"What?" He Yining's eyes sharpened, anger flashing. "What do I want you to do?"
"Haven't you been looking for someone all along? Now that person has appeared, I should step aside and make way." Shen Qi replied flatly. "I'll forget all those past memories!"
"Are you sulking with me?" He Yining wanted to bite this infuriating little thing, but looking her over, so delicate and tender, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
"No. I know I'm not qualified." Shen Qi lowered her eyes.
But the next second, her chin was lifted by He Yining, who glared at her fiercely. "Look at me! If you're not qualified, who is?"
"I don't know..." Shen Qi was forced to meet his gaze.
"Bastard!" He Yining's rage ignited instantly, and he punched the wall beside him.
Crash—the half-panel wooden wall was shattered by his blow!
Someone quickly ran over, but upon seeing that it was He Yining who had broken the wall, they didn't dare utter a word and turned to leave immediately!
Shen Qi was startled too!
She had never seen He Yining so furious!
No matter the situation, He Yining always seemed composed and confident.
But what was wrong with him now?
Seeing the terrified look in Shen Qi's eyes, He Yining almost wanted to slap himself!
What a jerk he was!
How could he lose control and scare her like that?
"Shen Qi, let me tell you! Don't even think about leaving my side!" He Yining growled through gritted teeth into her ear. "You'll never escape!"
Shen Qi felt a wave of murderous intent wash over her, and she couldn't help but shiver.
Despite He Yining's overwhelming anger, Shen Qi still couldn't help asking, "If I can't leave your side, then what about Lin Xi? What happens to her?"
He Yining roared, "You're nothing like her!"
"But she's the one you've been searching for over a decade, isn't she?" Shen Qi had never thought she'd be so bold, but she couldn't stop herself from retorting, "If you had to choose between us, what would you do? Have me divorce you and become your secret lover? Or keep me as a wife in name only while you two fly off together?"
"Shen Qi..." He Yining squeezed out her name through clenched teeth.
He had never thought that way!
How could she misunderstand him like this?
He was furious!
Wait, how did Shen Qi know he had been looking for that little girl?
Who told her?
Feng Manlun!
It was him!
In the midst of his rage, He Yining suddenly calmed down.
Why did Feng Manlun tell her all this?
What was he plotting?
"Come home with me!" He Yining felt he needed to have a serious talk with this little thing.
He grabbed Shen Qi's wrist and strode out.
Shen Qi struggled but couldn't break free, and was dragged to the parking lot.
He Yining shoved her into the passenger seat and said to Xiao Chun, "Take Lin Xi to the villa."
Lin Xi immediately protested, "Yining gege, I want to stay at Jinghua Manor too!"
He Yining turned and gave Lin Xi a cold look.
Lin Xi shuddered again.
This man's eyes were terrifying...
Xiao Chun also sensed something was wrong and quickly said, "Miss Lin, please get in the car. I'll take you there."
He Yining started the car without another word and sped down the mountain with Shen Qi.
He drove recklessly fast, and Shen Qi clung tightly to her seatbelt, terrified he might fling her out in his fury!
As soon as they got home, He Yining pulled Shen Qi straight into the bedroom.
"Did Feng Manlun say something to you?" He Yining asked sharply.
Shen Qi tensed.
He Yining's intuition was terrifyingly sharp!
"No... nothing." Shen Qi stammered.
"Looks like you've learned to lie." He Yining's phoenix eyes darkened as he pressed closer.
Shen Qi instinctively backed away, step by step...
Until her legs hit the sofa, and she sat down hard.
He Yining leaned over her. "Is that so?"
His phoenix eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing through them.
Shen Qi felt a sense of unease.
"Naughty." He Yining gently lifted her chin. "Daring to lie to me."
Shen Qi tried to shake off his fingers. "I'm not lying! It's you! If you have someone you love, why did you provoke me?"
He Yining raised an eyebrow, his gaze shimmering. "Someone I love?"
"Isn't it true? The moment Lin Xi appeared, you immediately..." Before Shen Qi could finish, her words were swallowed by He Yining's kiss.
He Yining realized he was at a loss with this woman!
He couldn't hit her, couldn't scold her!
What was going on in her head?
How could he possibly fall in love with some random woman who showed up out of nowhere?
Even though Lin Xi had explained what happened back then, He Yining felt something was off.
He hadn't called her out on it because he wanted to investigate quietly!
