Chapter 66 "You can lock me up."...

The delicate lace bra strap hanging on her shoulder was hooked by Sheng Yu's well-defined fingertips and broke with the slightest tug.

Tang Ci was startled and tried to cover herself, but Sheng Yu had already covered her first and gently pinched her.

"Give me a kiss?"

As his thin, warm lips brushed against her earlobe, Tang Ci nodded in a daze, "Sure."

As she spoke, her lips traced along his jawline, searching for his mouth.

Sheng Yu pinched her again, his calloused thumb rubbing against her front: "Baby, I'm talking about here."

Tang Ci's back straightened instantly, and her fingertips, which were bracing against the table, curled up.

Before she could answer, Sheng Yu lowered his head and kissed her, biting her while untying the ties at the bottom.

When Sheng Yu carried her back to the bedroom, Tang Ci's mind was a complete blank. It was only when she caught a glimpse of the dressing mirror in the bedroom that she suddenly snapped out of it and buried her flushed cheeks in his arms.

Sheng Yu chuckled and put her on the bed: "It's too late to be shy now."

Tang Ci pulled the blanket over the lower half of her face and asked softly, "Are you... happy today?"

Sheng Yu paused in taking off his shirt, glancing sideways at her. Under the bright light, his little figure was flushed with shame, and his eyes were moist.

All she did was to please him.

So are you happy?

Sheng Yu silently asked himself, but the answer came from the past. All those nights when he was awakened by nightmares vanished at this moment.

Tang Ci saw his dazed expression and her heart tightened slightly. She reached out from under the covers and gently rubbed his face, just as he always did: "What's wrong?"

Sheng Yu blinked his dark eyes, but still didn't answer her. He raised his hand to turn off the light, then leaned down and kissed her.

He acted very aggressively today.

Tang Ci cried several times during the process, and Sheng Yu patiently kissed her wet eyelids, constantly coaxing her with a low voice, and never stopped his actions.

Afterwards, she sat weakly on the edge of the bed and drank the warm water that Sheng Yu handed her.

After finishing her glass of water, she rubbed her red eyes and asked, "I think I heard someone knocking on the door just now. Was it the food delivery?"

Sheng Yu wiped the water droplets from her lips: "It shouldn't be. I had them leave it at the door."

No sooner had he finished speaking than there was another knock on the door. This time, there were no other noises, and the sound was very clear.

Tang Ci's face showed a slight surprise.

Sheng Yu casually grabbed a bathrobe from the closet and put it on, then turned around and pinched her cheek: "I'll go check on her. You rest for a while and then come out to eat."

Tang Ci's cheeks flushed instantly when she saw the scratch marks on his collarbone: "Put your clothes on before you open the door."

Sheng Yu hummed in agreement, but simply fastened his belt and left the bedroom.

/

"Looks like President Sheng isn't home today," his friend patted Jin Ming on the shoulder. "Young Master Jin, shall we go?"

Jin Ming pulled his face away from the door and raised an eyebrow in confusion: "The restaurant order is still here at the door, did you forget about it?"

"I guess so. Let's come another day. A day or two of celebration won't make a difference."

"Today is Yunqi's opening celebration banquet. What's the point of going another day?" Jin Ming waved his hand irritably.

He was forcibly taken to a project site in Russia by his father some time ago, and was only released back to China today. Upon learning of the news from Shengyu Company, he prepared a big gift overnight and brought a group of friends to celebrate.

Jin Ming lifted the gift box in his hand, and reluctantly knocked on the door again, this time with all his might, thumping loudly.

Just as he withdrew his numb hand and prepared to leave, the door suddenly opened from the inside.

Sheng Yu stood in the entryway, his face unfriendly, and asked, "What's the matter?"

Jin Ming had just picked up the gift when he saw the glaring red mark on Yu Ge's collarbone visible beneath his loose bathrobe. He immediately turned pale with shock: "Brother Yu, did you sleep with someone?!"

Everyone in the industry knows that Sheng Yu is a cold-hearted person who is devoted to his work and has never been involved in romantic affairs.

When Jin Ming heard this, his other friends gathered around, their eyes wide as they discussed, "What kind of monster is this who could possibly win over President Sheng?"

Just as the noise started, light footsteps came from the direction of the bedroom. A woman wearing the same bathrobe as Sheng Yu looked towards the door with a puzzled expression: "Who's here?"

Upon seeing the newcomer's narrow, clean face, Jin Ming dropped the gift in his hand with a thud: "Tang Ci?!"

