When Su Jin opened her eyes, her surroundings came into sharp focus. She found herself seated before a computer, leaning against a man's chest. Her body was clad in nothing but an oversized dress shirt—his shirt. It was unmistakably his, carrying the distinctive scent she recalled from last night. The hemline grazed her knees, leaving her cheeks flushing crimson at the realization.
She instinctively tried to wriggle free from his hold, but his arms tightened around her in response.
"Awake?" Luo Xian's voice was calm, as though the situation was entirely ordinary.
He sipped from a cup of coffee, his eyes fixed on the video conference playing on the computer screen. His subordinates were reporting updates to him, their voices blending with the faint hum of technology. While he appeared absorbed in his work, one of his hands rested lightly on Su Jin's head, stroking her hair with surprising tenderness.
Her gaze darted nervously to the computer screen, mortified that others might see her like this. As though reading her mind, Luo Xian said with a cool assurance, "They can't see us."
She bit her lip—a habit that betrayed her unease. How did he always manage to see right through her?
Su Jin was at a loss. This man, who had held her in his arms all night, was supposed to be nothing more than part of a transaction. She had expected to wake up alone in some bed, hastily dress, and leave unnoticed. But here she was, waking naturally in his embrace… on his office chair, no less. It defied every scenario she had anticipated.
Her thoughts spiraled. She felt adrift, like a piece of driftwood in an endless sea, unsure where the currents might take her. The night before, she had traded her dignity for money. There was no room for self-pity or regret. This was the deal she'd agreed to. She clenched her fists tightly.
Luo Xian's voice broke through her reverie. "Go wash up. And wear your slippers."
Relieved to escape his proximity, Su Jin scrambled out of his lap, slipping on the soft rabbit-fur slippers by the chair. She had barely taken two steps before his next words froze her in place.
"When you're done, come back here."
Summoning all her courage, she turned to face him and said softly, "Sir, I think… I should leave now." If she could just walk out that door, she could pretend this had all been a bad dream.
Luo Xian's gaze sharpened. The shift in his expression was subtle but chilling.
And then he smiled. A cold, predatory smile that made her feel as though winter itself had descended into the room.
"It seems you overlooked a key clause in the agreement you signed," he said. "The part where it states that as long as the client wishes, they can extend your stay indefinitely. Location? Entirely up to the client. The rate remains the same: one hundred thousand yuan per day, with the agency taking a twenty percent cut. The rest, of course, goes to you. Now, tell me," he leaned forward slightly, his voice like steel wrapped in silk, "how long do you think I plan to keep you?"
Su Jin was struck speechless.
She shook her head in denial, stammering, "No, this isn't right. You… you tricked me."
Luo Xian pulled open a drawer, extracted a document, and tossed it onto the table in front of her. "See for yourself. That should clear up any misunderstanding."
With trembling hands, Su Jin picked up the agreement. Her name was unmistakable on the signature line. Scanning the text, her heart sank as she found the clause he had mentioned. It was all there, in black and white. He wasn't lying.
"If you breach the contract," Luo Xian continued, "the penalty is five million yuan. Do you think you can escape? No matter where you run, you won't get far."
Her grip on the paper faltered, and it fluttered to the floor. She'd signed away her freedom, and now she was utterly at his mercy.
Desperation clawed at her chest. She dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded, "Please… let me go. I just need fifty thousand yuan to pay off my father's debt. That's all. I'll do anything, but I don't want this. Please, I'm begging you."
Luo Xian's expression remained unreadable. "Don't worry," he said finally.
Hope flickered in Su Jin's eyes. "You mean…?"
He leaned closer, his voice low and deliberate. "I'll never let you go."
The words shattered her fragile hope. Turning back to his computer, he added, "If you care about your father, you'd best behave."
Her mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. This man was an enigma, his motives impossible to decipher. She had no idea what lay ahead for her.
"You have ten minutes to finish up," he said without looking at her. "We leave after that. If you're not ready, don't bother washing up at all."
Her temper flared. She shot him a glare and stormed into the bathroom. Ten minutes? He was utterly insufferable! But as she grabbed a towel, his voice drifted through the door.
"Ten seconds left once I finish speaking. If you're not out by then, you have two choices. Stay here—or return to the bed with me. And trust me, my stamina won't disappoint."
Panic surged through her. She bolted out of the bathroom, nearly tripping in her haste, her slipper flying off in the process. Panting, she glared at him, but her defiance only seemed to amuse him.
He scooped her up effortlessly, retrieving the stray slipper and sliding it onto her foot. "Never walk barefoot on the floor again," he ordered.
Dumbfounded, she watched as he carried her to the door. Only then did she realize what she was wearing. "Am I supposed to go out dressed like this?"
"Yes," he replied. Just as relief washed over her, he draped his suit jacket over her, enveloping her completely. "You're mine, Su Jin. No one else gets to see you like this."
Bundled in his jacket, she could only peek out as he carried her to the car. Once inside, he instructed the driver, "To the office."
The driver nodded. "Yes, sir."
Su Jin fidgeted, still wrapped tightly in his arms. "Why did you make me wear your shirt?" she asked quietly.
Luo Xian's response was calm yet possessive. "Until I've conquered your heart, I'll settle for my scent claiming you first."
Her heart raced, but she refused to let him see how deeply his words affected her. "I'm not a toy," she said firmly. "I won't let myself become someone's plaything, no matter the price. Please, just let me go. I'll pay back every cent. I don't want to lose myself."
His reply was a bruising kiss, stealing her breath and silencing her protests. When he finally released her, his voice was soft yet unyielding. "Remember this, Su Jin. I have a lifetime to wait."