Chapter 61 Exclusive Release: Chapter 61 Challenged, Controlled...
“The sightseeing bus is just ahead.” Casey smiled and pointed to a tram decorated with cartoon characters in the distance.
Yuan Ning cheered and skipped over. Elias was distracted by her, but he just indulged her and followed.
The electric vehicle smoothly drove into the Future World park.
The afternoon sun made the futuristic silver buildings sparkle.
Casey, sitting in the front passenger seat, spoke clearly: "We'll head to the 'test track' first. I've already arranged everything; you can go directly to the reserved fast lane. After the experience, if you two are interested, you can also visit the car's design studio backstage—a special privilege of a private guided tour."
"That's great!" Yuan Ning's eyes lit up even more as she turned to Elias. "Do you want to go see it?"
"If you want to go, we'll go."
At the entrance to the “test track”, staff were already waiting and led them through a door marked “Cast Member Only”.
A few minutes later, they stood at the starting line of the simulated track.
Two streamlined electric race cars, painted in blue and white, were parked in the starting area.
"Do you need me to explain the driving techniques?" the staff member asked.
“No need.” Elias had already walked to one of the cars and gotten into the driver’s seat.
Yuan Ning climbed into the passenger seat next to him, fastened her seatbelt, and was eager to try it out.
"Elijas, I can't wait any longer."
Elias glanced at her.
The green light comes on.
The simulated engine roared to life, and the race car shot out like an arrow.
Acceleration slams you into your seat, and the senses are brutally filled with changes in speed and gravity as you navigate curves, straightaways, steep slopes, and sudden braking.
Yuan Ning started screaming excitedly, and after several consecutive high-speed curves, her fingers gripped the handrail tightly beside her. Her mouth was always wide open, and her eyes were wide.
"This is so much fun! Drive faster!"
Elias glanced at her again, but remained silent.
He sometimes even doubted whether she could really find such childish fun in games.
After entering this fairytale world, she seemed to have truly cast aside all her troubles.
In the bustling, desire-filled metropolis, she had long been at the top of the food chain, yet she still became addicted to this kind of pleasure.
Elias found it hard to believe, or perhaps the reason he didn't want to believe it was because he had never actually been inside.
The race car crossed the finish line and slowly came to a stop.
Simulated cheers and an electronic scoreboard lit up: fastest lap record.
Yuan Ning shook his arm: "Elijas! You broke the record! Look!"
Elias unbuckled his seatbelt, turned his head to look at the flashing, colorful electronic screen, and then glanced at Wynne beside him, who was extremely excited.
"Mm," he responded, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“Let’s go, Mr. Racer,” she turned and walked briskly toward the exit. “I’m going to play something else.”
Elias stood still for a few seconds before taking a step to catch up.
In the evening, they went to the French Pavilion terrace, which they had booked in advance, for dinner.
Elias pulled out a wicker chair for her, his hand lightly resting on her lower back, and waited until she was settled before sitting down opposite her. His movements were fluid and natural, a display of gentlemanly manners ingrained in his very being.
But because of the lingering smile in her eyes, her movements had a slightly sticky feel to them.
The waiter brought over the menu and chilled lemonade. Yuan Ning didn't look at the menu, resting her chin on her hand.
"It's so beautiful," she murmured.
Elias didn't notice her gaze on his face at first. He followed her gaze and looked back, landing on the Ferris wheel slowly turning in the distance, its colorful cabins like a string of glowing candies.
"You like it? Let's go play later."
Yuan Ning then stared into his eyes: "I'm talking about you, Elias, you're really handsome."
Yuan Ning played with the slender salt shaker on the table, while Elias watched the water droplets condensing on the lemonade in his glass slowly slide down.
Her foot dangled slightly under the table, inadvertently brushing against his calf, which was resting beside the table and encased in off-white linen trousers.
Elias looked up at her.
Yuan Ning seemed oblivious and continued playing with the salt shaker.
The tablecloth concealed all subtle movements.
Elias narrowed his icy blue eyes slightly, picked up his water glass, took a sip, and his Adam's apple bobbed.
Just then, the waiter brought out the appetizers, and Yuan Ning immediately withdrew her toes, looking nonchalantly at the foie gras terrine arranged in the shape of flower petals on the plate.
She picked up her fork, but didn't start eating immediately. With a flick of her wrist, she forked a piece of foie gras garnished with figs and brought it to Elias's lips.
"Want to try some?" She looked at him, her eyes sparkling in the deepening twilight. "Darling~"
Elias looked at her hand holding the fork, then at her eyes, which reflected the lamplight and seemed to be filled with stars. After a moment, he leaned forward slightly, opened his mouth, and took the piece of foie gras into his mouth.
"Is it tasty?"
She chewed and swallowed. His gaze never left her.
"Not bad," he gave a concise evaluation.
Yuan Ning then withdrew her hand with satisfaction, took a bite herself, and licked the corner of her lips that had a little bit of sauce on them.
His toes hooked upwards again along the line of his calf.
As dusk settled into a deep indigo, a cool breeze brought a touch of chill, and Yuan Ning subconsciously pulled her cardigan's collar tighter.
Elias beckoned a waiter and whispered his orders. Soon, a soft, light gray cashmere shawl was brought over.
He got up and walked behind her.
He personally draped a shawl over her shoulders, his warm palms pressing firmly against hers.
Yuan Ning's back stiffened slightly.
On the way back, sitting in the sightseeing bus, we remained silent, as if trapped in a tacit understanding.
Yuan Ning wore the cashmere shawl, her fingertips unconsciously twirling the tassels.
Elias's arm remained loosely wrapped around her waist, conveying a sense of control.
Casey escorted the two to the elevator: "Please get some rest. I'll be here waiting for you tomorrow."
The elevator doors slid open silently. Elias nodded slightly to Casey, put his arm around Yuan Ning's waist, and stepped into the elevator.
He silently swiped his card, pressed the floor button, and the elevator doors closed.
Yuan Ning leaned against the smooth elevator wall and looked up at Elias.
He stood in front of her, blocking most of the light, his shadow completely enveloping her.
He took off his coat, and a few strands of blond hair fell across his forehead.
Yuan Ning licked her slightly dry lips and reached out to hook his collar.
Elias stepped forward, bracing his left hand against the elevator wall beside her ear, and gripped her waist tightly with his right hand, pressing her hard against him. At the same time, he lowered his head and kissed her heavily.
That wasn't a gentle, tentative kiss during dinner, nor was it any of the previous kisses that had been playful or provocative.
A kiss that had been suppressed all day, perhaps even longer.
The cashmere shawl slipped off her shoulders and piled up silently at her feet.
The elevator ascended smoothly, the numbers ticking silently. Yet, the temperature in the cramped space rose rapidly. The sounds of lips and tongues entwined, water, were exceptionally clear and alluring in the silence.
Elias tightened his grip on her waist, while his other hand slid down the elevator wall, cupped her face, and rubbed her earlobe with his thumb.
Yuan Ning felt weak all over, her tongue actively entwining with his, her teeth occasionally lightly biting his lower lip, eliciting a stronger sucking and a suppressed groan from him.
“Um… Elias…” she mumbled his name between breaths.
This call was like adding fuel to the fire.
His left hand then gripped her chin.
Yuan Ning ran her fingers into the slightly long blond hair at the back of his head, unconsciously tightening her grip.
"bite--"
We've reached the top floor.
The sound of the elevator doors opening seemed to come from another world. Soft light streamed in from the corridor.
Elias gasped for breath, barely managing to lift his head from her neck.
Yuan Ning gave him a push.
He stared at her misty, watery eyes and swollen, moist lips for two seconds, then without saying a word, bent down to pick up the shawl from the ground, picked her up horizontally, and strode out of the elevator.
The corridor was long, and Elias's steps were hurried and disordered.
When they arrived at the suite door, he didn't put her down. He held her with one arm and deftly swiped the card to open the door with the other.
The heavy wooden door closed behind me, shutting out the last ray of light from the outside world.
Only a few nightlights were left on in the corner of the suite, casting a dim light.
Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the dazzling lights of the magical kingdom flowed in silently like a galaxy, casting dreamlike light and shadow on the carpets and furniture.
Fireworks are going off outside, and the sky lights up in bursts.
Elias didn't turn on the light, and carried her straight to the bedroom. His kisses fell again, this time on her forehead, eyes, and the tip of her nose.
She was placed on an incredibly soft bed, the dark gray velvet sheets cool to the touch.
“Wynne…” he whispered, his voice hoarse, and kisses slid down the corner of her lips.
Yuan Ning wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and took the initiative to kiss his Adam's apple and his chin.
She stopped him, and Elias stopped moving, looking puzzled. In the dim light, his eyes churned with emotions that were almost out of control.
She licked her lips but didn't say anything.
He straddled her, looking down at her, his chest heaving violently with restraint.
Yuan Ning used her hands to push him off her, then used her legs to propel herself up, nimbly flipping over and taking the initiative to straddle him.
He instinctively put his hand on her waist.
Another burst of fireworks rose into the sky outside the window, their dazzling light exploding behind her and enveloping her in an unreal halo.
She leaned down, placing her hands on the pillows on either side of his head, her long hair cascading down, brushing against his cheeks and chest.
Her breath brushed against his lips, her eyes fixed on him with undisguised desire to conquer and a kind of naive domineering.
Elias lay on her back, her blonde hair disheveled, the collar of her shirt pulled open even wider by her earlier movements.
He was momentarily stunned by her sudden counterattack. Then, deep within his icy blue eyes, the surging undercurrents did not subside; instead, they flared up with even more intense sparks.
Being challenged and controlled, in turn, fuels a stronger sense of excitement and possessiveness.
His hand on her waist tightened suddenly, his Adam's apple bobbing violently. He didn't speak, but simply locked his unfathomable eyes on her, as if assessing this transfer of power.
