"It seems you've adapted very well."
The man's voice, like cold silk, slid across Lin Nuannuan's eardrums in the dim light. It was devoid of any emotion, yet it carried a heavy sense of oppression, pressing down on Lin Nuannuan's heart.
What exactly did he mean?
Lin Nuannuan's mind raced through countless interpretations in an instant—was it mocking her for accepting her fate too quickly? Was it suspecting her of having ulterior motives? Or... was it merely an objective statement?
Either way, it sent chills down her spine. She forced herself out of that frightened little animal state; now was not the time to show fear.
She lowered her eyelashes slightly, avoiding his piercing gaze. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the thin blanket on her lap. Her voice was hoarse from just waking up, with just the right amount of softness: "Here... the food is good, the sleep is good, and there are books to read. If I were to complain, wouldn't I be too ungrateful?"
Instead of answering "yes" or "no" directly, she listed the "preferential treatment" he had given her in an almost naive tone, like a canary that had been fed and was now longing for its warm nest, innocent and docile.
Xie Chen didn't speak, but simply watched her quietly. The dim light blurred the harsh lines of his face, making his deep eyes appear even more unfathomable. He casually tossed the romance novel he had picked up back onto the sofa, the book making a soft thud as it touched the soft fabric.
"You like this kind of book?" he asked, his tone still indifferent.
Lin Nuannuan's heart tightened slightly. Here it comes, the test has begun.
She looked up, a hint of embarrassment in her eyes at being caught in her little scheme. She nodded slightly, then quickly shook her head. "Well... it's not that I particularly like it. It's just... to pass the time." She paused, and as if to increase credibility, added softly, "The male leads in it are all so perfect, like something out of a fairy tale."
She deliberately cultivated an image of a young girl with naive fantasies about love. A girl who is engrossed in romance novels and has innocent expectations of her future partner usually doesn't have a strong sense of aggression or a desire to run away—at least on the surface.
Xie Chen's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, the curve extremely cold and faint, fleeting in an instant. He didn't comment on the "perfect male lead," but his gaze shifted from her face back to her pair of pale, slightly curled bare feet on the carpet.
The indoor temperature control system kept the floor from getting cold, but his prolonged staring made Lin Nuannuan feel as if she was stepping on needles.
"The ground is cold," he suddenly said.
The tone remained cold, like a routine concern based on the condition of all the property.
Lin Nuannuan was stunned for a moment. Before she could react, she saw him bend down and reach out to pick up the soft-soled slippers that she had casually kicked to the side of the sofa and bring them to her feet.
!!! !!! !
Lin Nuannuan felt her hair stand on end!
He... he actually did something like this?! This completely exceeded her understanding of the "yandere domineering CEO" persona! According to the usual tropes, shouldn't he have been even more forceful and authoritative in ordering her to get dressed? Or perhaps he simply thought she lacked even this basic self-care ability, making her even more fitting for the "useless pet" role?
This sudden, almost "gentle" gesture sent chills down her spine more than a direct threat! Because it represented unpredictability! It meant that his behavior didn't entirely follow the "script" she knew!
"Thank you... thank you, sir." She was almost holding her breath, her voice barely audible, her toes curling up even tighter unconsciously, and she didn't move for a long time.
Xie Chen straightened up, looking at her tense expression, as if facing a formidable enemy, even her toes trembling with nervousness. A faint glimmer seemed to flash across his deep eyes. He didn't urge her, but instead turned his gaze back to her face, as if appreciating her current embarrassment and helplessness.
"Ding—Target [Xie Chen]'s favorability has fluctuated, +1. Current favorability: -49." System 088's notification sounded in her mind.
Lin Nuannuan: "..." -49?! Negative?! And she tried so hard just now, and only added a little bit?! Is this man's heart made of ice?!
However, fluctuations are a good thing, even negative fluctuations, as they prove that her actions can influence him.
She forced herself to ignore the alarming negative value and carefully, slowly slipped her feet into the slippers. The soft down enveloped her slightly cool toes, bringing a touch of warmth, but it did nothing to dispel the chill in her heart.
"Dinner is ready." Xie Chen said this, then turned and walked towards the door without looking at her again. He seemed certain that she would follow.
