C21 An Annoying Person

In a fleeting moment, Gong Lingye's pupils snapped into a tight focus.

The woman's breath brushed against him, her exhalations soft and warm, involuntarily tensing every muscle in his frame.

Yet she was oblivious to what had transpired. And between her lips, a low murmur escaped, effortlessly sending a jolt through his nerves.

Gong Lingye swallowed hard, his gaze growing increasingly intense. Was she doing this deliberately?

Squinting slightly, he placed his broad palm on Soong Yiren's cheek. The calluses on his hand gently grazed her tender skin as his fingers weaved through her tousled hair, tugging ever so slightly.

He turned her face toward him, and there she was, eyes shut tight, cheeks flushed, her whole body feverishly hot—it appeared she had truly passed out.

"Old Xu, contact Dr. Tan and have him meet me at the hotel immediately!" Gong Lingye commanded his driver.

Without delay, the driver phoned Gong Lingye's personal physician.

When Soong Yiren awoke, it was already the next morning.

Her body ached all over, a dull pain lingering in her lower abdomen, yet the bedding beneath her was uncommonly plush and cozy.

Lifting her eyelids, she was momentarily disoriented by the completely unfamiliar surroundings.

Then, her mind raced through a series of images: men closing in on her, the gleam of sharp daggers, the spread of blood, and a pair of bespoke leather shoes.

She had been rescued and brought here, to the presidential suite of a hotel.

The savior was absent from the bedroom; she was alone. But listening carefully, she could discern the faint sound of someone typing on a keyboard outside.

The one who had saved her, was he still in the suite?

Soong Yiren inhaled deeply, threw back the blanket, and glanced at her attire.

She found herself clad in the hotel's standard bathrobe, with nothing underneath.

Her heart leapt to her throat. Soong Yiren sprang to her feet, determined to discover her rescuer.

At that moment, the person outside seemed to detect the stirrings within and entered.

Soong Yiren looked up to find Gong Lingye approaching. He was dressed in a crisply ironed shirt and tie, looking every bit the part of a man ready for a business conference.

Outside, the world was awash with light, yet the bedroom remained dim. He stood at the threshold of light and shadow, his features cast into sharp, handsome relief.

No wonder that voice from yesterday was so familiar—it was him!

Soong Yiren's lips parted, ready to express her gratitude, when a glimpse of dried blood on the bed caught her eye. Shock washed over her, draining the color from her face.

Gong Lingye, puzzled by her abrupt change in expression, followed her gaze to the crimson stain. After a brief pause, he allowed himself a smile and advanced toward the bed.

It wasn't until Gong Lingye reached the bedside that Soong Yiren finally turned to face him. Her hands clutched the sheets, crumpling them with her nervous grip.

"Why would you do this?" she asked, her voice quivering.

Gong Lingye, now standing before her, peered into her eyes, noting the unmistakable panic. The amusement in his own gaze intensified.

He leaned in suddenly, his hands bracing on either side of her. His proximity sent a jolt of alarm through her, and instinctively, Soong Yiren recoiled, retreating further into the safety of her blankets. Yet, Gong Lingye's masculine presence only grew more potent.

Narrowing his eyes, Gong Lingye knelt on the bed, his body hovering just above her. "What do you mean?" he asked, feigning ignorance.

Soong Yiren hadn't anticipated such audacity. Her breaths came in sharp bursts, her eyes nearly slicing through Gong Lingye. "I'm your nephew's girlfriend. Why did you take advantage of me when I couldn't resist, to have an intimate encounter?"

"Oh, that's what this is about." Gong Lingye's eyebrows lifted, his expression one of utter indifference. "Why wouldn't I be with a woman who's thrown herself at me?"

Soong Yiren's anger flared, her voice rising. "Gong Lingye, how can you be so despicable? To lay a hand on your own nephew's girlfriend!"

"Gong Mochen's girlfriend?" Gong Lingye scoffed. "You're still deceiving yourself. Tell me, why did my nephew agree to have you as his girlfriend?"

Soong Yiren bit her lip, remaining silent as she was engulfed in the rage of violation, her mind nearly paralyzed.

She had never anticipated this—believing she had been rescued, only to stumble into a different peril.

"Let me think," Gong Lingye mused. "Last night was your first time, which clearly indicates my nephew hasn't been with you. Is it his lack of sexual prowess?"

Soong Yiren's face flushed with a mix of emotions, but before she could utter a word, Gong Lingye pressed on, "Did you leverage his inadequacy to coerce him into acknowledging your identity? Are you that desperate to tie yourself to the Gong Family?"

Shock coursed through Soong Yiren; she hadn't expected Gong Lingye to so swiftly deduce the truth.

Yet as astonishment gripped her, clarity began to seep back in.

Her cherished first time was irrevocably lost; she had to face that fact. She could no longer allow herself to be duped by Gong Lingye—this man was trouble, and she refused to let him sway her emotions any longer.

Soong Yiren steadied her nerves, her lips pressed tightly together, choosing silence over words.

Gong Lingye noticed her shifting demeanor and leaned in closer, their bodies almost brushing against each other.

He whispered into her ear, his deep voice washing over her, "Imagine Gong Mochen's reaction if he found his girlfriend in my bed."

Gripping the bedsheet tighter, Soong Yiren's voice steadied, "Mr. Gong, if you intended to tell him, you wouldn't be asking me. You'd have called him directly, giving me no chance to brace myself. Clearly, you're not out to expose me. So, what is it that you want?"

"You're quite astute," Gong Lingye acknowledged, lifting himself slightly as his hand caressed Soong Yiren's body.

His fingers were defined, calloused from use. As his hand grazed her skin, Soong Yiren felt a jolt, a sensation both alien and threatening.

His hand came to rest on her waist, his tone nonchalant, "After last night, I've taken a liking to you. I want to keep this going. Become my lover, and I'll keep quiet about this to Gong Mochen."

Soong Yiren nearly believed she had heard him wrong. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the man before her. It took a while before she could muster the words, "You're despicable!"

Gong Lingye didn't react with anger; instead, he chuckled. His hand gave her waist a gentle squeeze before sliding upwards, his gaze intensely fixed on Soong Yiren. "All I need from you is your answer."

Her eyes reddened with a frosty glint, Soong Yiren retorted, "I disagree."

"That's a shame," Gong Lingye remarked. He abruptly rose to his feet, grabbed his phone, and looked as though he was about to dial out.

A surge of alarm shot through Soong Yiren, prompting her to spring up. Now standing on the bed, she was eye-level with Gong Lingye. She reached out, intent on snatching his phone away.

It was then that she distinctly felt a rush of warmth flooding her lower abdomen.