His Sunday Substitute - Chapter 36

“You played well.”

Qin Cangye raised a hand to shield his eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. He tilted his head back and took a deep breath before suddenly bending down to scoop Su Yinuo into his arms, carrying her bridal-style with heavy steps toward the bedroom.

Su Yinuo nestled in Qin Cangye’s embrace, wiping away her tears, then cautiously glanced up at him. Noticing the faint redness at the corners of his eyes, she whispered an apology, “I’m sorry.”

Qin Cangye didn’t respond, his gaze fixed straight ahead, his expression icy. He placed Su Yinuo back on the bedroom bed and turned to leave, only for her to grab his sleeve.

“Qin Cangye,” Su Yinuo’s voice was soft, carrying a slight rasp, “I really do like you. Please believe me, okay?”

Those cotton-like words drifting into his heart brought with them a pain sharp as a blade. Qin Cangye shook off her hand and said coldly, “If you really like me, then rest properly. If you reject me again tonight, I’ll make sure you can’t get out of bed tomorrow!”

After Qin Cangye left, Su Yinuo let out a deep sigh, frustratedly tousling her hair into a mess as she pondered her next steps.

He seems to have gone completely mad, he won’t listen to a word I say, and he refuses to believe that I like him. What should I do?

Of course, I can’t just stay here every day sleeping with him. I need to find a way to make him let me go.

No, no, first, I have to figure out how to contact Mom. I can’t let her worry about me.

Maybe if I hold out a little longer tonight, wait until he falls asleep, then secretly use his phone to call Mom?

No, no, he’s so full of energy, there’s no way he’ll fall asleep before me.

What should I do? Ahhhh…

It’s fine, it’s fine. Crazy as he is, he definitely wouldn’t hurt Mom. I’m just afraid that if too much time passes, Qin Weishu might discover her existence.

But he’d probably protect my mom, right?

Still, I need to get out. I need to earn his trust, make him believe that I truly like him. I can’t let him misunderstand any longer, and I can’t let him spiral further into madness…

By evening, Qin Cangye returned to the villa early, carrying bags of sumptuous takeout.

The first floor was empty, the villa silent and devoid of any sound. Having checked the surveillance beforehand, Qin Cangye knew Su Yinuo was in the study reading, so he set the food containers down in the second-floor living area and headed toward the study.

Before he even reached the study door, he heard the clinking of chains, followed by a silver-gray figure darting out from the doorway.

His steps faltered slightly as the figure, carrying a pleasant fragrance, threw herself into his arms.

“You’re back! I heard you open the door.”

The person in his arms wrapped her arms around his waist, tilting her head up to reveal a beautiful, sweet smile.

Qin Cangye froze completely, at a loss for how to react for a long moment.

“Come on, come on, there’s something I don’t understand,” Su Yinuo took Qin Cangye’s hand and pulled him toward the study. The fluttering of her sleeves and the swaying of her hair conveyed her excitement, though her steps were slow, as if the earlier sprint had left her feeling slightly unwell.

Qin Cangye couldn’t understand why Su Yinuo was so happy, but her mood was infectious, lifting his spirits as well. He took a step forward, scooping her up in his arms, his voice noticeably gentler than it had been at noon: “Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

“A little… just… um… never mind, it’s nothing serious,” Su Yinuo replied sheepishly, lowering her head.

The silver silk nightgown slipped down her legs, and the neckline gaped open, allowing Qin Cangye an unobstructed view of the love marks covering her body. A surge of heat coursed through him. Pressing his lips together, he realized the reason for her discomfort and, filled with guilt, carried her to the sofa in the study. Kneeling down, he unfastened the chain around her ankle.

“Ah!” Su Yinuo quickly tried to stop him.

“It’s a bit red and swollen. We won’t do anything tonight,” Qin Cangye said, moving her hand aside and slipping beneath her nightgown.

Su Yinuo curled up, biting her finger as her body trembled slightly.

A moment later, Qin Cangye stood and pulled her into his embrace. He brushed his fingers against her flushed cheek and asked softly, “Feeling better now?”

Su Yinuo was still biting her finger, too dazed to respond.

Qin Cangye took her hand and gently pried her finger free, catching a glimpse of her small, crimson tongue and the silvery strand of saliva that followed as she parted her lips. The urge to kiss her surged within him, but he restrained himself, instead bringing her finger, marked with pink teeth impressions and glistening with moisture, to his mouth, licking it slowly.

