He tricked the female lead into becoming his boyfriend, but then went on to criticize the male lead.

As Wen Zhaoci watched her cry until her eyes were red and her nose was red, and her shoulders trembled with each sob, his heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly, and a dense, sharp pain swept through his entire body.

He couldn't bear to see her suffer even the slightest grievance.

This week, he was busy giving Sang Jiuning a birthday surprise, staying up all night in the lab and barely getting any sleep. He had planned to spend time with her after he finished, but he never expected that the girl would feel so wronged and secretly sad for so long.

He softened all his expressions, lowered his head slightly, and gently pressed his warm forehead against hers, placing a soft kiss on her sweaty, smooth forehead, with the utmost comfort and indulgence.

His deep, gentle voice softened to the extreme as he patiently coaxed the flustered, tearful girl: "So it was my baby who missed me. It's my fault for neglecting you, okay?"

Sang Jiuning was absorbed in her own emotions, her mind filled with plot control, forced estrangement, and forced breakup, and she didn't hear his gentle comforting words at all.

Her mind was filled with his cold indifference towards her, and the more she thought about it, the colder her heart became. She tearfully mustered her courage, and with a desperate resolve, choked out five words:

"Fine, let's break up!"

This was the second time she had clearly and directly broken up with him.

The moment the words left his mouth, the air froze.

The boy, who had just been gently coaxing and persuading her, suddenly felt a drop in body temperature.

An intense sense of oppression suddenly enveloped the entire small laboratory.

His dark eyes instantly darkened, churning with intense and brooding emotions, carrying an undeniable force and anger.

Sang Jiuning's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively wanted to back away.

But the next moment, Wen Zhaoci's long, slender hand gripped her waist, holding her firmly in his arms, not allowing her to flinch in the slightest.

With his other hand, he slightly raised it and gently pinched her chin. The force was light, but it carried absolute control, forcing her to look up and stare directly at him.

Before Sang Jiuning could react, he leaned forward slightly and suddenly lowered his head.

His warm lips pressed hard against her soft lips, which were brimming with tears.

It wasn't a gentle comfort, nor a tender kiss; instead, it carried a punitive force, biting and sucking her lips lightly yet firmly, with a strong possessiveness, forceful and obsessive, asserting his exclusive sovereignty.

The sudden intimacy and slight pain froze Sang Jiuning, who was still sobbing, in place.

Her chaotic thoughts were instantly cleared away. All the grievances, speculations, and insecurities came to an abrupt end, leaving only a blank mind. She stared blankly at him, her wet eyes wide open, at him who was so close to her.

The long, punitive kiss lasted for a long time, until Sang Jiuning's breathing became slightly rapid, and Wen Zhaoci slowly released her.

He raised his hand, his warm fingertips gently caressing the corners of her reddened lips. His large palm gently covered the top of her head, rubbing it lightly. Then he raised his hand and gently patted her back, his movements tender and affectionate, a stark contrast to his earlier forceful punishment.

Yet, his deep voice carried an undeniable stubbornness and warning, each word clear and distinct, falling into her ears and etched into her heart:

"Baby, you've got it."

"If you ever dare to mention breaking up with me again, this will be your punishment."

He lowered his gaze, his deep black eyes locking onto hers, churning with extreme seriousness and intense possessiveness. His tone softened, yet carried a chilling solemnity:

"The punishment will increase by ten points for each time it's mentioned." Next time, it won't be as simple as just biting your lip.

He would never give her any chance to leave him, not even for a moment.

Sang Jiuning leaned against Wen Zhaoci's chest, her nose lingering on the boy's warm, firm chest, the crisp scent of cedar lingering around her, mixed with the faint smell of ink and the cool odor of electronic devices.

She felt completely at peace.

From the initial anxiety and fear of being manipulated by the plot, and the panic that the two were destined to grow apart, she finally realized that there was no such thing as a plot-driven force binding them.

The knot in my heart suddenly loosened, the bittersweet emotions faded, leaving only a soft, sweet feeling in my heart.

Her long eyelashes were still wet, adorned with a few teardrops that hadn't completely dried, fluttering gently like butterfly wings covered in morning dew.

Her clear almond-shaped eyes were sparkling with moisture. With a slight blink, the corners of her eyes turned a faint red. Combined with her slightly furrowed brows and a wronged expression, she was incredibly soft, obedient, and lovable.

Wen Zhaoci lowered his eyes and gazed at the person in his arms. His deep, dark eyes were filled with surging emotions that almost overwhelmed and devoured the person completely.

He hadn't seen her for a week, and he missed her terribly every day and night.

The little girl in his arms was soft and obedient at this moment. After crying, she looked even more charming and cute, which made the strings of his heart tremble.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly involuntarily, and gloomy thoughts crept into his mind.

His gaze was deep and intense as it swept over her reddened eyes and soft, delicate lips, and a jumble of intoxicating images uncontrollably surfaced in his mind.

Such an obedient, such a gentle Sang Jiuning, if only in the still of the night, in the intimate space of her room…

Will she be softer and more clingy than she is now? Will she still be like before, with red eyes and a soft sob in her voice, letting him pamper her?

A surge of possessiveness and longing, growing wildly in my heart, suddenly welled up, almost breaking through the shackles of reason.

Wen Zhaoci immediately concealed the darkness that flashed in his eyes and forcibly suppressed the restless emotions in his heart.

He raised his well-defined hands and gently cupped Sang Jiuning's soft cheeks, the warmth of his palms pressing against her slightly cool skin.

He leaned down slightly and kissed her moist, reddened eyes with utmost tenderness, gently brushing her fine, tear-streaked eyelashes. His movements were as light as if he were touching the most precious treasure in the world, as if he were afraid that the slightest force would shatter the person in his arms.

A deep, magnetic voice whispered in her ear, gentle enough to melt ice and snow, with a hint of indulgent coaxing: "Little crybaby, your makeup's all ruined from crying, and you're still secretly sad? Don't be angry, okay?"

Sang Jiuning had already secretly comforted herself in her heart.

Once she was sure there were no plot constraints, all her grievances vanished, leaving only her heart and soul filled with affection for Wen Zhaoci.

Upon hearing his words, "Your makeup is ruined," her pupils dilated slightly, all her emotions were instantly replaced by embarrassment, her mind went blank, and she panicked instantly.

Ruined!

She jerked slightly away from Wen Zhaoci's embrace, her heart pounding with panic: she had specially put on delicate makeup today, hoping to see Wen Zhaoci whom she hadn't seen for a week, but after crying and sulking for so long, it must have all come off in a terrible mess!

If her disheveled, miserable crying appearance were seen by passing classmates or other people in the lab building, wouldn't she lose face?

Immediately afterwards, the memory of her toes digging into the ground came flooding back—she had been crying very loudly just now, completely oblivious to her surroundings in her emotional state, and the laboratory door had been wide open the whole time!

What if someone passing by overheard?

Will anyone see her crying in Wen Zhaoci's arms?