Host! I told you to do a task! I didn't tell you to bbb.

The moonlight outside the window gradually disappeared into the clouds, leaving only the intertwined breaths and soft murmurs in the guest room.

Liu Yunshu was exhausted from his torment, her fingertips weakly clutching the blankets, her eyes red but she still refused to give in.

She just buried her face in his neck, breathing softly, like a tamed kitten that still had sharp claws hidden inside.

Fu Yanshen tightened his arms, pulling her even closer into his embrace, and gently wiped away the moisture from the corners of her eyes with his fingertips.

The surging desire in his eyes had mostly subsided, leaving only an intense, unyielding doting and possessiveness.

He lowered his head and kissed her slightly damp forehead, his voice husky yet gentle: "Still causing trouble, little fox?"

Liu Yunshu groaned softly, raised her hand and punched his firm chest lightly, the force almost like a playful tantrum:

"Liar... You clearly said... you'd let me go if I screamed."

"Let you go?"

Fu Yanshen chuckled softly, his palm stroking her smooth back, his fingertips lingering with an ambiguous affection.

"Isn't this... letting you go?"

Liu Yunshu was furious and bit his collarbone, but she couldn't bring herself to use force, leaving only a shallow ring of teeth marks.

She tilted her head back, her eyes brimming with tears, and said reproachfully, "Fu Yanshen, you're a scoundrel."

"I'm only shameless towards you."

He grabbed her chin, which was acting up, and lowered his head to kiss her lips, which were slightly pursed with anger.

The kiss was gentle and lingering, carrying a sense of languor and satisfaction afterward.

After a long while, he stepped back slightly and gently brushed his nose against hers.

"Tired? Go to sleep, I'll leave in the early morning."

Liu Yunshu gave a muffled "hmm," snuggled closer to him, and found the most comfortable position.

The crisp scent of pine needles emanating from him, mixed with a faint hint of tobacco, filled her nostrils, giving her a strange sense of peace.

Her eyelids grew heavy, and before she succumbed to darkness, she muttered something to herself:

"You have to wake me up before you leave... otherwise, I really won't talk to you anymore..."

Fu Yanshen silently curled the corners of his lips, his fingertips gently combing through her sweat-dampened hair, his voice so soft it seemed to melt water:

"Okay, I'll definitely call you."

Soon, the person in my arms began to breathe evenly, their long eyelashes casting soft shadows beneath their eyes.

Her cheeks were flushed with a blush from their passionate affair, like a ripe peach.

Fu Yanshen gazed at her sleeping face, his dark eyes overflowing with doting affection.

His fingertips carefully traced her eyebrows and eyes, from her pert nose to her soft lips, his movements so gentle that he was afraid of disturbing her sweet dreams.

He recalled her feigned docility at the banquet, and her cunning teasing in the corridor.

Recalling how she had cried and made a scene just now, yet refused to admit defeat, his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

This little fox somehow managed to seduce him, making him surrender willingly.

The sky outside the window gradually turned a pale white, and a few rays of dawn pierced through the gauze curtains, casting delicate patches of light on the carpet.

Fu Yanshen opened his eyes, glanced at his watch. It was five in the morning. The servants would start cleaning the corridor soon, so he had to leave.

He carefully pulled his arm out from under her pillow, his movements as gentle as if he were afraid of breaking something fragile.

Liu Yunshu let out a soft moan and subconsciously leaned closer to the empty spot he had made, her brows furrowed slightly, as if she hadn't slept well.

Fu Yanshen leaned down and placed a light, feather-like kiss on her forehead, tucked the blanket back in, and then got up and dressed.

As he reached the door, he looked back one last time.

The person on the bed was curled up in the blankets, with only a section of their fair neck showing, sleeping soundly.

A hint of reluctance flashed in Fu Yanshen's eyes, but he still gently closed the door, his footsteps disappearing into the silence of the morning.

Liu Yunshu was awakened by the chirping of birds outside the window. Sunlight streamed in through the gauze curtains, making her squint.

The soreness and weakness throughout her body made her gasp, and the scenes from last night instantly flooded her mind, causing her cheeks to burn.

She reached out and touched the spot beside her; it was already cold, with only his scent remaining on the pillow.

"fraud……"

She mumbled something, turned over, and buried herself in the pillow he had slept on.

The scent of cedarwood lingering around her nose filled her with sweetness, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a smile.

I had just finished washing up when my phone vibrated. It was a message from an unknown number:

"Awake? There's porridge downstairs, wait for me tonight."

Liu Yunshu's fingers flew across the screen:

"Liar. You didn't wake me up, so your punishment is to bring back osmanthus cake from that shop in the west of the city tonight."

The reply came almost instantly: "Okay."

Includes a bonus cartoon emoji of someone tapping someone's head.

Liu Yunshu stared at the screen, her eyebrows unconsciously curving into crescents.

When I came downstairs, Grandpa Fu was sitting in a mahogany chair in the living room reading a newspaper.

Fu Jingming and his mother were also there. A delicate breakfast was laid out on the long table, but the atmosphere was somber and somewhat oppressive.

Fu Jingming looked haggard, with dark circles under his eyes, as he saw her come down.

He glanced at it with complicated emotions, then quickly looked away, a hint of guilt in his eyes.

Madam Fu snorted coldly and turned her face away, clearly still harboring resentment about what happened last night.

"Yun Shu is awake? Come, sit here."

Grandpa Fu put down his newspaper, smiled kindly, and patted the empty seat next to him.

Liu Yunshu obediently walked over and sat down. The maid immediately brought over a bowl of warm bird's nest porridge, just to her preferred sweetness.

