Baby……

Shen Zhao almost stumbled away, his ears turning bright red. He grabbed Yu Qiao's fingers and glanced at her lips out of the corner of his eye.

Full lips with a light color—this is the kind of lip shape that painters love to depict.

He just kissed me.

And they kissed for a long time.

"Are you shy?" Yu Qiao tilted her head, her damp, sweat-drenched hair clinging to her fair forehead. Seeing his flushed face and the strange, excited glint in his eyes, she curled her lips upwards as if whispering, "So beautiful..."

His throat bobbed, and he suddenly didn't know what to say. His mouth was dry, and his whole body felt like it was on fire.

Yu Qiao is beautiful, always has been, but she always has a blank expression and stiff features, as if she doesn't know joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness.

But at this moment, she completely revealed her longing for him. Her eyes were so ardent that even just a glance made him tremble and feel a tingling sensation throughout his body, as if he had been electrocuted.

Shen Zhao swallowed, his eyelashes trembling shyly, and he couldn't help but wonder, does Yu Qiao like him that much?

When exactly did it start?

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Yu Qiao took a step forward, getting closer. She slightly raised her chin, her exquisitely beautiful features exuding a faint arrogance and a sense of certainty. Her domineering aura swept over Shen Zhao.

As she approached, Shen Zhao instinctively retreated.

Step by step.

Shen Zhao's legs were pressed against the edge of the bed when a layer of hot sweat appeared on his forehead, his chest rose and fell slightly, he was breathing heavily, his throat was dry, and he could hardly breathe.

Bang, bang, bang

Shen Zhao wiped the sweat from his forehead with his long, white fingers, feeling as if Yu Qiao had gripped his heart tightly, pulled it from his chest, tossed it into the air, and then easily caught and manipulated it by her.

It left him heartbroken, utterly defenseless, and even somewhat weak.

I wanted to fall onto the bed and let her...

"Yu Qiao, don't come any closer." He breathed heavily.

Yu Qiao raised an eyebrow, her eyes flashing with a playful and determined look. She pressed down on Shen Zhao's shoulder with great force, forcing him to sit up on the bed.

"W-What are you going to do?"

The curve of her lips widened, her eyes gradually filled with excitement, and she bent down slightly, her cold fingers pinching his chin.

The faint light filtering in from the floor-to-ceiling windows illuminated her blurry yet beautiful face, casting a shadow on her long, thick eyelashes. Her lips were pale, yet incredibly alluring.

Shen Zhao's Adam's apple bobbed again, his long, pale fingers gripped the sheets tightly, his heart pounded wildly, and he protested, "Don't do anything reckless!"

The tips of her ears, hidden beneath her dark, tousled hair, were flushed red, giving the impression of feigned reluctance.

“I didn’t do anything reckless.” Yu Qiao’s fingers traced his angular face, her voice low and husky: “Baby.”

The girl's voice seemed to be tinged with chrysanthemum, a low, murmuring sound that pierced his ears in the darkness, sending a shiver down his spine like an electric shock.

Yu Qiao's rough fingertips brushed against the delicate skin on the back of Shen Zhao's neck, causing him to flinch involuntarily, his eyes reddening and glistening with tears: "Yu..."

"Hmm?" Her eyes held a hint of warning.

Shen Zhao hurriedly swallowed the name that had just escaped his lips, his eyelashes trembling as he concealed the crimson color in his eyes, his voice shaking slightly: "Baby, baby."

"So obedient." Her slightly narrowed eyes snapped open, revealing a morbid excitement.

He shyly looked away and hummed in agreement.

Yu Qiao thought to herself, somewhat bewildered, "How obedient! It seems like she'll do whatever I say."

"Cough cough cough cough..." His chin was still being pinched by Yu Qiao. A breath rose in his throat, and he coughed until the corners of his eyes were even redder. He looked at her with a pair of watery eyes, as gentle as a delicate flower: "Let go."

Yu Qiao released Shen Zhao's chin and hugged him again.

His chin rested on her shoulder, and his cough filled her ears.

"Can't it be cured?" Yu Qiao frowned, raised her hand, and stiffly but gently placed it on Chen Zhao's back. She paused for a moment before slowly raising it again and gently lowering it, asking in a low voice, "Will this make you feel better?"

“It can’t be cured.” Shen Zhao nestled weakly against her shoulder and neck, her voice soft and delicate, her eyes brimming with tears, her skin white, her lips as red as blood, like a rose ravaged by a storm.

"..." Yu Qiao's beautiful brows furrowed: "Why can't it be cured? How can there be an incurable disease?"

There are only diseases that cannot be cured if you don't have the money.

