For some reason, Lin Yingyue felt a chill run down her spine.
But when she looked up at the sky, it was clearly a bright, sunny day.
Lin Yingyue shook her head and checked her bank account balance—
-18,732.52
Student loan, down to the last cent.
It was an instant chill to the bone; she snapped back to reality, with no time for sentimental melancholy.
The inexplicable chill down her back from earlier was gone, replaced only by a sense of powerlessness, wondering why this damn world wouldn't just end already.
She pulled up the repayment schedule. Once this month's salary came in, the student loan would be fully paid off.
Looking at it that way, her goal of studying abroad and escaping the male and female leads didn't seem so far off.
Just then, her mobile phone vibrated.
Song Zeqian: 【It's over already, right? Why aren't you back yet? Did you run into someone?】
Lin Yingyue's heart skipped a beat.
How did he know?
She instinctively looked back toward the auditorium, then glanced around, but didn't see Song Zeqian anywhere.
She typed a reply: 【A friend, nothing serious, just chatting.】
The message was sent, and almost immediately, a reply came back:
【Male or female?】
Even through the screen, Lin Yingyue could sense a strong, damp, oppressive feeling and a desire for control.
She didn't want to cause any trouble or arouse Song Zeqian's suspicion.
So she quickly replied: 【I'm with Su Xiaoxiao, who else could it be? Rehearsal just ended, we talked for a bit.】
Sent.
She watched the "typing..." indicator flicker a few times, then disappear.
Song Zeqian didn't reply again.
Lin Yingyue's heart was a little uneasy, but on second thought, she hadn't completely lied; Su Xiaoxiao had indeed been there.
It should be fine, right?
She stopped overthinking and quickly walked toward the subway station at the school's east gate.
However, just a few steps out of the school gate, she saw the silver Pagani parked in the most conspicuous spot.
Song Zeqian leaned against the hood, a lit cigarette held between his long, slender fingers. On the back of his beautiful, pale hand, veins bulged prominently.
The silver pinky ring gleamed with a cold light.
Pale blue-white smoke drifted upward, gradually revealing his cold, indifferent brows and eyes.
Passersby, both male and female, cast side glances at him, looking eager and restless.
Some even secretly took photos and posted them on the forum.
Caption: 【Where did this handsome guy come from? He's freaking gorgeous!】
Busybodies immediately responded:
【Little Fish Blowing Bubbles: This is Finance senior Song Zeqian! Super handsome, right?】
【The Past is the Past, Now I'm a Pervert: His Adam's apple is so big, hehehe （Eye hearts, mouth drooling GIF）, I heard people with big Adam's apples have proportionally big...】
【Little Fish Blowing Bubbles: Ahhh, if I could be his girlfriend and sleep with him, I'd be willing even if it meant driving a Maserati and living in Tomson Riviera!】
【The Past is the Past, Now I'm a Pervert: Girl, how can you be so greedy, wanting to take it all?】
Lin Yingyue looked at her phone: ...
Those crazy girls weren't wrong, it really was like that...
After all, he was the male lead of a web novel; of course, his hardware was top-notch!
She paused for a moment, then still walked over.
Looking like that was way too flashy! If she didn't take him away soon, there would probably be a crowd around him.
She opened the front passenger seat door and got in.
Knowing that most girls don't like the smell of smoke, Song Zeqian stubbed out the cigarette he had barely smoked.
"Have you been waiting long?" she asked tentatively as she fastened her seatbelt.
"Not really," Song Zeqian said flatly, starting the car.
The car merged into traffic.
For some reason, Lin Yingyue felt the atmosphere was strangely ominous.
She tried to find some topics to talk about—today's rehearsal, how strict the professor was, Su Xiaoxiao's embarrassing moments...
She chattered on, even making herself laugh.
Song Zeqian occasionally hummed an "mm," his attitude somewhat indifferent.
Watching her face flush red from telling jokes, Song Zeqian's thin lips curled slightly.
Until Lin Yingyue got thirsty and pulled out a light blue glass bottle to drink orange soda.
Then she shivered.
Why did the atmosphere in the car suddenly feel even colder...
Back at the Song Residence, dinner was already prepared.
Having been out all day, Lin Yingyue was starving.
Not being enthusiastic about eating was a problem with one's character.
Rich black pepper sauce was poured over the tender, juicy thick-cut steak, sizzling and releasing a bold, pervasive aroma.
There was also a small, delicate dish of creamy mushroom soup, exuding an enticing milky fragrance and the sweet freshness of mushrooms.
Already ravenous, Lin Yingyue was completely hooked, burying her head in her meal.
Song Zeqian across from her was also eating, without any particular reaction.
Lin Yingyue felt relieved and cast aside her earlier doubts.
"I'm full," she said, putting down her knife and fork, picking up a napkin to wipe the corner of her mouth.
Song Zeqian looked up at her.
"Full?" he asked, his voice unreadable.
"Mm, very full," Lin Yingyue nodded, adding a concerned remark, "You didn't eat much. Not to your taste?"
Song Zeqian stood up, his eyes dark and heavy.
Meeting these cold, pitch-black eyes, Lin Yingyue inexplicably shuddered.
A large hand cupped her rear, and before Lin Yingyue could react, she was pinned against the dining table.
Plates dragged the pristine white tablecloth, crashing to the floor and shattering into pieces.
"Since you're full, it's my turn now."
Before his words faded, Song Zeqian used one hand to pin both her wrists together above her head, pressing them down. In his deep black pupils, a paranoid possessiveness surged and sank.
Her pupils trembled slightly.
"Brother, no..."
This was the dining room, not the bedroom; the servants would come to clear the dishes.
What if someone saw?
Before Lin Yingyue could finish, her cherry-pink lips were fiercely sealed, her slender waist gripped by a large hand and pressed against the dining table.
The man's scent, carrying cedarwood, assaulted her fiercely, and the girl's fragmented whimpers escaped from between her teeth and lips.
Song Zeqian stared directly at her closed eyes and commanded:
"Open your eyes. Look at who's kissing you."
The girl's soft, fair eyelids trembled as she opened her eyes.
Their eyes met, and a wave of shame welled up inside her.
His long fingers threaded through her hair, forcing her to tilt her head back and receive the kiss.
"Stick it out."
She obediently did as told, but...
Tears instantly seeped from the corners of her crimson-tinged eyes.
What the hell was wrong with him? He bit her again!
But she no longer had the chance to ask; Song Zeqian seemed determined to mark every inch of her, inside and out, as his own.
The assault was fierce, as if he wanted to crush her entirely and devour her.
"I can't breathe. I don't want to kiss anymore."
Lin Yingyue furrowed her delicate brows and petulantly tried to pull back.
The girl's evasive look was reflected in his cold, deep black eyes, provoking the man's displeasure.
Song Zeqian tightened his hold on her, pressing her against him, and heavily sucked a trail down her snow-white neck, not letting go even as her body trembled from the kisses.
It was as if there was a fire burning in his chest, and he was venting his anger on her.
Lin Yingyue's mind was hazy and confused; she didn't know what was happening.
To keep from falling, she could only cling tightly to Song Zeqian.
Only then did Song Zeqian release her.
Her fair calf was forced apart by the man's knee, aggressively.
He pinched Lin Yingyue's chin, his voice cold and forceful.
"I'm going to * you today."
"Take off your clothes yourself."
✦✦✦