Sheng Yu clicked his tongue and impatiently knocked on the door frame: "It's Mrs. Sheng."

Tang Ci saw what was happening by the door, but couldn't hear what they were saying, so she quickly retreated back into the bedroom.

"Something feels off..." Jin Ming's eyes darted around as he asked Sheng Yu, "You didn't go to Jiang Zheng's birthday party on purpose, did you?"

Sheng Yu raised an eyebrow, bowed, and carried the gifts and lunchbox into the entryway. After standing up, he still did not invite them in: "Thanks, is there anything else?"

The envisioned gathering of a group of bachelors fell through, and Jin Ming choked back a sob: "It's nothing important anyway."

"Then let's go back." Sheng Yu closed the door and urged the customer to leave: "Let's get together at your bar next time."

Tang Ci waited until the living room quieted down before leaving the bedroom. This time, she changed into her everyday clothes, buttoning them all the way up.

The front door was closed, and the living room was empty.

The air was filled with a sweet and sour aroma. Sheng Yu was heating up borscht in the kitchen when he asked without turning his head, "Why are you hiding in your own home?"

Tang Ci rested her elbow on the island counter, watching his busy figure, and said in a muffled voice, "I'm still not quite used to it."

"What's not to your liking?" Sheng Yu turned around and stuffed the warm milk and steamed buns into her hand.

Tang Ci took a bite and mumbled, "I'm afraid your friends won't like me."

Sheng Yu pinched her cheek lightly: "That's their problem to consider. Have they forgotten that it's your decision in our family?"

"I haven't forgotten." Tang Ci swallowed the sweet steamed bun, her heart heavy at his words.

Sheng Yu turned the boiling soup down to a simmer, raised an eyebrow, and sat down opposite her: "If you haven't forgotten, you have to take on the responsibilities of the family. From now on, you have to protect me in front of outsiders, understand?"

Tang Ci immediately lowered her head in shame for her earlier desertion, silently clenching her fist in her heart: "I will."

/

Over the weekend, Jin Ming invited a famous folk band to perform a live house at the bar, and invited Tang Ci and Sheng Yu to participate.

Zizhuyuan Park is only two subway stops away from the commercial street where the bar is located. Tang Ci didn't ask Sheng Yu, who was working overtime at the company, to pick her up; she would go there herself when the time came.

When she arrived, there was already a long queue at the bar entrance. Tang Ci took out the entry code sent by Jin Ming on her phone and followed the queue into the bar.

The band's performance hadn't started yet, but a DJ was spinning records on stage, and even though the hall was dimly lit, it was clear that the hall was packed.

She left early, and when she arrived at the booth that Jin Ming had reserved, no one else had arrived yet.

Tang Ci sat down and casually flipped through the wine list when she suddenly heard Sheng Yu's name. At first, she thought she had misheard, but after she saw who was sitting in the next booth, she realized that it wasn't him.

The next booth, only two meters away, was filled with a group of thugs with tattooed arms and leather jackets. One of them, a thin, gloomy man, was drinking and talking: "Sheng Yu, a scoundrel who fights and races cars every day, has suddenly become a hotel tycoon. Isn't that ridiculous?"

The man in the leather jacket scoffed, "Who doesn't know he's backed by the Sheng family? Even though the Sheng family has fallen from power, they still have his money and connections."

“I remember your dad worked for the Sheng family for over twenty years,” someone mentioned, “Why was he laid off recently?”

Mentioning this, a fierce glint flashed in Lin Yao's cloudy eyes: "My dad injured his leg and took a leave of absence for a while. Sheng Hong saw that my dad was no longer of any use to him and immediately issued a notice."

Leather Jacket and Lin Yao were old friends who had played together since junior high school. Leather Jacket knew a little about his family and the Sheng family's affairs. Hearing Lin Yao say this, he immediately cursed a few times: "Isn't this how Sheng Yu treated you back then? You served him hand and foot, and in the end, he still sent you to jail!"

"Lin Yao, can you tolerate this?"

"I heard that Sheng Yu is still in Nanling, attending all kinds of banquets every day looking all high and mighty. Can you swallow this?"

"Just say the word, and we brothers will do anything you want, even at the cost of our lives."

They were originally a bunch of scoundrels who drifted through life in society. After drinking a bit, they got carried away and started stirring things up one after another.

