Chapter 3: Come Home Early Tonight

Gou Liang was like a volcano erupting—Zhang Zhihan had no chance to resist. In her utter shock, she felt as though a blaze was raging across her body, threatening to melt the two of them together. She had no idea how long the kiss lasted before she finally summoned all her strength to push Gou Liang away and clamber out from beneath him.

The kiss had left her utterly dizzy, her legs weak beneath her.

“Gou Liang, I’m warning you—keep your hands to yourself or you’ll regret it,” she snapped.

Gou Liang, nearly frantic, glared at her and raised his voice. “I just wanted to get along with you as an ordinary person, but all I get in return is distance. Enough pretending—I’m a millionaire. I'm laying my cards on the table.”

“You’re insane!” Zhang Zhihan shot him a murderous glare and turned to head back to her room.

But Gou Liang, truly wanting to help her, saw her about to leave and, in his anxiety, grabbed her delicate wrist a little too forcefully. She stumbled, crashing straight into his arms.

He immediately felt the softness of her body against his chest—his face flushed, his heart pounded, and his breath quickened.

“Zhihan, I swear I’m not lying! I really bought this house. Just add me on WeChat and I’ll transfer the money right now.”

Zhang Zhihan hadn’t expected Gou Liang to be so brazen. Being grabbed again, and colliding with him so forcefully, her chest ached from the impact.

Furious beyond belief, she swung her hand and slapped him hard across the face.

A sharp crack echoed, and five crimson fingerprints appeared on Gou Liang’s cheek, stinging fiercely.

Now Gou Liang’s temper flared. He opened his mobile banking app, held it up in front of her, and raised his voice.

“Look, see for yourself! I’m not lying, I really do have money.”

Seeing the long string of zeros in his account, Zhang Zhihan was utterly stunned.

Her beautiful eyes reflected deep confusion and astonishment—she never would have guessed that this poor student before her was, in fact, a millionaire.

It was the kind of plot twist you’d only see in movies, yet here it was, happening right in front of her.

Excitement made her heart flutter uncontrollably as she stamped her little foot in playful reproach.

“Gou Liang, you’re too much! Why did you pretend to be poor in front of me if you’re so rich? Why stick to me like glue? Are you trying to woo me?”

The question caught Gou Liang off guard.

If he said no, she might not accept his help. Who else would spend three hundred thousand on two tiny apartments not even worth two hundred thousand each? You’d have to be out of your mind.

So, he nodded, as if it were only natural.

Zhang Zhihan’s cheeks bloomed crimson, the blush spreading all the way to her ears. Flustered, she shook her head in coy protest.

“Gou Liang, this isn’t right—I’m several years older than you.”

Seeing her so nervous and pink-cheeked, Gou Liang felt his own nerves ebb away.

“Age doesn’t matter to me,” he said, his voice steady. “All I care about is—can we at least add each other as friends?”

Overcome with a joy she could hardly contain, Zhang Zhihan nodded shyly.

“All right, I’ll add you.”

Once they connected, Gou Liang promptly transferred her three hundred thousand.

Blinking her long, curled lashes, Zhang Zhihan looked up at him, beautiful eyes uneasy with excitement.

“Gou Liang, you’re not trying to keep me as your mistress, are you?”

Gou Liang almost burst out laughing, but before he could answer, a man in his fifties came up the stairs. The gentleman was upright and energetic, dressed in a blue suit that radiated distinction.

With a courteous gesture, he addressed Gou Liang. “Hello, Healer. President Wang has asked me to escort you.”

Gou Liang couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous, but not wanting to show it in front of Zhang Zhihan, he forced himself to nod with easy confidence.

Zhang Zhihan nestled close to Gou Liang as they headed downstairs. When she saw the Maybach waiting for him, her astonishment grew—she was now seriously beginning to suspect that Gou Liang was an heir who’d fled from some magnate’s home.

Her heart beat wildly as she leaned against him, her feelings in a delicious turmoil. In a soft, shy voice, she asked, “Will you be back tonight?”

Not only was her voice charming, but the scent she wore was intoxicating.

A wave of heat surged through Gou Liang. His breath caught as he gazed down at her exquisite face, his lips curving into a playful, natural smile.

“This is my home—why wouldn’t I come back?”

Her heart blossomed at his words, sweeter than honey. If he called this his home, didn’t that make her his family?

Blushing, she gave him a dazzling smile, her white teeth gleaming.

“What would you like for dinner? I’ll cook for you.”

No one had ever treated Gou Liang with such warmth and tenderness before; he felt like he was floating on air.

He grinned broadly. “Whatever you love to eat, I love to eat—watching you makes anything taste delicious.”

Zhang Zhihan’s heart fluttered at his words, her cheeks flushed, and she pouted adorably. “You seem so honest, but who knew you could be so smooth-tongued?”

The truth was, Gou Liang found it strange as well. Normally, he was clumsy with words. How had he suddenly become so glib? Perhaps it was because he’d become a first-rank Scarlet Talisman Healer?

Unable to help himself, he teased her again. “Actually, what I most want is to share a spicy hot pot with you—but I was too shy to say it.”

Zhang Zhihan’s dimples appeared as she glanced at him through seductive lashes. “If you want hot pot, just say so. Tonight, I’ll join you for a spicy—”

She stopped halfway, realizing the double meaning. Seeing the heat in Gou Liang’s eyes, her cheeks burned, her neck bowed, and her heart fluttered with shyness. She playfully thumped him with her little fist.

“You’re awful—what are you imagining?”

Gou Liang grinned wolfishly. “You promised—you can’t take it back,” he said, then climbed into the car.

Zhang Zhihan leaned close to the window, reluctant to let him go, her voice tender with affection. “Come home early—I’ll be waiting.”

Her fragrance drifted into the car, sweet and heady, stirring Gou Liang’s heart all over again. He couldn’t resist reaching out the window to clasp her soft, snow-white hand.

Zhang Zhihan’s cheeks grew even hotter, her breathing quickened, and a fine mist of sweat scented her hair. Her eyes were pools of shy allure, her slender frame trembling with bashful delight—an utterly enchanting sight.

Gou Liang drank her in, his heart pounding with urgency. If he could return safely, he swore to pledge his love to her, to shower her with endless tenderness and devotion.

Barely able to contain his passion, he teased her once more. “Once I’m done, I’ll come right back. Don’t miss me too much.”

Her cheeks flushed as she pouted, “So full of yourself—I won’t miss you at all.”

But even as she said it, she gripped his hand tightly, as if afraid he might fly away and never return.

Zhang Zhihan was on the verge of becoming a leftover woman, and now out of nowhere, a young and wealthy suitor had landed in her life. How could she not be nervous?

Even after the Maybach disappeared from sight, she lingered by the roadside, lost in a daze, as if she were still dreaming.