Yufan walked down the hallway in slow, measured steps, his expression unreadable and his eyes shadowed with thought.
"Women really are a hassle," he muttered under his breath, adjusting his composure before stepping back into the living room where his wife and the others waited.
Zihan and Guo Min were already preparing to leave, Ruoxi not far behind. Only Xiang remained seated, worry etched across his face as he refused to take his eyes off his sister.
"What did the doctor say?" Xiang's voice broke the silence.
"She's fine," Yufan replied flatly, pouring himself a glass of water and downing it in one go. "Just pregnancy fatigue. Nothing serious."
His tone was almost detached.
Xiang exhaled softly, the tension in his shoulders easing a little. He glanced at his sister one last time before finally standing. "Alright… I'll head out then. Call me if anything changes."
When the door closed behind him, silence descended once more.
Yufan sat still for a long moment, the ticking of the clock filling the room. His gaze drifted toward Lixi's resting form on the couch, face pale, her breathing steady.
His expression didn't soften.
He simply stared, eyes empty yet sharp, until the faintest flicker of something darker...almost disgust...passed through them.
Reaching for his phone, he spoke curtly, "Get the car ready."
Moments later, he stood, scooping Lixi carefully into his arms. Without a word, he carried her out to the car. He placed her gently in the back seat before sliding in beside her.
"The penthouse," he instructed, his voice low and firm.
The engine started, and the car pulled away from the Yang villa, cutting through the stillness of the night.
When they arrived, Yufan leaned slightly toward her, giving her lap a light tap. "Lixi, wake up."
Her lashes fluttered as she stirred. "Hm? We're home?" she mumbled groggily.
"Yes. Get inside," he said curtly, already opening the door.
"Okay…" she whispered, still half-asleep.
But by the time she looked up, Yufan was already walking ahead, his stride steady, unhurried, and utterly indifferent. He didn't glance back once to see if she was alright.
Lixi followed a few minutes later, dragging her tired body to her room. She freshened up in silence, her expression clouded with sadness as she caught sight of Yufan entering a different room as usual.
By the time dinner came, she sat alone at the long dining table, not expecting her husband to join her as usual. She quietly pierced a piece of steak and began to eat.
But then she froze.
Her fork slipped from her fingers when she saw Yufan stride into the dining room and sit directly across from her.
Her eyes widened, surprise written all over her face before she quickly composed herself, forcing her features into calm neutrality.
Yufan didn't speak at first. He ate slowly, his gaze fixed on her, heavy. The silence between them grew taut.
Finally, he set his utensils down.
"…What happened between us that night?"
The words hit like a stone. Lixi's breath caught, and her heart began to race.
"I suddenly feel like I just… married you," he continued, his tone detached. "I don't remember what happened between us. Not a single thing. Probably because I was drunk."
He stood and walked around the table, stopping right beside her. His presence loomed over her... calm, cold, and suffocating.
"So tell me," he said quietly. "How did it happen? How did I get you pregnant?"
Lixi's fingers tightened around her fork. Her eyes wavered, lips pressing into a thin line as she tried to steady her voice.
"I… I guided you to your apartment that night," she said hesitantly. "You seemed drunk and… sad. You were upset about Zihan and Guo Min's marriage announcement, so I took you home. You..." she swallowed, voice trembling, "...you mistook me for Guo Min."
She exhaled shakily, unable to meet his gaze.
"…Good," Yufan said at last, his tone chillingly even. "Did you indulge me, or not?"
"I… didn't."
He tilted his head slightly, studying her as his eyes grew colder.
"Lixi," he said slowly, "my memories from that night are blurry... but I am certain I asked for permission… in Guo Min's name." He paused, the air between them thick with dread. "So I'll ask you again... did you indulge me or not?"
"…Yes. I gave you my permission," Lixi whispered, her breath unsteady.
Yufan's expression didn't change, though his eyes darkened further. "The doctor said your blood pressure is elevated," he said quietly. "Why?"
"I… I don't know," she murmured.
He studied her for a long moment, his gaze sharp and analytical. "I did my research. Your meals are curated by top chefs and nutritionists. You're not overweight. You exercise regularly." He leaned forward slightly. "That only leaves one cause... overthinking."
Her throat tightened.
"What are you always thinking about?" he asked coldly. "Money?"
No response.
"Work?"
Still nothing.
Then he tilted his head, eyes narrowing. "…Love?"
Lixi flinched, her eyes darting toward him before she quickly looked away.
Yufan's lips curled into a dark, humorless smile. "Did I force you into this marriage?"
"…No."
He gave a soft, twisted laugh, one that sent a chill down her spine. He stood and moved closer, stopping just within reach. His presence was overpowering, the air between them taut with unspoken threat.
He smiled almost psychotically as he sat beside her, he leaned in, their lips almost touching, at first it looked romantic but it really wasn't. " What?, you want me to give you affection?... Even when I told you I can't?. How much more selfish can you get?". His tone was almost as sharp as a blade that she almost got out of her seat but Yufan's grip was unyielding.
His words hit her harder than a slap. Lixi's body tensed, her breathing shallow as he towered over her.
"You want me to touch you this way... with affection?". His hand roams. From her neck, to her clavicle, to her back, her bosom, her lips before he got to her stomach and paused... His grip tightening.
"Ahh". Lixi yelp. Not in pleasure, in pain.
"I've never raised my hand against a woman before but be grateful for the child you are carrying because psychologically I want to make you go mad. Don't push my limits Lixi, the ending won't be nice". He released her.
Without another glance, Yufan turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing through the empty dining hall.
Lixi sat frozen, trembling, not from his words alone, but from the quiet, suffocating emptiness he left behind.
Lixi sat alone in the dining room for a long while, her appetite gone, Yufan's cold words echoing relentlessly in her head. Only when the clock struck midnight did she finally rise and walk to her room.
Sitting on her bed, she prayed for something, anything to distract her from the heaviness clawing at her thoughts. And as if on cue, her phone vibrated.
A message from their group chat lit up her screen. Ruoxi was asking about her health, followed quickly by Guo Min's check in. Lixi typed a quick I'm fine and sent it.
Ruoxi: Why don't we go out after work tomorrow night, girls? It's been a while since we've had a ladies' night.
Guo Min: True. But you know, we married women get a little busy after marriage.
Ruoxi: When will you stop rubbing your marriage in my face? I just haven't found my soulmate yet, you know!
Their playful bickering filled the chat, and for the first time that night, Lixi smiled faintly.
Lixi: Guo Min, what do you do when you get in a fight with Zihan?.
The chat went silent for a few minutes. The question was sudden, and its weight lingered.
Guo Min: Zihan's a bit more level headed than Yufan, so my advice might not help much. But… as usual, try to talk it out.
Lixi: Okay.
Ruoxi: Cheer up, ladies! We're having a mini party tomorrow night. Those guys are too toxic to hang around for too long anyway.
Ruoxi's tone lightened the mood, and for a moment, it felt like everything might be okay again.