NOVEL NEXT Chapter 677: Is It Really You?
Lin Zhiyi didn't answer Che Yin's question; she was just too tired for her mind to function.
She walked into the arranged room, and as soon as the card was inserted into the slot,
before she could lower her hand, she was clasped from behind, fingers interlocking tightly.
Her weary body was enveloped in a warm and strong embrace.
The familiar scent made Lin Zhiyi feel very secure.
The man looked at her from the side, his gaze deep and intense under the light.
The force around her waist slightly tightened, as if afraid she would run away.
Gong Chen leaned close to her ear, his breath brushing against her flushed earlobe.
The emotions in his eyes deepened, and his Adam's apple rolled slightly.
"Third Young Master, I..."
Lin Zhiyi's words were drowned in the kiss that fell by her ear.
It was like being struck by lightning, her whole body tingling as it flowed to her heart and back to her limbs.
Involuntarily, Lin Zhiyi tightened her hand which was held.
Gong Chen's kiss trailed from her ear downward, to the neck, the cheek, cautiously and tenderly exploring.
It almost scattered her rational thoughts.
When the kiss reached the edge of her lips, Lin Zhiyi slightly dodged.
"I haven't showered in two days."
Gong Chen's voice was hoarse: "I haven't either."
Lin Zhiyi's face flushed, understanding his intention, and she pushed him, "I have no strength."
He held her body and slowly moved towards the bathroom.
"Luckily, I do."
"..."
Lin Zhiyi was carried by Gong Chen into the bathroom.
As they entered, the warm mist enveloped them, the bathtub already filled with warm water.
She was taken aback and looked up at Gong Chen.
"You prepared this?"
"Yes. Go on in, I promise not to mess around today."
Gong Chen released Lin Zhiyi.
Lin Zhiyi nodded, undressing on her own.
After all, they had bathed together before.
But after escaping danger, she was so exhausted that even raising her hand felt strenuous.
Her movements to undress were slow and sluggish.
Gong Chen leaned against the sink, watching her back through the steam, his gaze gradually heating up.
He straightened up, unbuttoned his shirt, took off his clothes, and walked towards Lin Zhiyi.
By the time Lin Zhiyi felt the pressure from behind, it was already too late.
His hot hands pressed against her half-bare shoulders, sliding down her arms.
In the next second, his kisses were already falling on her shoulders.
"Zhiyi, let me help you undress."
Before Lin Zhiyi could refuse, Gong Chen had already pressed her into his arms, his hands slipping under her clothes from the hem.
She frowned slightly, realizing only then that he was already undressed.
"Who's helping whom to undress?"
"To avoid getting wet."
He always had an excuse.
Lin Zhiyi had no strength to resist, so she let him be.
Gong Chen indeed kept his promise, not messing around, but assisting her into the bathtub.
As the hot water passed over her body, Lin Zhiyi felt all her pores opening, involuntarily closing her eyes and slightly lifting her neck.
Gong Chen gazed at the beautiful scene underwater, so breathtaking.
Quickly, he grabbed a towel to cover her.
"Don't catch a cold."
"Thank you."
Lin Zhiyi lay comfortably in the water.
Gong Chen reached for the showerhead, crouching down.
"Move your head a bit closer."
"Why?"
"To help you wash your hair."
He looked down, adjusting the showerhead temperature.
Seeing his earnestness, Lin Zhiyi couldn't help but smile, obediently moving her head over, lying back against the tub edge.
Water flowed over her hair, while the man's long fingers weaved through the strands.
He even massaged her scalp a little.
Lin Zhiyi closed her eyes comfortably, blurting out, "Later I'll give you a five-star review."
Gong Chen spoke in a low, deep voice, "Should I be saying thank you?"
"You can, I'll give you a tip, Gong Tony."
"I'm not called Tony."
Lin Zhiyi pursed her lips, "You talk about cultivating interest, but you're only cultivating your own interest."
