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

Where is Yun Shu now?

His voice betrayed no emotion.

The assistant quickly composed himself and reported to the supervisor:

"Miss Liu should be in her private studio right now. She's usually creating art at this time."

"Jiang Chi... is at the training base at this time, undergoing intensive training, and will likely be unable to leave in the short term."

After the assistant finished speaking, he added a sentence, his tone tentative.

"Mr. Liu, would you like to... stop by and see Miss Liu? Perhaps... bring her some milk?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a chilling gaze swept over him as if it were a physical object.

The assistant fell silent instantly, feeling a chill run down his spine, realizing he had overstepped his bounds.

He quickly lowered his head, feeling uneasy: Had he misjudged his thoughts?

Liu Chengyan withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "There won't be a next time."

Then, the tone shifted subtly, "Go back and go to the finance department to collect an extra month's bonus."

The assistant was taken aback for a moment, then realized what was happening, and his face lit up with undisguised joy. He quickly bowed and replied, "Thank you, Mr. Liu!"

Having followed Ryu Seung-yeon for so long, he naturally knew the boss's temperament.

He appears gentle, but he is actually very fair in rewarding and punishing. His earlier remark, "There won't be a next time," was just because he thought I was being too talkative.

The car slowly turned around and headed towards Liu Yunshu's studio.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the French windows, casting a warm, soft glow that fell on Liu Yunshu's profile.

She was wearing a beige short-sleeved shirt and light blue jeans.

Her hair was loosely tied into a bun, revealing her slender, fair neck.

She was intently mixing paints, her nose tingled with a faint blue hue.

Like a kitten that accidentally got ink on its skin, it's cute and adorable.

Hearing footsteps, Liu Yunshu subconsciously turned around and saw it was him, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

She stood up somewhat awkwardly, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing her nose, her voice soft and sweet: "Mr. Liu? What brings you here?"

Liu Chengyan's gaze fell on the blue paint on the tip of her nose, and a faint smile appeared in his eyes.

He raised his hand and gently wiped away the blue stain with his fingertips. The heat from his fingertips made Liu Yunshu tremble slightly, and she subconsciously shrank back.

"Just passing by, thought I'd drop by and stop by."

Liu Chengyan withdrew his hand, gestured with his chin towards his assistant, and said in a tone so indifferent that it was impossible to discern any emotion: "Bring the things in."

The assistant quickly responded and strode in carrying an exquisite thermos.

He gently placed the bucket on the wooden table in the studio, then quietly withdrew, thoughtfully closing the studio door behind him.

Liu Chengyan walked slowly to the table and reached out to lift the lid of the thermos.

A rich aroma of milk mixed with the sweet scent of honey instantly filled the air.

Inside is stewed peach gum in milk until it's soft and sticky.

The amber-colored peach gum soaked in milky white milk looks incredibly appetizing.

"I picked it up on the way; I heard it's very good for your health."

He picked up a white porcelain spoon, scooped up a spoonful, and handed it to Liu Yunshu, his eyes showing just the right amount of gentleness. "Want to try some?"

Liu Yunshu looked at the spoonful of steaming sweet soup, the enticing aroma lingering around her nose.

But she still subconsciously shrank back a little, her voice soft and sweet, yet tinged with unease:

"Thank you, Mr. Liu. I... I can do it myself."

She reached out to take the spoon, her fingertips just about to touch the handle, but Liu Chengyan subtly avoided it.

His gaze fell on the smudges of paint still clinging to her fingertips, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"My hands are covered in paint, they're not clean."

As soon as he finished speaking, he didn't give her a chance to hesitate or refuse. With a slight steadiness in his wrist, he brought the spoon closer to her lips.

His tone was gentle, almost coaxing: "Be good, open your mouth."

Liu Yunshu's cheeks instantly burned, her eyes lowered, her long eyelashes trembling.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she still slightly parted her lips.

The sweet, creamy aroma blends perfectly with the soft, chewy texture of peach gum, melting on the tongue at just the right temperature.

She swallowed it in small sips, her ear tips turning bright red as if they were about to bleed, and even her breathing became light and slow.

Looking at her charming and innocent appearance, Liu Chengyan's eyes were filled with turbulent emotions.

Her fingertips unconsciously caressed the spoon handle, her voice incredibly soft: "How does it taste?"

"It's very, very delicious." Liu Yunshu looked up, her eyes glistening with a thin layer of tears, like a startled fawn. "Thank you, Mr. Liu."

"If you like it, that's good."

Liu Chengyan smiled, scooped up another spoonful and handed it to her, his gaze falling on her canvas.

It was an unfinished painting, depicting a running track under the setting sun.

At the end of the track stood a familiar figure, waving towards the direction outside the picture.

"Is this a painting of Jiang Chi?"

Liu Yunshu followed his fingertip, her cheeks flushing even more. She nodded gently, her voice barely audible.

"Hmm... He won the championship on a track just like this."

When Jiang Chi was mentioned, a soft smile appeared in her eyes, like tiny starlight.

Looking at that smile, Liu Chengyan's hand holding the spoon tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white.

He lowered his eyes, concealing the fleeting coldness within them, and when he looked up again, his gentle demeanor had returned.

"It's obvious you like him a lot."

"I……"

Liu Yunshu wanted to say something, but a wave of drowsiness suddenly swept over her.

