“D-Do you take me for a complete idiot?” Huai Yin sputtered, equal parts embarrassed and annoyed. “You’re lying!”
What a bad dog.
She wasn’t someone who lacked basic common sense!
Shen Xiaozhou raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, the corners of his lips curving into a half-smile. “That’s not what I meant.”
The young heiress was far from stupid—she was just terribly slow to react. Only after being thoroughly taken advantage of, with someone else’s marks and saliva left all over her skin, did she realize she had been tricked.
He narrowed his eyes, watching the tips of her ears gradually flush crimson, resembling ripe cherries.
Shen Xiaozhou swallowed hard, almost on instinct. From head to toe, inside and out, the young heiress radiated an alluring fragrance—so sweet and captivating that he found himself helplessly addicted.
He wanted nothing more than to bury his face in the crook of her neck and breathe it in deeply.
“Did you kiss Xu Shiyan?” Shen Xiaozhou asked out of nowhere.
Huai Yin let out a confused “Ah?”, blinking her eyes blankly.
Why was he asking that? The abrupt change in topic was making her brain short-circuit.
Her heart hammered wildly against her ribs. Averting her gaze, she muttered under her breath, “What does that have to do with you?”
Shen Xiaozhou’s handsome eyes locked onto her. His gaze turned icy, an unreadable storm surging beneath his outwardly calm exterior.
Right. It had nothing to do with him. Huai Yin was Xu Shiyan’s fiancée, while he was someone who didn’t even qualify as an intruder. What right did he have to interrogate her?
And yet, he desperately wanted to know. Her defensive reaction told him that even if they hadn’t kissed, they must have done something else.
His broad hand tightened, pulling Huai Yin even closer against his chest with unyielding force. His tall frame felt like an inescapable cage—one that a frail, pitiful little songbird could never hope to break free from.
Her nose was filled with the distinct, crisp scent that belonged solely to Shen Xiaozhou—like a dominant male pheromone, assertively marking its territory over her.
She felt as though even the strands of her hair were steeped in his scent, making her head feel light and dizzy.
Huai Yin squirmed uncomfortably. Tilting her chin up, she reverted to her usual bossy, arrogant demeanor. “Let go of me.”
She tried her best to sound fierce, but her trembling voice betrayed her. Feeling guilty, she added, “I’m exhausted today and want to go back to my room to rest early.”
Huai Yin had intended to sound commanding, but by the time her words reached Shen Xiaozhou’s ears, the tone had shifted entirely—sounding almost like a soft, spoiled whine.
The foolish young heiress, who was putting on a brave front, was now nervously biting her lip, not even daring to meet his eyes.
How adorable. Weak as she was, she still insisted on putting up a tough stance in the face of a formidable enemy.
Shen Xiaozhou found himself entirely captivated by it. Softening up, he released his grip on her, his fingertips lingering against her waist with reluctant longing as he pulled away. Huai Yin’s shoulders gave a subtle tremble.
“Fine. I won’t disturb you then,” Shen Xiaozhou said in a refined, elegant tone, though his light-brown eyes remained fixed on her face, almost piercing right through her.
Huai Yin exhaled a breath of relief and stood up. The smooth fabric of her nightdress cascaded down her thighs, hiding her slender legs, though the soft contours of her figure remained faintly visible beneath the warm lighting.
Shen Xiaozhou’s fingertips twitched slightly, his gaze shifting imperceptibly downward.
“I’m heading upstairs now,” Huai Yin said by way of goodbye.
Shen Xiaozhou gave an offhanded nod, his eyes finally landing on her slightly reddened knees. “Do you want me to help apply your medicine again?”
Huai Yin paused. She had just taken a bath, and water had gotten onto her scrapes. She gathered her hem, pulling it up slightly to reveal her fair, smooth thighs.
“Would you?” Huai Yin asked tentatively.
A subtle curve touched Shen Xiaozhou’s lips. He wanted nothing more than to do it himself.
“Come to my room later,” he instructed, deliberately lowering his voice.
Huai Yin’s face flushed crimson. Why did those words sound so strange?
Wearing only a light jacket, Shen Xiaozhou was feeling far from comfortable himself. Returning to his room, he headed straight for the bathroom to take a shower. He stood beneath the showerhead with his eyes closed, water cascading down his wet strands of hair. Reaching up, he slicked his hair back, exposing his sharp, handsome features.
Steam rose around him, outlining the tense muscles of his frame. Shen Xiaozhou stood motionless, letting the cold stream wash over his body.
Without warning, the image of the young heiress’s lovely face intruded into his mind. Shen Xiaozhou’s brow furrowed, his breathing suddenly turning ragged and shallow.
Huai Yin.
He murmured her name softly under his breath.
His Adam’s apple bobbed violently twice. He ran his tongue over his teeth, as if the soft, smooth texture of her skin still lingered against them.
As heat gradually consumed his body, Shen Xiaozhou snapped his eyes open, their depths burning a terrifying shade of red.
A profound, suffocating sense of emptiness tortured his nerves. Shen Xiaozhou ground his back teeth, reached out, and switched the water directly to freezing cold.
Arriving outside Shen Xiaozhou’s bedroom, Huai Yin knocked politely on the door. She waited for a moment, but received no response from inside.
“Shen Xiaozhou, I’m here.”
Huai Yin pressed her ear against the door, listening intently, but heard nothing.
Had he already fallen asleep? But it was still so early, and he had explicitly told her earlier that he would help apply her medicine.
Having no choice, Huai Yin tried turning the doorknob. Finding it unlocked, she gently pushed the door open and stepped inside.
