Chapter Fifty-Nine: You Seduced Me First

Fu Chen, too, was ignited by Shen Huaiqing’s actions. He gripped her waist and rolled over, pinning her beneath him. In his pitch-black eyes burned a wild, terrifying desire, as if he were a beast intent on devouring her whole. His restless hands roamed over her body, and the temperature around them rose swiftly. In no time at all, Shen Huaiqing lay completely bare beneath Fu Chen.

Her mind was reeling from his kisses, her cheeks flushed a vivid red that crept down her neck. Only then did she realize she had been stripped of everything. Biting her lip to steady her pounding heart, she murmured, “Maybe... we should stop.” But before her words had faded, Fu Chen pressed a hot kiss to the delicate skin of her neck, his warm breath making her tremble all over, her heart threatening to leap out of her chest.

Fu Chen’s kisses fell like rain, meticulous and unhurried, covering every inch of her. His cool, domineering presence wrapped around her tightly, like a vast net from which she could not escape.

No one knew how much time passed. Eventually, Fu Chen rested his head against her neck, breathing heavily, the hair at his forehead damp with sweat. Shen Huaiqing felt her blood rushing to her head, her entire face burning hot. She kept her eyes shut, not daring to meet his gaze.

But Fu Chen, seemingly insatiable, once more lifted her chin and brushed her lips with gentle kisses, as if to soothe her.

“You’re the one who seduced me,” he whispered.

He pried open her clenched fist and interlaced his fingers with hers, staring straight at her flushed face in the darkness, a sickly obsession flickering in his eyes, his possessiveness swelling uncontrollably.

Shen Huaiqing gripped his hand tightly and muttered, “I only wanted to kiss you. Who knew you’d be so quick...”

Fu Chen’s other hand pinched her waist lightly. “You looked like you were enjoying yourself. Aren’t you afraid Uncle Liu will hear? Their room is right downstairs.”

She turned away, annoyed. “You’re impossible!”

Fu Chen refused to let her go, pulling her back to face him, forcing her to meet his gaze.

There was still a dreamy haze in Shen Huaiqing’s eyes, a flush at the corners, her lips swollen from his kisses.

“You weren’t thinking of another woman just now, were you?” she demanded, getting ahead of him.

Fu Chen gazed at her, his expression gentle, teasing, “Jealous?” As he spoke, he pinched her burning cheek.

Shen Huaiqing slapped his hand away and looked at him seriously. “I’m not joking. You can think about Lin Yiqing at any other time, but not just now.”

His gaze flickered, lips curving. “No, I wasn’t thinking of her. Didn’t I tell you that night?”

Shen Huaiqing stared at him, stunned. He remembered that night? He hadn’t really been drunk at all—just looking for a chance to speak honestly with her? The feeling of having been kept in the dark was not one she liked. She raised her eyebrows and gave a cold laugh. “So, it’s true what they say—drunken words are honest words. Seems you weren’t really drunk at all, so whatever you said then can’t be trusted.”

“Childish.” Fu Chen listened to her words and summed them up in a single word.

She couldn’t be bothered to argue. Suddenly, exhaustion overcame her, her eyes drooping shut as she curled up against Fu Chen, arms wrapped around his waist.

“I’m so tired...” she murmured, and before long, she had fallen into a deep sleep.

Fu Chen held her close, gazing down at the woman in his arms. The shifting light played across his face, obscuring his expression.

“I’d rather you hate me,” he murmured quietly, “than let you be dragged into this whirlpool.”

——

At dawn, the entire town of Yungui was shrouded in mist, the flowering trees veiled in gauzy white, ethereal as a fairyland. The gentle sound of rain soaked the ancient streets, and the shopkeepers had already opened for business. The cries of vendors, the laughter of children, the ringing of bicycle bells—these sounds filled the air.

Shen Huaiqing struggled to open her eyes. Every muscle in her body ached, and she felt utterly drained, her throat too dry to utter a sound.

She glanced up and saw Fu Chen already dressing. It was the first time she’d ever seen his bare upper body.

His taut muscles betrayed regular hours at the gym, but what shocked her most were the scars scattered across his back and chest, varying in size and depth.

A snake was tattooed at his waist, scarlet tongue flicking, its eyes so vivid they seemed to be staring right at her.

Her brows knit in concern as she traced his scars with her fingers and asked softly, “How did you get these?”

He glanced back at her, quickly pulled on a black T-shirt, and said lightly, “Nothing. My father beat me when I was a kid and I didn’t listen.”

She gazed at him in silence, a storm of emotions in her heart.

“What’s wrong? I’ll go downstairs and get breakfast. You freshen up,” Fu Chen said with a helpless smile, then left the room.

After breakfast, they decided to take a walk. As soon as they descended the stairs, they were met by Uncle Liu’s wife, who grinned mischievously and teased, “Young people really are full of energy, but don’t forget to be careful!”

Uncle Liu tugged at his wife, scolding, “What nonsense are you spouting? Mind your own business.” Then he turned to the couple with an apologetic smile and said, “Young master, young mistress, my wife has no filter. Don’t mind her.”

Shen Huaiqing wanted nothing more than to escape at that moment. Without replying, she pulled Fu Chen outside.

Yet, what Uncle Liu’s wife said reminded her of something. As soon as they were out, Shen Huaiqing started asking the nearby shopkeepers for a pharmacy.

“Are you feeling unwell?” Fu Chen asked, worried.

She eyed him suspiciously. “Are you really clueless, or are you pretending?”

“What should I know?”

Her frustration boiled over. “You didn’t use protection last night. What do you think I’m buying medicine for?”

Fu Chen’s expression darkened instantly. He glared at her coldly. “Wouldn’t it be a good thing if you were pregnant? Do you really not want to have my child?”

“You know perfectly well what stands between us, so why say something like that? Is it meant to hurt me?” Disappointment and helplessness filled her brown eyes.

Fu Chen pressed his lips into a thin line and was silent for a long moment. “Stay here. Don’t move. I’ll go get it.”

With that, he pushed her into a shop, took a black umbrella, and strode into the rain. In the swirling mist, Shen Huaiqing soon lost sight of him.

Ding.

Another unfamiliar text message arrived, making her eyelid twitch with unease.

“You’ll be abandoned by Fu Chen soon.” The flat, emotionless words pierced her through the screen. Whoever it was seemed to know exactly where her weakness lay.

“Are you Fu Yixing?” she replied bluntly.

But the message was like a stone cast into deep water—there was no reply.