Chapter 15: Keep the Little Bunny at Home Long Enough, and Sooner or Later, She’ll Be Yours

Light and shadow blended in the room, casting Su Nian’s silhouette across the sharply contoured face of the man, veiling his features in a blur.

Her throat tightened. Looking at those thin lips, she leaned in obediently and kissed them.

It wasn’t a deep kiss, just a light touch that hovered along the edge of his lips, barely grazing them—yet it swiftly wore down his patience.

Zhou Beiming took control, skillfully prying open her lips and teeth, alternating between biting and sucking, his actions growing increasingly intense.

Su Nian winced from the pain and clung tightly to his broad shoulders, letting out two soft whimpers.

Zhou Beiming lowered his dark eyes, grinding his lips against hers twice more, then asked in a husky voice, “Was the drumstick tasty?”

Su Nian didn’t dare meet his gaze. Did Zhou Kang tell him?

She moved her lips and said softly, “I didn’t eat it. I gave it to a classmate.”

Zhou Beiming didn’t press further but warned her, “If you dare eat it, I’ll pull out all your bunny teeth and turn you into an old lady.”

Su Nian was speechless. “Childish.”

Zhou Beiming let out a low laugh. “Then how about I do something not so childish?”

He took her lips again, this time kissing even more deeply.

The room filled with the sticky, ambiguous sounds of their intimacy—shameful and intimate.

Su Nian had been on top, but in the end, she melted into a puddle beneath Zhou Beiming.

Her body curled up slowly, the front of her clothes rumpled, even her undergarments in disarray.

Zhou Beiming finally stopped, his deep voice hoarse as he scolded, “So useless.”

Though his tone was rough, he still scooped her up and carried her toward the bathroom, placing her on the sink. “Your stuff’s in the cabinet above.”

Bang!

The door closed—not too loud, not too soft.

Leaning against the cold marble wall, Su Nian bit her lip.

After a while, the burning heat in her body began to fade.

She reached for the cabinet nearby.

Inside, neatly arranged, were sanitary pads of the brand she usually used.

The storage cabinet had three full compartments—enough to last her a year or two.

He bought this many?

Su Nian looked around the bathroom. She’d been here before, and it used to contain only Zhou Beiming’s personal items.

But today, there were many things for women too.

It felt like she’d boarded a pirate ship and couldn’t get off.

What started as helping him out had now drawn her in completely.

She glanced at the door. A man like Zhou Beiming—moody and unpredictable—was surely not easy to live with.

Su Nian sighed and got down from the sink.

After her shower, she walked out to hear the clinking of pots and pans coming from the open kitchen.

Zhou Beiming was casually throwing black things into the soup pot, one hand in his pocket, unhurried.

Su Nian wasn’t the meddling type. Dressed in her bathrobe, she sat on the sofa and scrolled through her phone.

Not long after, the screen lit up—Mom.

It had been a long time since her mother had called. Her younger brother and sister were the same age, both in their final year of high school, preparing for the university entrance exam. Her mother had been focused entirely on her brother.

Su Nian answered.

On the line came Zhang Mengyue’s voice, “Nian Nian, I heard Su Feixiao won an award and they’re throwing a celebration this weekend. Shouldn’t you try harder to achieve something too? Stop letting that wretched woman’s child outshine you.”

She always said things like that.

“Mhm,” Su Nian replied.

But her tone was perfunctory.

Every time Su Feixiao was in the spotlight, her mother would find fault with her.

Yet when she herself achieved something, her mother never paid attention.

She had entered major competitions several times and invited her parents, but they always said they were busy.

At first, she used to share her achievements with them. But her divorced parents always responded with the same line: “What’s so great about something so small? Just trying to get gifts, aren’t you?”

Sometimes she’d get a small gift. Most times, a scolding.

Zhang Mengyue sensed her indifference and snapped, “What kind of attitude is that? I’m saying this for your own good. Living in that man’s house—if you keep being like this, once Zhou Beiming gets tired of you, you’ll be worthless. What good days do you think are waiting for you then?”

That’s why Su Nian was saving money.

As a child, she had wanted to grow up. Once grown, she could make money and support herself, and no longer be treated like a burden.

She’d grown up now and had money, but it didn’t feel the way she imagined.

Her parents still looked down on her.

She often wondered: If they hated her so much, why did they have her at all?

Su Nian responded calmly, “I know you mean well, Mom. I’ll keep working hard.”

She had worked hard.

