Chen family main residence.

Today was Chen Shuyuan’s birthday, and all the younger family members had been called to have a meal together. Chen Shao was naturally among them.

Old Master Chen sat in the center, giving Chen Shuyuan his prepared gift—a car key. “You’ve also gotten your driver’s license now. This car will make it convenient for you to go out, to go around with friends more often.”

Chen Shuyuan’s gaze had been fixed on her phone, her hand tightly clenched. Only when Old Master Chen spoke did she look up. “Thank you, Grandfather.”

Chen Shao sitting to the side lifted his eyes, already unable to contain his desire to leave.

Old Master Chen knew that today was also Chen Die’s birthday. After what happened last time, he didn’t want to slight her again. He had bought two cars, and the other key had already been sent by his driver to the hotel where Chen Die was staying.

However, when it arrived, Chen Die was no longer at the hotel, so it was left at the front desk for them to pass on when she returned.

At the dinner table, everyone was chatting happily.

With Old Master Chen presiding in the middle, everyone could only maintain the appearance of harmony.

Chen Shao had sent Chen Die a happy birthday message but hadn’t touched his chopsticks, his face stern.

Beside him, Chen Shao’s mother elbowed him, glaring as she lowered her voice: “Sit up straight! What kind of appearance is this!”

“…”

Chen Shao ignored her, maintaining his lazy demeanor.

After waiting a while without seeing a reply from Chen Die, he thought she was truly ungrateful.

A moment later, Chen Shao’s phone rang. He paused slightly—Wen Liang.

He took his phone and walked out of the house to answer, without saying a word to anyone.

Old Master Chen had long known about his poor relationship with Chen Shuyuan. Chen Shao had never tried to hide it in the slightest, so seeing him leave, the old man didn’t stop him. Let him be.

But unexpectedly, Chen Shao returned shortly after, saying nothing as he strode in, grabbed Chen Shuyuan by her clothes, and yanked her from her seat. He snatched her phone from the table, tapped on it, and was met with a password screen.

Chen Shao rarely displayed such a ruthless demeanor; usually, he was flippant and joking.

He grabbed Chen Shuyuan’s finger to unlock the phone as she screamed.

Old Master Chen slammed the table. “Chen Shao! What are you doing!”

Chen Shao didn’t answer, opening her call history and inbox, which had been completely deleted. He let out a cold laugh. “You were certainly foresighted, deleting everything so quickly.”

“What’s happening?” Old Master Chen tapped his cane.

Chen Shao looked over at him. “Chen Die has been kidnapped.”

After Wen Liang received that call, the kidnapper demanded all of his controlling shares in Wen Yuan.

Needless to say, the only person who could be connected to this was Fu Wanmei, but for her to dare do this, she must have devised a way to ensure it couldn’t be traced back to her.

Wen Liang couldn’t think of anyone else who would offend him for Fu Wanmei’s sake, except the brainless Chen Shuyuan.

After Chen Die fainted, her consciousness seemed to hover near the surface without completely disappearing. She could even feel herself being carried into a car and the bumpy journey afterward, yet her eyelids remained impossible to open.

She also sensed her phone being taken out, a call being made to Wen Liang, and Wen Liang agreeing to hand over the controlling shares of Wen Yuan for her.

When she truly awoke, she was in a vast, empty place that resembled an abandoned factory.

The classic kidnapping location, straight out of a textbook.

…So she had been kidnapped.

Chen Die’s hands were tied behind her back. When she first opened her eyes, she couldn’t see clearly, squinting hard several times until the scene before her gradually came into focus.

She saw Fu Wanmei.

This was unexpected.

If she hadn’t misheard the mention of transferring shares while in her semiconscious state, this must have been Fu Wanmei’s doing. But Fu Wanmei should have made every effort to distance herself from the kidnapping.

Chen Die and Fu Wanmei had known each other for many years but had only met a few times during Wen Huaiyuan’s funeral.

“You’re awake.” Fu Wanmei walked toward her.

Chen Die looked at her. “What are you trying to do?”

“Don’t be afraid. With Wen Liang’s abilities, he’ll probably find us before long.” Fu Wanmei smiled gently. “I truly didn’t expect that the company he had put so much effort into acquiring, he would be willing to give up without any hesitation for your sake. Had I known this earlier, I wouldn’t have struggled in vain for so long.”

Chen Die let out a light laugh, sitting on the ground and looking up at her. “Do you think Wen Liang will let you get away with this?”

Seeing that she showed no signs of fear, Fu Wanmei was indeed surprised.

Having spent so much time with Wen Liang, even Chen Die’s mocking expression mirrored his exactly.

“Will the shares you’re forcing me to transfer be valid?” Chen Die raised an eyebrow. “Even if you have a way to make them valid, even without Wen Yuan, Wen Liang still can build a conglomerate more powerful than Wen Yuan. I think you know this better than I do. When that time comes, neither you nor your son will escape.”

Fu Wanmei laughed. “I do know that. But aren’t you still in my hands?”

Chen Die narrowed her eyes.

“I need to get something from you, something that can restrain Wen Liang for a lifetime.”

Even with her brave facade, Chen Die felt a chill rise from the depths of her heart. Her palms became sweaty as she asked coldly, “What do you want to do?”

“Don’t be nervous. I won’t harm you. You’re more useful to me alive as leverage against Wen Liang.”

Chen Die pressed her lips tightly together.

Fu Wanmei said, “Just a few photos, that’s all.”

Chen Die immediately understood what kind of photos she meant.

She could only feign composure, laughing. “I’m an actress. Do you think I’d be afraid of such things? So many people expose themselves on screen.”

“Whether you’re afraid or not doesn’t concern me. I only know that Wen Liang would never allow such photos to be released.” Fu Wanmei bent down, drawing closer to her. “Now, with so many people who know you, have you considered what would happen if these photos were to spread? Don’t think so highly of human nature. People won’t spontaneously resist; in fact, many would be willing to pay good money for them.”

Chen Die’s throat tightened, her dark lashes trembling slightly. “What do you want?”

“It’s simple. I get the shares, Wen Liang can no longer interfere with Wen Yuan Group, and afterward, we each mind our own business. I won’t let anyone know about the photos. But if Wen Liang tries anything, I can’t guarantee what might happen to those photos.”

“What Wen Huaiyuan left you in his will is enough to last you several lifetimes,” Chen Die said. “Besides, Wen Yuan was originally founded by Wen Huaiyuan and Wen Liang’s mother together.”

When Wen Yuan faced a crisis, if Shen Yunshu hadn’t sold her flower shop to help him, perhaps there would be no Wen Yuan Group today.

Fu Wanmei let out a cold laugh. “You think Wen Liang is a good person? If I don’t make a move, he’ll eventually come after me.”

“Oh, and one more demand: you can’t return to the Chen family in the future, nor can you have any contact with the Chen family members.”

Chen Die paused. “Chen Shuyuan?”

Fu Wanmei didn’t elaborate. She straightened up and said without emotion, “Cooperate and let’s take some photos.”

Two men entered the abandoned factory from outside. They looked rough, with dusty clothes. Chen Die vaguely felt they were the ones who had kidnapped her earlier.

Fu Wanmei lowered her eyes to look at Chen Die, though her words were directed at the two men, her tone filled with superiority: “I’ve instructed you before. If you dare do anything beyond taking photos, you can forget about getting the rest of your money.”

The men rubbed their hands. “Yes, yes, yes.”

Chen Die felt her body gradually stiffening, from her toes upward. Her fingers, tied behind her back, trembled slightly.

“Fu Wanmei.” Chen Die called out to her, making one last attempt. “Have you thought about your son?”

She tried to invoke Wen Qian to appeal to Fu Wanmei’s last shred of kindness, but it was useless. Fu Wanmei continued walking away without stopping, turning to leave. Soon the sound of a car engine could be heard, growing more distant until it disappeared.

