Volume 1 Chapter 14: Bo Jingci Yields to Softness, Not Force
He stepped forward and embraced her stiff, fiercely tense body, his voice urgent yet laced with humility. “Mianmian… I-I’m sorry.”
His eyes were rimmed red, emotions surging violently within him. He hated himself so much—if only he had known about these things earlier, he could have spared her some of the pain.
He stroked her head, recalling her earlier words, and coaxed gently, “Mianmian, I know I was wrong. I really shouldn’t have been so narrow-minded…”
“Please don’t cry anymore.”
“Before, I selfishly thought you wanted to act to escape from me. That’s why, whenever I hear you make a request now, I… I lose my senses…”
“I can’t bear to see you smile at other men, nor can I stand watching you hug, hold, or get intimate with them. Just thinking about how they treat you makes me want to kill them.”
“Every time I see them approach you, I can’t control my violent thoughts. I just want…”
To kill them all.
His arms tightened slightly around her, and his voice gradually turned cold.
He said a lot, but Song Jingmian remained silent. Bo Jingci grew anxious and stammered hurriedly, “Y-you want to act? I’ll support you.”
“Really!” he repeated many times, but Song Jingmian still didn’t utter a word. Bo Jingci was completely panicked now.
He felt helpless, his words lacking any logic. “L-let’s discuss this, okay? You can’t film intimate scenes—no, wait, let’s not talk about that yet. I-I’m afraid you might encounter someone like that again. What then?”
“The entertainment industry is so chaotic. I’m afraid these things might happen to you again, afraid someone might covet you.”
As soon as Bo Jingci finished speaking, she finally moved, pulling away from his embrace.
Her eyes, which he had missed for countless nights, looked at him with clarity. She spoke slowly, “Aren’t you here with me now?”
“In the past, I had no one to rely on and didn’t dare to resist. But now, I’m different.”
Her emotions had gradually settled. Standing on her tiptoes, she kissed the corner of his eye. She had noticed it long ago—tears had unknowingly fallen there.
“With you by my side, I’m no longer alone. No one can bully me anymore.”
“Mhm.” Seeing her finally speak, he let out a sigh of relief, his heart gradually relaxing. Holding her, the two returned to their recent closeness. “I’m sorry.”
Song Jingmian nuzzled against him and asked, “Why did you suddenly agree to let me act?”
In the moment she couldn’t see, he finally shed his mask of pretense. His entire face was now shrouded in gloom and coldness, the icy glint in his eyes no longer concealed. Once again, he wore that sinister, obsessive expression.
“Because I don’t want to be like that scum and ruin you.”
She was right. If he didn’t agree, how was his behavior any different from ruining her? How was he any different from that scum?
Now that she had him by her side, he wouldn’t allow such things to happen again.
If anyone truly harbored such intentions, he wouldn’t hesitate to cut them down.
Because of him before, she had already harmed herself. He never wanted to see her lying in a pool of blood again—a sight he would never forget for the rest of his life. Now that she was slowly beginning to accept him, he couldn’t let it all fall apart.
Nor was he willing to let her trade her life for freedom.
What did it matter if he let her have her way?
At worst, he would follow her wherever she went.
“So, you agree to let me act?” Her voice suddenly rose, filled with uncontrollable excitement.
Seeing her so happy, he smiled too. “Mm.”
“Are you really this happy?”
“Mm-hmm!” She was practically floating, nothing like the sad and upset person she had been just moments ago.
“It’s rare for you to agree to something I want.”
After she said this, the man narrowed his eyes, his gaze dangerous. “Rare?”
“Yeah, before you wouldn’t let me go out or act, I…”
“Mianmian.” Bo Jingci’s voice was slightly hoarse. “Before, I was too afraid you’d leave me.”
“I know.” She cupped his face. “But your methods were wrong.”
“I’ve told you before, always discuss things with me, understand?”
Hearing her lecture him so seriously, he couldn’t help but feel like laughing.
“Understood.”
“Alright, I won’t stop you from acting from now on, but you have to agree to one condition—”
“No intimate scenes.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Oh, Bo Jingci.”
She looked into his eyes and said seriously, “About that producer, don’t interfere for now.”
“Why?” The man frowned.
“Because I want to end my nightmare myself.”
Seeing her determined and stubborn gaze, he knew that, given her personality, she would want to resolve this on her own.
“Alright, let me know if you need anything.”
She suddenly straightened up, snapped her fingers quickly, and said in a sweet voice, “Yes, sir!”
Watching her actions, he chuckled softly.
“Mianmian, if you’re tired, rest first. I still have some work to take care of.”
He leaned in and kissed her lips gently at first, but the kiss gradually grew more intense, as if he were desperately trying to absorb every bit of her essence.
When it ended, both of them were breathless, their voices hoarse.
“Be good, listen to me.”
With that, he strode out of the room on his long legs.
Watching his retreating figure, Song Jingmian let out a sigh of relief and slumped into a chair.
“So exhausting…”
She muttered under her breath, “He really does respond better to softness than to force.”
If she had known it would be this simple, why had she stubbornly opposed him in her past life!
Meanwhile.
As soon as Bo Jingci stepped out of the room, the gentle expression on his face vanished, replaced by a layer of ice. His entire demeanor turned cold.
He gripped the bedroom doorknob tightly, the veins on his arm bulging noticeably. His slightly trembling hand betrayed his current emotions.
He was holding back with all his might.
Pressing his lips together, he steadied his breathing and headed toward the study.
Once in the study, instead of handling work as he had told her, he opened his computer and began searching.
On the screen appeared everything she had endured in recent years.
[Hah, I always knew there was no such thing as an innocent girl. She’s just using connections to get ahead.]
[Ugh, I used to have a good impression of her, but now I feel sick just looking at her. So young and already acting like a seductress!!]
[You all don’t know, but she’s slept with so many people to get where she is. Being kept by several men at once and still finding time to act—this girl is something else.]
What’s more, some have already exposed her personal information, leaving her open to public scorn. They claim that as an orphan, she could only have achieved her current status by sleeping her way to the top—how else could she have become so famous on her own?
…
The longer Bo Jingci looked, the darker his expression grew. His eyes gradually filled with a blood-red hue, and his gaze turned icy and sinister.
His entire demeanor suddenly became vicious and unpredictable.
Then, he picked up the phone beside him and made a call.
His chilling voice sent shivers down the spine.
“Chitong, investigate someone.”