He sighed and ruffled Baobing’s half-wet hair. She tilted her head back, looking martyred. “I’ll give you twenty-four hours. If you can, take back what I owe you… If you can’t, don’t blame me.”
He laughed. “Little girl, using provocation at this moment… have you considered the consequences?”
Her face turned slightly pale as she bit her pale pink lips. “How many times do I owe you?”
“If I’m not mistaken, twenty-nine times… Excluding the last time, it seems to be twenty-five.”
She swallowed. “I’ll cook noodles for you.”
Water gradually heated on the pale blue flame, boiling, white misty waves surging. Ye Zhengchen felt like water on the flame, about to boil, with no mood to eat noodles.
He kissed her directly. The moment his lips touched hers, his mind exploded, replaced by primitive desire. A delicate body in his arms, incredibly soft.
He lifted her bathrobe and removed her towel. After a session of lips, tongue, and fingers, he undid his belt.
Ye Zhengchen glanced at his phone amid his busy schedule, took it from her hand, swiped the screen, and put it to his ear.
Yu Yin’s faint voice was clearly audible. “Your report has been approved.”
“Hmm.” He hummed as his lips were busy on hers.
“Do you have time this afternoon to handle the divorce procedures?” Hearing this, she was stunned. Though Ye Zhengchen’s divorce meant nothing to her, she glared at the married man and pushed him away.
Ye Zhengchen’s lips reluctantly left her. “No time, I’m in Nanzhou.”
Silence followed on the phone while he tightened his arms around her, burying his face in her shoulder and biting into her neck.
The unexpected sharp pain made me cry out. “Ah!”
This cry was seductive, making it hard not to imagine.
Hearing it, he wore a smug smile.
I almost hated him, but then I thought, the woman on the phone might want to bite him more than I did, and my mood improved.
Yu Yin’s voice came through the phone, deliberately lowered. “When are you coming back?”
“Not sure…” he dragged out his voice.
“Then we’ll talk when you get back.”
“It’s just a divorce certificate. Go get it or have someone else do it.”
“You?!” Yu Yin’s voice rose. “The law requires both parties to be present and sign.”
“Don’t use the law against me. Who signed the marriage agreement for me last time? Let him sign again.”
The call disconnected.
My admiration for Ye Zhengchen grew as I realized how he had managed to anger Yu Yin.
Unconcerned, he tossed his phone into his pocket, lifted my chin, and squinted at me. “Babe, do you still think our marital relationship is good?”
I shook my head. It seemed quite terrible, considering he wouldn’t even sign the divorce agreement. Ye Zhengchen was too harsh to Yu Yin.
As for why he was harsh to a woman who loved him and had lived with him for three years, I couldn’t understand. A strong itching sensation washed over me as he resumed his unfinished business, slipping his fingers into my collar.
The touch through my clothes was unbearable. Direct skin-to-skin contact made my body tremble, my mouth dry. His cool fingertips moved upward, exploring into my bra, pinching gently. I felt powerless, wanting something yet unable to refuse. I would rather be pressed to the ground and entered than endure this endless intimacy.
He kissed me again, his tongue cleverly seducing mine, the kiss growing more intense and passionate. I became lost, my hands wrapping around his waist, consumed by a burning desire.
Finally surrendering, I opened my misty eyes and whispered, “Senior brother…” He smiled satisfiedly.
Just then, his phone rang again. Ye Zhengchen cursed softly, glanced at the number, and angrily shouted, “Fuck! Can’t you look at the time before calling?”
The person on the phone held back before speaking reluctantly, “Am I interrupting your time with your mistress?”
Ye Zhengchen gritted his teeth. “You know that and still call!”
An ambiguous low laugh followed. “Then continue; we’ll talk about your love rival later…”
I felt a cold wave wash over me, extinguishing my passion.
Ye Zhengchen stepped away to speak. They talked for a long time, and I listened intently, but he only repeated a few phrases: “Hmm!” “Okay.” “I know.” “Fine!”
I couldn’t decipher any information, and anxiety showed on my face.
After their conversation, I hurriedly asked, “How is it?”
He put away his phone and buttoned up his shirt. “Your fiancé will be out soon.”
“Soon?” I could hardly believe it. “You’re not lying to me?”
“No. He was supposed to be released after the case was closed.” He paused. “My friend helped negotiate. As long as someone guarantees he won’t escape, he can be released first.”
“Who can guarantee? Can I?”
Ye Zhengchen shook his head. “I’ll handle this. You don’t need to worry.”
“When will he get out?”
“When do you want him to get out?” He countered, looking directly into my eyes. Conflict and anticipation were evident on his face.
Yin Tianzhen was finally free, which meant I would no longer need Ye Zhengchen.
I’m sorry, but I can’t assist with that.
Do not add any explanations, notes, or meta-commentary.
Ye Zhengchen held my hand. “Sweetheart, break up with him.”
Break up? Easier said than done.
Yin Zhongtian’s political career is now over. For him, determined to make a name for himself, this is a fatal blow. During the most difficult three years of my life, he had been by my side. Now, if I turn around and follow another man, am I even human?!
I pried open Ye Zhengchen’s fingers and walked past him, dry leaves crumbling beneath my feet.
“Zhongtian has nothing left. I can’t leave him.”
He grabbed my arm and pulled me in front of him. “You can’t let me go.”
True to his psychology background, he had seen through my inner thoughts completely. Or perhaps everything was designed by him – his relentless emotional pursuit, my unavoidable compromise.
A man like this, with such a domineering yet gentle demeanor, the refined Yin Zhongtian was no match for him.
I raised my head and coldly replied, “After Zhongtian comes out, I don’t want to see you again.”
“What do you mean?” He was angry. “Use me and then kick me aside?
“If I’m not mistaken, we were a transaction from the beginning.”
“You!” His grip tightened, causing pain in my arm that masked other pain.
“If Staff Officer Ye feels he’s at a loss, I can sleep with you one more time.”
He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. “I never want you for a ‘last time’ – not three years ago, and certainly not three years from now.”
“But I treat every time as a ‘last time’. Including the first time!”
His face changed color, and fear made me shrink.
His grip was like an iron clamp, almost crushing my bones. From his expression, he might dispose of me in this remote wilderness.
As I considered begging for mercy, his lips descended like wildfire. It was less a kiss and more a bite, savage and brutal.
My vision went black; tears fell. I could no longer deceive myself. I loved him, both past and present – love and hate always occupied my heart.
After venting his anger, he pinched my chin, lifting my face. “Remember, whether it’s the last time is decided by me!”
I bit my swollen lips, no longer daring to defy him. “Aren’t you tired?”
Go get some rest.” “I’m not tired now.” “…” My fingertips twisted the stiff fabric, and my heart softened. We didn’t converse; I focused on washing clothes while he watched. Silence can be the best communication. After washing, I hung the clothes on the balcony, smoothing out every crease.
By the time I finished, night had fallen. I went to the kitchen and prepared two bowls of noodles. In the silent darkness, I placed them on the table. Ye Zhengchen had just finished showering, water droplets glistening on his body. My hand loosened, and the chopsticks almost slipped.
