The extended Phantom slid silently into the winding mountain road, and the scenery outside the window quickly receded. The lush mountains and forests and the bright lights of the distant city were constantly left behind. Inside the car, the air was as solid as lead. Helian Cheng's cold declaration of "Game on" was like a poisoned needle, deeply piercing Su Wan's nerve endings, bringing waves of paralyzing coldness.
She curled up in the corner of the leather seat, as far away from him as possible, farther and farther. The huge diamond ring on the ring finger of her left hand was so heavy that it almost broke her bones. The cold touch reminded her of her absurd identity at all times - Mrs. He. A title that was forcibly crowned and could not be refused.
The car finally drove into a territory tightly enclosed by a tall wall. The heavy carved iron gate slid open silently, revealing a scene like a paradise inside. The meticulously trimmed huge lawn and the well-designed fountain sparkled in the twilight. In the distance stood a huge villa with cold and hard lines and a very modern feel. It was made of dark glass and cold metal frames. In the deepening night, it looked like a dormant and silent beast.
Is this Helian Cheng's "home"? It's more like a heavily guarded fortress. Su Wan's heart sank.
The car stopped smoothly in front of the main house. Chen Mo got out of the car first and respectfully opened the door on Helian Cheng's side. Helian Cheng took a long step, got out of the car, and without looking back, walked straight to the heavy door that seemed to be able to isolate everything. Su Wan hesitated for a moment, and Chen Mo had silently walked around her and opened the car door. His eyes were calm, but with unquestionable waiting.
"Miss Su, please." His voice was flat.
Su Wan took a deep breath, grasped the hem of her skirt with cold fingertips, stepped out of this moving cage, and then stepped into another unknown but obviously more solid cage.
The space inside the villa is so large that it makes people panic. The living room with a very high ceiling, the huge floor-to-ceiling window outside is a carefully maintained infinity pool and the lights of the city in the distance, and the view is so wide that it is almost luxurious. But the decoration style here is the same as its owner, cold, simple, and meticulous. Black, white, gray, and metallic colors constitute the main tone. The huge abstract paintings have a cold artistic sense. The expensive marble floor is shiny and reflects the dazzling but cold crystal chandelier above the head. The air is filled with the same cold fragrance as Helian Cheng, and there is another more subtle smell of expensive building materials and absolute cleanliness.
It is spacious, luxurious, but cold like an ice cellar. There is no trace of fireworks, let alone the warmth of "home".
"Madam, you are back." An old man in a well-dressed uniform and with a kind face appeared in the entrance hall at some point. He bowed slightly, respectful but with a kind of peace that comes from having seen the world. "I am Uncle Fu, the housekeeper here. Your room is ready, in the master bedroom suite on the east side of the second floor. Dinner will be delivered to the room later. Do you have anything special to eat?" His eyes fell gently on Su Wan's pale face, with a hint of imperceptible concern.
Master bedroom? Suite? Su Wan's heart jumped suddenly, and he subconsciously looked at Helian Cheng, who had taken off his suit jacket and was being taken over by Chen Mo and walked towards the bar in the deep living room. His tall back seemed particularly oppressive in the empty space.
"No... no thanks, Uncle Fu." Su Wan's voice was a little dry. She just wanted to find a place to hide herself. "I... I'm not hungry." Uncle Fu didn't ask any more questions, but just nodded slightly: "Okay, Madam. If you need anything, please ring the bell at any time." He gestured to a young maid next to him who was also in uniform and had a respectful expression, "Xiaoling, take Madam to the room to rest." The maid named Xiaoling immediately stepped forward and bowed slightly: "Madam, please follow me." Su Wan almost followed Xiaoling up to the second floor as if she was escaping. The long corridor was covered with thick carpets, and the footsteps were completely absorbed. It was terribly quiet. The doors on both sides were closed, like a silent mystery. Xiaoling stopped in front of a double-opening dark wooden door inlaid with simple metal lines and gently pushed it open. "Madam, this is your room." The room was surprisingly large. The huge floor-to-ceiling windows faced the swimming pool and mountain view outside. At this moment, the curtains were drawn, and the lights of the city were like scattered stars. A surprisingly large bed occupies the center, covered with high-quality dark gray bedding. The door of the independent cloakroom is open, and it is already full of the latest women's clothing of the season, shoes, accessories are all available, and the light shines softly on the luxurious fabrics. The bathroom connected to it is even more ridiculously large, and the double massage bathtub is like a small swimming pool.
