Chapter 20: Why Are You Never Obedient?

Wen Qi felt dizzy, unable to tell whether she was burning hot or freezing cold.

There was only a thin layer of clothing on her. Her back pressed against the mirror, and a thread of cold air seeped into her skin along with the faint draft. Under normal circumstances, she should have been shivering from the chill.

Click.

A crisp sound, the watch being removed and set against the counter.

Ordinarily she wouldn’t have noticed something so slight. But now she forced her mind to scatter, to focus on anything in this bathroom that wasn’t Wei Qingxuan.

Because his presence was everywhere.

His breath.

The invasive heat of him.

His hair brushing the side of her leg.

The electric numbness his lips left behind.

Each sensation shattered her deliberate attempts at indifference.

It was too hot.

She had never felt this hot before, and the heat was still climbing.

She reached to take off her outer layer, glancing toward the corner of the bathroom, only to realize he had already removed it. All she had on now was a short, thin camisole.

Her wrists were pinned firmly at her sides by Wei Qingxuan. If not for that restraint, in her dazed confusion she might have torn off the last flimsy barrier herself.

No.

There wasn’t truly any barrier between them at all.

Wen Qi bent forward slightly and lowered her head, watching his dark hair sweep across her knees as he knelt before her and slowly lifted his gaze.

His lips were glossy, moist, carrying a sheen. Something had dampened them; even the corners were wet. They should have looked soft, but at this moment they carried a decadent, predatory allure.

She knew.

He was the culprit behind the heat flooding her body.

‘Don’t look. You can’t look.’

She turned her head aside, only to catch sight of herself in the mirror. Strands of hair clung to her sweat-damp forehead. The corners of her eyes were flushed red.

For a moment, she couldn’t accept that version of herself.

She forced her gaze downward, and met his reflection instead.

Their eyes collided in the mirror. His lips curved slowly upward, tugging at her racing heart.

She had almost never seen him like this, so vivid, so dangerously beautiful. Her mind flashed back to the rising heat from moments ago, and the low, indistinct sigh he’d let out.

Uneasy, she shifted her leg.

He caught it instantly.

As if reading her thoughts, his smile deepened. In the mirror, he mouthed two silent words to her:

“Continue.”

“Continue what?” Wen Qi snapped, startled mid-sentence.

She didn’t finish.

He released her wrists, but before she could relax, his next movement erased every thought from her mind.

His fingers settled lightly on her thigh, sliding upward.

Wei Qingxuan rose to his feet. His white shirt was soaked, clinging to him completely, outlining the smooth lines of his waist, the faint contours of muscle beneath the fabric.

That hazy, restrained sensuality was even more enticing than bare skin.

Wen Qi held her breath without realizing it.

The scent of mint and sea salt filled the air, and her lungs.

He leaned down and kissed her hard, almost as if venting his displeasure at her attempt to flee. But when she let out a soft sound, he surrendered, slowing, kissing her again and again.

Yet she didn’t respond.

Her gaze was unfocused, expression dazed, but she refused to kiss him back.

The pressure of his kiss increased.

“Wen Qi, kiss me,” he demanded, urgency edging his voice. When she still didn’t move, he changed tactics. “Wen Qi, bite me. Bite me as hard as you hate me.”

The bathroom fell silent except for the faint drip of water.

Wei Qingxuan was both expectant and afraid. Conflicting emotions twisted inside him as he held her tight, his heartbeat pounding against her chest.

If he had been even a few seconds later, she might have escaped.

Maybe he needed to keep her bound to him at all times.

Lost in that thought, he felt the hand resting on his arm move at last.

He seized the moment and kissed her again.

“For now, you can only bite here,” he murmured. “Nowhere else. Understand?”

She didn’t answer.

He wasn’t annoyed. He asked again, more gently.

“Baby, understand?”

For a split second she nearly nodded, then clarity struck.

“In your dreams-”

He didn’t give her the chance to refuse. His tongue slid in decisively.

Every struggle she made dissolved under his steady control as he pulled her closer.

Perhaps because her anger finally had an outlet, she bit him without mercy. The metallic taste of blood spread between them.

She lost herself in the haze of it.

He took advantage of that moment, a crooked smile forming at the corner of his lips, mischief flickering in his eyes.

“Harder,” he murmured, drawing back slightly to look at her. “What, do you feel sorry for me?”

“In your dreams,” she shot back, blood staining her lips as she glared at him. “I want to bite you to death.”

“Mm. That works.” He leaned closer. “Then bite me. Otherwise, it means you care.”

A cunning fox offering itself to a furious rabbit.

For an instant, she almost imagined a tail swaying smugly behind him.

“Wei Qingxuan-”

Her words cut off as she lost her balance and slid forward, straight into his arms.

