Volume 1, Chapter 36: Because he likes you!

Lu Miao was pressed against the wine cabinet, her back aching from the impact. "What are you doing... mph!"

Before she could recover from the shock, the man suddenly lowered his head and kissed her lips fiercely.

Lu Miao froze for a few seconds, the book in her hand falling to the floor with a thud. By the time she realized what was happening, her scalp felt like it was about to explode.

She tried to push him away with her hands, but was imprisoned in his embrace by his powerful arms.

As if that weren't enough, he raised a large hand to pinch her cheeks, forcing her small mouth open. He invaded her territory, kissing her even more deeply. The more she dodged, the further he pursued, chasing her and entangling her relentlessly.

Lu Miao felt like she was going crazy. She pushed against him, gasping for air. "Are you insane? Let me go... mph!"

She was too petite, and the man’s arms and chest were like walls of copper and iron. No matter how she struggled or resisted, she couldn't shake him in the slightest.

Fu Shiyue had no experience; he was simply following his inner desires and innate instincts. When he finally reached out, his hand slipped under her hem, touching the smooth, tender skin of her waist.

His rough palm felt like it was caressing a piece of warm, soft jade. Fu Shiyue’s heart hammered violently, and he couldn't help but give it a firm squeeze.

Lu Miao shuddered, almost on the verge of tears. She bit his lip hard, the taste of blood spreading between their tongues, and only then did he stop.

"What exactly is wrong with you?" Lu Miao pushed him away, wiping her mouth, feeling utterly humiliated.

His features were stern, but the bead of blood on his lip added a touch of wild allure. His eyes were bloodshot to a frightening degree, fixed on her like a beast stalking its prey. His voice was husky and sultry. "Who told you to follow me in? Why didn't you leave when I told you to?"

Lu Miao gnashed her teeth in shame and anger, glaring at him with reddened eyes. "I should have just left you here alone!"

She shouldn't have worried about him; she shouldn't have been soft-hearted. It would have been better to let him faint in this house and fend for himself.

"Do you know that saying that makes me want to... not be able to hold back again?" Fu Shiyue’s breathing was ragged. He was so infuriated he almost laughed. This silly girl was actually worried about him—did she have any idea that he wanted to... take her right now?

His aura was dark, cold, and dangerous, his bloodshot eyes locked onto Lu Miao. Seeing the veins bulging on his neck, Lu Miao was too scared to speak.

The motion-sensor light outside dimmed and then flared on. Shen Lü rushed to the doorway, saw the two of them in disarray, and covered his eyes. "Holy crap."

The two remained in a tense, hostile stare, as if Shen Lü didn't exist. He coughed awkwardly. "Uh... should I go back out and wait a bit longer?"

Fu Shiyue released Lu Miao and pushed her toward the door. "Take her back."

The door slammed shut with a bang, making Lu Miao’s back shudder. After a few seconds, her eyes turned red. Biting her lip and clenching her fists, she left without looking at Shen Lü.

Shen Lü wanted to say something, but seeing her storm off, he quickly followed.

The power was back on in the apartment complex. In the elevator, Shen Lü stood to the side, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Lu Miao’s swollen lips.

It was obvious at a glance that she had been bullied.

Shen Lü wanted to defend his good friend. "Little girl, don't blame Fifth Brother. He was poisoned by Old Xu's medicated wine tonight, so his behavior was inevitably a bit out of control..."

Lu Miao suddenly turned her head, her face full of shame and anger. "If he was poisoned, why didn't he go find another woman to fix it? Why did he come looking for me?"

"What else could it be? Obviously, he likes you."

A roar echoed in Lu Miao’s ears. "What did you say?!"

Shen Lü, a bit tipsy, blurted it out. "Old Xu called two women for him, but he wouldn't even touch them. The state he was in when he left the private room—he looked like he was going to kill someone. Nobody could stop him. I didn't expect him to come straight to your place after leaving the club."

Lu Miao was stunned for a few seconds. How could Fu Shiyue possibly like her? They had only known each other for a few days. She couldn't quite believe it.

Seeing her shocked expression, Shen Lü sobered up halfway, suddenly realizing he had said something he shouldn't have. He quickly tried to laugh it off. "No, no, I'm just joking with you. Our Fifth Brother has so many people chasing him, how could he ever be short of women? You didn't actually take that seriously, did you? Hahahaha!"

