Xia Qiaoxi had always suffered from poor sleep quality and frequent insomnia.
But now, even if she couldn’t sleep, she preferred to be alone.
“I can sleep…” Xia Qiaoxi murmured softly.
“Then, good night.” Tang Yushen watched as the door closed before him, that face he had yearned for day and night gradually disappearing from his sight.
In an instant, standing in the spacious living room, Tang Yushen felt a tightness in his chest.
He needed to calm down.
Desperately needed!
He walked out to the balcony, lit a cigarette, took several deep drags, and exhaled tendrils of white smoke.
He had finally found his Xier again.
Xier was his.
His alone.
After her death a century ago, he couldn’t sleep night after night, relying on alcohol and cigarettes to numb himself just to survive.
From now on, he might not need cigarettes anymore.
Tang Yushen stared at the half-smoked cigarette in his hand and stubbed it out.
He turned and left the suite. “Guard it.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
A few minutes later, Tang Yushen was seated in the suite downstairs, leaning lazily against the sofa, his clear dark eyes cold and sharp. “State your conditions.”
Across from him, the pale He Luyi coughed lightly twice. “Young Master Tang, you should know that Miss Xia was cultivated by the Xia family since childhood to be my fiancée, custom-made for me. Do you think I would give her up to you?”
Custom-made?
What did that mean?
“You will.” Tang Yushen leaned forward, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth. “If you insist on refusing, then I’ll have no choice but to take her by force. You can try me.”
“I certainly believe Young Master Tang has that capability. However, Xiaxia is so beautiful, lovely, and gentle—the conditions… can’t be simple.”
He Luyi had no real feelings for Xia Qiaoxi either.
It was just that due to his poor health, over a decade ago when the Xia family faced an economic crisis and the He family stepped in to help, they had proposed this condition:
That Xia Qiaoxi would marry him, a sickly man who might die at any time, once she grew up.
It was merely a transaction.
“Name them.” Tang Yushen spoke only two words.
No matter the conditions, he was determined to keep Xier by his side.
Xier’s husband could only be him, Tang Yushen.
Anyone who stood in his way—gods would be slain, Buddhas would be destroyed.
“I heard the Tang Corporation acquired a prime piece of land in Jingcheng.” He Luyi said slowly. “I quite like the environment in Jingcheng. The climate is suitable—very good for recuperation.”
That land was originally intended by the Tang family to build a high-end retirement home. Nestled between mountains and water, it boasted superior environment and air quality—an exceptionally rare plot.
He had expended considerable manpower and resources to get the Jingcheng government to zone that land.
“Fine.” Tang Yushen’s voice was deep. “It’s yours.”
“1.7 billion.” A faint smile appeared on He Luyi’s pale face. “Tang Yushen, is that Xia Qiaoxi really that important to you?”
Important.
He would give her his very life.
What was a 1.7 billion piece of land?
“You wouldn’t understand.” Tang Yushen’s heart had already flown back to Xia Qiaoxi’s side.
He wanted to be with her, hold her, kiss her.
“I understand—even heroes fall for beauties. But you might not fully know about Xia Qiaoxi.” He Luyi held a cup of steaming water. “According to my parents, she was strictly controlled by the Xia family since childhood, like a custom-made robot. Whatever I liked, the Xia elders would make her learn it, all to please me after marriage. To the Xia family, Xia Qiaoxi is just a tool. You should be careful.”
His Xier—how had she been reduced to being a tool?
His Xiaoxi only needed to be happy.
Tang Yushen stood up, “Thank you.”
“Young Master Tang gave me such a large piece of land. This small favor is only natural.” Heluyi slowly drank warm water, “I won’t see you out.”
Tang Yushen left without looking back. On his way back, the corridor was so quiet that only his footsteps could be heard.
Right here in Jing City, he actually hadn’t found Xiaoxi in these 27 years.
He had let her suffer hardships and endure grievances.
How damned!
Returning to the suite, Tang Yushen stood outside Xia Qiaoxi’s door, wrestling fiercely with inner conflict.
He wanted to see her!
He was going crazy with the desire.
He carefully opened the door. The dark bedroom was only faintly illuminated by the light from the doorway—pale and cold.
On the large white bed, a small figure lay curled up.
Tang Yushen closed the door and walked over.
Xia Qiaoxi furrowed her brows. In her dream, she was wearing a wedding dress and jumping from the hotel rooftop.
But she hadn’t landed for a very, very long time.
“Mmm…”
“Ah…”
“Help!”
Xia Qiaoxi struggled awake, her elbow bumping against what felt like someone beside her.
“Ah—”
She sat up in fright, scrambling to escape.
Suddenly, an arm wrapped around her waist, firmly restraining her.
She couldn’t move, couldn’t escape.
“Who is it?”
“Let me go…”
Xia Qiaoxi’s voice trembled as she tightly gripped the strong arm, “Let go…”
“It’s me.” Tang Yushen released her to turn on the light.
When the light came on, Xia Qiaoxi was already standing by the bed, arms crossed defensively across her chest, glaring at him.
What was wrong with him?
Sneaking into her room in the middle of the night, holding her while she slept.
Tang Yushen was still wearing the same clothes from when they first met. His deep black eyes were even more intense and burning than before, looking as if he hadn’t rested in a long time.
“Why are you here?” Xia Qiaoxi asked softly, “If I remember correctly, this is a suite with other beds available.”
He didn’t need another bed—he needed her!
Tang Yushen leaned against the headboard, “Come here.”
“No.”
Xiaoxi wasn’t being obedient, wasn’t being sweet to him.
“If you like this bed, I’ll go sleep in another room.” Xia Qiaoxi said while slowly edging toward the door.
A man and woman alone in a room together was dangerous.
“If I wanted to do something to you, wouldn’t I have had the chance while you were sleeping so soundly?” Tang Yushen crooked his finger, “Come here.”
He wanted to.
But the time wasn’t right yet.
Xiaoxi was still resisting him.
He had already waited what felt like a hundred years—he could wait a day or two more.
“That… makes some sense…” Xia Qiaoxi blinked, “Then why did you come to my room?”
“I was afraid you might do something rash.”
“Ah?” Xia Qiaoxi shook her head, slowly moving back, “Since you offered to help me and I agreed, I won’t go back on my word.”
Tang Yushen watched her motionlessly. When she got close enough, he grabbed her and pulled her onto the bed.
“Mmm…”
“Ouch.”
Xia Qiaoxi’s body fell forward, her head bumping against his chest.
Mmm…
This man’s body was so hard!
Was it muscle?
Thump, thump-thump.
Why was his heart beating so fast?
Xia Qiaoxi braced her hands on either side of him, slowly pushing herself up, “You sleep. I can’t sleep anyway, I’ll stay awake…”
Tang Yushen’s right hand pressed against her back while his left thumb gently stroked her lips with restraint. Her slightly parted lips seemed to entice him as his thumb ventured deeper, touching her teeth.
Xia Qiaoxi was shocked, her mouth slightly agape, not daring to move.
This posture, this atmosphere…
It was excessively intimate.
Xia Qiaoxi stared at his gradually approaching face, her hands abandoning their support as she fell straight down.
She avoided Tang Yushen’s kiss, but ended up lying on top of him in an even more awkward position.
From above came Tang Yushen’s suppressed voice, “Hiss…”