"Thank you, Grandpa."

She picked up the porcelain spoon and caught a glimpse of Fu Jingming staring at her, his eyes filled with a struggle of unspoken words.

She couldn't help but sneer inwardly, but her face remained as gentle as ever.

"Did you sleep well last night?"

Grandpa Fu picked up his teacup and asked with concern.

Liu Yunshu raised her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, revealing a blush that was just right.

"Yes, she's sleeping soundly, probably because she's tired."

Upon hearing this, Madam Fu let out another cold snort and interjected sarcastically, "Those with a carefree heart naturally sleep soundly. Heartless!"

The barbs in his words were clearly aimed at Liu Yunshu.

Liu Yunshu paused slightly in her hand holding the spoon.

She looked up at Madam Fu, the usual gentleness in her eyes fading slightly, revealing a clear, cold light:

"Auntie, you flatter me. The old house is quiet, and with Grandpa taking care of me, I naturally slept soundly. But it's Jingming who..."

She changed the subject, her gaze lightly landing on Fu Jingming.

"You drank so much last night, you probably didn't get enough rest, right?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Fu Jingming suddenly looked up, a flash of panic crossing his eyes.

Fu's mother was so angry that her face turned ashen. She slammed her hand on the table and said, "You little brat, how dare you talk back!"

"Auntie, I was only concerned about Jingming's health, how could I be complaining?"

Collide?"

Liu Yunshu put down her spoon, her tone calm yet firm.

"The Fu family has strict rules, and the younger generation should naturally observe them. However, if I am criticized for no reason, I dare not simply tolerate it."

"you--!"

"That's enough!"

Old Master Fu sternly stopped her, glancing at Fu's mother with displeasure.

"What's all the noise about so early in the morning? Yun Shu is right. Jing Ming lost his temper last night and should reflect on it. What kind of behavior is it of you to blindly protect him!"

Speechless, Madam Fu could only glare at Liu Yunshu before reluctantly picking up her coffee.

Fu Jingming kept his head down, his knuckles white as he gripped the chopsticks, his eyes swirling with resentment and anger, but he dared not utter another sound.

Breakfast ended in an eerie silence.

Liu Yunshu stood up to say goodbye to Old Master Fu, but Fu Jingming suddenly chased after her: "Yunshu, wait... I have something to tell you."

Liu Yunshu paused slightly, turned around, raised an eyebrow, and seeing the struggle in his eyes, feigned confusion: "Brother Jingming, is there anything else?"

Fu Jingming hesitated for a moment, then pulled her to a deserted corner of the corridor and lowered his voice:

"Last night...it was my fault, I drank too much and talked nonsense. Manli, she...don't take what she said to heart."

Liu Yunshu sneered inwardly, but her face instantly contorted with grievance, and the corners of her eyes reddened slightly.

"Jingming, I know you're temporarily bewitched by Miss Su. But we are engaged, after all. Your distrust of me is unacceptable..."

Her voice trembled, and she subtly brought tears to her eyes, making her look pitiful.

Seeing this, Fu Jingming felt even more guilty and reached out to wipe away her tears: "Yun Shu, I..."

Liu Yunshu deftly sidestepped, taking a small step back to create a distance between them.

"Jingming, don't do this, it won't look good if someone sees us."

She spoke softly, lowering her eyes to hide the indifference in them.

Fu Jingming's hand froze in mid-air, his face flushing red and then turning pale.

"I...I understand. Don't worry, I'll make things clear with Manli, and we won't have any more contact anymore."

Liu Yunshu lowered her eyes, concealing the deep sarcasm within them: "I hope so. Brother Jingming, I'll head back now."

As she turned to leave, she clearly heard a faint sound of a fist clenching behind her.

Once in the taxi, Liu Yunshu took out her phone and sent a message to Fu Yanshen:

"Your good nephew, he just came to me again to put on a heartfelt confession."

Almost the instant the message was sent, a reply popped up: "Hmph!"

A single word, yet so forceful; you can almost smell the sourness and displeasure through the screen.

Liu Yunshu couldn't help but laugh out loud, her fingertips tapping lightly:

"Jealous? Uncle Fu, are you that petty?"

The phone vibrated immediately after the message was sent.

The caller ID showed that name.

She pressed the answer button, and Fu Yanshen's deep voice came through the receiver, slightly hoarse and languid:

"Jealous? I just think that some little foxes are too good at acting, making people grit their teeth in envy."

Where?

Liu Yunshu leaned against the car window, gazing at the street scenes rushing past outside, her tone deliberately innocent and naive.

"I was just fulfilling my duty as a prospective daughter-in-law and calming my fiancé down."

"Prospective daughter-in-law?"

Fu Yanshen's voice suddenly turned somber, carrying an undercurrent of danger.

"Liu Yunshu, you'd better remember exactly whose side you're on. We'll settle this score when you get back tonight."

Liu Yunshu's heart skipped a beat, but a sly smile bloomed on her face:

"Who's afraid of who? But... Uncle Fu, don't forget my osmanthus cake. If you lose even one piece, I'll never forgive you."

"Understood, my little darling."

Fu Yanshen chuckled helplessly, his tone indulgent, "I have a meeting this afternoon. I'll go shopping after it's over. Stay home and wait patiently, don't wander off."

The smile on Liu Yunshu's lips hadn't faded after the call ended when her phone rang again.

This time it was a call from my good friend Shen Qingqing.

"Hello, Qingqing?" she answered, her voice still carrying a hint of lightness.

"My dear lady!"

Shen Qingqing's voice was full of energy and excitement, "Where are you now?"