"Who gave you permission to leave my side?"
His scalding breath, carrying a hoarse and dangerous question, slammed heavily into Lin Nuannuan's eardrums. The force on her wrist almost crushed her bones; she was firmly pinned against Xie Chen's hard, burning chest, unable to move.
Her nose was filled with the cool, woody scent of him, now mixed with an almost violent alpha aura that instinctively filled her with fear. She tilted her head back, meeting his dark, swirling eyes, which held emotions that were too complex and too turbulent—unresolved anger, intense possessiveness, and a hint of something she couldn't understand, something akin to lingering fear?
He was scared afterward? What was he scared of?
Lin Nuannuan's mind went blank; she couldn't comprehend this sudden turn of events. Shouldn't he be chasing after his white moonlight? Why did he turn back and stare at her with eyes that seemed to want to devour her whole?
The air seemed to freeze. All the guests held their breath, staring in disbelief at the scene before them. The cold-hearted, ruthless, and never-lost-composure head of the Xie family was now displaying such intense, even out-of-control, emotions in public for a substitute female companion!
Gu Weiwei stood rooted to the spot, a clear crack appearing on her usually cool face for the first time—an expression mixed with astonishment, embarrassment, and a hint of barely perceptible pain. She watched as Xie Chen tightly embraced the girl who looked so much like her, a possessive posture she had never experienced before, almost domineering.
The mockery on Xie Ying's face had vanished, replaced by deep apprehension and bewilderment.
"I...I didn't..." Lin Nuannuan was terrified by the madness in his eyes, her voice trembling uncontrollably as she tried to explain, "It was you...you let go of me first..."
Her words seemed to ignite the last fuse.
Xie Chen's eyes instantly darkened like the sea before a storm. He gave her no chance to speak, suddenly bent down, put his arms under her knees, and scooped her up in his arms amidst everyone's gasps!
"Ah!" Lin Nuannuan exclaimed in surprise, instinctively grabbing his neck to prevent herself from falling.
Xie Chen held her in his arms, ignoring the subtle struggles of the person in his embrace and the deathly silence of the entire room. He didn't even glance at Gu Weiwei again, and strode out of the banquet hall with long strides. His steps were fast and steady, carrying an aura of resolute determination that could kill anyone who stood in his way.
"Ah Chen!" Old Master Xie's authoritative voice rang out from behind, carrying obvious displeasure.
Xie Chen didn't even pause for a moment, as if he hadn't heard anything.
Lin Nuannuan was held tightly in his arms, her cheek forced against the cold fabric of his suit, yet she could clearly feel the tension in his muscles and the violent, heavy pounding of his heart in her chest. He held her so tightly, as if he wanted to crush her and embed her into his very bones.
Shame, fear, confusion... and a faint, almost imperceptible, unease caused by his illogical turn of his head—all these emotions intertwined, leaving her stiff.
What's wrong with him?
The stretched Lincoln, like a black phantom, silently slid into the night. The air pressure inside the car was even lower than when it arrived, almost suffocating.
Xie Chen placed her on the spacious leather chair and sat down beside her. He didn't speak or look at her, but simply loosened his tie, turned his head to gaze at the rapidly receding lights outside the window, his jawline taut like a cold, hard stone.
Lin Nuannuan curled up in the other corner of the seat, trying to keep as much distance from him as possible, her heart still pounding. She secretly glanced at his profile, trying to read something from his cold and handsome face, but all she saw was a bottomless, icy pool.
She recalled System 088's earlier notification that the favorability rating was negative, so his current behavior was definitely not out of affection. Was it possessiveness? Was it because Gu Weiwei's appearance had provoked him, making him feel even more compelled to cling tightly to this "substitute" to prove that his ownership was not to be challenged?
Yes, that must be it. She was just a tool used to soothe his out-of-control emotions.
Having figured this out, the inexplicable flutter instantly cooled, replaced by a deeper sense of powerlessness and self-mockery. She carefully regulated her breathing, afraid to make a sound, lest she disturb the beast beside her that was on the verge of exploding again.
Instead of driving back to the suburban villa, the car entered the underground parking lot of a luxury apartment building in the city center.
Xie Chen got out of the car first, still not looking at her, but when she tried to follow him, he grabbed her wrist again, his grip firm and unyielding. He led her to the private elevator, which took them directly to the top floor.
The penthouse apartment boasts a stunning view, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the city's dazzling nightscape, as if the entire city's prosperity is beneath your feet. However, the interior design is extremely cold and austere, dominated by black, white, and gray tones, with clean lines that border on ruthless. There are no superfluous decorations, much like the man himself, exuding a sense of distance and a desire for control.
This place doesn't feel like a home; it's more like a beautifully designed, modern prison.
"You'll be living here from now on." Xie Chen finally spoke, his voice hoarse with weariness, yet still commanding and unquestionable. He released her hand, walked straight to the liquor cabinet, and poured himself a glass of whiskey.
Lin Nuannuan stood there, looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, the scorching heat of his hand still lingering on her wrist. From the villa in the suburbs to the apartment in the city center, it was nothing more than changing to a larger, more modern cage.
"Why...why?" she couldn't help but ask in a low voice. Was it because the location of the suburban villa at the family dinner today made him feel it wasn't convenient for him to "control" her?
Xie Chen, holding his wine glass, turned around, leaned against the wine cabinet, and stared intently at her. The light from the crystal chandelier cast interplay of light and shadow on his face, making him appear even more enigmatic.
“Here,” he said, swirling the glass in his hand, the ice cubes clinking against the glass, “there aren’t so many boring people bothering us.”
He meant that it was more private, more isolated, and more suitable for... imprisonment.
Lin Nuannuan's heart sank.
"Today..." she hesitated, still wanting to know the reason for his unusual behavior, "Why..."
"There's no reason why." Xie Chen interrupted her, his tone suddenly turning cold, carrying a displeasure at being probed into his privacy. "Remember who you are. My decision doesn't need to be explained to you."
That same phrase again. Like a bucket of cold water, it completely extinguished the faint flame in her heart that was trying to understand him.
Yes, she was his possession; all she needed to do was obey, not understand.
She lowered her head, concealing the emotions in her eyes, and softly replied, "Yes, sir."
Seeing her meek and submissive demeanor, Xie Chen felt the nameless fire in his chest burn even more fiercely. He irritably downed the wine in his glass, the strong liquor burning his throat, but unable to quell the restlessness in his heart.
He didn't know why he had done that.
The moment he saw Gu Weiwei, years of pent-up obsession and resentment surged into his heart, making him almost lose control and want to get closer. But just as he let go of Lin Nuannuan's hand and walked towards Gu Weiwei, an unprecedented emptiness and panic gripped him.
It was as if he hadn't just released a hand, but some vital connection. When he turned around and saw her standing there all alone, pale, fragile, as if she might disappear at any moment, panic instantly overwhelmed everything, transforming into a raging fury—who allowed her to leave his sight? Who allowed her to look like she was about to be taken away by someone else?
This uncontrollable emotion made him feel alienated and angry. He loathed everything that was out of his control, including himself.
For the next few days, Lin Nuannuan was completely trapped in this penthouse apartment.
Their activity area had expanded, and the physical chains were gone, but the ubiquitous surveillance cameras and 24-hour bodyguards at the door created an invisible, even more airtight cage. Xie Chen seemed busier, leaving early and returning late, but he would come back every night to have dinner with her in silence, and then they would each occupy a corner of the study and living room, without disturbing each other.
He no longer mentioned the family dinner, nor did he make any intimate gestures, as if the loss of control that night was just an illusion. But the way he looked at her was more profound and unpredictable than before, carrying a scrutinizing and probing quality that made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
Lin Nuannuan tried her best to play the role of a quiet and obedient canary, reading books, watching movies, and doing some simple exercise within permitted limits. She dared not "test the waters" again, fearing she might get burned once more. The mission seemed to have reached a stalemate, and the "kiss of trust" seemed a long way off.
Late that night, Lin Nuannuan woke up thirsty and tiptoed out of her bedroom to get some water in the living room. As she passed the study, she noticed the door was ajar, with a faint light coming from inside.
It's so late, why isn't he asleep yet?
As if possessed, she stopped and peeked inside through the crack in the door.
There was no one at the desk. Her gaze swept across the room, finally settling on the sofa by the window.
Xie Chen had actually fallen asleep there.
He leaned back on the sofa, his head tilted slightly back, his brows furrowed even in his sleep, and faint dark circles under his eyes indicated his extremely poor sleep quality. He held a document in one hand, while his other hand hung limply at his side.
This was the first time Lin Nuannuan had seen him so unguarded. Gone was his usual coldness and aggression; he even looked somewhat...tired and vulnerable.
Just then, his body suddenly trembled almost imperceptibly, his breathing became rapid, and fine beads of cold sweat seemed to appear on his forehead, as if he had fallen into some kind of nightmare.
Lin Nuannuan's heart clenched for no apparent reason.
She remembered the [Eye of Insight (Beginner)] skill in the system shop, which cost 300 points—something she couldn't afford. But her observational skills as a writer remained. Perhaps… his insomnia and nightmares were related to his obsessive personality? Perhaps it was one of the root causes of his "illness"?
A bold idea rose in her mind.
What if... she could help him with his insomnia?
Could this be a breakthrough? An opportunity to build "trust"?
She gently pushed open the door and went inside. The carpet absorbed her footsteps, so she didn't wake him. She moved closer to the sofa, where she could see his furrowed brow and uneasy sleeping face more clearly.
She hesitated for a moment, then very slowly and carefully reached out her hand, her fingertips gently touching his hand, which hung at his side and was slightly clenched into a fist.
Her movements were as light as a feather.
However, just a split second before her fingertips touched the skin on the back of his hand—
The hand that had been hanging down suddenly attacked like a lurking cheetah, snapping back with astonishing speed and gripping her wrist tightly!
The force was so great that she cried out in pain almost instantly!
The next second, Xie Chen suddenly opened his eyes.
There was no trace of the confusion one might feel upon waking in those eyes, only complete clarity, icy vigilance, and a hint of violent killing intent from having one's territory invaded! It was as if the vulnerable appearance she had just seen while trapped in a nightmare was merely her illusion.
The moment he was awakened, he instinctively reacted defensively and counterattacked.
Lin Nuannuan was terrified. The sharp pain in her wrist made her face turn pale. When she met his cold, hostile gaze, she couldn't even utter a word of explanation.
Xie Chen recognized her, and the murderous intent in his eyes quickly faded, but his vigilance and coldness remained. Instead of letting go, he pulled hard from that position!
"Uh!" Lin Nuannuan was caught off guard and lost her balance when he pulled her. She cried out in surprise and fell straight forward, landing heavily in his arms!
Her nose bumped against his hard chest, a stinging sensation washing over her. She was completely trapped in the small space formed by the sofa and his body, enveloped by his hot, oppressive presence.
He lowered his head, his hot breath hitting her head, his voice hoarse from just waking up, yet as cold as ice crystals:
"what you up to?"
His questioning struck Lin Nuannuan like a thunderclap. She lay stiff in his arms, her wrists still held firmly in his iron grip, her mind a jumbled mess due to the sudden turn of events and their close contact.
She just wanted to... test the waters and see if she could ease his anxiety.
Unexpectedly, they stepped directly into the final forbidden zone guarded by ferocious beasts.
What should she do now?
The suspense builds to a fever pitch – the female lead's well-intentioned probing is perceived as a dangerous challenge by the male lead. Will this unexpected close encounter ignite a greater crisis, or... become the catalyst for breaking the ice? All will be revealed in the next chapter.
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