship public."

Shi Sui: "But we agreed not to let others know-"

"Did we? When did I ever agree to that with you?"

Shi Sui was stunned, lightning flashing through her mind. Right, he had never said that.

What she thought was their "tacit understanding" was just her assumption.

Her expression changed: "Aren't you afraid of Uncle and Aunt Yan finding out?! They won't approve."

She couldn't bear to imagine how their parents, friends, Uncle, and Aunt Yan would react if their relationship was exposed.

Uncle Yan was their family's benefactor, yet she had been secretly sleeping with the benefactor's son for two years. And Aunt Yan, so noble and elegant-how would she view her? How would her parents face themselves?

Shi Sui didn't want her parents to be looked down upon because of her, not even a little.

"Then we'll have to elope." Yan Tingli's tone was slow.

"I don't want to!" Shi Sui lost some emotional control, her voice involuntarily rising.

Yan Tingli's lashes fluttered.

Shi Sui was so angry she misspoke, tears flowing uncontrollably. She angrily wiped them away with force.

She always made a big fuss when crying-being this quiet was rare.

In the silence, he spoke first.

"Come here."

Shi Sui didn't move.

"You don't want me to be unhappy either, right?"

Shi Sui still ignored him.

Yan Tingli paused: "Come here and I won't be angry anymore."

Shi Sui's eyes were red, but she was helpless.

After confronting each other for a long while, she finally slowly moved her steps, walking toward Yan Tingli.

Once again, compromising, sitting on his thighs, fitting into his embrace.

Yan Tingli had just showered and smelled of fresh mint, his body temperature neither cold nor hot.

Yan Tingli brushed her long hair to one side, his kiss falling by her ear as he said softly: "Just scaring you."

It was a threat, taking advantage of having completely grasped her weak points. Not changing a single one of his suggestions, but threatening her in return.

She still had to give in for things to settle temporarily, so they could maintain the status quo.

"You're too much." Shi Sui's voice carried sobs.

"You're more excessive." Yan Tingli said.

Shi Sui raised her voice: "You're the excessive one!"

Yan Tingli: "It's you."

"It's you!"

"It's not me, it's you."

"It's me, not-"

Shi Sui suddenly stopped, instinctively tensing her face the moment she realized she wanted to laugh.

Very angry, but Shi Sui hated that she almost laughed at this moment.

Yan Tingli: "Mm, you're more excessive."

Completely upside down!

Shi Sui once again recognized that Yan Tingli was essentially an unprincipled evil youth. The instigator, he wouldn't suffer even verbally.

The first time they fought, he was the one who coaxed her first.

After the graduation ceremony, following the college entrance exam.

Yan Tingli was called back to school to give a speech, and that day, Shi Sui received a bouquet from a junior classmate.

Midway through, Yan Tingli suddenly told her to find him backstage.

At that time, Yan Tingli was still the brilliant honor student in her eyes. Whatever the honor student said was right, even following his words to sneak backstage during the ceremony.

While school leaders were still speaking, she was pressed down in an empty lounge.

The air conditioning was broken, and only a fan was running, stuffy and tight. Yan Tingli held her on his lap and began kissing. Shi Sui, who had never seen the world, was terrified.

The junior who had followed her backstage came to knock on the door. Yan Tingli's hand went under her clothes, stroking her lower back. This horror reached its peak.

The junior knocked and called "Senior" twice, seemingly wanting to say something.

Yan Tingli kissed her while his fingers traced her spine. Shi Sui trembled all over. Men were just naturally gifted in this area-in just a couple of times, he had figured out all her sensitive spots.

She even thought Yan Tingli had been drugged, never suspecting this person was inherently sick.

"What's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?" She lowered her voice.

Yan Tingli nuzzled her neck from behind, biting her lower lip.

The door handle was turned by the junior, seeming about to burst in the next second.

Shi Sui struggled violently but couldn't break free, her mind completely blank.

A few seconds later, footsteps faded-he left. The door had been locked at some point she didn't know, and the handle hadn't turned.

"He's gone." Yan Tingli's tone held some regret.

She gasped heavily, still in shock: "What exactly are you trying to do?"

"Were the flowers pretty?"

Shi Sui was speechless: "He was just-"

Yan Tingli's hand had already impatiently moved to her buttons.

This action scared Shi Sui into jumping up. She was still trying to find evidence that Yan Tingli had been drugged, touching his forehead and cheeks: "Are you okay?"

"Laughing so happily," Yan Tingli answered irrelevantly, "must have been pretty."

He then bit open the first button of her collar.

"Stop," Shi Sui looked at him incredulously, "are you crazy!"

The second button was also bitten open.

"If you, if you dare do anything here, I'll ignore you, never speak to you again!"

"How will you ignore me?"

"I'll change my application, I'll go back to Hangzhou. Mom and Dad said they're waiting for me in Hangzhou."

He paused.

Just when she thought the threat had worked, her collarbone was bitten hard: "Do whatever you want."

"I'm telling the truth. If you dare, I'll go back and pack immediately. I don't have to live at your house anymore anyway!" She spoke without thinking.

Yan Tingli looked at her deeply, finally releasing her and standing to straighten his collar.

Shi Sui thought her words had worked, but he glanced at his watch-it was time for his speech.

So to this day, she couldn't be sure how far Yan Tingli would have gone if it hadn't been time.

Shi Sui interpreted this as parting on bad terms.

That night, she packed some luggage-she would return to Hangzhou and leave after completing her application.

The Yan family hadn't treated her badly, but who likes depending on others' charity?

There was also Yan Tingli.

It was because he said University A had more opportunities, even planning her future professional development completely, that Shi Sui had hesitated.

But now with no relatives here and Yan Tingli being a bastard, she might as well return to her parents.

The next morning, Shi Sui was gradually mailing packages when she ran into Yan Tingli coming downstairs.

He leaned against the refrigerator and drank some ice water, his thin eyelids lowered, quietly watching her.

Shi Sui's back broke out in sweat, feeling guilty for no reason-it was fine, she was just mailing packages.

But she kept her eyes straight ahead on the surface, quickly returning to her room.

They were fighting now-they might be strangers soon, so she didn't need to care what he thought, Shi Sui encouraged herself.

But that evening, she suddenly heard Yan Tingli playing piano in the music room.

In the half year Shi Sui had been here, Yan Tingli rarely played piano-this was the second time.

She was amazed that Yan Tingli could play popular songs-she had once played this song in her room, that time she was painting with music on and forgot to close the door.

In the music room, he only had a floor lamp on, his profile half bright, half dark.

Distinct knuckles on black and white keys, veins spreading.

"Close the door." Yan Tingli said.

Shi Sui unconsciously obeyed.

As soon as she approached, he pulled her hand, and Shi Sui forgot to refuse.

"Like listening?"

"Mm."

"I'll teach you."

Yan Tingli embraced her from behind, his cool palms guiding hers.

Shi Sui was dazed.

"Remember the lyrics?"

"I remember."

"You can sing."

Shi Sui felt awkward: "My singing is terrible."

"It won't be."

Shi Sui: "I'm serious."

"Only I can hear it anyway."

Shi Sui: "Can you sing?"

"I don't remember the lyrics clearly."

"But you can already play it?"

Yan Tingli said nothing, correcting a wrong note she pressed. Shi Sui suddenly remembered something.

She had heard her father say that Yan Tingli played piano exceptionally well-if his academic grades weren't so outstanding, he could have become a professional pianist.

There was a term for it-absolute pitch. He could learn anything after hearing it a few times.

After Shi Sui's first note, she honestly closed her mouth.

For no other reason than severe off-key singing, she saw Yan Tingli's knuckles pause.

Shi Sui stubbornly pulled up the lyrics: "I won't sing anymore, you do it."

Yan Tingli seemed to chuckle, guiding her hands across the keys, starting from the beginning.

After the prelude, his voice began.

Shi Sui had always felt that Yan Tingli's distant, cold temperament came largely from his voice.

Like thin snow, fine ice.

Until he sang, the usually cool spring water gurgling past her ears, Shi Sui's heart suddenly accelerated.

"Who knows better than me?"

"Your tenderness like feathers"

"Secrets lying in my embrace"

"Only you can hear it."

"Does anyone else know?"

"Your smile is like an embrace."

"How I want to hide your goodness."

"Only I can see it."

...

Then they inexplicably began kissing.

Until his kiss fell where he couldn't reach in the lounge that day, Shi Sui suddenly realized: "No, we're still fighting-"

"Finish first, then fight."

"This is the piano..."

"Perfect height."

At that time she didn't know this was a 3.8 million Steinway, even disliking how cold it was, completely uncomfortable.

There were still servants downstairs, the summer was stifling, heat that even air conditioning couldn't block.

Shi Sui didn't dare make too much noise.

Her eyes were misty with tears: "You're too much."

Yan Tingli bit her nape hard.

Unable to see his expression clearly, his voice somewhat muffled: "You're more excessive."

The past was too painful to recall, yet strangely overlapped with the present.

Shi Sui couldn't remember many details and didn't want to-it was nothing more than Yan Tingli realizing he couldn't completely control her then, using some tactics to make her lose her mind and change her first choice back to University A in a love-struck daze.

And always insisting she was "more excessive."

How exactly was she excessive?

No one in the world was more unreasonable than him.

Fighting with Yan Tingli was routine.

Shi Sui was used to it. Though she got angrier the more she thought about it, it didn't prevent her from sleeping soundly.

She got up on her own in the morning and did her own thing in the study.

It wasn't until nearly noon that she heard movement from the master bedroom, estimating that Yan Tingli had gotten out of bed.

Shi Sui wasn't surprised at all.

Since high school, when people talked about Yan Tingli, they all thought his intelligence was one thing, but he must also have unknown hard work.

The truth was, Yan Tingli was lazy to a degree Shi Sui had never heard of. The longest time, Shi Sui timed it-he slept fifteen hours straight without interruption.

That was during her freshman year, her second time here. The previous night, he had pressed her down three times, then slept from eleven at night until three in the afternoon, unable to be woken in between.

This scared Shi Sui terribly-she almost thought he was overindulging and about to die from exhaustion.

Outside the door, Yan Tingli's footsteps went back and forth, but he didn't come to find her.

It wasn't until lunchtime that Shi Sui heard a brief knock at the study door.

Probably calling her to eat.

It had a "take it or leave it" vibe.

Shi Sui wouldn't make things difficult for her stomach.

She put down her drawing tablet and left the room. Yan Tingli had just sat down, with several freshly stir-fried dishes in front of him, not looking at her.

Was this going to be a Cold War?

Shi Sui's steps were somewhat slow. Her heart was beating anxiously, not knowing what Yan Tingli would do-after all, whenever they fought, she was the one who got bullied.

He didn't speak, and Shi Sui didn't seek trouble either, eating lunch in silence.

The taste was, as always, you could only taste salt and soy sauce, no other seasoning whatsoever.

...Another rich person's survival health meal.

But Shi Sui only ate without cooking, so she had no right to complain about the chef.

After eating, she casually put the dishes in the dishwasher. Coming out, she saw Yan Tingli leaning by the window on a phone call.

On her way to the study, she vaguely heard a few sentences.

The other person was Uncle Yan, talking about having dinner with Professor Su's family on Sunday. Yan Tingli responded casually.

Shi Sui lowered her lashes. There was corn juice that Yan Tingli had made on the dining table. She held the cup, sipping intermittently.

Going into the study and opening her phone, Li Yin had asked as usual in the morning what her weekend plans were and whether she needed pocket money.

Shi Sui replied as usual that she didn't need any, she had enough money.

Li Yin directly transferred five thousand yuan: [Baby, buy whatever you want, enjoy college life more, don't be reluctant to spend money]

In the past two years, when the industry was depressed, her father's construction company had more expenses than income. The family was strapped for a while, her parents each running around, and she was forced to stay at the Yan house.

Later her parents started livestreaming in Hangzhou. Though Shi Sui didn't know the exact amounts, judging from the increasing pocket money, business should be booming.

Thinking this way, Shi Sui smiled, looking at the screen, and accepted the money: [Thank you, Mom~]

Li Yin was busy there, replied with a head-patting emoji, and quickly left.

Shi Sui opened a shopping app and indeed saw her already broadcasting with exquisite makeup. Since entering this industry, her parents were busier than before, often working around the clock.

Shi Sui propped her chin, somewhat lost in thought.

It would be good if she could graduate quickly and stay with Mom and Dad.

After replying to messages, she went to the study and continued drawing on her tablet.

Since enrolling in University A's animation major two years ago, Shi Sui felt like she had one foot in purgatory. Endless drawings, endless software to learn, endless post-production work. Her classmates were also fiercely competitive, and what little time remained was exploited by Yan Tingli.

The afternoon passed quietly. When she looked up again, the window was already dotted with starlight.

Shi Sui stretched her neck and was about to turn on the light when the study light came on before her.

Then, Li Yin's gentle voice rang out: "Baby, come out for dinner. Don't draw during twilight, it's bad for your eyes."

Shi Sui's movements suddenly froze. For a moment, she almost thought her mother was really outside the door, before remembering Li Yin couldn't possibly appear at this time and place.

The only thing that could make that sound was-Shi Sui opened the door and looked down at the small robot that only reached her waist, which was also the Suowo Generation 2 home intelligence (incomplete version) that Qisheng Technology was about to launch.

Shi Sui named it Little Snail because it carried a small backpack like a snail's shell.

Yan Tingli had participated in its development and brought Little Snail here during the initial beta testing.

Unlike the perfect new product about to be launched, Little Snail had incomplete functions and often malfunctioned, with constant bugs, large and small.

The reason her mother's voice appeared was because when initially programming it, Yan Tingli asked what voice she wanted.

Shi Sui had just finished talking to Li Yin on the phone and said sullenly: "Mom's voice, I guess."

After that, Little Snail had Li Yin's voice.

Of course.

Yan Tingli never used this voice afterward, even shutting Little Snail off for a long time.

The reason was that one evening, he was beneath her skirt, soft hair brushing against her thighs, Shi Sui biting her lips and gasping continuously.

The sunset light created gorgeous ambiguity when "Li Yin's" voice rang out earth-shatteringly, almost making Shi Sui's soul leave her body. It said, "What are you doing?"

The room fell silent. Not just Shi Sui-even Yan Tingli froze for a moment, his head clamped between her legs as he let out a muffled grunt.

Little Snail then said, "Baby, time for dinner. Remember to eat your three meals on time."

One second later.

Yan Tingli kicked the robot back to the storage room, and from then on never activated Li Yin's voice again.

Coming back to the memory, Shi Sui looked up and met Yan Tingli's gaze from the dining table.

He turned away and put down his plate, saying only two words: "Eat dinner."

Shi Sui scratched her head.

Just because Little Snail could make Mom's voice again, she somehow couldn't stay angry anymore.

She moved slowly.

Getting closer, she gently hugged Yan Tingli from behind.

He paused, dark lashes lowering as he looked at her: "Hugging me, what does that mean?"

Shi Sui's lips moved, but she still didn't apologize.

If she had to apologize.

Then Yan Tingli, being so excessive, should kowtow to her.

Shi Sui found herself an excuse: "Coaxing you."

"I want you to kiss me."

A kiss wouldn't stop there. Shi Sui was cautious: "I won't."

Yan Tingli's fingers lifted her chin from behind, his thumb pressing her lips as he said coldly: "When has this mouth of yours made me happy, other than kissing me and servicing me?"

Shi Sui's cheeks exploded red, her attention immediately diverted: "When did I ever service you with my mouth?"

"Hard to imagine?"

Yan Tingli's fingertip stroked her lips. "You'd be just like now, your cheeks and eyes all red, and you'd cry because you couldn't swallow, only looking at me pitifully."

By rights, this level of offense should make Shi Sui feel shame and anger, but she didn't-none of that at all.

She felt her body's excitement and wanted to hide it, but was pierced by Yan Tingli's casual two words: "Getting wet?"

Shi Sui wanted to cover her ears.

Just like this, she already couldn't resist. Her physiological impulse toward Yan Tingli almost went against her instincts-truly hateful.

His casual teasing could manipulate her. "Such a big reaction," Yan Tingli pressed her lips, his eyes filled with darkness, "do you want me to do that to you?"

Shi Sui suddenly closed her eyes: "No!"

"What a pity."

He shrugged, leaving without another word, not even eating dinner, and quickly entering the bathroom.

Leaving Shi Sui drained, suspended neither up nor down.

She was used to Yan Tingli getting aroused anytime, anywhere. Not thinking about what he was doing, she buried herself in eating.

After finishing dinner, he still hadn't come out. Passing the bathroom, rustling, ambiguous sounds came from within. Shi Sui's steps paused.

Raising her hand slightly, the door opened.

Through misty steam, Yan Tingli stood under the shower, below his slender neck, his Adam's apple moved lightly, his cold white profile flushed.

Light fell at an angle. In the shadows, dark eyes looked directly at her without any discomfort at being watched.

Male beauty was hard to resist.

Shi Sui watched until her legs felt weak, waves surging again.

"Come kiss me."

Shi Sui hesitated, not daring to move.

"Otherwise, use your mouth."

...

In the end she still kissed him-Yan Tingli never failed to achieve his goals. All their big and small fights could always be resolved in bed, without fail.

The moment Shi Sui kissed him, he let go, breathing heavily.

Milky white splashed onto her clothes.

Accompanied by intense gazing.

Under the breath like a net, Shi Sui had the illusion of being marked by a beast, never able to escape his scent in this lifetime.

...

By the time she looked at her phone again, several hours had passed.

Zhou Xuyan, who had disappeared for a long time during a recent mountain expedition, sent a message: [I'm back, let's hang out tomorrow]

Shi Sui met Zhou Xuyan after moving into the Yan house. Like Yan Tingli, she was also a high school celebrity-the legendary international class queen, from a prominent family, beautiful and cool.

But few people knew that Zhou Xuyan and Yan Tingli were distant relatives. Their grandmothers were cousins, and Zhou Xuyan was two months older than Yan Tingli, so she could even call him younger cousin.

Zhou's parents did foreign trade and often traveled. When they weren't around, they'd drop Zhou Xuyan at the Yan house, where she happened to meet Shi Sui. They gradually became close friends.

We haven't seen each other for a month. No matter how unhappy Yan Tingli is, you're not allowed to bail. Zhou Xuyan's next message popped up.

Shi Sui knew their relationship was mediocre, even incompatible.

But she was also the only person who knew about her relationship with Yan Tingli.

Shi Sui was about to agree when footsteps approached from behind.

Yan Tingli wore half-frame glasses on his nose bridge, replying to emails while casually handing her a glass of milk.

Though Shi Sui liked drinking milk, she couldn't stomach it now, especially since she'd just been splashed with his stuff.

"Don't want it." She said irritably.

Yan Tingli paused on her face. After a few seconds, he suddenly made a slight sound from his nose.

It sounded ill-intentioned to her ears.

Looking up, he drank the milk himself: "Very imaginative."

Shi Sui didn't expect him to bring this up again, getting angry: "Next time don't get it on me."

"Don't like it? But I like when you spray me-"

His mouth was covered by Shi Sui: "Don't say it!"

Shi Sui wanted to tear apart the mouth that spoke such filthy words. Huffing angrily, she sat down and got to business: "Yanyan is back, she asked to meet tomorrow. I'm telling you."

"Just you two?"

Shi Sui nodded: "Should be."

"Where are you going?"

"She didn't say yet, probably just shopping."

"Ask first." Yan Tingli's expression was very bland as he put down his cup with a "bang."

Shi Sui's lips parted, wanting to say something, then closed.

"Then I'll ask."

[Yanyan, is it just the two of us? Where are we going to play?]

The reply came quickly:

[Did Yan Tingli make you ask?]

[This is so infuriating, every time I go out with you, he asks this and that, is he your father? A twenty-year-old going out, and it's like being interrogated.

[Is it still because of that incident? That was so long ago!]

The "last time" Zhou Xuyan mentioned was over a year ago.

For Zhou Xuyan's nineteenth birthday, she threw a grand party.

Yan Tingli had gone to a competition out of town and supposedly couldn't make it back in time. Of course, Zhou Xuyan didn't mind.

Shi Sui helped her decorate the villa early.

That day, many people came. Midway through, Zhou Xuyan mysteriously called Shi Sui to a private room, saying she had something good to share only with her.

Opening the door, over ten gorgeous guys stood on both sides.

"How about it? I selected them all." Zhou Xuyan asked.

Shi Sui was too shocked to speak.

"You just haven't tasted the good stuff," Zhou Xuyan whispered in her ear, "you should meet more handsome guys while he's away, then you'll know how sick Yan Tingli is."

At that time, in Shi Sui's eyes, Yan Tingli just occasionally had some strange controlling desires, not enough to be called sick.

And that night, she felt inexplicably uneasy. After thinking, she said: "Never mind, I think it's pretty fun outside-"

"It's my birthday, I'm the boss, and you have to listen to me!" Zhou Xuyan pushed her inside. "We're just chatting, not doing anything else."

"Don't spoil the mood." She threw a little tantrum.

So Shi Sui was pressed onto the sofa.

These guys were indeed all good at conversation, especially at providing emotional value.

Shi Sui sat there watching Zhou Xuyan interact with them and found it quite interesting.

She drank some fruit wine. Maybe because she was tired, she got drunk faster than usual.

When she felt a bit dizzy, Shi Sui put down her wine glass.

The guy who had been quietly keeping her company asked considerately: "Want to lean on my shoulder for a bit?"

Shi Sui waved her hand: "I'll be fine in a moment."

Who knew this moment of rest brought drowsiness. In her daze, someone caught her cheek, carrying a cool mint fragrance very much like Yan Tingli's scent after showering.

Shi Sui mumbled and leaned against him.

She could sleep soundly even when it was noisy around her, but when it quieted down, Shi Sui leisurely woke up.

Opening her eyes, the room was brightly lit.

Zhou Xuyan stood at the door with arms crossed, arguing about something, apparently in a standoff. A person stood before her in a long coat, very tall.

When Shi Sui's vision cleared, she saw it was Yan Tingli.

He completely ignored Zhou Xuyan, his gaze indifferently looking in her direction.

The weight on Shi Sui's shoulder suddenly disappeared. Looking, she saw the guy who had let her lean on his shoulder had sensitively withdrawn his hand.

That day when Yan Tingli arrived, it was already 11:30 PM. No one knew the competition had ended early-he'd changed to the last flight and rushed back.

When leaving, Zhou Xuyan wouldn't let them go: "Today is my birthday, I want Sui Sui to stay."

Yan Tingli was putting a scarf on Shi Sui, asking her gently: "What do you say?"

Shi Sui wasn't used to his intimacy in front of others, even Zhou Xuyan. She turned her face away and was about to speak when Yan Tingli leaned close: "Think carefully before answering."

"..." Her heart chilled. She simply threw caution to the wind: "I want to stay and keep Yanyan company."

Yan Tingli smiled lightly, unsurprised: "Fine, we'll stay together." His gaze turned to Zhou Xuyan. "Arrange a room for us at your house."

Zhou Xuyan: "I don't want you-"

"If you don't want tonight's events to reach Grandpa Zhou."

"..."

Strict Grandpa was Zhou Xuyan's weakness.

"No, I've reconsidered," Shi Sui hurriedly tugged his sleeve, "I'll go back with you, I'll go back."

Yan Tingli said nothing, grabbing her wrist and walking out, his other hand dragging the suitcase by the door.

Before that night, Shi Sui had never seen Yan Tingli like that.

He would wash her from top to bottom under the shower, over and over.

While leaning close to sniff her skin, he asked puzzledly: "Why won't it wash clean?"

Shi Sui collapsed: "What exactly are you washing?"

"There's another scent." Yan Tingli sniffed lightly, murmuring, "Cigarette smell, alcohol smell, and-"

"Let me think."

"Cheap mint fragrance, right?"

Shi Sui slowly stiffened: "I accidentally fell asleep and didn't know I was leaning on someone else."

Yan Tingli laughed once.

For the third time, he applied body wash all over her chest, shoulders and neck, patiently scrubbing and kneading.

But his eyes were ice cold: "Really just a little dirty cat."

"Yanyan said it's just the two of us," having received Zhou Xuyan's reply, Shi Sui put down her phone, "going shopping around Guojin."

"Tomorrow?"

Shi Sui nodded.

Yan Tingli: "I'll drive you there."

"Aren't you supposed to..." Shi Sui stopped mid-sentence, swallowing her words, "I'll just go by myself. It's not far, just a few subway stops away."

"What am I supposed to do tomorrow?"

Yan Tingli removed his glasses, looking down at her.

Shi Sui lowered her head, fiddling with her phone as she replied "ok" to Zhou Xuyan: "Isn't Uncle Yan calling you for dinner?"

If it were just an ordinary dinner, Yan Zecheng would have invited her too. Since he didn't, it meant it had nothing to do with her.

"I'll go after dropping you off."

"Oh." Shi Sui lowered her eyelashes.

The dessert shop on the top floor of Guojin Center was brightly lit. Across from her, Zhou Xuyan had long flax-brown curls, paired with strappy boots, her bold red lips making her appear even more striking and alluring.

"Every time you come to see me from his place, you're sporting a pale, kidney-deficient face."

She clicked her tongue: "Young people should still practice some restraint."

"No, I've just been a bit tired lately."

Shi Sui denied it outright, but her ears had already betrayed her by turning red.

Zhou Xuyan didn't call her out on it, changing the subject instead:

"He asked me to finish up and send you back. What's up, does he have plans?"

According to Yan Tingli's usual way of doing things, he should have precise control over Shi Sui's every movement. From sending her here to taking her back at night, he shouldn't have left it to her.

"He has a dinner engagement with Uncle Yan and them."

"With Uncle Yan?" Zhou Xuyan looked at her, "He didn't invite you?"

Shi Sui shook her head: "Probably not convenient."

Two seconds of silence.

"Suisui." Zhou Xuyan suddenly called her.

"Mm?"

"Who exactly did he go to dinner with?"

Shi Sui bit the straw in her mouth: "He didn't say, I just overheard. It is Uncle Yan, but there's also his mentor Su Ye."

She paused, then said softly: "Probably Professor Su's daughter, too."

Zhou Xuyan narrowed her eyes upon hearing this: "He's having dinner with a woman behind your back?"

Shi Sui thought about it: "Maybe it's not really 'behind my back' – he didn't avoid me when taking the call."

"But he didn't proactively tell you either, did he?"

Shi Sui was momentarily speechless.

A few seconds of silence.

After a moment, Zhou Xuyan asked: "Didn't you tell me last time that you wanted to break up with Yan Tingli?"

Shi Sui was stunned, her long eyelashes drooping.

She nodded very lightly, then corrected: "Break up isn't quite right, at most it could only be called separating."

They weren't in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship anyway.

What Zhou Xuyan was referring to was something Shi Sui had mentioned to her last month while sketching.

That time, Yan Tingli hadn't contacted her for half a month, and Shi Sui thought this relationship would just end like that. In that instant, her subconscious had felt relieved – perhaps at some point, she had already had thoughts of separating.

Shi Sui had only briefly mentioned it during a phone call with Zhou Xuyan.

She had said they would probably be breaking up.

"You think he would break up with you?" Zhou Xuyan laughed at her naivety, "I said it was impossible."

Shi Sui remained silent.

Hearing her silence, Zhou Xuyan finally sensed something: "Suisui, is it you who wants to break up?"

Shi Sui opened her lips but didn't say yes, only saying: "We're going to separate sooner or later anyway."

Coming back from memory, she heard Zhou Xuyan ask: "Do you think this time Uncle Yan calling him to have dinner with that Professor Su's daughter – what's his plan?"

Shi Sui rested her chin on her hand: "Matchmaking?"

"You know it's matchmaking, yet you're still so calm!"

Shi Sui gazed out the window, saying: "They're very suitable for each other. Uncle Yan and Aunt Song would be satisfied too."

"Don't you care? Aren't you jealous?"

Shi Sui thought that saying she didn't care at all would be false, but she had already built psychological defenses two years ago, constantly preparing herself for such situations.

She said calmly, "If they can develop something, wouldn't it be easier for me to break up?"

"Can you even break up?" Zhou Xuyan was skeptical.

Shi Sui: "Why can't I break up?" Though she asked this, a strange feeling still arose in her heart.

"Do you know what his gaze looks like when he looks at you?"

"...Hm?"

Zhou Xuyan lowered her voice and leaned closer: "Like a snake."

Shi Sui suddenly felt a chill down her spine, but still pursed her lips and said: "You're being too dramatic."

"I was with a film crew shooting wild animals this time, and one segment was about cobras." Zhou Xuyan was about to take out her phone, "Let me show you..."

Shi Sui was most afraid of reptiles. She got goosebumps all over and waved her hands repeatedly, "Don't, don't show me!"

"Little coward," Zhou Xuyan laughed, "How did such a timid person dare to provoke Yan Tingli?"

Shi Sui thought about it and uttered four words: "Lust clouded my judgment."

"I knew he was the one who seduced you." Zhou Xuyan slapped the table. "Do you know that when I found out you two had slept together, my world collapsed?"

Zhou Xuyan, knowing about this, wasn't coincidental, or rather, it was Yan Tingli's deliberate doing.

During the summer vacation after high school graduation, Zhou Xuyan kept asking her out.

Teaching her to dye her hair, do her nails, put on makeup, and take photos.

The fun between the girls was endless. Shi Sui was completely absorbed, and Zhou Xuyan even directly suggested she move to her house. Shi Sui was tempted.

High school entrance exams were over, so she didn't need to continue living at the Yan house.

Zhou Xuyan was often alone, so she could keep to herself.

When she mentioned this to Yan Tingli, he appeared nonchalant.

The next day, right in front of Zhou Xuyan, he pulled her close, lowered his head to lift her hair, and kissed her right neck.

Turning his head, he said coldly to Zhou Xuyan: "If she keeps you company, who will keep me company?"

Zhou Xuyan was angry but dared not speak out. Afterward, she grabbed Shi Sui's shoulders and shook her: "Are you crazy? Are you insane? How did you end up getting involved with him? Did he force you?"

At that time, Shi Sui couldn't understand Zhou Xuyan's hysteria. When she asked, Zhou Xuyan wouldn't say.

In her memory, Zhou Xuyan and Yan Tingli barely communicated. Zhou Xuyan feared nothing except that she was somewhat wary of Yan Tingli.

And Yan Tingli had always been good at pretending, with a good reputation outside. There was no need to specifically target Zhou Xuyan.

Shi Sui wanted to know: "What exactly is the conflict between you two?"

Zhou Xuyan pouted: "Although he and I do have some friction, essentially, it's still because Yan Tingli has problems."

Sometimes, Shi Sui would wonder what could have shaped Yan Tingli's personality despite having such a smooth life. She thought this and asked it out loud.

Zhou Xuyan stared at her wide-eyed, saying nothing.

Shi Sui blinked: "Can't you say?"

Zhou Xuyan put on airs, clearing her throat twice: "Logically speaking, if Yan Tingli hasn't mentioned these things to you, I shouldn't be gossiping."

Knowing her nature well, Shi Sui said calmly: "Then forget it."

Zhou Xuyan was silent for a few seconds.

After a while, she still couldn't hold back: "Don't tell me you've lived in the Yan house for so long without realizing his family isn't normal?"

Shi Sui blinked, not particularly surprised.

At the Yan villa, Yan Zecheng basically never stayed overnight, Song Jie was similarly absent every few days. The family of three treated each other with respectful distance, worse than relatives. Aside from methodically cultivating Yan Tingli, Shi Sui couldn't sense any emotional connection between them.

Whether there were more outsiders like her in the house or not wouldn't make any difference.

Anyone would realize this wasn't a healthy and harmonious family in any sense.

Bringing her thoughts back, Shi Sui said, "Is it convenient to talk about?"

Zhou Xuyan rested her chin on her hand: "Actually, I've been looking for an opportunity to tell you."

"How about today then?"

"But these are the Yan family's secrets. If I tell you, it would make me seem tasteless."

Shi Sui: "Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know."

"What if that guy Yan Tingli finds out and decides to settle old and new scores together to get revenge on me?"

Shi Sui expressionlessly swallowed her juice: "Then you'd better not say it."

She naturally assumed it was just some common family problems.

Essentially similar to those "I don't want lots of money, I just want lots of love" rich second-generation types online.

Zhou Xuyan's competitive spirit was aroused. She exhaled and said, "Fine, there's no better day than today. I'll tell you today."

Having finally pried an opening from Zhou Xuyan, Shi Sui poured her water: "Take your time, no rush."

"The second floor of the Yan house, the room next to Aunt Song's – you remember it, right?"

Shi Sui thought for a long time before nodding.

The largest house she had ever seen in her life was the Yan residence. Maid's rooms, movie room, gym, etc. – more than a dozen rooms of various sizes, and even an elevator.

The entire villa had five floors, including the basement. When she first moved in, Shi Sui would still get lost.

Over two years, her territory was limited to the main hall and the third-floor bedroom. She rarely approached other rooms, much less actively opened them.

That room on the second floor – Shi Sui had passed it many times when taking the stairs upstairs. She was timid and didn't dare take the elevator alone at night, so she had a clear impression of this room.

"I remember it," Shi Sui said, "but I've never seen that door open, don't know what's inside."

"Not knowing is right – that's Yan Tingli's younger brother's room."

A completely unexpected answer.

"Younger brother?" Shi Sui repeated, "Younger brother?!"

"Yes, Yan Tingli has a younger brother, a biological brother, named Yan Congjin."

Shi Sui was shocked: "Then where is his brother? Why have I never seen him?"

Zhou Xuyan looked at her without speaking.

Shi Sui's expression gradually changed color, "It can't be..."

"It's exactly what you're thinking."

Shi Sui was somewhat dazed.

"Haven't you noticed that Yan Tingli doesn't have a good relationship with his parents, especially with Aunt Song?"

Shi Sui slowly nodded.

"Yan Congjin's death – Aunt Song still hasn't gotten over it."

"Or rather, she's still blaming Yan Tingli."

The spring rain came fast and fierce. After dinner, wind and rain lashed outside.

"Tingli, see Professor Su's family off." Yan Zecheng instructed Yan Tingli while personally opening an umbrella, gesturing for Su Ye to go first.

"We've imposed on you today." Su Ye's wife smiled at Song Jie, falling a step behind.

Song Jie intimately held Su Han's hand: "Not at all. I genuinely like little Han. I was so happy to know she was coming."

Su Ye's wife laughed softly: "I like Tingli too. He's so excellent. I hope little Han can spend more time with him."

Nearby, Su Han curved her lips, her gaze sweeping across Yan Tingli's face at the rear. He didn't look up and showed no expression.

She restrained her smile.

Upon reaching the door, Song Jie held an umbrella and conveniently opened one for Su Ye's wife, glancing at Yan Tingli: "Tingli, look after little Han."

Su Han stood by the door waiting, watching his slender fingers open the umbrella, then hand it to her: "Take care."

She was stunned, slow to take it.

"Tingli." Song Jie noticed this side, her tone slightly heavy, "It's windy outside. Why aren't you holding the umbrella for little Han?"

Yan Tingli's tone was slow: "Two people sharing makes it easier to get wet."

The atmosphere froze for a moment.

Song Jie couldn't save face. Before she could figure out how to smooth things over, Su Han quickly took the umbrella, smiling: "I'll do it myself."

A small episode, but when Song Jie wanted to continue chatting with Su Ye's wife, the latter's lips turned down, no longer as warm as before.

After seeing the Su family off to their car, the lively atmosphere just now dissipated.

Cold wind swept by, bringing swirling fine rain.

Yan Zecheng walked at the front, Song Jie next, Yan Tingli at the rear. No one spoke until they entered the house.

The servants were still clearing the dining table. Song Jie glanced over, and the two immediately put down what they were doing and returned to the servants' quarters.

Yan Tingli put his phone back in his pocket, expression cold and languid: "If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."

Song Jie called out, "Stop, come sit down first."

Yan Tingli didn't move.

"Tingli, sit first. We have something to say to you." Yan Zecheng's tone was still gentle.

"Next time. I'm a bit tired." Yan Tingli said blandly, turning to continue walking.

Yan Zecheng frowned, about to speak, when Song Jie on the side sofa raised her voice: "Tingli, what's your attitude toward us?"

"Little Jie, calm down." Yan Zecheng spoke up.

Song Jie's eyes were indifferent, completely ignoring him.

Yan Zecheng pulled at his lips but didn't continue with the cold shoulder, softening his voice to speak with Yan Tingli: "Tingli, I'll make it short."

Yan Tingli lowered his eyelids, looking at the rain falling outside the door.