But how did this woman jump to the conclusion that he loved Lin Xi?
Who had brainwashed her?
Since reasoning didn't work, he'd stop talking!
He Yining domineeringly pinned Shen Qi in his arms, kissing her until she was dizzy and disoriented.
The anger and grievance in Shen Qi's heart inexplicably flew away.
When she came to her senses, He Yining was already looking at her with a teasing smile.
"If you're so captivated, why say no?" He Yining lifted her chin, gently stroking her lips with his fingers, his voice low. "I'll give you an explanation about Lin Xi sooner or later. Remember, you're my lawful wife, and you have all the privileges! No one can surpass you—not any woman!"
Shen Qi was about to speak when He Yining suddenly straightened up, unbuttoned his shirt, and headed for the bathroom.
Just as Shen Qi was about to get up, He Yining said, "I've explained Lin Xi to you. Now, shouldn't you explain Feng Manlun to me?"
Shen Qi gritted her teeth.
What kind of explanation was that?
What a tyrant, a tyrant!
When He Yining didn't hear a response, he turned and saw Shen Qi grinding her teeth.
A smile tugged at his lips as he beckoned to her. "Come here."
Shen Qi looked at him warily. "What for?"
"I'll tell you some stories about me and Feng Manlun." He Yining's phoenix eyes curved. "And you can scrub my back while you're at it."
Shen Qi was still fuming, but at the last sentence, she couldn't help recalling that night at the Nanshan resort, when he'd asked her to scrub his back, and things had escalated...
Her ears flushed red.
He Yining strode toward the bathroom. "If you want to know, come in."
Watching his tall, captivating back, Shen Qi gritted her teeth again.
He was doing this on purpose!
But she was curious!
Shen Qi reluctantly entered the bathroom.
In the steam-filled room, He Yining lay comfortably in the bathtub, his back, shoulders, and arms exuding an exquisite beauty.
Shen Qi approached and said stiffly, "I'll scrub your back!"
He Yining didn't respond.
Resigned, Shen Qi crouched down and reached out to wipe his back.
But the moment her fingers touched him, he grabbed her hand.
With a sharp pull, He Yining yanked her into the tub before she could react.
Shen Qi was about to scream, but He Yining leaned in and swallowed her cry again.
This kiss was completely different from the last one.
The previous one had been too domineering; this one was too gentle.
Shen Qi couldn't help wrapping her arms around his neck, surrendering to the tender kiss.
When she came to her senses again, she realized she'd been thoroughly devoured!
He Yining chuckled softly. His little rabbit needed this method to stop her wild thoughts!
Shen Qi glared at him in embarrassment. "You did that on purpose!"
But He Yining didn't answer. He released her, letting her lie beside him in the tub, and said with half-closed eyes, "When I was very young, Feng Manlun and I were known as the Two Young Masters of H Province. Back then, I didn't think the title was a bad thing. But gradually, I noticed something was off. Feng Manlun always seemed to be quietly competing with me."
As expected, Shen Qi's attention was drawn in.
"No matter what it was, he seemed to want to outdo me. But the Feng family couldn't compare to the He family—not even close! Especially since I was already designated as the family heir, with more resources and power, my influence quickly surpassed everything Feng Manlun could control. He couldn't accept it. One day, he asked me to meet."
"I went. But he wasn't alone—his sister Feng Kexin was there too." He Yining's phoenix eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint passing through as if recalling a bad memory. "That was the first time I met Feng Kexin, and the first time I began to suspect Feng Manlun."
"Suspect?" Shen Qi looked at him in surprise.
"At the time, Feng Kexin was already engaged—a childhood betrothal to the son of a major southern conglomerate. But after that day, she suddenly called off the engagement and claimed she wanted to pursue me." He Yining fixed his gaze on Shen Qi. "Do you know Feng Manlun's nickname?"
Shen Qi shook her head blankly.
"They call him the Heartless Young Master." A cold smile curled at He Yining's lips. "He's never had real feelings. He doesn't love anyone—not even Feng Kexin. He only treats her gently to use her."
Shen Qi looked at him in horror.
The Heartless Young Master?
The name alone sounded so cold.
"For Feng Manlun, there are only things he can accomplish and things he can't. No one can ever be his weakness." He Yining nodded. "In other words, he'll stop at nothing to succeed. Even the Feng family can be sacrificed. When he realized the gap between us, he came up with this plan—either win me over or destroy me!"