For the first time in his life, Jun Hao was so gentle with a woman, caring for An Ke like a sick child. He found ice, wrapped it in a towel, and applied it to her eyes, saying it would reduce swelling.
An Ke firmly told him that as long as he left and disappeared from her sight, her eyes would heal quickly without treatment.
Jun Hao left, but this time not out of anger. He only wanted to salvage something. His heart gradually cleared, and he would make her heart accept him.
Once again alone in the room, An Ke pulled the blanket over her head. Tears fell again. Her reason told her: she hated Jun Hao. But her heart had unknowingly fallen for him. Seeing him happily holding another woman’s hand, saying “I love my wife,” her heart had gone numb with pain.
Would An Ke’s reason triumph over her heart?
………..Don’t know if it’ll be updated before 0 o’clock………………. 024 Plan This night seemed especially long. An Ke’s mind played like a movie, recalling every detail from the past few months.
Months ago at his wedding, he casually pointed at her, making her a sacrificial pawn, a well-known third party. Jun Hao would always use his power to force her into a corner, mock her with vicious language, and even threaten her family’s safety. Although he would show care through actions when she was hurt, she only interpreted it as him not allowing his property to be damaged. What An Ke could not accept most was his forceful possession of her against her will. She did not cry like other women, but that did not mean she did not care. In the past month, he had used various methods to make her sink into his tenderness. She hated him, but even more, she hated herself for being unable to escape the small fragments of his affection.
Time slipped away, and An Ke couldn’t sleep at all. Having lived for nearly twenty-four years, she had never felt so helpless before. She had cursed the name Jun Hao in her heart countless times, wondering why she was still so disturbed by his smallest actions. Watching him on TV saying, “I love my wife, how could I leave her for an ordinary woman? It’s just a game we play as a couple.” After disappearing for days, he suddenly appeared on TV, apparently busy with something important in his life. An Ke never expected that the man who should have been sleeping next to his wife would now appear in her room. Was it joy? Was it anger? The vulnerability she had never shown in front of others, the forced strength, now crumbled before him. He was actually applying eye drops and trying to coax her to sleep. Should she forget his previous insults because of this seemingly gentle gesture with unknown motives? The words “game,” “toy,” and “ordinary woman” rushed into her mind. An Ke wiped away the last tear from the corner of her eye and firmly told herself: Jun Hao, do you think after hurting me so deeply, I would still be foolish enough to let you play with me?
Unknowingly, the sky had begun to lighten, and urgent knocking broke the morning silence.
“Miss An, please come with us quickly.” In her daze, An Ke hadn’t yet understood what was happening when a girl rushed into the room. An Ke was now fully awake and asked the girl, “Xiao Yun, where have you been these past few days? I missed you.”
Chen Yun only politely responded, “Miss An, please get ready quickly. The reporters will be here soon and won’t leave.”
An Ke looked at Chen Yun, grabbed her hand, and asked, “Are you okay after helping me in Singapore last time?” Based on her limited understanding of Jun Hao, she didn’t believe he would do nothing to punish her.
Chen Yun looked back at An Ke and instead asked, “Why are your eyes so swollen?”
An Ke rubbed her head, trying to hide her inner unease, “I slept wrong and got a stiff neck last night.”
Before Chen Yun could speak, An Ke asked again, “Xiao Yun, Jun Hao did something to you, didn’t he?”
“No, I went home to visit my parents,” Chen Yun blushed and stammered.
“Actually, I accidentally learned about your background from Jun Hao. Your parents died early, and he helped you go to school and learn taekwondo. When you got your fifth-degree black belt qualification, you gave up excellent overseas job opportunities to serve him.” Chen Yun’s background was exactly as An Ke said, though not from Jun Hao’s direct telling, but from an accidental glimpse in his computer files.
“He just wanted me to reflect on things,” Chen Yun lowered her head like a child who had done something wrong, forgetting her original purpose. By the time An Ke finished getting ready, half an hour had passed.
As the noisy sounds from outside the hotel became faintly audible, Chen Yun knew she had messed up again. She sighed at her own uselessness, always being led around by An Ke whenever they talked.
The room’s internal phone rang, and Chen Yun quickly answered, nodding, “I understand.” Despite her young age, she had the demeanor of a great leader. Turning to An Ke, she said, “We can’t leave the hotel now. The reporters have surrounded it completely.”
“Why are the reporters here?” An Ke vaguely guessed but wanted confirmation from Chen Yun.
Chen Yun looked at her, opened her mouth, but ultimately remained silent. She genuinely cared for An Ke and didn’t want her to be hurt, yet couldn’t go against Jun Hao.
“Hehe…” An Ke chuckled, “If you don’t want to tell me, I won’t force you. I’ll go lie down in my room.”
An Ke returned to her room, choosing a long leather coat with white fur lining and wool pants, adding a touch of playful cuteness to her appearance. Only her swollen eyes seemed out of place. Sitting at the vanity, soon a heavily made-up woman appeared in the mirror, looking incongruous with her overall outfit. Finally, she added sunglasses to cover her swollen eyes and smiled satisfactorily at her appearance.
“Xiao Yun, go check the situation outside,” seeing Chen Yun’s open mouth, An Ke smiled knowingly, seemingly achieving an even better effect than she had imagined.
“How are you dressed like this? I’m getting goosebumps looking at you,” Chen Yun pouted.
“I want to dress like this so that even if reporters take my photo, I won’t be afraid. Who could recognize me like this?” Chen Yun took it seriously and nodded, going out to investigate the situation.
Looking at the closed door, An Ke seemed to have made a decision and followed shortly after.
I can take you away from here,” Pei Xuanyan’s cold face softened with a hint of concern: “If you go out and cause a scene, your father’s situation will only become more dangerous.”
An Ke looked at him in disbelief: “How did you know what I was planning to do?”
“I can rescue your father, but you must agree to one condition,” Pei Xuanyan pulled her into the elevator and then released her hand.
“What condition?” An Ke excitedly grabbed his arm, looking at him with a yearning gaze.
Their eyes met, and Pei Xuanyan awkwardly looked away: “I haven’t thought of a specific condition yet, but I promise I won’t harm you.”
“Okay, I agree, but I have a time limit,” An Ke agreed to Pei Xuanyan’s request without hesitation. As long as she could save An Hong, she would not hesitate even if it meant sacrificing her own life.
“Don’t worry, I already have enough evidence to prove your father’s innocence, no later than two days,” Pei Xuanyan assured her.
As the elevator doors opened, Pei Xuanyan again took her right hand, and they walked out together. After a few steps, he suddenly embraced her and lowered his head to kiss her red lips, gently brushing against them.
