Meng Chi’s lips lingered by hers, his breath heavy: “I’m very busy lately and don’t have time to watch you. Locking you up is more reassuring.”
Ruan Ning felt desperate. “I don’t like being locked up,” she said, pushing him away and turning her head.
Meng Chi gently turned her back, taking her wrist and skillfully fastening the silver chain. His voice was hoarse: “I’m happy that you came back to save me, but I don’t want to risk you escaping again. Stay obediently at home, and tell me if you need anything.”
His lips kissed her wrist gently, as if trying to kiss away the chain’s restraint. For a moment, Ruan Ning felt a bit soft. However, the jingling of the chains reminded her that if she softened, she’d become a bird without freedom, locked in his cage for life.
She looked at him in silence, expressing her resistance. Meng Chi didn’t mind; he was used to her attitude.
He passionately kissed her, from her wrist to her palm, then to her cheek and lips. Their entangled lips expressed many days of longing, mirroring their complicated relationship.
Outside the window, Meng Yao’s vacant eyes stared blankly at them, longing for her brother’s embrace to be hers. Her body trembled as she felt Meng Chi’s passion, and tears fell—knowing it would never be her.
Meng Chi had been caring for her day and night. She once thought they would always be like this, but then her mother returned, like a vengeful ghost seeking to haunt her for a lifetime.
After a long time, Meng Chi reluctantly let go of Ruan Ning, saying, “Rest for a while, I’ll go check on Yao Yao.”
He left, and Ruan Ning lay on the bed, her chaotic emotions calming down. She disliked being controlled; her options were either to fail the mission or eliminate him.
From that day on, Meng Yao’s injuries fluctuated, and her mood deteriorated. Meng Chi spent a lot of time with her, while Ruan Ning rarely saw him. She would remain quietly in the room, but Meng Chi remained uneasy and refused to unlock the chains.
Sun Jia Cong had not been found. That day, Meng Chi went with the officials to search, and he had not returned by nightfall.