Her eyelashes trembled, like butterfly wings wet with rain, and the scene before her eyes began to blur.

The soft afternoon light still streamed through the windowpane, but her head felt heavier and heavier, as if all the strength to lift her hand had been drained away.

She instinctively grabbed the easel beside her, her fingertips trembling slightly.

"Mr. Liu... I feel a little sleepy..."

Liu Chengyan put down the white porcelain spoon in his hand and helped her swaying body.

He looked down at her reddened eyes and drooping eyelashes, his voice low and soft, almost dripping with tenderness:

"If you're sleepy, take a nap. I'm here for you."

His embrace carried a refreshing woody scent, mixed with the sweet aroma of milk and peach gum, which inexplicably brought a sense of peace.

Unable to resist the onslaught of drowsiness, Liu Yunshu tilted her head and leaned against his shoulder, her breathing gradually becoming long and even.

Once she was completely asleep, Liu Chengyan picked her up and placed her on the sofa.

He knelt down beside the sofa and bent down to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

His gaze burned as he meticulously traced her unguarded sleeping face.

"How could you... trust someone so easily?"

He murmured to himself, his fingertips brushing against her smooth cheek.

Her voice carried a complex mix of sighs, reproaches, and intense possessiveness: "It's really worrying."

He carefully folded the jeans and set them aside.

He held a small piece of cloth in his palm, brought it to his nose, and took a deep sniff.

Her unique, faint scent of gardenias mingled with the pure aura of a young girl.

All the tenderness in his eyes vanished, leaving only an intense, unyielding possessiveness.

The lenses of his gold-rimmed glasses reflected a cold light, concealing the surging ferocity in his eyes.

"My little bunny,"

He leaned down, his thin lips almost brushing against the top of her soft hair, his voice low and husky, almost a whisper, carrying a chilling intimacy.

"How can you focus your attention on others?"

He raised his hand, his fingertips gently tracing her eyebrows and eyes.

From her smooth forehead to her pert nose and her blushing lips, every inch of her exuded a temperature that made him lose control.

He finally couldn't resist and kissed her.

His thin lips landed on her soft lips, with a mixture of careful cherishing and uncontrollable plunder.

Liu Yunshu was fast asleep, and unconsciously let out a soft moan as her warm breath brushed against his lips.

Like a spark, it instantly ignited the long-suppressed fire in Liu Chengyan's heart.

His kiss suddenly became intense, his fingertips gripping the back of her slender neck, forcing her closer to him, while his other hand...

After an unknown amount of time, he slowly withdrew, his fingertips gently caressing her lips, which were reddened from the kiss, while dark waves surged in his eyes.

He got up and walked to the gardenia, its white petals bathed in the soft afternoon light.

It exudes a faint, sweet fragrance, exactly like the girl's scent.

Liu Chengyan's slender fingertips brushed along the edges of the tender petals, finally landing on the fullest and most lustrous heart of the flower.

A few tiny, unevaporated water droplets still clung to the flower's stamen, glistening in the light.

He looked down at the cluster of blooming gardenias, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

With a slight squeeze of his well-defined fingers, he snapped the stem of the most beautiful flower.

The crisp and rich fragrance bursts forth on your fingertips, spreading even more intensely into the air.

He gazed at Liu Yunshu on the sofa, then slowly raised his hand and brought the gardenia in his hand to his lips.

The pure white petals against his pale lips created a striking visual effect.

He opened his mouth and slowly chewed and swallowed the flower, which still carried the morning dew and vitality.

The softness of the petals, the slight astringency of the stamens, the sweetness of the juice... a complex taste and aroma filled his mouth.

Inevitably, a few drops of the glistening white flower sap stained the fingertips and the corners of the mouth, shimmering faintly in the light.

As Liu Chengyan slowly wiped his fingertips with the silk handkerchief he carried with him, he used his eyes to re-image the girl on the sofa.

His gaze was now completely undisguised, filled with intense aggression.

The possessiveness in his eyes was so intense it was almost tangible, nearly overflowing and completely overwhelming her.

"Jiang Chi..." he murmured the name, the last syllable carrying a faint chill, "Does he even deserve your attention?"

"rest assured,"

He leaned down, close to her ear, and spoke in a very low voice, yet every word was clear.

"I will help you... wipe away all the marks he left behind, little by little."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a crisp thud was heard as a heavy object fell to the ground.

"Baby, you are so beautiful," the last syllable trailed off with a low, husky sigh, dissipating into the air filled with the sweet scent of gardenias.

Liu Chengyan gazed at Liu Yunshu's delicate face.

An unnatural, more vibrant blush gradually spread across her fair cheeks, reaching all the way to the corners of her eyes.

It spread out in a breathtaking, shimmering crimson, like the finest rouge being smudged by tears.

It inexplicably captivated him, completely igniting the last vestige of feigned calm in his eyes.

He raised his hand and took off the gold-rimmed glasses that he always used as a disguise for gentleness.

The eyes behind the lenses were completely exposed to the air.

Those eyes were now as deep and unfathomable as an ancient well.

His dark pupils churned with a naked, undisguised, almost bestial possessiveness and desire for control.

Like a top predator that has been lying in wait in the dead of night, finally waiting for its prey to lose all ability to resist, and then preparing to deliver a fatal blow.

Calm, cruel, yet burning with a fervent passion.