Multiple anxious and tense emotions surged up. Shi Sui’s psychological resilience had never been particularly good, and after an entire evening of high pressure, the string finally snapped at this moment.

Everything went dark before Shi Sui’s eyes, her nose wrinkling slightly.

She couldn’t hold it together anymore. Her eyelashes trembled, and tears fell from her eyes.

Yan Tingli was slightly stunned.

“Click” – he turned on the light.

His gaze fixed on her, his lips pressed tight, visibly trying hard to restrain himself: “What are you feeling wronged about? Did I yell at you?”

Sometimes, tears were just a momentary breakdown, not Shi Sui’s intention. At this moment, she could still control herself.

But through the blurred vision of her tear-filled eyes.

Shi Sui seemed to sense that some of the terrifying aura around Yan Tingli had dissipated.

Her quiet sobbing paused slightly, a thought stirring in her mind.

She blinked her eyes with a bit more force, causing more tears to fall.

Based on Shi Sui’s experience, crying sometimes worked on Yan Tingli, sometimes it didn’t.

She hoped it would work this time, she thought silently.

Yan Tingli’s gaze fell on her gently fluttering eyelashes and her eyeballs, which she thought were subtly rolling around.

Not noticing any reaction from him, Shi Sui couldn’t keep up the act anymore, stealing glances upward from the corner of her eye.

She met his even colder expression, mockery curling at the corner of his lips: “Haven’t been fed enough? Cry louder.”

Shi Sui was dumbfounded.

Her sobbing stopped, choking in place.

Yan Tingli suddenly seemed no longer in a hurry to seek an answer, leisurely removing the cork from the red wine.

Turning sideways, he poured half a glass, his Adam’s apple rolling as he lifted his head and took a sip.

“Since you insist on wasting the opportunity to tell the truth,” he set down the wine glass with neither light nor heavy force, his cold gaze sweeping over, “then I’ll put in some effort and investigate myself.”

“When I find out what I find out, I won’t listen to another word of explanation from you.”

“………”

Shi Sui could no longer remain calm, running forward two steps to grab his sleeve by the desk.

Speaking rapidly: “He’s my former neighbor, I haven’t seen him in many years, today was the first time we met.”

“I also didn’t expect that Gao Linhan’s roommate would be him, it’s just that simple.”

Yan Tingli showed no particular reaction, looking down at her: “Just neighbors?”

Seeing his normal behavior, Shi Sui felt slightly relieved and immediately nodded.

“Got it,” Yan Tingli placed the wine glass under her lips, “moisten your throat first.”

Shi Sui hesitated for a moment but still parted her lips and touched the rim of the glass.

This wine had an overwhelmingly rich taste, filling her mouth upon entry, the alcohol scent rushing straight to her brain, numbing her tongue with bitterness.

Shi Sui couldn’t drink much, only taking small sips.

Yan Tingli watched carelessly, then suddenly lifted his hand upward.

A large gulp was forced into her mouth. Shi Sui frowned, trying to push the wine glass away in resistance, but the next second, Yan Tingli gripped the back of her neck, his entire body leaning down to cover her.

His tongue stirred in her mouth.

Saliva mixed with wine, messily flowing downward.

Shi Sui couldn’t stand it, unable to dodge in time, and only able to push against him with her hands.

Yan Tingli didn’t budge an inch.

It was only at this moment that Shi Sui saw the dark, sinister gloom in his eyes.

Even worse than before.

Their eyes met, and only then did he withdraw slightly, pressing against her lips to ask: “You would drink at a neighbor’s house?”

The topic jumped too quickly, making Shi Sui’s heart skip a beat.

Her memory suddenly jumped to the evening, to that casual remark Fang Huaijing had made – that she couldn’t hold her liquor well.

She had indeed gotten drunk at Fang Huaijing’s house before, because she mistook fruit wine for a regular drink and was drunk all night.

Yan Tingli gripped her chin, licking while asking in a breathy voice: “Did you drink like this too? Hmm?”

This was simply absurd.

Shi Sui endured it and said, “No, I just mistook fruit wine for something else and accidentally drank too much.”

Yan Tingli: “Oh.”

He passed another mouthful of wine to her, his tongue entangling with hers.

Shi Sui’s tongue was soaked with the wine’s taste, both bitter and numbing.

When she was kissed until dizzy, she suddenly heard him ask again: “How long did you live at Fang Huaijing’s house?”

This wine was too harsh. When he finally withdrew, Shi Sui was breathing lightly, answering without thinking: “Not for long.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Shi Sui realized something was wrong.

A chill ran up her spine—

Wrong again.

Just moments ago, she had confirmed his statement: just neighbors.

Shi Sui held her breath, trying to salvage the situation: “I misspoke, I never lived there.”

Yan Tingli let out a soft laugh from his throat, sighing: “Are you sure you want to continue lying to my face?”

His hand slipped under her sweater.

Unlike his gentle tone, his fingertips moved differently.

Ice cold, mercilessly pressing in.

The front of her sweater rose and fell continuously. Shi Sui bit her lower lip, suppressing her whimpers.

She had a stubborn, fighting-to-the-end expression: “…Believe it or not.”

Yan Tingli’s patience seemed to finally reach its limit. With a tsk, he picked her up with one hand and strode into the shower.

………………………………………..

This night.

Shi Sui once again confirmed a conclusion.

Don’t harbor any illusions of luck.

If Yan Tingli wanted to know something, he had to know it.

Any means and concealment.

Were all futile.

What she wouldn’t say.

He would use every means to pry open her mouth.

Clothes were scattered all over the floor, both pouring and drenched. No matter how strong Shi Sui’s willpower was, it was ground to dust.

“What did you used to call him?”

“Fang Huaijing.” She sobbed softly.

“Hmm?” His voice was low and hoarse.

Thinking she had been caught lying again, Shi Sui was delirious, speaking incoherently: “Brother Huaijing. I called him Brother Huaijing.”

Yan Tingli said nothing.

What answered her was relentless, forceful thrusting into the narrow passage.

Yan Tingli turned her chin around.

His pitch-black eyes held not a trace of light, and at this moment, he even curved his lips upward, not angry but smiling instead.

His palm pressed down on her head, making her look clearly and distinctly.

Still whispering word by word in her ear: “What a pity, Brother Huaijing isn’t here.”

“Now it’s Brother Tingli feeding you full.”

Shi Sui felt her whole body flush pink with shame, almost biting through her lower lip.

“Don’t,” she let out sounds, “don’t say such things.”

Yan Tingli seemed to dote on her as he took her earlobe in his mouth, “Then brother will say it differently.”

His hand suddenly pressed on her stomach.

“Here, it’s all taken Brother Tingli’s shape now.”

“How about that?”

Shi Sui really couldn’t bear to hear it anymore and simply closed her eyes.

That bottle of red wine wasn’t wasted either.

When asking about all the details of her staying at Fang Huaijing’s house.

He would put red wine in her mouth.

Shi Sui’s remaining consciousness made her clench her teeth, mumbling evasively.

“Your mouth is so tight.” his fingers moved downward, “then I’ll try somewhere else.”

“Pop” – the sound.

The cork of the red wine bottle is opening.

He looked down carelessly, the corners of his eyes soaked with deep black desire.

The sound of gurgling liquid.

When the ice-cold liquid filled her, Shi Sui simply couldn’t believe what was happening before her eyes.

That was the red wine that had been on the table tonight!!!

The feeling of both shame and tingling numbness made her scratch at his arms in exasperation.

Yan Tingli pressed her down with one hand, not letting her move.

When he buried his head down, his Adam’s apple rolling as he swallowed, the sensations of ice and fire appeared together instantly, making Shi Sui whimper.

In that instant, blank fireworks exploded in her mind.

She had lost all basic reasoning. How could she still match wits with him?

One bottle of wine, continuously poured and tasted by him like this until it was empty.

Drinking while questioning.

If she played dumb and refused to speak, he would deliberately pass these liquids to her mouth.

So dirty, so sticky, so chaotic.

As if she were thoroughly soaked by Yan Tingli inside and out.

She cried.

He licked away the tears at the corner of her eyes, asking in confusion: “Would you cry like this in front of Brother Huaijing too?”

She cursed him.

He pressed her mouth with his fingertip: “Would you curse your Brother Huaijing like this, too?”

Shi Sui tried to bite him: “I would never curse him!”

Yan Tingli squinted his eyes and chuckled softly.

“Then don’t curse me either.”

Shi Sui had long since reached her limit: “You deserve to be cursed—”

“Shh.” Yan Tingli was expressionless, saying softly, “Curse one more time, and I don’t mind using something else to block your mouth.”

While speaking, his fingers probed into her throat to test, using a troubled tone: “So shallow, it would break little Sui.”

Realizing what he was saying, or thinking of doing, Shi Sui immediately shut her mouth tight, quiet as a mouse.

She never dared to underestimate his bottom line.

Just like this, in a daze, asking questions here and there.

