The antique girlfriend of a chaebol heir

Shen Ci hesitated before stepping forward, and her heart skipped a beat as her fingertips touched the yellowed cover.

These three books are all authentic works by masters that are rumored to have long been extinct. They are rare and hard to find on the market, and some have never actually been circulated.

Any one of these works, once it appears in the world, is enough to shake the entire collecting world.

She recoiled as if burned, quickly pulling her hand back and taking half a step back. "This is too precious, I can't accept it."

"They're just copies."

Jiang Duo looked at her startled expression, a smile flickering in his eyes. He said casually, "The original is locked in the old house's library, protected from moisture and insects, and rarely seen in the light. If you're interested, I'll take you to see it another day."

Shen Ci did not move.

Even if these calligraphy copybooks are genuine forgeries, their value is immeasurable given how convincingly they resemble the originals.

She didn't want to owe him anything, and she didn't want to accept this heavy, inexplicable burden.

"It's too expensive, I really can't—"

Before he finished speaking, he had already taken a step forward.

His tall figure loomed over her with an invisible sense of oppression, and without a word, he grabbed the three calligraphy practice books and forcefully stuffed them into her arms.

His palm was warm, pressing against the back of her hand with a domineering heat that made it impossible for her to break free.

"Take it, it's yours." He looked down at her, his gaze deep. "I don't like repeating myself."

Shen Ci stood frozen in place, the three calligraphy books in her arms feeling as heavy as a thousand pounds, making her arms ache.

Her fingertips unconsciously traced the rough texture of the cover. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something to refuse, but when she met his unfathomable eyes, all the words seemed to be stuck in her throat.

The air seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

In the end, she could only lower her eyes helplessly, her long eyelashes concealing the complex emotions in her eyes, her voice barely audible: "...Thank you."

The voice was soft but sincere.

Jiang Duo straightened up and took a step closer to her. The distance between them suddenly shortened, and he could smell the faint fragrance in her hair.

"You're my girlfriend," he said in a low voice, his tone slightly hoarse and unsettling, his gaze fixed intently on her eyes. "Don't be so polite."

Shen Ci raised her head slightly, her gaze falling on the buttons on his clothes. Her voice was so soft it sounded like a sigh: "These calligraphy copies are still valuable, even though they are replicas. Regardless of our current relationship, I need to thank you; it's only proper etiquette."

Etiquette?

It really is a little antique.

Jiang Duo chuckled softly, the sound resonating from his chest, carrying a hint of ambiguous pleasure.

He suddenly raised his hand and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his fingertips brushing against her warm earlobe, sending a tingling sensation through her.

"Shen Ci," he said softly, "it's just a few calligraphy practice books, yet you're becoming more and more distant from me."

Jiang Duo lowered his eyes, watching her still with her head slightly bowed and silent, so quiet that one wanted to reach out and touch her.

"Didn't you say you were going home?" he asked, his voice languid and casual. "Come on, I'll drive you."

Upon hearing this, Shen Ci subconsciously took half a step back and shook her head: "No need, I'll just take a taxi."

After all, in her memory, this high and mighty young master had never personally driven the original owner home; at most, he would just wave his hand and let the driver do it for her.

She didn't want to bother him with such a trivial matter, and she was even more afraid that she wouldn't be able to handle this sudden "special treatment."

As Jiang Duo watched her retreat, his eyes darkened slightly, and then a cryptic smile appeared on his lips.

He suddenly leaned forward, and the distance between them shortened again.

"If you don't let me take you," he said in a low voice, with a hint of mockery and danger in it, "then don't go back tonight."

He paused, his gaze falling on her suddenly widened eyes, and slowly added, "Anyway, we're an adult boyfriend and girlfriend, so living together is normal."

Startled, Shen Ci quickly looked up, her cheeks flushing red. Afraid he would actually make some "natural" decision, she hurriedly blurted out, "Then...then please take me home!"

Seeing her frightened deer-like appearance, Jiang Duo smiled with great pleasure, his eyes showing a hint of triumphant joy and a tenderness that even he himself did not realize.

He straightened up, extended his hand to her, palm up, as if inviting her, or as if giving a command.

"Let's go."

Shen Ci lowered her eyes and looked at that hand, which was long and strong with distinct knuckles.

She hesitated for a moment, but finally gently placed her hand on it.

……

Jiang Duo's car slowly drove into the residential area. The limited-edition black sedan was particularly eye-catching on the road, and the license plate was even more conspicuous—starting with 京A and followed by a string of consecutive numbers, making it hard not to attract attention.

The car came to a stop in front of the apartment building. Shen Ci breathed a sigh of relief, said "thank you," and was about to open the door to get out when her gaze suddenly froze.

Not far away, the father and Aunt Lin were walking side by side toward the entrance of the apartment building.

The father was carrying several shopping bags, and Aunt Lin was holding his arm. The two were chatting and laughing, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

The father suddenly turned around, his gaze falling on the car with a mixture of doubt and inquiry.

Before Shen Ci could think, her body acted before her mind could, and she suddenly turned to the side and lay down, her head slamming heavily against Jiang Duo's leg.

"Don't move yet." She lowered her voice, her tone trembling with a hint of pleading.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Duo raised his eyes and looked at the middle-aged couple not far away.

The man looked somewhat familiar—he was Shen Ci's father; he had seen him at the restaurant that day and still remembered him.

"Are you so afraid that our relationship will be exposed?" he whispered, his voice slightly hoarse and ambiguous, his fingers unconsciously running through her hair, slowly combing it.

Shen Ci dared not speak, but buried her face even deeper, like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.

Jiang Duo's gaze fell heavily on the top of her head, feeling her breath through the thin fabric of her pants, warm and damp against the skin of his thigh.

The touch was so real, so warm, that it stirred up the violent impulse within him once more.

He didn't remind her that the car windows were one-way, meaning people outside couldn't see inside.

In the distance, Shen Xiaoming and Lin Ruojin disappeared at the entrance of the apartment building.

As if sensing something, Shen Ci was about to look up when a large hand gripped the back of her head again. The grip was light, but firm and unyielding.

Her face was pressed back into place, but even closer than before, the tip of her nose almost touching the fabric of his inner thigh.

"They haven't left yet," he whispered, his voice so soft it sounded like a coaxing tone, yet also like a warning of some danger.

Upon hearing this, Shen Ci indeed dared not move again.

Jiang Duo looked at the section of her fair neck that was exposed when she lowered her head; its lines were as graceful as a swan offering its neck to be slaughtered.

He couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke the delicate skin with his fingertips.

Shen Ci shuddered, and the hairs on his neck stood on end, like a frightened cat.

He chuckled softly, finally deciding to stop teasing her: "She's already gone."

Shen Ci felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She immediately stood up, her face still flushed, her eyes filled with shame, anger, and panic.

The cotton T-shirt was wrinkled and crumpled, and her hair was messy and stuck to her cheeks, like a magnolia that had been ravaged by wind and rain.

Jiang Duo looked at her, then suddenly reached out, put his arm around her neck, and pulled her towards him.

"you--"

She struggled, pressing her hands against his chest, but he held her wrists firmly, though not with great force, making her unable to move.

He lowered his head and, in that instant, kissed her deeply.