C2 There Was No Way out

Tang Yan's face turned a deep shade of red the moment she finished speaking. She couldn't believe she had actually said it out loud!

Xi Pei's gaze suddenly became dangerous. He had been reluctant to see Miss Tang deceived into a marriage and then taken advantage of, which is why he suggested they sleep separately. But here she was, taking the initiative.

He wondered how she would react when she found out she hadn't married Xi Yan after all.

Maintaining a shred of composure, Xi Pei asked, "Are you sure about this?"

He watched her intently. Inside, Tang Yan was torn, but she had no other choice. Since she had taken Tang Li's place in this marriage, she had already resigned herself to this fate. Besides, Tang Li had planted a listening device on her. If nothing happened tonight, Tang Li would certainly not let it go.

With that thought, Tang Yan bit her lip and, with a mix of determination and vulnerability, wrapped her delicate arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Without hesitation, she pressed her lips against his.

Having never been in a relationship, she could only clumsily explore. It wasn't until the unique sweetness of her kiss registered that Xi Pei responded. His eyes darkened as he wrapped his arms tightly around her slender waist, deepening the kiss.

A thrill ran through Tang Yan's heart—Xi Yan hadn't rejected her! Yet, a wave of sadness followed. At this point, there was no turning back.

The intense kiss seemed to sweep away all reason, as body temperatures rose, eventually extinguishing it completely.

...

Moonlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, spilling across the room to the edge of the bed. Clothes were scattered everywhere—an abandoned suit and a crumpled wedding dress. On the bed, Tang Yan was already in a deep sleep after the exhausting day.

Xi Pei, who should have been asleep, suddenly opened his eyes. His sharp features were hidden in the shadows. After glancing at the sleeping Tang Yan, he slipped on a robe and stepped out onto the balcony to make a phone call.

“So soon?” came a voice on the other end, dripping with disdain and arrogance. “She didn’t notice anything unusual, did she?”

Xi Pei’s voice was emotionless. “No, I’ve done everything you asked. The shares you promised should be mine now, right?”

“Don’t worry, I’m not attached to those shares,” the voice replied.

The sound of a chair scraping across the floor followed, likely as someone went to sign the transfer documents.

Xi Pei silently clenched his fist.

To Xi Yan, five percent of the shares meant nothing; the entire future of the family was his. But for Xi Pei, an illegitimate son, these hard-won shares were incredibly important. The family guarded against him fiercely, and this five percent might be his only chance to turn the tables and seek revenge.

Xi Pei's eyes suddenly filled with a storm of emotions, making him look particularly intimidating under the dim moonlight. But soon, he reined in his feelings, reverting to the submissive persona of the Xi family's illegitimate son.

"Alright, I've sent the photo. Take a look."

His phone chimed with a notification. Seeing the signed and stamped share transfer document sent by Xi Yan, Xi Pei finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, Xi Yan's teasing voice came through again. "You've managed to get married, so don't forget to bring your wife over tomorrow to show her off. It'll be nice to share in your happiness."

The emphasis on "wife" was heavy with mockery. Xi Pei knew Xi Yan was belittling him for marrying a woman he had rejected. But he had no choice but to endure it and agreed.

Back in his room, he saw Tang Yan lying on the bed with her eyes tightly shut. Xi Pei felt a twinge of sympathy for her. If only she knew she had been deceived...

Oh well, he could barely take care of himself, let alone worry about someone else.