Chapter 40 Exclusive Release Chapter 40 "Aren't you going to take your clothes off?..."
*
Elias drove a low-key but high-performance off-road vehicle down the winding mountain road, and in just twenty minutes, he arrived at the renowned town of Gstaad.
This place is quite different from the secluded and isolated hilltop estate. While it still retains the exquisite and expensive atmosphere unique to the Alps, the Christmas season gives it a fairytale-like bustle and warmth.
The ancient street, decorated with millions of warm yellow lights, winds its way up, while the boutique windows on both sides gleam with festive luxury.
But the most attractive part is the Christmas market in the central square, made up of traditional wooden stalls. The air is filled with the rich aroma of mulled wine, roasted almonds, melted cheese, and freshly roasted sausages.
Locals, skiers, and holidaymakers from all over the world thronged the streets, their laughter mingling with Christmas music.
Yuan Ning never imagined that Elias would bring her to such a place.
She was captivated by his refined demeanor and gentlemanly manners. Of course, all the scenes in her imagination were of him sitting in his sacred and grand study, or in front of the fireplace.
The air should be filled with the faint smoke from a fir fireplace, the stale scent of antique parchment and ink, the lingering aroma of fine tobacco from the cigar room, and a hint of his personal cool-toned perfume, like a glacial stream.
It's that kind of...inanimate nobility.
In Yuan Ning's mind, Elias was a contemporary deity living in a temple built by wealth, lineage, and absolute rationality.
His "humanity" and "emotions," if they exist, are inevitably wrapped up in layers of cold order and expensive symbols.
Therefore, when he drove her here, led her into the crowd, and weaved through the bustling market filled with the smoke of grilled sausages, this contrast itself should be the most straightforward expression of his feelings.
He is voluntarily stepping down from his pedestal and into the vibrant, noisy, and uncontrollable world of humanity.
This act itself, more so than any sacred confession, made Yuan Ning feel both terrified and captivated.
She felt even happier.
They walked hand in hand into the market, where the crowd gradually grew.
He reached out and put his arm around her, shielding her from the crowd.
Yuan Ning was drawn to the various handcrafted wood carvings, exquisite candles, and wool products, and stopped to admire them from time to time.
Elias's hand remained firmly around her side, shielding her from the crowds outside.
They stopped in front of a steaming stall and bought two cups of piping hot mulled wine.
"The last time I came here was when I was in elementary school."
Yuan Ning took the mulled wine he offered, took a sip, and the aroma of spicy cinnamon and orange peel filled the air.
“At first, Linus and I would beg our mother to bring us here. She couldn’t refuse us, and even though she disliked the noise here, she would still bring us to look around and buy some things.”
Yuan Ning held the warm ceramic cup in both hands and sipped it slowly. The sweet wine, mixed with spices, rolled down her throat and warmed her stomach. She asked softly, "And then?"
"As we grew up, we gradually stopped finding the market interesting."
Yuan Ning looked up at him, and she heard her own voice was softer than before: "So, do you find it more interesting now?"
She smiled, and her expression held a clear expectation.
He looked at her: "Of course, Wynne."
Elias's words were always so concise, yet so beautiful.
Like the finest velvet, it wrapped around a burning sincerity, gently enveloping the softest part of her heart.
Yuan Ning felt her cheeks were hotter than the wine in her glass, and she hurriedly lowered her eyes.
"By the way, how come I've never heard of Linus before?"
They finished their mulled wine, put the cups back, and continued walking.
Elias was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Linus is six years younger than me. When he was born, I had already begun my education as an heir. Our upbringing and paths were completely different."
“It seems you two aren’t close,” Yuan Ning said, offering her observation.
They were passing a stall where giant pretzels were being made on the spot, the aroma of baking filling the air.
"Closeness? The Van der Berg family does not advocate overly close brotherly relationships. We each have our own responsibilities and paths."
He said it so matter-of-factly, as if stating a law.
They didn't have dinner at the bustling market. Elias took her on a nighttime sightseeing cable car ride to another nearby mountaintop.
The cable car slowly ascended, with the lights of Gstaad gradually shrinking and transforming into a dazzling sea of stars beneath our feet, and the clear, cloudless, and star-studded deep blue night sky above. Silent and magnificent, it felt as if we were floating above the mortal world.
