In late September, the doctor finally removed the immobilization board from Shi Sui’s shoulder. After instructing her to continue maintaining a light diet, not to put weight on her right hand for a short time, and many other precautions, he finally signed her discharge papers.

Shi Sui nodded like a bobblehead, sighing with relief in her heart.

This nearly month-long prison life in the hospital was finally over.

With her hospitalization in America, her parents had traveled thousands of miles, and who knows how much work had piled up for them.

Not to mention Yan Tingli.

Shi Sui turned her head, glancing from the corner of her eye at Yan Tingli leaning by the door, whose eyes had been dazed for a long time after hearing the doctor’s words.

His phone calls were becoming more and more frequent.

Things had piled up to the point where they couldn’t be suppressed and needed urgent online handling.

Every day during day, he handled work in the hospital room.

Meetings were constant, his computer screen dense with data, his fingers typing so fast they left afterimages, leaving Shi Yue and the others dumbfounded.

Even so, most of the work couldn’t be handled without his physical presence.

Gao Linhan had become an anxious king on the other end.

Shi Sui, unable to bear the disturbance, finally took a photo with the hospital in the background and sent it over, finally silencing the other end.

She had also told Yan Tingli several times to return to China.

Telling him that with her parents taking care of her, he didn’t need to watch over her every day.

Yan Tingli ignored this completely.

Leaving Shi Sui holding back a belly full of mute anger.

This was their recent pattern of communication.

Whenever she said something Yan Tingli didn’t want to hear, he would ignore it and continue doing as he pleased.

More stubborn than before, yet leaving Shi Sui helpless.

Now that her injury had healed, as soon as the doctor left, Shi Yue immediately wanted to book tickets back to China, asking Shi Sui, “How about going back tomorrow?”

Shi Sui looked at them, but what she was thinking about was the job she had already quit in China, and her enrollment status was still in America.

Having hidden such a big matter for so long.

After a few seconds, she lowered her head somewhat guiltily, organizing her words in her mind.

Until Yan Tingli spoke:

“Suisui just recovered and may not be suitable for a long-distance flight. You two can go back first, I’ll take care of her here.”

Shi Sui’s heart stirred, and she didn’t deny it.

Li Yin saw her expression and understood: “That’s fine, we’ll go back first then.”

But Shi Yue had a very bad impression of America, frowning: “It’s so dangerous here, how can we still let Suisui…”

Li Yin pushed him outside: “Shut your crow’s mouth.”

Early the next morning, Yan Tingli drove them both to the airport.

Without having to struggle to explain reasons, Shi Sui could finally breathe and calm down to consider future arrangements.

After this ordeal, her parents would not agree to her settling in America in the future.

Especially since the reasons behind everything were so complex and inexplicable.

If they found out she had been studying here from the beginning and had deceived them for three years, she couldn’t imagine how confused and heartbroken they would be.

Just thinking about it made Shi Sui’s scalp tingle.

The only option left now was to return to China.

And returning to China…

At this moment, the empty hospital room was pushed open.

Shi Sui’s heart skipped a beat as she slowly stood up, seeing Yan Tingli returning from the airport.

The California weather was too hot, and his shirt was unbearable, with several buttons undone.

Their eyes met for less than a second.

Yan Tingli stepped forward, and before Shi Sui noticed, she was scooped up in one arm and he strode outside.

Shi Sui’s eyes widened: “What are you doing?! Where are we going?”

“Going home.”

Shi Sui immediately thought of the Los Angeles apartment with a basement that Yan Tingli had mentioned.

She reactively tried to struggle free: “I won’t, I won’t go!”

“……”

He was ignoring her again.

Shi Sui angrily hit him, cursing: “Bastard.”

Outside the hospital room, doctors and nurses stopped to watch them with the uniquely humorous gaze of Americans, as if they were performing some TV drama.

Shi Sui was too embarrassed to make more noise, covering her face and burying her head in Yan Tingli’s chest.

