Early morning.

  Gu Xiyan remained in a state of drowsiness throughout the second half of the night. As she saw the sky gradually brightening, she quietly withdrew from Shang Yue's side.

  Standing by the bed, Gu Xiyan was only wearing a knee-length windbreaker. She quietly gazed at the man who was sleeping soundly, his handsome features evident even in slumber. Her eyes suddenly felt a stinging sensation.

  Forget it. She turned around and went into the bathroom.

  After washing and dressing, Gu Xiyan took out clothes from the closet for Shang Qi and put them on the bed, while she went downstairs to make breakfast.

  When the clock pointed to eight o'clock, Gu Xiyan glanced at the living room and suddenly felt that this house was very deserted.

  When he stepped into the bedroom again, Shang Xi had already started changing clothes. He caught a glimpse of Gu Xiyen entering the room and beckoned to her.

  "How did I get back last night?" His tone was devoid of the warmth and affection of last night, nor was there any of the intimacy and care of before.

  Gu Xiyan listened to his tone that was neither hot nor cold, her heart ached and became a knot. How could he... be like this.

  "Xunzi sent you back." It's okay. Gu Xiyan told herself. That's it. He's cold, and so are you. No one can hurt anyone else.

  "You... where did you sleep last night?" Shang Qi's tone was somewhat hesitant.

  "Yan'er's room." Gu Xiyan didn't even bat an eyelid.

  "Oh." There was no further conversation. Qing entered the bathroom on his own initiative.

  Gu Xiyan hugged her own arms with both hands. Although there was a heater in the room, she still felt so cold.

  "Xunzi told you to return to the troops before 10 o'clock." After finishing breakfast, Gu Xiyan remembered this and reminded Shang Kuiqi.

  "Got it." He seemed unwilling to say anything more. Shang Xi took the coat on the back of the chair and went out the door.

  Hmph. This is the person who was still intimately interacting with her last night. Gu Xiyan pressed one hand on the dinner table, her eyes filled with uncontrollable sorrow.

  Turned on the warm water to rinse the bowls and chopsticks. Gu Xiyan was thinking about picking up Xiao Yatou tonight and bringing her back to live with her. At the same time, she was thinking about how to face Shang Qi in the future. His attitude was already so obvious. What's the point of having a future anyway?

  Put down a plate. Gu Xiyan stretched her hand into the sink again, only to find that there were no more bowls or chopsticks inside. She smiled dazedly and was about to drain the water.

  Suddenly, a force pulled Gu Xiyan around and turned her body. The next moment, a warm and soft touch landed on her lips.

  Gu Xiyan was stunned for a moment, allowing the man to ravage her mouth. When she wanted to resist, the man let go of her. "Follow me."

  Shang Qi returned to the living room with Gu Xiyan, holding a large bouquet of blue flowers. He walked step by step to her side and said, "Baby, I brought you something. I told you I'd be good to you."

  "Give it to me." Gu Xiyan was at a loss for words. Her voice was a little hoarse, as if she didn't dare to believe it.

  "Yes, baby. Here you are." Shang Xi handed over a bouquet of flowers.

  Gu Xiyuan's two hands moved slightly, wanting to receive it but not daring to. She even thought that if she received the flower and he suddenly said to her: "Sorry, I made a mistake, it wasn't meant for you." Wouldn't she be very embarrassed?

  Business is very patient. Just stretch out your hand and don't move.

  Gu Xiyan suddenly welled up with tears. After removing the plastic gloves from her hands and throwing them into the trash can, she slowly hugged the bouquet of flowers. Finally, she still managed to force a faint, gentle smile.

  "Baby, don't be stubborn anymore. If you're feeling down, just say it out loud. Don't pretend to be strong. If you're sad, cry. If you're happy, smile. When you want to kiss me... just kiss me. I'll be very happy." Shang Xi Qi wrapped Gu Xi Yan in his arms and gently wiped away the tears from her eyes.

  "I thought you didn't want me anymore." Gu Xiyan sobbed: "I'm so bad. I pushed you away. I don't want you to leave me. But I feel like I'm not good enough for you... Waaahhh..."

  "Silly girl. Don't think like that again. I don't even know what's going on in that little head of yours." Shang Qi let out a sigh and scooped up Gu Xiyan in one swift motion.

  "Hey, why are you calling me baby?" Gu Xiyan suddenly realized this question.

  "Darling... Hmm, wasn't it called that before?" Shang Qi said matter-of-factly.

  "You deceived me. You're not drunk." Gu Xiyan waved her hands and feet in Shang Qi's arms, causing him to become somewhat flustered.

  He walked over to the sofa and pressed Gu Xiyan down onto it. Shang Qi lightly chuckled. "Baby, how would you know if you don't pretend to be drunk..." The rest of his words were spoken clearly into Gu Xiyan's delicate earlobe: "How would you know that I also want you so much? Hmm."

  Gu Xiyan's face suddenly turned bright red. After thinking for a moment, she said with difficulty: "You say I'm not as lovely as your wife, not as good as your wife."

  "Isn't my wife you? Don't you think... at night, you're even more... hmm, seductive than before?" Shang Yi smiled and kissed her lips gently.

  "Hey, you...". Gu Xiyan thought for a moment and then let it go. She smiled foolishly again, her hands tightly hugging the flowers to her chest. Although they weren't her favorite flowers, they were very pretty.

  Shang Yi got up and sat around her. After teasing her for a while, he turned serious and said: "Xīn, from now on, don't say anything about me going to find other women again. I'll get angry. There won't be any other women. I'll only treat you well. Only you, one person. Do you understand?"