The two men before her had a peculiar odor. The closer they came, the more she could smell it—the fishy smell unique to small marketplaces, mixed with the stench of cheap cigarettes. It was nauseating.

Chen Die stared at them intently. “How much is she paying you? I can give you ten times that amount.”

One of the men grinned, showing a mouthful of yellow teeth blackened by smoke. “You think we’re that stupid? We’ve already got you; why would we let you go just for money? You’d probably have us arrested the moment we release you.”

Chen Die desperately tried to remain calm, but her throat felt blocked, unable to form words.

One of the men pulled out a spray bottle from his pocket and quickly sprayed it in Chen Die’s face.

The sensation was identical to before—her consciousness drifting upward, seemingly floating outside her body.

Yet in the final moment before her eyes closed, a beam of light broke through the center of the tightly shut iron door.

With her eyelashes half-obscuring her vision, she saw a long, slender silhouette walking in against the light.

The image overlapped perfectly with her memory of seeing Wen Liang at the station seven years ago.

He had broken open the sealed heart of a sixteen-year-old girl, overcome all obstacles, and conquered territory after territory, until finally, the girl’s heart lay completely open to him.

He had traveled unimpeded from her sixteenth year to her twenty-third, earning a heart that was earnest and pure.

After a long while, Chen Die felt herself being lifted into a warm embrace, enveloped in a familiar scent, while a low voice whispered in her ear: “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Later, he seemed to be struck from behind. He held her tightly as his back caved in, letting out a muffled groan.

Chen Die underwent an examination and was found to be fine, though the drug’s effects hadn’t completely worn off. She now lay unconscious on a hospital bed.

Wen Liang had taken a blow to his back, leaving a deep purple mark that extended to the nape of his neck, looking alarmingly painful, almost black.

The public hospital was too crowded, and if someone saw them, who knew what rumors might spread. Wen Liang had directly taken Chen Die to a friend’s private clinic.

“It’s fine, nothing serious. No broken bones.” The doctor put the bloodied cotton aside and sat next to Wen Liang. “What happened? Did you think you were still in the military camp, daring to go alone?”

Wen Liang remained silent.

His gaze fell heavily on Chen Die lying on the hospital bed not far away.

This doctor was the owner of the private clinic. In his youth, he had been rebellious and unyielding. To defy his family’s pressure to study medicine, he had impulsively enlisted in the military for two years.

He and Wen Liang had met during those two years.

Soon after, a group of people burst through the door.

Leading them was Chen Shao, along with Zhu Qicong and several police officers.

“How is she?” Chen Shao rushed in to ask.

Wen Liang nodded toward Chen Die. “No major issues.”

The police approached Wen Liang. “Please tell us about the situation at the time.”

Wen Liang sat in his chair, elbows resting on his thighs, clutching his hair as he lowered his head. He cooperated fully, answering one question at a time.

When he first received the call, Wen Liang hadn’t panicked. He seemed supported by an unwavering strength, not daring to feel even a moment of anxiety or worry. He immediately agreed to transfer the shares as long as Chen Die wasn’t harmed.

He then had Fu Wanmei’s recent call records investigated, but found nothing unusual.

Afterward, he called Chen Shao, obtained Chen Shuyuan’s phone, and discovered that all records had been cleared and formatted beyond recovery. Yet this itself was the strongest evidence.

Fortunately, Wen Liang had previously investigated her biological parents.

And finally found clues there.

Chen Shuyuan and Fu Wanmei had collaborated—one wanted Wen Yuan Group’s shares, the other wanted Chen Die to fall from grace, never again threatening her position.

Chen Shuyuan, restrained by Old Master Chen’s authority, couldn’t act openly. The kidnapping was entirely operated by Fu Wanmei, while Chen Shuyuan used her biological parents, whom no one knew about, to contact the kidnappers. If Wen Liang hadn’t investigated before, it would have been impossible to find clues so quickly.

Wen Liang had no patience to contact anyone else and went directly by himself.

