Vоlumе 1 Сhарter 23: Cоnditiоns
Shu Мiао slowly oреned her еyes, hеr hеаd thrоbbing with раin as if it wеrе sрlitting аpart. Нer entire bodу аchеd аs thоugh shе hаd endurеd tоrturе. She gentlу сlosеd her eyеs agаin.
Raising her hand slоwly, shе prеssеd her fingers аgainst her temрlеs аnd rubbеd them, trying tо еаsе the discоmfort. Аfter a mоment, she grаdually оpened hеr еуes оnсe more.
А strong аrm wаs wrapрed arоund her wаist, аnd in аn instant, shе remembеred what hаd hарpened before she lost соnsciousness.
Turning hеr hеad, she saw Меng Yuchuan lying beside her, sleeping peacefully with an expression of satisfaction and indulgence lingering between his brows.
Recalling the bottle of wine she had drunk, Shu Miao was instantly consumed by rage.
This scoundrel had actually set a trap for her and taken advantage of her vulnerability. Her eyes blazed with fiery anger.
At that moment, she also felt an overwhelming sense of regret. She had been too arrogant, too confident in her pitiful tolerance for alcohol, which had led to this outcome.
Clutching the blanket tightly, she closed her eyes and then opened them again. Reaching out, she pulled back the covers, and the sight of the marks covering her body was shocking.
Using her hands to support herself, she struggled to sit up. On the bedsheet was a vivid, glaring patch of red.
Shu Miao forcefully flung the arm draped over her waist aside, turned over, and got out of bed. She found her clothes scattered on the floor and quickly put them on.
After dressing, she tried to leave but found the door wouldn’t open no matter how hard she tried.
“I’ve locked the door. You won’t be able to open it.”
A lazy voice sounded from behind her, tinged with the husky sensuality that followed indulgence.
Shu Miao turned around to see Meng Yuchuan, who had woken up at some point.
He was leaning against the bed, his upper body bare, arms crossed over his chest, a faint, satisfied smile playing on his lips.
Shu Miao glared at him, her face flushed with anger, and said coldly, “Open the door.”
Meng Yuchuan chuckled softly, resting his hands behind his head, his tone teasing. “Oh, so you’re planning to run off after sleeping with me? That’s quite irresponsible.”
Shu Miao’s face turned crimson with fury. She clenched her small hands into fists, gritting her teeth. “You tricked me! You took advantage of me when I was drunk… and now you want me to take responsibility? Have you no shame?”
Seeing Shu Miao stomping her feet in anger, Meng Yuchuan’s smile deepened. He threw off the covers and got out of bed.
Shu Miao instantly covered her eyes and screamed, “What are you doing? Stay away from me!”
Meng Yuchuan shook his head helplessly at her reaction, picked up a nearby robe, and tied it around himself. He then walked toward the door.
Gently pulling her hands away from her eyes, he said, “Alright, I’m dressed now. You can open your eyes.”
Shu Miao cautiously opened one eye halfway. Seeing that he was wearing a robe, she opened both eyes fully.
Realizing how close they were standing, the atmosphere felt incredibly intimate. Instantly on guard, she retreated to the corner of the room, adopting a defensive posture.
“Stay away from me!”
Meng Yuchuan crossed his arms, a wicked smile on his face. “We’ve already slept together. Why are you still so shy?”
At his words, Shu Miao’s anger flared again. She tightened her fists and straightened her neck. “You scoundrel! You tricked me, deliberately set a trap, and took advantage of me! You’re shameless, despicable!”
Meng Yuchuan remained unfazed by her insults and replied provocatively, “You were so drunk last night, you could barely stand. If it weren’t for me, you might have ended up wandering the streets.”
Shu Miao’s brows furrowed tightly. “Wandering the streets would have been better than being with you!”
Suddenly remembering something, she sneered coldly. “Besides, the place where I got drunk last night wasn’t here. How did I end up here? Wasn’t it you who deliberately brought me?”
Meng Yuchuan admitted openly, “I did bring you here, but you didn’t refuse either.”Shu Miao was so angry she could hardly speak, her willow-like eyebrows furrowed in fury. “I was completely unconscious from drinking, how could I have refused!”
Meng Yuchuan curled the corner of his lips, looking smug. “Exactly. You were unconscious, so you didn’t refuse anything I did. I took that as your consent.”