Until she was placed in the passenger seat and Yan Tingli fastened her seatbelt.

This position seemed to make it convenient for him. Unable to resist for even a second, he lowered his head to kiss her.

Shi Sui bit him mercilessly.

Even after being bitten, Yan Tingli didn’t let go, as if extremely thirsty, gripping her chin while his tongue took the opportunity to invade.

Like keeping a dog that would still lick you after being hit.

Shi Sui really couldn’t compete with such shamelessness.

She deliberately made a muffled sound from her throat: “It hurts, my shoulder.”

The next second, Yan Tingli’s entire body stiffened, and he slowly pulled back.

His lips still glistened, his gaze falling on her wound with some regret and bewilderment.

But this person’s reflection time never exceeded one second.

Shi Sui counted beats in her heart – in less than three beats, her chin was lifted again. Yan Tingli observed her expression, his face turning cold: “You’re using this to play me?”

So what.

Shi Sui looked up, meeting his gaze with her black and white eyes: “Is this what you call not forcing?”

Yan Tingli replied: “In my book, kissing doesn’t count as forcing.”

Shi Sui was angered by his matter-of-fact expression: “I didn’t tell you to kiss me, yet you kiss me. Doesn’t this count?”

Yan Tingli was puzzled: “It’s not like I’m asking you to have car sex. Do I need permission for a kiss?”

His expression showed he genuinely thought this way from the bottom of his heart, and his shamelessness left Shi Sui utterly shocked.

She said with a stern face: “Anyway, you’re not allowed to do anything I don’t tell you to do.”

Yan Tingli lowered his eyelids with an indifferent expression.

The temperature in the car dropped.

You could see this made him hold back irritation, very unhappy.

Shi Sui looked directly at him.

A few seconds later.

Yan Tingli finally backed away some distance, expressionlessly.

It was completely just a temporary compromise and composure, not bothering to hide his inherent dominance.

Shi Sui almost wanted to sigh.

Then she reached out, grabbed Yan Tingli’s collar, and leaned up to press against his lips.

“Now, you can kiss me.”

Yan Tingli paused for a moment, his dark eyelashes lowering as he examined her with a somewhat strange expression.

Just as Shi Sui was about to tell him to get lost, to embarrassed by his stare.

Yan Tingli had already cupped her chin, his warm tongue getting straight to the point, unscrupulously invading her mouth.

After a month, finally able to taste her without restraint.

Shi Sui had always known he was best at taking advantage.

But to stretch the boundaries of kissing this far, swallowing her saliva and dominantly making her swallow his – this level of “kissing” still exceeded her limits.

When she tried to pinch his arm unsuccessfully and was about to target his lower back, he predictively pulled away.

His thin lips slightly parted, his dark eyes misted with moist desire.

A complete picture of indulgence in lust.

Shi Sui couldn’t stand it: “Can’t you not be so—”

Before she could finish the last two words, her lips were pressed by his fingertip. He raised an eyebrow, whispering in her ear: “Do you think I don’t know what you’re trying to do?”

Shi Sui’s heart skipped a beat.

“Trying to tame me.” Yan Tingli rested his chin on her left shoulder, breathing heavily as he said, “You also need to give me corresponding stakes.”

Only when satisfied would he be willing to play along with her act.

Shi Sui stiffened for several seconds. Indeed, playing these games with him was like showing off in front of an expert, appearing particularly low-level.

She was both angry and powerless, reaching out to push him.

Yan Tingli was satisfied with the kiss and was naturally in a good mood.

A laugh escaped his throat as he finally restrained himself, turning the steering wheel as the car flew far away.

The direction they went was inconsistent with the school.

Shi Sui didn’t mention returning to school because Yan Tingli wouldn’t listen anyway, making it a waste of breath.

And with Yan Tingli’s domestic affairs piling up, he wouldn’t continue staying here much longer.

