CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 47: THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A CHALLENGE TO A MAN’S DIGNITY

The voice on the other end of the line, Pei Nianchen, remained silent for a long time.

If it weren’t for the faint sound of breathing still lingering in the receiver, Gu Jiayin would have thought that he had already hung up.

Her heart was equally troubled at this moment.

The calm and numbness of the previous moment were awakened by the deepest emotions at this time.

She cared about Pei Nianchen, she cared a lot.

However, as beautiful as love may be, it ultimately cannot withstand the passage of time, nor the separations and hardships between people.

Standing at a certain distance, watching you well is the best.

She didn’t know what his expression was at this moment—sadness, calmness, or unbearable pain?

But regardless of which, this breakup seemed predestined in the void, and this love must come to an end.

The focus of her life was no longer love, she thought, and perhaps neither was his?

Time flowed quietly, so long that the western sky lost some of its crimson depth.

Gu Jiayin softly said, "Brother Nianchen, take care."

After speaking, she hung up the phone.

By this time, there was still one minute left of the time Sheng Qianchi had allotted her.

The wind blew just then, and her voice scattered into the sea breeze, leaving not a trace behind, like all the past that drifted away with the wind.

That person would now reside only in her memory; from now on, she no longer possessed him. He and she would ultimately forget each other in the sea of people.

Is it sad? Actually, yes, it is sad.

But that was no longer the most important part of life, and if it dispersed, so be it.

Gu Jiayin tossed the phone back into her trench coat pocket and then calmly stepped off the rock, walking along the coastline toward Sheng Qianchi.

He was leaning elegantly against the beach bridge, smoking, and even though they were far apart, she just knew he was watching her because his gaze was so deep and bright.

When she reached him, he had just finished a cigarette, looking at her and tossing the butt into the sand while curving his lips into a faint smile, "Did you break it cleanly?"

"Yes."

He abruptly leaned forward, reaching to grasp her chin and lowering his head to kiss her, but she stepped back in time, avoiding his hand and his lips.

She looked at him calmly, with an innate sense of indifference as if treating all passersby, "I’ve broken up with him, shouldn’t you destroy the leverage you hold over me?"

Having missed the kiss he wanted, Sheng Qianchi felt a little lost.

Yet, he wasn’t angry, instead smiling faintly, the gentle wave in his eyes slowly radiating like a halo, "Jiayin, you’re a smart woman; how can you make such a request of me?"

He finally took a step forward, getting closer, gazing down at her,

"As long as you keep your promise, that document will naturally remain buried forever, but if old feelings rekindle, or if you have any intimate contact behind my back, I’ll cast that bomb and ensure he never recovers."

Such a handsome man, such an elegant posture, with such a captivating voice, speaking words of such intense threat.

Gu Jiayin slowly lowered her eyes, evading his breath, "I understand."

He leaned down to kiss her again, and she stepped back once more, still avoiding it, "Though I’ve broken up with him, I haven’t agreed to be your woman, and you also promised not to force me."

The implication was that he couldn’t touch her so casually.

He still wasn’t angry, the smile in his eyes deepening, the elements of possession and invasion clearly increasing.

Gu Jiayin sensed the danger, turned to leave, but just as she turned, she was suddenly caught by an arm like steel around her waist, and shortly after, a large hand fixed her head.

Warm lips pressed down, sealing her protest within her mouth.

It was a lingering yet domineering kiss.

She pushed against his chest with all her strength, but not only did she fail to budge him, she was instead held tighter, spun by him, and pressed against the beach bridge’s railing.

The ensuing passionate kiss was indeed thorough.

Time stretched on for a long while.

Her lips, cheeks, and neck were kissed countless times by him.

Even when she bit his lip until it bled, he did not stop.

She was utterly furious.

So when he finally released her, the first thing she did was slap him across the face.

The crisp sound of the slap in the sea breeze had a somewhat dull echo.

But being so close, and with him restraining her, she couldn’t use much force, so it landed on the man’s face without causing much pain.

Yet the point wasn’t whether it hurt or not, but that such an action was indeed a challenge to a man’s dignity.

A man like him, how could he allow a woman to scorn him like this?

Gu Jiayin was already prepared for a confrontation.

However, he didn’t get angry; instead, he lightly tilted his head with even a hint of a smile at the corner of his lips.

"Jiayin, do you know that hitting me comes with a price?" His voice was as pleasant as ever, "But I can indulge you this time."

His thumb caressed her cheek, a touch of affection lingering at his fingertips, "I promised not to force you, but can I not pursue you?"

Pursue?

What a mocking term!

"Ha!" Gu Jiayin laughed coldly, "Sheng Qianchi, do you know what ’pursuit’ means?"

What he was doing was coercion, not pursuit.

Sheng Qianchi’s mood became exceptionally good, completely disregarding her hostility and resentment, whispering temptations by her lips again, "You will ultimately agree to be my woman."

Determined and overbearingly outrageous.

She finally broke off with Pei Nianchen, the stone that blocked his heart vanished instantly.

...

Whether there was affection or not, real or false, light or profound, the relationship between Gu Jiayin and Sheng Qianchi always seemed like a game.

He domineeringly sought to conquer, while she fiercely resisted in his autocratic world.

Yet the scene presented to everyone was that he doted on her greatly.

Just like at this dinner table, all the dishes were personally chosen by him; seven years ago, he seriously discovered her tastes, so the table was filled with what she loved.

At lunch, Gu Jiayin felt like the dishes were specially prepared for her taste, but she didn’t think about it that way, as she wasn’t familiar with Sheng Qianchi, so how could he know her preferences? So she thought it was just a coincidence.

The dinner was again her favorite foods, and she still didn’t think about it that way, suddenly feeling perhaps her taste coincidentally matched Sheng Qianchi’s.

She ate quietly, as he sat nearby occasionally picking dishes for her, his expression warm and doting, truly giving the impression that he loved her, yet only Gu Jiayin knew this man’s heart was cold, he loved no one.

So her own heart remained calm without a single ripple.

"When are we returning to Licheng City?" she asked indifferently.

Sheng Qianchi put down his chopsticks, his brows warm and his voice gentle, "Those media outlets should naturally clear your name tomorrow, so we’ll go back the day after, then your world will be at peace."