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When Xia Zhiyao regained consciousness, she felt as though she had already died once.
She struggled to open her eyes, only to be met by an unfamiliar ceiling.
After staring blankly at it for a long while, she finally remembered where she was.
Golden sunlight streamed through the window, carrying the lazy, sweltering warmth unique to a summer afternoon.
In the distance, she could faintly hear synchronized chants— the sounds of the defense squad conducting their drills.
Has it already become the afternoon of the second day?
Hss...
She tried to move, but immediately sucked in a sharp breath.
It hurt.
It felt as though her body had been torn apart before being crudely stitched back together.
Her waist and legs, especially, ached so badly that she couldn't summon even the slightest bit of strength. They felt as though they no longer belonged to her.
That man... was nothing short of a tireless monster.
Gritting her teeth, Xia Zhiyao endured the pain coursing through her body. Bracing herself against the mattress, she slowly pushed herself into a sitting position.
The room was empty.
So was the space beside her.
Shen Yu was gone.
The suffocating pressure that always accompanied his presence had vanished.
Xia Zhiyao felt as though she had survived a catastrophe.
Very good, Xia Zhiyao.
You managed to stay alive for one more day.
Lowering her head, she looked down at herself.
Her body was covered in blue and purple bruises, making it almost too painful to look at. The insides of her thighs were in an even worse state.
Fortunately, she was clean and dry.
Who had cleaned her up?
Aunt Mei?
Or... him?
Xia Zhiyao didn't dare dwell on the question. The moment she recalled the man's beast-like ferocity and the overwhelming possessiveness in his eyes the previous night, she couldn't stop herself from trembling.
No matter what, she had survived.
She had surrendered herself before even giving away her first kiss, trading it for a brief chance to catch her breath.
It all felt like a long, endless nightmare.
Within that nightmare, a fresh wave of searing pain suddenly crashed over her.
"Ah!"
She threw her head back, her entire body going rigid.
A shrill scream was about to escape her throat.
You are not allowed to scream.
I don't like noise.
The man's cold warning suddenly echoed in her mind.
Despair washed over her. Xia Zhiyao squeezed her eyes shut and immediately covered her mouth with both hands.
Even as the pain made her entire body tremble uncontrollably, she forcibly smothered every scream and cry behind her trembling palms. Only a few broken, muffled sobs escaped through the gaps between her fingers.
Tears burst forth like a breached dam, soaking the pillow beneath her in an instant.
It hurt too much.
It really hurt too much.
Shen Yu looked down at the little thing before him.
She had curled herself into the smallest ball she could manage, her face flushed a deep crimson as both hands clamped tightly over her mouth.
Her beautiful, mist-filled eyes glistened with tears, as though they might shatter at any moment.
Yet watching her desperately endure the pain—too afraid to disobey his command even at the very limit of her suffering— filled him with immense satisfaction.
He bent down, pulled one of her hands away from her mouth, and pinned it beside the pillow.
The moment he felt her body relax ever so slightly, Shen Yu leaned close to her ear. His warm breath brushed against her skin, and a faint trace of amusement colored his voice.
"I told you not to scream," he said. "I never said you weren't allowed to make other sounds."
What... Did that mean?
Xia Zhiyao's mind was a complete haze. The pain was so overwhelming that she couldn't think at all.
Shen Yu offered no explanation.
Instead, he showed her the answer through his actions.
...
"Mmm..."
At last, a soft, broken moan escaped her lips.
She was consumed by despair, yet all she could do was endure the overwhelming waves of pleasure and pain.
Xia Zhiyao didn't dare let her thoughts wander any further.
Just then, her gaze fell upon the bedside table.
At some point, a neatly folded set of clothes had been placed there.
They were brand-new, styled with rich local ethnic influences.
The top was a fitted, light-gold silk jacket with a short front opening, embroidered with delicate lotus patterns woven into the fabric. The bottom was a dark emerald-green tube skirt, its hem adorned with gold-thread embroidery in the shape of peacock feathers.
It was elegant and undeniably feminine.
Beside it sat a lace lingerie set that appeared to be exactly her size.
Xia Zhiyao stared blankly at the clothes.
Were they... for her?
Whatever the answer, she had no choice.
Suppressing the soreness throughout her body, she reached out and picked up the outfit. The silk slid through her fingers, cool and impossibly smooth. In a place where supplies were so scarce, clothing of this quality was undoubtedly a luxury.
Slowly, Xia Zhiyao put on the light-gold jacket.
It was fastened with traditional handmade frog buttons, which were surprisingly difficult to secure. Lowering her head, she fastened them one by one until the prominent red marks scattered across her neck and collarbone were hidden from view.
Once she had finished dressing, she walked barefoot to the mirror.
The woman reflected in the glass was still pale, but there was now a faint, subtle allure lingering between her brows and eyes.
The exotic outfit fit her perfectly, accentuating her slender figure and graceful curves.
She no longer looked like a student.
She wanted to tie up her hair but couldn't find a hair tie.
After a moment's thought, she picked up a toothbrush and used it as a makeshift hair stick, casually twisting her long hair into a bun atop her head.
The simple hairstyle made her look much neater.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
A sudden knock sounded at the door.
"Miss Xia, are you awake?"