The most likely outcome was still him taking her back to China together.

Shi Sui’s mind was chaotic, still very confused about the road ahead.

If only.

If only Yan Tingli could listen to her.

She thought urgently.

Until the car stopped in front of a standalone villa.

Shi Sui had heard this was the most expensive district in Los Angeles. When she had passed by before, she heard classmates sigh, wondering what troubles people living here could have.

But when Shi Sui was led inside by Yan Tingli, radar alarms began blaring in her mind.

She looked up at this sunny, enormous villa, thinking only about whether she would be unable to escape even with ten legs if she were locked up here.

Shi Sui wanted to break free from his hand.

Yan Tingli seemed unable to feel it, leading her inside to the elevator.

Then, Shi Sui watched him.

Press the button for the basement level.

Her pupils suddenly contracted: “What are you doing? Yan Tingli, do you want to—”

But the next second, the elevator doors opened.

Shi Sui looked over.

What met her eyes was a colorful sea of flowers illuminated by sunlight outside huge panoramic windows, and in the distance, a azure coastline.

The scenery is as beautiful as an oil painting.

Shi Sui stood there dazed, finally slowly understanding.

Calling this place a basement was just an optical illusion.

The front door was the second floor; this was the real first floor, with sunlight, where you could see flowers and the sea.

Yan Tingli didn’t speak, just embraced her from behind and brought her to the window.

He pressed something somewhere.

The entire folding curtain came down like a theater backdrop, and the room became pitch dark again, as if the scenery just now was only a computer-generated model.

Now, this place truly resembled a real basement.

“Every time I hate you,” Shi Sui heard him say word by word in her ear, “I do want to hide you here forever and ever.”

“But I,” he suddenly paused.

The rest of his words also sank into his throat.

Silence spoke louder than words.

Shi Sui’s eyelashes trembled.

When she came to her senses again, the curtains were drawn back and sunlight reappeared.

Shining directly on both their faces.

The next second, Shi Sui was scooped up by Yan Tingli and carried to the large bed nearby.

Watching him lean over her.

Shi Sui wore the simplest cotton shirt, which he easily unbuttoned.

She watched his gaze slowly fall on her right shoulder blade, also a bit below the collarbone.

When Li Yin looked at it, even though she sighed about scarring, Shi Sui hadn’t taken it to heart.

But suddenly being stared at so directly by Yan Tingli.

She felt shame and discomfort rising from deep within, reaching out to push him away, saying petulantly: “I won’t let you undress me or look—”

Suddenly, her words were interrupted as she felt a cool kiss covering the area above.

Yan Tingli closed his eyes.

Softly calling her name.

“Suisui.”

His voice was even more muffled and aggrieved than hers.

Shi Sui’s movements froze in place.

He didn’t dare press on her shoulder, only supporting himself with his arms, pressing his cheek against her wound, speaking slowly: “I felt it.”

“This time it was quite obvious.”

In a flash, Shi Sui already understood his implicit meaning.

He didn’t say it immediately.

Not knowing if he wanted to roast her or force her to admit it.

Just as she was about to stubbornly explain.

Yan Tingli spoke first, just very quietly, as if afraid of scaring something away.

“You love me.”

“Right?”

Shi Sui was as silent as a chicken.

Only grateful that Yan Tingli was also burying his head now, not looking at her.

“In this world, no one would be willing to save me.” His voice stated this fact as calmly as possible, “Only you.”

“I tried using all reasoning methods to negate this proof, but I couldn’t refute it.”

“You love me.”

He repeated it.

Yan Tingli looked up, his dark pupils stubbornly looking at her.

His gaze made Shi Sui feel that as long as she nodded, he would believe it and be devoted to her.

Shi Sui was burned and looked away.

After a long silence.

She said carefully: “I love you.”

Watching Yan Tingli’s eyes flicker and his breathing become irregular, Shi Sui then said: “Will you listen to me then?”

