All the way, Bo Yanchi's assistant, Zhou Ran, kept glancing at the two of them through the rearview mirror with a calm expression, utterly baffled.
What kind of stunt was that spoiled heiress Yu Lizhi pulling now?
Had she forgotten how much she hated A-Yan?
Half a month ago.
Bo Yanchi and Yu Lizhi had bumped into each other in the underground parking garage of a large shopping mall.
Because parking spots were scarce, both of them had set their sights on the exact same space.
Determined to beat Bo Yanchi to it, Yu Lizhi had driven her multi-million-dollar Ferrari straight into his brand-new multi-million-dollar Bugatti, which he had bought only shortly before, forcefully seizing the spot.
She hadn't even forgotten to roll down her window and sneer at Bo Yanchi, "Oh? Got a new ride? Driving such an expensive car, what kind of trash bag are you, holding so much garbage?"
With that sarcastic remark, she had pulled a wad of cash from her coat, casually tossed it, and scattered bills all over the ground.
"Hmph. Your repair money, consider it my treat, don't mention it. Running into you is truly bad luck."
Three months ago.
Bo Yanchi had been attending an event abroad and flying back when he was met by enthusiastic fans at the airport.
As luck would have it, Yu Lizhi was at that same airport, completely hemmed in by the swarming crowd of fans.
That very night, she had posted a rant on Weibo:
"Damn it! I can't stand show-offs!"
Attached was a photo of Bo Yanchi's fans greeting him at the airport.
There had been far too many incidents like this.
Only A-Yan would tolerate her time and time again.
Therefore, the moment Zhou Ran laid eyes on Yu Lizhi, his head would start throbbing, and he would do his utmost to steer clear of this little ancestor.
If he couldn't afford to offend her, couldn't he at least afford to hide from her?
And yet, here she was now, delivering herself right to their doorstep, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed?
Throwing herself into A-Yan's arms, no less?
It always felt like whenever she bore gifts without a reason, she was up to no good.
When the car reached the villa complex where Bo Yanchi lived, Zhou Ran pulled over and glanced back at him. "A-Yan, we're here."
"Mmm."
Bo Yanchi acknowledged the words, finally opening his deep, dark eyes and turning his head toward Yu Lizhi. "Let's go. Inside."
"You got it!" Yu Lizhi hopped out nimbly and reached to hook her arm through his.
Bo Yanchi sidestepped briskly to dodge her.
Watching the two of them, Zhou Ran looked like he wanted to say something but held back. "A-Yan, take care of yourself."
He slammed his foot on the accelerator and sped off into the distance.
No matter how Bo Yanchi tried to keep Yu Lizhi from touching him, she shamelessly pressed close to him anyway.
He lengthened his stride to walk faster, and she hurried to catch up. "A-Yan, wait for me!"
At the front door, Bo Yanchi punched in the passcode and pushed the door open.
Familiar with the place, Yu Lizhi walked right in and found the spot for changing shoes.
The shoe rack held only two pairs of men's slippers, and she froze, suddenly remembering that in this lifetime she hadn't married Bo Yanchi yet, so of course he hadn't prepared a pair of women's slippers for her.
A wave of dejection washed over her, and Yu Lizhi stood motionless in front of the shoe rack.
Walking over, Bo Yanchi remembered that he had forgotten to buy slippers for her. He pressed his lips together and said, "I'll call Zhou Ran and have him buy a pair for you."
"No need. I'll just wear yours for now." Yu Lizhi took down a pair of men's slippers and slipped her feet into them.
His shoe size was massive, making her fair, delicate feet look tiny and adorable stuffed inside.
Bo Yanchi's Adam's apple bobbed violently, a sudden wave of dry heat making him thirsty, and he stiffly averted his gaze.
"I... I'll go tidy up a guest room for you." Bo Yanchi turned on his heel and walked away, his arm and leg on the same side moving together in his awkwardness.
"I want to stay in your room."
Yu Lizhi called out, stopping him in his tracks. "Tonight, I'm sleeping with you."
Stumbling forward, Bo Yanchi nearly took a fall, biting down hard enough almost to catch his tongue. "Wh—what?"
Sleep with him?
Had she lost her mind?
