The abandoned daughter of the Lu family turns around and marries a celibate tycoon.

Chapter 18 Misjudgment at Close Range

When he got home, it was almost eight o'clock. The dinner that Gu Yanshen had arranged to be delivered in advance was warm on the table.

Lu Xiran finished eating quickly and wanted to go back to her room to wash up—the pink bubbles that had been stirred in her heart made her both sweetly expectant and afraid that reality would burst them the next second.

She replied to Jin Qiqi with a message: 【Don't talk nonsense.】

The other party replied instantly: 【Am I talking nonsense?】

She then sent a photo she secretly took at a wedding dress shop today.

In the scene, Gu Yanshen's gaze is fixed on Lu Xiran, who is trying on a wedding dress. His eyes are deep and focused, as if nothing around him exists.

Look at his eyes! I swear on all my luck with women, he's definitely not gay! Even if he is, you've changed him!

[Lu Xiran, don't be a coward! Try the method I taught you! He'll definitely have feelings for you today!]

Lu Xiran felt her ears burning and simply turned off her phone.

After drying my hair, I felt thirsty, so I tiptoed to the kitchen to get some water.

Unexpectedly, Gu Yanshen was sitting by the island counter, his laptop screen lit up.

"Uncle?" Lu Xiran approached. "Didn't you say you didn't have work today?"

Hearing the voice, Gu Yanshen quickly closed his computer screen. "Yeah. Looking at some scattered documents." He looked up. "Still not asleep?"

I'm a little thirsty.

"Wait a minute." Gu Yanshen called out to her, and reopened the computer. "Perfect timing, come and choose the style of the invitation."

"You decide." She instinctively tried to decline.

"Well..." He paused, his voice softening, "I'm a man... so you'll have to be the one to make the decision."

"...Okay." Lu Xiran moved over and stood beside him, then leaned over to look at the screen, intending to use the touchpad to examine it more closely—

Gu Yanshen suddenly stretched out his arm, gently wrapped it around her side, and braced himself against the edge of the island counter, subtly encircling her between him and the kitchen counter.

Lu Xiran's body stiffened slightly. Trapped in this small space, she couldn't move and could only continue staring at the screen.

She stretched out her index finger, as if to slide the mouse cursor.

Gu Yanshen naturally raised his hand, placed his palm on the back of her hand, and moved with her very slowly.

His palms were warm and dry, with thin calluses on his fingertips. As they rubbed against the delicate skin on the back of her hand, a subtle yet clear electric current surged through her heart.

He gently rested his chin on her shoulder, his breath brushing lightly against her ear. "Which one do you think is better?"

Several exquisitely designed invitations were displayed on the screen.

"This pink one?" He took her hand and tapped on a larger image. "Or this light purple one over there?"

"Hmm?" He turned his head, his lips almost touching her earlobe, his deep voice tinged with breathiness.

Lu Xiran felt a tingling sensation on one side of her body, and her heart was pounding.

She couldn't help but secretly turn her head away.

Gu Yanshen noticed her gaze, a faint smile curving his lips, his voice tinged with amusement: "Focus."

Like a child caught red-handed, Lu Xiran immediately turned her head away, her cheeks burning, and unconsciously pouted slightly.

But being held in his arms like this, enveloped in his breath, she couldn't concentrate on looking at the elaborate invitations.

All the senses seemed to be focused on him—his breathing, his body temperature, the way he held his own hand, and the steady, powerful heartbeat that emanated from through the thin fabric of his clothes.

Her fingertips trembled slightly, unable to stop themselves, beneath his palm.

She desperately wanted to find a crack to crawl into and hide, but she couldn't move her body.

"Don't you like anything?" he asked, his voice close to mine.

Lu Xiran suddenly came to her senses and randomly pointed to a light pink invitation card with an exquisite bow decoration, "...This one will do."

Gu Yanshen took a closer look and raised an eyebrow slightly—this style was a bit too girlish and girly.

But then he remembered the three satin bows on the back of her wedding dress that he had to untie himself, and his eyes darkened. He said in a meaningful whisper, "Hmm. I know you like bows."

"You...don't like it?" Lu Xiran belatedly realized that this style might not suit his temperament, and asked softly.

"I like it." He gazed at her flushed cheeks, his voice low and slow, "But I like it even more... untying the bow."

"boom--"

Lu Xiran felt as if a string in her brain had snapped. His blatant flirting left her utterly exposed, and she hurriedly lowered her head. "Then... I'll go back to my room first!"

She tried to turn around.

Gu Yanshen tightened his arms around her, drawing her even closer until his chest was almost pressed against her back.

"There's one more thing," his breath brushed against the top of her head, "The wedding planning company said they need to prepare some photos of us to put on the invitations and for the event."

"What photo?"

"Casual photos, or group photos similar to wedding photos. But Lin Chen reminds us that it's best not to take many photos with the same outfit, as it can easily look deliberate."

"That's true..." Lu Xiran responded softly.

"Then what do you suggest?" He stepped back slightly, allowing her to turn around, but his arm remained loosely around her waist.

"I...I'll look online for some reference shooting scenes and poses," she said, avoiding his eyes. "Tomorrow night...shall we try it out?"

"Okay," he replied quickly. "Approximately how many sheets do you need?"

"A dozen or so... should be enough."

"it is good."

"Well... I'll go back to my room first." Lu Xiran tried to slip away again.

Gu Yanshen still did not let go.

His gaze fell on her trembling eyelashes and glistening lips, his eyes growing darker and darker, as if some long-suppressed emotion was about to burst forth.

Lu Xiran's heart pounded like thunder. She stood frozen in place, even her breathing became cautious.

Gu Yanshen couldn't resist in the end, and lowered his head to gently kiss her burning cheek.

Lu Xiran trembled, but did not dodge.

As if receiving silent acquiescence, his kiss slowly moved down, tentatively approaching the corner of her lips.

Warm breaths mingled, making the air thin and ambiguous.

Just as his lips were about to touch hers—

"Buzz...buzz..."

On the island platform, Lu Xiran's phone screen suddenly lit up and vibrated continuously.

Lu Xiran seemed to wake from a dream and subconsciously reached for her phone.

Gu Yanshen grabbed her wrist first, his ten fingers weaving between hers, pressing her firmly to the spot.

His weight pressed slightly against her, and Lu Xiran could even clearly feel the undisguised, burning heat emanating from a certain part of his body.