The man still wore the face of a young boy, smiling in a shameless, infuriating way.
It was clearly the same face.
Before she knew he was Ye Jiming, it had looked so pure—harmless, bright like a little sun.
Now it looked like a demon that had finally revealed its true form. His gaze was dark and heavy, the curve of his lips enough to unsettle the mind.
Ji Chaoxi’s face flushed red. She pulled her hand back and tried to leave his arms.
The man tightened his grip and refused to let go.
“Don’t go. Bite me again.”
Ji Chaoxi looked at him in disbelief, her dark, jewel-like eyes full of confusion.
“Are you sick?”
“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “I am. It can only be cured by my wife.”
He leaned his face closer.
“Bite here too if you want.”
Ji Chaoxi turned away, grabbed his arm, and suddenly used force to slip out of his embrace.
“I’m going outside to help rescue people.”
Ye Jiming reminded her at once.
“Put your clothes on properly before you go out.”
Ji Chaoxi had already rushed to the door. She glanced down—her buttons were half undone, revealing a large patch of snow-white skin, with two red marks on it.
Her face turned completely red.
She hurriedly fixed her clothes.
Ye Jiming had already come up behind her and kissed the back of her pale neck.
“I’ll go with you.”
Ji Chaoxi dodged as if shocked by electricity, her heartbeat accelerating.
Her eyes flicked—and saw his own collar still open.
Ye Jiming stepped forward.
“You untied it. Shouldn’t you be the one to button it back up? Isn’t that only natural?”
Ji Chaoxi puffed her cheeks and began buttoning it for him.
Back in the orphanage, she often helped younger children dress, so her movements were practiced and natural.
Ye Jiming’s eyes flickered slightly, darkening a little.
Doing it yourself and having someone else do it—those were two completely different things.
How could the young Miss Ji family have been so skilled at something like this?
His gaze drifted over her lowered lashes, her straight nose, and finally her lips.
She was Ji Chaoxi—but also not entirely her.
He leaned in slightly and inhaled softly.
The scent of flowers and wood calmed him.
He lifted her chin.
Lowered his head.
“Knock knock.”
The door sounded twice.
Feng Ruijie’s voice came from outside.
“Chaoxi, are you awake? What do you want to eat? I’ll make it for you.”
Ye Jiming raised a brow and pressed a kiss against her lips, speaking vaguely.
“Still trying to curry favor…”
Ji Chaoxi pushed him away and opened the door.
Her face was still flushed. Her eyes were moist, not fully recovered from earlier—she looked as if she had been bullied.
Feng Ruijie’s eyes narrowed instantly.
His anger surged like a jealous husband who had been betrayed.
“Ji Chaoxi… you… how can you be so indecent? Getting involved with any man like this? I really misjudged you!”
His voice was cold and vicious.
In the living room, Dai Qianning and the others frowned at once.
Ji Chaoxi’s flushed expression faded instantly, turning pale.
Ye Jiming’s expression turned cold.
He kicked Feng Ruijie out without hesitation.
Feng Ruijie flew backward several meters and slammed into the wall.
Before he could recover, Ye Jiming was already in front of him.
A punch landed directly on his face.
“Who do you think you are? Talking to my wife like that—are you looking to die?”
His expression was icy. Every punch was brutal and unrestrained, filled with madness.
He clearly meant to kill him.
Fortunately, Feng Ruijie was a metal-type ability user, and his body instinctively activated defense. Otherwise, he would have been beaten half to death in seconds.
Feng Ruijie finally reacted and raised his arm to block.
He struck back.
“Who are you supposed to be? On what basis are you fighting me? Chaoxi likes me! If not for you rich people interfering, we would’ve been together long ago!”
Ye Jiming sneered, taking the blow effortlessly as if toying with prey.
He had known about Feng Ruijie long before marrying Ji Chaoxi.
On their wedding day, Ji Chaoxi had even said she liked someone else and told him not to have unrealistic expectations. She had also said they would divorce in two years.
At that thought, Ye Jiming’s force suddenly increased.
With a sharp crack, Feng Ruijie’s arm was broken.
A scream followed as he staggered back, drenched in cold sweat.
Ye Jiming stepped back slightly and turned his head toward Ji Chaoxi, who still stood in place.
His voice was calm.
“Ji Chaoxi, choose.”
Two years were up.
So what would she choose?
The useless man she liked?
Or the one she hated but could not escape?
A low, broken laugh escaped him.
He reached out.
“Come here, wife.”
He had changed his mind.
No more choices.
She could only be his.
Ji Chaoxi felt a chill spread through her entire body.
When he told her to choose, she had wanted to refuse both.
But looking at that hand—dark, dangerous, like a demon’s—her fear rooted her in place.
She could not move.
Feng Ruijie laughed bitterly.
“Bai Xuan, you’ve only known her for a few days. I’ve known her for four years. What right do you have?”
Then he turned to Ji Chaoxi, his voice softening.
“Chaoxi, I was wrong earlier. I spoke without thinking. I won’t do it again. Come here. Trust me, I’ll treat you well.”
All eyes in the room fell on her trembling figure.
Dai Qianning frowned.
Murong Zhuo added, “Girls should be cherished. You two are too much.”
Qi Ran nodded coldly in agreement.
Cao Yongjun said nothing.
Ye Jiming had no patience left.
“Ji Chaoxi, come here.”
His voice carried a warning.
And then—she moved.
Feng Ruijie’s face twisted.
“Ji Chaoxi! You choose him after just a few days? What about our four years?!”
He rushed forward to grab her.
But Ye Jiming stepped in first, pulling Ji Chaoxi into his arms.
With a twist of his body, he struck Feng Ruijie’s arm again.
Another crack of bone.
Dai Qianning stepped forward, furious.
“Bai Xuan, don’t go too far! Feng Ruijie is part of my team!”
Ye Jiming smirked, unafraid.
“Captain Dai, this is between me and him. We solve it ourselves. Does your team intend to interfere?”