After deciding on her plan, Su Yaya quickly lay back in bed, pulling the blanket up to her chin. She closed her eyes, trying to drift off to sleep.

Meanwhile, outside, Shen Xiuqi angrily threw a stack of documents to the ground, but fortunately, he calmed down afterward. He sat back in his chair, his expression cold. An Yuting had been rude and reckless, speaking without any sense of what should be said or left unsaid. Who knows how many people she’d already offended with her attitude? Sooner or later, she would face consequences, and there was no need for him to waste his anger on her words. It wasn’t like him to be so upset.

But then, what had made him so furious?

He couldn’t quite understand his feelings. All he knew was that when An Yuting spoke about Su Yaya as if she were just a substitute for her sister, in that scornful tone, it ignited something in him.

Su Yaya did resemble her sister, but their personalities were completely different. Shen Xiuqi had learned this after being with Su Yaya for quite some time.

Besides, she was his wife now—contract or not, she was still his woman. She had helped him secure an inheritance worth billions, and while the contract was in place, it was his responsibility to protect her as her husband. No matter the circumstances, it wasn’t An Yuting’s place to criticize or insult her.

Yes, that’s what it was. That’s why he was so angry.

She was his woman. Whether he chose to spoil or praise her, it was no one else’s business to judge—not An Yuting, not anyone!

Shen Xiuqi turned to glance at the lounge, the door tightly closed. He wasn’t sure if Su Yaya had been woken by An Yuting’s crying or not.

With a few quick strides, he walked over and gently opened the door. Inside, Su Yaya lay tucked beneath the thin blankets, her jet-black hair spilling across the white pillow. The striking contrast of black against white made her look even more beautiful and endearing.

His heart softened at the sight, and Shen Xiuqi walked over, gently pulling her from the bed and cradling her in his arms. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Yaya, it’s time to wake up. It’s getting late. If you keep sleeping, you won’t be able to tonight.”

Su Yaya, who had been pretending to sleep, slowly stirred. She balled her fists and rubbed her eyes, murmuring, “I’ll still be able to fall asleep.”

“Is that so?” Shen Xiuqi chuckled softly in her ear.

Su Yaya instantly caught his meaning and nearly tumbled out of his arms.

Ahhh. He’s so bad!

He was clearly planning to keep her up all night!

She didn’t want to end up feeling like a pancake. Cries.

—