She'd labeled herself honestly and intended to just cooperate when he needed her.
In reality, Ou Chengtian was at a loss more than she was. After all, she had never lived up to the role of a mistress by actively cooperating with him. To quote Ou Chengtian, when they made love, she was like a corpse - devoid of any passion, cold as a stone.
This was something Ou Chengtian deeply resented, along with her job.
He was against her playing minor roles where she had to put herself in the public view. Still, she would not comply and even strove to do so.
Had it not been for this ambition of hers, she never would have crossed paths with Ou Chengtian. It was an unavoidable disaster in her life.
Xia Liyou's way of thinking was actually quite simple: she just wanted to pay off her debt as soon as possible so she could leave him swiftly.
It was not vanity that drove her and she didn't covet stardom or honor. She was doing it all for money.
She was not only selling her body but also her dreams, and so Xia Liyou gave a bitter laugh.
Ou Chengtian's senses began to sharpen, and looking down, he stared at the still panting Xia Liyou in his arms. His stern features softened over time.
Looking at her bruised body, he felt pangs of guilt.
If it had been two years ago, he certainly would not have such uncomfortable feelings.
But then, time changes many things.
However, Xia Liyou was an exception.
Although she became more compliant in his presence, he understood this was not the real her.
Two years ago, she would have fought him tooth and nail and never given in easily. But now, her tolerance had increased significantly.
So much so, that he started to despise this version of her.
The room was littered with clothes he had carelessly discarded. Her clothes were practically torn to shreds and couldn't even be used to cover her body.
Ou Chengtian took out a robe from the closet, put it on, and used another to wrap Xia Liyou up tightly.
Things like these shouldn't exist in the study room at all, but Ou Chengtian had prepared them. His willpower, otherwise impressive, easily crumbled in front of Xia Liyou. Hence it was best to be prepared beforehand.
Xia Liyou silently lay in his arms, without an ounce of energy remaining. As if the moment he pulled away from her body, he took away all her strength as well.
He lifted her in his arms, opened the door of the study room, and walked toward the bathroom.
He gently placed her in the bath with utmost care. The bright light made it impossible for Xia Liyou to open her eyes properly, so she simply leaned against the tub quietly, doing nothing.
Seeing her exhausted, Ou Chengtian lowered his voice as if afraid to disturb her and asked, "Do you want me to help you wash?"
Xia Liyou's heart tightened. How could she ever think of such a thing?
Compared to Ou Chengtian's brutality, his tenderness scared her even more.
She always had a feeling that he had a hidden agenda behind his kind actions.
Although she didn't ask, Xia Liyou became incredibly nervous when he behaved this way, feeling as though her veins were on the brink of bursting.
She forced her eyes open and fixed her gaze on his deep, ocean-like eyes. His eyes were enchanting, reflecting confidence and a natural aura of dominance. Deep inside them, there was a hint of gentle affection.
But Ou Chengtian had hidden this affection deep within, hardly letting others see it.
After a moment of surprise, Xia Liyou pursed her lips and murmured, "No need, I'll do it myself."
Sitting in the bathtub, she said nothing more after that sentence.
Although Ou Chengtian clearly heard her words and nodded, he didn't make any further moves.
Seeing that he still hadn't left, merely sitting next to the tub staring at her, draped in a white robe that showcased his muscular physique, his waistband loosely tied revealing his perfect abs.
Ou Chengtian's physical shape was impeccable, making anything he wore look exceptional, even if it was just a simple bathrobe. He made it look like an international brand.
Xia Liyou waited for quite a while, but he didn't leave. After giving it some thought, she finally asked, "Aren't you going to leave?"
"Why should I leave?"
A single sentence silenced her completely, leaving her speechless.
Indeed, why should he leave? This was his villa, and he could stay wherever he pleased. After all, Xia Liyou was just his mistress, someone he could take or leave as he wished.