Zhou Wanning looked up into his desire-filled eyes and withdrew her hand. “I… I’m hungry.”
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly as he stroked her chin, as if teasing a kitten. “What would you like to eat?”
“A-anything is fine.”
Lu Jinzhou kissed her forehead. “Wait here, be good.”
He walked toward the door, but Zhou Wanning followed behind him. “I can go out to eat.”
The man turned around, pinched her earlobe, and spoke in a low voice, though his words were cruel. “No.”
Zhou Wanning’s expression froze. Was he going to lock her in a place like this?
She grabbed Lu Jinzhou’s arm. “Let me out. I don’t want to stay here.”
Lu Jinzhou simply brushed her hand away. “Wait for me here.”
The only door leading outside closed once again, though thankfully he didn’t turn off the light.
Zhou Wanning sat back on the bed. Her collar wouldn’t stay closed, but she still fastened the remaining buttons.
There wasn’t a single window here, so she had no idea what it was like outside.
Lu Jinzhou returned quickly, carrying a tray with sliced steak and a small portion of pasta.
Zhou Wanning’s stomach betrayed her with two loud growls.
There was nothing she could do—it was a natural reaction, beyond her control.
Beside the bed was a small cabinet. Lu Jinzhou placed the food on it.
He didn’t let Zhou Wanning eat by herself. Instead, he speared a piece of steak with a fork and brought it to her lips, coaxing her like a child. “Open up!”
Zhou Wanning tried to snatch the fork, but Lu Jinzhou dodged her. “Open your mouth.”
“I’ll do it myself,” she insisted, still reaching for the fork.
Lu Jinzhou evaded her again, and Zhou Wanning had no choice but to open her mouth.
The steak was slightly charred on the outside, its interior still tender and pink. Rich juices spread across her tongue—neither dry nor greasy, with just the right amount of savory fat.
After she swallowed, Lu Jinzhou fed her a second piece, then a third…
He then twirled some pasta. Zhou Wanning took only one bite—she was already full, as meat was quite filling.
When he offered a second bite, Zhou Wanning turned her head away. “I can’t eat anymore.”
There was a napkin on the tray. He used it to wipe the corner of her mouth.
Lu Jinzhou ate the remaining pasta and finished the leftover steak.
Zhou Wanning said, “I’m thirsty.”
He had only prepared food, not drinks.
“I’ll bring you something later.”
“Let me out.”
“No.”
Zhou Wanning was confused. “Why?”
Even if… even if he really wanted to be with her, he had previously let her choose where to live. Why had he suddenly locked her in this dark, windowless place?
“Ningning hasn’t been good. This is your punishment.”
Zhou Wanning stood up, putting some distance between them. “Lu Jinzhou, what are you punishing me for? And who are you? Are you a judge? What right do you have to punish me?”
Lu Jinzhou looked calmly at her furious face. “Because I’m your man, and because you didn’t listen.”
Did she really think he would let her go? He had merely allowed her a period of freedom, and she had already forgotten that disobedient birds belong in cages.
“You’re not my man, and you have no right to treat me like this.” With that, she ran toward the door he had entered through.
But no matter how hard she twisted the doorknob, the door remained firmly shut.
Zhou Wanning continued to struggle, trying to open it. If she could just get this door open, she was sure she could escape.
A tall figure had already arrived behind her. Lu Jinzhou’s large hand rested on her slender waist, his warm lips pressed against her ear. “Without my fingerprint, this door won’t open.”
His touch sent an involuntary shiver through her, goosebumps instantly rising all over her limbs.
This was a custom-made door lock, specially designed for her.
Zhou Wanning clenched her back teeth tightly, trying to stop her body from trembling, but she couldn’t control it no matter what.
He was far crazier than she had imagined.
Click.
His hand pressed on the door handle, and the door opened from the inside.
“I’ll go get you some water.”
Lu Jinzhou left, but Zhou Wanning remained standing at the doorway.
She clearly saw that outside the door was a black wall, with dim yellow lights glowing.
When Lu Jinzhou returned, Zhou Wanning was sitting slumped at the edge of the bed, like a defeated little animal.
“Drink some water.”
After finishing the water, Zhou Wanning placed the cup on the tray.
Lu Jinzhou sat down beside her, tenderly stroking the back of her head. “Does that Gao Yanchu like you?”
She glanced sideways at him, noticing that his expression showed no anger, but how did he know about Gao Yanchu?
“Surprised I know about him?”
It was both strange and not strange. If he could kidnap her, knowing about Gao Yanchu was nothing unusual.
Zhou Wanning thought that during this time, he had used illusions to deceive her, making her believe he had lost interest in her.
She slowly shook her head. “No, he doesn’t like me.”
Men understand men best, and Gao Yanchu’s behavior clearly indicated he liked her.
Lu Jinzhou suddenly tightened his grip on the back of her head, pulling her closer to his face.
His eyes scrutinized her. “What about Ningning? Does Ningning like him?”
Zhou Wanning’s head was held firmly in place. She wanted to shake her head in denial. “No.”
“Anyone who covets my woman should face the consequences.”
Zhou Wanning looked at his fierce eyes in panic. “What are you going to do?”
“Should I break his legs or his hands? Or maybe I should break his third leg instead, so he can’t think about my woman anymore.”
Zhou Wanning grew even more frightened. “No, Lu Jinzhou, he doesn’t like me, and I don’t like him either. We’re just…”
“‘We’?” he spat out the two words.
Zhou Wanning changed her wording. “He and I, we’re just classmates. Please don’t hurt him.”
She couldn’t let Gao Yanchu get hurt because of her. He was innocent.
But Lu Jinzhou fiercely grabbed her neck. “Ningning is worried about another man.”
“I… I… I’m not.”
He released his grip. “You’d better not be. Otherwise, Ningning, you don’t want to see me truly lose my mind.”
Zhou Wanning thought he was already crazy enough as it was.
She looked at him pitifully. “You… you won’t hurt him, will you?”
“Still concerned about him?”
“No, no, I just don’t want you to do something like that. I’m worried about you.”
“From now on, I don’t want to hear you caring about anyone else. Your eyes and heart can only be filled with me. The only person you should care about is me.”
What a domineering and arrogant statement.
Zhou Wanning wanted to retort, but she was now a caged bird, powerless to do anything.
Speaking her mind would only bring more torment from this man.
Just as she was lost in thought, Lu Jinzhou pinned her to the bed and tore open her buttoned clothes once again.
“Ningning, I’ve missed you so much. Have you missed me?”
He didn’t seem to want to hear her answer either, lowering his head to capture her lips.
His hands grew even more unrestrained in their groping.
Was she going to be bullied by him like this again?
Today was supposed to be a wonderful day out with friends, yet it had been ruined by this devil once more.
With one hand pushing against his shoulder, she reached toward the dinner plate with the other.
Her hand trembled as she gripped the fork, but without hesitation, she thrust it toward Lu Jinzhou.