Chapter 2: Examining Your Past Three Years...

Huo Lan stared at her for a long time, until she felt as if her blood had frozen and she was about to suffocate. Only then did he finally beckon to Jiang Shiyuan, then tap the sofa next to him with his long, slender fingers, his thin lips curving into a very faint smile, "Come here."

As if it were an instinctive reaction that had been used for a long time, Jiang Shiyuan subconsciously walked towards Huo Lan's side. Just as she was about to sit on the sofa next to him, he grabbed her waist and made her sit sideways on his lap.

Jiang Shiyuan gasped in surprise, instinctively clinging tightly to his arm, her heart pounding like a drum.

Huo Lan gently stroked her cheek with his long, slender fingers, and with a little force, he turned her towards him, bringing their faces closer and closer until their noses almost touched.

That familiar woody scent began to envelop her again, making her freeze in his arms, unsure how to react.

Huo Lan teased, "What's wrong? Why are you so nervous? Are you not used to it?"

He reached out and brushed away the stray hairs from her forehead, his fingers tracing her delicate features, as if confirming the reality of something lost and then regained.

For three years, this face had repeatedly appeared in his dreams, but never like this—warm, breathing, and so close.

His eyes held a torrent of emotions, yet his face maintained a facade of calm, with only his taut jawline betraying a hint of restraint.

"Without the Huo family's support, you've lost much of your luster over the years..."

He tucked the black hair from her forehead behind her ear, his gaze sweeping over her face as if admiring and handling a delicate piece of porcelain. "But still, she's very beautiful."

"So now, let's examine how you've spent these past three years."

As soon as Huo Lan finished speaking, he lifted Jiang Shiyuan up as if he were holding a child. The arm under her was strong and sturdy, and he did it effortlessly.

Jiang Shiyuan instinctively hooked her arms around his neck, but when she realized something was wrong and tried to break free, she was already restrained and unable to move an inch.

What exactly do you want to do?

Huo Lan ignored her and simply carried her towards the bedroom, saying, "Let's check the bedroom first..."

Jiang Shiyuan immediately went on high alert, kicking her legs repeatedly in an attempt to break free from his grip.

She wanted to clench her fist and smash it over his head, but she didn't dare.

"No! I don't want to! We've only just met... No way..."

After arriving at the bedroom, Huo Lan put her down, his lips slightly pursed in a half-smile. "What are you thinking? I just came to check on you. Do you want something to happen?"

He darkened his eyes, his gaze sweeping down from her collarbone, and said in a low, husky voice, "Or perhaps, you can't wait any longer?"

"No way!"

Jiang Shiyuan took two steps back. She didn't know why she could still be easily provoked by Huo Lan's words and have her mood easily disturbed.

Seeing Jiang Shiyuan move away, Huo Lan looked displeased. "Stay closer to me, or I'll have to say it a second time."

She never had the right to say "no" to him, whether it was three years ago or now. As long as he gave an order, she would obey as if she had been given a command.

Even though she wanted to resist and struggle, her body seemed to move towards him against her will.

Because she knew that resistance would only lead to endless entanglements, it was better to be obedient and peaceful.

Jiang Shiyuan approached Huo Lan, so close that he could kiss her cheek if he lowered his head. But it wasn't what she expected. Huo Lan just looked at her quietly, without any expression.

As if confirming that Jiang Shiyuan was as obedient as ever, he patted her head like a reward for a pet, and then began to look around her bedroom.

Unlike the Bell Pavilion where she lived in the Huo family garden, this place had no charm or elegance whatsoever.

The curtains in the bedroom were half-open, letting in only dim light on rainy days.

The room was extremely simple with little decoration, except for the light blue floral cotton sheets on the bed, which added a touch of vibrancy.

After lingering for a while, his gaze swept towards the wardrobe. Just as Jiang Shiyuan was about to rush over to block him, the wardrobe door was already opened, revealing all the clothes inside.

The clothes I wear in my wardrobe are mostly in dark colors like black and gray. Counting from the right in a row of clothes are underwear, pajamas, and other intimate items.

"Is it because you're avoiding me, or have you really fallen in love with these colors? You clearly like bright colors the most."

Huo Lan ran her fingertips over the clothes one by one, then quickly picked out a nightgown and threw it onto the bed.

"Go take a shower and change. No need to wear underwear, it's too much trouble."

Her nightgown was quite modest, its length just covering her knees; it wouldn't be impossible for her to wear it, but the second half of the sentence...

Jiang Shiyuan pursed her lips and did not move, which could be considered a silent resistance.

"Or do you need my help?"

"Never mind, it's not necessary."

Jiang Shiyuan hurriedly grabbed her pajamas and ran to the bathroom. After locking the door, she deliberately turned the water on full blast, squatted down, and hugged her curled-up self.

But she didn't cry, because tears wouldn't solve anything.

Jiang Shiyuan stood up again to take a shower, but when she reached for the shower gel, she found that the bathroom items had been replaced. The bath products on the shelf were all top-of-the-line private custom-made products that she used three years ago when she lived in the Huo family. They were a series of skin care products exclusively customized by the most authoritative skin care experts at home and abroad, using cutting-edge technology and precious extracts, based on her skin type.

