Host! I told you to do a task! I didn't tell you to bbb.

Liu Yunshu was so taken aback by Shen Qingqing's blunt and bold question that she gasped for breath.

Her cheeks flushed instantly, and a thin layer of red spread across her neck. Her fingertips gripped the phone case so tightly that they turned bluish-white.

She secretly glanced at Fu Yanshen beside her.

The man rested his chin on his hand, his dark eyes fixed on her, his long eyelashes casting a light shadow on his eyelids.

A faint, ambiguous smile played at the corners of his lips, clearly indicating that he had heard every word spoken through the receiver.

"Shen Qingqing!"

Liu Yunshu was both embarrassed and anxious, her voice trembling slightly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"What nonsense are you talking about! Hang up now!"

"Hey, no!"

Shen Qingqing exclaimed anxiously on the other end of the phone, "I haven't heard the details yet! But judging from your shy expression, you must..."

"It's dead!"

Before she could finish speaking, Liu Yunshu hurriedly hung up the call and tossed her phone aside.

She shrank into the blanket, leaving only her reddened eyes peeking out, staring at Fu Yanshen with the look of a frightened little animal.

Fu Yanshen chuckled softly, the vibrations of his chest coming through the thin blanket, deep and with a seductive force.

He leaned closer, gently brushing aside the stray strands of hair from her forehead with his fingertips, his fingertips brushing against her burning skin.

"Intense fighting? Enjoying it?"

His voice was deep and hoarse, carrying a cold aura, yet each word seemed to carry an ambiguous hook.

"Miss Liu, how about we... verify it ourselves now?"

"you……"

Liu Yunshu was both angry and embarrassed. She raised her hand to push him away, but he grabbed her wrist.

His palms were slightly cool, yet his grip was firm and impossible to break free from. His fingertips lightly caressed her delicate skin, deliberately teasing her.

"You want me?"

Fu Yanshen chuckled softly again, his breath brushing against her ear. "Simple, that's enough for you."

Liu Yunshu's wrist was burning hot from his grip, and as she struggled, the blanket slipped off to one side, revealing a patch of delicate skin on her shoulder.

It had faint red marks on it, like crushed rouge.

She was both angry and flustered, her eyes reddening, but she stubbornly glared at him.

The red at the corner of her eyes, tinged with shame and indignation, became even more intense and alluring.

Fu Yanshen's gaze fell on the mark, his eyes suddenly darkened, and his Adam's apple bobbed heavily.

"Good boy/girl~"

He narrowed his eyes, a glint of hunter's triumph flashing within them.

"Relax, don't be nervous..."

"Fu Yanshen! You bastard!"

"I can be even more of a jerk..."

"You! Ugh!"

Suddenly, a violent storm raged outside the apartment, and raindrops pounded against the French windows like madmen, making a loud crackling sound.

The rumble of thunder rolled through the clouds, intensifying the ambiguity and tension inside the room.

After a long while, the thunder gradually subsided, and the rain weakened, turning into fine raindrops that meandered down the glass, leaving streaks of water.

Liu Yunshu collapsed onto the soft silk quilt, completely exhausted, her cheeks flushed.

Her eyes still glistened with moisture, like a peony dampened by rain, delicate and charming.

Her hair was disheveled and clung to her neck, her breathing was shallow and trembling, and her chest rose and fell irregularly.

Each breath was hoarse, tinged with the urge to rouse her.

Fu Yanshen lay on his side, his fingertips unconsciously stroking her sweaty back.

The movements were so gentle, almost tender, a stark contrast to the forcefulness of the previous gesture.

He gazed at the lingering moisture in her eyes and the distinct shame and annoyance.

His dark eyes churned with an intense, unyielding possessiveness, yet a smug smile played at the corners of his lips.

"What's your decision?"

His tone was languid, with a husky, magnetic quality from the moment, as his fingertips traced the delicate skin of her lower back, leaving a slightly cool sensation.

"Keeping me by your side is very cost-effective."

His fingers slowly slid down the curve of her spine, as if tracing a precious artifact, his possessiveness mixed with a touch of languid allure.

"The honor that Fu Jingming couldn't give me, I'll offer it to you with both hands; the grievances he made you suffer, I'll make him repay double."

Liu Yunshu had to admit that this man was simply too captivating.

He held a high position of power, possessed handsome looks, and had a cold demeanor, yet he revealed an uncontrollable, burning passion only towards her, even in that aspect...

Thinking of this, tears almost streamed down Liu Yunshu's face. So satisfying! It felt so good!

But seeing his determined expression, she felt...

Some resentment arose again.

"Value for money?"

She spoke softly, her voice still slightly hoarse, but the last syllable held a hint of rebellion.

"Does Mr. Fu treat feelings as a transaction?"

Fu Yanshen chuckled softly, leaned down and pulled her into his arms, his chin resting on the top of her sweaty hair, his strength carrying an undeniable possessiveness.

"It's a transaction for others, but for you—" His lips brushed against her earlobe, his breath hot.

"We are determined to win."

He twirled a strand of her hair between his fingers, his dark eyes fixed intently on her reddened earlobe.

"Oh?"

Liu Yunshu raised her eyes, a stubborn glint in them. "Are you determined to win?"

She gave a soft snort, pushed him away, rolled off the bed, and stepped barefoot onto the cold marble floor.

She didn't turn around; her long hair was draped over her shoulders, the ends still glistening with tiny beads of sweat in the morning light.

"Mr. Fu is far too confident."

