While she was talking, his hands didn't stop their rough and barbaric motions as he applied the ointment on the marks on her body—chest, abdomen, back, even her little butt wasn't spared. He rubbed and kneaded forcefully, the pain making her hum and groan, "Hsss... damn it, are you trying to murder me?"
"Talk back again, and I'll take care of you!"
Having learned her lesson this time, Lian Qiao swallowed back the curse she had for him, her face flushed.
Minute by minute, after a long while—
The frantic task of applying medicine finally ended, and Lian Qiao quickly pulled up the quilt to wrap herself in, panting lightly.
Damn it, she was nearly at her wits' end! To think that she, a woman of colorful character, was now being groped and fondled naked by such a top-tier man. Alright, she was a little bit overwhelmed.
Escaping seemed wise.
After putting down the ointment, Xing Liehuo washed his hands and came out to give her a cold stare for a few seconds, then suddenly yanked at the quilt, pulling it off in one swift move.
"Ah!" Lian Qiao grabbed a corner of the quilt and curled up into a ball, "Don't come over!" Her actions and tone were just like those of a girl about to be ravaged by a villain in a TV drama!
"Stop looking for a beating, we've slept together before."
"..."
Resistance was a must, but failing to resist was inevitable.
How could her little tricks compare to a man with the physical prowess of the No. 1 special forces commander? After a few exchanges, her whole body, quilt and all, was in the man's embrace, her sovereignty compromised.
Done for—she couldn't escape this time!
She turned her back in alarm, her heart thumping wildly.
Anyone who was a military man had a quick temper, let alone the Crown Prince who was in a bad mood. Staring at the back of her head, he grew even angrier seeing how contrary this little wench could be.
After a few seconds, his fiery voice exploded behind her: "Turn around."
"..."
"Damn it, I told you to turn around—"
As he spoke, his hand stretched out from behind into her T-shirt and kneaded roughly, the painful and bullying movements causing Lian Qiao to shiver as she turned over and started pummeling him with shame and embarrassment, "Shameless."
He gripped her arm in one hand, his eyebrows drawn together as he commanded in a deep voice, "Come here!"
"..."
"Don't make me say it twice."
He was a genuine force of tyranny! She thought to herself, this man was relentless. If she continued to resist, she would only hurt herself. Between the lesser of two evils, she chose a compromise for survival.
"Reporting to the commander, I have a condition!"
"Speak."
"If you're a real man, don't force me, only if I'm willing!"
"Depends on my mood!"
She felt like crying but had no tears! She huddled miserably into his embrace, and for the entire night, she didn't dare to move, tormented by the heavy 'weaponry.' Fortunately, he was somewhat restrained; aside from his clawing hands rubbing her roughly a few times, he ultimately didn't really do anything to her.
She consoled herself in a philosophical way: Oh well, the tofu has already been eaten, what does eating a bit more or less matter.
Gradually dozing off, half asleep and half awake, she seemed to faintly hear the tyrant say, "Tomorrow, come back home with me."
Home! Going back home? Did she even have a home? Why did it feel so awkward?
Was she really married?
Oh heavens, would she be crushed dead by a pie trap...
In the car.
For the Nth time, Lian Qiao pulled out the red marriage certificate from her bag to look at it in the light.
What does marriage mean to a woman? It's the castle of happiness for the latter half of a woman's life. But what about her? She was like a trapped animal with no way out. They say a marriage without love is immoral. But not only does her marriage lack love, her partner is also a 'not so familiar' stranger, isn't that—
Moral corruption!?
After a while, she held the marriage certificate with a solemn expression and asked, "Commander, is this a high replica? Or is it an A-grade fake?"
"Change how you address me." Looking at her coldly, Xing Liehuo didn't answer her directly, his expression unreadable.
"If not 'commander,' then what?"
His gaze darkened, and after a few seconds of contemplation, he said: "Call me Brother Huo!"
"Huoguo?" With a smirk, Lian Qiao didn't miss the brief shadow that crossed his eyes.
But it had nothing to do with her.
She shook the booklet in her hand and then extended her left hand to look at the platinum ring with a band of diamonds on her ring finger. It was given by her 'husband' before getting in the car; he didn't even bother with the gesture of putting it on her finger himself, so naturally his act was devoid of love.
So, this marriage certificate, this ring, they were props.
However, their purpose was unclear to her, as was the cause and effect of their existence, but in this world, everything happens for a reason.
She wanted to know, but this man was inscrutable, and whatever he didn't say was certainly not something she could ask.
So, she flaunted the ring like a gold-digger and clicked her tongue, "Such a beautiful Cartier!"
A chill spread, and the man who sat much higher than her looked down with eyes that seemed to tower above her.
After a few seconds of silence, he sniffed through his nostrils and ordered the driver in a deep voice, "First, we go to Sisai."
What was Sisai? Lian Qiao didn't ask. Everything this man did was beyond questioning; asking was pointless, so she simply closed her eyes to rest, ready to adapt to whatever came.
Sisai.
An ultra-luxury private image studio on the top floor of Dihao Commercial Building, without even a signboard. Its clientele was exclusively elite and it wasn't open to the public at all.
Clothes, makeup, accessories, shoes... all high-end stuff!
Too beautiful! The entire space of over a thousand square meters was arranged neatly in rows, each with its place—only two words crossed Lian Qiao's mind—
Astonishing!
Frankly, she was quite mundane, like all girls, she loved beautiful clothes. However, she had one up on others—she was so mundane that she never splurged on buying beautiful clothes for herself.
With his hand on her shoulder, they walked in, and Xing Liehuo glanced at the pretty female receptionist and asked without any expression, "Is Xiaojiu not here?"
Apparently recognizing his grandiose air, the female receptionist smiled excessively sweetly, "The boss is inside, there were customers just now!"
His expression turned frosty as Xing Liehuo frowned displeasedly, emanating arrogance, "Didn't I say I was coming over?"
"Wow, Xing Lord sure has quite the temper, don't scare the young lady..." Accompanied by a string of coquettish laughter, the door to the inner room opened, and a tall woman in a one-shouldered pink dress emerged, her bright eyes momentarily stunned upon seeing the two of them.