Chapter 151: I Will Settle the Score with You Next Time

The pale light wrapped softly around her, accentuating the porcelain whiteness of her skin.

When Cheng Xingye heard her words, his back was still turned to her. He stared at the young girl in the mirror for a few seconds, as if contemplating something. After a moment, he let out a low, indifferent hum. Slowly, he reached out, took hold of her slender wrist, and traced the pulse point on the inside of her arm for a few moments. Then, in the next second, he suddenly turned around.

He pressed her against the smooth tiled wall; behind her was the frost-like chill of the ceramic, and before her was his scorching, solid chest. Lu Qingyue was instantly caught between ice and fire. Before she could react, her lips were engulfed by his heavy, deliberate suction. This kiss was deeper and more intense than any before—so aggressive it felt as if he meant to swallow her whole.

Lu Qingyue had taken off her coat upon entering the room, leaving her in only a thin, base-layer knit top. The soft fabric clung to her frame, her slender waist feeling impossibly fragile beneath his palms. His large hands roamed over her back, tracing down to linger at her waist for a long while before he suddenly lifted her up and set her on the bathroom vanity.

He pressed his rigid frame against her legs, lowering his head to gaze at her lips before shifting his eyes upward. Their heated gazes locked, and he asked in a low, husky voice, "Are you sure about this?"

Lu Qingyue felt her heart race under his scrutiny. Just as she was about to go with the flow and reach for his waistband, she suddenly remembered something. She quickly pushed him away. "Wait! Not today!"

Cheng Xingye was already at the point of no return. Pushed back like this, he couldn't help but laugh in frustration. "Are you playing with me?"

He was caught in such a maddening state of arousal that he refused to let go easily. With one hand, he clamped down on her waist, preventing her from retreating an inch.

Knowing she was in the wrong, Lu Qingyue hurriedly explained, "No, it’s not that. I just realized my period started today."

Cheng Xingye’s eyes were still clouded with unspent desire. Whether he believed her or not, he didn't say, but his hand tightened on her waist as he leaned in and bit down on her delicate neck in retaliation. "Really?"

The sting made Lu Qingyue gasp, and she pleaded softly, "Really, why would I lie to you?"

If it weren't for the inconvenience, she would have already been in bed with him by now.

But this man was as shrewd as they come. He had been tricked by her so many times that he had nearly been driven to the brink, so he didn't intend to take her word for it. He lifted her off the vanity and slid his large hand down over her jeans. "I need to check."

Lu Qingyue was ticklish; she tried to swat his hand away, giggling as she dodged him. "Hey, what about trust between people?!"

There might be trust between some people, but there certainly wasn't any between Cheng Xingye and her. Having been deceived by her so many times, he no longer expected a single word of truth to come out of her mouth. He felt her over, and suddenly, his hand paused upon touching something.

After a moment, he tilted his head back, let out a helpless laugh, and gave her waist a firm pinch. "If you can't, then why are you provoking me?!"

Lu Qingyue shivered under the pinch and had to curl up, begging for mercy. She wrapped her arms around his neck, tilting her head back to kiss his Adam's apple and chin, offering soft, coquettish explanations. "Oh, I really did forget. How about I owe it to you and pay you back next time?"

Cheng Xingye remained still, letting her hold him. He looked down at her with a lazy, unimpressed gaze. "Owing it is fine. But I'll have to charge interest."

Lu Qingyue was naive enough to ask without suspicion, "How?"

How? That, of course, was for Cheng Xingye to decide.

His eyes, dark and glistening as if dipped in water, stared down at her intensely. After a moment, he took hold of her wrist and pulled her hand toward him with unwavering authority. His lean, firm knuckles pressed against her skin as he leaned in to kiss her, guiding her small hand downward.

His massive frame blocked most of the overhead light. In the flickering shadows, the ambiguity of the moment grew unchecked. Lu Qingyue felt her scalp tingle; her body went rigid, as if she had lost the power to control her own movements, leaving her to follow his lead into a new territory she had never dared to explore. She tried to remain calm and composed, but her reason was crumbling under his influence.

In a haze of consciousness, she heard him let out a low chuckle, his husky voice whispering against her ear:

"Go ahead and touch. No extra charge this time."

...

At midnight, the city lights shimmered like a sea of stars.

The floor-to-ceiling windows reflected the brilliant night view, while the sound of water trickled rhythmically in the bathroom. Lu Qingyue lay under the covers, her arms aching and her eyelids heavy. As she struggled to stay awake for Cheng Xingye to finish his shower, it dawned on her—the interest on this debt was quite high, wasn't it?

While her thoughts were still in a jumble, the mattress beside her sank.

A sharp scent of mint washed over her, followed by a strong arm that draped over her waist, pulling her into his embrace. Lu Qingyue let out a soft, sleepy murmur and nestled into him instinctively. His scent was crisp and familiar, wrapping around her in layers that brought a sudden sense of peace and security. Like a cat that had been stroked into contentment, she let out a small yawn and closed her eyes, drifting off in his arms.

The man behind her stroked her cheek and leaned over to kiss the tip of her ear. "Already asleep?"

Lu Qingyue was too exhausted to even open her eyes. "What else is there to do if not sleep?"

That was true.

Cheng Xingye sighed silently, his arm tightening to pull her closer against him. As he gently patted her to sleep, he murmured, his voice laced with a low, suppressed laugh, "Sleep then. I'll settle the score with you next time."