Just then, the grandest wave of fireworks from tonight burst into bloom outside the window. Countless dazzling beams of light shot into the sky, dyeing the night sky with brilliant gold, red, purple, and blue hues, and illuminating the bedroom as if it were daytime.
In this grand and illusory world of light and shadow, Yuan Ning looked at the man beneath her. He had shed all his usual calm, self-possessed, and aloof demeanor; his blond hair was disheveled, and his shirt was half-open.
She kissed his lips, his chin, his bobbing Adam's apple, his beautifully sculpted collarbone. Her fingers unbuttoned the remaining buttons of his shirt, tracing the defined muscles of his abs.
When the fireworks finally faded completely and the room returned to a hazy silence, Yuan Ning finally found her own rhythm. She suddenly realized how deep and captivating his blue eyes, tinged with desire, were.
Seeing his furrowed brow and slightly parted lips because of her, her heart pounded like a drum.
Elias's arms were wrapped tightly around her, while his other hand casually combed her sweaty, long hair that fell to her waist.
Yuan Ning harbors an insatiable beast within her, a beast called ambition.
In the dead of night, her limbs felt weak and sore, but her mind was unusually clear.
Elias's arms were still tightly wrapped around her waist. His breathing was deep and his chest rose and fell rhythmically. His eyes were closed, as if he had fallen into a semi-sleep state after extreme satiation.
The sheets were crumpled beyond recognition. Yuan Ning lay on top of him, slowly moved her body, and finally moved his arm away, getting off the bed.
Elias seemed extremely tired and appeared to be sleeping soundly.
"I'm going to get some water," Yuan Ning said softly, her voice a little hoarse, as she carefully propped herself up.
She observed him; his eyes remained closed, but his brow furrowed slightly.
She got out of bed barefoot, without turning on the light. Using the dim light streaming in from the window, she bent down to pick up the silk robe that had fallen to the floor, casually wrapped it around her body, and tied the belt.
Stepping out of the bedroom, the spacious living room was shrouded in even deeper darkness.
She walked to the bar, opened the small refrigerator, and took out a bottle of ice water. The glass bottle was cool to the touch. She unscrewed it and took several large gulps straight from the bottle.
She put down the water bottle, walked to her suitcase, took out her laptop and phone, and glanced back at the closed bedroom door. The heavy solid wood door provided excellent sound insulation, and there was no sound from inside.
She sat cross-legged on the carpet, her back against the cold leather sofa legs. She turned on her computer; the screen's pale blue light illuminated her lowered eyelashes and tightly pursed lips.
Fingers swipe rapidly across the touchpad, inputting complex, multi-layered passwords, ultimately leading to an encrypted communication interface without any identifier.
The interface showed only a few contacts, all with default gray silhouettes as their profile pictures. She opened a chat window with the contact name labeled "Q".
The last conversation was three days ago.
[Q: We have adjusted our contact strategy for the London target according to the latest instructions. Also, we've received feedback on the offer from Zurich; it's 15% higher than expected, but the conditions are negotiable.]
Yuan Ning only replied with "Received".
At that moment, her fingertips hovered above the keyboard, pausing for a few seconds.
W: I'm in Orlando. Time's short, so I'll keep it brief.
At this time of day, it should be dusk over there, when the stars are brightest and the signal is best.
[Q: Yes. The offer was sent to your encrypted email this afternoon. The founder is cautious but very interested in the Asian market, which is our biggest bargaining chip. Negotiations with two other companies, one in London and one in Tel Aviv, are also underway, but they are facing competition from some local investors.]
[W: Have you investigated the background of the competitors?]
Q: Initial assessment suggests... Percival Capital is involved. Do you think they've become aware of your connection to Phoenix?
Yuan Ning's fingertips paused on the keyboard.
W: Of course he noticed.
Q: ? ? ?
[W: Ignore him, he can't find anything on me. We just need to quote our prices. We need to speed things up, especially securing the core technology team and intellectual property. If necessary, authorize you to use the Plan B funding pool.]
Q: Understood. Um... best wishes. Any other instructions?
[W: Expedite all processes. Remain vigilant.]
Q: Received. Take care, Yuanning.
The conversation ended. Yuan Ning quickly exited the encrypted interface, cleared the temporary cache, and closed the laptop.
The moment the screen went out, the living room returned to darkness and silence, as if the conspiracy that had just spanned half the globe had never happened.
She put her laptop and phone back into the compartment of her suitcase and locked it again. Then she stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.
Fifteen minutes later, Yuan Ning returned to her bedroom.
Elias's eyes remained closed, his breathing deep and even, as if he had never woken up.
She tiptoed onto the bed, and Elias rolled over and hugged her from behind.
Everything happened so naturally. Yuan Ning tried to suppress her pounding heart, forced her body to relax in his arms, and slowly closed her eyes.
Silence returned to the bedroom. The only sound was the intermittent breathing of the two people.
Elias's breathing remained steady and long, blowing gently and evenly on the bare skin of the back of her neck, without any change.
Unbeknownst to her, a penetrating gaze was fixed intently on the most vulnerable spot on the back of her neck.
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