047 - A Terrifying Thought

She was in the midst of changing into her pajamas when she heard the door slam shut with a loud bang. Startled, she spun around, instinctively clutching her pajamas to cover herself.

Lu Yichen stood behind the door, his face dark and stormy, staring at her. His chest rose and fell slowly, betraying the effort with which he suppressed his emotions.

The room, draped in deep purple curtains, was as dim as dusk settling into night. Yet Xia Yuwei felt as exposed as if she were naked before him. Furious, she demanded, "What are you doing in here? Don't you know this is my room? Can't you knock before you come in?" As she spoke, she grabbed the bedsheet from the bed and wrapped herself tightly.

Ignoring the sharpness in her voice, Lu Yichen strode toward her. Terrified, Xia Yuwei retreated step by step until she was pressed up against the curtains, cornered with nowhere left to go.

Her heart pounded wildly as he drew closer. When he reached out and pulled her into his arms, she thought her heart might leap from her chest.

"Don't go," Lu Yichen said, fixing his gaze on her.

"W-what do you mean, don't go?" Xia Yuwei lowered her eyes, refusing to meet his stare. She pushed against his chest with both hands, desperate to keep some space between them—if he came any closer, she was certain she would suffocate. Damn it, her chest felt suddenly tight and unbearably sour.

"Don't go on a date with another man. Don't go see that damned movie," Lu Yichen deliberately lowered his voice, but could not contain the madness simmering beneath.

Is it so hard not to care about her? Is it so hard not to look at her? Every time he saw her calm, indifferent face, it was as if she seized his heart in her grasp. More than once, he had felt the urge to grip her throat, to squeeze until he no longer had to endure her coldness and distance. Then, perhaps, his world would finally be quiet.

"And may I ask what right you have to meddle in my affairs, Xin Xin's boyfriend?" Hearing his words, she finally looked up at him, her expression as distant and cold as ever.

When she spoke, her heart felt as though it were gripped tightly by some invisible force—agonizing. They had been together for over a month, and she had never felt like this. Only today, only now, and it was uncontrollable, making her crave fresh air in desperate gasps.

Her words ignited his fury. In a wild motion, he seized her, spun her around, and shoved her onto the bed. They collapsed together atop the sheets.

"Let go of me! Let go, you bastard, you thug!" Xia Yuwei flailed and kicked, trying to shove him off her.

Lu Yichen’s knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists. He reached out and grasped her neck.