Just like her spleen, which was kicked and bled by that woman, those people couldn't bear to part with more than a thousand dollars, so the doctor had no choice but to remove her entire spleen.

Thinking of this, Yu Qiao became even more heartbroken. She patted Shen Zhao's back, thought seriously for a moment, and said, "How much money do you need? I'll go and earn it to pay for your treatment."

Shen Zhao chuckled softly and briefly, his fingertips twirling Yu Qiao's hair: "What an idiot, do you think I don't have money?"

“…Oh.” Yu Qiao paused for a few seconds, then realized.

In terms of assets, Shen Zhao is incredibly wealthy, with even a single piece of clothing he wears made from custom-made fabrics worth millions.

How could someone like that not have money for medical treatment?

“My illness is a congenital deficiency; no matter how much money I spend, I can only manage to keep it under control.” As he said this, Shen Zhao lowered his eyelashes, a metallic taste of blood rising in his throat, his lungs aching from coughing: “Cough cough… cough cough cough…”

"I'll go get you a glass of warm water." Yu Qiao let go of her and hurriedly turned to go downstairs to get him water.

"No need." Shen Zhao grabbed her hand and looked up at her. His eyes, like peach blossoms, were too beautiful to look at.

Without saying a word, he pressed her onto his lap and wrapped his palm around her waist.

Her face was flushed. She looked up, and said in a shy, low voice, "Just one more kiss would be enough."

Yu Qiao's breathing became rapid.

His lips were as red as peonies, like poison, possessing an irresistible allure.

Yu Qiao bit her pink lips with her pearly teeth. After seeing him nod, she lowered her head and pressed her lips to his earlobe. Her clear voice was close at hand, and she mumbled, "Then, then I'm coming."

"..."

Shen Zhao tilted his head back and leaned closer.

Yu Qiao tried hard to recall the details of the short film. Her delicate and beautiful profile flushed slightly, and her upturned eyes glistened with tears. Her cold fingers pressed against his waist, rubbing against his clothes, and her voice was low and husky as she whispered in his ear: "Open your mouth."

"Is that so?" Shen Zhao turned his head, his lips, which had been kissed and were now soft and moist, parted slightly. His peach blossom eyes were glistening with moisture as he looked up at Yu Qiao with earnest reverence.

"……Um."

Yu Qiao lowered her long eyes, her long fingers cradling Shen Zhao's handsome and delicate face, her empty pupils gradually turning crimson. They were so close now, so truly in contact, their bodies and breaths as soft as she had imagined.

"!"

Shen Zhao's eyes widened, completely caught off guard. Her chin was lifted, her fingertips were cool, but her breath was hot as it touched her.

Her fragrant lips touched his, light and delicate. Looking closely into his deep, dark eyes, she saw a gaze he had never seen before, like a hunter's nonchalant confidence as he captured his prey, or a hungry wolf's intense, possessive darkness as it savored its meal.

Her movements were so gentle, like a vixen, every move she made was seductive.

Shen Zhao's heart softened, and he embraced her slender waist, his voice low and husky, unconsciously tinged with a hint of coquettishness: "Baby..."

His eyelashes trembled, and his sickly pale skin flushed an eerie red.

It was late at night, but his palms were sweaty, and his beautiful peach blossom eyes were misty. All the images were blurry, except for Yu Qiao, who was bright and clear.

"Want it?" Yu Qiao gently stroked the corners of his reddened eyes with her cool fingers, and smiled at him with her lips curved.

Shen Zhao thought Yu Qiao looked exactly like a demon from a TV drama who sucks people's life essence. His breathing quickened, his face flushed uncontrollably, and he subconsciously pursed his lips, glaring at her: "You you you you you..."

He stammered for a long time before finally managing to utter a complete sentence.

"Young Master, I like you so much." Yu Qiao's pupils gradually brightened, and she stopped kissing him, cupping his face in her hands as if she were looking at a treasure.

He stared intently, without blinking.

This made Shen Zhao even more embarrassed. He blushed and replied softly, "I know."

“Didn’t we already… kiss? That makes us boyfriend and girlfriend, and of course, we will be in the future,” he blushed even more, but he gripped Yu Qiao’s hand tightly: “Husband and wife.”

"..." Yu Qiao's slender shoulders slumped down. She released Chen Zhao, sat down next to him dejectedly, shrank her neck, and said slowly, "Young Master, I can't marry you."

Shen Zhao's eyes widened instantly, and he looked at Yu Qiao as if she were a heartless man: "Why!? Yu Qiao, don't you want to take responsibility for me?!"

"No," Yu Qiao replied with two words.

She remembered what Tang Tian had said: that the most important thing for wealthy families is having offspring, especially for aristocratic families like the Shen family.

