Chapter 58: Gu Wanzhou Pretends to Sleep

[T/N: Chapter 57 was author promoting his book. So, I didn't think it was necessary.]

Gu Wanzhou's heart raced uncontrollably.

Li Zhiyan wanted to help her take off her stockings.

It wasn't appropriate. There were boundaries between men and women, and this certainly crossed them.

Yet before she could voice her refusal, his hand was already on her leg.

The stockings she wore reached above her knees, covering part of her thighs. Though the design spared her some embarrassment, she still felt an undeniable tension coursing through her body.

His hand was warm—unnaturally so. It carried an inexplicable magic, sending shivers up her spine.

She let out a soft hum, unable to suppress the sensation as Li Zhiyan slowly began to pull her stockings down.

It was an oddly meticulous process, like a craftsman handling a delicate work of art. His gaze lingered, unwavering.

"Aunt Gu," Li Zhiyan murmured as his eyes traced the contours of her legs. "Your legs are so beautiful... so white and smooth."

A wave of shame surged through Gu Wanzhou. If any other man had dared to do this before marriage, she would have shot daggers with her eyes.

But this was Li Zhiyan—her son. A son she held a deep fondness for.

"Leave the other one. Auntie can manage on her own," she said, her voice soft but firm.

Once the stocking was off, she breathed a sigh of relief. Despite his role as her son, he was still an adult man, and the act itself felt far too intimate.

"Aunt Gu, let me massage your ankles," he offered, his tone eager.

He gently took hold of her foot, his fingers working skillfully to relieve the tension. For a woman accustomed to wearing high heels, the sensation was almost heavenly.

Li Zhiyan's thoughts, however, had begun to drift.

("Aunt Rao probably experiences ankle pain too. If I ever get the chance, I'll help her with a massage. I wonder if...")

As he mused, his focus returned to the task at hand, his fingers pressing and kneading with increasing familiarity.

Gu Wanzhou leaned back, her eyelids fluttering closed.

His massage was dangerously soothing. She couldn't help but let out soft, contented hums.

---

"Xiaoyan, I didn't know you could hold your liquor so well," Gu Wanzhou remarked, her voice tinged with curiosity. "You seemed perfectly fine after three glasses of baijiu."

"I've always been fine, Auntie," Li Zhiyan replied with a slight smile.

"You even drank for Aunt Rao at that banquet," she added, a sour undertone creeping into her voice.

The memory of that night resurfaced—Rao Shiyun clutching Li Zhiyan's hand under the table. At the time, Gu Wanzhou had reached out to hold his other hand, as if competing for his attention.

She felt conflicted now. Perhaps there was something between the two of them.

"Aunt Gu," Li Zhiyan explained, "Liu Huan was trying to embarrass Aunt Rao by getting her drunk. He clearly had bad intentions, so of course, I had to step in."

Gu Wanzhou studied him, her heart softening. He truly was a considerate and protective son.

"You're very kind to women," she remarked lightly. "Rao Shiyun is beautiful, though. And her figure... well, it's the kind men dream of."

Li Zhiyan chuckled. "Every woman has her own charm. Aunt Rao is lovely, but you, Aunt Gu, are equally beautiful. Your figure is just right—slim and elegant."

His words struck a chord, and she couldn't help the faint blush that crept across her cheeks.

"So," she ventured, feigning casualness, "who do you prefer? Auntie or Aunt Rao?"

Li Zhiyan hesitated. He knew better than to give the wrong answer when a woman asked such a question.

"You," he said finally, his tone sincere. "You're the best elder in my heart."

Satisfied, Gu Wanzhou smiled, though her mind remained conflicted.

---

"Aunt Gu, let's switch to the other leg," Li Zhiyan suggested. "Just rest both legs on mine."

The massage had left her feeling weak, and without much thought, she complied. Her flawless legs rested on his lap, their bare skin brushing against his shorts.

The contact sent a jolt through Li Zhiyan, but he quickly refocused, his hands resuming their gentle work on her calves. Slowly, his hands ventured upward, nearing her thighs.

Gu Wanzhou adjusted her skirt discreetly, ensuring nothing inappropriate was exposed. Then, she closed her eyes once more, surrendering to the comfort of his touch.

As she drifted off, Li Zhiyan's gaze lingered on her.

Her legs were mesmerizing, their beauty rivaling that of any woman he'd ever seen.

(Aunt Gu's legs are so flawless... so perfect. I wonder what it would feel like to...)

The thought took root, dark and insistent. Before he could stop himself, he bent down and planted a soft kiss on her calf.

---

The warm, damp sensation jolted Gu Wanzhou awake.

This boy... he had kissed her again.

Her heart raced as she considered her options. She could confront him, but... he hadn't done anything more. For now, she decided to feign sleep.

He's just a boy, she reasoned, full of youthful curiosity. At eighteen, it wasn't unusual to have such thoughts.

Unaware of her wakefulness, Li Zhiyan stole another kiss, this time on her other calf.

Her body tensed, but she maintained her facade, hoping he wouldn't push further.

Li Zhiyan, however, was struggling to rein in his desires.

(A calf kiss is harmless, isn't it? But what about...)

Before he could finish the thought, he bent down again, this time brushing his lips against her thigh.

---

Gu Wanzhou's heart pounded in her chest.

This boy... he was getting bolder.

Yet, despite the rising heat in her cheeks, she stayed still, allowing him this fleeting transgression.

When he finally stopped, Li Zhiyan sat back, his face flushed with guilt and exhilaration.

(Aunt Gu's legs are incredible... but I need to stop. I can't let these thoughts consume me.)

As silence fell, Gu Wanzhou let out a soft sigh, pretending to stir in her sleep.

Li Zhiyan quickly straightened, his hands retreating as he fought to compose himself.

For now, the room returned to calm. But in both their hearts, a storm brewed, unspoken and unresolved.

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