The tingling sensation brought Su Yinuo back to her senses. She quickly withdrew her hand, avoiding his gaze as she murmured, “Stop licking. Your books are covered in dust, and I haven’t washed my hands.”

Qin Cangye suddenly felt like laughing. In that moment, he didn’t want to question whether Su Yinuo’s actions were genuine or feigned, he chose to believe they were all sincere.

He pinched her chin lightly and asked with a smile, “What were you reading?”

He had transformed into a tender lover, every glance and gesture brimming with affection.

“That one, that one,” Su Yinuo reached toward the desk where an open book lay.

Qin Cangye carried her over and settled into the wide chair, spotting the dark-covered philosophy and psychology book: Being and Time.

“I just got to this part,” Su Yinuo said, perched on Qin Cangye’s lap as she leaned forward to flip to the chapter she had been reading. She pointed at a line of text and asked, “I recognize every word, but when they’re put together, I don’t understand them.”

Qin Cangye’s attention, however, was entirely captured by the alluring curve of Su Yinuo’s waist, accentuated by her seated posture. The thin silk nightgown clung to her slender back and narrow waist, yet where her body pressed against his, it swelled enticingly.

Desire flared within him, drowning out Su Yinuo’s question, until she shifted impatiently in his lap and turned to face him. “I asked you something?”

As she turned, Su Yinuo noticed where Qin Cangye’s gaze was fixed and felt the unmistakable evidence of his arousal. She immediately sprang up, slamming the book back onto the desk.

Qin Cangye lifted his eyes, his smoldering gaze meeting Su Yinuo’s flustered, bashful one.

Su Yinuo avoided his greedy gaze, stammering, “Y-you said you weren’t going to do it anymore?”

“Not doing it,” Qin Cangye replied, his voice slightly hoarse as he withdrew the hunger from his eyes and turned his attention to the book. He spoke slowly, “This book is obscure and difficult to understand, filled with highly complex vocabulary. If you don’t comprehend it, reading it would be a complete waste of time with no benefit. Don’t bother.”

“Then why did you buy it?”

“For pretentious show,” Qin Cangye scoffed self-deprecatingly. He stepped forward, took Su Yinuo’s hand, and led her to the towering bookshelf. “Haven’t you noticed? Most of these are pretentious psychology and philosophy books. I rarely come to this villa, and the books are hardly touched. If you want to read, I recommend these instead, Psychology and Life, Thinking, Fast and Slow, Predictably Irrational…”

He pulled out several books, dusted them off, and placed them in Su Yinuo’s hands. “This should be enough to keep you occupied.”

Su Yinuo looked down at the five or six books in her arms and pouted, grumbling inwardly: Are you planning to never let me out? Giving me so many books to read…

“Hungry?” Qin Cangye bent down, peering at Su Yinuo’s lowered face.

She shook her head. “I ate a lot at lunch. Not hungry now, don’t feel like eating.”

“Then keep me company while I eat.” He took the books from her hands, placed them on the desk, and scooped her up into his arms again.

“Huh? I can walk by myself.”

“I want to carry you,” Qin Cangye insisted stubbornly.

During the meal, Qin Cangye still refused to let her go, and the unmistakable presence pressing against her made Su Yinuo extremely uncomfortable. “Can you put me down?” she asked cautiously.

Ignoring her, Qin Cangye’s eyes darkened as he commanded in an unyielding tone, “Open your mouth.”

Then he fed her a piece of fish, meticulously deboned.

When it was time to bathe, Qin Cangye carried Su Yinuo into the bathroom, casually stripping off his clothes in front of her. After flexing his sculpted muscles for a good half-minute, leaving her dizzy, he peeled off her robe and pulled her into the bathtub with him.

True to his word, he didn’t do anything beyond that.

“I already took a bath this afternoon…” Su Yinuo murmured softly.

“Keep me company,” Qin Cangye replied, his tone as obstinate and indifferent as ever.

Su Yinuo sighed quietly, then suddenly lifted her leg, jingling the chain around her ankle. “Won’t it rust if it gets wet?” she asked with genuine curiosity.

