Chapter 19: Rhinoceros

Xu Yu had never intended to marry into the Shen family, and even if she did, it certainly wouldn't be to Shen Yue.

Wen Han: "If you’re not home before midnight, I’ll tell Dad all your dirty secrets."

If she weren’t still unable to completely sever ties with Wen Han’s family, Xu Yu would have loved nothing more than to smash her phone right into Wen Han’s forehead.

It was half past ten.

Xu Yu took a taxi from Yuandu Pavilion and headed to Wenting Tower.

The Wen family’s villa in the city was separated from her by only Shishui Street.

It was also the most coveted spot in the CBD’s office district.

When Xu Yu spotted that familiar Cullinan parked downstairs, the heart she’d been holding in her throat finally settled back into her chest.

She went up to the sixteenth floor, composed herself for a moment to get into character, and reached out to knock—only to find the door was already ajar.

A twist of the handle, and it swung open.

It was clearly meant to be an office, yet Shen Liangyan had arranged it as a private residence.

Dominated by black and white, with vast floor-to-ceiling windows, the space was open and shadowy.

He lounged deep in a fabric sofa, the flickering lights of the LCD television dancing across him, his beguiling, fox-like eyes half-veiled in drifting smoke.

Xu Yu choked on the fumes, about to turn on the lights.

“Don’t.”

The ember at his fingertips had burned out, his voice cold as ice. Xu Yu blinked, feigning as if she’d never stood him up tonight.

“Third Master’s in a bad mood?” she teased, settling herself in his lap, arms wrapped around his neck, blocking the financial news on the screen.

With no light to soften his features, his face was only a vague silhouette. When the icy glint in his black eyes locked onto her, Xu Yu couldn’t help but shrink back.

She tried to scoot away, but his hand clamped her waist, pulling her tight against his chest.

The smoldering cigarette butt pressed through her dress, burning her skin and drawing a cry from her lips.

Xu Yu closed her eyes for a moment, and as she did, she caught sight of the thick stack of cash next to his seat. She started, unable to tear her gaze away.

The next instant, a sharp pain at her ear—Shen Liangyan’s voice sounded low and menacing, “Want it? Beg me.”

Xu Yu kissed him in the shadowed dark, her lips lingering over every feature of his face.

Between kisses, she murmured, “Honestly, I’d given up hope when you didn’t reply, but I still wanted to try my luck here. And you really are here. Third Master, tell me, isn’t this a sign we’re soulmates?”

As she kissed the corner of his lips, he tangled his fingers in her hair and yanked her head back, snorting coldly. “Xu Yu, I told you never to play your little tricks in front of me. Forgotten already?”

“No, I haven’t,” Xu Yu replied, scalp stinging as though it were being torn apart. She stared at the razor-sharp line of his jaw, swallowing hard.

“Hand over the gold chain.”

He gave her no chance to refuse, tightening his grip.

Shen Liangyan was usually easy to talk to, but that didn’t mean he’d bargain—especially not tonight.

Left with no choice, Xu Yu placed the half-pound gold chain on the coffee table.

“Reluctant?”

Before she could turn away, her chin was caught again.

Xu Yu was on the verge of tears. “Not at all.”

He never mentioned Zhao Qian, but Xu Yu knew he was always in control of her every move.

After he’d had his way with her on the sofa, during a pause for a cigarette, he leaned over and kissed her again. Xu Yu, dazed, took a drag and fumbled for her phone.

Shen Liangyan sat up, his seductive eyes narrowing as he studied her. “You’re going home tonight?”

“Twelve o’clock. Wen Han will check up on me.”

Her voice was a little hoarse. She straightened her clothes, scooped up a bundle of cash, and stuffed it into her bag.

She reached for the gold chain, but caught sight of Shen Liangyan’s predatory gaze from the corner of her eye, and gave up.

As she tried to leave, he hooked her belt, drawing her back into his arms.

Xu Yu’s hair brushed his throat. The man’s straight nose and thin lips, his black eyes glowing—they made her heart pound. Just as she was about to speak, something heavy was pressed into her palm.

A key.

“Where is this for?”