Lin Nuannuan watched his retreating figure, biting her lower lip. The length of the chain seemed to have been adjusted by Aunt Mei during her "sleep," now long enough for her to reach the bedroom door, but that was all. She took a deep breath and followed, the chain dragging behind her making a soft, rhythmic sound, like her own heartbeat.
The dining room was even more luxurious than the bedroom, with exquisite silver candlesticks on the long table, the flickering candlelight adding a touch of artificial warmth to the cold space. The dishes were already laid out, and still, it was just the two of them.
Xie ate silently, his movements elegant, with an aristocratic air ingrained in his very being, as if the slightly strange incident in the bedroom had never happened.
Lin Nuannuan sat opposite him, her appetite gone. She ate small bites of food from her plate, but her mind was racing.
Passive waiting is not the solution. She must be more proactive in making her presence felt, and in a positive way that will lower his guard.
She recalled her identity as an "astronomical writer"—though lacking practical experience, her theoretical knowledge (especially various techniques) was abundant. To deal with this love-starved and obsessive yandere, perhaps… a subtle, gentle approach of care could be tried?
She secretly glanced at Xie Chen. In the candlelight, his profile was as perfect as a sculpture, but there seemed to be a trace of imperceptible fatigue between his brows.
The opportunity has arrived.
As he put down his knife and fork and wiped his mouth with a napkin, Lin Nuannuan mustered her courage, looked at him with her clear eyes, filled with a timid yet caring gaze, and softly asked, "Sir... you look a little tired. Is it... because work is too tiring?"
This was the first time she had taken the initiative to care about him, with a cautious and tentative approach that went beyond the bounds of her status as a prisoner.
Xie Chen paused slightly as he wiped her face, then looked up at her. The candlelight flickered in his unfathomable eyes, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
"Concerned about me?" he asked, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger.
Lin Nuannuan's heart skipped a beat. She quickly lowered her head, unconsciously poking at a broccoli on her plate with her fork, and said in an even softer voice, "It's just... I feel like you don't seem very happy."
She didn't directly admit to "concern," but instead used a more roundabout and innocent-sounding explanation.
Xie Chen did not answer immediately. Only the crackling of the burning candle wicks remained in the restaurant.
Several seconds passed, and just when Lin Nuannuan thought he wouldn't respond, or would instead offer sarcastic remarks, he spoke calmly, saying something completely unexpected:
"There's a family dinner tomorrow night, you'll have to come with me."
A family dinner? To attend?
Lin Nuannuan suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with undisguised shock and astonishment.
Sending her, this "shady" stand-in, to his family dinner?! What kind of divine repercussions are these? Logically, shouldn't this kind of occasion be attended by the "white moonlight" (his true love) or the official girlfriend (if she exists)? Bringing a stand-in—who is he trying to humiliate? Her, or his family?
Countless questions exploded in her mind.
"Sir...?" Her voice trembled with surprise. "Would it be appropriate for me to go? I don't know anything about this. Would I... embarrass you?"
She tried to politely decline. Heaven knows how dangerous that situation could be! What if she ran into someone the original owner knew? What if his family made things difficult for her? What if... she ran into the real Bai Yueguang, Gu Weiwei? Just thinking about it made her scalp tingle.
Xie Chen looked at the undisguised panic and resistance on her face, and his eyes suddenly turned cold.
The slight, almost imperceptible relief that had arisen from her "concern" vanished instantly, replaced by a deeper, almost tangible coldness.
"Are you refusing?" He put down his napkin, leaned back slightly, and stared at her like an ice pick. "Or do you prefer to stay in that room forever, never seeing the light of day again?"
His tone wasn't harsh; in fact, it could be described as calm. But the underlying threat sent a chill down Lin Nuannuan's spine.
She had no doubt that if she dared to say "no," all her previous small "progress" would be wiped out instantly, she would be reduced to her original state, or even worse off than before.
"No...no!" Her survival instinct made her deny it immediately, forcing herself to force a smile that looked worse than a grimace. "I'm just...just a little scared. I'm afraid I won't do well and will upset you."
She subtly revealed her fear and focused her worries on "fearing to displease him," which cleverly catered to his strong desire for control.
