Chapter 79 "You're mine, you know?"...
How many people in the world own private islands?
Nobody knows the exact answer.
Those who purchase private islands are mostly politicians, businesspeople, celebrities, and reclusive billionaires. They operate discreetly, and transactions are often conducted through offshore companies, making it impossible for outsiders to see the full picture.
Ordinary people rarely have access to this kind of firsthand information, so few people know that a few months ago, this private island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines quietly changed hands for $300 million through the connection of UBS Global Asset Management.
As this is a highly developed private island, its excellent facilities and stunning scenery have made it coveted by countless people, attracting inquiries from many wealthy individuals, but ultimately deterring them due to its staggering price tag.
They were naturally curious about this buyer who had made such a significant purchase.
Public purchase records show that the final buyer was identified as 'J.WEN'.
The outside world can only speculate that this is a buyer from Asia, and most likely from China.
Unfortunately, the prying eyes stopped there. The buyer's gender and occupation were kept strictly confidential, and it was difficult for outsiders to obtain any further information about the buyer.
At this moment, Ms. J.WEN stood in the center of the island, gazing blankly at the excessively beautiful land before her.
She could no longer hear the roar of the helicopter; only the man's voice echoed in her ears.
"What...what did you say?" Wen Jia's voice trembled slightly, almost thinking she was hallucinating.
Xu Shaoting wrapped his arm around her waist, his voice tinged with laughter, "I'm saying, this island is yours."
This is not just empty talk. The owner's name on the land deed is clearly written in black and white with only two words, not three.
Seeing that she was still in a daze, Xu Shaoting took her hand and walked slowly along the stone path.
The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of tropical flowers, mingling with the salty scent of the sea breeze.
Along the way, a butler in a white uniform appeared at opportune moments, smiling and bowing to them, saying in English with a local accent, "Good afternoon, Miss Wen. Welcome home."
"Why...why?" She turned to look into his deep eyes, stammering, "This is too..."
She wanted to say it was absurd, she wanted to say it was precious, but all the words seemed pale and powerless in the face of this gift.
“You forgot, I’ve seen your writing. You said you dreamed about us living on the island, and I want it to be more than just a dream.”
A gentle breeze swept by, lifting the hem of her sundress. The white floral print on the dress complemented the blooming flowers along the way, as if she herself had become a vibrant part of the island.
But the flower seems a little damp.
The heat in her eyes came unexpectedly, and she deliberately tilted her head back to prevent the tears from falling.
This was a pleasant surprise for her, and she didn't want to cry.
"Don't cry yet."
Xu Shaoting put his arm around her and continued walking along the stone path. After walking about fifty meters, a white building slowly emerged from behind the palm trees.
"You said you dreamt we were living in a white house, right?"
Wen Jia raised her neck; the sunlight was so bright that she squinted.
The villa is about four or five stories high, with pure white walls that gleam softly in the sunlight. The floor-to-ceiling windows are like a giant painting, taking in the azure sky, swaying tree shadows, and endless sea view.
The scene before her eyes gradually overlapped with the scene in her dream.
At this moment, she couldn't tell whether she had finally entered the recurring dream, or whether the dream had quietly extended and swallowed up reality.
"Would you like to go inside and take a look?"
Although he was only asking, he had already taken the first step. Servants were already waiting inside, and the teak door of the villa quietly opened inward.
The wind chimes rang out crisply and cheerfully.
The living room eschews ostentatious displays of gold and glitz; instead, its spaciousness and openness define the space. Everywhere you look, you see pristine off-white and the warmth of natural wood, exuding an island charm.
The space was so spacious that she didn't have time to take a good look around before he led her straight through to the back door of the villa.
"Guess what's outside."
Xu Shaoting's hand enveloped hers, and together they opened the door.
Outside the door, an endless expanse of azure blue violently assaulted her vision.
Wen Jia stood there, motionless, staring blankly.
