Deep Fog Kiss

At the bar, Jiang Li was taking out pieces of ginger when a cool, woody scent wafted from behind her, carrying a slightly damp smell.

It has a clean scent and smells very pleasant.

"stomachache?"

A man's clear, cool voice sounded from behind.

Jiang Li turned her head, about to answer, but then paused, momentarily stunned.

Gu Zhishen was dressed in a clean and refreshing white home outfit. His black, wet hair fell over his deep and prominent brow bone, and his amber pupils seemed to have the power to draw people in.

He has fair skin and looks good in anything.

Having shed his expensive suit, his handsome face, now without the glasses that gave him a refined yet roguish air, appeared even more refreshing and gentle.

Jiang Li stared at her intently, as if she were seeing the boy who got out of the car to pick her up at the entrance of the Nancheng Welfare Home twelve years ago.

Time seems to have left no trace on his face.

The only difference between him at eighteen and at thirty years old was that his handsome, aloof face remained unchanged, except for a more mature and cold demeanor.

Seeing her in a daze, the man lightly tapped her forehead with his fingertips and asked again, "Does it hurt?"

Jiang Li immediately snapped out of her daze and quickly looked away.

"A little."

She felt fine during the day today, probably because the doctor had given her an injection and prescribed medication yesterday. However, after taking a shower, she started to feel a slight bloating and pain in her lower abdomen.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed the back of her neck and lifted her away from the bar like a kitten.

"Go sit down."

Jiang Li took two steps back and saw that Gu Zhishen had already picked up a fruit knife and skillfully sliced ​​the piece of ginger she had taken out.

His long, clean fingers held the knife and the piece of ginger, and it didn't seem out of place at all.

Jiang Li stared blankly at his broad, straight back. Warm light streamed down from above, illuminating him as if coating him with a layer of light, making his already deep features even more handsome.

Jiang Li had dreamed of this scene countless times: she would have a home, a home just for her and Gu Zhishen.

They would cook and wash dishes together like any ordinary couple.

We would snuggle together on the sofa to watch TV and play video games.

They would hold hands to watch the sunset and lean on his shoulder to watch the sunrise.

She had imagined all of these scenarios.

It all happens in dreams and fantasies.

He's getting married; the scene she's dreamed of will never come true.

Even the two years she stole when she was eighteen can never be stolen again.

She gave a soft laugh, knowing that the ray of light she had tried so hard to grasp was ultimately slipping through her fingers.

Suddenly, the cell phone on the table lit up.

Jiang Li quickly answered, "Chu Chu?"

On the other end of the phone, Shen Nianchu asked with concern, "Li, is your water pipe fixed yet? Aren't you coming over today?"

"Uh..." Jiang Li glanced at the man's back, "It's all done."

"Okay." Shen Nianchu's voice was tinged with reluctance. "Without you, I'll be all alone again."

Suddenly, a rich aroma of ginger wafted into my nose, and rising steam spread out before my eyes.

Gu Zhishen held the water glass, blew on it, and handed it to her, saying, "I added extra sugar because you're afraid of bitterness."

Through the mist, the man's handsome features were both hazy and clear.

Jiang Li felt a pang of bitterness in her heart. He had no idea how attractive these details of his were to her.

It tempted her to get closer to him, to seduce him, and even to possess him.

Torn between reason and madness, Shen Nianchu's voice suddenly exploded, "There's a man!"

Her voice was excited, like a cat that had caught a mouse, "I heard a man's voice! Something's up, my little Pear!"

Jiang Li's brow twitched. Clearly, being with a man at this time would make the person on the other end of the phone imagine something.

She quickly glanced at the man opposite her and then pressed her phone down firmly.

But Gu Zhishen still caught the gossipy voice of the other party. He raised an eyebrow and looked at Jiang Li with a leisurely air.

Jiang Li took the water glass, but before she could deny it, the other person bombarded her with a barrage of words.

"Looks like the pipes weren't fixed, they went out for a romantic night."

