Cinderella Innocent and Boss Charming - Chapter 367
Chapter 367 Pleasure amid the Pain
A few days later, Fang Yaru asked to return to their ancestral home with the excuse that Gu Guangxian couldn’t stand the cold weather. Of course, Gu Nianbin wouldn’t object. It was only when he got home from work that he found out that Fang Yaru had taken all the servants away. Not a single one of them was left. Gu Shanshan didn’t return home as well. She said that she was too busy with her work and would be staying in her dormitory.
There were only three people left in the previously lively house. Gu Nianbin naturally knew what was going on, but he didn’t point it out. Xiao Bonian and the family doctor had gone there with his parents. He didn’t need to worry about anything. What he needed to worry about were the two people who were still at home.
Gu Nianbin stood before the window, but before he could finish smoking his cigarette, Gu Niannian came and knocked on his door. “Daddy, Mommy says that dinner is ready.”
The little girl’s crisp voice cut through the gray twilight outside the window and warmed Gu Nianbin’s heart. He put out his cigarette in the ashtray and walked over to open the door.
Gu Niannian smiled at him. “Daddy, it’s time to eat.”
He responded softly, “Okay.” He then raised his hand to stroke his daughter’s head.
Gu Niannian cheered and then quickly ran downstairs to report to Du Xiaoxian, “Mommy, Daddy is coming down.”
Du Xiaoxian was putting dishes onto the table. She had a floral apron wrapped around her petite body. She looked like she was wearing a floral dress. She looked up and smiled at Gu Nianbin.
Gu Niannian climbed onto the chair and skillfully scooped rice into the bowls.
There were three uniquely shaped lamps hanging above the dining room. Orange light streamed from the hollowed silver lamp holders. This scene was so warm and pleasing to the eye that it made Gu Nianbin stop in his tracks. He was a little confused. This scene seemed familiar, but he could not remember where he might have seen it before.
Gu Niannian turned around and called him, “Daddy, come here quickly. I got your rice for you.”
Gu Nianbin finally broke into a smile. He walked to the table and sat down. He picked up his chopsticks and was about to taste the dishes when Gu Niannian slapped his hand. “You have to wash your hands before you eat!”
Gu Nianbin laughed hoarsely. He put down his chopsticks and went to the kitchen to wash his hands. As soon as he entered, he saw Du Xiaoxian carrying a large bowl of soup and walking slowly toward the door. He quickly took it and grumbled, “It’s so hot. Why aren’t you wearing oven mitts?”
Even though Du Xiaoxian was scolded by him, she felt sweet in her heart. Sure enough, once everyone left, Gu Nianbin’s attitude toward her improved. Last night, Gu Shanshan told her the plan and said sincerely, “Xiaoxian, this is all we can do to help you. My brother is an overthinker. He can’t get over the hurdle in his heart right now, so everything depends on you now. You have to take the initiative and be bold. Don’t be afraid of him. He won’t hurt you when Niannian is around.”
Du Xiaoxian also knew that she had not tried hard enough either, so she nodded cautiously. “Thank you, Shanshan. I’ll do my best.”
Their little family of three gathered around the table for dinner. Gu Niannian was coached by Gu Shanshan on how to behave last night, so she was extra nice to Gu Nianbin. This was because her aunt said that if she was good to her father, her father would be good to her mother.
“Daddy, have some of this.” Gu Niannian obediently took some food for Gu Nianbin. “This is scrambled eggs with tomatoes. Mom says that tomatoes have a lot of Vitamin C, and eggs are very healthy. It’s a nutritious dish.”
“I know.” Gu Nianbin also took some food for his daughter. “Have some more food.”
“I love to eat scrambled eggs with tomatoes that Mommy cooks.” Gu Niannian continued, “But Mommy says that there’s someone else who cooks the dish better than her. She learned how to cook from this person. Daddy, do you know who this person is?”
Of course, Gu Nianbin knew who it was, but he pretended he didn’t and asked, “Who is it?”
Gu Niannian pointed at him and chuckled. “It’s you, Daddy!”
“Why are you still at this level even after all this time? You’re really stupid,” said Gu Nianbin as he glanced at Du Xiaoxian.
“I’m not smart.” Du Xiaoxian scooped a bowl of soup for her daughter and then scooped another bowl of soup and placed it in front of Gu Nianbin. She said fawningly, “You can teach me more in the future.”
Gu Nianbin did not answer. Instead, he smiled at Gu Niannian and said, “I will make you something delicious tomorrow, okay?”
“Sure!” Gu Niannian nodded happily. “I’m going to eat Daddy’s cooking tomorrow! I’m going to have two bowls of rice!”
Du Xiaoxian smiled and asked, “How many bowls of rice will you eat if it’s my cooking?”
Gu Nianbin thought that Gu Niannian would say that she would eat one bowl of rice, but he did not expect the little girl to smile and raise three fingers. “I’ll eat three bowls of rice if it’s Mommy’s cooking!”
Gu Nianbin was so amused that he burst out laughing, but Du Xiaoxian said, “She’s just joking with you. It’s good enough that she can finish a bowl of rice.”
When Gu Niannian arrived at the Gu family’s home, she was doted on by the two elders because they always felt like they had to make things up to her. Hence, they kept giving her snacks and fruits. As a result, her appetite had reduced. When she was in Yawan, she could finish a full bowl of rice. Now, she could only eat half a bowl. Du Xiaoxian was preparing to take advantage of this time that Gu Nianbin’s parents were not around to correct this bad snacking habit that Gu Niannian had picked up.
