One of Su Jin's shoes had slipped off as she ran, and her clothes were damp, with splashes of water clinging to her. Earlier, when she'd hurled a bucket of water in anger, some had splattered back onto her. Without hesitation, Luo Xian shrugged off his suit jacket and wrapped it around her, cocooning her small frame. From head to toe, she was tightly enveloped in his protective embrace.
His piercing green eyes, however, were anything but tender as they fixed coldly on the bedraggled woman in front of him. Wet from head to toe and hair a tangled mess, she was the very person responsible for the handprint still visible on Su Jin's cheek. This woman had dared to chase Su Jin, screaming like a madwoman, right under his nose.
Luo Xian's fury reached its zenith. Su Jin was his wife, his precious treasure to pamper and adore. Even teasing her verbally or making her blush beneath him in bed was a privilege reserved solely for him. No one else was allowed to lay a finger on her, not even a strand of her hair. To Luo Xian, this was non-negotiable. His stance on protecting what was his remained unwavering—his precious wife existed to be cherished by him alone.
But this woman? She had crossed his line. She had committed an unforgivable sin. No matter who she was or what status she held, Luo Xian would never let such an affront slide.
To those familiar with Luo Xian, his most terrifying moments weren't when he displayed his rage openly. No, the truly horrifying aspect of Luo Xian was his restraint. Beneath the veneer of elegance and gentlemanly charm lay a coiled demon waiting to be unleashed. To outsiders, he might appear composed, his aristocratic demeanor unbroken, and his gaze as frigid and unreadable as ever. But those who knew him well understood—this was the calm before the storm.
As Luo Xian stood there, his rage masked by icy composure, Gao Tongxue's reaction was entirely different. Beneath his penetrating stare, she felt a heady mixture of fear and exhilaration. Her pulse raced, her body tingling with an electric thrill. She found herself captivated by the dangerous allure of this man. What if she could conquer him? What if, instead of that woman in his arms, it was her? The thought sent shivers down her spine.
Especially when she'd seen the tenderness with which he had treated Su Jin just moments ago—a tenderness so intoxicating that even as an observer, her heart couldn't help but skip a beat. This man was leagues above anyone she'd ever encountered, exuding a magnetic charisma that left her breathless.
Meanwhile, Su Jin felt the tension radiating from Luo Xian. His arms were a fortress around her, his body shielding hers. But when her gaze fell on Gao Tongxue and caught the predatory hunger in the woman's eyes as she stared at Luo Xian, Su Jin's lips tightened, and her brows furrowed. She couldn't explain why, but the way that woman looked at him ignited a discomfort deep within her.
Before Su Jin could voice her thoughts, Gao Tongxue took the initiative, her tone saccharine and laced with false vulnerability. "I didn't realize what your relationship with this young lady was," she began, only to be cut off by Luo Xian's icy declaration: "My wife."
The words hit Gao Tongxue like a slap. Her carefully curated expression of softness faltered for a split second before she recovered. Forcing a smile, she pointed to her own soaked clothes, her voice trembling with calculated grievance. "But, sir, look at what she's done to me! My clothes are ruined! I don't even understand why she would throw an entire bucket of dirty water on me. Surely, you can see that I'm the victim here."
As she gestured to her chest, the wet, translucent fabric clinging to her curves, the audience couldn't suppress their disgust. To the onlookers, Gao Tongxue's exaggerated theatrics were painfully obvious. Her desperate attempts to garner sympathy and seduce Luo Xian in front of his wife were beyond shameless.
"Unbelievable," someone muttered from the crowd. "Does she seriously think this pathetic act will work? What a joke."
But Gao Tongxue paid no mind to the disdainful whispers around her. Her focus remained solely on Luo Xian—this extraordinary man who represented everything she'd ever desired. His wealth, his commanding presence, his breathtaking tenderness—all of it was a beacon drawing her in.
Luo Xian's emerald eyes remained fixed on her, his lips curling into a frosty smile. "So you hit my wife," he said, each word a shard of ice.
"I… I didn't mean to!" Gao Tongxue stammered. "I don't even remember what I was doing. My mind went blank! I…"
"Oh, your mind went blank, did it?" an onlooker interjected, their tone dripping with sarcasm. "And in that 'blank' state, your hand just magically slapped her? Please, spare us the nonsense."
Gao Tongxue's face flushed crimson as the crowd erupted into laughter and jeers. Desperate, she turned back to Luo Xian, hoping for some sign of support. His gaze was steady, inscrutable. What she failed to grasp, however, was the depth of his intent. When Luo Xian's eyes turned that cold, it meant one thing: he'd already marked his target for destruction.
Su Jin, meanwhile, was growing increasingly uncomfortable. She disliked the attention, the lies spilling from Gao Tongxue's lips, and the entire unpleasant scene. Taking a deep breath, she spoke calmly, her voice devoid of emotion. "When I almost tripped and accidentally bumped into you, you slapped me. So I poured a bucket of water on you. After that, I left, and you chased after me. That's all there is to it."
Her straightforward recounting of events, unembellished and free of theatrics, stood in stark contrast to Gao Tongxue's dramatic performance. The crowd's disdain for Gao Tongxue deepened, their snickers growing louder.
"You… you… how can you say that?" Gao Tongxue gasped, feigning disbelief.
The audience's patience wore thin. "Oh, give it a rest already," someone muttered. "We've seen enough bad acting for one day."
Luo Xian tightened his hold on Su Jin, his expression softening as he gazed down at her. Yet when she looked up, her brows knit in frustration. "Let's just go," she murmured. She wanted nothing more than to leave this place and its toxic atmosphere behind.
Though she didn't know it, her simple plea only deepened Luo Xian's resolve. She was his everything, and he couldn't bear the thought of her enduring even a moment of discomfort.
His lips curved into a sinister smile—a smile that sent chills down the spines of those who saw it. To Su Jin, however, it was merely an unfamiliar expression. "Why did you take her contact information?" she asked quietly. "You're not actually going to compensate her, are you?"
Luo Xian's gaze softened as he kissed her forehead. "Leave it to me, sweetheart," he murmured.
That night, after Su Jin had fallen asleep in his arms, exhausted from the day's events, Luo Xian's gentle demeanor vanished. Dialing the number Gao Tongxue had provided, his voice turned icy yet deceptively smooth. "Are you available tonight? I need to discuss something important with you. Meet me at the A Hotel, room 107."
On the other end of the line, Gao Tongxue's heart raced with excitement. She had won, or so she believed. "I'll be there," she replied eagerly.
As the call ended, Luo Xian deleted her number, his lips curling into a deadly smile. He wasn't one to let anyone harm what was his without consequences. The demon beneath his gentlemanly mask was ready to unleash hell.