Whenever she lied, he would increase his force.

Yan Tingli’s tone was casual, and by the end, Shi Sui didn’t have the energy to think of clever rebuttals anymore. Whatever he asked, she would say.

On the surface it seemed like casual chat, making Shi Sui almost drowsy, but when connected together, it made her break out in a cold sweat.

Even that watch from many years ago didn’t escape his interrogation.

“Did Fang Huaijing pay for dinner tonight?”

“Should be.” Shi Sui’s voice was muffled. She saw him go to pay, not knowing if he would split the bill with Gao Linhan later.

“So what favor did you do for him?”

His questions jumped too quickly, Shi Sui had no time to think: “The watch, Xue Jing helped find his watch.”

Yan Tingli seemed curious: “What brand?”

He had a hobby of collecting watches. For him, only rare and expensive ones had collection value, only those were worth finding.

They weren’t from the same world at all. Shi Sui’s answer was also casual: “Just a small brand.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Yan Tingli suddenly laughed.

He leisurely threw the watch from the bedside table next to her: “What about mine? What brand, recognize it?”

Shi Sui fell silent.

“You don’t even recognize Patek Philippe.” his expression was cold, looking down at her from above, “What small brands do you know?”

“…………………………………………”

She had unknowingly fallen into another trap he had set.

Shi Sui sensed danger, shrinking slightly, her body instinctively backing away.

“Let me guess,” his fingers gripped her calf, not yet applying force.

Her fair skin indented inward, unable to escape even if she tried, “You gave him the watch?”

At this moment, Shi Sui’s breathing almost stopped.

In just a few sentences, he had reconstructed the entire truth, and she only now realized it belatedly.

Cold sweat on Shi Sui’s back dried and rose again, not daring to speak at all.

She stared blankly, having no other options, only able to use her last resort – widening her eyes, looking at him pitifully.

But Yan Tingli didn’t ask anymore.

He lowered his eyes, his raven-black eyelashes casting a shadow, his expression unreadable.

Shi Sui’s heart pounded like a drum.

Her hands gripped the bedsheets tightly.

The process of waiting for slaughter was too long. Thinking that extending her head was a knife and shrinking it was also a knife, just as she was preparing to confess, Yan Tingli suddenly said: “What about me?”

“What gift have you given me?”

“…………..”

This question directly struck Shi Sui speechless.

She blinked, her brain rapidly searching.

Finally, two big words flashed in her mind – screwed.

She had never given Yan Tingli anything.

Even for Yan Tingli’s birthday, it was always her parents who found out the date in advance, bought gifts, and had her deliver them, representing their family’s sentiment.

After all, gifts for Yan Tingli couldn’t be cheap – it was their family’s greatest effort.

As for Shi Sui herself, she couldn’t think of what Yan Tingli could lack. What she could provide might all be cheap trinkets that wouldn’t even get a glance from him.

She hadn’t thought about it normally, but suddenly brought up by Yan Tingli like this, Shi Sui felt somewhat guilty.

After all, in terms of daily food, clothing, and expenses, he had never been stingy with her.

Or rather, he had always been good enough to her.

Shi Sui looked around anxiously at Yan Tingli’s expression.

Not knowing if she was hallucinating from drinking too much or suddenly having a bout of misplaced sympathy.

She felt that he looked sad.

Shi Sui’s expression immediately became somewhat panicked.

She tentatively moved her face closer.

“Then…is there anything you want?”

Yan Tingli’s dark pupils fell on her face, and Shi Sui stared at her until she slightly averted her eyes.

Also at this moment.

He pressed the back of her head, and a fierce kiss fell upon her.

“Say,” his voice was muffled, lost in this kiss, “that you want to date me.”

Shi Sui froze, not reacting.

But Yan Tingli’s patience wasn’t enough to wait even one second.

“Say it, say it for me to hear.”

Shi Sui was urged until somewhat panicked, her mouth uncontrollably following: “I want to date you.”

“With whom,” he said.

“With Yan Tingli.”

Accompanied by the distant city’s midnight chimes.

Monday arrived.

Also, the deadline the one week she had promised.

He entered her again, along with his clear, low voice.

“Sui Sui, remember, today is our first day.”

“Love me more.” The latter sentence was lost in the rising sounds of breathing.

“Mm.” She heard her voice.

At this moment, Shi Sui couldn’t tell what kind of mood she was in when she agreed to this.

When she came to her senses, Yan Tingli had already become quiet, burying his head in the crook of her neck.

After a night of battling wits, she had been worn down by him to such exhaustion.