After dinner, Du Xiaoxian went to the kitchen to wash the dishes. Gu Nianbin watched cartoons in the living room with his daughter.
The little girl’s soft body was leaning against him. Her big eyes stared unblinkingly at the television. Afraid that he did not understand, she would explain what was going on to him. However, she usually started to giggle happily before she could finish her sentences. Gu Nianbin looked at her giggling and laughed along with her.
He remembered that a few years ago, he used to watch cartoons with his girl. At that time, Du Xiaoxian was very fascinated with children’s things. However, she didn’t talk and laugh like Gu Niannian. She was always very quiet. Regardless of whether she was watching television or reading books, she would nestle in his arms like a well-behaved kitten, which made him always feel the urge to kiss her.
A few years had passed in the blink of an eye. His girl had given birth to a little girl. She was now a mother, yet there were still no changes. In his eyes, she was still the simple and innocent young girl who had yet to fully experience the world. The hardships of life actually left no traces on her face. This fact struck him hard when they met again.
He was haggard and lonely, but she seemed happy and content. That was why he could not forgive her. He absolutely could not forgive her no matter what!
He swore that he would get revenge on her. He wanted to tear her to pieces, grind her bones, and scatter her ashes. He wanted to make it as though she had never appeared before. Maybe that was the only way to quench the hatred in his heart.
His love was so profound that it penetrated deep into his bones and seeped into his blood. If he hurt her, he would hurt himself. When she cried, his heart felt like it was being sliced by a knife. However, he would rather enjoy such pleasure amid the pain than forgive her.
He didn’t trust her anymore. This boastful woman was no longer worthy of his trust. In fact, he didn’t feel safe around her. Those clear eyes and timid expressions were all fake! She was trying to make him tear down all his defenses and fall for that beautiful fantasy again. He would be bewitched once more. But this time, he wouldn’t fall for it. He would never fall for it again!
He managed to survive those days of suffering. He even respected himself. He thought that he couldn’t live without her, but he was still alive even after all that.
He sneered at her and hurt her with vicious words. He flirted with other women in front of her, tortured her at all costs, and broke her heart. He wanted to hurt her and make her feel ten times the pain that he felt!
When he saw her frightened expression and tears of sadness, he felt a kind of pleasure. That was what he wanted.
He thought that he would always be able to torture her like this, but he couldn’t. He realized that he couldn’t.
The moment he pressed her against the wall in that dark corridor in Tianchen Company, he was suddenly overwhelmed with shock and quickly released her. He could not be so close to her. He could not touch her nor could he meet her doe-like, innocent eyes. He let her escape and also let himself escape.
He had forged his deep hatred for her into an impenetrable barrier over the years. He armed himself and no longer showed his true feelings to others. However, when he was in front of her, he almost lost control.
This was why he was so firmly opposed to her staying at his home. Everyone else thought he was being hypocritical. However, he really didn’t want to be in this situation because he was afraid he would fall for her again and end up in that unbearable situation once more.
But no matter how he turned a blind eye to it, she was always there, gleaming like a glimmer of light that could always shine into his heart.
He could pretend as if nothing had happened, but he could not control his heart. At Gu Niannian’s birthday party, Du Xiaoxian thought that he was acting. Even Lu Haochen also thought that it was just an act, but only he knew how precious that opportunity was!
He held her hand, hugged her waist, and even blatantly asked her to kiss him. He used an excuse to get what he really wanted! He just wanted to hug her, kiss her, and consume her entirely.
That night, he stayed in the room next to hers the entire time. When she fell asleep, he secretly came over and stood by her bed, watching her sleep. His gaze was fixed on her face, and he could not pull away for even a moment. He just looked at her greedily in silence.
She suddenly woke up in the middle of the night. He panicked and fled to the balcony, hiding on the ledge between the two balconies. It was dark, and there were no handrails. If he fell, the consequences would be unimaginable. However, he did not care at all. He just did not want to be discovered by her. When he saw her slender figure appear on the balcony, he was so nervous that his heart pounded wildly. The autumn wind at night was cold, but his back was drenched in sweat.
He returned to his room next door and stood on the balcony all night in the wind. He wanted the night wind to cool his burning heart.
In the morning, he found that he actually did not want to let her go at all. That’s why he asked Little Ding to bring her to the villa. Of course, there was another important reason. He did not want Lu Haochen to find her, nor did he want them to meet. He was crazily jealous of the time they spent together and always tortured himself by imagining them together: What did they say to each other? What did they do? Did they hold hands and hug? Had they ever kissed? How far had they gone? Those imaginary scenes tormented him so much that he could not sleep all night. He went through terrible mood swings and seemed to have become a very temperamental man!
It was very dangerous for him to be alone with Du Xiaoxian, so he was always on guard. His mind and resolve felt like a tightly-wound string. He did not know when it would break.
Fortunately, he was finally home. He was safe now that there were so many people around them. He could finally return to his previous indifferent and distant self.
As Gu Niannian was talking to herself with a smile, Du Xiaoxian came out of the kitchen with a plate of fruit. With a smile, she said, “Come and have some fruits.”
Gu Niannian cheered and stuffed a piece of mango into Gu Nianbin’s mouth.
The little girl’s hands were very fast. Gu Nianbin couldn’t dodge even if he wanted to. He looked helpless and said, “I don’t like sour foods.”
Gu Niannian laughed. “It’s not sour at all. It’s sweet!”
It was sweet, indeed. There was also a faint fragrance. Gu Nianbin lovingly stroked his daughter’s head. From the corners of his eyes, he could see Du Xiaoxian smiling as well.
