Chapter 30: I Want You, a Passionate Kiss

“All done.”

Shen Biyan tied Gu Nanyan’s long hair into a slightly high ponytail with a hairband, making sure to neatly secure even the stray strands on either side.

Hearing his voice, Gu Nanyan turned her head, her face flushed. “Th-thank you.”

Xiao Mumu, who was beside them, suddenly laughed. “Mom… you and Dad are a family. How can you say thank you?”

“Xiao Mumu is right,” Shen Biyan said deeply, his gaze fixed on Gu Nanyan, his magnetic voice carrying an unspoken pressure.

Gu Nanyan was at a loss for words and stood up, moving behind Xiao Mumu. “Come on, Xiao Mumu, let’s continue painting.”

Her painting was already finished, and now it was time to guide Xiao Mumu.

Shen Biyan glanced at his watch. “I’ll head back to the study.”

“Alright, you go ahead.”

Gu Nanyan looked at him. The cold, distinguished man was dressed in a black suit, and since it was still early, she assumed he must have brought back a lot of work.

As Shen Biyan left the art room, Qin Yuwei was still waiting outside.

As soon as she saw Shen Biyan, she quickly approached. “Shen Shao, how’s Nanyan teaching? Is she doing well?”

Her words were, of course, sarcastic.

From how playful Gu Nanyan and Xiao Mumu had been just now, how could she possibly teach well?

“Very well,” Shen Biyan replied coolly, casually tossing out the four words.

Qin Yuwei froze in her tracks.

Very well?

Very well?!

Was she hearing things?

How could Gu Nanyan possibly teach well?

Qin Yuwei watched Shen Biyan’s retreating figure, her eyes nearly popping out.

Did Shen Biyan understand art?

Had Gu Nanyan just given him a few casual words, and he thought everything was fine?

If Xiao Mumu ended up in last place in the painting competition, it would be too late for him to regret it!

Inside the art room, Gu Nanyan patiently guided Xiao Mumu on how to use colors. Xiao Mumu was exceptionally talented and picked up on things quickly, which made it all the easier for her.

Gu Nanyan lovingly watched the little one concentrate on his drawing, a sense of pride swelling in her chest.

Her son was truly amazing.

Amid the quiet, Gu Nanyan’s phone suddenly rang.

She picked it up and saw that it was a call from Lu Wan.

Looking at the focused Xiao Mumu, she walked over to the window before answering the call. “Hello, Wanwan?”

“Nanyan, I really don’t want to live anymore…” Lu Wan’s voice was choked, as if she had just been crying. “I always thought my father at least loved me… but this time, even my father… my father too… sobs…”

Lu Wan’s words trailed off as she cried again.

Gu Nanyan could somewhat understand her feelings. After all, having a stepfather often came with challenges. How much sincerity could a stepfather truly have?

“Are they still forcing you to marry Huo Beiting?” Gu Nanyan sighed.

Wanwan had even tried to commit suicide to resist. Was that still useless?

“Yes… my father said I… have to marry, whether I want to or not. He said he already made an arrangement with the Huo family…” Lu Wan bit her lip tightly, trying not to cry, but it was impossible to hold back. “Why does my fate have to be in the hands of others? I lost my mother when I was young, and I’ve been living in this house, looking at the adults’ faces. All I ever wanted was pure, warm love to help me escape from this family. But it turns out… I can’t even make my own decisions. They’re pushing me into the fire… I overheard the two sisters talking today. They said that last night, Huo Beiting threw a female model off the third floor at a friend’s villa, in front of everyone. The model broke several ribs on impact and her face… it was all blood and flesh…”

Lu Wan’s voice trembled with fear.

Huo Beiting was terrifying.

She didn’t want to marry such a man.

“It’s okay, Wanwan. Calm down. Don’t do anything foolish. Even if it’s been arranged, there’s still a way out. As long as you haven’t married him yet, there’s still room to change things,” Gu Nanyan reassured.

“Nanyan, I really don’t know what to do…”

“Don’t worry, we’ll think of something together.”

After calming Lu Wan down, Gu Nanyan hung up the phone, her brows furrowed.

It seemed the Lu and Huo families had already made the arrangement.

No wonder Wanwan was feeling so hopeless. Who would want to marry someone like Huo Beiting unless he called it off himself? The Lu family couldn’t possibly back out of the engagement unless he did.

Wait… Huo Beiting might call it off?

Wanwan had mentioned that Huo Beiting had never even seen her before.

Maybe… there was a chance?

Gu Nanyan’s eyes slightly brightened, but then quickly dimmed again.

She would need someone’s help for this.

And she wasn’t sure if he would be willing to help.

Nightfall arrived.

The sky above Yu Jing Manor was filled with countless stars.

Shen Biyan worked late into the night in the study every evening.

After much consideration, Gu Nanyan decided to knock on the study door.

Hearing Shen Biyan’s response, she pushed the door open.

Shen Biyan was still wearing the same outfit from earlier, his demeanor tired as he sat at the desk, carefully reviewing some documents.

Since taking over the Shen family business, the company had grown rapidly and expanded globally at an unprecedented pace.

The outside world called him a once-in-a-century business genius.

But only he knew the hardships involved.

Gu Nanyan took a deep breath, closed the door softly, and walked toward him.

Perhaps her footsteps were different from Ling Hanzhi’s, as Shen Biyan paused for a moment in his reading, then his deep, cold eyes rose to meet hers.

Gu Nanyan froze for a moment before summoning the courage to approach the desk. “Biyan… I need your help with something.”

“Oh?” His voice was languid.

Shen Biyan slowly closed the file in front of him, stared at Gu Nanyan for a few seconds, and suddenly stood up.

He crossed the desk, his tall and imposing figure standing in front of her, giving her a sense of overwhelming pressure.

Gu Nanyan had no choice but to look up at him.

His dark, unfathomable eyes gleamed with interest as he spoke, “What do you want me to help with?”

“Are you… friends with Huo Beiting?” Gu Nanyan asked, staring intently into his clear eyes.

Shen Biyan seemed to ponder for a few seconds. “I suppose so.”

“Then… could you set up a meeting with him? I want to take Wanwan to see him.” Gu Nanyan said, eager.

Shen Biyan didn’t answer immediately.

He gazed at her for a long moment, his dark eyes studying her, before slowly parting his lips. “I can, but…”

“Really?” Gu Nanyan’s eyes immediately lit up. “Wanwan and I would be so grateful!”

“You remember, I’m not helping Lu Wan; I’m helping you.” Shen Biyan’s expression grew colder. “So the one who should thank me is you.”

Gu Nanyan froze for a moment, then quickly understood. “Do you… have any conditions?”

The study fell silent, the stillness almost suffocating. Shen Biyan’s dark, penetrating gaze stayed fixed on her delicate face.

His eyes slowly trailed down from her eyebrows to her cherry-red lips.

With a pause, his voice rang out, clear and deliberate: “After I help, I want you to give me a passionate kiss”