Shu Miao was left speechless by his shamelessness. “You…”
Meng Yuchuan raised an eyebrow, watching her as he stood there with his arms crossed, wearing an expression that said he’d done nothing wrong.
Shu Miao let out a heavy snort. “Consider me unlucky. I blame myself for being too careless and falling into your trap, your scheming tricks. I admit defeat.”
“Let’s just say I was bitten by a dog. Now open the door, I want to leave.”
Meng Yuchuan ignored her completely. His tall figure slowly closed in on Shu Miao as he placed his hands on the wall on either side of her, trapping her in his embrace.
He spoke softly, his voice tinged with a chill. “Shu Miao, you don’t actually think that after sleeping with me, you can just walk away as if nothing happened, do you?”
Meeting Meng Yuchuan’s dark, intense gaze, Shu Miao’s heart suddenly trembled.
But then she thought, she hadn’t done anything wrong, so why should she feel guilty? Instantly, she regained her composure.
“You forced me, you played dirty tricks, and now you’re acting all innocent? I should be the one reporting you, yet here you are causing trouble for me.”
Meng Yuchuan let out a cold laugh, narrowing his eyes slightly before lifting Shu Miao up as if she were a small chicken.
Just as Shu Miao was about to scream, she was thrown onto the sofa the next second, her head buzzing.
Furious, she immediately jumped up and roared, “Meng Yuchuan, what exactly do you want?”
Meng Yuchuan slowly adjusted the white belt around his waist. “To discuss terms with you.”
Shu Miao turned her head away. “No discussion!”
Meng Yuchuan snorted lightly, his voice cold. “That’s not up to you.”
Shu Miao turned back, her wide eyes glaring at him angrily. “You…”
“Don’t be in such a hurry. Why not hear what my terms are first? You might find them interesting.”
Shu Miao snorted again, turning her back to him.
Meng Yuchuan stepped forward, grabbed her, and forced her to sit properly on the sofa.
Just as Shu Miao tried to struggle…
“Don’t move, or you’ll get me going, and you won’t like what happens next.”
Shu Miao naturally understood what he meant. Remembering what her body had endured the night before, she immediately stopped moving, looking at him warily as she instinctively shrank back, quietly curling up on the sofa.
Seeing that she had finally calmed down, Meng Yuchuan reached out and gently tapped the tip of her nose before sitting down beside her.
Relaxed, he said, “Be with me.”
Those five simple words left Shu Miao stunned, followed by a surge of anger.
One time was bad enough, but now he wanted her to be his long-term companion? How despicable.
She firmly refused. “No way. Don’t even think about it.”
Meng Yuchuan glanced at her. “Don’t be so quick to refuse.”
Shu Miao snorted, her voice filled with anger. “There’s no need to think. No matter how many times you ask, my answer will be the same.”
“Meng Yuchuan, stop dreaming. I’m not the kind of woman you think I am.”
Suddenly, she added, “Don’t forget, I’m not single.”
“Could it be that you want to be the other woman?”
Meng Yuchuan found this amusing. “Oh? He’s already been transferred to the provincial level. Do you really think you two can still be together?”
Shu Miao was startled. How did he know?In the next second, she immediately reacted, widening her eyes: “It was you?”
Meng Yuchuan admitted directly: “So what if it was? This was actually doing him a favor. Not everyone gets such a good opportunity, and he was more than willing.”
Shu Miao was furious. Meng Yuchuan indeed had the power to transfer someone away so easily.
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t stoop to such things? Meng Yuchuan, you’re nothing but a dishonest scoundrel.”
Meng Yuchuan didn’t care in the slightest: “I only said I wouldn’t bother you if you had a boyfriend, but now you two have gone your separate ways.”
“And isn’t that because you interfered?” Shu Miao retorted directly.
“I never said I wouldn’t interfere.” Meng Yuchuan shrugged, his words carrying a hint of roguishness.
Shu Miao was left speechless by his reply and could only puff out her cheeks, stewing in silent anger.
Meng Yuchuan chuckled, ignoring her fury, and spoke lightly: “Are you sure you won’t agree?”
Shu Miao lifted her chin, her posture haughty: “That’s right, I won’t agree. Are you trying to force an innocent person into wrongdoing?”
Meng Yuchuan was almost amused by her words. What on earth was going through this little girl’s head?
His dark eyes locked onto the beautiful yet stubborn face before him.