Fortunately, the police Chen Shao had called finally arrived.

The police asked questions and took notes. Then a female officer interjected: “Technically, illegally obtained shares would be invalid anyway, right?”

“Fu Wanmei planned to use the photos to silence us,” Wen Liang said.

Beside them, Chen Shao cursed aloud: “Fuck, I’ll fucking kill her!”

He was immediately reprimanded by the police chief standing nearby.

“Were the photos taken?” the police asked.

“No.”

Chen Shao exhaled in relief, then unable to contain his anger, he kicked the chair hard and cursed under his breath.

“Alright, we understand the situation. Please have Ms. Chen contact us when she wakes up; we’ll need to take another statement. We’ve already apprehended the suspects and will keep you updated on any further developments,” the officer said.

Wen Liang nodded. “Alright.”

Just after the police left, Ye Chuqing also arrived.

With her tempestuous nature, she stormed in as if about to blow up the clinic, but seeing Chen Die still lying there, she had to swallow her words.

Chen Shao had notified her to come.

Zhu Qicong moved beside Wen Liang to report the situation.

Fortunately, they had found Chen Die in time. The share transfer documents had already been prepared, the seal already affixed, just waiting to be handed over to Fu Wanmei.

Wen Liang hadn’t hesitated for a second.

“Wen Qian left the country last week. Fu Wanmei must have deliberately sent him abroad. We’ve confirmed his location now,” Zhu Qicong said.

Fu Wanmei had underestimated Wen Liang.

With Wen Yuan Group expanding to its current scale under Wen Liang’s leadership, it was impossible for him to only work with spotlessly clean individuals. Keeping someone under control abroad wasn’t a difficult task.

If Chen Die couldn’t be found, Wen Liang would certainly have used Wen Qian to counter-threaten Fu Wanmei.

His eyes darkened further. “Keep a close watch on him for now. Don’t let him know about Fu Wanmei’s situation yet.”

Zhu Qicong responded, “Yes.”

Ye Chuqing and Chen Shao stayed for a while, inquiring about the situation and ensuring Chen Die was alright. Later, Old Master Chen also called to ask where Chen Die was.

Chen Shao, with suppressed anger, remembered that Old Master Chen had even given a car to Chen Shuyuan today. Feeling the favoritism, his tone was unusually sharp: “You’d better go to the police station to see Chen Shuyuan. Don’t worry about Chen Die.”

Ye Chuqing also grew increasingly angry. After he hung up, she asked, “Chen Shuyuan is already at the police station?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go there,” Ye Chuqing said.

“What for?”

Ye Chuqing glanced sideways at Wen Liang nearby and punched Chen Shao. “What are you doing here? Who needs you?”

With that, she pulled Chen Shao away.

After they left, Wen Liang sat in the chair for a while longer. Chen Die lay inside, while he sat in the outer room where he could see her. After a moment, he asked the doctor, “Are you sure she’s alright?”

“I’m sure, don’t worry.”

Wen Liang frowned. “Then why hasn’t she woken up?”

The doctor shrugged. “The drug dosage was high, and she might just be sleeping now. After all, quite a lot has happened today. You can take her home; there won’t be any issues. If any problems arise later, you can call me.”

Wen Liang nodded and thanked him.

When Chen Die woke up, she was already at home.

Wen Liang was leaning against a wall. The window was cracked open, and he was smoking. The ashtray below held several cigarette butts; it was unclear how long he had been smoking.

Seeing Chen Die awake, he looked over, his lips moving slightly, his voice dry: “You’re awake.”

He looked completely haggard.

She wasn’t in the hospital or the hotel from the film set but in the villa in the western suburbs.

Chen Die felt momentarily confused, unable to determine what month or day it was. She propped herself up, and Wen Liang came over to help her adjust the pillow.

“Why do I feel like I’ve been asleep for a very long time?” Chen Die was bewildered. “And like something unpleasant happened.”

Wen Liang stroked her hair, his voice calm: “You must have been dreaming.”

