Chapter 31: The Pink Contract

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Dugu Ning restrained the panic rising within him, as well as the agitation caused by Shangguan Lu’s teasing. He warned himself: He could not panic. He was the resourceful Dugu Ning. Even his own sister, Dugu Nan, consulted him whenever something happened. How could he allow himself to be controlled so easily?

“Men and women indulging in passion—that’s perfectly normal. I’m not afraid you’ll show what we just did to anyone. My eldest brother is the only one who cares about such things. If you want to work with me, I’m not opposed to it. Once everything is accomplished, I want half of the Dugu family’s assets. That isn’t too much to ask, is it?”

Dugu Ning had completely shed the timid, rabbitlike manner he had shown earlier. He looked straight at Shangguan Lu, seductive light gleaming in his eyes, while his fingers traced lightly across her chest. The woman’s figure was actually quite attractive. His earlier impulse had merely been an instinctive reaction born of inexperience.

Shangguan Lu watched with interest as the man before her transformed from furious and flustered to calm and alluring. She felt more and more that he was a treasure—perhaps even more entertaining than the icy mountain that was Dugu Yi.

She was an experienced player in matters of love and had long since lost interest in clumsy flirtation. Yet Dugu Ning’s slightly awkward movements still stirred the hidden desire within her. She caught his hand and slowly guided it toward the place where their bodies met.

“I never expected Second Young Master’s appetite to be so large. Still, I like men with * in them. A cold iceberg like your elder brother probably wouldn’t be much fun in bed.”

A wave of heat surged through her body. Shangguan Lu bent down and nipped at Dugu Ning’s pink lips. They were tender and soft, far more pleasant than those of the experienced men she had known before.

Dugu Ning felt a smothering heat trapped inside him with nowhere to go. Under Shangguan Lu’s kisses, he seemed to find an outlet for it. He kissed her back with force. He was not the sort of person who denied himself pleasure. Since he would sooner or later lose that membrane representing his innocence, why not choose a gentle woman with plenty of experience? Once he thought of it that way, he cast aside his reserve and joined with her boldly and wantonly.

Their entwined hands roamed over each other’s bodies, causing the already heightened emotions between them to rise to an even more feverish pitch. Dugu Ning thrust his waist upward and arched his neck back, pressing his body closer to Shangguan Lu, while their lips never parted.

It seemed that even without the intimacy of kindred spirits, the union of bodies could still bring pleasure. These two men and women, each harboring their own motives, competed with one another physically—and sealed their pact as they surrendered their bodies.

Outside the hospital, in a small golden car, Dugu Ning had already become quite practiced at kissing Shangguan Lu’s cheek. Having just become a mature man, he now carried a touch more allure between his brows and a little less of the naivety and awkwardness of youth.

Shangguan Lu took a fruit basket from the back seat and handed it to Dugu Ning, her face bright with a triumphant smile.

“Remember, we should avoid seeing each other too often. If something comes up, find me in Room 1102 at that hotel.”

She brushed her lips lightly against his and reminded him before he got out of the car. She did not forget to give his firm buttocks a playful slap.

“Ah!”

Caught unprepared, Dugu Ning grunted at the faint sting and turned to glare at her. Couldn’t this woman behave herself, especially out in public?

“Darling, don’t forget to dream of me tonight!”

Regardless of how sharp his gaze became, Shangguan Lu still blew him a flirtatious kiss.

How could Dugu Ning possibly compete with an experienced veteran like Shangguan Lu? No matter how clever he was, he was still only a young man taking his first steps into the world.

Her affectionate “darling” nevertheless left a faint sweetness in his heart, and his body tingled all over.

“All right, you certainly know how to flatter someone. Hurry up and go!”

Dugu Ning lifted the fruit basket, stood by the roadside, and waved at Shangguan Lu with feigned impatience.

Shangguan Lu made a kissing gesture. The car had already started, and before long it vanished from sight.

Carrying the fruit basket, Dugu Ning walked slowly into the hospital. Although his body still ached terribly, the sweetness in his heart was difficult to dispel.

When he reached the door of the ward, he saw through the half-closed door that Dugu Yi was feeding soup to Gu Xinyao. The jealousy he had buried deep within himself suddenly rose again.

He was jealous of his elder brother. Dugu Yi possessed a handsome face and abilities no woman could surpass, while he could only rely on their father’s influence and their mother’s affection. From time to time, their father even had to sternly warn him not to be too willful.

Why was everything best always given to his elder brother, while he could only live as a shadow?

He tightened his grip on the basket. The swelling pain beneath his fingernails suddenly reminded him that he, too, now had a backer unlike anyone else—Shangguan Lu. The woman was somewhat wicked and improper, but she was willing to work with him.

Once he possessed half of the Dugu family’s assets, what could he possibly lack? Money, status, wealth—and even women. He could have any kind he wanted.

His gaze grew increasingly somber, and a dark, sinister glint flashed through his eyes.