Recalling the times Sheng Yu had humiliated him, Lin Yao tightened his grip on the wine glass, his back teeth grinding together. After a long pause, he said in a low voice, "Let's go to Binhu Park again. This time, we'll corner him by the lake. Sheng Yu is afraid of water; whether he lives or dies if he falls in is up to fate—"

As a jug of ice water was poured over his head, Lin Yao shivered, his words abruptly cut off, and the noisy thugs fell silent, all looking at the figure standing behind Lin Yao.

Tang Ci, holding the empty water bottle, trembled uncontrollably with anger, but her voice remained remarkably calm: "If you dare to do anything to Sheng Yu, I will absolutely not let you off the hook."

After the thugs saw Tang Ci's appearance clearly, they looked at each other for a moment, then burst into laughter.

They found it hard to believe that those harsh words had just come from her, after all, she looked too well-behaved, and her fair face still carried the air of refinement that came from her ivory tower.

Lin Yao wiped his face, suppressing his anger with disdain, and sneered, "You? What can a sickly guy like you do to me?"

“Since you know I’m sickly,” Tang Ci slammed the kettle on the table with a thud, staring intently at Lin Yao as she said, word by word, “then you should understand that I don’t care about my life, but you seem to value it. Are you sure you want to play this game?”

Looking into her dark eyes, Lin Yao felt a cold sweat break out on his back. He seemed to understand why Sheng Yu, such an arrogant young master, would fall for her, a bookish girl with poor health. It was probably because of the tenacity hidden beneath her gentle appearance.

He suddenly remembered that back in high school, on a mountain road in the cold rain, she single-handedly intercepted a speeding motorcycle, which is how she won her bet with Sheng Yu.

This woman is indeed willing to risk her life for Sheng Yu.

He was starting to have second thoughts, but his brothers' jeers were getting louder and louder. Feeling embarrassed, he gritted his teeth and glared at Tang Ci, saying, "I remember Sheng Yu went to Australia right after graduating high school, right? You're so eager to fawn over him, does he even remember who you are?"

"—Tang Ci."

A cold, sharp voice suddenly rang out, causing both sides to pause in their confrontation.

Lin Yao looked around behind Tang Ci and met Sheng Yu's dark eyes, his cheeks immediately tightening.

Jin Ming came in with Sheng Yu. Before they even reached their booth, they saw Tang Ci standing alone in front of the next booth, talking to her.

Jin Ming initially thought she had run into a friend, but as they approached and saw her trembling body, he realized something was wrong. Looking at the person opposite her, he blurted out a curse: "Damn it, what's that filthy Lin Yao doing here?!"

After Jin Ming finished speaking, he glanced at Sheng Yu and saw that his face had indeed turned cold.

Tang Ci turned around when she heard the noise, her eyes clearly red in the dim blue light.

Sheng Yu frowned, stepped forward, and pulled her into his arms: "Did he bully you?"

After these words were spoken, both sides fell silent.

The thugs, led by Lin Yao, were used to bluffing, but when they met the real boss, they all fell silent, afraid of getting into trouble with Sheng Yu again.

Jin Ming was unsure. In high school, Sheng Yu was a ruthless and taciturn person. If you really provoked him, he would beat you to death. But now Sheng Yu is dressed in a suit and tie every day and has the air of a noble president. He would never fight in public for his girlfriend.

He had no choice but to remain inactive.

Sheng Yu received no answer, so he bowed and patiently said, "Xiao Ci, speak."

Tang Ci's heaving chest finally eased, she shook her head, and her voice was still a little choked as she looked at him: "He, he knew you were afraid of water, and said he would block you at Binhu Park."

Sheng Yu gently rubbed her waist with his palm: "And then?"

“I poured that pot of water on his head…” Tang Ci pursed her lips: “and then warned him a few times.”

Sheng Yu suddenly chuckled, raising an eyebrow as he glanced at Lin Yao: "Did you hear what my wife said?"

Seeing that he didn't intend to make a move, Lin Yao was stunned. In his memory, Sheng Yu was never so gentle. After thinking about it, there was only one answer.

Sheng Yu didn't want to cause trouble for Tang Ci.

Lin Yao scoffed inwardly, but outwardly, fearing Sheng Yu's power, he abandoned all pretense and agreed.

After returning to his booth and sitting down, Jin Ming gestured with his chin toward Lin Yao: "Have security kick them out?"

Sheng Yu calmly twisted the cap off Tang Ci's milk bottle: "Never mind."

Hearing him say that, Jin Ming felt relieved. It had been like this since they were in school. All of them listened to Sheng Yu in everything, and Sheng Yu could indeed handle everything.

The band on stage started performing, and friends gradually came over. Once there were many people, they started playing drinking games.