Gong Chen raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Alright, thank you, Miss Lin. Can I get my tip now?"
"Hmm, wait a minute!"
Lin Zhiyi abruptly opened her eyes, blocking the man approaching her.
She laughed aloud, "I'm clever now. I know you're up to this trick again; I haven't brushed my teeth. No kissing, it's unhygienic."
"The tip, I'll owe it," Gong Chen protested.
"I can give you money."
"I don't lack that, but I do lack something else."
Gong Chen casually spoke while rinsing her hair.
Lin Zhiyi blinked, "What do you lack?"
Gong Chen met her clear eyes, speaking slowly, "A wife."
Lin Zhiyi's body gradually turned pink in the water. She flusteredly grabbed the towel to cover herself.
To Gong Chen, it was just a futile attempt at covering; the towel couldn't hide Lin Zhiyi's good figure.
In the shimmering light, she seemed like a mythical mermaid.
The rippling water moved directly towards his heart.
If he didn't react, he wouldn't be a man.
"Zhiyi, is it only about not kissing?"
"What... ah! You're an animal..."
"Helping you with a massage, it aids sleep."
"..."
Some time passed, and the bathwater was refilled three times.
Lin Zhiyi finally finished her bath, dressed, already too tired that she could sleep while standing.
Gong Chen, wearing only a precariously wrapped towel, led Lin Zhiyi to the sink.
He handed her a toothbrush with toothpaste already applied.
"Brush, I'll check afterward."
"..."
Gong Tony's services were indeed thorough.
After washing her hair and giving a full-body massage, now he applied the toothpaste.
Lin Zhiyi closed her eyes to brush her teeth, and soon stopped moving.
Gong Chen watched, unable to help but chuckle, and took the toothbrush from her hand to brush again.
"Miss Lin, rinse."
"Glug glug..."
Lin Zhiyi finished rinsing and turned to leave.
Gong Chen directly picked her up and carried her out of the bathroom, gently placing her on the bed.
"Miss Lin, can I get my tip now?"
"..."
Just as Lin Zhiyi raised her hand to protest, he dropped a lingering kiss.
But the kiss wasn't deep with desire, it was more filled with the joy of regaining something lost.
After the tender kiss ended, Gong Chen tucked her in tightly and held her in his arms, resting his head against her.
"Sleep, I'm here, you're safe now."
Lin Zhiyi nodded, but her mind was still occupied with other matters, her voice intermittently audible.
"Little Yi, Little Xi...how are they doing?"
"They're fine; Chen Jin is taking care of them."
"He doesn't know how to take care of kids."
"He'll find someone to help." Gong Chen coaxed.
"There's still... there's still..."
As Lin Zhiyi's voice became increasingly faint, she reminded herself of something she hadn't said, but her mind was already beginning to shut down.
Watching her sleeping face, Gong Chen smiled faintly.
However, a message from Li Huan popped up on his phone.
"Second Master Bai's plastic surgeon has been found. I got photos of Mrs. Bai before her surgery; you might want to brace yourself."
"The plastic surgeon said he was actually introduced to Second Master Bai by Mrs. Bai, and my friends abroad say the art gallery incident is currently pointing all fingers at the Bai Family, but according to foreign gossip reporters, a few years ago, control of the gallery shifted from Bai Zhengxian to Mrs. Bai, seemingly due to Mrs. Bai and Second Master Bai's ambiguous relationship."
"This woman is not simple."
A photo popped up.
In the dim light, the screen's glow made Gong Chen's expression particularly somber.
...
On the other side, in another villa.
Upon hearing that the Bai Family was exposed and Lin Zhiyi was safe, Liu He finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Yet there was a trace of sorrow between her brows.
She turned and entered her personal wardrobe, opening the work ID she had kept until now.
Opening the compartment on the back, it revealed someone else's work ID.
A photo was attached to it.
Clear and bright features.
"Is it really you?"