As night fell over the villa's pointed roof, the crystal chandelier in the master bedroom emitted a soft glow.
Yu Jiuyuan nestled in the velvet chaise lounge, flipping through documents, her fingertips tracing the distribution map of the Ji family's businesses, her eyes as cold as ice.
Su Jingshu just sent word that Ji Nianqin has recently been secretly contacting several companies that cooperate with the Yu family. Her actions are discreet, but her ambition is obvious.
With a soft click, the bathroom door was pushed open.
The moment Yu Jiuyuan looked up, her fingertips unconsciously paused.
Rong Shenghan stood at the bathroom door, his silhouette obscured by the steam.
Instead of his usual silk robe, he wore a well-tailored black servant's suit, the crisp stand-up collar making his neck appear even longer.
Silver buttons are fastened from the collar all the way to the waistline, outlining the smooth curve of broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Black trousers wrap around straight, long legs, and the cuffs are neatly hidden in shiny leather shoes.
The most eye-catching item is the silver brooch on her collar, shaped like a miniature iris, which has the same scent as the perfume that Yu Jiuyuan often uses.
"Young Miss." When he spoke, his voice was lower than usual, with a moist quality, and his slight bow conveyed just the right amount of obedience.
Yu Jiuyuan's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.
She had seen Rong Shenghan in so many different ways: the strictness of the student council vice president, the laziness in private, the burning passion when in love, and even the forbearance he endured when injured.
She never imagined that when this always enigmatic man wore clothing symbolizing submission and called her "Miss" in such a soft tone, it would have such a powerful impact.
The irritation I felt during the day because of Bai Weiwei seemed to melt away silently, as if soaked in warm water.
"Who told you to wear this?" She raised an eyebrow, deliberately putting on a stern face, but her gaze couldn't help but linger on the silver chain at his waist.
A small bell was attached to the chain, swaying gently with his movements without making a sound, clearly a deliberate design choice.
Rong Shenghan approached and stopped in front of her.
The light fell on his eyelashes, casting a small shadow. He raised his hand and gracefully tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his fingertips still warm from washing: "You upset the young lady during the day, so you should be punished."
His fingertips brushed against her earlobe, sending a delicate tickle through her. Yu Jiuyuan shrank back, but didn't flinch, only letting out a snort: "You certainly know how to find a way to punish yourself."
Of course she knew whose clothes they were; they were antique servant outfits that Yuan Xu had bought from some auction last year, saying they "fitted the young lady's training aesthetics," and which she had casually tossed into her dressing room. She never expected Rong Shenghan to find them, and wear them so... well-fittingly.
Rong Shenghan chuckled softly, then knelt down to meet her gaze. The black fabric made his skin appear even whiter, and the platinum ring on his left ring finger and the silver iris on his collar shone brightly, almost dazzling.
"So, how would you like to punish me, Miss?" He looked up at her, his long eyelashes gleaming, his eyes holding a hint of amusement, yet also an absolute indulgence. "Do you want me to sleep in the guest room tonight, or..."
He paused deliberately, his fingertips lightly touching her ankle, slowly sliding upwards along the folds of her silk nightgown: "Let's do something more interesting?"
Yu Jiuyuan's breath hitched slightly.
She suddenly remembered the first night during winter break when she kept him at the villa under the guise of "warming his bed." At that time, his arm was not fully healed, but he still patiently watched the boring financial news with her. When she turned over in the early morning, she could always feel him carefully adjusting his position, afraid of pressing on her hair.
At the time, she only considered it a bonus for completing the mission. Now, looking back, she realizes that those details she overlooked might have held more than she thought.
"Get up," she suddenly said, her voice a little strained.
Rong Shenghan got up as instructed, but she suddenly grabbed his tie. The silver iris brooch brushed against her cheek, bringing a cool touch. She tilted her head back and kissed him without saying a word.
The kiss carried her usual assertiveness, even a touch of recklessness. She bit his lips, as if venting her possessiveness from the daytime, or perhaps confirming a sense of belonging. Rong Shenghan paused for a moment, then took the initiative, supporting her nape with one hand and encircling her waist with the other, deepening the kiss.
The bell chain gently pressed against her palm; it was cold and hard, yet strangely reassuring.
After an unknown amount of time, Yu Jiuyuan, panting, pushed him away, her nose touching his chin, her voice hoarse with passion: "Remember, you are mine."
"Mmm." Rong Shenghan responded, his kiss landing on her collarbone, gently nibbling out a light red mark. "It's been like this since the day I made this ring for you."
His fingertips traced the ring on her ring finger, lightly touching it to his own, producing a soft metallic sound. It was made by him in his studio after three sleepless nights when his arm had just healed; the words engraved on the inside were known only to the two of them.
Yu Jiuyuan suddenly felt a pang of tenderness in her heart.
She has always been a cold-hearted egoist. Winning over everyone is just to complete her mission. Her so-called "favoritism" is just because she thinks Rong Shenghan is the most "useful." He knows his limits and knows when to advance and retreat, unlike Xie Zhecheng who always puts on airs of perfectionism, or Lin Yanran who is full of arrogance.
But now, looking at the silver chain swaying at his collar and feeling his warm breath on her neck, she suddenly didn't want to define this relationship as a "strategy" or a "mission" anymore.
"Give me a shoulder massage tonight." She loosened her tie, casually lay back on the chaise lounge, and shoved the documents into his arms. "Read Ji Nianqin's information to me. If you don't analyze it well, you'll be punished by having to wear this to the student council office tomorrow."
Rong Shenghan chuckled softly, his long, slender fingers picking up the document, the ring gleaming softly under the light: "Yes, Miss."
He sat down behind her, gently massaging her shoulders. His deep voice recited the distribution of the Ji family's businesses, pausing occasionally to offer precise analysis, only to be interrupted by her challenging questions—
"This wasn't explained clearly, please repeat it."
"That was too light. Didn't you eat?"
"..."
He remained patient throughout, adjusting the pressure of his fingers according to her requests, yet the smile in his voice was unmistakable.
Moonlight streamed through the gauze curtains, falling on their clasped hands. The other rooms in the villa were quiet—Xie Zhecheng was probably still reading his textbooks, Yuan Xu was perhaps fiddling with his specimens, and Lin Yanran was likely arguing with her family on the phone again.
In the master bedroom, the silver buttons of the antique servant's uniform gleamed under the light, and platinum rings pressed against each other's skin. As their breaths mingled, even the air seemed to be tinged with a sweet scent.
Yu Jiuyuan closed her eyes, listening to Rong Shenghan's gentle voice and feeling the warmth of his palm. She thought that perhaps indulging in this favoritism occasionally wouldn't be so bad.
After all, her "training manual" never said that the most obedient dog shouldn't be spoiled.
As for Bai Weiwei, who tried to seduce Rong Shenghan? Yu Jiuyuan's lips curled into a cold smile. Tomorrow, she'd have the student council's discipline department "check on" her attendance and appearance; that should be enough to make her understand that some people are best left alone, as getting involved with them will only bring trouble.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