*Crazy.*

Lu Miao rolled her eyes at him, knowing he was just drunk.

Shen Lü wished he could slap himself. The girl was young and couldn't yet accept that a man over a decade her senior had feelings for her. No wonder Fifth Brother didn't dare let her know his intentions.

The atmosphere was awkward, so he quickly changed the subject. "Old Xu said the drug is extremely potent—even a god couldn't resist it. Fifth Brother isn't a god, but I think he’s more impressive than one."

Lu Miao turned away coldly. "You don't need to speak well of him."

"I’m saying this with my hand on my heart: to be able to hold back in the face of a delicate, defenseless girl—isn't that harder than quitting an addiction?" Shen Lü pulled out a cigarette. "He didn't want to hurt you, so he called me in advance and asked me to take you downstairs, just in case you couldn't navigate the dark path alone... tsk, I didn't expect the power to come back on."

Lu Miao fell silent. Thinking of how the man had endured his discomfort to carry her up to the twentieth floor, and how she had mocked him for being physically weak while he had smiled and told her to hurry inside and get her things without holding it against her, her heart felt sour and congested.

***

Shen Lü was afraid she would overthink things. "Little girl, don't read too much into it. If Fifth Brother wanted to take you, he would have done it long ago; he wouldn't have waited until now."

When Fu Shiyue came to Aohai Lanting, he never expected Lu Miao to be back. If he had really wanted to grab her to vent his urges, he would have gone straight to Xu Jin’s house to find her.

It was the feeling of having a "white moonlight" before one's eyes—one might want to possess it, but they know they shouldn't touch it.

Lu Miao couldn't describe how she felt. She turned her head away and stopped talking to Shen Lü.

The elevator doors opened, and she stepped out quickly. The 718 was still parked in the same spot. Before getting into the passenger seat, she paused, her expression complex as the memory of Fu Shiyue’s restrained, enduring face flashed through her mind.

A few seconds later, she let out a deep breath and turned to look at Shen Lü. "He looks very uncomfortable. Go back up and check on him. Don't let him stay alone. It would be best to find a doctor."

With that, she sat in the car and closed the door.

Xu Jin, who had been on the phone with her family, hadn't accompanied Lu Miao upstairs. Having just finished her call, she tilted her head and noticed Lu Miao’s mood was off. "What’s wrong? Did you argue with your uncle again?"

Lu Miao sniffled and pulled on her seatbelt. "No, let's go."

Xu Jin glanced at Shen Lü standing outside, pouted in confusion, and tapped the gas pedal.

Shen Lü watched the 718 drive away, rubbing his nose in surprise. He had thought this difficult girl would be so angry about tonight that she’d want to call the police and wouldn't care if Fifth Brother lived or died. He hadn't expected her to still be quite concerned.

Remembering something, his face darkened, and he hurried upstairs.

After Fu Shiyue closed the door, he slowly doubled over. His breathing was rapid and scorching, sweat soaking his clothes, and blurred phantoms appeared before his eyes.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Shen Lü asked anxiously, "Fifth Brother, are you okay? Should I take you to the hospital?"

Fu Shiyue took two deep breaths and straightened up. "No need. Bring me a set of clean clothes."

"Is it really okay not to go to the hospital? Old Xu said the drug's effects will last at least until tomorrow..."

He ignored Shen Lü, went straight to the bathroom, took off his clothes, and stood under the cold water. The bathroom lights weren't on. He watched the night scenery reflected in the water-beaded window, and with his eyes closed, he could imagine the scene of pressing her against it.

***

Lu Miao arrived at Xu Jin’s house, dropped her things, and quickly dived into the bathroom.

She took off her clothes and saw several blue finger-print bruises on her waist. She couldn't help but recall the man’s bulging veins and his suppressed restraint. Lu Miao’s heart skipped a beat. He really hadn't wanted to hurt her, which was why he had been in such pain from holding back.

How would he get through the night?

She sighed, soaking herself in the bathtub in a chaotic state of mind, her cheeks flushed pink by the steam. Tomorrow, she should find a chance to talk to him clearly; otherwise, this really wasn't a sustainable way to go on.

When Lu Miao came out of the bathroom, Xu Jin was sitting on the bedroom sofa, painting her nails while video chatting with a boy.

"Miaomiao, why is your lip broken