She had seen this sea countless times in her dreams, the same colors, the same scent, the same sound of the tides. But at this moment, the warmth of the sand, the salty smell in the wind, and Xu Shaoting's firm grip on her hand all told her with absolute certainty—
This is not a dream.
Or rather, her dream found its anchor at this moment, sinking steadily and eternally into this azure reality.
"You said that in your dreams, you open the door and there's a vast ocean, right?"
Wen Jia was so dazed that she couldn't say anything. She suddenly turned around and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. "When did you prepare this?"
He immediately corrected himself, "No, I should ask, when was this island bought?"
In fact, it is not easy for foreigners to buy a private island in the Caribbean; at least, it is not something that can be done simply by having money.
Behind this lies months of negotiation, exploration, and meticulous preparation.
From obtaining information about the islands for sale through clandestine channels and conducting repeated on-site inspections, to hiring a legal team to carry out extremely rigorous due diligence on title and debt, ensuring that the ownership of the islands is completely clear.
From negotiating with local government officials at every level to applying for foreign land ownership permits, to facing legal fees and various taxes amounting to nearly 20% of the entire transaction amount…
It involves mobilizing countless powers and a vast network of relationships, and the process is cumbersome and numerous.
He summed up all these procedures in a casual remark: "Actually, it was basically decided eight months ago, but the procedures were too complicated, and I only finally got full ownership in the last month." He paused, looking at her with gentle eyes, "I'm so glad that this island has the sea and white houses that you love."
Wen Jia blinked slowly, and the tears she had been holding back for so long finally broke free and fell to the floor.
Xu Shaoting wiped it away for her, "What belongs to you can come anytime, do you like it?"
At that moment, he frankly admitted that all the time, energy, and hundreds of millions of dollars he had invested were perhaps just a simple "I like you" from her.
Or rather, her affection for him was far more important than anything else.
Wen Jia found it difficult to say, because answering with a simple "like" seemed too pale, even blasphemous.
Tears streamed down her face. She could only stand on tiptoe and gently kiss him. "You always give me... so many surprises."
"There's more."
As he spoke, he took her hand and walked out of the villa again.
The island was covered in lush, verdant vegetation. They strolled along the winding stone paths.
Under each tree along the way, there was its own identification card. Wen Jia couldn't help but stop and look at each one.
Norwegian maple, North American cedar, red elm...
“They’re being taken such good care of.” She asked innocently, “If we weren’t on the island, wouldn’t they be left unattended?”
“No,” he answered confidently, “there is a professional horticulture team that comes to the island regularly to take care of it.”
"Have they been growing here since they were babies?"
The question was so cute that Xu Shaoting couldn't help but laugh. "They didn't grow up here from a young age. They have to grow up in their hometown for a period of time before they are transported to the island."
What kind of professional team and huge financial support are needed to transport these trees from all over the world across oceans and adapt them to the island's climate?
Wen Jia had no time to think about it, nor could she understand it at all. She only clearly felt that this place seemed to be a kingdom he had built for himself.
The stone path continues to extend through the lush woods, leading deeper into the island.
The two walked and talked, and after a short while, their view suddenly opened up, and a well-maintained small meadow appeared before them.
Inside the white wooden fence, two white horses were leisurely grazing, their coats as pure as fresh snow, seemingly shimmering. Their manes swayed gently with their chewing, their posture elegant and serene.
"They are also...?" She stared at them, finding it incredible.
"Hmm, do you like them? One is quieter, suitable for you to ride along the beach. The other is more lively and can accompany me to go further."
He pointed to the two horses: "White Andalusian horses. When we're not around, they have a professional team of grooms and veterinarians to take care of them."
One of the horses seemed to notice their gaze, raised its head, looked at Wen Jia with its gentle eyes, snorted softly, and trotted its hooves gracefully on the ground.
"So cute."
"Want to give it a try?"
"Ride?" she asked hesitantly.
"ride."
"But I don't know how..."
"I'll teach you."
His voice was calm and gentle, carrying a reassuring power.
Before Wen Jia could react, Xu Shaoting had already signaled to the groom waiting not far away. The groom understood, prepared the saddle, and led over the more docile white horse.
Only when the white horse drew closer did Wen Jia truly appreciate its magnificent appearance. Its muscles were sleek and graceful, its neck held high, and its gait light and agile. Yet, under the groom's guidance, it appeared exceptionally docile. Its large, gentle eyes gazed quietly at Wen Jia, as if offering a silent invitation.
“Its name is Max,” Xu Shaoting said, taking the reins and gently stroking the horse’s neck. “Don’t be afraid, it’s very intelligent.”
He turned to Wen Jia and extended his hand, "Come here."
Wen Jia placed her hand in his palm, awkwardly stepped into the stirrups, and tried to mount the horse. Her movements were clumsy, and she couldn't help but feel flustered. Xu Shaoting's hand steadied her waist at the right moment, and Wen Jia felt her body lighten as she sat sideways on the saddle.
Her field of vision suddenly rose, and the surrounding scenery came into view from a completely new angle. She instinctively gasped, her hands gripping the saddle tightly, her knuckles turning white.
“Don’t be nervous,” Xu Shaoting said, holding the reins in one hand and gently placing the other on the back of her hand that was gripping the saddle. “Relax, it knows what to do.”
Xu Shaoting gently pulled the reins, and Max obediently started walking.
The two people and one horse walked slowly along the edge of the white sand beach.
The sunlight stretched their shadows long and thin.
Wen Jia looked down at the man beside her. He wasn't dressed in a suit and tie as usual; he was only wearing a simple polo shirt, looking casual and relaxed. His profile was particularly soft in the afterglow of the setting sun.
“You’re very good at dealing with horses,” she said confidently.
Xu Shaoting chuckled, stopped, and with a swift movement, mounted his horse, his chest pressing against her back.
"I started learning horseback riding when I was six years old."
Is horseback riding difficult?
“It’s not difficult,” he said, seemingly quite confidently, “especially when you have a very good teacher.”
Xu Shaoting didn't rush to spur the horse into a gallop, but instead had Max maintain a leisurely pace, slowly walking along the coastline. The waves gently lapped at the sand, leaving winding trails of foam before quietly receding.
“Look ahead,” he whispered, “follow the rise and fall of its body.”
She did as he instructed, gently pulling the reins with a touch of novelty and excitement.
"It doesn't seem that difficult."
Xu Shaoting chuckled and tightened his arms around her. "Ready?"
"Um?"
"hold me."
Wen Jia did as she was told, gripping his arm around her waist even tighter.
The next second, he gently squeezed the horse's belly with his legs, producing a short, powerful hiss.
The white horse beneath her seemed to be instantly injected with vitality, its pace suddenly quickening. The sea breeze suddenly became strong, howling and ruffling Wenjia's long hair, her skirt fluttering in the wind.
She leaned herself completely against his strong, warm chest, her hands still tightly gripping his arms.
"Don't be afraid."
The speed increased rapidly, the coastline receding quickly from the corner of her eye, rows of palm trees becoming blurry green silhouettes. She looked up and saw the setting sun melting into gold, sinking into the horizon; she saw seabirds flapping their wings, circling back to their nests; she heard the whistling wind, the rhythmic sound of the waves, the powerful clatter of horses' hooves, and the intermingling, indistinguishable breaths and heartbeats.
At that moment, all words seemed superfluous.
After speeding for an unknown period of time, until the sun had mostly sunk into the sea and only a brilliant glow remained on the horizon, Max gradually slowed down and finally stopped beside a slightly raised reef.
Wen Jia's cheeks were flushed with excitement and the wind, but her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice slightly hoarse from exercise and clearly showing his affection.
"Like flying."
It was at this moment that she suddenly realized that what he had given her was not just a priceless island.
It was a dream that belonged only to her, a dream that had been realized, the most extravagant dream.
