My whole body stiffened, I stood motionless like a statue. Partly because of tension, and partly because this damned Kình Uyên was blocking every way. He was in front of me, a wall behind me, and I was surrounded on all sides, leaving me with no escape route.
Kình Uyên stood so close that I could clearly feel his warm breath on my cheek, and a faint, familiar scent wafted into my nostrils, making me both flustered and incredibly tense.
I tried to look up, meeting his gaze. His eyes were deep and intense, cold and profound, yet carrying an undeniable pressure. Looking directly into his eyes, my heart skipped a beat, and my breathing became rapid.
I nervously pushed his chest, my voice stammering and trembling slightly:
"You… what are you saying? What misunderstanding? Get out of the way!"
A slight smirk played on Jing Yuan's lips as he spoke, as if enjoying a game.
"Oh… really, young master? I thought you were talking about… that other aspect."
That "other aspect" made my head spin. I blushed, pushing harder, but he remained still, as if testing my reaction.
"No! No! What nonsense are you talking about! Let go of me!"
He raised his eyebrows, his smile half mocking, half amused:
"Letting go is easy, but…"
As he spoke, his hand suddenly wrapped around my waist. The force was just enough to prevent me from falling, but it also caused me to lose my balance and fall into his arms. I was startled, and just as I was about to resist, his other hand moved up to the back of my neck.
A tingling sensation ran down my spine, goosebumps covered my entire body… I couldn't help but let out a soft moan. He lowered his head slightly, his gaze sharp yet calm, as if inspecting something.
After a moment, seeing that everything was normal, he released my hand. A hint of satisfaction flickered across his face, his voice returning to its usual calm tone, yet still tinged with a faint smile:
"Since the young master has said so, I shall let go."
I stepped back, still wary, my eyes fixed on Jing Yuan, my teary eyes staring directly at him. Jing Yuan stood there, composed, slightly bowed, his lips curving into a slight smirk, both hateful and… possessing an indescribable charm.
He looked at me with a cold expression, his deep eyes seemingly watching my next reaction, his lips curving into a mischievous smirk:
"Young master, you're looking at me like that… are you angry with me?"
I turned away, trying to take a few deep breaths to regain my composure, my hand unconsciously reaching up to cover the snow-white skin at the back of my neck. