The transition from her usual self was sudden and unexpected.
Gu Xiuyu watched her receding back.
Upon reaching the upper floor, Ye Ziyu glanced back before entering the room, ensuring Gu Xiuyu hadn't followed. She quickly stepped inside and locked the door.
Expecting Di Mingjue to be hidden, Ye Ziyu turned around after locking the door to find him lounging on the sofa, observing her.
"Why are you just sitting here?" Ye Ziyu hurried to Di Mingjue's side. "What if Gu Xiuyu had come in?"
"I can recognize your footsteps," Di Mingjue said, pulling her hand. Ye Ziyu naturally settled onto his lap. He wound his fingers through her hair, leaned forward, and inhaled her scent.
Ye Ziyu shifted her position, still uneasy. "No matter what, we still need to be careful."
"Why did you come up? Wasn't he bothering you?" Di Mingjue asked.
Although confined and lacking freedom, Gu Xiuyu was respectful in other matters. She had deliberately thrown a tantrum, and he had accepted it without complaint.
"No. Other than refusing to leave me, he hasn't stopped me from doing anything else," Ye Ziyu replied.
Hearing this, Di Mingjue grew displeased. "Hmph. He's holding someone else's wife captive, and he still has the nerve to interfere? Are you defending him now?"
Once a person commits a significant wrong, no amount of virtue can compensate for it.
Di Mingjue cupped Ye Ziyu's face, his possessive tone a firm instruction, "Do not show him any sympathy. He doesn't deserve it!"
They were supposed to be a happy family of five, but his greed had forced them into separation. The children, deprived of parental affection, had become cautious and sensitive.
Sensing Di Mingjue's unhappiness, Ye Ziyu leaned forward, her forehead touching his. "I know. I won't interfere with anything you do to him. But one thing: don't let someone undeserving cause you unnecessary trouble."
"Don't worry, I won't," Di Mingjue said, placing his hand on Ye Ziyu's lower back. With a gentle pull of his arm, Ye Ziyu’s upper body pressed closely against him. His piercing eyes fixed on her rosy, lustrous lips, and he lowered his head to kiss her.
Her body trembled involuntarily as Ye Ziyu actively embraced Di Mingjue.
It had been countless days and nights since their bodies had been this close.
After an indeterminate time, hurried breaths echoed from the room. Ye Ziyu's face was flushed, her eyes languidly gazing at Di Mingjue, whose breathing had stabilized. Noticing the smile at the corner of his eyes, she playfully hit his shoulder. In her imagination, her punch was forceful, but in reality, it landed softly like cotton.
Di Mingjue burst into laughter, further flustering Ye Ziyu, who grew even more annoyed.
Displeased, she slid off his lap. Her legs felt weak, and she stumbled as she moved too quickly, nearly falling to the floor.
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore," Di Mingjue said, steadying her arm. "Are you going down again later?"
"I'm not going down. When I came up, I told him I'd eat dinner in the room. But he might come up. See if you can find a place to hide so he doesn't find you," Ye Ziyu said.
Gu Xiuyu would at most stand outside the room door if he came up. In this situation, even if Ye Ziyu temporarily ceased resisting his actions, she would indirectly impede him.
As if on cue, just as they were discussing it, footsteps sounded from outside.
Ye Ziyu anxiously clutched Di Mingjue's arm, her attention focused entirely on the door.
"Ziyu."
Gu Xiuyu's voice drifted in from outside, followed by an urgent knocking.
"Dinner is ready, I've brought it up for you," Gu Xiuyu said from the doorway, holding a serving tray.