Yan Xi’s sleep was anything but peaceful. It felt as if a dark shadow loomed over her, accompanied by a chilling, predatory gaze that seemed intent on consuming her entirely.

It felt like a ferocious beast was about to devour her.

Startled, she woke up with a gasp, only to find herself staring directly into Gu Qinghan’s cold eyes.

“You—” Yan Xi was stunned. A chill ran down her bare back, and goosebumps spread across her skin. Instinctively, she sank deeper into the water, trying to hide her unclothed body beneath the surface.

Gu Qinghan’s eyes swept over her with detached indifference before he suddenly let out a mocking laugh. “How shameless.”

Yan Xi’s face turned pale. She reached out to grab the bathrobe, but before her fingers could grip it, a large, forceful hand pressed her back into the water. His overpowering masculine presence enveloped her entirely.

A face, sharp and cold, appeared mere inches from hers, so close their noses nearly touched.

Despite the proximity, Gu Qinghan’s voice was as icy as ever. “Pathetic. You weren’t satisfied with yesterday, so you’re here again today? What is it? You won’t stop until I sleep with you?”

“I didn’t—”

Yan Xi shook her head, trying to explain, but Gu Qinghan cut her off sharply. “Your tricks are becoming clumsier. Even drugged, I wouldn’t touch you. Do you think flaunting your flat figure would change that?”

As he spoke, he straightened up and looked down at her with a cold, disdainful gaze. The frost in his eyes was enough to send a shiver down her spine. “Get lost. For Ning’s sake, I’ll spare your life this time. But if this happens again…”

Gu Qinghan didn’t finish his sentence, but the implicit threat was chilling. Yan Xi could feel the murderous intent radiating from him. He truly would kill her.

Having already experienced the brink of death once, Yan Xi’s sensitivity to life-threatening danger was heightened. Without hesitation, she threw on the bathrobe, hastily gathered her damp hair, and bolted out of the room.

Her movements were quick and efficient, reminiscent of a frightened rabbit darting away without a second thought. This was nothing like the Yan Xi he remembered.

In the past, Yan Xi would cling to him relentlessly, no matter how much he insulted or rejected her. Yet the girl before him now seemed genuinely eager to leave, as if escaping from him was all that mattered.

She truly wanted to go.

Gu Qinghan’s brows furrowed slightly, a trace of surprise flickering in his usually stoic expression.

Was this another one of her schemes?

“Yan Xi,” he called out, blocking her path. His dark, icy eyes bore into her, sharp as shattered glass. “My patience has its limits. Because of Ning, I won’t take your life. But if you test me again…” His voice lowered, laced with menace. “I have plenty of ways to make you suffer.”

“From today onwards, I won’t be seeing you for 3 months.”

From Yan Xi’s perspective, Gu Qinghan’s decision to avoid her for three months was an unexpected blessing.

“Really? Such good news?” Her face lit up with genuine delight, her entire body trembling with excitement.

Gu Qinghan’s gaze darkened. “What did you just say?”

Yan Xi’s heart skipped a beat.

Gu Qinghan wasn’t called one of the Northern Gu and Southern Lu pair for nothing. Both men were incredibly sharp and intuitive. Even the smallest anomaly wouldn’t escape their notice.

Realizing her slip, Yan Xi quickly adopted a pained expression, even attempting to squeeze out a few tears of reluctance. Unfortunately, acting wasn’t her strong suit, and not a single tear fell.

All she could do was lower her head and cover her eyes with her hand, faking sobs. “Boohoo, I know you hate me. I’ll reflect on my behavior during this time and stay out of your sight.”

Then, without waiting for a response, she fled.

Gu Qinghan stood there, his gaze following her retreating figure with a complex expression. For a moment, he was at a loss for words.

Was… was she fake crying just now?

The Yan Xi he remembered was timid, weak, and stubbornly dependent. Beneath that delicate exterior, however, lay a streak of obsession.

Yet the girl he just saw felt different. She seemed more like a bold, vibrant peony pretending to be an innocent lily. There was a glaring mismatch—proud and radiant, but feigning a pitiful facade.

Gu Qinghan frowned at the thought, but his interest in her didn’t extend beyond idle curiosity. Her changes didn’t matter to him. As long as she stayed out of his way, she could be whoever she wanted to be.

Brushing aside his musings, Gu Qinghan turned his thoughts elsewhere. After all, Yan Xi was just someone Ning kept around for amusement. She wasn’t worth his time or energy.

Yan Xi returned to her room, gasping for breath as her heart threatened to leap out of her chest.

Gu Qinghan was genuinely terrifying.

He was like a madman. Yan Xi had no doubt that if she angered him, he would kill her without hesitation.

Between Northern Gu and Southern Lu—Gu Qinghan and Lu Huaichen—they were both men of unparalleled power and intelligence, yet their personalities couldn’t have been more different.

Lu Huaichen was refined and courteous, his every move exuding a natural grace that put others at ease. Everyone praised his gentlemanly demeanor. However, while he treated the world kindly, Yan Xi was the sole exception to his coldness.

Gu Qinghan, on the other hand, was the exact opposite. He was indifferent to the world and everyone in it, except for his overwhelming affection for Xia Ning.

Thinking of this, Yan Xi felt a pang of bitterness. She was truly unlucky. Rejected on both sides.

Could anyone be more miserable than her?

—

When Shu Yue returned from school, she was met with the sight of Yan Xi dripping wet, still wrapped in her bathrobe.

“How are you still in wet clothes after falling into the water? Are you trying to kill yourself?” Shu Yue, Sixth Aunt’s daughter and a high school senior, had already heard about Yan Xi’s accident. After school, she immediately went to buy cold medicine, only to find Yan Xi still soaked.

Furious, Shu Yue grabbed a towel and began vigorously drying Yan Xi’s hair. “Do you have a death wish?”

Yan Xi didn’t, of course. She explained that her current state wasn’t due to her earlier mishap but because she’d been chased out of Gu Qinghan’s room while trying to take a bath.

Shu Yue froze for a moment, then set the towel down, her expression serious. “Do you have a death wish? Gu Qinghan really might kill you.”

“I just wanted to take a bath,” Yan Xi defended herself. “How was I supposed to know he’d come back? He usually doesn’t show up for weeks at a time.”

Shu Yue didn’t believe her and sternly warned, “Yan Xi, stay away from him. Do you think Xia Ning can protect you forever? She may have just gone abroad for an exchange program, but once enough time passes, she’ll forget about you. When that happens, Gu Qinghan won’t hesitate to make you disappear without a trace.”

Yan Xi shivered, recalling Gu Qinghan’s icy demeanor. “You’re right. I’ll keep my distance. I still want to live a long life.”

“Really?” Shu Yue looked skeptical. Yan Xi usually dismissed such warnings and stubbornly insisted she could win Gu Qinghan over. Today, however, she seemed unusually agreeable.

After a moment’s thought, Shu Yue added one final warning. “Don’t fall for Gu Qinghan. His heart already belongs to someone else. You’ve seen how he treats Xia Ning—he’d give her the stars and moon if she asked. To him, you’re not even worthy of being her servant.”