He gazed at her, his eyes deep, as if trying to etch her image into his heart. After a long while, he spoke, his voice carrying a heavy solemnity in the sea breeze:
"I love you."
For a man who is usually restrained and reserved, these three words weighed a ton. They were not as light and casual as "like," so he rarely expressed his feelings so directly. Just like before, he preferred to convey them by asking her to answer.
But at this moment, he couldn't think of a more fitting expression than those three words.
Wen Jia's heart skipped a beat as she looked into his unfathomable eyes. There, her small figure was clearly reflected.
As the sun set, she reached out, gently cupped his face, and tilted her head back to kiss him.
"I love you too."
-
The island is far more vast than imagined, and it's clearly impractical to explore it on foot alone. Motor vehicles are prohibited here; instead, golf carts quietly shuttle back and forth.
An old-fashioned British butler drove in the front seat, while Xu Shaoting sat in the back seat holding Wen Jia.
The butler was a well-mannered gentleman with impeccably combed hair. He smoothly steered the vehicle and gave his introductions in English that blended local rhythms with elegance.
Wen Jia nestled in Xu Shaoting's arms, listening to the butler's narration, and asked softly, "Does this island belong to that country with the long name you mentioned before?"
"Yes, in the eastern Caribbean Sea."
The butler glanced at the two embracing in the rearview mirror, smiled slightly, and continued, “Yes, Miss Wen. This island boasts three private beaches, the one you just saw being the largest, the main beach. In addition, the island features an infinity pool and spa overlooking the Long Island Sound, a standard tennis court, several themed gardens and koi ponds, a viewing pavilion, two marinas, and a matching sandy boat dock. Finally, we also have a complex of buildings near the mainland to ensure your convenient access year-round.”
It wasn't until she had explored the entire island that she belatedly realized that what the butler had described was just the tip of the iceberg; basically, every leisure activity she could think of could be done on this island.
"It feels like a dream."
Everything on the island was so fresh and new that it felt unreal to her, as if every step she took was on the edge of an illusion.
"Look over there." Xu Shaoting gestured with his chin toward her side and behind.
Wen Jia turned around in the direction he indicated.
The distant horizon is gently bathed in a dreamy pinkish-purple hue, as the afterglow of the setting sun kneads the layers of clouds into a translucent veil.
"And now? Does it still feel like a dream?" Xu Shaoting asked in a low voice.
Wen Jia gently rested her head on his strong shoulder without answering.
She didn't tell him that it was exactly the same as the scene she had seen in her dream that night.
-
After dinner, he took her to the home theater on the top floor of the villa.
In front of the giant screen, two large sofas occupied the best viewing positions.
But clearly, one of them is a bit redundant.
Wen Jia nestled comfortably in his arms, her eyes sparkling as the light reflected from the screen shone through.
What do you want to see?
"Whatever you look at, I'll look at too." Her voice was soft and gentle, filled with complete dependence.
"I don't know much about movies."
"But your girlfriend is a movie star..."
"So, what's the big star's opinion?"
She seemed unconvinced and didn't answer him, but instead asked, "You wouldn't... not have even seen my movies, would you?"
“I’ve seen it,” Xu Shaoting whispered in her ear, “Have you forgotten? Last year during Chinese New Year, I asked you whether you used camera tricks or real kisses for your kissing scenes.”
Wen Jia paused, then a mental alarm bell rang. Before she could reply, she heard him say:
"You reminded me."
As he spoke, he stopped what he was doing, and the screen froze on a movie called "Jin Hui".
"Look at this."
"..."
I should have known better than to mention her own movie! She dug her own grave!
Wen Jia lowered her eyes guiltily, "How about we watch something else?"
Xu Shaoting first kissed her forehead before calmly asking, "Why? Give me a reason."
His gesture was intimate, but his intentions were dangerous, making her stammer and hesitate, "...This...this movie is too old, it's outdated, many plot points don't hold up to scrutiny, it won't suit your taste, let's watch another one..."