Her breath stuttered.

She could feel the texture of his fingertips, the curve of his knuckles, the heat of his palm.

“…A little tight,” he muttered under his breath.

“If you-” she began, biting her lip, voice drifting, “…I won’t forgive you.”

He laughed softly and said nothing more, fingers moving with deliberate slowness, testing, coaxing.

The pressure wasn’t strong, yet she felt suspended in disbelief, until suddenly the rhythm changed.

His fingers pressed further.

“Wei Qingxuan…” Her breath caught in her throat. Goosebumps rose across her skin.

Hot and cold crashed together again.

This time he was standing, and his touch was not as soft as his lips.

He wrapped an arm around her as if soothing her, fingers brushing her ear gently.

“Don’t be afraid,” he murmured. “I’ll make you feel good.”

She slapped his hand away and braced herself against the counter, breathing unevenly.

“Then stop. Get away from me. I’d be happiest if I didn’t see you at all.”

“Qi Qi, you’re lying,” he said lightly, fingers shifting just enough to make her gasp and grab his arm instinctively.

“You’re holding me back.”

“Shameless bastard,” she spat. “I must’ve been insane to think you were interesting. We’ve known each other so long, how did I never realize you’re this crazy?”

His expression darkened.

“If you had realized?”

“I would’ve stayed far away. Anyone who wants to live wouldn’t be with you.”

The words struck straight at his deepest fear.

If she truly saw him for what he was, she would never stay, unless she didn’t care about living.

“You want to live?” he asked suddenly.

“Obviously.”

Which meant she would leave him.

He smiled faintly, coolness in every breath.

“I don’t think you do.”

She turned her head toward the mirror again, trembling.

Her wrists were tied loosely with the shirt he’d removed.

She could only watch in the reflection as his hand moved again…

****

That night, Wen Qi felt unwell, muffled whimpers slipping from beneath the blanket.

Wei Qingxuan woke immediately, touching her flushed forehead, guilt clogging his throat.

“Sorry.”

She coughed violently, lashes damp, cheeks red.

“I’ll get medicine.” He started to rise, but her warm hand caught his wrist.

“Where are you going?”

“To get medicine. You have a fever.”

She pressed her lips together. “If you go… would no one stay with me?”

He paused, uncertain he’d heard correctly.

She scooted closer under the blanket. “I can’t be alone.”

“Then who do you want with you?” he asked softly, tucking the covers back around her.

“You.”

“Only me?” His voice was steady, but tense.

“And…”

His gaze sharpened. “And who?”

“My mom,” she sniffed. “I want to hear her voice.”

Relief loosened his chest. “I’ll call her after I get the medicine.”

She coughed again, worse this time, eyes shining with tears.

“I want to call now,” she whispered, burying herself in his chest. “When I used to get sick, she’d hold me and sing to me… She doesn’t anymore. Wei Qingxuan… my mom doesn’t love me anymore.”

“I’ll call right now.” He took out his phone. “I’ll hold you. I’ll learn whatever song you want. I’ll always comfort you.”

She blinked, then took the phone.

“Wait. My throat hurts. Get me some water first.”

“Your voice always sounds good,” he said.

“Go get water. It’s your fault my throat’s like this.”

He didn’t argue.

When the door shut firmly behind him, she slipped out from the blanket, gripping his phone.

She dialed quickly.

No answer.

On the third attempt, a groggy male voice finally responded.

“Who is this? Calling at this hour isn’t polite.”

She didn’t care about politeness.

“Xiang Weishi! Help. I’m being haunted by a ghost.”

Gone was her weak tone from moments ago.

After half a minute, she hung up, deleted the evidence, and slid back under the covers just as he returned with water and medicine.

“Take the medicine.”

“I’ll take it later.”

He placed it aside and held out his palm.

“Weren’t you calling your mom? I’ll dial.”

Her palms were sweating as she handed him the phone.

He looked at it in silence.

Her heart pounded.

“Forgot the number?” he asked lightly.

A perfect excuse.

She almost nodded.

“Or,” he continued, tapping the screen gently, “because you already called the person you actually wanted to hear.”

Her blood ran cold.

“He’s called Xiang Weishi, right?”

Every muscle in her body locked.

He lifted a brow, idly turning the phone in his hand.

“Why are you never obedient?”

She didn’t answer, just inched toward the foot of the bed.

She barely moved half a foot before warm fingers closed around her ankle.

He didn’t even rise, reclining against the headboard as he tugged her back effortlessly.

Her balance vanished. She slid across the sheets right to him.

His lashes cast faint shadows under his eyes as his thumb stroked the delicate skin of her ankle almost lazily.

His voice was softer than his grip.

“Running again? I’ll ask you one more time. Why are you never obedient?”