Sheng Yu showed little interest in drinking or playing games this time, keeping his arm around Tang Ci's shoulder the whole time as the two chatted casually and watched the performance on stage.

The band was playing an English song about the sea, with a much slower tempo than their previous songs, and the lead singer's voice had been lowered.

Tang Ci's mind had calmed down, but thinking of Lin Yao's sinister words, she still felt instinctively uneasy and would glance at Sheng Yu every now and then.

Sheng Yu told her about Australia's azure seas and skies, golden beaches, and tourists from all over the world who went there for vacation.

“We can take a yacht out to swim in the sea, and the stars are very bright at night.” Sheng Yu patted her hair: “Next time you come back to Australia with me, I’ll take you to see them.”

Tang Ci was comforted by his vision of the future, and a smile gradually appeared on her face. A girl asked her to play Monopoly, and she readily agreed.

During the band's intermission, customers in the store got up one after another, some to go to the restroom, and some to smoke.

Sheng Yu leaned back against the sofa, his deep eyes briefly glancing at the quiet booth next door. He took out a cigarette and a lighter from his pocket, and whispered in Tang Ci's ear, "Go out for a smoke."

Tang Ci first hummed in agreement, then turned her head to look at him as if to confirm, before continuing to play the game.

/

The alley behind the bar.

Lin Yao leaned back and lit a cigarette.

He was seething with anger tonight. Over the years, he had been locked up in drug rehabilitation centers time and time again, and after his release, he couldn't even get a decent job.

But Sheng Yu rose through the ranks smoothly, becoming a rising star in the hotel industry.

On what grounds?

Only because he has a powerful father can he so brazenly trample on him.

That Tang Ci is ridiculous. She follows him so eagerly, what good will she get in the end? Who would believe that a playboy like Sheng Yu could be sincere?

Lin Yao kicked the wall angrily, his teeth itching with hatred, his hands numb, and his addiction was rising again.

He shuddered and took a deep drag of his cigarette. Before the smoke, which had just swirled in his lungs, could be exhaled, his throat was suddenly grabbed from behind.

The man's strength was extremely heavy; his cold tiger's mouth was tightly gripping Lin Yao's throat, making it difficult for him to catch his breath, and his face turned red.

In an instant, he felt a chill run down his spine. Before he could struggle, the person behind him twisted his neck and turned him around.

Lin Yao's blurry vision met Sheng Yu's gloomy eyes, and he suddenly shuddered.

Sheng Yu loosened his grip slightly, and before he could catch his breath, he suddenly grabbed his body and slammed him against the wall.

As Lin Yao's shoulder blade slammed violently against the wall, Sheng Yu kicked him hard in the stomach.

Lin Yao was stunned by his series of blows, his shoulder slid down the wall and he collapsed to the ground with a thud. A few seconds later, he burst into a loud cough.

The sound, mixed with painful groans, was like an old, broken bellows, particularly frightening in the dark alley filled with cold wind.

Sheng Yu stood with his hands in his pockets, silently watching him until his coughing gradually subsided before squatting down in front of him.

“Lin Yao, this is the last time,” Sheng Yu’s eyes flashed with a cold light, but his voice was noble and calm: “If you dare to appear in front of Tang Ci again, I will make sure you never leave this world again.”

At the dinner table, they changed the game to a card game, and Tang Ci was paired with a man. Inevitably, there was physical contact during the game.

When Sheng Yu returned, she sat down and poured herself a glass of wine. She had only taken a sip when she saw Tang Ci and her male teammate win the game. They smiled at each other and gave each other a high five.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he swallowed a mouthful of iced wine, ultimately deciding not to be the one to ruin the mood.

When Jin Ming returned from her social engagements, she sat down next to him and noticed a cut on his finger bone: "How did you get hurt while just going out for a smoke?"

"I didn't see it when I went down the stairs, and I bumped into the wall." Sheng Yu didn't pay attention and took another sip of wine.

Jin Ming didn't take it seriously; this minor injury was like a mosquito bite to Sheng Yu. But he still casually asked, "Are you alright?"

He hadn't expected Sheng Yu to respond, so after speaking, he got up to join the game.

But Sheng Yu said without even blinking, "Something's wrong, it hurts a lot."

Jin Ming examined the small wound on his hand more closely, then scratched the back of his head, puzzled. "Huh? This little injury shouldn't be serious."

Sheng Yu put down his wine glass, his gaze sweeping lightly over Tang Ci's retreating figure, before letting out a hiss as if in pain.