Yan Tingli was stopped by the question, whether disappointed or something else, slightly pressing his lips together as he examined her.

Shi Sui’s heart suddenly beat very fast.

She felt a tug-of-war sensation, similar to whether to put a muzzle on a bad-tempered little dog that would bite when unhappy, or let him willingly be leashed.

Yan Tingli’s attitude seemed to be softening, his eyes flickering, finally biting her lip.

His voice also became unclear: “That depends on how much sincerity you give me.”

Getting this answer, Shi Sui wasn’t particularly disappointed.

After all, knowing his sensitivity and suspicion, she never thought this process could be accomplished overnight. That he could listen to her words instead of forcing and threatening her was already great progress.

Shi Sui was still lost in thought.

Yan Tingli’s kisses had already boldly moved downward. She looked at him coldly, and he slowly raised his eyelids, looking at her with calm, matter-of-fact eyes: “I want to do it.”

While kissing down to her navel, his long fingers skillfully unbuttoned her jeans.

Shi Sui instinctively pushed him away.

“Don’t you want to?” Yan Tingli lowered his eyes.

His finger was being swallowed.

Sticky, wet, hot.

Even his fingerprints were getting wrinkled from soaking.

“You’re being duplicitous,” Yan Tingli said while undressing, leaning over to look at her, his tone like puzzlement, like accusation, “which mouth should I listen to?”

“……”

At this moment, Shi Sui hated this useless body that always made her lose face.

But she wanted even more to strip away Yan Tingli’s pretended innocence and refined exterior, glaring at him hatefully.

He deliberately teased her, and she really couldn’t bring herself to say “hurry up and do it.”

Shi Sui simply ignored him, closing her eyes to ease the waves he had easily stirred up.

Then, Yan Tingli smiled: “I heard it.”

He leaned down: “You said you want to do it three times.”

Shi Sui was confused: “I didn’t say that!”

Yan Tingli whispered in her ear, “Down there said it.”

He had endured for too long. The next second, he blocked her lips.

Rising and falling.

Yan Tingli was rarely gentle.

For the first time, she faced her eyes directly.

Later, she habitually wanted to turn her over.

His gaze touched her shoulder and suddenly paused.

He turned over, changing the angle.

Yan Tingli looked up at her, breathing heavily, his lips moving to say something.

Shi Sui didn’t hear clearly and instinctively leaned closer.

The next second, he buried his face downward.

His triumphant laughter also reached her ears muffledly.

Shi Sui angrily grabbed his hair, trying to pull it back.

But he predictively thrust upward heavily, and she soon lost strength, going soft.

Later, Shi Sui rarely found herself not feeling that such things were excessive, but rather developing a taste for them.

“……”

When Shi Sui regained consciousness, the bright sunlight outside had faded. Looking out through the giant window, a bright moon hung over the distant sea with faint stars decorating the sky.

The exceptionally beautiful night scene was refreshing.

Shi Sui’s heart was also rarely this peaceful.

Suddenly, the indoor lights came on.

Yan Tingli came over with a tray, his other hand on the phone. His expression was unreadable as he responded flatly.

Shi Sui unceremoniously began eating dinner, squinting her eyes in enjoyment.

It had to be said that the servants here cooked well.

The same ingredients, the same light cooking.

Countless times more delicious than what Yan Tingli made.

Nearby, Yan Tingli hung up the phone.

He sat beside her, using her chopsticks to eat the shrimp she had just picked up.

Shi Sui rolled her eyes and continued picking out another one from the plate.

Then she heard Yan Tingli say: “The day after tomorrow, we’re going back to China.”

Her movements froze.

After a few seconds, Shi Sui said, “I want to finish my studies here.”

The air momentarily solidified.

Yan Tingli’s voice was flat: “You’ve already completed your credits.”

“I don’t like 3.0.”