"Su Ye had his daughter late in life and dotes on Su Han extremely. Moreover, you can see he appreciates you." Yan Zecheng said.

Song Jie: "Su Han is also talented and beautiful, very suitable for you. You can see the girl has feelings for you, too."

Yan Zecheng smoothly continued: "As far as I know, many companies have tried to contact Su Ye's team, but currently, he's only accepted our invitation. Tingli, you've always been smart – you know what this means."

He observed Yan Tingli's expression, then added: "Even if you don't like her, just bear with it. Get to know her for a while, we'll talk about other things later. It's not like we're asking you to marry her right now."

When it came to business, this couple who seemed incompatible suddenly had a tacit understanding.

A few seconds of silence.

Yan Tingli's eyes moved lazily, and he laughed with a "heh."

"You're right," he walked leisurely toward the front hall, "Liming throws money, Shengshi throws resources, but neither can get a meeting with Su Ye. I sell my body and soul to make him serve Qisheng for life."

Bending down to look at the two: "What deal could be more profitable than this? Even the hostesses at clubs would praise you two as sales champions."

"You bastard!" Yan Zecheng's face darkened, his tone suddenly harsh, "Listen to what you're saying!"

"I've said my piece," Yan Tingli composed his expression, "I'm leaving."

"Stop." Song Jie called out.

Yan Tingli headed straight for the main door.

Seeing that her words repeatedly had no effect, Song Jie's anger flared: "What exactly is your attitude toward me? Do you still consider me your mother?"

"If you say I don't, then I don't." Yan Tingli waved his hand dismissively, one foot already out the door.

Urgent footsteps came from behind. Suddenly, a "bang" accompanied Song Jie's pained cry as she tripped and fell.

Yan Tingli's brow furrowed. Across from him, Yan Zecheng moved his foot and reached out halfway.

Song Jie endured the pain, coldly telling him, "Don't touch me."

Yan Zecheng's expression worsened: "Come help your mother up."

Yan Tingli turned back. Song Jie's voice was indifferent: "I don't need you either."

His footsteps paused.

Song Jie: "Call Aunt Jiang over."

Song Jie had twisted her ankle and was helped by a servant back to her room to tend to her injury.

Yan Tingli leaned against the doorframe, his eyelashes casting shadows.

"Go upstairs and check on your mother." Yan Zecheng lit a cigarette.

"She doesn't want to see me. Why be an eyesore?"

"She's still your mother. You-" Before he could finish, Yan Zecheng's phone rang. He glanced at it, hung up, but it rang again. He walked a few steps away, "Wait a moment, let me take this call first."

Too far to hear clearly, but Yan Zecheng's brows relaxed, wearing an ambiguous smile.

The corner of Yan Tingli's lips curved mockingly.

"There's something at the company," Yan Zecheng hung up and came over, lowering his head to adjust his tie: "Go check on her. I have to go."

Before leaving, he looked at him again: "Tingli, you are my only heir, always have been."

"Su Ye's team's patents and technology – you know better than anyone how important they are. Even occasional rebellion should have limits."

The car's taillights disappeared into the rain curtain. Yan Zecheng had left.

Footsteps came from the stairs. Aunt Jiang came down, poking her head out toward the door: "Did the master leave already?"

Yan Tingli walked inside, not answering such an obvious question.

"Really..." Aunt Jiang sighed, "The mistress's ankle is all swollen from the fall. How could the master not stay home to take care of her? Even one day as husband and wife means a hundred days of kindness."

She was an aunt Song Jie had brought from the Song family, naturally feeling sorry for her.

But privately discussing employers was a major taboo.

Yan Tingli lifted his eyelids, glancing over.

Aunt Jiang felt a chill, lowering her head and hunching her shoulders, falling silent.

"How is Mom?" He pressed the elevator button.

"Her foot is severely swollen. I just applied ice for the mistress, and it's better now." Aunt Jiang said, "But her mood is still poor..."

She so hoped he would accommodate Song Jie, show more understanding for his mother, but looking at Yan Tingli, she didn't dare voice these thoughts.

This young master had always been noble and opinionated. When had he ever allowed himself to be manipulated?

Just as she was thinking this, Yan Tingli suddenly stopped.

"Little Li?" She was puzzled.

"I'm not going up." He said flatly.

"Why?"

"My going would make her mood worse."

"How could that be? What mother wouldn't be happy to see her child?" Aunt Jiang said matter-of-factly.

After speaking, she saw the young man's eyelashes flutter: "Is that so?"

A questioning tone, but his footsteps didn't stop again as he walked to Song Jie's bedroom door.

The thick carpet muffled his footsteps. The bedroom door was slightly ajar, warm light spilling out.

Yan Tingli raised his hand halfway.

Soft voices came from inside – Aunt Li was comforting Song Jie.

"Please don't worry yourself. Little Li has always been strong-willed, maybe he just doesn't like being arranged..."

"No, some children are born cold-blooded. He's not close to me, never has been since childhood, and doesn't listen to me either."

"What child isn't close to their mother?"

"Yes, what child isn't close to their mother?" Song Jie closed her eyes, "He doesn't even count as my child. He's a cold-blooded machine raised by Yan Zecheng."

Song Jie covered her face, her voice taking on a weeping tone, "My Congjin, Congjin was close to me from childhood, would softly call me mama, would throw himself into my arms acting spoiled, and always listened to me most. Why did heaven have to take him away?"