As she spoke, she casually picked up the clothes from the ground and put them on slowly.

The morning light slanted in through the gaps in the blinds, outlining her slender waistline on her back.

The red marks left from last night, like roses in the dark, bloomed on her fair skin, leaving ambiguous imprints.

She dressed slowly and deliberately, as if she were completely unaffected by the passionate embrace she had just shared.

Fu Yanshen rested his chin on his hand, his dark eyes fixed intently on her retreating figure.

The languor in his eyes faded, replaced by an increasingly intense interest and possessiveness.

His fingertips gently caressed her skin, as if the delicate touch of her skin still lingered, making his heart itch.

"confidence?"

He chuckled softly, his voice hoarse and particularly seductive in the quiet room, "Liu Yunshu, you think you can escape?"

Liu Yunshu had already dressed, covering up all the alluring marks on her body, leaving only a section of her fair and slender neck exposed.

She finally turned around, raised her hand to tuck her long hair behind her ear, revealing...

The tips of her ears were reddish.

"Whether she can escape or not, we'll wait and see." With that, she opened the door and went out.

Her pure yet alluring, gentle yet strong appearance made Fu Yanshen's Adam's apple bob heavily.

Watching her departing figure, Fu Yanshen chuckled softly.

His eyes were brimming with interest, almost overflowing, and a dark light of determination surged deep within his dark pupils.

He got up and walked to the French windows.

The morning light after the rain pierced through the clouds, making his tall figure appear long and slender, and his bathrobe outlined the smooth lines of his shoulders and back.

The lingering ambiguous atmosphere from last night hadn't dissipated, but it was already covered by his chilling aura.

He watched Liu Yunshu's slender figure hurrying away downstairs, his fingertips tracing the cool windowsill, a playful smile curving his lips.

This prickly little wildcat is more interesting than I imagined.

The more she resisted and the more stubborn she became, the more he wanted to completely tame her, to make her willingly stay by his side and never leave her again.

On the other side, Liu Yunshu walked out of the apartment building. The cool morning breeze brushed against her cheeks, which slightly relieved the burning sensation on her skin.

She gripped the strap of her handbag tightly, her mind filled with Fu Yanshen's explicit words and burning gaze.

What a... sad man.

She unconsciously stuck out the tip of her tongue and lightly licked her red lips, but... it tasted really good.

Noticing the almost tangible gaze behind her, Liu Yunshu gently curled the corners of her lips.

"Fu Yanshen,"

She chuckled inwardly, a sly glint in her eyes.

"Want to tame me? You'll have to see if you can catch up with me first."

Without stopping, she flagged down a taxi and got in.

As the car window slowly rolled up, she turned her head to look in the direction of the apartment building.

In front of the floor-to-ceiling window on the seventeenth floor, that tall figure stood still like an ice sculpture.

Even from a distance, you could feel the overwhelming possessiveness in his eyes.

Liu Yunshu silently curved her eyes in that direction, the red mark at the corner of her eye not yet completely faded, like rouge spreading, innocent yet wild.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Back at Shen Qingqing's place, she was already sitting on the living room sofa with her legs crossed, crunching a bag of potato chips in her hand.

Upon seeing her enter, he immediately dropped his snacks and pounced on her, his eyes shining like searchlights.

"Confess and you'll be treated leniently! Tell me quickly, what exactly happened between you and that great master Fu Yanshen last night?"

Liu Yunshu was forced to retreat repeatedly, and the flush on her cheeks that had just faded instantly surged up again, her ear tips so hot they could fry an egg.

She gripped the doorknob, avoiding Shen Qingqing's gaze, and mumbled, "N-nothing, it's just...an accident."

"Accident?"

Shen Qingqing raised an eyebrow and reached out to poke her flushed cheek.

"Your eyes are so red, like you've been crying, and your lips are swollen. Who are you trying to fool?"

She suddenly lowered her voice and stealthily moved closer.

"Tell me quickly, wasn't the battle incredibly intense, just as I suspected? Mr. Fu's physique and aura, weren't they...?"

"Shen Qingqing!"

Liu Yunshu was both embarrassed and anxious. She reached out and covered her mouth, her eyes glistening with tears, but she stubbornly glared at her.

"If you keep talking nonsense, I'm not talking to you anymore!"

Seeing her innocent yet fierce expression, Shen Qingqing burst into laughter: "Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore."

He pulled her to sit on the sofa, his tone becoming more serious, "But seriously, what are you planning to do about your relationship with Fu Yanshen?"

Liu Yunshu shrank back into the sofa, her fingertips unconsciously picking at the edge of the cushion, the shyness in her eyes gradually replaced by confusion.

The rain was still falling sporadically outside the window, reflecting the morning light, but it couldn't penetrate the turmoil in her eyes.

Seeing her conflicted expression, Shen Qingqing picked up the water glass on the table and handed it to her.

"To be honest, Fu Yanshen is the actual person in charge of the Fu Group, and the one who truly has the final say in the Fu family."

"If he truly wanted to protect you, Fu Jingming and Su Manli wouldn't even be worthy of carrying your shoes!"

"I know."

Liu Yunshu held the warm water glass, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the inside of the glass. "But Jingming and I are, after all..."

Before she could finish speaking, Liu Yunshu suddenly stopped, her fingertips gripping the warm cup so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

Those years of heartfelt devotion, and the grievances of being subjected to his cold violence.

The sting of seeing him embracing Su Manli surged up like a tidal wave, making her throat tighten.