"..." Shen Nian's nose turned sour, and tears flowed like a watergate that couldn't be stopped.
She lowered her head, not wanting Xiao Mubai to see her disheveled appearance.
"All right." Xiao Mubai patted her head again and smiled, "It's late, let's go home."
"Mmm." Shen Nian's voice was muffled.
Opening the office door, a doctor happened to be strolling back with a thermos.
Seeing the perfectly matched pair, the doctor smiled and marveled, "Ah, young couples these days have such great affection!"
Clearly, the doctor had mistaken them for lovers too.
Well, anyone would make that mistake.
"..." Shen Nian opened her mouth to explain, but Xiao Mubai naturally shielded Shen Nian behind him and explained to the doctor.
"This is my sister."
"..." The doctor was stunned, "Sister?"
"Yeah." Xiao Mubai turned to look at Shen Nian, the warmth and doting in his eyes unmistakable, "The little girl heard I was injured and hurried to the hospital to keep me company. I was afraid she'd worry, so I let her come. If I didn't let her, who knows where she'd be hiding, crying her eyes out."
The doctor looked at Xiao Mubai, then at Shen Nian, and smiled awkwardly, "My apologies, I thought you two were a couple."
Because they looked so perfect together - the young man was handsome and sunny, the girl gentle and beautiful.
If they were siblings, one couldn't help but marvel at their family's great genes for the brother and sister to both be so good-looking.
The doctor couldn't help but praise again, "You siblings have such a great relationship."
Xiao Mubai smiled, "Thank you."
After chatting with the doctor for a bit, the doctor instructed Xiao Mubai when to come back for a dressing change before leaving.
Outside the hospital, Shen Nian wanted to send Xiao Mubai home, but he refused and insisted on sending her instead.
It was late now, and it would be dangerous for the young lady to take a cab alone at night. Xiao Mubai wouldn't feel at ease letting her go back by herself.
After several rounds of arguing, Shen Nian still couldn't win against Xiao Mubai, so he sent her home.
The cab stopped at the community entrance. Shen Nian got out from the back seat but didn't close the door. Instead, she instructed the Xiao Mubai in the rear seat, "Be careful on the road, don't touch your injury. Send me a message when you get home."
Hearing this, Xiao Mubai smiled, "Don't worry, in this state I'm much safer than you. As long as you're safe, I'll definitely be safe too."
He could still joke at a time like this.
Seeing Shen Nian smile, Xiao Mubai felt at ease, "That's better, you look so lovely when you smile, you should do it more often."
Shen Nian pursed her lips without responding, but the smile on her lips didn't go away.
"Alright, go on back. It's not early anymore. Take a shower when you get home, then get some rest. Today's events are in the past, don't dwell on them."
"Okay." Shen Nian agreed with Xiao Mubai, then reminded him to take his medicine after getting home before closing the car door.
After watching the car carrying Xiao Mubai leave, Shen Nian entered the community.
Exiting the elevator, Shen Nian unlocked the door with her fingerprint.
"Unlocked."
The mechanical female voice of the electronic door lock sounded, and Shen Nian twisted the handle to push the door open.
The room was pitch black and utterly silent.
Shen Nian paused at the entrance, but quickly understood.
Lu Lingchuan must have returned to his own apartment.
This was her residence, and he would occasionally visit, but he had other properties elsewhere.
When he left the meeting room earlier, he seemed in a foul mood, likely displeased with her. So he didn't come here.
Understanding this, Shen Nian didn't dwell on it further. She entered and closed the door.
As usual, she closed the door first, then turned on the lights while taking off her shoes.
After closing the door as always, Shen Nian took off one high heel while her other hand went for the light switch.
Her fingertips were about to touch the switch when a large hand gripped hers.
Shen Nian was so startled she almost screamed, but before she could open her mouth, a powerful hand pushed her.
With one high heel off and the other still on, her uneven stature made her easy to topple. The push threw her off balance.
Luckily there was a wall behind her; her back slammed against it, her body tilting as if about to fall. A hand pressed against her shoulder, pinning her in place.
Next, Shen Nian felt a sting on her lips as the man savagely tore at them with his.
Originally frightened by the sudden attack, Shen Nian calmed upon recognizing his familiar scent.
She knew that scent all too well.
Realizing who it was, Shen Nian wasn't afraid anymore and leaned against the wall, allowing him to vent his anger.
He understood her, just as she understood him.
From just that one kiss, Shen Nian could clearly sense his frustration and displeasure.
Resisting him would be foolish and only bring suffering upon herself.
So Shen Nian didn't move, allowing him to take out his dissatisfaction on her.
Lu Lingchuan didn't embrace her, only using one hand to pin her shoulder in place as he leaned down and vindictively bit at her lips.
He showed no gentleness, each bite vicious, quickly filling their mouths with the familiar taste of iron.
Clearly sensing that Shen Nian wasn't struggling, just standing there obediently letting him ravage her mouth, this lack of resistance only further incited Lu Lingchuan.
He suddenly released Shen Nian, his jealousy and pique blazing in his eyes as he nearly spat out those words through gritted teeth, "Were you this obedient when he kissed you?"
That video and the netizens' comments kept replaying in his mind like a giant screen, and even Lu Lingchuan himself didn't know how he restrained himself from wrecking this place.
He admitted it - seeing Shen Nian together with Xiao Mubai, seeing others say they were a match made in heaven, he got jealous. Extremely jealous.
"What?" Shen Nian was bewildered, not understanding what Lu Lingchuan meant.
However, Shen Nian's confusion did nothing to soothe the Lu Lingchuan who was already fully immersed in the jealousy jar.
Playing dumb, playing dumb at a time like this...
She should have been home long ago, but she only just returned now.
Jiang Lingling said it herself - Shen Nian went to the hospital, and Xiao Mubai was injured.
Before Shen Nian could figure out what was going on, she suddenly felt a pain in her jaw as Lu Lingchuan gripped her chin.
He used a lot of force, making Shen Nian's jaw ache as she was forced to look up at him.
The lights were still off, the two of them enveloped in darkness. But even in the pitch black, Shen Nian quickly found his eyes.
In the darkness, his black pupils appeared even deeper, but his fury was something the shadows couldn't conceal.
"Shen Nian." He ground out her name, one syllable at a time.
"..." The surroundings were so silent that her breathing could be clearly heard.
He suddenly leaned down close, their faces mere inches apart, so near that Shen Nian could feel his warm breath on her face. If she tilted her head up just a bit, their lips would touch.
Then Lu Lingchuan's voice, chilled with frost, "I believe I've told you before - your person and your life, they're all mine, Lu Lingchuan's."
