New Novel - Read Here
At that moment, Xia Zhiyao’s psychological defenses completely collapsed.
She felt as though she were about to shatter.
Her vision was completely blurred by tears. Before her stood the man's tall, imposing figure, bathed in a cold, shadowed light, carrying an air of effortless indifference.
She didn't dare make a sound. All she could do was bite down hard on her lower lip, unable to stop the trembling that wracked her entire body.
Shen Yu looked at her in that state, the dark gleam in his eyes deepening.
The little thing before him resembled a puppy drenched in the rain on a stormy night, shivering as it curled up in a corner.
She was clearly terrified out of her mind, yet had been frightened out of even the courage to run away. All she could do was look up at her master with a pair of wet, round eyes, silently begging.
It stirred a desire to torment her.
"Go."
Shen Yu lifted his chin slightly and gestured towards the long table, the corners of his lips curling into a casual, unconcerned smile.
"Bring me the one on the far left."
Xia Zhiyao froze where she stood. The blood in her veins seemed to stop flowing.
Following the direction Shen Yu had indicated, she stiffly turned her head and looked towards the long table against the opposite wall.
This...
She turned back in horror, a large tear trembling in her eye as she looked pleadingly at Shen Yu once again.
Shen Yu showed not the slightest hint of sympathy for her fear. Instead, it was as though he had just witnessed a breathtaking spectacle. He gave her a slight nod, his eyes even carrying a trace of encouragement, urging her to hurry up.
It was an imperial decree that could not be defied.
She had no other choice.
Xia Zhiyao’s mind went completely blank. Every trace of reason had been overtaken by her instinct to survive.
Like a marionette, she moved towards the long table one step at a time, her movements so stiff that she even began walking with the same arm and leg.
The distance was only a few metres, yet it felt as though she had walked through an entire lifetime.
At last, she reached the table.
Her trembling hands stretched out and hovered in mid-air for several seconds, her fingertips spasming with fear. In the end, she still picked it up with both hands.
Xia Zhiyao turned around. She didn't dare look up at the man sitting on the sofa. She could only stare at the tips of her own shoes as she slowly shuffled back towards him, one step at a time.
With every step she drew closer, the suffocating sense of oppression grew stronger.
Finally, she stopped in front of Shen Yu.
She dared not look him in the eye, her head bowed, staring at the black military boots crossed on the dark red carpet.
"For...for you..."
Her voice was broken and incoherent, her hands raised high, respectfully and tremblingly presented to him.
Shen Yu did not take it immediately.
Shen Yu lowered his eyes, calmly observing the pale blue veins bulging on her slender white wrists, her fingertips drained of color from excessive fear.
"Good girl."
"Mr...Mr. Shen..."
She wept, tears streaming down her face, her head bowed, her hands clutching her skirt helplessly, her words incoherent:
"I know I was wrong...I shouldn't have said I wanted to go home...I...I beg you..."
She knelt there, curled up in a ball, humbled to the point of being insignificant.
In this place where even a slightly heavier breath could be fatal, dignity was the most useless thing.
As long as she wasn't beaten to death, she could kneel for as long as she wanted.
Shen Yu raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by her swift kneeling, yet also finding it somewhat amusing.
"Did I tell you to kneel?"
This little puppy thought she was so obedient, kneeling so quickly.
He slightly moved his wrist, forcing her to lift her tear-streaked face.
"It's too early to beg for mercy now."
Shen Yu looked at her with amusement, his eyes dark and deep, his voice low, carrying an unfathomable mockery:
"In a moment, you'll be begging for mercy."
Xia Zhiyao was forced to look up, staring at the man's handsome yet cold face, her eyes filled with despair.
"Stand up."
The command was given again.
Xia Zhiyao dared not stand up. She sniffed, her hands gripping the carpet, trying to stand up, her legs trembling. But her legs were too weak; she only managed to stand after two attempts.
Her white cotton skirt was slightly disheveled from kneeling.
The skirt reached above her knees, revealing a section of her fair thigh and shapely, slender calves.
Shen Yu's gaze fell on her waist, his eyes suddenly darkening.
Xia Zhiyao gasped, instinctively trying to back away, but another hand firmly gripped her waist, rendering her immobile.
She tightly closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face, unable to utter a single "no."
In front of this man, she had no privacy, no right to refuse.
Shen Yu withdrew his hand, his fingertips not even carrying a trace of lust, as if he had merely torn up a piece of scrap paper.
He looked at her pale face, and spoke gently in a coaxing tone:
"Go over there."
Shen Yu raised his well-defined right hand, turned the large ruby ring on his middle finger, removed it, and gently placed it on the small table beside the sofa.
"I don't want to say it a second time."