Gu Nianzhi’s pitiful look reflected in Huo Shaoheng’s eyes. This was an expression of guilt and basically her admitting not locking the bathroom door. “You really didn’t lock the bathroom door?” Huo Shaoheng’s voice was getting dangerously low.
Gu Nianzhi originally wanted to argue the front door was closed, then remembered aside from leaving the bathroom door unlocked, she did so with the front door too. She had proceeded to shower without a second thought, perhaps she was too careless… Watching Huo Shaoheng’s increasingly serious face, Gu Nianzhi’s mind spun as she blinked her doe eyes and suddenly reached out both arms to dive into Huo Shaoheng’s embrace. She said softly, “Huo Shao, it was my fault. I won’t dare to do it again, please punish me…”
Huo Shaoheng lowered his hands, but didn’t hug her back. He replied dryly instead, “Are you admitting fault?”
Gu Nianzhi looked up from his arms to watch his dark eyes in fascination, “It was my fault, it’s really my fault, I won’t dare do it again, please believe me! Please punish me?”
“You want me to punish you? Hmm?”
“Go on, are you going to force a kiss or even force yourself on me? I’ll be good and stand here without resisting…!” She even closed her eyes and pouted her plump lips.
Huo Shaoheng slowly stuck out a long and slim finger to place on Gu Nianzhi’s lips. He used a bit of force to push her away, “This is punishment? –More like wishful thinking.”
Gu Nianzhi was appeared disappointed as she buried her head in his chest again, but her lips curved upwards. Although her trick failed, at least Huo Shaoheng was no longer angry.
“…Don’t smile too early.” Huo Shaoheng looked down to see the smile Gu Nianzhi couldn’t quite hide in time, “There will be a punishment for sure, but I’ll choose how and where to punish you.”
Gu Nianzhi looked up happily, “Oh? Is that so? How does Huo shao want to punish me? Give me a hint so that I can prepare… Whips, candles, or…”
Face falling, Huo Shaoheng interrupted her, “Nianzhi, where did you learn this nonsense from?”
Quickly pursing her lips, Gu Nianzhi realized she got carried away and said something she shouldn’t have…
“Well? Are you mute?”
In her desperation, Gu Nianzhi blurted out, “Sounds like Huo Shao knows about these things too! And where di Huo Shao learn them from?”
“I’m asking you a question, not the other way around.” Huo Shaoheng ignored her question and pushed her away as he spoke.
Upon leaving his warm embrace, Gu Nianzhi suddenly felt crestfallen. Her eyes darkened and the previous stars sparkling in them seemed to disappear. Huo Shaoheng almost stopped himself, but if he didn’t educate her now it may cause bigger trouble in the future. He was the most adept at planning ahead and knew developing good habits was the best way to prevent sudden emergencies. “Tell me.” Huo Shaoheng raised his watch up to look at it, “I only have 5 minutes here, if you don’t tell me, I’ll have to…”
“No!” Gu Nianzhi became flustered and clenched the towel wrapped around her chest, stuttering, “I… I saw it online…”
“Online?”
“Yes, on Wikipedia. I heard someone talk about it once and got curious, so I looked it up and found… Detailed explanations…” Gu Nianzhi spoke as she looked down bashfully, her face completely flushed.
Huo Shaoheng asked calmly, “Did you watch any videos?”
“No, no! I really didn’t!” Gu Nianzhi quickly shook her head, “Even though I was really interested in the steamy movies my classmates talked about, I couldn’t find any of them.” In fact, the computer, phone and iPad she used had security software installed by Zhao Liangze. All those indecent websites were set to be blocked. The only one to slip through was Wikipedia, which was merely a description and not raunchy material.
Huo Shaoheng was fully aware, but was still worried that Gu Nianzhi would see those things on someone else’s computer or phone. He nodded, “Fine, I’ll believe you this one time.”
“Please believe me, Huo Shao. I really didn’t…” Gu Nianzhi finally couldn’t help it and the tears fell, gliding down from her freshly showered skin and making Huo Shaoheng’s heart tremble. She stood sobbing before Huo Shaoheng, barefoot and her perfectly sculpted legs were so fair that they glowed in a distracting way. He turned around and replied dryly, “Don’t cry and go get changed.”
