Tu Ye’s home was an old villa located in a remote suburb of City Z. Although the villa was quite old, it was still considered the Tu family’s main residence; it was said to be about two hundred years old.
The Tu family originally made their fortune through the trade of animal furs.
As a result, the villa is still adorned with all sorts of animal skeletons and fur decorations—items that would be considered illegal to buy or sell today.
Qi Mian heard Tu Ye get out of the car, so she groped her way toward the car door to hold onto it. But before she could apply any pressure, the door was opened from the outside. Caught off guard, Qi Mian stumbled forward due to momentum—
The faint scent of cedar mingled with damp earth enveloped her entirely. Qi Mian instinctively wrapped her arms around the figure in front of her to keep herself from falling to the ground.
“Get out.”
The man’s calm voice rang out from above her. Qi Mian murmured a reply, but the moment she tried to pull her hand back, it was seized by another broad hand.
“Let me help you. You can’t see, can you?”
Qi Mian was like a docile lamb, lowering her head under Tu Ye’s piercing gaze as she carefully stepped out of the car.
Tu Ye’s gaze fell on the sliver of the girl’s pale neck exposed as she looked down. His jet-black eyes betrayed no emotion; they simply clung to her like gelatin, refusing to look away for a long time.
With the man holding her hand, Qi Mian stood close to Tu Ye’s side. That cool, damp scent lingered in her nostrils, and she spoke softly.
“Is here your home now?”
“It’s our home.” Tu Ye’s voice carried a hint of cheerful amusement.
This man is so damn alluring and sweet, Qi Mian thought to herself, though her expression remained gentle and demure as she walked slowly forward, her field of vision occasionally catching glimpses of shadows that looked like houseplants.
As she stepped into the villa’s foyer, the light suddenly dimmed.
Tu Ye’s home seemed quite dark—were the curtains drawn? she wondered curiously. Why would anyone make their home so dark in broad daylight? Was it a skin condition that made him sensitive to light, or did Tu Ye simply prefer this dim atmosphere?
“Ah—”
Not knowing what she’d stepped on, Qi Mian felt herself trip over something. The hand Tu Ye was holding tightened abruptly, and she managed to steady herself just in time to avoid falling.
Then she felt the sensation under her feet change instantly. It felt as though she were stepping on an extremely soft and thick carpet—a novel sensation for Qi Mian, who had spent almost all her time in the hospital.
“What’s this?”
“A bearskin rug. Sorry, I forgot to warn you,” Tu Ye replied casually. His words conveyed an apology, but his tone held no remorse.
A bearskin? For some reason, Qi Mian mentally recalled images of bearskins she’d seen online. Was this the kind of thing you could just casually lay out in the living room?
“Sit here for a while. I’ll have someone prepare some daily necessities for you. Are you hungry?”
Tu Ye took her hand and, applying a gentle pressure to her shoulder, guided her into a soft sofa.
Qi Mian shook her head. “I’m fine. Are you going to get my room ready?”
The girl asked sincerely and earnestly. Even in the dimly lit room, her eyes shone with a clear, luminous glow as she gazed unfocused upward—her gaze happening to meet Tu Ye’s exactly.
“What are you talking about?” He seemed to let out a soft chuckle. “Of course you’re going to sleep with me.”
Qi Mian’s face paled slightly. After all, she was still just an innocent, inexperienced girl from a remote mountain village, and the implication in Tu Ye’s words inevitably stirred up a sense of fear and anxiety within her.
Tu Ye narrowed his eyes slightly, studying her expression. “What’s the matter? Don’t you want to sleep with me?”
“No…” Qi Mian lowered her head, her voice faint.
She didn’t hear Tu Ye’s next words; only the sound of footsteps gradually fading into the distance. Qi Mian knew Tu Ye had gone to attend to other matters. She could only sit there stiffly; the softness of the sofa made her afraid to move too much, for fear of dirtying or damaging something.
“Would you like some water?”
A dry, harsh voice suddenly rang out, startling Qi Mian—she hadn’t even heard anyone approaching.
“Uh, yes, please. Thank you,” she replied nervously, licking her parched lips. She was indeed a bit thirsty.
After waiting a moment, aside from the sound of water pouring and the crisp clink of the glass, Qi Mian still didn’t hear any extra footsteps or even breathing. This strange person was practically like a ghost drifting in and out of existence.
A cool sensation touched the back of her clasped hands, and Qi Mian barely managed to keep from spilling the glass of water.
“Drink up,” the person said.
Qi Mian took the glass, gulped down a mouthful, and, after calming her racing heartbeat, hurriedly thanked him.
“What styles and colors of clothes do you like? What size do you wear? Are there any foods you love or avoid?” The person’s tone was utterly flat, like a mechanical corpse simply going through the motions of a routine task.
She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but Qi Mian couldn’t shake the feeling that he seemed to dislike her a little.
“I…” Qi Mian opened her mouth to answer, but the sound of approaching footsteps cut her off.
“Old Chen, go prepare dinner. Just make it the usual,” Tu Ye said as he walked over to Qi Mian’s side.
Qi Mian looked up as if sensing something, gazing into the dimness; she knew Tu Ye was right in front of her.
“Stand up,” Tu Ye said.
Qi Mian slowly stood up. Though she didn’t know what Tu Ye intended to do, she stood motionless, waiting for his next move—so obedient she was almost pitifully adorable.
A warm palm pressed against her waist through the thin fabric. Qi Mian’s body trembled slightly, but in the end, she didn’t pull away, allowing Tu Ye’s hand to roam over her body, measuring her contours.
The longer the man’s palm remained against her body, the more that warm sensation began to feel scorching, as if it were about to melt her—yet his expression remained impassive, as though he were doing something perfectly ordinary.
After a while, Qi Mian was so nervous she was nearly breaking out in a sweat.
“You’re a bit too thin. Remember to eat more.” Tu Ye withdrew his hand and, looking at the faint flush that had appeared under the girl’s eyes, said calmly, “As for the clothes, have Old Chen buy you the smallest size.”
Qi Mian nodded blankly, belatedly realizing that Tu Ye had just been taking her measurements for clothes.
“By the way, Old Chen is the butler here. If you need anything, just let him know.”
Qi Mian nodded.
Tu Ye raised an eyebrow, watching the girl who still seemed dazed, then suddenly asked in a low voice, “Have you ever been in contact with other men before?”
“Yes…” Qi Mian answered cautiously. The moment Tu Ye furrowed his brow, she added, “It was my dad.”
The furrow between Tu Ye’s eyebrows smoothed out.