Su Jin woke in the middle of the night, instinctively reaching out to the spot beside her. It was cold—an icy emptiness that seemed to seep through her fingers and creep into her heart. The realization hit her harder than she expected: the man who usually clung to her like an octopus wasn't there.
She bit her lip, trying to quell the rising unease. Where was Luo Xian? She told herself not to overthink it, not to let the pang of disappointment linger. But wasn't denial itself proof that her feelings were genuine? Somewhere along the line, she'd grown used to his possessive warmth, his overpowering presence. She hated to admit it, but she had started to depend on him.
Every night, Luo Xian would pull her close, wrapping her tightly in his arms as if to merge their bodies into one. Even in his sleep, his grip never loosened. He had once clung so tightly that, when Su Jin woke up needing the bathroom, she had no choice but to awkwardly shake him awake.
Back then, she would steal glances at his face, studying his peaceful expression with a mixture of fascination and confusion. Who was Luo Xian, really? By day, he was domineering and unyielding, his lips curling into an occasional wicked smirk. His sharp green eyes could soften when they looked at her, brimming with tenderness and indulgence. Yet that same gaze froze like ice when turned toward anyone else.
And then there were moments like this. Asleep, his handsome face seemed unguarded, almost angelic. It was as if some fallen angel had lost its way and landed in her bed. She used to cringe at how corny that sounded, but she couldn't deny how captivating he was. In the stillness of the night, his beauty stirred something in her, something that made her acutely aware of her own heartbeat.
When she finally managed to wake him that night, his piercing green eyes flickered open, cold and indifferent at first. But then, as his gaze found hers, the frost melted, replaced by a molten intensity that left her breathless. Before she could react, he leaned in, claiming her lips with a ferocious hunger. His kisses were relentless, consuming her until she was gasping for air.
By the time he released her, Su Jin's face was flushed crimson. She stammered, "I… I just needed to use the bathroom. You were holding me too tightly." Her voice trailed off into an embarrassed whisper.
Luo Xian's raspy voice held a tinge of annoyance as he said, "It's late. Why aren't you asleep?"
"I told you, you were holding me too tightly," she repeated, her face burning. "I couldn't move."
Without another word, he scooped her up, wrapping her in a blanket as if she were a fragile package.
"W-what are you doing?" Su Jin yelped, her voice tinged with panic.
His lips curved into a mischievous smirk. "Carrying my little wife to take care of her needs, of course."
Her face turned an even deeper shade of red. "Put me down! I can go by myself!"
Ignoring her protests, Luo Xian carried her to the bathroom. To her utter mortification, he even offered to help her undress, like she was a child who couldn't fend for herself. Su Jin had never been so humiliated. She had practically begged him to stop, tears of frustration welling up in her eyes. Only then did he relent, though his laughter made it clear he found her embarrassment utterly delightful.
She bit her lip now, the memory of that night still fresh and infuriating. Luo Xian was infuriatingly shameless, domineering, and wickedly playful. By all rights, she should detest him. After all, their relationship had started as nothing more than a contract. Yet somewhere along the line, her feelings had become muddled.
She couldn't deny it anymore: she didn't hate him.
Su Jin lay in bed, her thoughts a chaotic swirl. The absence of his familiar presence left her feeling restless. She had always prided herself on her rationality and self-control. Once she made a decision, she stuck to it with unwavering determination. But now, in the face of Luo Xian, all her principles seemed to crumble. He was like an addictive drug, his intoxicating affection seeping into her veins until she couldn't imagine life without him.
Her resolve wavered. She'd promised herself she wouldn't fall for him, wouldn't risk her heart. The pain of being abandoned again would be unbearable. And yet, she was losing control, unable to resist the pull of his charm.
She was both a coward and a glutton for punishment when it came to love.
Meanwhile, Luo Xian was unaware that his little wife had woken up and discovered his absence. He was busy elsewhere, dealing with another matter.
In a dark basement, where light barely penetrated, Gao Tongxue trembled. Her hands were bound tightly behind her back, and a blindfold covered her eyes. Fear gnawed at her as she tried to make sense of her situation. One moment, she'd been waiting for someone, sipping on a glass of orange juice. The next, she'd blacked out, only to wake up restrained in an unknown place.
She had screamed herself hoarse, her cries echoing into the void. "Let me go! Do you hear me? I'll pay you! Just name your price!" But no one answered. The silence was oppressive, the darkness suffocating. Panic clawed at her chest, and her resolve crumbled. She began to sob, her pleas growing desperate. "Please… someone help me! I'll do anything, just let me go!"
Her frantic cries were interrupted by the sound of a door creaking open. Footsteps echoed, slow and deliberate, each step sending a fresh wave of terror through her. The click of polished shoes on the cold floor grew louder, closer, until she could feel the presence of someone standing right in front of her.
"Who are you?" she whimpered. "What do you want? Please, just let me go. I… I'll pay whatever you want. Just name your price!"
The scent of an expensive cologne reached her nose, mingling with the unmistakable aura of danger. Her body stiffened as realization dawned. She knew that scent. She knew who it belonged to.
A cold, familiar voice broke the silence. "You were waiting for me, weren't you? Well, here I am."
Gao Tongxue's breath hitched. The voice, calm yet chilling, sent shivers down her spine. It was a voice she had once found captivating, but now it sounded like the whisper of death itself.
Luo Xian's emerald eyes gleamed in the dim light as he stared down at the trembling woman. His lips curved into a smile—a smile that was equal parts mesmerizing and menacing. He looked every bit the devil she now believed him to be.