Chapter 109: Unmoved by Beauty

As “Splendid Times” aired day by day, time slipped quietly by. The once-doubted love between Gu Yao and Wen Jin, after stirring up a wave of dramatic attention, finally faded from the spotlight of the entertainment world—for now.

Wen Jin chose to withdraw from the industry, unwilling to let any more discordant voices meddle in her and Gu Yao’s relationship. She threw herself wholeheartedly into supporting Gu Yao’s music career, turning a deaf ear to the world outside her window, and devoted herself entirely to her writing.

For a long time after, whenever gossipers mentioned the second young master of the Gu family and his romantic exploits, Gu Yao would occasionally tag Wen Jin on social media, publicly showing his affection. This left the public with a deeper impression: it became a widely told tale of the devoted Second Master Gu, who, undaunted by setbacks, pursued his beloved with persistence and finally won her heart—a romance admired by all.

Wen Jin’s image, too, quietly shifted from a rising starlet to the enviable “Mrs. Gu” in everyone’s eyes. Looking back on their history, many admired her for her courage during the airport breakup, wondering just how strong she must be to withstand such pressure. Her retreat from the spotlight, ironically, only brought her more adoration and turned her into something of a legend.

That evening, Lin Xi, while scrolling through social media, sent Wen Jin a fan-written article about her. Wen Jin read it with an amused exasperation, but she had no time for such things and called Lin Xi directly.

Lin Xi had just showered, wrapped in an apricot-colored bathrobe that accentuated her slender frame and fair skin, the neckline revealing delicate collarbones. Her dark hair, freshly dried, hung straight over her shoulders.

Curled up on the sofa, she answered Wen Jin’s call with a cheerful “Sister-in-law!” before sitting up. As she glanced toward the bathroom, she caught sight of Lu Yuxiu showering in the dim light.

Turning her back to the bathroom, she gazed out through the floor-to-ceiling windows and chatted with Wen Jin in a relaxed tone.

Wen Jin’s slightly troubled voice came through. “Xiao Xi, I’m struggling with writing the emotional arc between my protagonists. How should they meet? I’m completely out of inspiration… it’s so frustrating…”

Squinting at the city lights, Lin Xi smiled. “Don’t worry. Just call your Fourth Brother home to keep you company, and inspiration will strike—”

“Oh, stop teasing me, Xiao Xi!” Wen Jin protested, half embarrassed, half annoyed.

Lin Xi sipped her water, suppressing a laugh.

“Let me ask you, how did you and your man meet?” Wen Jin inquired.

Lin Xi couldn’t help but chuckle. So now she’s turning to me for inspiration.

Tilting her head thoughtfully, she answered earnestly, “Well… I suppose we… met because of a car accident.”

“What?” Wen Jin was astonished.

Lin Xi was about to explain when a voice suddenly sounded behind her. “We’ve known each other since childhood. I’ve been planning this for a long time.”

With that, Lu Yuxiu reached for Lin Xi’s phone and ended the call. He had just come out of the shower, dressed in a black bathrobe, a faint scent lingering on him. His long fingers held her phone.

Lin Xi tilted her head to look at him. His features were still shrouded in a light mist, his damp hair dripping, exuding an irresistible allure.

Her heart raced uncontrollably. This man’s silence was lethal—she recalled how fans described him: cold and untouchable.

Meanwhile, Wen Jin, having been disconnected, stared wide-eyed at her screen. Suddenly, inspiration struck, and she grabbed her laptop, typing furiously.

Lin Xi met Lu Yuxiu’s stern gaze and instinctively swallowed as his inscrutable eyes bore into her.

“Wh… what is it?” she asked, a little lost and cautious, blinking.

Before she could finish, the world went dark as he pressed her down, his hand cradling the back of her head as he sealed her lips with his. She toppled back onto the sofa under the force of his kiss.

He kissed her deeply, leaving no space between them, his masculine scent enveloping her. Though Lin Xi had countless questions, his fervent kiss left her speechless, her mind spinning as she clung instinctively to his collar.

The air between them grew warm and charged. He finally let her go, his handsome face hovering above hers, eyes as dark as ink, narrowed slightly. Lin Xi’s lips tingled from the kiss, and as she met his gaze, she sensed danger.

She lay there, breathless, tamed by his kiss. Reaching up, she wrapped her arms softly around his waist, her voice tender and coquettish as she called his name: “Xiu…”

Lu Yuxiu frowned, watching her for a moment before burying his head in the crook of her neck. After a quiet pause, he squeezed her waist and muttered in a muffled voice, “I don’t want you telling anyone our story.”

“Oh—” Lin Xi laughed, relieved by his explanation, touching his face. “I thought something was wrong.”

He made no move to get up, still clinging to her, breathing in her scent, his arms locked tightly around her.

“Hold me tighter, darling.” His lips brushed her collarbone, teasing and nibbling as he whispered huskily in her ear.

Lin Xi reflexively hugged him close, their bodies pressed together without the slightest gap.

Only he knew how panicked he’d been when he heard her mention “car accident” so casually. How scared he’d been. Thank goodness fate hadn’t been too cruel, and she was still here, safe in his arms.

They held each other for a long time. Lu Yuxiu eventually lifted his head, planting soft kisses on her cheeks, nose, and forehead, his touch so gentle and careful, as if afraid the slightest force might harm her.

Lin Xi’s heart melted. She deliberately teased, “If you want to kiss me, just do it. No need for such grand excuses.”

A faint smile finally appeared on Lu Yuxiu’s lips. He bent down, brushed a gentle kiss across the corner of her mouth, and stood up, then scooped her up from the sofa entirely. She could feel his steady, powerful heartbeat as her feet left the ground.

“What are you doing?” Lin Xi asked, her arms instinctively looping around his neck, puzzled by his intentions.

His dark eyes fixed on her, his voice hoarse and edged with sensuality. “What do you think?”

Lin Xi was momentarily dazed as he carried her to the master bedroom, laying her on the soft bed. Suddenly, she felt nervous, her limbs oddly stiff as her mind raced through countless thoughts in those brief seconds.

Though they had shared a bed a few times already, something felt different tonight. He seemed… Lin Xi, having grown up influenced by Western culture, was never bothered by such matters. If he wanted her, she would gladly give herself—after all, she had already made her choice.

But still, she was terribly nervous.

Watching her, he slipped off his slippers and climbed onto the bed, drawing back the thin quilt for her. She sat there motionless, and he couldn’t help but laugh softly, knowing exactly what she was thinking. “What are you afraid of?”

Lin Xi shivered slightly, quickly slipping under the quilt as he lifted it, stammering, “I’m… not afraid.” She swallowed hard after speaking.

Lu Yuxiu smiled, exasperated and doting. He leaned down, ruffling her hair, offering reassurance. “Relax, darling. I won’t touch you before we’re married.” His melodious voice slipped into her ears, stirring her heart.

Hearing this, Lin Xi looked up, uncharacteristically shy, her cheeks tinged with a rare blush.

“Sleep well,” he said, lying down and patting the space beside him.

“Okay,” Lin Xi replied softly, nestling obediently into his embrace. He wrapped his arm around her waist—it was so slender, it seemed as though he could encircle it with one hand.

And so, they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

Lu Yuxiu’s views were quite traditional—he wanted to protect his beloved until the day he could claim her openly and honorably. To remain chaste in her presence was his highest form of respect; before marriage, he would never cross the line.