Gu Nianzhi wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and went to the closet to find some clothes, then took them to the bathroom to change. “Huo Shao…” She fearfully called out his name from behind him, not daring to be coy anymore.
Huo Shaoheng turned around to see her wearing a green cropped high neck hooded sweater with figure flattering tailor made wool pants. She appeared slightly flustered standing in front of him. There were still unwiped tears on her face and her wet hair was wrapped in a towel. She appeared like a graceful and slim new lotus still carrying fresh dew drops. He beckoned her, “Come over here.”
Hesitating for a moment, Gu Nianzhi slowly walked to him, “Huo Shao… it was my fault, I won’t do it again. I’ll remember to lock my door no matter where I am.”
“Ok, it’s good if you’ll remember.” Huo Shaoheng held her shoulders, “This is for your own good, we can’t always be at your side. You have to be able to protect yourself.”
“I will.” Gu Nianzhi’s voice was still shaky.
Huo Shaoheng knew he scared her, but it was necessary to punish her severely, otherwise she wouldn’t remember the lesson.
“Come, let’s have breakfast.” Huo Shaoheng put one arm on her shoulders and walked her to the living room, “Don’t you usually shower after having breakfast? Why did you shower before eating today?”
Gu Nianzhi thought of how today’s bad luck started with Zhao Liangze’s teasing, and accused him angrily, “It was Brother Ze’s fault. He said I reeked of sweat after running, so I…” She looked up at Huo Shaoheng, “I didn’t want you to smell it…”
Huo Shaoheng was silent for a long while, he wanted to laugh and dragged her to the sofa on the living room to ask, “Do you really think that I’m someone who is prissy about the smell of sweat? How do you think I survived all these years of completing missions all over the world?”
Gu Nianzhi was stunned. It wasn’t even the same subject, but Huo Shao intentionally changed it? But she was just scolded and didn’t dare talk back at him, so she just looked down in silence and acted cautiously. Seeing her like this, Huo Shaoheng thought she must be embarrassed from being scolded by him… He considered it, then leaned to her ear and whispered, “If you are good, you won’t go looking at these indecent things with other people.”
“I won’t look at them for sure!” Gu Nianzhi shook her head furiously.
“…If you really want to see it, then you can ask me…” Huo Shaoheng’s voice grew deeper as he lowered his head to that his perfect lips moved from Gu Nianzhi’s ear to her plump lips. He tasted her gently, then backed away–stopping within easy reach, but yet still untouchable.
Gu Nianzhi could almost feel Huo Shaoheng’s hot breath from between his lips, and she was like a candle that was about to be completely melted by him. “Real… Really…” Gu Nianzhi stuttered, “You would… show me?”
“If you’re good, I will consider it.” Huo Shaoheng stuck one hand in her hair to support the back of head, his gentle movement but securing her to himself. With this kiss, he took the lead. She could only take what he gave, and what he didn’t give she could only lust for. Gu Nianzhi’s lips grew numb from kissing but it was too sweet to give up. Huo Shaoheng also got really into it, until Zhao Liangze started calling him on his headset. He finally released Gu Nianzhi to look down at her and said in hoarse voice, “Listen to me, I’ll get worried if you keep acting this way.”
Gu Nianzhi shivered from being so moved. All the kisses and embraces earlier did not make her feel as good as these words. “I won’t.. I won’t ever again… I will never do anything Huo Shao has asked me not to…” Gu Nianzhi couldn’t help bursting into tears again, but this time she was extremely touched and not crying out of fear.
Huo Shaoheng hugged her in silence for a while, then got up, “You have breakfast, I’m going to work.”
Gu Nianzi walked him to the door, where he would only be a hallway away from her. Huo Shaoheng merely shook his head at her and didn’t say anything more before going to his suite to review documents. Gu Nianzhi’s mood brightened as she happily ate breakfast, then called He Zhichu to ask when he would be free to meet at school to get his signature.