At the cable car's final stop is a panoramic glass restaurant that requires advance reservations. It's sparsely populated and extremely private.
They sat by the window, with the silent silhouette of the Alps outside and the distant starry sky below, while inside, a soft and elegant piano melody flowed.
The table wasn't large, and they sat facing each other, their knees touching. They both leaned forward slightly, as if whispering secrets to each other.
“So,” she said gently, cutting into the perfectly cooked salmon in front of her, “are you on the path and duty you love? Elias.”
Yuan Ning stopped what she was doing and looked up at him. The lines of his profile were exceptionally clear and cold in the candlelight.
“Yes, I like it,” he said.
His voice was deep and resonant in the intimate distance: "From birth, this has been my place, Wynne. Just like the Alps, I have no choice but to like it or not. My task is to understand it, adapt to it, and do my best to be the best I can."
Optimal. Again, that cold, icy word that belonged to him.
He spoke so rationally, so correctly. Yet Yuan Ning felt a slight tightness in her chest.
She thought of herself, her actions perhaps chaotic and inefficient, but filled with human desires.
“What about Perseus Capital?” she asked from a different angle. “Wouldn’t that count as a career you chose for yourself?”
“Perseus,” he uttered the name, a hint of warmth, the warmth of a creator, in his voice, “was an experiment. It proved that ancient principles could still establish order and create rules under new rules of the game.”
He slowly stepped back, raised his glass, and smiled faintly. "Wynne, it's to protect and enhance everything the name Van der Berg represents. History moves forward, and some old nobles will gradually fade from the market, but Van der Berg won't. Like Prince Esposito, if his tech company hadn't been a huge success, he would now only have an empty title. To pay the hefty annual taxes on his ancestral castle, he might turn it into a tourist attraction, making money by charging admission and selling 'prince photos'."
Yuan Ning was stunned, but then she suddenly understood.
When he firmly stated, "Van der Berg will not."
It's not that he lacks a "self," but rather that his "self" is inextricably intertwined with his family's responsibilities. His rebellion and ambition are presented in the most rational and family-interest-oriented way.
This realization left her with mixed feelings.
I was both awestruck by his strength and clarity of mind, and felt a pang of regret for myself.
Is it really a sign of tenderness that someone like him brought her here tonight, a gesture of stepping down from his pedestal?
However, she never dwells on complicated issues for too long. Focusing on her career and enjoying the love she can have is enough for her.
Her world is driven by desire, vitality, and passion. Although she is also shrewd and calculating, her core lies in self-realization and emotional fulfillment.
She raised her glass and gently touched it to Elias's: "Elijas, thank you for bringing me here. You've made me even more excited for the upcoming Christmas holidays."
“It’s my pleasure.” Elias clinked glasses with her, his icy blue eyes reflecting her radiant smile in the candlelight and starlight.
He drank the wine, his Adam's apple bobbing.
Yuan Ning stopped asking those questions and instead enthusiastically savored each dish, commenting on the changing night view from different angles outside the window.
The atmosphere was unspoken but understood.
She gently scooped up a little bit of the dessert Elias never touched with the tip of her spoon and held it to his lips: "Try this."
Elias did as he was told and took a bite. The excessive sweetness made him frown slightly, but he did not refuse. His gaze fell on the corner of her lips, which were smeared with a little cream.
He picked up a napkin, leaned over, and gently wiped her face.
Yuan Ning relaxed, even tilting his head slightly to make his movements easier, like a cat being stroked.
Her gaze met his eyes, which were inches from hers, without any attempt to look away; they gleamed with cunning and amusement.
Elias wiped it clean, but didn't immediately retreat. His fingertips lingered on the edge of her chin, his thumb lightly brushing against her lips.
On the cable car ride back, the two sat side by side, their silence filled with a fermenting, sweet, and slightly intoxicating atmosphere. Their hands clasped naturally, and Yuan Ning even gently rested her head on Elias's shoulder.
He adjusted his position to make her more comfortable.
His chin brushed gently against the top of her head without saying a word.
It was already late at night when the SUV returned to the manor.
Most of the windows in the main building of the manor were dark, with only the entrance hall and a few main corridors lit by soft nightlights.
Charles remained waiting in the foyer, his expression as respectful as ever.
"The lady has already rested. The Viscount is still in his study."