Luxurious to the extreme, but also extremely cold. Everything here is new, expensive, and perfect, except for a trace of "Su Wan". She is like an intruder, an exquisite decoration that was forcibly placed here.
"Madam, your underwear and toiletries are already in the bathroom." Xiaoling's voice is soft, but with a sense of stereotyped procedure, "If you need to take a bath or rest, I will wait outside." She pointed to a small living room connected to the bedroom.
Waiting? Su Wan's heart sank to the bottom. This is not service, it is clearly surveillance.
"No, I... I want to be alone for a while." Su Wan tried to make her voice sound calm.
"Okay, ma'am." Xiao Ling bowed, stepped out, and gently closed the door.
The moment the door closed, Su Wan's tense nerves relaxed a little. She slid down on the carpet against the cold door, and the huge fatigue and panic overwhelmed her like a tide. She took out her mobile phone, and the screen lit up, with countless missed calls and explosive message prompts, almost all from her best friend and partner-Lin Xiao.
With trembling fingers, she dialed Lin Xiao's number. It only rang once, and the other side was immediately connected.
"Wan Wan?! Oh my God! Is it really you? That one in the news is you?! When did you become Helian Cheng's wife?! Oh my God! I almost sprayed coffee on the computer when I saw the photo! Is that pigeon egg real? It blinded my titanium alloy dog eyes! Didn't you celebrate with us last night? How did you celebrate in Helian Cheng's bed? Tell me! What happened? Is Helian Cheng more handsome than in the photo? Did he..." Lin Xiao's voice like a machine gun came crackling, full of shock, worry and burning gossip.
Listening to the familiar and full of vitality voice of her friend, Su Wan's strong strength that she had been holding on to collapsed in an instant, her eyes became hot, and tears welled up without warning. She covered her mouth, suppressing the sobs in her throat, but couldn't control the subtle sobs.
On the other end of the phone, Lin Xiao's voice suddenly stopped, and then became extremely nervous and cautious: "Wanwan? Wanwan, what's wrong with you? Why are you crying? Did he bully you? What did that Heliancheng do to you? Speak, Wanwan! Don't scare me!"
"Xiaoxiao..." Su Wan's voice was nasal and broken, "I don't know... I really don't know... I drank too much, and woke up in his bed... Then... Then he held a press conference... Said I was his wife... I... I can't escape... Xiaoxiao, I'm scared..."
She spoke incoherently, pouring out the absurd changes overnight and the fear of being imprisoned at the moment. Heliancheng's cold eyes, unquestionable declaration, this huge and cold villa, servants everywhere... Everything made her feel suffocated.
"Force?!" Lin Xiao's voice suddenly rose, full of anger, "He is kidnapping! It's illegal detention! Wanwan, don't be afraid! I'll call the police right away! We..."
"No! Don't!" Su Wan was so scared that she stopped him immediately, her heart pounding, "Xiaoxiao, don't! You can't call the police! He is Heliancheng..." Her voice was full of powerlessness. Call the police? In Jingjiang City, who can shake Heliancheng? I'm afraid the consequences of calling the police are something that neither she nor Lin Xiao can bear.
There was silence on the other end of the phone, leaving only Lin Xiao's heavy breathing, obviously suppressing his raging anger and worry. After a long while, Lin Xiao said in an extremely serious and crying tone: "Wanwan, listen to me. You are in that place now, you must be careful. Heliancheng... that kind of person is unfathomable. Is he good to you? I mean... privately? Has he... hurt you?"
Hurt? Su Wan remembered the cold and powerful fingers pinching her chin; the fingertips caressing her lips with a controlling intimacy; the arms around her waist, like an iron hoop... Is that invisible, mental oppression and control considered hurtful?
"He... he seemed to... just... 'declare' that I belong to him." Su Wan's voice was filled with confusion and fear. "Materially... he gave me the best, but this feeling... is so terrible, Xiaoxiao. It's like... like I'm an expensive collection he bought, and I must put it in a designated place according to his wishes." She paused, her voice so low that it was almost inaudible, "He didn't even... touch me. After the press conference, he went to the study... until now."
On the other end of the phone, Lin Xiao took a breath of cold air, and then exclaimed in an incredible and extremely low voice: "What?! He didn't touch you?! He just... put you there? My God... Wanwan, he wouldn't... wouldn't he be... no?!" This bizarre guess came out of his mouth with an absurd black sense of humor, trying to ease his friend's fear.