“I’m coming in. Shen Xiaozhou, are you in here?”
The bedroom was empty, save for the distinct sound of running water coming from the bathroom.
Ah, he was taking a shower. She would just have to wait.
Huai Yin looked around the room. Shen Xiaozhou owned very few possessions, leaving the space looking sparse and empty. Aside from books and a laptop on the desk, there was hardly anything else. After all, in Shen Xiaozhou’s eyes, the Huai residence was merely a temporary shelter—he could pack up and leave at any moment.
Living under someone else’s roof was never pleasant; Huai Yin could sympathize with that to some degree.
Placing the cotton swabs and disinfectant onto the nightstand, she sat by the edge of the bed to wait obediently.
After an unknown amount of time passed, Huai Yin began to lose her patience.
Why was he taking so long? Drowsiness washed over her. Letting out a soft yawn, she tumbled onto the bed.
If he doesn’t come out soon, I’m going back to my room to sleep, Huai Yin thought silently, pulling at the duvet beneath her.
Just then, a low, muffled groan echoed from the bathroom. The sound seemed tightly restrained, carrying an intricate mix of pain and pleasure.
Huai Yin froze. Did she mishear that? Could Shen Xiaozhou be injured? Or did he and Xu Shiyan get into a fight behind her back?
Probably not, right?
She perked up her ears to listen carefully, but no further sound came through.
A strange flush dusted Shen Xiaozhou’s cool, handsome face. His chest heaved up and down in heavy breaths as if he hadn’t fully recovered. His light-brown eyes were shrouded in a misty haze, and wet bangs clung to his forehead, veiling eyes brimming with unspeakable desire.
Catching sight of his unfamiliar reflection in the mirror, Shen Xiaozhou turned his head away in deep discomfort.
It was his first time doing something like this. While his body felt an overwhelming sense of release, a wave of guilt inevitably pooled deep in his heart.
The person occupying his mind wasn’t just anyone—she was Huai Yanli’s daughter, and Xu Shiyan’s fiancée.
How could he defile her like this in his thoughts?
Scooping up a handful of cold water to splash his face, Shen Xiaozhou composed himself before getting dressed and stepping out of the bathroom.
The moment he walked into the bedroom and saw Huai Yin lying on his bed, he froze dead in his tracks.
The very person who had filled his thoughts just moments ago was now lying right in front of him. Shen Xiaozhou almost wondered if he was dreaming.
“You’re done showering?” Hearing his footsteps, Huai Yin opened her eyes groggily. Her long, wavy dark hair cascaded over her back like a waterfall, exposing her long, fair legs to his view. Her soft nightdress clung closely to her body, accentuating her delicate figure.
Huai Yin had her legs wrapped around his duvet, hugging it tightly against her chest with her face buried in it, looking like a little girl clutching a plush doll. She let out another tiny yawn, her pink tongue peeking out briefly.
“You told me to come find you, but you were showering, so I had no choice but to wait here.”
Noticing that Shen Xiaozhou’s expression seemed somewhat rigid, she quickly explained herself, not wanting him to think she had barged into his room on purpose.
Recalling what he had just done in the bathroom, the corners of Shen Xiaozhou’s eyes flushed a faint red, his breathing turning shallow and rapid. “When did you get here?”
Huai Yin blinked, replying honestly, “A little while ago.”
Upon hearing her response, she saw the corner of Shen Xiaozhou’s mouth twitch noticeably twice.
“Did you—” Shen Xiaozhou’s Adam’s apple rolled, unsure of how to phrase the question properly. “—hear anything?”
“I think I did.” Huai Yin looked at him with genuine concern. “Is something wrong?”
“If you’re hurt, just tell me. I brought cotton swabs and iodine with me.”
Staring into those sincere, sparkling almond eyes, Shen Xiaozhou kept his face taut, a mix of guilt and embarrassment surging within him. Not daring to look at her any longer, he forced himself to avert his gaze.
“I’m fine.”
Huai Yin finally let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”
Dangling her legs over the bed, the young heiress urged, “Hurry up and apply the medicine so I can go back to my room and sleep.”
Her voice was soft and sweet, like a marshmallow soaked in a jar of honey. Shen Xiaozhou’s breathing turned erratic as that familiar yet overwhelming urge from the bathroom began to creep back over him.
He clenched his fists tightly, his fingernails digging deep into his palms. Taking a long, deep breath, he walked toward her with stiff, rigid steps.
Huai Yin shifted her posture, lying flat on the bed. Having just napped, her almond eyes were bright and clear, her lovely face flushed with a soft pink hue. Her long, dark waves spilled across the sheets, and the strap of her nightdress had slipped off her shoulder, exposing her delicate collarbone.
Freshly awakened, she carried a warm, soothing scent—like a little cat basking in the afternoon sun—making anyone want to wrap her in their arms and squeeze her.
Unwilling to delay even for a second, Shen Xiaozhou quickly applied the medicine to her scrapes. His movements were swift and fluid, driven solely by the urgent need to get her out of his room before he completely snapped. He knew all too well that he had reached his absolute limit.
Huai Yin looked at him, utterly bewildered. She had no idea why Shen Xiaozhou didn’t dare to look her in the eye and was now even turning his back on her.
“Thank you,” Huai Yin said, opening the door and stepping into the hallway. “Get some rest early, then.”
“Mm,” Shen Xiaozhou replied curtly, his tone cold and detached.
If the young heiress didn’t leave right this second, he truly wouldn’t be able to stop himself from doing something unforgivable.