He slowly snatched the remote control, pressed down on her buttocks, and said, "Watch this."
She wanted to struggle a little longer, but before she could speak, the man took away her right to speak.
"Why are you so nervous?" He noticed her clutching her polo shirt. "Is there something I can't see?"
There's a kissing scene...
"I know."
"But…"
"No buts."
She dared not tell him that what he had seen before might have been just a mundane kissing scene. After all, this film contained the most intimate scenes of her entire acting career.
Yes, intimate scenes. Including but not limited to kissing scenes, physical contact, and even forbidden and unrestrained...bedroom intimacy.
"The Golden Ashes" was her first time acting in a period drama set in the Republican era. It carried the unique repression and intensity of the old era, with more restrained yet more intense emotional expression.
In order to showcase the passionate love between the male and female protagonists amidst the chaos of war, the director made extremely bold attempts in the intimate scenes.
The lights automatically dimmed, the curtain lit up, and the low, mournful background music pulled people into that turbulent era.
The first shot begins with Wen Jia's slender ankles in high heels, slowly moving upwards, skimming the curves, and finally settling on her beautifully shaped shoulders and neck.
On screen, she wore a dark red brocade cheongsam, and her walk was truly graceful and elegant.
The cheongsam was extremely form-fitting, cinching her waist so tightly it seemed one could grasp it in a hand. As she walked, the fabric around her hips stretched out in a full and firm curve, undulating slightly with each step.
Her finger wave hairstyle, paired with her charming eyes and bright red lips, exuded the charm and sorrow of a classic beauty.
Xu Shaoting watched expressionlessly, but his arms tightened silently, pressing the person in his arms even closer to him.
His gaze fell on the alluring woman on the screen, then he glanced down at Wen Jia, who was now as docile as a kitten, his eyes dark and unreadable.
She wasn't unaware of the gradually increasing restraining force; she simply remained frozen, too afraid to move.
As the film's plot unfolds, Jin Yi, a dancer played by Wen Jia, encounters, tests, and becomes entangled with Zhong Peinan, a married warlord. Ambiguity grows and spreads amidst the chaos of war and the illusion of peace and prosperity.
Soon, the first intimate scene arrived. In the cramped dressing room backstage of the dance hall, Zhong Peinan pinned her against a dressing table piled high with clothes and kissed her with an irresistible force.
The camera is bold and direct, sliding from the man's hand with slightly bulging veins to Wen Jia's slender and fragile neck, which is forced to be raised. Her nail polished fingers weakly crumple the man's crisp military uniform back, and a section of her fair leg trembles slightly beneath the high slit of her cheongsam.
Wen Jia clearly felt the man's breathing become heavier.
She shifted nervously, trying to say something to distract him, "Actually... that's how it is when we're filming, it's all fake, we separate immediately after the shot..."
Xu Shaoting remained silent, his gaze fixed intently on the screen. His fingertips unconsciously traced her jawline, a spot that perfectly overlapped with the location on the screen where the man on the screen was kissing her.
His increasingly dangerous aura silenced Wen Jia instantly, and even her scalp tingled slightly.
After staring for an unknown amount of time, Xu Shaoting looked away, a nameless heat rising within him. He instinctively reached for his neck, wanting to loosen his tie.
But it turned out to be a lie—he was wearing a polo shirt today.
His lips were slightly pursed, and his chest seemed to be heaving. After a moment, he dialed a speed dial number and ordered the butler, "Send me some cigarettes."
Wen Jia listened to his voice, which was clearly calm, as if he was suppressing something.
She was inwardly groaning.
Only she knew that this was just an appetizer.
Sure enough, the next second, the most challenging and talked-about bed scene in her memory began.
In Zhong Peinan's study, the room was dimly lit with flickering light and shadow, and cheongsams and dignified military uniforms were scattered all over the floor.
Although the camera didn't expose anything excessively, the intertwined breaths, the sweat-dampened temples, the tense toes, and Jin Yi's tearful moans... everything was filled with the tension of desire, creating a shocking impact.
