As I accompanied him downstairs and saw him to his car, I couldn't help but thank him: "No matter what, I'm very grateful to you for coming so quickly and arranging bodyguards to protect him."

Su Shenglin got into the car, and when he heard what I said, he turned around and said with a serious expression, "Why are you being so polite with me? It's making me feel uneasy."

I smiled and said, "Don't overthink it, I'm just expressing my gratitude."

"Mmm," he replied, then beckoned to me.

"what?"

He simply reached out and grabbed the back of my neck, pulling my upper body into his arms and giving me a solid kiss.

"You really are... in broad daylight—" I panicked and looked around after backing out.

Su Shenglin closed the car door, then rolled down the window and told me, "Go home early tonight, I'll be waiting for you."

"Go back? Go back where?" I asked, my eyes wide.

"What do you think? Of course, it's my place."

I was shocked. This won't do!

"No need, I brought all my luggage home today, I'll come over to your place—"

Before I could finish speaking, he emphasized again, "I'll wait for you," then stepped on the gas and sped away.

I stared at the back of his car, feeling sullen and resentful.

As soon as I entered the house, my aunt grabbed me and asked, "You two... seem to have a good relationship. Does his family approve of it?"

I took a deep breath and said calmly, "How could that be... His family has already chosen a marriage partner for him."

Grandma's face changed upon hearing this. "Then what kind of relationship are you two having? Just playing around?"

“He’s trying to win back his family’s favor, but now the Gu family is in trouble again, and given my relationship with the Gu family, his grandfather thinks… it might have a bad influence.”

My aunt sat down and sighed, "Indeed, we have a lot of trouble here. With such good conditions, he could easily marry any kind of girl."

Grandma said with some regret, "This Xiao Su is really outstanding, impeccable in every way. I can tell that he is sincere towards you. If you two can get married, then I can be completely at ease."

As I was cutting fruit for my grandmother, I smiled when I heard this and said, "Don't worry about me. Even if I never get married, I won't mistreat myself."

"But it would be more fulfilling to have a companion, someone who understands your needs and cares for you," my aunt advised.

I didn't say anything, but I thought to myself that I hoped so too.

Unfortunately, none of these things are within my control.

In the evening, I had dinner at my maternal grandmother's house.

When I left my grandmother's house, I saw the two bodyguards sitting in the car. One was listening to music with headphones on, and the other was dozing off with his eyes closed. I went over to say hello and express my gratitude.

Back in Su Shenglin's car, I felt a strange unease, thinking he had a tracking number, and drove back to my place without hesitation.

Unexpectedly, just after parking the car, I saw a familiar figure getting out of a black sedan next to me.

I was stunned, feeling like I was the "rabbit" waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump.