He stopped beside her bed, his tall figure looming over her and blocking out most of the light.
The cold metal chain hung heavily, barely an inch from her fingertips, its chill seemingly penetrating the air and seeping into her skin.
Zi Xi's breath caught in her throat the moment she saw what he was wearing on his lower body.
The photo album slipped from her suddenly weakened fingers and fell onto the thick carpet with a thud, the dull thud amplified infinitely in the silence.
She leaned stiffly against the headboard, her blood rushing to her head.
Are you trying to seduce me?
Zi Xi opened her mouth, but her throat was so dry that she couldn't make any complete sound, only broken breaths.
For a moment, her mind went blank.
Pei Mozhi leaned down, bracing his arms on the edges of the bed on either side of her body, completely trapping her between himself and the headboard.
The cold touch of the chain brushed against her bare ankles exposed outside her nightgown, sending a slight shiver down her spine.
The fresh scent of soap emanating from him, mixed with strong male hormones, enveloped her like an invisible net, leaving no room for escape.
He gazed into her eyes, which were slightly wide with shock. His image was clearly reflected in them, along with her helpless embarrassment and barely concealed panic.
This pleased him.
His Adam's apple bobbed violently, his voice low and hoarse, each word seeming to be squeezed out from the depths of his burning chest, his hot breath brushing against her cheek.
“XiXi…we’ve been in this ambiguous relationship for so long.”
"Does this mean... I can't get a permanent position yet?"
Pei Mozhi called her name, his voice carrying a captivating magnetism at the end.
Zi Xi's heart was pounding wildly in her chest, almost bursting out of her body.
She knew she couldn't resist temptation, but she never expected him to tempt her like this.
The cold chain felt almost imperceptible against her skin, creating a contrasting sensation of ice and fire with the intense heat emanating from him.
Zi Xi felt her brain buzzing and her blood surging wildly in her eardrums.
However, just as this line of defense, clouded by infatuation, was about to collapse, a faint yet alarming alarm rang out deep within her heart.
I can't... I can't be swayed like this.
The past flashed through my mind like a shattered slideshow, those cold eyes.
Such a spur-of-the-moment decision guarantees nothing; she still needs time, she needs a dam, to verify whether this raging torrent can truly flow into a calm harbor.
Just as Pei Mozhi leaned down to kiss her, Zi Xi suddenly raised her hand, not to embrace him, but to forcefully and resolutely press her palm against his burning chest.
Beneath her fingertips lay his strong, powerful muscles and his heart pounding with excitement; that vibrant life force almost burned her palms.
"No, let me go!"
Her voice was rapid and panting, yet exceptionally clear.
Pei Mozhi's movements suddenly froze.
The raging flames in his eyes froze instantly, and the muscles in his arm supporting him beside her tensed instantly, with veins bulging.
Zi Xi met his suddenly cold gaze without flinching.
She didn't pull her hand away from his chest; instead, she pushed him away a little more forcefully to buy herself a bit of breathing space.
"I admit, I almost couldn't resist your temptation, but... a six-month trial period."
She took a deep breath, forced herself to look directly into his burning eyes, and explained clearly, word by word.
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