Chapter Twenty-Seven: Wherever I Go, You Follow

Mai Xijun spoke crisply and decisively. Over these years, not only had she grown to dislike procrastination, but more importantly, after Xue Lizan’s departure, she had learned to let go, to take things lightly. Sometimes, a clean break hurts less in the long run. Rather than investing energy in things that may yield no result, it was wiser to cut them off before they could begin. Though she might regret never experiencing the process, at least she would not be left with unbearable agony, wishing to withdraw but finding herself already mired too deep to escape.

Mai Xijun lowered her gaze; she still could not easily forget. In every small corner of her life, his presence lingered. No matter how outstanding the man before her might be, when she looked at him, she inevitably thought of Xue Lizan. Six years was not simply a passage of time—it had become a spirit, a presence that permeated her being.

“I simply like you, and I want to take you with me,” Shen Yanlie declared, unmoved. His tone was light and unruffled, yet within those ink-black eyes shone earnestness and resolve.

His hands remained determined as they slipped under Mai Xijun’s clothing, gently caressing her. When he left that morning, she had been well enough. Had he not only been away for a short while? How had she changed so much in the blink of an eye?

“Tch!” Mai Xijun curled her lips in amusement, though it was neither disdain nor mockery. She changed the topic, “Besides this, do you have anything else to say?”

Shen Yanlie frowned in thought. “Is there anything else you wish for there to be between us? Besides making you my woman—something I’ve already agreed to.”

…Arrogant egomaniac! Mai Xijun looked up to the heavens in exasperation. So this man truly was a proud, conceited playboy?

“If there’s anything you want to say or ask, just tell me,” Shen Yanlie offered, his hand pausing at her side. There, swelling was already evident, yet she insisted on pretending nothing was wrong.

From what he remembered, she had not been particularly optimistic as a child, but she was at least cheerful, daring in both love and hate. He also recalled clearly that she saw the world in black and white. If she truly wished to reject him, he would be utterly helpless, with not the slightest chance to fight back. But he would not allow such a thing to happen.

Mai Xijun seemed unmoved by his words, perhaps somewhat touched. “I only want to say, if there’s nothing else, I hope things between us end here. Though I’m grateful for you purchasing my work for ten million, I am truly poor and have nothing with which to repay you. So—”

“So you’ll become my woman—that would be the best repayment. I would be very happy,” he replied, the curve of his lips sincere rather than playful, a seriousness in his gaze. In his eyes lay a wildness that defied comprehension, but also a reverence that could not be ignored.

Mai Xijun, resolute now, met his gaze without flinching. She knew that from the moment he appeared before her, there was no longer any way to evade him. She owed him a debt she could not name. “...Anything but that—I can agree to anything else.”

His long fingers pressed gently upon her ribs, probing for the extent of her injury. Except for the occasional gasp of pain, she said nothing more, and he continued to watch her with a meaningful smile.

Catching her off guard, he turned her face and brushed her lips with a kiss. “I’ve already claimed you; you are mine. But if you truly don’t wish to be my woman, you can consider becoming my personal attendant. Wherever I go, you’ll follow.”

After all, he would not let her go so easily, and she had already unwittingly stepped into the trap he had laid.

Mai Xijun glared at him in anger, wanting to lash out. But he only smirked, gesturing with his lips to remind her they were not alone in the car.

Unable to vent her frustration, she swallowed it down, only to be startled by the gentleness in his eyes. In that instant, her thoughts grew hazy—it was such a perfect illusion, she wondered if she had imagined it.

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With a mere glance from Shen Yanlie, the driver changed course. Though he had been heading somewhere unknown to Mai Xijun, he instead redirected them to a renowned private traditional massage club.

Mai Xijun hesitated, wanting to refuse, but when Shen Yanlie looked at her, every word died in her throat.

When they got out, Mai Xijun suggested she wanted to go in alone, not wishing to draw attention. He was already a striking, flamboyant man. Shen Yanlie agreed without a word, but after helping her from the car, he held her close, keeping her within his embrace.

She looked up at him—the sculpted lines of his profile were so striking it was hard to look away, every furrow and relaxation of his brow rendering him dangerously alluring. For the first time, she felt a sense of security, and it was he who gave it to her—a man she barely knew.

Complex feelings welled up within Mai Xijun. If things went on like this, she truly could not guarantee she would not fall into his carefully laid trap. His charm and his darkness were like a colorless, scentless poison that he fed her without her knowledge. When it finally coursed through her veins, would she still be smiling at him through her tears?

“Good day, Young Master Shen!” The guard at the door greeted Shen Yanlie with utmost respect, and Shen Yanlie, silent, led her straight through the entrance, two or three bodyguards following behind.

On the third floor, in a private suite, Mai Xijun saw a woman in a pink uniform, seemingly just finished with a massage and stretching her limbs.

Mai Xijun had heard of this place but had never visited. The massages here were renowned, first-rate, and untouched by the sordid atmosphere of lesser establishments.

The room was draped in sheer violet curtains, the floor covered with a fine, exquisite carpet, the dazzling lights casting an enchanting glow. It was luxurious yet elegant and poised. This was the city’s premier private club—never open to the public. Only those introduced by other members could obtain a membership card. Compared to downloading a game file online, for which you might at least find a seed, this exclusivity was even more maddening. The word “private” alone set a chasm between the elite and everyone else.

“Is something wrong, Young Master Shen?” Upon receiving notice, Zhou Jingyi had swiftly dismissed her staff to await Shen Yanlie’s arrival. Yet she was surprised to see a woman by his side, held close in his arms...