Shen Zhao grew anxious, pressing Yu Qiao's shoulders with both hands, and stopped stammering, demanding, "Then why?"

“I…” Yu Qiao found it difficult to say: “I am infertile.”

Her spleen was damaged by the kicks, and her abdomen was also kicked many, many times. She was in so much pain that she wanted to die. Those people ignored her and even accused her of faking illness, asking her why she hadn't died from the pain.

After escaping, she worked for others and earned two thousand yuan. She went to the hospital for a checkup, and the doctor said, "Yu Qiao, you will have a hard time getting pregnant in the future..."

She initially thought, "What does it matter?"

But……

Yu Qiao felt a lump in her throat; not being able to and not wanting to were two different things.

"You think I got married just to have kids?!" Shen Zhao pressed his tongue against his back teeth, his teeth itching with anger, each word tumbling out, but when he saw her tearful eyes, he couldn't help but soften his tone: "I'm not being mean to you."

"No." Yu Qiao blinked, her eyes dry as she held back the tears that were about to spill, and drooped her head.

"Yu! Qiao!"

"You're such an idiot!" Shen Zhao glared at her again, took her hand, and said without changing his expression, "Actually, I'm also infertile."

"Ah...?" Yu Qiao was stunned, looking up blankly into Shen Zhao's misty peach blossom eyes.

“I’m not in good health and have been taking medication for years. You see, I’m infertile, and so are you. We’re a match made in heaven.” Shen Zhao’s hand touched her face, and he leaned in to give her a careful peck.

"My older brother is 33 years old and doesn't even have a girlfriend."

"I'll tell you a secret."

"What?" Yu Qiao pricked up her ears.

Shen Zhao smiled, tilted his head and brought his beautiful face close to her eyes, and whispered, "My older brother has a boyfriend."

"!!!"

male! friend! friend!

Yu Qiao wondered if she had misheard. Her eyes widened like copper bells, and she was dumbfounded.

"I'm telling you this so you know that the Shen family doesn't value offspring." Shen Zhao didn't care. He felt completely bewitched by Yu Qiao. He just wanted to be close to Yu Qiao and be with her anytime, anywhere: "Yu Qiao, I love you. In my eyes, you are the best."

What a kid!

He can also be infertile!

He'll get a tubal ligation then!

Yu Qiao's eyes became even drier.

The young master said that she was his favorite.

If she were kicked to death, would anyone feel sorry for her?

She wanted to ask, but her throat was dry and hoarse, she couldn't breathe, and she couldn't even utter a word.

Yu Qiao couldn't help but think that if one day she were captured and taken back to Luwei Village, and locked in a pigsty by those bad people, and they were going to beat and kick her, there would be someone who would feel sorry for her and shed tears for her.

"Yu Qiao, Yu Qiao?" Shen Zhao shook her shoulder. Seeing that she remained silent, he assumed she was unhappy with how he addressed her. So, blushing, he raised his hand and poked her cheek, his voice hoarse, "Baby, did you understand what I said?"

In the dimly lit bedroom, Shen Zhao's voice, like vines, lingered and crept into Yu Qiao's ears.

Her thick eyelashes trembled, and she slowly raised them to look at him: "I understand."

Shen Zhao cupped her face, leaned in and kissed her again, his long, slender fingers unbuttoning her clothes and leading her to the bed: "Baby, go to sleep."

He didn't ask Yu Qiao why she was infertile, nor did he ask her what had happened before.

He thought that if Yu Qiao ever truly trusted him, she might take the initiative to tell him.

Yu Qiao moved to the side and patted the spot next to her: "Come on up."

"Okay." He got into her bed, put his arms around her waist, and nestled his head in her neck: "Goodnight, baby."

Looking at his handsome face and tightly closed eyes, Yu Qiao's previous gloomy expression vanished completely.

Her lips curved into a smile, her pupils seeming to sparkle with a strange excitement. Her voice was hoarse and deep, like the long, drawn-out tolling of an ancient bell in a mysterious castle: "Goodnight, young master."

A masterpiece?

You said it yourself, so if you go back on your word...

Yu Qiao's long eyes narrowed slightly, revealing an unusual sickly look. Her lips suddenly tightened, and her beautiful face twisted with a hint of madness.

Her long, pale, cold fingers clenched into fists, her brows furrowed with barely suppressed anger, as countless dark thoughts surged within her.

If he breaks his promise, then cut off his legs and lock him in the beautiful house forever.

In this way, the young master will never be able to leave her...

Yu Qiao's lips curled up as she gazed infatuated at the face that had captivated her. She leaned closer and took a deep breath.

It smells so good.