Yan Tingli was silent for a moment: “I won’t use it to monitor you anymore.”

Shi Sui pointed to the pink diamond ankle chain on her foot.

Since that cosplay party when he put it on her foot, it has been there ever since.

“What about this?” she said coldly.

“I’ll remove the tracker.”

Shi Sui: “What about the others?”

Yan Tingli looked at her and suddenly smiled: “You know which ones?”

So there were others. This pervert!

“I don’t know.” Shi Sui said stiffly.

Yan Tingli suddenly pulled her into his arms.

Holding her while speaking, the meaning in his voice seemed much more genuine.

“I told you before.”

He repeated, “As long as you’re by my side.”

“I’ll listen to you. If I can see you, why would I still monitor you?”

Shi Sui didn’t speak.

She didn’t know how many times of verification it would take for her trust in Yan Tingli’s credibility to recover.

Presumably, in Yan Tingli’s view, she was equally tainted with bad records.

The trust between them didn’t even need wind to blow it away.

Just walking two steps by itself would scatter it.

“You don’t trust me.”

Shi Sui said stiffly: “Is there anything about you worth trusting?”

“Indeed,” Yan Tingli said methodically, “I don’t trust you either.”

Shi Sui resisted rolling her eyes.

Yan Tingli leaned close to her, whispering: “When I can’t see you, can’t hear your voice, don’t know what you’re doing.”

“I want to monitor you.”

Shi Sui felt somewhat chilled hearing this.

That day in the hospital room, Yan Tingli’s final words still echoed in her mind.

He was quite sick.

Shi Sui forced herself to stay calm: “You need to see a doctor.”

Yan Tingli ignored this, continuing: “Going back to China, you’ll come home with me. Me, you, Ping’an – that would be perfect.”

Shi Sui: “I don’t want to live together.”

“When we get married later, won’t we have to live together anyway?”

His tone was flat, as if describing the most ordinary phenomenon.

In Yan Tingli’s eyes, family meant father, mother, and child.

He constructed the scenario, and she was one of the characters in it.

So he had such a deep obsession with marriage and living together.

Shi Sui turned around, looking at him seriously: “Then I have to ask you something.”

“What are the steps before marriage?”

Yan Tingli thought for a moment: “Making love?”

“……” Shi Sui resisted the urge to pour the plate on his face. “I’m asking you, have we ever had a normal romantic relationship?”

“Even dating was something you forced me into.”

“You,” she tried to hold back but couldn’t, “you never even courted me.”

Yan Tingli sneered: “Every time you ran away, didn’t I chase you?”

Trying to communicate properly with him was infuriating.

Shi Sui slammed down the tray with a “bang,” speaking without thinking: “Even Theodore knew to invite me on dates, compliment my appearance. Fang Huaijing also knew how to take care of me and be concerned about me.”

“What about you?” Shi Sui became increasingly aggrieved as she spoke, “All you know is forcing, monitoring, and the rest is just doing it, doing it, doing it.”

Yan Tingli’s expression was very cold and ugly.

His dark eyes suppressed emotion: “Their fundamental purpose in playing tricks is also to get you.”

Shi Sui: “What about you? What’s the difference between you and them?”

“I want you to love me.”

Shi Sui was suddenly struck speechless.

She tried to pull the topic back, making Yan Tingli understand normal relationships.

“But you never asked for my consent either. From the beginning, you forced me into a relationship.”

Yan Tingli was expressionless: “So what do you want?”

Shi Sui looked directly at him: “We have no relationship now.”

“You need to court me again. I’ll only agree to date if I consent.”

Yan Tingli’s gaze swept down from above, pressing down darkly.

You could see he had reached the critical point of his patience.

In the past, he might have already pounced.

Grabbing her chin, using every means on the bed to force her to take back her words.

Shi Sui resisted the urge to retreat.

Finally, she pulled in the reins: “The first requirement for my consent is.”

“You have to listen to me.”