“Why do you smell so strongly of cigarettes?” Chen Die, like a puppy, leaned in to sniff him.

It wasn’t just cigarettes; there was also a strong smell of disinfectant.

Chen Die froze, blinking, about to ask what happened when all the memories before losing consciousness rushed back.

Fu Wanmei.

And Chen Shuyuan.

Finally, before losing consciousness, she had seen Wen Liang, though not clearly, gilded by the evening sun’s glow. Then came the sensation of being held in his arms, and… Wen Liang being struck on the back by a thug who had gotten up again. That muffled groan emanating from deep in his lungs echoed in Chen Die’s ears.

Chen Die immediately sat up straight. “Are you alright!?”

Wen Liang blocked her hand, taking it in his. “I’m fine.”

Chen Die noticed his unusual mood and stared at him for a moment. “What’s wrong?”

Wen Liang leaned forward, embracing her, then tilted his head to kiss her hair, patting her back. “I won’t let anything like this happen to you again. You don’t need to worry about handling the aftermath. Rest at home for a couple of days. Ye Chuqing has requested leave for you from the film crew. I’ll arrange everything else.”

“What about the photos?” Chen Die remembered.

“There are no photos.”

She pressed her lips together. “Then the company…”

“Don’t worry, nothing has changed. Don’t be afraid.”

“I’m not afraid,” Chen Die said softly, hugging Wen Liang back and stroking his hair. “Don’t blame yourself.”

He remained silent, only pressing his face heavily into the crook of her neck.

“It isn’t your fault; it’s their wrongdoing.”

Wen Liang’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he gave a muffled “mm,” holding her for a while longer before asking, “Are you hungry?”

“Yes, a little.”

“Ms. Zhang has prepared food. I’ll heat it for you.”

Wen Liang adjusted her pillow and helped her lie back down before leaving the bedroom. However, he returned shortly after, standing in the doorway, suddenly asking, “Are you tired?”

“Huh?” Chen Die was momentarily confused, instinctively shaking her head.

“Then come downstairs with me.” He said.

Chen Die suddenly realized why he was behaving this way. Without exposing his thoughts, she put on her slippers and went downstairs with Wen Liang, together to the kitchen.

He took out the food Ms. Zhang had prepared earlier and placed it in the microwave. He didn’t turn to look at Chen Die, just leaned against the counter, seemingly lost in thought.

But Chen Die noticed the purplish bruise on the back of his neck. She walked over and placed her palm over it.

Wen Liang moved slightly and turned to look at her.

“Does it hurt?” Chen Die couldn’t bear to see him injured; her eyes reddened, her throat tightening.

“It doesn’t hurt. I’ve applied medicine,” he said.

Chen Die tugged at his clothing. “Let me see it.”

He blocked her again. “Don’t look.” Then he reached out to poke below her eyes. “You’ll just cry if you see it.”

“Is it serious?”

“No.”

Wen Liang was behaving very abnormally, evading when she wanted to see his injury, answering everything with “It’s fine, it’s not serious, don’t worry.”

In the past, when Wen Liang encountered such situations, he wasn’t like this at all. When angered, he would typically rage with a fury that could burn everything around him. Now, he was frighteningly calm.

Yet it wasn’t the calm before a storm; he seemed completely deflated, sinking.

Chen Die had been unconscious for so long that her mind wasn’t clear, and she couldn’t immediately understand what Wen Liang was thinking.

Wen Liang had already moved to the other side, picking up the kettle, testing the water temperature, and pouring Chen Die a cup of warm water.

She accepted it, took a sip, and noticed that Wen Liang’s lips were also very dry. He must have gone without water for a long time because of this incident, too preoccupied to notice his thirst.

So Chen Die obediently leaned against him, standing on tiptoes.

Although Wen Liang’s face remained cold, his hands still responded reflexively, holding her when she approached.

Chen Die tilted her chin up, pressing her just-moistened lips against his, slowly transferring the water in her mouth to him. After a few seconds, she heard Wen Liang swallow.

