Yu Qiao was pressed against the door frame by Xie Zhuo again.

Yu Qiao's eyes were red; she had been acting up all night and her eyes were still swollen from crying.

Their breaths overlapped.

But Yu Qiao only felt scared.

Xie Zhuo lifted her chin with his long, cold fingers, his narrow, dark eyes staring intently at her: "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Yu Qiao's lips trembled, her eyes pleading, "Xie Zhuo, I want to go home."

"Go home..." Xie Zhu murmured the two words softly, his eyes growing increasingly dark: "And then leave me, is that right?"

Yu Qiao didn't reply. Her long, black eyelashes fluttered wildly, and her phoenix eyes were bright and watery. She didn't say anything else, just looked at Xie Zhuo with tears in her eyes.

Little did Xie Zhuo know, this was more like seduction.

Xie Zhuo stared intently at that splash of red, then leaned down and took it in his mouth.

Yu Qiao dared not refuse and could only accept it.

"Yu Qiao, Yu Qiao."

Suddenly, Xie Heng's voice came from the corridor outside.

A chill ran through her body from her tailbone. Yu Qiao shakily lifted her eyelids and met Xie Zhuo's cold, dark eyes.

Xie Zhu smiled mysteriously, his well-defined fingers beginning to loosen his tie and toss it to the ground.

Yu Qiao was completely terrified. Her eyes were red as she shook her head and whispered, "Xie Zhuo, no."

"What? Afraid that Xie Heng will see you in bed with his half-brother?" Xie Heng's cold lips touched her earlobe, each word deliberate, a half-smile playing on his lips as he pressed down on her soft waist: "Pretty girl, do you care about him that much?"

"What's so good about him? He's fickle, selfish, and short-sighted."

"If I were him, I would treat you very well and wish I could stay by your side every moment."

"Qiaobao, say a few words to make me happy, and I'll let you off the hook today."

Towards the end, his voice carried a hint of coaxing: "Qiaobao, okay?"

As I listened to the increasingly clear footsteps outside, my heart pounded faster and faster.

Her gaze was almost pleading and humble: "Xie Zhuo."

"Hmm?" Xie Zhuo's eyes turned dangerous.

"You're the best. I'm still in so much pain. Can we not do it again today?" She nestled against Xie Zhuo's chest, her pretty face filled with sorrow. "Zhuo, I really don't like Xie Heng. I... I like you..."

Xie Zhu chuckled softly, closed his eyes tightly, and hugged her even tighter: "You really are a little liar."

"Knock knock knock—"

There was a knock on the door.

Yu Qiao's breath hitched, but the next second, she was roughly kissed by Xie Zhuo.

Xie Heng was still outside the door.

"Yu Qiao, are you in the study?" Xie Heng knocked on the door a few more times, but received no response. He reluctantly tried to turn the doorknob, only to find that it was locked from the inside.

The person at the door seemed to be pacing back and forth.

Before long, the sound of footsteps faded into the distance.

Yu Qiao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The enchanting atmosphere of the study lingered for a long time.

…………

10 PM.

Madam Xie took the initiative to find Yu Qiao.

Yu Qiao's hand trembled as she drank the water. "A weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken—it's up to no good!"

Sure enough, a gentle smile appeared on Madam Xie's sharp and shrewd face. She affectionately took Yu Qiao's hand and said slowly, "Little Yu, Auntie always thought you and Aheng were a good match."

"But Wenya is really difficult to deal with. She took five million from me back then, and now she's back in China causing trouble again."

“Ah Heng is stubborn, but I can see your sincerity towards him. Don’t worry, I don’t recognize anyone else but you.”

Yu Qiao felt nauseous at the mere mention of Xie Heng's name. She pushed Madam Xie away, her expression grim: "What do you want to say?"

"Yes, that's how it is..." Madam Xie's eyes darted around, but she still made an outrageous demand: "You suddenly let Aheng withdraw so much capital, his company is now struggling to operate, and on top of that, you took away Aheng's company's professional staff, now..."

"His company is just a pile of scrap metal right now. You want me to be a sucker and spend money and effort to revive his company?"

Yu Qiao curled her lips into a cold smile: "Auntie, you're really daydreaming. I wish Xie Heng's company would go bankrupt right now. Do you think I would help him?"

Madam Xie's expression changed drastically, and her gaze towards Yu Qiao gradually became impatient: "Yu Qiao, don't be ungrateful. Everyone knows you've been chasing Xie Heng for three years, and he's already used you like a used shoe."

"Look around, besides Xie Heng, who else would be willing to marry you?"

"If you listen to your aunt, help Ah Heng make the company bigger and stronger. Ah Heng is still immature and likes Wen Ya, but our Xie family only recognizes you as our daughter-in-law..."

Yu Qiao rolled her eyes, put down her cup, and stood up: "Idiot."

"Your good-for-nothing son has been blind and delusional for a few years, and he actually thinks he's a treasure?"

Madam Xie never expected Yu Qiao to say such a thing, and she was so angry that she felt dizzy while gripping her teacup.

As Yu Qiao turned around, she realized that Xie Heng was standing behind her.

"Yu Qiao." Xie Heng's face was ashen; she had clearly heard quite a bit.

Yu Qiao didn't even glance at Xie Heng before heading straight upstairs.

"Yu Qiao, you stop right there!" Xie Heng gritted his teeth, a sudden panic welling up inside him, as if something important had completely left him.

He ran up to Yu Qiao and stopped her.

Yu Qiao gripped the stair railing, her brows furrowing with impatience: "Speak quickly if you have something to say."

"Yu Qiao..." Xie Heng was about to say something when she saw the red marks on Yu Qiao's neck. Instantly, an inexplicable anger surged into her heart: "What's that on your neck?!"

Yu Qiao looked down and suddenly remembered Xie Zhu kissing her neck all day. She clenched her fingers.

What a scheming man!

"What's it to you?" Yu Qiao walked around him, wanting to go back to her room to rest.

Xie Heng's face was darker than the bottom of a pot. He forcefully pulled her, saying, "Stop right there!"

But for some reason, even though he hadn't pulled Yu Qiao very hard.

She seemed to lose her balance as Xie Heng pulled her, and her body tilted suddenly. Yu Qiao frantically reached out to grab Xie Heng, but Xie Heng was stunned.

He watched helplessly as Yu Qiao fell heavily down the stairs.

Xie Heng's mind went blank.

Madam Xie witnessed all of this and realized something was wrong. She rushed over to check the situation, but someone was faster than her.

Xie Zhuo came out of the study and saw this scene. He rushed downstairs with a cold expression.

"Qiaoqiao, Qiaoqiao..."

P.S.: My darlings, the female lead did it on purpose!