Tang Ci noticed Sheng Yu as soon as he returned, and naturally overheard his conversation with Jin Ming. Upon hearing Sheng Yu's hoarse voice, she immediately put down her cards and looked over anxiously.

"Where are you hurt?" Tang Ci frowned and looked him up and down. "Is it serious?"

Sheng Yu put down his wine glass and extended the back of his hand.

Tang Ci looked at the abrasions on his finger bones, paused for a moment, and seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, but still patiently held his palm to comfort him: "Let me treat it for you, it won't hurt after I put on the medicine."

Sheng Yu raised an eyebrow at Jin Ming: "Could I borrow the first-aid kit?"

Seeing this bizarre scene, Jin Ming resisted the urge to call Zhou Yiyang over to enjoy the gossip and went to the lounge to get him some bandages.

The hall was dimly lit. After thinking for a moment, Tang Ci led Sheng Yu and Jin Ming to the lounge.

As she stood up, Tang Ci's gaze unconsciously drifted towards the booth next door.

The sofa that had been occupied by Lin Yao and his group was now empty. Even so, when she looked away, there was still a barely perceptible anxiety on her face. She instinctively turned her head to check if Sheng Yu was there.

Sheng Yu's dark eyes narrowed slightly when she looked over, his voice steady and magnetic: "Don't worry, he won't appear again."

Tang Ci nodded, slightly relieved.

Upon arriving at the rest room, Tang Ci took the first-aid kit from Jin Ming and stood in front of Sheng Yu. She carefully applied the medicine to his finger bones, spread it evenly, and then patiently blew it dry.

"How are you now? Does it still hurt?"

Sheng Yu lifted her eyelids: "A little."

Jin Ming rolled his eyes silently, thinking to himself, "Brother, that's enough."

Back in the day, when you cut your calf and blood was everywhere, you didn't even blink.

Now he's become a doting husband.

It's human nature to be spoiled and arrogant. Seeing Tang Ci's pained expression, Sheng Yu went a step further and asked, "My hand hurts, feed me some water."

Tang Ci patiently held the bottle of mineral water to his lips, and after he finished drinking, she asked, "Are you feeling better?"

Sheng Yu nodded.

Tang Ci hesitated for a second: "Your hand is injured, why don't we go home now?"

Sheng Yu asked casually, "Aren't you going to play the game anymore?"

Actually, she wanted to play, but things had to be prioritized, so Tang Ci held back and said, "Let's not play."

Sheng Yu smiled and said, "Then let's go home."

Jin Ming, who had been ignored the whole time, watched them leave. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he called out to them, "Wait a minute. Knowing that you two are back together, I specially prepared a gift. Take it before you go."

As Jin Ming spoke, he took an exquisite gift box from the cabinet and handed it over.

Tang Ci reached out and took it, saying sincerely, "Thank you."

“It’s only right to be friends,” Jin Ming said, a sly glint in his eyes. “Brother Yu, sister-in-law, remember to use it when you get home.”

Thinking it was some small appliance, Tang Ci nodded and said okay.

The gift box was sewn shut, so Tang Ci had to get home and use scissors to open it.

As she unpacked the gift box, she reminded Sheng Yu, who was changing clothes in the bedroom, "Remember to put a waterproof bandage on your wound when you take a shower."

Sheng Yu responded, walked over in his bathrobe, took the scissors from her hand, and deftly opened the box.

Seeing what was pressed on top of the raffia inside the box, he chuckled and raised an eyebrow.

"What is this?" Tang Ci glanced at the metal ring covered in fuzz, picked it up without any precaution, and then suddenly stopped.

These are a pair of plush handcuffs, with a restraint chain attached to the chain for binding.

Tang Ci blushed and threw the handcuffs back into the box, cautiously declaring beforehand, "I... I don't know how to use them."

"I didn't say it was for you to use."

Sheng Yu smiled and played with the handcuffs with great interest, but then brought up a serious topic.

"Were you a little uneasy running into Lin Yao today?"

Tang Ci's throat tightened: "I feel that his drug addict is crazy, and I'm afraid he might do something bad to you."

"Are you afraid I'll disappear?" Sheng Yu asked calmly.

Tang Ci's eyes instantly reddened: "How did you know?"

“You look at me every five minutes at the bar.”

Sheng Yu pulled her closer, looked into her eyes and said, "I won't disappear, I'll always be by your side."

Tang Ci looked at him and nodded hesitantly.

“If Xiao Ci is still worried,” Sheng Yu said, placing the handcuffs in her palm, “you can lock me up.”