Her earnest tone nearly made Qin Cangye crack a smile. He wiped his nose with the back of his hand, tightened his arms around her, and pressed his foot down on the chain. “It’s stainless steel. Don’t worry.”

Su Yinuo gave an “oh” and fell silent, only to notice that unignorable presence again, squirming in discomfort.

While brushing their teeth, Qin Cangye remained pressed against her back.

As Su Yinuo held the electric toothbrush, her mind inexplicably conjured up a series of phallic objects: king oyster mushrooms, rolling pins, Northeastern red sausages, eggplants, zucchinis…

Ahhh! Su Yinuo, what are you thinking?! This is insane!

She shook her head violently and began brushing her teeth with frantic intensity.

Before going to bed, Su Yinuo took advantage of the time when Qin Cangye stepped out to answer a phone call and built a tall defensive barrier of pillows in the middle of the bed.

When Qin Cangye returned, his brows furrowed. Without hesitation, he flipped the pillows aside, swiftly climbed onto the bed, and pulled Su Yinuo into his arms. Holding her tightly, he said displeasedly, “Stop doing these pointless things. Don’t forget your place!”

Though Qin Cangye’s tone was harsh, Su Yinuo inexplicably found his domineering words somewhat amusing. After stifling a laugh in his embrace for a moment, she tilted her head up and asked, “What place?”

Qin Cangye’s expression turned icy as he replied, “You belong to me!”

“Pfft…” Su Yinuo couldn’t hold back her laughter.

Qin Cangye’s temple twitched uncontrollably.

After the lights were turned off, Su Yinuo, still tightly held in Qin Cangye’s arms, remained wide awake even after ten minutes.

Because that unignorable thing was truly impossible to ignore!

Su Yinuo let out a deep sigh and poked Qin Cangye’s chest. “You’re not asleep, are you?”

Qin Cangye let out a muffled “Mm” with his eyes closed.

Su Yinuo immediately reached down, grasped it firmly, and declared with righteous determination, “Go ahead!”

Qin Cangye frowned, barely suppressing a groan, then flipped her onto her back. Cradling her head, he kissed her lips deeply.

A long while later…

Su Yinuo’s hand grew sore, but finally, she felt a warm rush against her lower abdomen.

Qin Cangye rested his head on her shoulder, his heavy breaths gradually steadying. Yet, in the end, he said nothing. After cleaning up, he pulled Su Yinuo back into his arms and fell into a deep sleep.

The soft, even sound of breathing filled the quiet room. Su Yinuo opened her eyes, gently lifted Qin Cangye’s arm from around her, and carefully slipped out of his embrace. Her gaze landed on his phone resting on the nightstand behind him.

She hesitated.

If Qin Cangye caught her sneaking a look at his phone, it would undoubtedly set him off again.

Moreover, she had clearly sensed an improvement in their relationship that afternoon. Though Qin Cangye still wore a cold expression, his behavior had become much more normal, at times, even resembling that of an affectionate lover in the throes of passion.

But she was too worried about her mother’s safety. It had been two days since they last spoke. How anxious must her mother be?

After wrestling with the dilemma for a long time, she decided to secretly make a call to her mom.

Propping herself up, she cautiously leaned over the sleeping Qin Cangye and retrieved his phone.

When she turned it on, the lock screen displayed a photo of her. The picture had clearly been taken at night, her smiling face illuminated by the light, while the surroundings were shrouded in darkness.

Su Yinuo was stunned, muttering to herself, Where was this taken? When did I let him take a photo of me?

After staring at it for a few seconds, it suddenly dawned on her, this was a photo taken months ago on the rooftop of the Golden Waves Club by the lake, with Li Jinmiao!

When did Miaomiao send him this photo?

After grumbling inwardly for a bit, Su Yinuo shook off her thoughts. She held the phone up to Qin Cangye’s sleeping face, attempting to unlock it, but after several tries, the screen still displayed “Failed.”

Could it be that facial recognition doesn’t work with his eyes closed?

The realization struck her like a bolt of frustration. She let out a quiet, defeated sigh and tilted her head back, when suddenly, the phone in her hand emitted a soft click.

It unlocked??

Su Yinuo looked down in confusion, only to meet Qin Cangye’s wide-open eyes.

Her entire body trembled as the phone slipped from her fingers, landing with a soft thud beside Qin Cangye’s pillow.