After ninety-nine online romances, I finally met my ex in person when school started.

In the underground parking garage, a custom-built, extended Hongqi L5 with a Beijing V license plate was parked at the entrance. The dark, sturdy body gleamed with a dark sheen under the cold light.

Two plainclothes black agents strode forward and opened the heavy bulletproof car door. Fu Xinghe got into the back seat first, followed closely by Zhu Xunchuan.

The car door closed with a heavy, dull thud. The special agent in the front seat pressed a control button, and a dark, explosion-proof, soundproof pane of glass slowly rose, completely isolating the driver's compartment from the rear seats. The rear of the Hongqi car instantly transformed into an absolutely private, enclosed space.

The car was filled with the unique texture and scent of top-quality genuine leather, as well as the light and elegant fragrance of orchids emanating from Fu Xinghe.

Fu Xinghe sat on the far right. The hem of her moon-white Suzhou-embroidered cheongsam was slightly rolled up, revealing half of her smooth and delicate calves. She turned her head, her beautiful eyes fixed on Zhu Xunchuan's wide-open shirt collar, her gaze lingering for two seconds on the red mark that had been erased, before she looked away.

"You're just taking advantage of the fact that I can't do anything to you." Her voice was very soft, hoarse from a sleepless night and filled with hidden grievances.

Zhu Xun Chuan didn't speak, but moved his body closer to the right. The leather seat made a slight rubbing sound.

"How could there be no way?" Zhu Xun Chuan casually put his arm around her shoulder. "Professor Fu's methods are extraordinary. Didn't he just bring special agents and bodyguards to raid my base?"

"Stop being cheeky." Fu Xinghe shifted his shoulders but didn't break free, letting him lean against him.

She turned around and stretched out her hands. Her ten slender, white fingers rested on Zhu Xunchuan's collar, the fingertips carrying the slight coolness of the morning.

With her eyes lowered, she patiently buttoned up his black casual shirt, one button at a time. Her movements were gentle and delicate, revealing a domesticity that was something the usually aloof professor would never possess.

Zhu Xun Chuan gazed quietly at her beautiful face so close to his. Their breaths mingled.

After fastening the last button, Fu Xinghe's expression turned serious.

"When we get to the study, remember two things." Fu Xinghe looked into his eyes, her tone revealing the unique sense of the big picture and seriousness of a municipal party committee daughter.

"I'm listening," Zhu Xun Chuan said, his expression unchanged.

"First, my father is a man who values ​​rules and regulations extremely highly, and he can't tolerate the slightest imperfection. Even the top officials of districts and counties who go to his office to report on their work could be kicked out for saying the wrong thing," Fu Xinghe cautioned. "The Zhao family has deep roots in Beijing, a network of connections that seems bottomless. This matter has far-reaching consequences. No matter how ambitious or resourceful you are in front of him, you must restrain yourself. Answer his questions verbally. Never test him with the same arrogant attitude you use with outsiders."

Zhu Xunchuan nodded calmly.

"Secondly, if he thinks the Zhao family is too complicated and wants you to withdraw, you must stop immediately." A clear worry flashed in Fu Xinghe's eyes. "The chips you have, whether it's the Jiang family's knife or those financial groups, are all worthless in front of the state apparatus. I don't want you to risk your life for Bai He."

The interior of the vehicle was very quiet. Apart from the slight tire noise of the tires rolling over the asphalt, there was no other noise.

Zhu Xun Chuan didn't engage in political topics. He suddenly turned to the side, resting his left hand on the car window next to Fu Xinghe's head, while his right hand went straight through her long, black hair, his thumb pressing against the back of her slender, fair neck.

A highly aggressive wall-slamming gesture instantly trapped Fu Xinghe in the corner of the seat.

Fu Xinghe was forced to lean back by this sudden movement, his entire back pressed tightly against the leather seat.

The distance between them instantly closed to a point where their noses were almost touching. A strong, overwhelming scent of male hormones pressed down on them.

"What are you doing?" Fu Xinghe's heart pounded, and the Suzhou embroidery on the chest of her cheongsam heaved violently with her breathing. Although there was a soundproof panel in front, this was her father's private Hongqi car, and the unbridled sense of oppression still threw her into a panic.

"I'm more concerned about something else than the Zhao family." Zhu Xun Chuan's gaze was fixed on her panicked eyes, his voice low and forceful.

"What is it?"

"Taking me back to the compound to meet your parents, does that mean you've completely committed?" Zhu Xun Chuan gently stroked the skin on the back of her neck with his thumb, feeling its warmth and trembling. "Does that mean that from now on, if I have any 'normal needs,' I won't have to run out in the middle of the night to find someone else to take care of them?"

This sentence completely overturned the serious atmosphere that had just been created.

Fu Xinghe's mind started buzzing again.

That bastard is a complete madman! He's about to meet with someone at the very top of the power pyramid in the capital to discuss a sensational murder case that could shake the entire city. And yet, he's still stuck on that same scoundrel's logic!

"Zhu Xun Chuan!" Fu Xinghe scolded in a low voice, the blush that had just faded on her cheeks instantly returning, even her delicate earlobes turning bright red. "Can't you tell the difference between this and that? Is this the time to talk about this kind of thing?"

"To me, the Zhao family, the whole city's turmoil—none of it matters as much as your word." Zhu Xun Chuan tightened his grip, forcing her to raise her chin, leaving her nowhere to dodge. "Answer me, Professor Fu. Will you still let me go hungry from now on?"

Demanding things with a sense of entitlement, and exerting pressure to the extreme.

In the back seat of this Red Flag limousine, a symbol of absolute power, the daughter of the municipal party secretary was driven to the brink of despair by a freshman in college.

Fu Xinghe looked into Zhu Xun Chuan's eyes, his possessiveness burning fiercely. She knew perfectly well that this man was using this method to erode her reason, demanding the most straightforward promise. She had spent the entire night reviewing confidential files, and then, at dawn, she had led the bodyguards to block his door. Her actions had already betrayed her true feelings; she simply couldn't let him go.

At this moment, facing Zhu Xun Chuan's increasingly intense gaze.

That intellectual and reserved goddess-like facade finally cracked with a crisp sound and collapsed completely.

Fu Xinghe turned her head away, not daring to look into those deep eyes. She bit her delicate lower lip tightly, her long, fair legs pressed together nervously.

"You...you're full of these filthy things." Fu Xinghe's voice trembled, her tone devoid of any of the dignity of a municipal party secretary's daughter, leaving only a helpless and coquettish tone.

Zhu Xun Chuan didn't speak, he just looked at her quietly, his fingers lingering on the back of her neck.

The standoff lasted for a full ten seconds.

Fu Xinghe finally gave in. She sighed resignedly, closed her eyes, and her long eyelashes cast two endearing shadows on her cheeks.

"Once this matter is over..." Fu Xinghe's voice was so low it almost melted into the air, his face so red that even his light gray cashmere shawl couldn't hide it, "I... am at your disposal."