She might find out about her brother's whereabouts if she went, and her mother would also be happy to hear any news about him...
Star Moon Bay Villa.
Ye Mubei had just taken a shower, his dark hair slightly damp, loosely hanging in front of his forehead. He was dressed in a white bathrobe, lazily sitting on the sofa.
Sipping red wine while fiddling with an exquisite jewelry box.
Inside lay a diamond necklace that he had specially commissioned from F country.
He still remembered that in the past on Shen Ruoxi's birthdays, she would always sneak a peek at the gifts he had prepared.
Those intimate, sweet moments between the two of them would never happen again.
As he was lost in thought, some noise came from the entrance hall.
Ye Mubei guessed that Shen Ruoxi had arrived.
He poured two glasses of wine.
After Shen Ruoxi came over to him, he handed her a glass.
"Have some wine to warm up first," he said.
Shen Ruoxi didn't understand his intentions, but to avoid angering him, she obediently took the glass and sipped a few mouthfuls.
She sat stiffly on the sofa, holding the glass, unsure of how to begin.
Ye Mubei put down his glass, leaned lazily back on the sofa, and watched Shen Ruoxi with a heated gaze.
"Come sit beside me."
Shen Ruoxi anxiously fidgeted with her fingers and obediently moved beside the man.
Before she could steady her heart, she felt a cool sensation on her neck.
Looking down, she saw a diamond necklace.
It was a design handcrafted by Master KS, each piece one of a kind in the world. Once, her dream had been to become a renowned jewelry designer like Master KS, whose creations were widely adored.
Back when the Shen family was prosperous, her father gave her a necklace designed by Master KS.
But after the Shen family fell into decline and to pay off debts, that necklace was auctioned off.
She never thought that in this life, she would once again own a necklace designed by her idol.
What a surprise!!
"Do you like it?" Ye Mubei asked in a low, husky voice.
"Yes, I like it," Shen Ruoxi said heartfeltly.
She felt like she was being cherished and regaining something she once lost.
As Shen Ruoxi looked up, she collided with the man's burning gaze.
She seemed to see a hint of insane love in his eyes, yet it was mingled with pain.
For some reason, Shen Ruoxi's heart also began to throb with pain.
"Ruoxi."
He called her softly, his voice low, a nickname exclusive to her.
It had been six years since she last heard him call her that.
Shen Ruoxi was somewhat moved; her eyes reddened, shimmering with tears.
Ye Mubei cradled her face, his voice low and coaxing:
"Ruoxi, as long as you stay obediently by my side, maybe, I'll gradually let go of my hatred toward your father..."
At his words, Shen Ruoxi felt dazed.
This was a huge temptation for Shen Ruoxi, who deeply loved Ye Mubei.
If there was no more hatred between them, perhaps they could revert to how things used to be.
In a haze, Shen Ruoxi seemed to see the beautiful picture of her reconciling with Ye Mubei.
But just then, her cell phone in her bag rang.
She took it out and saw it was a message from her mother, asking when she would be home.
In an instant, Shen Ruoxi snapped back to reality.
With tearful eyes, she said, "Ye Mubei, it's impossible between us forever."
"In one month, it's your wedding with Bai Feifei."
"We can't be together anymore, even if I was the first one to be with you..."
As he heard Shen Ruoxi's refusal, Ye Mubei's face slowly grew cold with icy bitterness.
"What right do you have to say no? It was your father who personally destroyed our happiness; you have to pay for it with your lifetime!"
The man forcefully grabbed Shen Ruoxi's hand and pressed it toward that spot.
"Pleasure me," the man commanded coldly, "or don't even think about getting news about your brother."
Shen Ruoxi hesitated helplessly, on the verge of collapse.
And at that moment, her phone rang again.
The insistent ringing further muddled Shen Ruoxi's already chaotic thoughts.
Ye Mubei, irritated, reached out and tossed the phone aside.
By a stroke of misfortune, he accidentally answered the call.
"Ruoxi, where are you? Why aren't you back yet? Are you messing around with some man again?"
Her mother's voice was frantic, even with a hint of crying.
On the brink of collapse, Shen Ruoxi felt wronged and helpless, frantically shaking her head.
She stood up, intending to hang up the phone, but Ye Mubei grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his embrace.
Immediately after, he kissed her, biting harshly.
Shen Ruoxi was in pain, yet she dared not make too much noise.
She silently endured everything.
Seeing her like this, Ye Mubei's eyes blazed with madness.
"Is this what your mother says about me behind my back?"
"Wild man? Does she know the wild man was your first love?"
Tears kept falling as Shen Ruoxi sobbed, begging him not to continue.
She feared her mother would hear, feared knowing everything would exacerbate her illness.
Again the voice of her mother came through the phone, stern and serious, "Shen Ruoxi! Come back immediately, or I'll jump off the rooftop."
No!
Mom can't have an accident.
She has only one relative left—her mother!
Shen Ruoxi struggled, trying to push Ye Mubei away.
But the man's strength was like iron, holding her hands, immobilizing her.
His eyes were ablaze, carrying a destructive intent.
When he spoke again, his voice was hoarse and rough.
With a trace of persistence in his tone.
"Shen Ruoxi, stay with me for one night, and I'll tell you about your brother."
He pressed Shen Ruoxi's head down, forcing her to lie on top of him.
Then, parting his bathrobe, he revealed the tightly-strained...
"Lie down, be good," he said.