In the video, a large expanse of her smooth, fair body is visible.
Zhong Peinan gripped her waist, forcing her to gasp for breath.
With a 'snap' sound.
The screen was turned off without a word, plunging the room into darkness. The remote control was tossed somewhere, perhaps onto the floor, and despite the thick carpet absorbing sound, it still made a crisp sound.
Outside the door, the sound of the butler's footsteps could be heard. Xu Shaoting restrained the person trying to escape in his arms with one hand, and picked up the phone again with the other, ordering in a chillingly cold voice: "Go back."
The poor butler had already stepped into the top floor when he was ordered back. Confused, he looked at the closed door, then at the cigarette in his hand, shook his head, and went back the way he came.
Inside the door, the cell phone that had just been hung up met the same fate as the remote control, tossed away somewhere in the darkness.
Wen Jia was terrified, her heart pounding as Xu Shaoting held her in his arms.
Her chin was pinched by his cold fingertips and tilted back.
The kisses came raining down.
He kissed her almost haphazardly, kissing her lips, neck, collarbone, and then slowly moving downwards, as if trying to use his breath to cover up all the traces left by the other man on the screen.
"Was it a stand-in or did you film it yourself?" Xu Shaoting asked, gripping her chin with his thumb and forefinger, forcing her to look directly at him.
The poor woman swallowed hard, "I...I filmed it myself..."
This answer clearly ignited something. He gripped the back of her head, sealed her lips with his, and his tongue plunged deep inside, with an undeniable aggressiveness, stealing her breath.
"Um... Xu Shaoting... this is all acting, the bed scene was filmed using camera tricks... it wasn't real, um—"
Jealousy and possessiveness were driving him crazy.
He could no longer restrain himself.
"Where did he touch you?" In the darkness, he squinted, staring at her.
“I’ve completely forgotten…” Wen Jia pressed her hands tightly against her chest, her words coming out in broken sentences.
These words failed to bring Xu Shaoting back to his senses. His eyes darkened, while she clung to him, seemingly about to fall.
"Forgot? Let me help you remember."
The coolness of the leather sofa sent shivers down her spine.
Despite the carpet's softness and thickness, faint red marks still appeared from subtle movements.
"Tell me, did you get into character with him?"
Wen Jia shook her head repeatedly, "No, no..."
She was in a daze, and her eyes seemed to be wet, but not because of negative emotions, but because she couldn't bear his intense possessiveness.
"You're mine, you know?" Xu Shaoting leaned down and bit her earlobe, his breath hot and frightening, whispering in her ear again and again, "You can only be mine."
...
That night, what she regretted most was bringing up her movie.
Finally, in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, the once clear and flawless glass was covered with her hazy sweat stains and helpless fingerprints.
The world outside the window was shrouded in a deep blue velvet night, the daytime azure sea and silver sands losing their color, turning into a hazy gray shadow. The outline of the private island lay quietly under the moonlight.
She stood there, her body bent, her burning forehead pressed against the cool window, looking at the pleasant night view outside, with his scorching body heat behind her.
"Don't... let... people see..."
Xu Shaoting pinched her chin, forcing her to turn her head, and kissed her sweaty temples. "You're overthinking it." He chuckled softly, a mixture of absolute control and a hint of indulgence in his voice.
"Where did this person come from? Baby?"
...
From the movie theater sofa to the living room, from the balcony to the bathtub, from the carpet to the island, from the king-size bed to the floor-to-ceiling windows...
It was only later that she learned he was incredibly wicked, having deliberately designed the villa with floor-to-ceiling windows everywhere.
He deliberately made her both infatuated and terrified.
And, thoughtfully, the bedside table in the master bedroom contained some embarrassing "items," while the wardrobe held a few pieces of sheer lace and mesh fabric—the amount of fabric was pitifully small. He held them out to her with his long, slender fingers, letting her choose…
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