Had she forgotten that he was a man with normal sexual orientation?
Or did she not see him as a man at all?
Or perhaps she didn't even see him as a human being?
"No way!" Bo Yanchi refused outright.
"Why not?" Yu Lizhi muttered with a pout of dissatisfaction. "A-Yan, do you find me annoying?"
"Yu Lizhi, don't forget, I am a man," Bo Yanchi said through gritted teeth.
"I know you're a man."
Yu Lizhi walked right up to Bo Yanchi, blinking her innocent eyes with a teasing smile.
"I just want to sleep with you, purely and simply. Where on earth did your mind wander? Your thoughts are so impure."
Bo Yanchi choked on air.
"A-Yan, were you having dirty thoughts?" Yu Lizhi covered her mouth with a chuckle, teasing him relentlessly.
"Is your head just full of smut? Could it be that you harbor impure desires toward me?"
"N—no." Bo Yanchi stiffened. Darting his eyes away and tightening his jawline, he replied with a stern expression, "Yu Lizhi, don't forget, you're the one who started clinging to me this time. I'm not interested in you."
He tried his hardest to act indifferent toward her, but the tips of his burning ears betrayed him.
"Oh my, why are your ears so red then?" Yu Lizhi stepped closer with a radiant smile, staring straight into his handsome face.
Acting!
Keep on acting!
If he hadn't told her after they got married in their past life that he had actually held a secret crush on her for a very years, she never would have believed that Bo Yanchi—always so ascetic, detached, and self-restrained—could possibly have fancied her, his ultimate arch-rival.
In her past life, she truly hadn't noticed a single hint; he had concealed it far too well.
He was such an absolute secret romantic.
"You're seeing things. I'm just furious with you." Subconsciously, Bo Yanchi touched his ear and practically fled back to his bedroom.
Watching his flustered retreat, Yu Lizhi burst into laughter. "So cute. A-Yan is so cute."
She must have been truly blind in her past life.
How had she never noticed that A-Yan had such an innocent side to him?
Cheerfully, Yu Lizhi followed after him, only to find Bo Yanchi flustered as he tidied up the room.
Taking quick steps forward, she threw herself face-down onto the soft bed. "My lovely big bed, we meet again."
At this, Bo Yanchi paused his movements and cast a bewildered look her way.
Again?
What did she mean by that?
He was quite certain he had never brought her to his home before.
"A-Yan, I want to take a shower." Yu Lizhi rolled over to sit up, hugging her knees as she spoke to him.
"Go ahead then, I'll finish tidying up the room." Breaking out of his reverie, Bo Yanchi made to leave.
"I'm sleeping with you tonight, so you're not allowed to clean up. I've staked my claim on this bed."
Acting like an utter rogue, Yu Lizhi walked up to Bo Yanchi and puffed out her cheeks at him in feigned anger.
"If you dare make me sleep in a separate room, I am never speaking to you again."
Bo Yanchi: "..."
Clearly, she didn't look at him as a man at all.
"I'm off to take a shower now."
Before stepping into the bathroom, Yu Lizhi reached out and playfully stroked his chin. "Be a good boy. Wait till I come out."
Her flirting left Bo Yanchi's face burning bright red. To hide his turmoil, he turned his head away, trying his best not to look at her. "Yu Lizhi, that's enough."
She was driving him crazy.
She was going to push him right over the edge.
With a giggling smile, Yu Lizhi stepped inside the bathroom and shut the door behind her.
Hearing the rush of water running inside, Bo Yanchi collapsed onto the edge of the bed, frantically loosening his tie as a wave of restless, scorching heat flooded his entire body.
He suspected Yu Lizhi was doing this on purpose.
Wasn't she afraid of teasing him like this?
Did she think he wouldn't take it seriously?
Wasn't she afraid of what he might actually do to her?
"A-Yan."
The bathroom door creaked open a crack, and Yu Lizhi poked her damp head out.
"Is—is something wrong?"
Bo Yanchi snapped to his feet, his fists clenching involuntarily as his Adam's apple bobbed and his breathing turned ragged.
"I forgot to bring a change of clothes. Could you find me something to wear?" Yu Lizhi said in a honeyed, clingy voice.
"Any of your shirts will do, you know. I don't mind at all."