Elias nodded, indicating that he understood. He escorted Yuan Ning to her room.
Yuan Ning stood inside the door, her hand on the doorknob.
"Go inside and get some rest," he said.
Yuan Ning glanced at him, then glanced at him again.
She finally whispered, "Goodnight, Elias."
My heart started racing again for some reason.
Elias paused for a moment, and before turning to leave, he reached out and patted her head.
Yuan Ning wanted him to kiss her; her eyelashes trembled violently.
However, he ultimately only placed a kiss on her forehead.
Yuan Ning's chaotic and colorful thoughts were overshadowed by the warmth and tenderness conveyed by the kiss.
His hand lingered on her face for about two seconds before he straightened up and withdrew his hand.
"Sweet dreams, little kitty," he said, then turned and walked toward the main wing without lingering.
Yuan Ning leaned against the door, the spot on her forehead where she had been kissed feeling like it had been branded with a hot iron, the burning sensation spreading throughout her body. She raised her hand to cover her face, the heat of her skin beneath her palm was astonishing.
No one knew that she was wearing a matching pink lingerie set underneath.
*
The morning was clear and sunny, perfect for skiing.
The Van der Berg family, along with their distinguished and beautiful guest, Miss Wynne, traveled together to a scenic valley near Gstaad.
Yuan Ning, carrying her snowboard, sat with Elias, Linus, and Theodora on the way into the valley in the cable car.
Linus struck up a conversation with her, pointing to a distant slope covered in powder snow with beautiful treelines, saying, "The snow there is like powdered sugar, and the scenery is more pristine. However, the marked blue runs require a long detour to get down. If you're a good skier, you can give it a try."
Yuan Ning looked in the direction he pointed. The slope behind the main ski slope shimmered with a delicate silver light under the sunlight, completely different from the bustling crowds on the main ski slope, like a quiet secret realm.
“That sounds tempting,” Yuan Ning replied with a smile.
Theodora gracefully adjusted her scarf, smiled at Linus, and said in a gentle but authoritative tone, "Honey, safety first. I think we should stick to the well-marked main track today."
The cable car arrived at the mountaintop platform, where a biting wind blew and the view suddenly opened up.
Viscount Arthur and his aunt's family were already waiting there, the children chattering excitedly. Everyone got dressed and ready to go.
Yuan Ning was fiddling with her snow goggles when Elias saw her and reached out to adjust them for her.
“I don’t know how good you are at skiing, Wynne. If you’re not very skilled, stick close to me.”
Yuan Ning winked at him: "My skills are top-notch, boss."
The rest of the family members had already slid down, leaving Elias, Yuan Ning, and Linus at the very end.
Linus set off first, followed by Yuan Ning, with Elias close behind her.
Everything went smoothly at first.
They traversed between pristine snow slopes and dark green pine forests. Theodora and Arthur chose a gentler route, while their aunt's family took the children to a designated area, where Linus was not far ahead of them.
The weather in the mountains is like a child's face. Thick, grayish-white clouds have appeared on the edge of the once azure sky.
“It’s fogging up.” Elias stopped, looked up at the sky, and frowned slightly. “We need to speed up and glide along the main road.”
Before Yuan Ning could answer, she had already caught sight of the sign not far away, which was the entrance to the Blue Path branch that Linus had pointed out.
At this moment, the arrow pointing into the deep forest appeared somewhat blurry in the pervasive mist, yet it inexplicably exuded an allure.
Just then, Linus suddenly changed direction and glided down that path, turning back to call out to Yuan Ning, "Wynne, try this way!"
Invitations and sharing among peers are often very attractive, which is why a group of children getting together is prone to getting into trouble.
It instantly ignited Yuan Ning's innate adventurous spirit, a desire to be second to none and a thirst for exploration.
Almost instinctively, her body reacted faster than her brain—she lightly tapped her ski poles, slightly adjusted her center of gravity, and followed Linus in his direction.
"Wynne!" Elias warned sternly from behind, "Don't go that way!"
But inertia has already formed.
Yuan Ning's skis had already cut into the edge of that side path.
Just as Linus had said, the snow on this trail was exceptionally soft and fine, like gliding on a giant sheet of icing, a completely different feeling from the snow on the main trail that had been compacted by countless people.