At twenty-four, she was about to complete her PhD.

She wasn’t naturally gifted. It was through tireless effort—studying day and night—that she got into A University, the best in the country, and earned her spot in the integrated master’s and PhD program.

But her parents never noticed.

They only saw her younger siblings’ excellence.

When Su Feixiao won a painting competition, Father threw her a party.

If her brother improved just one rank on his monthly exams, her mother would buy him limited-edition sneakers worth tens of thousands.

Zhang Mengyue continued on the phone, berating Su Nian a bit more, then added, “Your brother’s taking the college entrance exam soon. I’ll send him to stay with you over summer so you can watch over him and tutor him. I’ve got a project and no time to keep an eye on him.”

Su Nian hesitated.

She needed time to write her dissertation, and now she was living with Zhou Beiming—how could she take care of her brother?

“Mom, maybe it’s better to hire a tutor. I’m busy with my graduation work.”

Zhang Mengyue scoffed. “What’s so great about your PhD? Studying that useless computer science major—can it help manage your dad’s accounts or get you a leadership position in his company? I told you to study business management back then, so you could take on Qin Xiu head-on.”

Choosing her major was the only rebellious thing Su Nian had ever done in her life.

It was for Gu Yincheng.

Even though they had no future now, she didn’t regret it.

She truly liked her field.

Su Nian had grown used to being belittled since childhood, but some things shouldn’t be dragged into it.

She replied softly, “Mom, you studied business management too—but didn’t Aunt Xiu still beat you?”

That offhand remark stabbed Zhang Mengyue right in the heart.

Qin Xiu had once been Su Haiping’s secretary, but now she held the position that used to belong to Zhang Mengyue—she was the current Madam Su.

Zhang Mengyue flew into a rage. “Ungrateful wretch. You eat Qin Xiu’s food now and look down on your own mother? If I hadn’t given birth to that pretty face of yours and caught Zhou Beiming’s eye, what would you be? No different from trash!”

The call hadn’t ended, but Su Nian’s phone fell silent.

She regretted saying that earlier, knowing full well that was her mother’s sore spot.

No longer in the mood to scroll on her phone, she slipped off her shoes, pulled her knees up on the sofa, and hugged them, dazed.

Zhou Beiming approached without her noticing.

A cup of brown sugar ginger tea swayed in front of her eyes.

“Drink.”

His lazy voice snapped Su Nian back to reality.

She looked at the cup of tea. Unlike the “poison” from this morning, its color seemed normal.

Who would’ve thought Zhou Beiming could make something for a woman to drink—and better than his servants.

Probably a skill honed by some other woman.

“Thanks.”

Su Nian took the cup, holding it in her palms. It was a little hot, so she quickly set it on the coffee table and used her hands to press against her slightly flushed cheeks.

Zhou Beiming watched her movements. She was a little clumsy.

But when the girl cupped her cheeks with her hands, her slightly puckered lips looked like ripe cherries.

If it weren’t for her period, he would’ve bitten into that cherry and tasted it slowly.

Zhou Beiming sat beside her. “It’s that hot?”

He wasn’t as sensitive to heat. He picked up the cup again.

He blew on it and even took a sip—didn’t think it was hot.

Women are just delicate.

He gently swirled the tea in the cup. The brown sugar water swayed lightly. “Your family has a banquet next week?”

Su Nian nodded. “My sister won a painting award. Father wants to throw a celebration.”

She glanced at Zhou Beiming. How did he know?

“Boring,” Zhou Beiming scoffed. “Tell him I’m not going.”

So her father had invited him.

Su Nian was glad he wouldn’t attend. “Okay.”

She lowered her head.

The air fell quiet.

Zhou Beiming looked down at her. “In a bad mood?”

Su Nian looked up and met his gaze.

She had always thought his eyes were beautiful.

Amber, framed by long, straight lashes—perfect in size.

There was a lazy, affectionate warmth in them, yet also a distant, deep glint of cold.

She stared for a second before coming back to her senses. “No.”

Zhou Beiming clicked his tongue coldly. “It’s written all over your forehead.”

Su Nian touched her forehead, confused. “Really, I’m fine.”

She rarely talked to others about her family.

Even with her best friend Chu Lige, she never spoke ill of her parents.

Zhou Beiming didn’t push.

Now that the Little Bunny lived in his home, as long as he fed her enough radishes and cabbage, he’d win over her heart eventually.

If not—well, he’d just feed her some chicken drumsticks instead.