Although Qin He and Gu Qichen had been intimate, after their divorce, they only had that one encounter.
He rarely saw this side of the man, unbuttoning his collar with one hand while gazing deeply at her.
His eyes seemed to hold something incredibly dangerous, yet intensely alluring.
Qin He lay on the sofa, the two of them at different levels. From this angle, she looked up at Gu Qichen.
The man already possessed an extraordinarily beautiful face. Combined with the abstinence emanating from him, seeing him unbutton his shirt from this perspective sent a shiver down her spine.
Qin He swallowed, sensing the approaching danger, and immediately tried to get up and escape.
Her skills were already good, but Gu Qichen's were clearly superior.
He scooped her up by the waist and pressed her directly onto the sofa.
Their bodies met, and she could feel the heat emanating from Gu Qichen.
"Gu Qichen, get up first, let me explain," Qin He stammered.
Gu Qichen narrowed his eyes, his fingers gently caressing Qin He's face with tenderness and adoration.
Then, with a hint of residual anger, he kissed her fiercely.
Unlike the previous kiss, this one carried a sense of punishment, its onslaught incredibly fierce.
Qin He couldn't escape. Their bodies were pressed together, Gu Qichen on top of her, leaving her only her legs able to move.
But at this moment, she couldn't very well kick Gu Qichen.
One kiss later, panting, Qin He's eyes were hazy. Only when Gu Qichen leaned slightly away did she realize her clothes' zipper had been pulled down to her waist, hanging loosely.
Qin He blushed. Daylight!
The study's curtains were wide open, and the sunlight streaming in allowed them to see each other's bodies clearly!
"Gu Qichen, let's go back to the bedroom!" Qin He surrendered.
She knew she had angered Gu Qichen and didn't expect to talk her way out of it.
Gu Qichen chuckled, "Isn't it good here?"
"No!"
"Then I think it's even better. It'll leave you with a deep memory, so you know not to exclude me from your plans so casually."
Qin He's eyes widened, but soon, the sunlight in the room became hazy.
An hour later.
A satisfied Gu Qichen carried Qin He back to the bedroom.
There were no servants on the second floor; it was quiet. Back in the bedroom, he carried Qin He into the bathroom.
As Gu Qichen followed her into the bathtub, Qin He, blushing, her limbs weak, tried to get out but was pulled back by him.
She hunched her head, feeling both shy and indignant.
"Get out!"
"No," Gu Qichen, uncharacteristically rogueish, yet with that elegant face.
Qin He was furious. Her plan today should have had her already out of Fengcheng, in the final car.
But now—
No point thinking about it.
Sharing a bath, Qin He curled up like a little quail, protectively covering her sensitive areas.
Gu Qichen, leaning against her from behind, chuckled, his voice low and husky like a devil's whisper.
"What are you hiding? I've already seen it clearly."
Qin He turned her head, glaring, "Beast."
She felt a hint of gritted teeth in her voice.
Gu Qichen's "revenge" was thorough. He narrowed his eyes and pulled the little quail into his embrace, slowly loosening her tense body.
The water in the bathtub rippled, white steam drifting before their eyes.
Gu Qichen's lips nibbled gently at her ear and shoulder, with a sweet yet fierce declaration.
"Without you, I can't live either. You want to go to such a dangerous place alone, hmm?"
Qin He no longer had the strength to argue, her voice from her throat broken.
Only after thoroughly caressing her clean from the bathtub did he carry her to the bedroom bed.
Gu Qichen tucked her in, looking at her exhausted state, and began to reflect.
Had he revealed his desire for her too obviously? Had he been too harsh?
Qin He lay in bed, looking at Gu Qichen's somber expression, and knew what he was thinking.
She snorted coldly and turned away.
Her leg joints now felt sore and stiff, and Qin He pouted angrily.
Sensing the bed dip behind her, the man's warm breath enveloped her. She didn't turn her head.
Soon, a finger poked her puffed-up cheek. Caught off guard, Qin He let out a sudden "puff."
She glared at Gu Qichen, "You—"
Gu Qichen lowered his eyes slightly, his long lashes half-covering his ink-dark eyes.
He propped his forehead with one hand, looking down at her, his love mirroring hers.
"He'er, don't make such dangerous decisions next time," Gu Qichen said softly.
"What I said just now was true. If something really happened to you, perhaps my remaining life would be spent seeking revenge on Shen Yizong."
Gu Qichen's gaze turned somewhat dark. "I will personally kill him, or perhaps not kill him, but keep his dying life to torment him slowly."
Gu Qichen was usually cold and somewhat arrogant, disdaining such private torture.
Qin He's heart skipped a beat, and she lowered her eyes. Their anger had subsided.
She explained in a low voice, "It's precisely because I care about you so much, and about my family, that I don't want you to risk yourselves with me. I've never had high demands on those around me; I just hope they are safe and happy, and can live healthily."
"Have you considered, if you went to Shazhen alone, what your chances of survival would be if you were discovered?" Gu Qichen coaxed gently. "But if we make thorough preparations and go together, even if Shen Yizong's people find you, I will definitely be able to bring you back."
That made sense.
But she was afraid, afraid of another Qi Yang.
"If something happened to you, you should think about your mother, brother, and Lele's lives. How could they be safe and happy?"
Gu Qichen reached out and pulled her into his arms.
"I know you're not the type to rely on others, willing to let me solve things for you; but no matter what happens, at least let me face it with you, okay?"
This was his biggest concession.
Qin He nestled in his embrace, thinking of her mother and Lele.
And her brother, Wanwan, and the people of Qingyan Mansion.
Her hand quietly tightened, her voice dry, "Shen Yizong is despicable in his actions, he has no bottom line. Someone like that—"
"I promise there won't be another Qi Yang," Gu Qichen's voice was slightly cold.
After a long while, Qin He's small head moved slightly in his arms.
"Okay, we'll act together then."
If there were truly an accident, she would fight to protect the people around her.
Gu Qichen let out a long sigh and held her tighter.
She was the love of his life, the most important person in his life.
Qin He, exhausted from two rounds of "intense battles," soon fell asleep in Gu Qichen's arms.
When she woke up, the sky was already displaying evening glow.
She sat on the bed and stared at the sunset for a moment, then gritted her teeth, "Beast."
Her body felt as if it had been dismantled and reassembled. Qin He looked at the bedside; a set of clothes was neatly folded there.
She got up, dressed, and left the bedroom.