But it didn't seem too difficult. Yuan Ning excitedly turned around and shouted, "Elijas, I'm fine, do you want to come over?"
In fact, Elias had already caught up.
After his stern warnings failed to work, he quickly changed direction and closed the distance between them.
Linus, ahead of them, seemed very familiar with the path, his figure nimbly weaving through the mist and shadows of the trees, quickly widening the distance between them and becoming a blurry, moving dot.
Yuan Ning initially enjoyed the novelty, but soon she realized that things weren't so simple.
This path wasn't flat; it wound its way downhill, the slope gradually increasing, and the bends becoming sharper, requiring more precise control. While the powdery snow beneath her feet was slippery, it also concealed the terrain beneath, occasionally revealing hidden snowdrifts or small drops that caused her to stumble and nearly fall.
Worse still, the fog in the mountains thickened at an alarming rate. In the blink of an eye, visibility around us plummeted to less than twenty meters.
The pine forest turned into hazy, gray-green silhouettes, and Linus's figure disappeared completely into the depths of the mist.
A sense of isolation, tinged with panic, washed over her, a feeling of being cut off from the civilized world. Yuan Ning had to slow down, struggling to make out the faint tracks on the snow track.
"Stay close to me and don't look around." Elias's voice came from behind.
“Linus… is gone.” Yuan Ning said with some unease.
“He knows the way and will slide down by himself,” Elias replied briefly, his attention entirely focused on choosing the path.
But the visibility is too low now, and the slope is so steep that you can slide at high speeds. If you encounter any obstacles, you might not be able to avoid them.
He made a quick decision and stopped at a relatively gentle bend, signaling Yuan Ning to stop as well.
"This fog won't dissipate anytime soon, and the temperature is dropping. We can't keep blindly sliding down."
"What should we do?" Yuan Ning pulled her collar tighter, the chill beginning to seep in through her heavy ski suit.
“I know there’s a ranger’s cabin nearby. We can go in and warm up first.”
After walking for about ten minutes, Elias led them to a small cabin built of logs.
Elias stepped forward to inspect the lock, took out a multi-tool from his small tool bag, and quickly opened the not-so-complicated lock.
With a creak, the wooden door was pushed open.
The room was dimly lit, but the daylight streaming through the windows was enough to make out the furnishings: a stone fireplace with some dry kindling and chopped firewood piled up next to it, a simple wooden bed with a straw mat, a small wooden table, two chairs, and a tin box in the corner.
Yuan Ning took off her skis, leaned against the door, and watched Elias kneeling in front of the fireplace.
The fire gradually grew stronger, filling the small house with orange light and casting the shadows of the two people onto the rough wooden walls, swaying and intertwining.
Elias stood up, dusted off his hands, walked to the table, picked up a wool blanket, and handed it to Yuan Ning.
“Take off your wet coat and wrap yourself in this.” His tone had lost its usual calm.
Yuan Ning took it; the rough texture of the wool made her feel secure. She took off her slightly damp outer ski suit, wrapped herself in the blanket, and was immediately enveloped in warmth. She walked to the wooden bed by the fireplace, sat down, and couldn't help but sigh comfortably.
Elias also took off his coat, leaving only his dark cashmere sweater underneath. He sat down in another chair, took out the kettle, poured the last bit of water into a tin cup, and placed it by the fireplace to warm it.
Silence fell for a moment. Only the crackling of burning firewood and the howling wind outside could be heard.
Yuan Ning hugged her knees, resting her chin on them, her gaze shifting from the flickering flames to Elias's serene profile. The firelight softened his hard features, casting a fan-shaped shadow beneath his long eyelashes.
“I didn’t expect you to do these things,” she asked softly.
Elias turned to look at her: "Preventing accidents is a skill I've had since I was a child."
“Like me?” Yuan Ning tilted her head.
Elias looked at her quietly, and after a long while, he nodded: "Like you."
The room was warm and cozy, the fire crackling in the fireplace, a secluded haven from the outside world. He sat a few steps away, gazing at her with those deep, penetrating eyes.
Yuan Ning felt a thrill, more exciting and secretive, than from his frank admission.
“So,” she rested her chin on her knees, “am I outside your plans? Need to be disposed of, Mr. Van der Berg?”
Elias did not answer immediately. He maintained his composed posture, but the fingers resting on his knees curled up almost imperceptibly.
