The sound of the sea was pure and natural, a faint reddish glow gradually rising from the east. A golden arc broke through the deep hues of dawn, illuminating the ocean waves with a radiant brilliance.
Sunrise—a rebirth for all things.
Wanqing, wearing only a man’s white shirt, leaned against the railing, her red lips exhaling a swirling wisp of white smoke.
As she turned around—
A lazy, pleasant whisper reached her ears—
“Awake?”
The man standing at the bow of the ship had a handsome nose bridge, exuding an air of nobility and refinement. A distinctive black gemstone brooch adorned his collar, and his figure was sharply defined by a black suit, appearing disciplined and restrained.
The morning light cast fine, cold glints on his gold-rimmed glasses, radiating an undeniable sense of pressure.
When Wanqing met those deep, dark eyes, her mind felt instantly scorched.
But the next moment, she feigned nonchalance, narrowing her eyes into a smiling gaze.
“Good morning, Second Master.”
The man stared at her, his cold, pale, slender fingers unhurriedly undoing the buttons at his wrist, one by one.
Wanqing felt inexplicably nervous, taking a few steps back until her back hit the railing, nearly dropping her cigarette.
“What do you want?”
The man stepped closer to her.
Just as their breaths were about to mingle, Qi Yan stopped, plucking the cigarette from between her fingers.
He tossed it into the sea.
“Still able to smoke—seems you’re not tired enough.”
Wanqing watched the cigarette floating on the sea, her mind racing.
Damn, he’s good.
She turned back, leaning close to his ear, the curve of her lips full of allure.
“Second Master, shall we make a deal?”
The man allowed her to approach, listening to her innocent yet captivating voice, his thin lips parting slightly. “How do you want to do it?”
His teasing, deep voice fell into her ears, and Wanqing frowned.
Hmm, that didn’t sound quite right?
The next moment, a pair of strong hands pressed down on her shoulders. Just as she was about to speak, the man leaned in, aiming for her lips, and kissed her fiercely.
Wanqing was stunned, her eyes widening abruptly.
Pinned down by his body, she couldn’t move, her legs still somewhat sore. She tried to shift her legs, but the next second, his long legs clamped around her calves.
“Like this, or…”
His broad palm shifted to grip her waist firmly, his arm exerting force as he lifted her entire body,
“Like this?”
Caught off guard by the sudden weightlessness, Wanqing gasped, wrapping her arms around his neck.
From this upward angle, she could just catch a glimpse of his slightly raised eye corners through the cold lenses—a fleeting hint of mischief.
Wanqing wore only his white shirt, with nothing on her lower half. At this moment, her expression was both flustered and ashamed.
Damn.
So lewd.
A wantonly seductive voice drifted down from above. “Teacher Wan, which do you prefer?”
_
Inside the cabin.
The yacht’s satellite TV was broadcasting news about Qi Yan, the heir to Beijing’s top wealthy family, officially taking over the Qi Group last night.
Wanqing glanced at the impeccably dressed man on TV, then looked at the one before her—holding a silver lighter, a refined yet roguish scoundrel…
Were they really the same person?
She placed a contract in front of him.
“One year. Let me be your woman. I promise to be at your beck and call.”
The man set down the lighter, elegantly crossing his long legs, his arm resting lightly on the armrest. He exuded an air of noble restraint and refinement, completely devoid of his earlier teasing nonchalance.
“Then you should know, I’m not gentle.”
_
Anxin Society, Dark Dragon Gang.
Two rows of neatly standing henchmen, pistols holstered at their waists, bowed respectfully to her, their voices thundering in unison.
“Good day, Madam!”
As soon as she entered, she saw a man with a cold, stern face standing in the center of the extravagantly luxurious hall.
The man’s thumb, adorned with a gemstone ring, continuously rubbed the black dragon emblem—a fierce, green-faced creature with fangs—on his gold-chain pocket watch, as if he had been waiting for a very, very long time.
“You’re back?”
The man was patient, his tone devoid of any impatience.
Wanqing leaned against the doorway and lit a cigarette.
Hearing his words, she merely tilted her head to glance at him, her expression indifferent, offering no response.
The man sat down on the sofa, his hawk-like eyes fixed intently on her, and extended a hand toward her.
“Xiao Wan, come here.”
Wanqing didn’t move. Looking at his outstretched hand, a trace of hatred and disgust surfaced on her calm face.
The man spoke again, “Xiao Wan, are you disobeying me now?”
After a long moment.
Wanqing let out a low chuckle, flicked the ash from her cigarette, and took a step forward.
Instead of getting angry, the man smiled leisurely, slowly withdrawing his hand, a faint, indulgent smirk curling at the corner of his mouth as he watched her circle far around him and head straight upstairs.
This little leopard he had raised and spoiled—no matter how fiercely she bared her claws and struggled against him, wouldn’t she still obediently return to his side in the end?
Half an hour later.
She dragged her suitcase past him without so much as a glance back.
The man’s anger could no longer be contained.
He rose from the sofa, caught up to her in a few strides, and his pale, slender fingers gripped her chin, forcing her to lift her head and meet his gaze.
“Xiao Wan, you’re becoming more and more disobedient.”
“You can make a scene, but there has to be a limit.”
“Tell me, who were you with last night?”
Wanqing was forced to look up at him, her fingers clenched tightly at her sides. Gritting her teeth, she met his gaze.
“Fu Si Yu, aren’t you supposed to be all-powerful? You know perfectly well who I was with. Why ask when you already know?”
Hearing this, the man’s expression turned even colder and more menacing.
The fingers gripping her tightened abruptly, his knuckles turning white from the force, rage seeping into his bones and tearing through his entire being.
“Wanqing, how dare you!”
His vision blurred, unreal, and a sharp, needle-like pain pierced densely through his chest.
This woman, whom he had held in his palm and cared for so meticulously, had become the one who defied him the most, avoiding him like a plague at every turn, and to oppose him, she had even thrown herself into another’s embrace.
“Why wouldn’t I dare? Do you want to break my legs again?”
The dead memories sliced through her like sharp knives, painful, excruciatingly so.
Wanqing smiled mockingly, “Fu Si Yu, it’s been ten years. Can you let me go now?”
They stood locked in a stalemate for several seconds.
Suddenly, Fu Si Yu’s gaze fixed fiercely on her neck, his eyes nearly blazing with fury.
On the woman’s fair, delicate neck, there were faint, ambiguous marks.
The suppressed rage erupted once more, the terrifying sound of his cracking knuckles amplifying endlessly in her ears.
Wanqing closed her eyes…
Yet, the next second.
“Bang!”
A swift, sharp punch came flying toward her.