A Bad Premonition

"No." Lin Xuan shook his head vigorously.

"In that case, why is Ah Xuan trying to drive me away?" Su Hua arched her delicate brows.

Just like in the restaurant earlier, Lin Xuan didn’t dare tell Su Hua the truth—that he was afraid of being teased by her.

"I just don’t want Hua Bao to get tired," Lin Xuan offered a flimsy excuse.

"Ah Xuan, tell me, after spending so much time in bed with you—even when I’m the one doing all the work—I never feel tired. How could standing here for a while wear me out?" Su Hua curled her crimson lips.

Lin Xuan had no retort.

Hua Bao’s stamina was inhuman.

People always said men were naturally more physically resilient than women, and he used to believe it.

Now he knew better—lies! All lies!

Stamina varied from person to person.

"Or does Ah Xuan need me to prove whether I’ll get tired or not?" Su Hua raised a brow.

"No, no need," Lin Xuan quickly shook his head. "I know your stamina, Hua Bao."

If she really had to prove it, they’d be at it for seven days and nights straight.

Su Hua watched him with amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Then Hua Bao can stay here with me for a while. If you get tired, just leave," Lin Xuan relented, resigning himself to her occasional teasing.

Hua Bao was still hung up on that photo incident with Qin Ruoyao. These days, he had to indulge her whims and avoid crossing her.

That way, his time in the "punishment room" would be shorter.

By the time Lin Xuan finished cooking, it had taken him twice as long as usual. He exhaled heavily.

This was pure self-inflicted torture.

For the foreseeable future, he was staying out of the kitchen.

Just when Lin Xuan thought he was free, the little temptress perched herself on his lap during the meal.

Her slender fingers slipped under his shirt, tracing his chest.

Lin Xuan tensed.

"Ah Xuan, feed me, hmm?" The woman’s red lips brushed his ear, her voice dripping with allure.

"Okay."

Lin Xuan obediently let Su Hua have her way, forcing himself to stay composed as he fed her.

Suddenly, his hand trembled.

Su Hua smiled coyly. "What’s wrong, Ah Xuan?"

Lin Xuan shot her a resentful look.

Wasn’t she just asking the obvious?

Damn it!

Where did Hua Bao even pick up this wicked habit?

Teasing him at breakfast, teasing him while he cooked, and now at lunch too!

After lunch, Lin Xuan assumed Su Hua would drag him to bed.

She’d held back in the morning, held back while he cooked—surely she wouldn’t restrain herself now?

But to his surprise, Su Hua stopped again, simply nestling in his arms and making him watch TV with her.

For the next few days, Su Hua never once led him to bed. At most, they shared a kiss, nothing more.

Lin Xuan was baffled.

This wasn’t like Hua Bao at all.

When she got jealous, shouldn’t she be pulling him into bed? Usually, this was how she soothed her insecurities.

This time, she’d only drained him dry the night they saw the photos. Since then, it had just been kisses.

Why was she acting so out of character?

No, this had happened several times now. Something was off—seriously off.

Lin Xuan racked his brain but couldn’t figure it out.

One day, after another round of teasing, both of them were flushed.

Su Hua pulled away from Lin Xuan’s lips, breathing lightly.

Clearly, she had no intention of taking things further.

"Hua Bao," Lin Xuan finally couldn’t hold back. "Why do you keep stopping?"

"Is there a problem? Or does Ah Xuan not want me to stop?" Su Hua arched a brow.

"No," Lin Xuan coughed. "I’m just curious. It doesn’t seem like you."

"Then I’ll tell you why," Su Hua rose on her tiptoes, her lips grazing his ear. "It’s because… I’m waiting for Ah Xuan to rest up and regain his strength. Only then can I devour you properly."

Lin Xuan was even more confused.

Rest up so she could eat him?

What was Hua Bao planning?

Could she be thinking seven days and nights weren’t enough…?

The thought sent a shiver down his spine.

Damn it!

If that were the case, his kidneys wouldn’t survive!

Three more days passed.

Su Hua had to attend a contract signing.

Perched on Lin Xuan’s lap in the computer chair, her voice left no room for argument. "Ah Xuan, wait here obediently for me. Don’t go anywhere, understand?"

"Okay," Lin Xuan agreed without hesitation.

It wasn’t like he had anywhere to go anyway. He’d stay at Night Garden and keep researching ways to treat Hua Bao’s condition.

"Good boy."

Su Hua looped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

A long moment later, she nipped his lip. Lin Xuan hissed in pain.

Ouch, ouch, ouch.

He was pretty sure she’d drawn blood.

Only then did Su Hua pull back, satisfied.

"This is your reward, Ah Xuan," she murmured, her voice husky.

Her gaze lingered on his lips before trailing downward—his throat, his chest, lower…

Ah Xuan was so tempting. She wanted to consume him whole.

But not yet.

She needed to let him rest a little longer. Once he was fully recovered, they’d have plenty of time to play in bed.

Lin Xuan noticed her stare and stiffened.

Hua Bao’s eyes looked like she wanted to eat him alive…

Then Su Hua suddenly stood and walked out of the study.

Lin Xuan: "..."

Guess he’d been corrupted by Hua Bao. She hadn’t meant anything by it, but his mind had gone straight to the gutter.

Outside the villa, Su Hua issued a cold command. "Keep an eye on Ah Xuan. Don’t let him leave."

"Yes, Master," a shadow guard replied respectfully.

Su Hua had her driver take her to the hotel where the meeting was held.

Lin Xuan clutched his chest, struck by a sudden, overwhelming sense of unease. His eyelids twitched—something felt off.

The only person who could unsettle him like this was Hua Bao.

He used to dismiss premonitions, but after experiencing something as impossible as rebirth, he couldn’t ignore this feeling. Especially when it concerned Su Hua.

Lin Xuan called Jiang Qing for reassurance. "Secretary Jiang, what’s Su Hua doing today?"

Jiang Qing answered, "Oh, President Su is attending a business meeting at Empire Hotel. She’ll return to Night Garden afterward. Is something wrong, Young Master Lin?"

"Does she have enough security with her?" Lin Xuan pressed.

"Young Master Lin, don’t worry. No one can touch President Su. They couldn’t before, and they definitely can’t now," Jiang Qing said confidently.

"Besides, this is Yundu City. No one would dare cause trouble here."

Lin Xuan frowned.

Was he just overthinking things?