“Wynne, you have never been someone who can be dealt with easily.”
Yuan Ning looked up at him, wondering if he knew that his honesty was more deadly than any sweet words.
So what are you planning to do?
“I don’t know, Wynne, I don’t know,” he said softly.
A brief silence fell over the room.
Yet it strangely makes the senses more acute.
“I can’t explain it,” he finally turned his head, “why now, here, I just want to know…”
He suddenly stopped, as if startled by the words he was about to utter, or as if he had finally touched upon that wild thought that he had been suppressing with his rationality.
Yuan Ning held her breath completely.
She slowly, very slowly, released her arms from her knees.
She slowly moved over and sat on his lap, running her fingers through the neatly combed blond hair at the back of his head, ruffling it.
She watched as Elias's gaze grew deeper and deeper, until it became so deep that reason could no longer be discerned.
Oxygen became scarce, and reason burned away.
All that remains in the world is the chaotic intertwining of breaths.
The fireplace was burning brightly; this place was probably originally a sauna.
The flickering flames twisted, magnified, and tightly entwined the two figures on the wooden wall.
Hot. Unbearably hot.
Yuan Ning tilted her head back slightly and, in a straddling position, took off her close-fitting cashmere sweater from over her head.
Their movements were somewhat clumsy, and their clothes were carelessly tossed onto the hay mat at their feet, making a slight thud.
The warm, leaping firelight instantly and unhindered embraced her bare upper body.
Her delicate skin was coated with a shimmering, honey-like warm gold, and her undulating curves cast shadows in the light and shadow.
That carefully chosen pink lingerie with lace trim was no longer a secret; it gleamed with a soft, delicate, pearly sheen.
Her index finger gently hooked around his collar, tracing the edge of his exposed pectoral muscles.
Elias wrapped his arms around her bare waist, holding her tightly. He first took a light sniff with his straight nose, then took a deep breath and sighed.
She cupped his face in her hands, forcing him to look up. His eyes seemed somewhat unfocused, and his eyelashes fluttered slowly.
"Aren't you going to take off your clothes, Elias?" she asked softly, her voice so gentle.
Then she saw his broad shoulders, clearly defined collarbones, firm chest, and the masculine strength and beautiful muscle contours that were usually perfectly concealed by his formal suits, now exposed to the warm and primal light.
His skin was a cool-toned white, yet it shone with a healthy glow in the firelight, rising and falling slightly with his unsteady breathing.
The two sat facing each other, speaking frankly and openly.
She leaned down slightly, closing the last bit of distance. Their noses almost touched, their breaths mingling completely, indistinguishable from each other. She could smell his clean scent, mixed with sweat, the smell of burning wood, and a unique, crisp yet scalding aroma that belonged only to him.
“Elijas…” she began, her voice hoarse and unlike her own, “I think… I really messed you up.”
It's not just his hair, but... everything about him.
He looked so disheveled.
He looked like a completely different person from his usual serious, suit-wearing self.
He blinked slowly, pressed the back of her head, and kissed her lips deeply.
The world seemed to consist only of the wet, slippery sensation between the lips and teeth, and the disordered, intertwined low breaths.
The flames in the fireplace leaped wildly, turning the intertwined shadows on the wooden wall into a blurry, scalding chaos.
Yuan Ning felt like a snowflake falling into his volcano, which had finally erupted, instantly vaporizing, yet gaining a new, trembling life form in the extreme heat.
After what seemed like an eternity—perhaps just a moment, perhaps an eternity—Elijas finally released her lips with difficulty, bit by bit. His forehead pressed against hers, his breath heavy and hot, spraying onto her equally hot and damp skin.
He kept kissing her, the kisses were wet, warm, and filled with low breaths. He kept calling her "baby." Yuan Ning truly felt loved; she was happy and content.
In those icy blue eyes so close to his, the storm hadn't subsided, and he confirmed that this out-of-control, destructive power indeed originated from her.
Yuan Ning was tired, so he lifted her up by her legs. It was as if all the "Van de Bergerac" aura had been shed from him, leaving only his most primal masculine traits.
She felt an incredible strength in the arms supporting her head; he was trembling.
He suddenly chuckled softly and hoarsely, a laugh that seemed to carry a hint of helplessness. He kissed the tip of her nose: "Wynne, you got it."
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