Being a gigolo was too much for him, so he had to become a music superstar.

What she cares about is—

The sound of water stopped. The bathroom door opened.

Lin Buyi walked out wearing a loose T-shirt, his hair still dripping wet. As he passed through the living room, he glanced at Su Nianwei.

Su Nianwei sat there, her wine glass empty, her face slightly flushed. It was unclear whether it was from the wine or something else.

"You've had a tough day," Lin Buyi said.

Su Nianwei looked up.

The two stood facing each other in the living room for a few seconds.

Then Lin Buyi did something that Su Nianwei never expected.

He walked over and sat down next to her.

He didn't sit at the other end of the sofa, but sat down right next to her.

Su Nianwei froze for a moment.

"you--"

"I told you, I want to pay you back."

"What do you have to repay—"

"I only have one thing I can give you."

Su Nianwei's words caught in her throat.

She knew exactly what he meant. Their relationship had always been built on this foundation—she provided the money, he provided the manpower. That was the agreement.

But every time before, it was she who took the initiative.

She asked for it, and he gave it to her.

She made demands, and he complied.

She is Party A, and he is Party B.

The process has always been the same; it has never changed.

Today is different.

She looked into Lin Buyi's eyes and read something she had never seen before.

There was no passive resignation or numb cooperation in those eyes, but rather initiative.

Su Nianwei's heart suddenly started beating faster.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something to bring the situation back under her control—something like, "Who cares if you still care?" or "Stop being so presumptuous."

But when the words reached his lips, he couldn't utter a single one.

Because Lin Buyi had already reached out.

His hand landed on her shoulder. The pressure wasn't heavy. But his hand was warm.

Su Nianwei's breathing became erratic.

"Lin Buyi—"

"Don't speak."

Su Nianwei was stunned when she heard those three words.

From the time they met until now, it has always been her who tells him to "shut up," "stop talking nonsense," and "listen to me."

For the first time today, he told her "Don't talk."

She didn't say anything, so Lin Buyi picked her up and gently placed her on the big bed, then leaned down and kissed her.

Su Nianwei doesn't remember what happened after that very clearly. Or rather, she remembers every detail, but she's unwilling to admit that she remembers it so clearly.

She knew only one thing—this night was different from all the previous nights.

In every previous instance, she was in control. She decided the pace, the intensity, and when to begin and when to end.

Tonight it's the other way around.

Lin Buyi was no longer the one who silently cooperated. He took the initiative, leading the way from beginning to end.

Her usual domineering and assertive demeanor vanished at this moment.

She realized that she had no idea how to deal with a proactive Lin Buyi—every one of her approaches was based on the premise that he was passive.

Since the premise no longer exists, all her experience is invalid.

Much later, she lay in bed, her breathing still not completely calm.

Lin Buyi was beside her, his eyes closed, one hand resting on her waist.

Su Nianwei turned her head to look at his profile.

He fell asleep.

She stared at him for a long time. Then the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

That smile came from the bottom of his heart; he simply couldn't control it.

She buried her face in the pillow and chuckled softly for several seconds.

Then she closed her eyes.

She fell asleep with that smile on her face.

……

The next morning, Su Nianwei was awakened by the sunlight.

The curtains weren't fully drawn, and a ray of light shone through the gap, falling directly on her face. She frowned, turned over, and reached for the spot beside her—empty.

She opened her eyes.

Lin Buyi was no longer in bed.

Su Nianwei paused for two seconds, then realized—this person had probably gone down to the basement again. She reached for her phone and glanced at the time: 8:40.

It was almost two hours later than usual.

She had never slept this late before.

When Su Nianwei sat up, she felt a sense of relaxation. The tension of the past few days had disappeared, and her whole body went limp.

She leaned against the headboard and stared blankly for a while.

Last night's events are replaying in my mind frame by frame.

She didn't want to admit it, but she had to—it was the most unforgettable night of her life.

It's because Lin Buyi took the initiative.

These four words carried far more weight in her heart than the 170,000 yuan she had spent.

Su Nianwei got out of bed and sat down at the dressing table. Her hair was messy, her face still flushed, and a slight smile played on her lips—

She quickly pressed her lips down.

No. I can't let Lin Buyi see her like this.

She picked up a comb and began to comb her hair, thinking as she did so.

What exactly did Lin Buyi mean by taking the initiative last night?

Several thoughts raced through her mind. Was he thanking her?

He once said that there was only one thing he could give, so he repaid the favor with his body.

That's very likely.

Or perhaps he has feelings for her?

Su Nianwei paused, combing her hair, too afraid to think any further.

Could it be a trap, using initiative to soften her first, then making some demands? Su Nianwei immediately dismissed this thought.

This isn't Lin Buyi's style. This guy is incredibly stupid; if he wanted to trick her, he wouldn't have been so forceful in the first place.

That's my thanks.

Su Nianwei stopped combing her hair and stared at herself in the mirror for a few seconds.

Thank you if you want. Whatever the reason, she experienced a completely new Lin Buyi last night.

That experience was so wonderful. So wonderful that her heart still races when she thinks about it now.

Previously, her strategy with Lin Buyi had always been to take things by force. She would take whatever she wanted without his consent or cooperation, since he owed her and had no right to refuse.

Did this strategy work? Yes, it did. She got what she wanted.

But last night made her realize one thing—the difference between taking by force and giving willingly is huge.

The former is a passive giving, which feels cold. The latter is an active giving, which is warm.

Su Nianwei threw down the comb, stood up, and walked to the wardrobe.

She made a decision.

Change the strategy.

The previous hardline approach is no longer viable. She needs to find a different path.

She decided to change her approach and take a more conciliatory route. She wanted to make Lin Buyi feel comfortable, so that he would stop rejecting her, gradually get used to her, and even depend on her, until finally he could no longer live without her.

Su Nianwei rummaged through her wardrobe and pulled out a cream-colored knitted maxi dress. She rarely wore this dress because it lacked presence; it was too gentle. But today, she wanted to wear it.

She put on the dress and looked at herself in the mirror again.

Hmm. He doesn't seem so fierce anymore.

Then she thought of a key entry point—Lin Qingxue.

Lin Buyi's younger sister.