Shen Yanli returned from the study, greeted by the whirring sound of a hairdryer as soon as he entered. Walking into the adjoining room, he could faintly catch the lingering scent of shower gel from the bathroom that hadn’t completely dissipated.

The subtle fragrance of ebony rose a scent that always clung to her.

The hairdryer hummed persistently in the bedroom, its warm air brushing past her earlobes. Lin Zhiyu, focused on drying her hair, didn’t notice anyone entering.

The hairdryer’s just right warmth blew rhythmically as she moved it through her hair, her fingers combing through the strands. Only when her hair was half-dry did the chaotic noise in the room finally cease.

The small lamp in the adjoining room lit up as usual. Lin Zhiyu put away the hairdryer and approached quietly.

Unlike his usual routine of working on documents with his laptop open, Shen Yanli was reclining on the sofa today, casually flipping through a copy of The Rabbit Care Guide.

Lin Zhiyu immediately noticed the large, prominent photo of a rabbit on the cover. “Why are you reading this? Are you planning to raise a rabbit?”

Feeling the sofa cushion dip beside him, the girl’s fragrance wafted over as she circled the coffee table and sat next to Shen Yanli, leaning in to examine the book in his hands.

Her palm rested on the sofa near his thigh, her fingertips unconsciously pressing against the loose fabric of his pants.

Shen Yanli leisurely handed her the book and answered her question, “I am raising one.”

The book wasn’t thick. She took it and absentmindedly flipped through a couple of pages, trying to recall where he kept it. Lin Zhiyu had explored the Shen residence before but had never seen any trace of a rabbit.

Puzzled, she asked, “Do you have another residence? I haven’t seen one here.”

Shen Yanli looked at her with an ambiguous expression, his dark eyes gentle and profound, a faint smile flickering in their depths.

Lin Zhiyu lowered her head to look at the book while waiting for his reply. When no response came after a moment, she lifted her gaze and met Shen Yanli’s eyes.

His eyes held a brilliance like moonlight and starlight, their flowing radiance dazzling and compelling her to lean closer.

He remained silent, so Lin Zhiyu couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong?”

“I’ll take you to see it next time,” Shen Yanli evaded the question, reaching over to close the book and place it on the table. The warmth from where his fingers brushed against hers lingered, and Lin Zhiyu unconsciously rubbed her fingertips twice.

Shen Yanli turned the question back to her, “What about you? Did you need something from me?”

His reminder jogged her memory about her actual business. “Do you know about the land in Hongzhou?”

“Hongzhou?” Shen Yanli had heard a little about it.

It was a dilapidated area of unfinished buildings in Linjiang City. The government was recently preparing to auction the land, but due to its inconvenient transportation and distance from the city center, no one had high hopes for it.

“Yes,” Lin Zhiyu nodded. “They’re going to build a subway there. Its value will definitely multiply in the future.”

The book mentioned that Lu Yuchen had learned in advance about the transportation infrastructure plans for that area. That was why he gave up on the then highly sought-after prime locations and instead acquired that land at a low price.

As the policies were implemented, he made a huge profit, using the money to buy influence and lay the groundwork for his future confrontation with Shen Yanli.

This time, no matter what, she couldn’t let him secure that land.

She counted on her fingers as she explained to Shen Yanli, “There’s also another piece of land that’s been generating a lot of buzz recently, right?”

“You absolutely must not touch that land.”

According to the book’s description, Shen Yanli ultimately won the bid for this land but lost everything due to real estate regulatory policies, which precisely gave Lu Yuchen an opportunity to take advantage.

Lin Zhiyu seemed afraid that Shen Yanli might think she was talking nonsense. She moved closer to him, randomly picked up a sheet from the neatly arranged papers on the table, and began describing what she remembered from the book.

Shen Yanli’s attention wasn’t on the paper. The young woman slightly leaned over to write, then straightened up to explain to him, bending down and rising repeatedly. Holding a pen, she sketched while speaking, her words coherent and logical.

Her movements were orderly, her spine tracing a perfect curve as she leaned forward. The neckline of her golden-apricot dress was not fully concealed, revealing glimpses of snow-white skin beneath.

Shen Yanli subtly averted his gaze, his seemingly calm expression betrayed by an involuntary swallow in his throat.

Lin Zhiyu persisted. Noticing Shen Yanli’s distraction, she tugged at his sleeve to draw him closer, pointing at the “key points” on the paper and urging him to remember them.

“My memory might not be entirely accurate. You’ll need to combine my descriptions to handle what comes next.” She tapped the pen cap repeatedly on the paper, emphasizing her reminder.

The wild rose scent from her shampoo blended with the ebony rose from her body wash Lin Zhiyu adored rose fragrances, and every scented item she used carried a hint of rose.

The combination of the two scents lingered but was not unpleasant.

A rabbit carrying the scent of roses.

Shen Yanli was so close that his lips could almost touch her hair. Unaware, Lin Zhiyu continued talking incessantly. Losing patience, he snatched the pen from her hand and tossed it aside.

“Hey.”

Lin Zhiyu reached out to retrieve it, but Shen Yanli prevented her. He pulled back her outstretched arm, clasping her slender, pale wrist in his hand.

Lin Zhiyu was uncontrollably pulled toward Shen Yanli. Tilting her chin up to observe him, she found his dark pupils deep and abyssal, as if ready to devour her whole.

Sensing something amiss, she quickly withdrew her wrist and attempted to flee.

The next moment, Shen Yanli wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back against him.

Her back pressed against his warm body, the sensation beneath her starkly different from the cool couch. In disarray, Lin Zhiyu braced her hands to escape. “Wait, Shen Yanli, hold on a moment.”

“Don’t move, Zhizhi,” his deep voice murmured softly by her ear, coaxing her.

“What are you doing?” she protested.

“Let me hold you for a while.”

His warm breath was close at hand. Shen Yanli lowered his head, burying his face in the crook of her neck. The scorching sensation startled her.

Lin Zhiyu’s struggles ceased abruptly. She stayed still, quietly encircled in the man’s embrace, not daring to move.

Her face flushed crimson. Stiffly turning her head, she stammered, “You… don’t do anything reckless.”

A low grunt was his only reply.

Time passed quietly. Shen Yanli’s embrace gradually relaxed, his tall frame enveloping the young woman, nearly covering her completely.

“Is… is it over?” Lin Zhiyu asked uneasily, sensing the threat had subsided.

Shen Yanli didn’t fully release her. Lin Zhiyu leaned back against the couch, her wrist still held firmly in his grasp.

“Sorry.”

What’s the use of apologizing after what’s already done?

The blush on her ears hadn’t faded. Annoyed, Lin Zhiyu didn’t feel like responding to him.

“Can I go now?” she feigned composure.

“Stay with me a little longer, alright?” His bewitching voice whispered coaxingly in her ear.

She shook her head, refusing to comply. “No.”

“I need to go back to sleep.”

Shen Yanli’s eyes darkened as he gazed at Lin Zhiyu’s flushed face, red enough to seem about to drip blood.

The young woman in his arms dared not move a muscle.

Shen Yanli could feel the change in her body temperature caused by his presence.

Suddenly, he understood.

His method of raising this rabbit had completely gone astray.

💝 Support the Team

soowe05

✍️ Translator

💙 PayPal