But this turbulent wave ended in such gentle drizzle.

To appease him.

Sometimes it was as difficult as climbing to heaven.

Sometimes it was effortlessly easy.

Always leaving her unable to figure him out.

……………………………………………………………………….

After a night of chaos, when Shi Sui woke up again, morning light was already filtering through the curtains, dotting the room’s bay window.

The entire bedroom was filled with a heavy, viscous scent that she didn’t know how to describe.

Her whole body felt heavy, especially her head.

Shi Sui propped herself up with her hands, reacting slowly for a while before her consciousness finally returned.

The next second.

She suddenly jumped up from the bed, getting up to check her phone.

7:28 – she still had an 8 AM class today.

…………………….

Shi Sui threw off the covers and jumped out of bed, her getting up motion was quite large.

Yan Tingli, who had been holding her from behind, was woken up, his head buried in the pillow, frowning.

He had severe morning irritability and was temperamental, with extremely low tolerance for others.

Once, a new servant at the Yan residence came to the third floor to vacuum during his stipulated no-noise hours and was fired that same day.

But Shi Sui had no time to coddle him, hurriedly changing clothes and washing up.

Yan Tingli made a light tsk sound, turned over, and covered his ears with his arm.

Ultimately said nothing.

Shi Sui felt he was like a large feline.

When unhappy, he would scratch without mercy.

When happy…what was in front of her counted as happy, stretching, and the matter would be over.

When everything was finished, in the second before closing the bedroom door, Shi Sui still used her last bit of conscience to knock on the door to remind him.

She remembered Yan Tingli also had an early class today.

“Not going.” He only left a view of the back of his head.

“…………………….”

Used to his capriciousness, Shi Sui turned and left.

Rushing back to school all the way, then immediately, several large classes. It wasn’t until noon that Shi Sui had leisure time to see the message Gao Linhan had sent last night, asking her to remember to report her safety when she got back to the dorm.

Shi Sui replied with an emoji.

Gao Linhan: [Such a busy person, only replying now]

Shi Sui: [Sorry, I was a bit tired yesterday, went straight to sleep when I got back]

Gao Linhan: [I was just kidding]

Gao Linhan: [Oh, Fang Huaijing said he didn’t add your contact info yesterday, asked me to push your business card over, just letting you know]

Almost upon hearing Fang Huaijing’s name, Shi Sui’s fingers uncontrollably curled up, and last night’s chaotic, unbearable memories came flooding back.

[Hello? Why did you disappear again?]

Gao Linhan’s message popped up.

Shi Sui calmed down for a long time before tapping the screen: [Okay, go ahead and push it]

A red dot appeared in her contacts – Fang Huaijing’s friend request.

Shi Sui immediately changed the note, changing it to the school’s telecommunications business hall, mixing it among various merchants where it was no longer conspicuous.

Fang Huaijing wasn’t someone who talked much or liked casual chatting either.

After just a few simple pleasantries, he said they’d chat more when they met next time, ending the conversation.

After chatting, Shi Sui immediately deleted the chat records.

Just as she was about to close her phone for a noon rest, Gao Linhan sent: [Oh right, almost forgot to pull you into the group]

Shi Sui: [What group?]

Gao Linhan: [Just created an alumni group for those of us who stayed in Beijing for school]

Shi Sui replied with an okay.

After that, she said she was going to sleep and closed the chat window.

When she woke up, seeing the jumping messages on her phone, Shi Sui realized she had already been pulled into the group.

But the subject of discussion was certainly not her.

Rather—

She saw Yan Tingli, who had joined the group later, followed by a screen full of greetings and welcomes.

He replied with a few sentences, superficially polite and distant. But this didn’t stop others from noticing, still flocking forward one after another.

Shi Sui casually scrolled through and closed her phone, exiting.

There was still some time before afternoon classes, so she buried her head back into the bedding.

Yan Tingli, Yan Tingli, Yan Tingli.

These three words.

During this period.

Had become like a curse, surrounding her every moment.

When exactly did it start?

That he had so pervasively invaded her life?

Shi Sui closed her eyes.

Her mind was full of last night’s endless darkness.

His seemingly murmuring, dream-like words: “Love me more.”

Shi Sui felt like she was deeply trapped in a heavy pond, emotions entangling her in countless threads.

Every step forward was pushed by him.

Unclear to see, impossible to fathom.

As if the next moment would be an abyss ten thousand feet deep.

Shi Sui couldn’t be certain of anything.

She only knew that one day, she definitely wouldn’t be able to fulfill this promise.

When that day came, would he hate her?