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He knocked lightly on the door twice. After receiving permission from inside, he pushed open the door to the ward.

Gu Xinyao felt that this was the happiest moment of her life. She no longer had to struggle for a living or pretend to enjoy those troublesome social engagements. She could simply be herself. Facing Dugu Yi, she was finally able to reveal the truest part of herself.

“Uncle Yuan said drinking more of this bone broth would be good for you. Once a little more time has passed and your bones have fully healed, he’ll stew black-boned chicken soup for you too, to restore your energy and regulate your blood.”

Dugu Yi scooped up another spoonful of broth and continued speaking to Gu Xinyao without the slightest trace of impatience.

Gu Xinyao narrowed her eyes and drank a mouthful. She had to admit that the soup was deliciously rich without being greasy, with a light fragrance that lingered pleasantly.

“You should have some too. You’ve been running back and forth between both sides and have lost weight.”

After taking another sip, Gu Xinyao pushed the spoon toward Dugu Yi. His handsome features had not diminished, but he was clearly much thinner than before, as could be seen from the sharper outline of his profile.

With the spoon at his lips, Dugu Yi had no choice but to drink. He did not feel that the past few days had been especially difficult. On the contrary, his life had become more fulfilling.

After their automobile accident and hospitalization, Dugu Nan had made a decision in his place that caused the company to lose a considerable amount of money. Their mother had expressly forbidden her from interfering in the company’s internal affairs for the time being. As a result, everything had gone more smoothly for him, and his work had become considerably easier.

“You should keep drinking it yourself. Uncle Yuan used to give me all kinds of soup, and now I’m frightened whenever I see any. Losing weight doesn’t mean I’m unhealthy.”

Refusing to drink more soup, Dugu Yi nevertheless insisted on feeding Gu Xinyao another spoonful.

In a certain sense, Gu Xinyao felt that Dugu Yi was actually the more domineering of the two. In modern terms, he would probably be called a strong woman. People like that had their own way of doing things and certainly would not tolerate others changing their decisions without permission. The fact that he had allowed her into his world was truly an honor.

Knock, knock—

“Come in!”

When the door opened from outside, Gu Xinyao and Dugu Yi looked toward it in surprise. Apart from Dugu Yi’s father, Gu Yu, who had visited once, no one else from the Dugu family had come to see them. Besides, Dugu Yi had already been discharged. The Dugu family seemed to have even less reason to visit now.

“Hi, Big Brother, Sister-in-law. I came to see you.”

Dugu Ning entered with a beaming smile. Since the fruit basket in his left hand made it inconvenient, he waved at them with his right.

Gu Xinyao had never felt much affection for Dugu Ning. From the beginning, this younger brother-in-law had seemed to conceal himself deeply. Whenever Dugu Yi came up in conversation, there was always some hidden meaning in his words. She disliked men who were affected and pretended to be innocent.

“Ning, what brings you here?”

Dugu Yi set down the spoon and stood, asking with concern.

Dugu Ning approached and placed the fruit basket on the nearby table.

“I heard from Dad that Sister-in-law’s condition has improved quite a bit, so I came to see her. Besides, Mother has punished me by making me start from the bottom, and I don’t have much to do lately. I have plenty of time. It’s just inconvenient without a car. I had to walk for ages before I finally reached the hospital.”

“Thank you so much for being kind enough to come see your useless sister-in-law, Ning. You must be tired.”

Gu Xinyao gave a snort, lay flat on the bed, and closed her eyes. She had no intention of engaging him in any deeper conversation. She was not the sort of person who repaid cruelty with kindness. She had not forgotten how he had tried to seduce her under the guise of an experiment. If Dugu Yi had not trusted her, who knew what their marriage would look like now?

“Th-that’s nothing.”

Embarrassment spread across Dugu Ning’s face. He rubbed his hands together and stood beside the bed, neither able to advance nor retreat.

Unwilling to watch his younger brother continue being mocked by his wife, Dugu Yi pointed to the bed behind Dugu Ning.

“Ning, you’ve been walking for so long and must be tired. Sit down and rest. Your sister-in-law is only concerned about you. Her tongue is just a little sharp, so don’t take it personally.”

Dugu Yi had always been very tolerant toward his family. He was also generous with his younger siblings. Even when they caused trouble for him from time to time, he dealt with it calmly.

Glancing at Gu Xinyao, who had closed her eyes and clearly had no intention of entertaining a guest, Dugu Ning could only sit on the other bed. Silence once again settled over the ward.

Dugu Yi felt somewhat helpless in such situations. He had never been good at resolving family disputes, and after getting married, he had rarely returned to the old family residence. He generally encountered Dugu Ning only at the company. Besides, Dugu Nan and Dugu Ning often used the excuse of handling business outside to go off and amuse themselves. Apart from the trouble those siblings caused and left for Dugu Yi to resolve, the three of them seldom sat down for a proper conversation.