No? Su Wan was stunned. The soreness and marks in her body last night were real... but tonight, Helian Cheng did not cross any line. His attitude was more like executing a sophisticated procedure.
This guess was too absurd, but strangely, it made Su Wan's tense heartstrings loosen a little, and she even couldn't help but want to smile bitterly. But then, a greater chill surged into her heart. If even the body is not his goal, then what does he really want?
"I don't know, Xiaoxiao..." Su Wan closed her eyes tiredly.
"Don't worry about the studio, I'm here!" Lin Xiao immediately changed the subject and tried to give her some support, "I'll help you keep an eye on the jewelry design proposal for the 'Xinglan' hotel! Although you are 'Mrs. He' now, I know that it is your hard work! Don't worry, I will fight to the end! And..." Her voice was lowered again, full of worry, "Wanwan, protect yourself. No matter what he wants to do, don't confront him head-on, just go along with him first, find an opportunity...we'll find a way! Don't be impulsive!"
"Well..." Su Wan choked up and responded. Lin Xiao's care and support are her only source of warmth at the moment.
After chatting for a few more sentences, after Su Wan repeatedly assured that she would be careful, Lin Xiao hung up the phone worriedly.
The screen of the mobile phone went dark. Su Wan sat on the carpet with her knees hugged. Outside the huge French window were the bright lights of thousands of houses, but they could not illuminate the cold island in her heart. She looked around this luxurious but senseless cage, and her eyes finally fell on a brand new tablet placed on the desk not far away.
A thought flashed through her mind. She needed to do something to prove that she was not just a "Mrs. He", to prove that Su Wan was still alive and her dream was still there.
She stood up and took the tablet. Her fingertips slid across the screen and she skillfully logged into her cloud disk account. Fortunately, He Liancheng did not seem to restrict her network. She found the jewelry series proposal designed for the "Xinglan" Hotel - "Liuguang Island". This was a work that she had spent countless efforts on. It was inspired by the moonlight and tides of the island. It was the largest project she had received since the establishment of her independent studio and the key to proving her value.
She took a deep breath, opened the design software, and forced herself to immerse herself in those lines and colors. Only by immersing herself in work can she temporarily forget the absurdity and fear of reality and regain a sense of control over her destiny.
Time passed in concentration. She modified the curve of a bracelet and immersed herself in her own world. Until a strong and cold breath silently enveloped her from behind, with a familiar clear and cold fragrance.
Su Wan suddenly froze, her fingertips stopped on the screen, and her blood seemed to solidify instantly. She did not look back, but could clearly feel that sharp gaze falling on the tablet screen and on her design draft.
When did Helian Cheng come in? She was unaware!
His tall figure almost completely enveloped her in shadow. He did not speak, but just watched quietly. The silent scrutiny and oppression were more suffocating than any words. Su Wan could feel her back getting cold and her heart beating wildly in her chest.
A few seconds seemed as long as a century.
Finally, a man's hand with distinct joints reached out from her shoulder, covering her hand holding the stylus with a natural control. His palm was warm, and his fingers were slender and powerful, easily wrapping her hand and the stylus together.
Su Wan trembled all over, as if she was hit by an electric current, and almost jumped up, but was firmly nailed to the spot by his breath.
He leaned over slightly, and his warm breath brushed across her earlobe, bringing a shudder. His voice sounded low, calm, but with an unquestionable command, it clearly drilled into her ears:
"Here, the curve is not smooth enough." His fingers led her hand and drew a rounder and stronger line on the screen, covering her original design, "This is worthy of the identity of 'Mrs. He'."
The cold command, like an invisible chain, instantly tightened Su Wan's throat. Not only did he imprison her body, but now, even her talent and dream, which she relied on for survival and was proud of, had to be twisted and redefined according to his will!
A huge wave of humiliation and anger rushed to her head, instantly burning all her reason and fear!
"Snap!"
A crisp sound!
Su Wan suddenly broke free from his hand, and with all her strength, she slammed the expensive stylus on the tablet screen! The screen instantly cracked into spider web-like patterns.
She turned around like a completely enraged little beast, staring at Helian Cheng who was close at hand with red eyes, her chest heaving violently, and her voice was sharp and changed because of extreme anger and humiliation:
"This is my design! Helian Cheng! I am not your doll! Not even a collection for you to show your taste!"
The roar echoed in the empty and cold room, with desperate accusations and a determination to burn everything down.