During the two years she was kept by the Huo family, her skin became delicate, smooth, and flawless. She was Huo Lan's most prized possession.

Jiang Shiyuan was so angry that she laughed.

She now understood what Huo Lan meant by finding her this time: he wanted her to continue being his caged bird, for him to admire and play with.

Jiang Shiyuan's eyes were red-rimmed, and she was holding back tears that were about to spill.

She slowly scooped out a few spoonfuls of cream and applied it. The familiar scent of ebony and sandalwood wafted into her nose, reminding her of the countless nights she spent at the Huo family's house three years ago.

Like a fleeting dream of prosperity...

The sound of water in the bathroom stopped, followed immediately by the sound of hair being dried.

After Jiang Shiyuan tidied herself up and came out, she didn't see Huo Lan in the bedroom.

The sound of pages turning came from the living room. Jiang Shiyuan walked over and saw Huo Lan standing in front of her bookshelf, looking at several well-bound professional books on cultural relic restoration.

"Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Restoration Techniques, History of the Evolution of Ancient Book Binding... Ah, Shi Yuan, if you were in the Huo family, you wouldn't need these. Top experts and professors from home and abroad would be lining up to teach you."

For those at the top of the pyramid, resources are always readily available.

When she was in the Huo family, she didn't even need to say the word "want," because before she even thought about it, the desires were already laid out before her.

Huo Lan is a genius raised in an extremely luxurious environment, nurtured by a combination of classical family education and modern elite education, and the perfect heir of the Huo family.

Therefore, when he looked down at Jiang Shiyuan, his innate sense of superiority was so natural that it made her heart ache.

For a time, Jiang Shiyuan was madly infatuated with Huo Lan, who was knowledgeable, noble and elegant, calm and composed, and arrogant.

But later she realized that such a person was incapable of developing feelings for anyone, and that to him she was nothing more than a fleeting pleasure he wanted to keep to himself...

Jiang Shiyuan concealed the gloom in her eyes and retorted as if she were talking back, "What, you don't need to read books now that you have a teacher?"

Huo Lan remained noncommittal, but somehow pulled out a photograph.

The photo shows her with several colleagues from the studio, taken during a team-building trip a while ago, while boating.

Inside, Jiang Shiyuan's bangs and stray hairs were blown by the wind, revealing her exquisite and refined face, with a bright and charming smile.

"Have you had a happy three years?"

Jiang Shiyuan remained silent, and the scene fell silent for a moment.

For the first two years of those three years, she was hiding, until a year ago when she joined Dream Sky Studio and finally started living a stable life.

However, the studio's business has been decreasing lately, and now there are only six people left, with pitifully low salaries.

Old Chen, the restorer, is the boss of Mengkong. He's a little old man who's almost fifty, and he still has to tighten his belt every day just to save a little money to pay his employees' wages.

Although the salary was low and the benefits were average, everyone at Mengkong was incredibly genuine and sincere. In front of them, she could completely be herself.

Without having to worry about anyone's feelings, without having to follow anyone's rules, without being confined to a rigid world, spending every day with cultural relics that have stories to tell, and with colleagues who are like friends and family, one can live a carefree life.

Huo Lan didn't ask any more questions. Instead, he put down the group photo, walked over, took Jiang Shiyuan's hand, and led her to the desk.

On the table lay a copy of "Frosty Tallow Tree and Mountain Birds" that she had previously copied; only the outline was drawn, and no color had been added yet.

He picked up a small sheep-hair brush from the brush holder, dipped it into the still-wet inkstone, and continued to add finishing touches to her calligraphy and painting.

"Do you think that starting tomorrow, Mengkong will stop receiving any commissions from museums and private collections?"

Jiang Shiyuan frowned, her face filled with anger. For the first time, she dared to so clearly express her negative emotions to Huo Lan.

"Don't touch them, our business has nothing to do with them."

Huo Lan put down his small sheep-hair brush and said casually, "I never care about the life or death of ants."

His gaze lingered on Jiang Shiyuan, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Unless... you beg me."

"Okay, I beg you, please don't involve innocent people."

"That's too perfunctory. I need you to try a different approach..."

His fingertips slipped inside her pajamas, revealing the thin bra strap hidden beneath. He knew she had listened to him, but not entirely.

Huo Lan lifted Jiang Shiyuan onto the desk and placed the flower and bird painting that the two of them had worked on together under her.

Jiang Shiyuan exclaimed in surprise, but before she could break free, she was already trapped by his strong arms and unable to escape.

My heart felt like it was about to leap out of my chest, and my breath almost stopped.

"Mr. Huo, please have some self-respect!"

Huo Lan forcefully spread her legs apart with his knees, grabbed her waist and pulled her closer, looking down at her with an air of absolute control.

"Self-respect? What part of your body haven't I seen, what part haven't I touched? And now you're telling me to have self-respect? Isn't that ridiculous?"

"I told you, let's try a different approach... how about begging me with your body?"

He suddenly grabbed her chin, his usually calm eyes now slightly red, filled with malevolence.

"You provoked me first, Jiang Shiyuan, have you forgotten?"

A note from the author:

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