I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

Gu Yan's gaze fell on her face through the rim of the cup.

She stood under the light, her profile softened by the warm yellow glow.

He asked himself a question.

Did he really find out the girl's background?

Her adoptive father was a serial killer, and her adoptive mother was a yandere's accomplice.

She had known since she was twelve that the basement was filled with corpses.

She told all of these things, and she did so frankly, as if she were telling someone else's story.

But if Fu Wanqing blames all the problems on her adoptive parents, is she really completely innocent?

Thinking about it carefully, Fu Wanqing herself is quite abnormal.

She was the biological daughter of the Fu family, but was abandoned in a mountain village for thirty years.

After finally being found, he discovered that his adopted daughter had already taken his place.

Her biological parents treated her worse than they treated their adopted daughter.

The elders only had eyes for Fu Shiwei, and even the servants only politely called her "Miss".

Would anyone not feel wronged, angry, or unwilling to fight back?

But she doesn't fight for anything, and she doesn't snatch anything.

He served tea and water to everyone with a smile, and greeted everyone with a smile.

Having spent so much time with her, he had never seen Fu Wanqing show even a single unhappy expression.

Even with the Eyes of Emotion, one can directly see into the inner castle of another's heart.

In her heart, the garden villa is forever sunny and warm.

Is this really normal?

Gu Yan suddenly remembered a passage she had read in a psychology book before.

The deepest tragedy is when a person becomes accustomed to suffering.

Because that would mean she had given up calling for help.

Instead, they began to study how to coexist with those bone fragments.

Gu Yan leaned against the table, her mind still racing with thoughts of the top scholar in the imperial examination.

If Shen Youyao really passes the exam, what demands will she make to the Emperor?

No, given her personality, she probably wouldn't think that far ahead.

But Shen Youwei is different; if that young lady were standing on the Hall of Supreme Harmony...

They're probably willing to say anything.

Seeing that he hadn't spoken for a while, Fu Wanqing reached out and waved her hand in front of him.

She waved her fingers in front of his eyes a few times, leaving a faint scent of peaches.

"What's wrong? What are you thinking about? Your mind's wandering."

Gu Yan snapped out of her daze and put the teacup back on the table.

"It's nothing, I was just thinking about something."

Fu Wanqing didn't back down; instead, she moved even closer.

She tilted her head slightly, her amber eyes looking up at him.

He was so close that he could see the curve of her eyelashes.

You can also smell that familiar shampoo scent on her hair.

Her voice was very soft, as if she was afraid the night wind outside the window would hear it.

"You won't abandon me, will you?"

Gu Yan froze, her fingers tapping on the edge of the table.

God forsaken me, is that a word to use in this context?

You are my bodyguard, and I have a lifetime contract with you.

There is no issue of abandonment or non-abandonment before the contract expires.

Moreover, even if the contract expires, it's a normal termination.

It's completely different from abandoning someone. Why is this girl using such frightening words?

He turned to look at her, trying his best to remain calm.

"Don't use that word, it's too strange."

"The contract is written clearly in black and white."

"I'm hiring you as my bodyguard; you'll protect my safety."

"This is a legitimate employment relationship; there is no question of one party abandoning the other."

Fu Wanqing was not deterred by his explanation.

Her eyes were still fixed on him.

"What happens after the contract expires?"

"You said you'd take me to South Africa, do you still mean it?"

Her voice was neither aggrieved nor coquettish.

It's just stating a matter very lightly and calmly.

But that calm only made Gu Yan more panicked.

"It counts, of course it counts."

"When have I ever gone back on my word?"

"I'll definitely take you to South Africa, but that's to find something that can prolong your life."

"It's not a vacation, can you please stop making it sound like you're eloping?"

Fu Wanqing was stunned for a moment when she heard the words "elope".

Then the corners of her mouth slowly turned up, and her eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled.

It was as if my whole being had been suddenly illuminated.

"I never mentioned eloping, you said it yourself."

"So that's what Master Gu has been thinking about all day."

Gu Yan realized she had been tricked by her, so she simply stopped talking to her.

He reached for the water glass on the table.

Fu Wanqing, however, took his cup first.

I turned around and went to the water dispenser to pour him another glass of warm water and handed it to him.

Her skirt fluttered gently as she turned around.

The pink ends of her hair brushed against her shoulders.

Gu Yan took the water glass and took a sip; the water temperature was just right.

He was about to thank her and tell her to go home and rest early.

Fu Wanqing suddenly moved even closer.

Her toes touched the tips of his shoes, and her hands were behind her back.

He leaned forward slightly, his amber eyes holding an expression he had never seen before.

It was as if they were testing something, or making a decision.

"Gu Yan, should I stay tonight?"

Gu Yan almost spat out the water in her mouth.

I almost choked this time.

He swallowed the water abruptly, choking and coughing several times.

I don't know if it was from choking on water or something else.

It's so hot it's hot enough to fry an egg.

"What did you say? What are you staying for?"

"Your own room is right next door, just a few steps away."

Fu Wanqing tilted her head, her smile both innocent and self-righteous.

"Close-fitting protection."

"Didn't you almost get struck by disaster on the street today?"

"I'm your bodyguard; I'm most likely to let my guard down when I'm sleeping."

"I'll stay to protect you."

"We can react immediately to any situation."

She said this with such a serious expression that it was as if she were reporting a battle plan to her superior.

But there was a clear hint of amusement hidden in those amber eyes, a hint that couldn't be concealed.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, casting a small shadow in the light.

Her lips were slightly pursed, as if she was trying to suppress her smile.

Gu Yan took a deep breath and slammed the water glass down on the table.

He went around behind Fu Wanqing and placed his hands on her shoulders.

Gently push her towards the door.

"No, really no need."

"My room has excellent security."

"The windows are locked, the doors are locked, and the Demon-Suppressing Blade is right by the bedside."

"You don't need close protection. Go back to sleep right now."

"Just come back for the soup tomorrow morning."

Fu Wanqing was pushed forward by him, still grumbling incessantly.

"But bodyguards are supposed to provide close protection."

"Don't worry, I'm a very good sleeper. I don't snore or steal the covers."

"Besides, it's not like we haven't slept together before; last time it was at my house."

Before she could finish speaking, Gu Yan opened the door and gently pushed her out.

"That was a special case last time, so it doesn't count."

He tried to make his expression look serious.