Chapter 2: Collision

His features were similar to Shen Liangyan’s, but his skin was even paler, and near the corner of his left eye, close to the temple, there was a small brown mole.

“Xiaoyu, you really can sleep. I’ve been waiting for you upstairs for ages.”

Xu Yu sat up straight, used the excuse of reaching for her phone to pull her hand out of his grasp.

He had messaged her an hour ago:
[Do you want to come to my room?]

She saw the curve of his lips, and, moving closer, wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her lips to his of her own accord.
“Do you want to? We could do it here too.”

Her skin was porcelain pale, delicate, almost luminous in the light.

If he hadn’t just eaten, he might have been tempted. But now, he didn’t even know where to put his hands.

In the single second of his silence, Xu Yu had already pulled away.

“I was joking. Look how startled you are.”

Shen Yue had taken special leave to come to Phoenix Ancient Town. She could guess the reason.

On the table stood a bag of soy milk and fried dough sticks.

She opened the bag. “You bought these for me?”

If she guessed right, Wen Han’s table would have the same set.

“Of course. Your husband got up early to buy them.”

Xu Yu took a big gulp of soy milk, a bit of it lingering at the corner of her mouth. Shen Yue noticed, stretched out his long fingers, and gently wiped it away for her.

“Slow down, sweetheart, no one’s going to take it from you.”

Xu Yu pursed her lips in a small, harmless smile, looking as meek as a little lamb.

Outside, the muffled sounds of voices filtered through the door—Shen Liangyan and Wen Han. Through the not-quite-closed door, she caught a glimpse of their legs side by side, hands almost touching.

“I wonder if sister is awake yet?” Wen Han’s voice was deliberately high and sweet.

Xu Yu finished her meal and signaled Shen Yue to open the door.

Their eyes met.

Xu Yu smiled. “Where shall we go today?”

Wen Han replied, “Qiliang Cave. Liangyan bought four tickets.”

Qiliang Cave was a natural carbonate cave. They split into two groups: Xu Yu with Shen Yue in the lead, Wen Han with Shen Liangyan following behind.

Xu Yu carried a camera, in charge of taking photos of the group.

Wen Han was much more agreeable around Shen Liangyan, her demands minimal, causing little trouble for Xu Yu.

Near the underground river, Wen Han suddenly said she needed to use the restroom.

In the blink of an eye, only three remained.

Xu Yu wondered if Wen Han had done it on purpose.

While she was filming the jagged stones, Shen Yue’s phone rang. He stepped aside to answer, then returned to say a business partner was at the inn and he needed to go back.

He called out to her, “Sweetheart, I’m sorry, I can’t stay with you.”

He kissed her cheek, and Xu Yu gave a faint smile. “It’s all right.”

Watching Shen Yue walk away with a spring in his step, she gazed after him for a long moment before collecting herself.

When she turned back, Shen Liangyan was watching her with a half-smile. His lips curled slightly, his eyes deep and dark, the hint of a smile cold and hard to read—whether it was displeasure or something else.

Xu Yu’s heart skipped a beat.

They walked on, one ahead, one behind.

At a flight of unlit stairs, he suddenly stopped.

Xu Yu bumped her head against his neck, grabbing his sea-blue shirt in surprise.

He caught her hand, turned his face, and the colored lights behind them reflected in his dark eyes.

His peach blossom eyes glimmered, but there was a chill there.

Once again, he pinned her against the stone wall. His hand cushioned her left cheek, fingertips deliberately pressing, in time with the force behind her.

It was clear—last night hadn’t been enough for him.

And this time, he was rougher than before.

Xu Yu’s face and legs burned with pain, but she endured.

Abruptly, he stopped, leaning close to her ear, his breathing steady.

“Shen Yue wants the land for the Xiangxi Resort. Did you know?”

With her back to him, Xu Yu’s voice was hoarse from thirst. “How would I know about your internal family power struggles?”

“Securing it is supposed to be your bride price into the Shen family.”

Xu Yu closed her eyes. A droplet of sweat rolled from his temple onto her slender white neck.

“He hasn’t said he’ll marry you?”

Xu Yu scoffed. “He has.”

He said it, but it meant nothing.

Shen Yue wouldn’t even touch her—he only liked Wen Han.

The click of high heels echoed on the stone floor.

“Sister? Liangyan?”

Xu Yu’s back tensed.

Shen Liangyan slipped an arm around her waist, whispering in her ear with a laugh, “Do you think she’ll come this way?”

Xu Yu’s pupils contracted. “Bastard!”

He spun her around, clapped a hand over her mouth.

“What if she finds us together? Will you be thrown out of the Wen family?”

Their eyes locked—hostile, electric.

One with ill intent, the other cold and fierce.

Before he withdrew, Xu Yu bit his hand.

Shen Liangyan’s beautiful eyes trembled.

“Wait a bit before you come out.”