Zhou Shijing calmly met her gaze, his dark eyes revealing no emotion.
Yet the surrounding temperature seemed to have dropped to freezing point imperceptibly.
Wen Xuxue shrank her shoulders slightly. Zhou Shijing said, “It depends on Older Brother’s mood.”
She tightly pinched his fingertips and said stubbornly, “Then I don’t want it either.”
Zhou Shijing lowered his gaze, looking intently at the hand she had placed over his.
From gripping too tightly, her fingertips had already turned pale.
He tugged at the corner of his lips, his face showing no trace of pleasure, only coldness.
An unprecedented coldness.
He reached out, lifted her chin, his deep eyes frozen over as if encased in ice for miles, and said, “Now that Xiao Xue has a boyfriend, she doesn’t want Older Brother anymore, is that right?”
Though the words were spoken with utmost humility, coming from his authoritative voice, they instead turned into a condescending interrogation.
Wen Xuxue’s body stiffened, wanting to turn her head away from him.
Zhou Shijing turned her face back again, forcing her to meet his gaze.
He was truly domineering; the oppressive aura from someone long accustomed to authority made Wen Xuxue feel suffocated.
Looking at him, as if she had thrown caution to the wind, she said, “It was Older Brother who abandoned Xiao Xue first.”
Zhou Shijing was taken aback, frowning as he said, “I did not.”
Wen Xuxue said, “You did.”
Zhou Shijing suddenly released her, and Wen Xuxue immediately shifted her position, sitting a full ten meters away from him.
Fortunately, his living room was spacious enough.
Zhou Shijing sat steadily in the center, his authority undiminished, and said, “Explain yourself clearly.”
Wen Xuxue pursed her lips, feeling very guilty: “…I was just talking nonsense earlier.”
Zhou Shijing looked at her, his gaze deep and calm, carrying a silent scrutiny.
Wen Xuxue felt utterly uncomfortable.
“So,” Zhou Shijing bit out the word, his voice deep and resonant like jade, as if pronouncing a death sentence, “Xiao Xue has lied to Older Brother again.”
Wen Xuxue said, “I haven’t…”
Zhou Shijing commanded, “Stand in front of me. Now.”
Wen Xuxue obediently complied.
Zhou Shijing remained expressionless, sparing with his words: “Take it off.”
Wen Xuxue’s body stiffened.
She looked at him with pitiful eyes, hoping to soften his hardened heart.
Yet Zhou Shijing remained unmoved throughout.
Wen Xuxue had no choice but to—
obey once again.
The soft fabric of her clothing drifted gently to the floor, shimmering faintly.
Zhou Shijing glanced at her, his eyes as calm and unchanging as ever.
A lighter lay on the table. He instinctively reached for it but, as if thinking of something, ultimately did not take it.
His thin lips parted slightly: “Lie across my lap yourself.”
Wen Xuxue forced a smile.
After all, it wasn’t the first time, sob sob.
She walked toward him, moving extremely slowly, almost at a snail’s pace.
At this moment, Zhou Shijing displayed unprecedented patience and did not urge her on.
Meeting his cold gaze, Wen Xuxue gently climbed onto the sofa and threw herself into his arms.
Ten minutes—for others, it might pass in an instant.
For Wen Xuxue at this moment, it felt as long as a century.