  "Mm." Gu Xiyan nodded obediently, her heart suddenly filled with inexplicable emotion. She suddenly relaxed one hand and hooked it around Shang Qi's neck, pulling his head down. Her soft, pink lips pressed against his thin lips. She caught a glimpse of the elegant smile that flashed across his eyes.

  "Alas, don't think about escaping from me again. We will be entwined for a lifetime." Shang Xi Qi grasped one of her arms and took the flowers out of her hand, putting them aside before pinning her to his body. His lips landed on her delicate face in a scattered yet rhythmic manner, moving down along her pink lips, leaving marks on her neck.

  He reached out a hand to remove the obstructive clothing on Gu Xiyan's body. Suddenly, Gu Xiyan glared at him with her beautiful eyes. "Qi, you should go to your troops." Shang Qi looked up at the time. "Don't worry, there's still an hour. Let's solve our problem first."

  Gu Xiyan fidgeted restlessly. "Hey, you just had a birthday not long ago. You should restrain yourself a bit."

  "Good. Self-control with everyone. Only no self-control with you."

  "Get out. Don't stay here. What if someone sees you?" Gu Xiyan looked around nervously, her mind unable to focus.

  "Coward. Afraid in her own home." Chang Qi said as she pulled down her skirt.

  "Let's go somewhere else, okay? Not here." Gu Xiyan shook her head vigorously.

  "Are you going outside? Here or outside, you choose." Shang Qi said with a seemingly tolerant tone.

  "Hey, you're bad..."

  "Alright. Good boy. Sit tight. Won't be seen."

  "Get out for a bit..."

  When Gu Xiyan fell onto Shang Yi's body, Shang Yi's phone rang at that exact moment.

  "Quickly, come and get it. It might be something urgent." Gu Xiyan thought of taking the opportunity to escape from Shang Zhiqi's captivity.

  Shang Yi's eyes sparkled as he saw through her little thoughts. One hand wrapped around her small belly, and with a burst of strength, he charged forward again, causing Gu Xiyan's originally weak body to collapse completely into his arms.

  The phone was answered, but it was Xue Fu Xun calling to inform Shang Xi Qi that he must return to the troops. Shang Xi Qi listened intermittently, occasionally responding with a few words. Most of the time, however, he gazed at the child in his arms, and his eyes flickered with tenderness.

  Evil thoughts suddenly arose. Shang Yi Qi put his phone away for a moment. He quickly leaned forward and took a peek at Gu Xiyan's chest. Gu Xiyan didn't expect him to be so bold. She was about to cry out in surprise, but suddenly remembered that his phone was still on the line. Clenching her teeth, Gu Xiyan glared at Shang Yi Qi with hatred.

  Shang Yi gently bit Gu Xiyan's earlobe and whispered in a voice that only they could hear, "Baby, so sweet... hmm... and soft."

  After Shang Yi turned off his phone, Gu Xiyan angrily pounded on his shoulder a few times. Feeling that it wasn't enough, she simply opened her mouth and bit down on his shoulder again, three times in the same spot.

  "Alright, baby. You've vented enough, why don't you go back to sleep?" Shang Ke helped her out of the narrow passageway, handed over her clothes for her to put on.

  Gu Xiyan didn't sleep well. Shang Qi knew it. He carried Gu Xiyan to the room upstairs and covered her with a quilt. "Baby, have a good dream."

  "Really leaving? " Gu Xiyan's eyelids were indeed a bit heavy.

  "Yes, rest well. No one will disturb you. I'll be back tonight." Shang Yu's hand brushed through her hair and then let go, his gesture intimate and warm.

  "Really, is it only good for me?" Gu Xiyan burrowed into the quilt and narrowed her eyes, wanting to hear the answer. She then forced herself to open her eyelids again.

  "Yes. Now it's only you. In the future, it will also be only you. It can't be anyone else. Except for you, I don't want anyone." Shang Qi didn't have a hint of joking in his tone.

  Gu Xiyan smiled. "Okay... I want to kiss you."

  Shang Yi leaned in close to Gu Xiyan. As expected, Gu Xiyan pressed her lips against his thin lips. "Yi, come back early."

  "Good..."

  When he walked out of the house, Shang Wei's mood was like a sunny spring day in March. At this moment, he was extremely grateful that he hadn't drawn a line with her due to temporary anger.

  Indeed, when he heard her say she didn't want him to touch her, he was extremely angry. He even wanted to strangle her and ask what was wrong with her. But he endured it. Good endurance had always been his strong point.

  A few hours of calmness was enough to make him think clearly about the problem at hand. To him, his own words were meant to show off his carefree nature. However, he neglected the impact those words would have on her. Comparing before and after, he immediately discovered the crux of the issue. Yet, upon realizing that the problem lay in his own words, he didn't apologize right away. This was one of his ruthless aspects - he wanted to make her suffer, let her be distressed, and at the same time, make her reflect on her own mistakes. Only then would she remember his kindness deeply when he turned around to treat her well. She would deeply remember his goodness, and this way, he would have an extra chip to keep her by his side.

  Of course. It's obvious. The fact is much better than he estimated.

  Shang Yi Qi is usually not talkative and smiles rarely. But today, a phrase has been circulating in the special forces of the Capital Military Region: "When our brother smiles, the heavenly king's star shines brightly. When our brother smiles again, the hearts of brothers are also stirred."

  Author's Notes