“Big Brother, I came because I wanted to ask you for something. Could you give me the Shengfan project?”

Dugu Ning lowered his head and twisted his fingers for a while before raising it again. His face was full of entreaty.

Dugu Yi had only just sat down. Upon hearing this, his brows drew sharply together. The Shengfan project involved renovating an energy-collection pipeline. It was not a particularly large project, but Shengfan was both a longstanding and important client. If they mishandled it, the resulting losses could be substantial.

“Ning, you’ve only just begun learning about energy planning and manufacturing. You’re still unfamiliar with the issues involved in renovating energy pipelines. If I handed you the project recklessly, you might not know where to begin. I think you should continue working at the plant for now. Once you understand the process, Mother will let you return to the company.”

Dugu Yi did not indulge his younger siblings merely because he loved them, nor did he allow them to act recklessly. How could he casually entrust such an important project to his younger brother?

Dugu Ning furrowed his brows. Though displeasure showed on his face, he said, “You’re right, Big Brother. After all, you’re the one who handles important matters. How could you possibly take a little boy like me seriously? Well, I’ve seen Sister-in-law now, so I won’t disturb you and her from enjoying your time together. I’ll be going.”

His body felt uncomfortable, and his request had been denied. He no longer wished to keep pretending to be a good person.

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“What are you talking about? Your elder brother has been more than tolerant toward all of you. What more do you want from him?”

Gu Xinyao had long since heard enough of Dugu Ning’s barbed remarks. She sat up in anger and glared directly at him as he rose to his feet.

Dugu Yi wanted to stop Gu Xinyao, but she seized his arm. Furious, she glared fiercely at Dugu Ning.

“Dugu Ning, don’t keep bullying Yi just because you’re younger. He may be your elder brother, but he is also my husband. I cherish him and love him. I let him work at the company because that is what he wants. Otherwise, I would have taken him away with me long ago. You have no right to come here and criticize him.”

Dugu Ning had never seen Gu Xinyao look at him with such ferocity. He was frightened and instinctively stepped backward, but the bed blocked his retreat.

Seeing his brother’s face turn deathly pale from Gu Xinyao’s intimidation, Dugu Yi could not help feeling sorry for him.

“Xinyao, Ning is still just a child. You don’t have to speak so harshly to him. Don’t be angry—you’re still recovering. I’ll take him home now.”

After pressing Gu Xinyao back down onto the bed, he went over, took Dugu Ning by the arm, and led him out of the ward.

On the way home, Dugu Yi gently tried to comfort him.

“Ning, don’t blame your sister-in-law. She’s been in the hospital for so long that she’s become irritable. That’s why she spoke so loudly.”

Dugu Ning wiped at his eyes and said hesitantly, “S-she doesn’t talk to you like that.”

Dugu Yi was momentarily silenced. He wanted to say that it was because they were husband and wife, and because she had promised never to lose her temper with him. But faced with his younger brother throwing a childish tantrum, he could not say such a thing.

“She loses her temper with me sometimes too. You’ll get used to it.”

Dugu Ning looked up at him, his eyes full of confusion. Dugu Yi, driving with meticulous attention, failed to notice the vicious glint that flashed through his brother’s eyes.

“Hey, Big Brother, what’s this?”

Something had caught Dugu Ning’s attention. While waiting at a red light, Dugu Yi glanced toward him and saw that Dugu Ning was examining several sketches Gu Xinyao had drawn of energy-gathering stones.

His heart gave a jolt, but he quickly composed himself.

“Oh, those? They’re a few small balls for burning incense that your sister-in-law designed. She asked me to have someone make them. I’ve been too busy lately, so they’ve just been sitting in the car.”

Dugu Ning turned the drawings over and over, studying them several times. He did not seem to believe Dugu Yi’s explanation, yet he could not make anything of the sketches either, so he put them back in the car’s storage compartment.

They said nothing for the rest of the journey.

When they reached the Dugu family residence, Dugu Ning got out of the car and waved goodbye. Dugu Yi nodded, did not even get out, and immediately turned the car around to return to the hospital.

Standing at the gate, Dugu Ning did not go inside at once. Instead, he took out his communicator and entered several numbers.

Shangguan Lu’s lazy voice came through.

“Darling, did you miss me so soon?”

Dugu Ning ignored her teasing and said quickly, “I just saw a drawing in my elder brother’s car. It was strange. I asked him about it, and he said it was a ball for burning incense. But it didn’t look like one to me. I’ve scanned the drawing and sent it to you. Take a look.”

Shangguan Lu’s voice became serious.

“All right. I’ll contact you once I learn anything.”

With that, they ended the call.

Dugu Ning switched off the communicator, a smug smile appearing on his face. He was determined to find out exactly what Dugu Yi and Gu Xinyao were plotting.

Author’s Note: This chapter arrived rather late, but at least it turned out fairly substantial. O(n_n)o~

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