"Thank God, you've finally figured it out!"

"You should have done this a long time ago! Your fiancé, Tang Lin, is always out partying and surrounded by beautiful women. If you ask me, you should date a few men and hire a few male models every now and then!"

"You're so young and beautiful, you should sleep with more men, otherwise he'll get off easy!"

"Chu Chu," Jiang Li quickly explained, "Tang Lin and I are no longer engaged. From now on, that kind of playboy has nothing to do with me."

"Really!" Shen Nianchu was even more excited upon hearing the news. "That's great! You should have dumped that rotten cucumber a long time ago!"

Shen Nianchu's gossip instincts kicked in. "So who's that guy next to you now? That voice sounded so gentle and attentive, is it your new boyfriend? What's he like? Is he handsome? Can you send me a picture?"

Jiang Li awkwardly lowered her head and took a small sip of ginger tea. She looked up at the man in front of her, who was simply staring at her calmly.

"no--"

Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted again by the other person's excitement.

"Not a boyfriend?" Shen Nianchu smiled meaningfully. "Could it be a lover who's only interested in sex and not love?"

Shen Nianchu's words became increasingly outrageous, and Jiang Li's temples throbbed.

She looked at Gu Zhishen's slightly cold face, his deep eyes looking at her with an unreadable meaning.

"Chu Chu, you've misunderstood."

"Not boyfriend, not lover." Jiang Li looked up at the man, as if trying to see some different emotions in his eyes. Obviously, the man's eyes remained calm and unreadable.

She said softly, "He's my uncle."

"what?"

Shen Nianchu was startled. "Was that man your uncle?"

She then asked, "Why didn't you mention having a younger uncle last time?"

Jiang Li quickly turned around and covered her phone tightly. "Our situation is a bit... complicated. I'll tell you later."

Upon hearing that it was an elder, the other party's gossipy enthusiasm subsided, and after chatting for a couple more minutes, they hung up the phone.

Jiang Li turned off her phone, and the rising steam from the water glass hit her face.

The next instant, a cold sensation landed on her forehead, startling her so much that she almost dropped the water glass in her hand.

A large hand supported her wrist, stabilizing the water glass.

"Hold it properly."

Gu Zhishen helped her seemingly unintentionally, and with his other hand, he somehow took out a cold compress and placed it on her cheek and forehead.

"How did you do that?" he asked in a low voice.

Jiang Li then remembered that she had been hit by Wang Qiqi at the company entrance during the day, and the red marks on her cheeks and forehead hadn't disappeared so quickly. Gu Zhishen was so smart that he could tell at a glance that she had injuries on her face.

"I accidentally scratched it."

Jiang Li looked up and met the man's deep eyes.

He moved gently, as if handling an expensive and rare piece of porcelain.

A man and a woman alone in a room, and he was dressed so casually. In the past, Jiang Li would have been bold enough to strip off his clothes and kiss him long ago.

But after his cold water was poured on her impulsive and reckless enthusiasm several times, she lost interest.

Taking the initiative for too long can annoy people.

Just as the man raised his hand and brushed the stray hairs from her forehead with his fingertips, Jiang Li suddenly took a step back, avoiding his movement.

"Thank you for the ginger tea, Uncle. I'm going upstairs to sleep now."

Holding her water glass, she didn't look at the man and quickly turned and left.

Gu Zhishen watched her fleeing figure, his brows furrowing slightly.

As she was about to go up the stairs, he reminded her, "Take your medicine before bed."

Jiang Li hurried upstairs, leaning against the door, her heart pounding.

Butler Chung said he hadn't spent a night at Beishan Villa in the past two years, so why was he suddenly moving in?

A voice suddenly echoed in Jiang Li's mind, "Just taking responsibility."

She looked at the water glass in her hand and chuckled softly.

Is being responsible simply about making ginger tea and moving the house in?

If you're so capable, then take responsibility for going to bed with me!

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door, which vibrated her thin back.

Jiang Li's breath hitched; he was knocking on the door!