Chapter 57: Just Because I Don’t Like Him, Does That Mean It’s His Turn?!

The boss had no reservations; during the conversation, he took the initiative to taste it and praised its flavor. Gu Pingsheng, however, never raised his hand from beginning to end.

As evening fell, Gu Pingsheng mentioned, seemingly casually, his meeting with Zhang Zhiyan for tea. Wen Zhixia glanced up at him, saying, "You rarely talk about work at home." Since she had resigned, he no longer brought up anything related to his job, big or small.

Gu Pingsheng rotated his water glass, his thin lips curving faintly. "Is that so? I forgot," he replied.

He had been acting strangely ever since he came home, so Wen Zhixia paid him extra attention.

The pastries on Zhang Zhiyan’s dining table had indeed been sent by Wen Zhixia, though they were not a special gift. She had simply run into him while shopping for ingredients. Zhang Zhiyan offered to help, but Wen Zhixia declined. He released her hand in a gentlemanly manner and casually asked what she intended to make with the items. Wen Zhixia replied that she was making pastries, and he laughed, saying, "I’ve never tasted your cooking. I wonder if I’ll have that honor."

Repaying him for escorting her home in the rain and tending to her wound a few days prior, Wen Zhixia did not refuse and made an extra batch.

"The pastries you made the other day—whom did you give them to?" he asked.

Wen Zhixia answered, "A friend."

A friend?

Gu Pingsheng chuckled softly and supplied her answer: "It was Zhang Zhiyan, wasn't it?"

Only then did Wen Zhixia realize the source of his annoyance. But because Xu Qichen’s identity was special, she could not mention it, so she said, "I was merely repaying a favor."

That was not a lie; the pastries sent to Zhang Zhiyan were indeed for settling a debt of gratitude.

Gu Pingsheng gazed at her for several seconds, beckoning her over. When she did not move, he suddenly stood and scooped her up by the waist. Meeting her gaze, his thin lips curled, eyes tinged with mockery: "Didn’t you say you wanted a child? Then let’s make one right now."

Wen Zhixia’s long lashes quivered, a shadow settling in her eyes. She looked up, her tone heavy: "Gu Pingsheng!" She drew a deep breath. "Do you know what you’re saying?"

A child should be cherished, both by a couple and by a family. That’s why she always discussed the matter with him instead of acting alone, never tampering with his contraceptive measures.

He understood her thinking, so until they reached consensus, he never worried she would take matters into her own hands.

But now, driven by jealousy, he grandly invoked the matter of having a child. Naturally, she was angry.

Gu Pingsheng lowered his gaze, releasing her, his eyes narrowing deeply. "Zhang Zhiyan invited me and another boss to eat pastries made by my wife. Tell me, isn’t that ridiculous?"

Wen Zhixia’s gaze was steady. "…But you don’t even like pastries."

He sneered. "Just because I don’t like them, does that mean he gets to?"

Wen Zhixia began, "This matter—"

Gu Pingsheng turned and headed upstairs.

Left in place, Wen Zhixia was silent.

When the door to the upstairs study slammed shut, Wen Zhixia’s fingertip absentmindedly brushed her nose. She sighed softly.

She turned toward the kitchen, tied on an apron. An hour later, she took out a fresh batch of pastries from the oven, plated them, and brought them upstairs.

She knocked on the study door. Gu Pingsheng was on the phone; seeing her enter, he glanced over. "…Just follow what I said earlier. There can’t be any mistakes."

"Pastries—and your favorite plum green," she said, placing them by the desk.

Gu Pingsheng put the phone aside, watching her for several seconds. He bent his long legs and sat down, silent.

Wen Zhixia took a piece and held it to his lips. "Open your mouth."

Gu Pingsheng bit down, and as he turned, he cupped her neck and pressed her against the desk.

Her slender waist was supple, arching back until she was nearly flush with the tabletop, while his tall figure loomed above. His well-defined fingers grasped her delicate chin, passing the pastry to her.

"My things are not his to take." He wiped her lips with his fingertip, swallowing the crumbs himself. "If you’re willing to take the lead tonight, I’ll pretend this never happened."

She was reserved by nature, never willing to cooperate in anything bold or out of the ordinary, always subdued and coerced by him.

Whenever he felt unsettled, he liked to bring up matters like this.

Wen Zhixia started to refuse, but Gu Pingsheng’s phone rang—it was Zhang Zhiyan.

"Your phone," Wen Zhixia said, unable to see the caller ID from her angle. He didn’t release her or seem inclined to answer.

Gu Pingsheng looked at her, grabbed the phone, and Wen Zhixia couldn’t tell whether he answered. She only noticed the ring had stopped. In the next moment, he suddenly lowered his head and bit her neck.

"Ah, it hurts…" She raised her hand to push him away.

"I’ll be gentler," he replied, his voice hoarse and low.