Chapter 32: Compromise
"Mm…" Under the steady cascade of warm water, Liang Xiaoluo stirred, her body aching and her head heavy as if weighed down by a boulder. She blinked against the stream, trying to make sense of the hazy ceiling and the blurred face of a man framed by the falling droplets.
Her heart sank as fragments of memory surged forward like a tidal wave. The artificial lake, her kiss with Nan Shaojie, the shadowy figures in black, and the ominous presence of Ye Tianlin—all came rushing back.
She bolted upright, water splashing everywhere. "Ye Tianlin!" she shouted, her voice quaking with anger and disbelief.
The man before her, clad in a damp shirt clinging to his lean form, smirked. His wet hair dripped water, making his sharp features even more striking. "Awake now?" he asked lazily, his eyes dark with something unreadable.
"You… what are you doing here?" Her voice was tinged with panic as she realized she was submerged in a tub, her body entirely bare beneath the water.
Ye Tianlin stepped closer, his presence suffocating. "Relax," he drawled, his tone a maddening blend of mockery and charm. "It's not like I haven't seen it all before."
Her face flushed crimson, equal parts humiliation and fury. "You despicable—!" She instinctively moved to cover herself, recoiling to the edge of the tub.
A Battle of Wills
"Let me leave!" she demanded, her voice trembling yet resolute.
Ye Tianlin tilted his head, his smile cold and calculated. "Leave? And risk running into another gang of black-suited thugs? Or do you prefer their company to mine?"
His words sent a chill down her spine as she recalled the terrifying men from earlier. But her fear of him eclipsed any other. "I'd rather take my chances!" she snapped, attempting to rise from the water.
Before she could step out, his hand shot out, gripping her wrist with an iron hold. "Fine," he said lightly. "But first, pay me back the five million."
Her heart stopped. She had nothing—no money, no means, no way out. Her voice cracked. "I don't have the money."
"Then I'll take it from your father," he said smoothly, his smile sharp as a blade. "You don't mind, do you?"
"No!" she gasped, her eyes widening in horror. He had found her weak spot, and he exploited it mercilessly.
The Weight of Defeat
Liang Xiaoluo's legs buckled, and she sank back into the water. "What do you want from me?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the shower.
Ye Tianlin crouched down, his gaze piercing as he studied her. "Isn't it obvious?" He reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek. "You. I want you."
"No!" She shook her head violently, tears streaming down her face. "I can't… I won't…"
His eyes softened momentarily, but the steel in his voice remained. "You can't run from me, Liang Xiaoluo."
Her resolve crumbled. Trapped, outmaneuvered, and utterly defeated, she slumped forward, her tears mingling with the falling water.
Unwanted Salvation
An hour later, Liang Xiaoluo lay motionless on a plush bed, her damp hair fanned out across the pillows. Her fever had worsened, leaving her pale and trembling.
Ye Tianlin stood at the edge of the room, his hands shoved into his pockets as he watched her. She looked so small, so fragile, and yet so maddeningly defiant. He couldn't decide if he wanted to break her or protect her.
"Call Zhiyie," he ordered sharply, his voice cutting through the tension.
Left alone with her again, he sighed and sat at her bedside. His hand hovered over her flushed cheek before finally resting there. "Why do you fight so hard?" he murmured. "You won't win."
Interrupted
Just as he leaned closer, a knock came at the door. "Done yet, Tianlin?" called a cheerful, teasing voice.
Ye Tianlin's face darkened as he strode to the door, wrenching it open to reveal Zhiyie, his long-time friend and personal doctor. The man stood with his hands in his coat pockets, a playful grin plastered across his face.
"What are you hiding in there?" Zhiyie asked, craning his neck to peer past him.
"Mind your business," Ye Tianlin snapped, blocking his view entirely.
Zhiyie raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. But if you called me all the way here, you'd better have a good reason."
Ye Tianlin's eyes narrowed. "She has a fever. Fix it."
Zhiyie's grin widened as he caught a glimpse of the tousled figure on the bed. "She, huh? Interesting."
Before he could push further, Ye Tianlin shoved him back into the hallway. "Just do your job," he growled, slamming the door shut.
A Fragile Truce
Inside, Liang Xiaoluo stirred, her fevered gaze meeting Ye Tianlin's as he returned. Her voice was weak but firm. "Why can't you just let me go?"
He knelt beside her, his expression unreadable. "Because you're mine."
And with those chilling words, she knew there was no escape. Not tonight.