Then she patiently licked his lips in a circle, commenting, “You need to apply some lip balm.”

Wen Liang mumbled an agreement and licked his lips, still showing no real reaction.

Like a wooden man.

In the past, he would never have remained so passive when she kissed him; he would have immediately taken control.

Chen Die frowned slightly, unhappily accusing him: “You scoundrel, have you stopped loving me?”

Wen Liang finally curled the corner of his mouth and lowered his head to kiss her.

It wasn’t until the microwave beeped that Wen Liang pulled her aside, put on gloves, took out the food containers, and brought them to the table.

Ms. Zhang, remembering her birthday, had made her a bowl of longevity noodles.

“Ah, today is still my birthday,” Chen Die said in a daze, muttering, “What bad luck.”

“I had made a cake for you earlier, but it got ruined.”

Chen Die was surprised. “You made a cake for me?”

“Yes.”

“Where is it?”

“Thrown away. It was ruined.”

“Why throw it away?” Chen Die sounded disappointed. “What a waste.”

Wen Liang tapped the bowl in front of her, signaling her to eat, while replying, “If you want to eat cake, we can make one together tomorrow.”

The mention of this topic reminded Chen Die that she had asked Wen Liang for a ring that morning.

As she ate, she secretly glanced at Wen Liang’s trouser pocket. It was flat, not looking like it contained a ring box.

Probably due to the sudden incident, he hadn’t even had time to buy a ring.

So Chen Die didn’t bring it up. After finishing dinner, she went upstairs with Wen Liang.

Seemingly affected by the incident, Wen Liang dared not leave her alone again. Even when bathing, he accompanied her, though he was extremely serious, not making any advances—a standard bath attendant service.

This was so unlike Wen Liang.

Chen Die was someone who responded to gentleness, not force. Seeing Wen Liang behaving so properly, she stripped off his clothes and pulled him into the bathtub, making it cramped for both of them.

Then she saw the long purple bruise on Wen Liang’s back.

A very long welt.

Chen Die’s eyes immediately reddened. She hugged him, wanting to touch the bruise but afraid of hurting him, feeling both anxious and angry, unable to hold back her tears.

“How did it get so serious?” She wiped her tears, but her hands were wet, making her face all damp. She was furious. “Will Fu Wanmei and Chen Shuyuan go to prison?”

“Yes.”

“Does it hurt?” Chen Die couldn’t remember how many times she had asked Wen Liang this question.

She didn’t know if she was crying from anger or heartache. Wanting to comfort Wen Liang, she opened her arms to hug him, but after a few seconds, he pulled her away.

He raised his eyes. “If you continue like this, I’ll get hard.”

“…”

Sure enough, a master at ruining the mood.

But seeing Wen Liang recover some of his usual demeanor, Chen Die felt relieved.

After bathing, Wen Liang put on his bathrobe, helped Chen Die out of the tub, dried her off, wrapped her up, and placed her on the bed.

“Wen Liang, can you bring me that bottle of body lotion from the bathroom?” Chen Die asked.

He brought it to her, tossed it onto the bed, then took out a cigarette and sat in the single armchair by the window.

Chen Die didn’t even bother to mention his smoking. She squeezed out some body lotion and started applying it. Every time after a bath, she spent a good twenty minutes just on body lotion.

By the time she finished, Wen Liang had nearly finished his cigarette.

“Aren’t you going to sleep?” Chen Die asked.

Wen Liang reached behind the chair and brought out something.

Chen Die’s eyes immediately widened.

A ring box, white, with a string of English logos on top.

Wen Liang held it in one hand, pushing it open with his index finger, making a very faint “click” sound. Then he took out the ring, tossed the box aside, and extended it toward Chen Die. “Birthday present. Want it?”

It was almost exactly as Chen Die had imagined.

Wen Liang was wearing his robe loosely, barefoot on the floor, one hand holding a cigarette burned down to the butt, the other holding a ring, his eyelids drooping.

