“What about me?” Si Huaiyu took a step closer to her and said, “Haven’t you realized yet? I’m helping you escape this misery. Shouldn’t you thank me?”
“Wen Ran, Si Yan can do such terrible things, yet you only know how to please him. Don’t be so spineless.”
Wen Ran pressed her lips together and replied, “If I could help it, I wouldn’t be like this either. No one in my family has ever gotten divorced before.”
Si Huaiyu frowned. After these recent interactions, he noticed Wen Ran seemed like one of those old-fashioned young married women. He asked, “Are you sure you can’t leave because of love, or is it simply that you don’t want a divorce?”
“What’s the difference?” Wen Ran said, “I love my husband. As long as we’re not divorced, Si Yan is my husband.”
Si Huaiyu found her mindset exasperating. “What you love is just the title of ‘partner.’ Setting aside his status, does Si Yan have any qualities that attract you?”
Wen Ran thought for a moment. Aside from Si Yan’s face, there really didn’t seem to be anything. But then, she didn’t love anyone to begin with.
Seeing the woman deep in thought, he pressed further, “If your husband weren’t Si Yan, but someone else, and that person made a mistake, would you still forgive them?”
“Yes!” Wen Ran answered without hesitation. “A husband is family besides one’s parents. My parents are gone, so he’s my only family left.”
“Wait…” the system pondered. “Why does this sound so familiar?”
It remembered now—Wen Ran had said the same thing to Xu Shi’an before. Using the same line twice, you’re something else.
“Quality over quantity,” Wen Ran glanced at Si Huaiyu’s head and sure enough, it had increased by 5 points.
She said all this to make Si Huaiyu understand that she held no love for Si Yan—she was just a traditional, conservative, and innocent little woman.
Si Huaiyu watched her silently for a few seconds before suddenly reaching out to wrap his arm around her waist. Wen Ran was abruptly pulled forward, her face crashing directly into the man’s chest.
The overwhelming scent of male hormones enveloped her. Fresh from his shower, Si Huaiyu carried the clean fragrance of body wash, making Wen Ran’s heart flutter wildly.
A sneak attack? Before Wen Ran could figure out what he was doing, Si Huaiyu cupped her face with his large hand.
Forced to look up, from her perspective she could see the man lowering his head toward her. His handsome face drew closer and closer. Sensing what was coming, before she could even resist, a kiss descended.
The man’s kiss was sudden and fierce. Before the woman in his arms could react, Si Huaiyu pried open her lips and teeth, invading like a conqueror. The wet, soft sensation of his tongue washed over her like a tide.
Wen Ran was dazed for half a second before she began to push against him. The more she resisted, the more intensely Si Huaiyu kissed her.
Wen Ran was petite, and her strength was no match for Si Huaiyu. She could only endure it passively.
After what felt like a minute, when the man finally released her, Wen Ran felt her lips had gone numb from the kissing.
She looked at Si Huaiyu with resentment, but the man asked her, “How did that feel?”
This made the woman’s already heated face flush completely red.
Si Huaiyu said, “Wen Ran, romantic love and familial love are different. What you think is love isn’t actually love.”
“You’re going too far.” Wen Ran glanced around the hallway in panic, afraid someone might see. She squirmed, trying to break free.The man suddenly whispered in her ear, “Don’t move!”
Si Huaiyu’s voice was hoarse beyond recognition as he tightened his grip. Pressed against him, Wen Ran could clearly feel the changes in his body.
Something unidentified brushed against her lower abdomen—a sensation impossible to ignore. Wen Ran stared at Si Huaiyu in bewildered confusion.
Soon, a mist gathered in her eyes. “Uncle, how could you do this…” Her voice trembled with unshed tears, like a bullied child too afraid to openly accuse her oppressor.
“I’m not being excessive. I’m merely teaching you to distinguish between different types of affection,” Si Huaiyu defended with twisted logic. “Si Yan is no longer pure—aren’t you disgusted by his filth? Does your heart still race when you see him? Do you still desire to possess him?”
What nerve, acting as if he were some righteous gentleman! Wen Ran felt utterly outmatched by his verbal gymnastics.
Ding! Detected another romance target approaching. Host, please prepare accordingly.
Zha Zha panicked, “Ranran, Si Yan is coming this way.”
Frowning, Wen Ran knew being discovered now would be disastrous. She needed to escape.
Seizing an opportunity when Si Huaiyu was distracted, she pinched the most sensitive spot on his waist. Though he didn’t make a sound, his pained grimace was unmistakable. As he reached for her mischievous hand, Wen Ran broke free from his embrace.
She retreated several steps, but before she could fully escape, approaching footsteps echoed nearby.
Zha Zha warned, “Ranran, it’s too late.”
Seeing no place to hide, Wen Ran made a split-second decision: she pushed Si Huaiyu into the room and swiftly closed the door behind them.
Moments after the door shut, Si Yan’s knocking erupted. “Si Huaiyu! Open up!”
Noticing how the woman tensed at Si Yan’s voice, clutching her chest as if terrified, Si Huaiyu teased deliberately, “Your husband is outside. How can I open the door with you blocking it?”
“No! You can’t open it,” Wen Ran shook her head frantically. Opening the door would be catastrophic!
“Why? Afraid he’ll discover us?” Si Huaiyu continued provoking her.
“What is there to discover?” Wen Ran glared. “Don’t talk nonsense.”
Anything unconsummated meant nothing had happened—she refused to acknowledge otherwise.
Hearing no response, Si Yan outside pounded the door harder, his voice boiling with rage.
When Si Huaiyu placed his hand on the doorknob, Wen Ran immediately pressed hers over it. “Don’t!”
The man took advantage of her proximity to press against her from behind. Pinned between him and the door, Wen Ran had nowhere to retreat. He lowered his head to nibble her earlobe, the sensitive contact sending shivers through her.
His seductive voice murmured lowly in her ear, “Are you nervous?””
Seriously! Who wouldn’t be nervous in this situation?
Wen Ran barely resisted rolling her eyes. Until Si Yan’s Affection points reached a certain threshold, she couldn’t afford to ruin her image.
But Si Huaiyu wasn’t easily fooled. She had to maintain her pitiful act. Turning around, she fixed her glistening eyes on him. “Uncle, I’m begging you, please?”
Seeing the nearly tearful desperation in the young woman beneath him, Si Huaiyu felt an unexpected pang of genuine concern.Yet her demeanor only made one want to tease her even more. The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he said hoarsely, “If you’re asking for a favor, you should have the attitude of someone asking for a favor.”