Facing Bo Jingzhou's killing gaze, Gu Chenye retracted the shock on his face, took another sip of wine, and after a long while, he spoke again: "No, but with your physical ailment, you should see a professional. Or maybe you could drink some… uh… that stuff."

This kind of thing is really a blow to a man's pride.

Even when he and He Youjun normally bicker, it's just playful teasing between brothers. If this were real, those casual remarks he used to tease him with wouldn't come out easily anymore.

Normally calm and composed, able to weather any storm with ease and composure, the esteemed Master Gu stuttered for once. After speaking, he lowered his head and drank two cups of wine in quick succession.

Bo Jingzhou gave him a cold stare, as if he wanted to shove his head into the wine and drown him. Gritting his teeth, he spat out each word: "My body is fine."

He has all the reactions and impulses a man should have, but he always hesitates at the last step.

“Oh,” Gu Chenye drawled, “You’re physically fine, then you have psychological problems? Is this only how you are towards Shen Wanci? What about other women?”

"Gu Chenye," Bo Jingzhou snatched the wine cup from his hand: "You damn can get out, drinking so much, you're not afraid of dying from alcohol poisoning."

Gu Cenye was splashed with spilled wine, wetting his hands. He wanted to retort, but seeing that he wasn't doing well, he swallowed the words back. "If you don't want to change women, then just tell Shen Wanci. These days, platonic love is also acceptable. Maybe she truly loves you and is willing to tolerate your... flaws."

But in her heart, she thought, with your temper, if I were Shen Wanci, I wouldn't want to be with you either.

Bo Jingzhou : “…”

He pursed his lips, his face not improving at all because of his words. Gu Chenye's words sounded like consolation, but each word felt unusually piercing.

What is a defect?

Seeing that Bo Jingzhou remained silent, Gu Chenye coughed again and asked, "Or have you already told her? She couldn't accept it?"

Bo Jingzhou's face was pale, "She divorced me because of this."

“...”

"She's already avoiding me, I'm just going to tell her that it's not that I don't want to see her, it's just that I can't be around her. She wouldn't even hesitate to chase me out with a broom…"

This isn't even called a "chasing wife funeral pyre," it's straight up being incinerated to ashes and scattered.

Gu Cenyè raised his hand to press against his forehead, silent for a long time.

They didn't turn on those gaudy lights, the warm yellow glow bathed their heads, obscuring their features in the shadows cast by their short hair. It was hard to make out their details.

Bo Jingzhou gritted his back teeth: "Are you laughing?"

"No," Gu Chenye's voice sounded a bit hoarse, and unusually slow, "I drank too fast and got choked."

I don't believe you!

As someone who had weathered many storms, Gu Chenye quickly regained his composure: "You said you liked her, didn't you? Why were you okay before but not now when it matters?"

Even brothers who usually talk about everything wouldn't pry into this kind of personal matter. They knew Shen Wanci and Bo Jingzhou got married because they slept together, but any more details...they were clueless.

He's not a pervert, interested in other people's sex lives.

Bo Jingzhou's face was pale, and after a long silence, he said: "As soon as I get to the last step, I will remember what happened when we were in the hotel before. She bled quite a lot and had to stay in the hospital for two days. Just thinking about these things makes me sweat and my hands and feet go weak. I can't muster any strength at all. Besides, she is actually quite averse to this kind of thing."

Gu Chenye, though he didn't want to mock him, couldn't help it. "You were born from an elephant, weren't you? You have no practical experience and your skills are terrible. Besides, you're not even gentle! If I were Shen Wanci, I wouldn't just reject you, I would castrate you!"

Bo Jingzhou snarled, "If you were Shen Wanci, I wouldn't even look at you."

Gu Chenye: "..."

Nevermind, what's the point of arguing with a Shiba Inu?

"I have a psychologist's contact here, I'll send it to you in a bit. You can ask them, who knows, there might still be hope."

……

The next day, Shen Wanci went to the Nie family before going to the villa.

She had called ahead, and when she arrived, Nie's mother was arranging flowers. "Wanci is here! Come take a look at how I arranged these flowers? I just learned two days ago, your father is such a philistine, he can't say anything insightful, he just said they looked nice."

Shen Wanci placed the gifts she brought on the tea table and walked over, glancing at the nearly finished bouquet: "Father might not understand appreciation, but Mother, your flower arrangement is indeed beautiful. It's even better than mine, a professional painter's aesthetic."

Although Nie Ma knew the words were somewhat exaggerated, who didn't love to hear nice things? It wasn't like she was being abused, and she enjoyed being praised. She immediately broke into a smile and said, "You have such a sweet mouth, if..."

Her face flickered, and she didn't continue. "Why did you suddenly think of visiting me today? Is there something else you want to say but are too embarrassed to?"

This statement is a double entendre.

Shen Wanci didn't hide it. Although Nie's mother seemed like a typical housewife, being the mistress of the Nie household wouldn't be simple. Some skills are essential courses for wealthy daughters, starting from childhood. Beat around the bush and speak in riddles would only annoy people: "Aunt, do you know the villa on the hillside in Yusheng Mountain?"

Nie's mom was pruning rose branches. Hearing her words, her finger accidentally pressed against a thorn, and the sharp point pierced the flesh of her fingertip. She frowned and let out an 'ouch'.

"I'll get the first aid kit from home, "Shen Wanci said hurriedly. "I'll go find some alcohol to spray on it and disinfect it for you."

"No need, it's just a small scratch. It's common to get pricked by roses when pruning them. I don't even know how many times I've been poked these past few days. Why did you suddenly ask about that villa? It's been abandoned for years. Rumor has it... it's not very clean. There used to be some residents living around there, but they all moved away one after another."

Shen Wanci still found alcohol for Nie's mother to rub her hands, "Whose property is that, Mother? Do you know?"

“He probably used to be a foreign businessman, living abroad for many years. Maybe he passed away; it's been so long since he came back, and no one has taken care of his business.”

"That villa has been inhabited recently," Shen Wanci looked up at Mrs. Nie, "I took a job, the employer is the owner of that villa."

"Impossible..." Nie's mother replied with a definitive and cutting tone. Seeing Shen Wanci look at her with confusion, she immediately returned to the gentle demeanor she usually displayed...