Chen Die couldn’t help but crawl across the bed, just about to get down from the other side to take it when she suddenly realized something wasn’t right.

Kneeling on the edge of the bed, she said, “Bring it here.”

Wen Liang stubbed out his cigarette and obediently brought it over, sitting beside her on the bed.

Chen Die took the ring, holding it between her fingers, slowly turning it around. It was very beautiful. Her heart pounded as she admired it for quite a while before extending her other hand, fingers spread.

She slowly slid the ring onto her ring finger. It fits perfectly.

Wen Liang watched her movements, each second breaking into countless frames of slow motion before his eyes.

He hadn’t expected Chen Die to place the ring directly on her ring finger.

He had just taken out a new cigarette, but his hand slipped, and it fell to the floor. He bent to pick it up, his hand strangely trembling. He had to clench his fist tightly to steady it.

He turned his head, asking nonchalantly, “Do you like it?”

“Ah.” Chen Die strived to maintain a purely appreciative attitude. “It’s very beautiful.”

Watching her expression, Wen Liang felt his heart being crushed.

He couldn’t bear to think what would have happened if Chen Die hadn’t been found by now.

She was a girl who could be thoroughly satisfied with just a few small things, sunny and positive, with her direction, working hard to earn everyone’s praise and affection.

Yet she was a princess who rightfully deserved to effortlessly possess all beautiful things.

At this moment, watching her animated expressions, seeing her eyes sparkle as she looked at the ring, the tension that had gripped Wen Liang all day finally released. In its wake came the worry and fear that had had no chance to surface earlier.

He lowered his head, his throat dry.

Chen Die noticed and leaned closer, bending down to look into his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

Wen Liang embraced her. “I’ve been bad to you.”

“Hmm?”

When Wen Liang hugged her, he simply opened his arms and completely enveloped her, even trapping Chen Die’s hands between them so she couldn’t pull them out, preventing her from continuing to admire the ring.

“I’ve told you not to blame yourself. This isn’t your fault. Besides, nothing terrible happened, right? I wasn’t even scared or traumatized or anything; I was unconscious…”

Chen Die was stroking his hair and comforting him when suddenly, something hot fell on her shoulder—a scalding tear.

Wen Liang was crying.

She was stunned.

The cold, hard silence Wen Liang had maintained since she woke up gradually subsided, revealing his true self to Chen Die without any pretense.

So he had been this frightened…

Chen Die’s heart melted like fluffy cotton candy. Just as she was about to comfort him, her shoulder was suddenly bitten.

Chen Die hissed.

This dog behavior…

“Don’t bite me!” Chen Die protested.

He suddenly mumbled, “I love you.”

His voice was so small, almost inaudible, like an illusion, but Chen Die still heard it.

Logic told her that even with the sugar-coated bomb of “I love you,” she shouldn’t allow Wen Liang to continue biting her collarbone.

But she was inevitably dazed by these three words.

Wen Liang had never said “I love you” to her before.

He was too cunning.

Even when they confirmed their relationship, he had first calmly and imperturbably asked her, “You’re madly in love with me, aren’t you?”

Only after Chen Die nodded in admission did he respond, “So am I.”

He had never said, “I love you.”

These three words were indeed the most lethal of sweet talk. Chen Die’s face grew hot, her blood boiling, her fingers trembling slightly as she mimicked his earlier manner: “You’re madly in love with me, aren’t you?”

Wen Liang: “Yes.”

Chen Die instantly found her life’s destination.

Wen Liang, as if needing to confirm her existence, gnawed on her collarbone repeatedly. Chen Die winced in pain and finally couldn’t bear it any longer. She sighed, frowned, and slapped him on the back.

The slap landed directly on that bruise.

Wen Liang’s shoulders trembled, and he let out a muffled groan, finally releasing her.

Then he nuzzled against her neck again and, after a while, squeezed out a plaintive: “It hurts.”

Like he was pouting.

At last, he admitted it hurt.