Sure enough, Xie Chen's coldness subsided slightly. He looked at her tearful appearance, trying hard to appear obedient but unable to stop her fear, and a complex emotion flashed deep in his eyes.
“I don’t need you to do anything.” He picked up the wine glass again, gently swirling the dark red liquid inside. His gaze remained fixed on the glass, and his tone returned to its previous indifference. “You just need to stay by my side.”
All you need to do is stay by my side.
This statement, though simple, carries an undeniable sense of possession and declaration. She is not present as an independent individual, but rather as a display of his "possession."
Lin Nuannuan's heart sank, but on the surface she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, softly hummed in agreement, lowered her head, and pretended to focus on the food on her plate that had long since gone cold, while her heart was in turmoil.
"Ding—Key plot event triggered: [The Test of the Family Banquet]. Side quest updated: [Play the role of 'owner' at the family banquet, stay within Xie Chen's sight, and do not actively provoke conflict]. Quest reward: 20 points. Failure penalty: Unknown (determined based on the target's rage value)."
The 088 alert further confirmed the danger of the situation. A hefty reward with an unknown punishment often signifies extreme difficulty.
Dinner ended in an eerie and silent atmosphere. Xie Chen got up and left without giving her another glance.
Aunt Mei "escorted" Lin Nuannuan back to her bedroom, and the chain on her wrist was checked again to make sure it was secure. She slumped onto the soft sofa, gazing at the deep night outside the window, feeling like a puppet being pushed onto the center stage by an invisible hand, with an unknown storm waiting for her below.
That night, Lin Nuannuan slept very restlessly. Her dreams were bizarre and fantastical; one moment she saw Xie Chen's cold gaze, the next she saw a noisy family banquet hall and countless malicious faces.
The next morning, Meryl Streep brought a professional styling team.
For the entire morning, Lin Nuannuan was manipulated like a doll, trying on dresses, getting her hair styled, and having her makeup done. In the end, when she stood in front of the huge dressing mirror, she could hardly recognize herself.
A champagne-colored off-the-shoulder dress accentuated her slender yet curvaceous figure. Her makeup was exquisite, deliberately enhancing her already striking resemblance to Gu Weiwei to a nine-tenths! Her long hair was elegantly styled, revealing her delicate neck. She looked refined and graceful, like a carefully wrapped gift, yet… even more like that white moonlight named Gu Weiwei.
I see.
Taking her to the family dinner was not just to show off "possessions," but also to use this "high-quality replica" to sting certain people, or to prove something.
Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar face in the mirror, Lin Nuannuan felt a chill in her heart. She felt herself being dragged step by step into a deeper vortex, and at the center of that vortex was that unpredictable man.
Xie Chen appeared at dusk.
He changed into a more formal black suit, his posture upright and his demeanor aloof. When he saw Lin Nuannuan dressed up, his gaze lingered on her for a full three seconds.
That look in his eyes was complex and hard to decipher. There was scrutiny, comparison, and a hint of almost satisfied possession, but deep down, there was still an unyielding, cold darkness.
He stepped forward, offering no praise or comment, but simply reaching out his hand, his fingertips lightly brushing against her bare collarbone, where the skin instantly tingled with tiny goosebumps.
“Remember my words.” His deep voice sounded in her ear, carrying an undeniable warning, “Stay by my side.”
Then, he slightly bent his arm, gesturing for her to take it.
Looking at his cold, hard arms, and then at herself in the mirror, who almost overlapped with the image of the white moonlight, Lin Nuannuan felt a strong sense of unease and humiliation well up in her heart.
She knew she had no choice.
She took a deep breath, trying to suppress all her emotions, raised her slightly trembling hand, and gently took his arm.
The chain made a soft creaking sound as she moved. Although it was long enough to allow her limited movement within the villa, this invisible confinement felt heavier than any physical object.
He led her down the spiral staircase, step by step, toward the door that was about to open, leading to an unknown storm.
What exactly is waiting outside the door?
Is it humiliation, harassment, or... an even deeper, unfathomable trap?
The suspense in the story reaches its climax at this moment—is this sudden family banquet a crisis or a turning point for the female protagonist? How will she navigate this trap? All will be revealed in the next chapter.
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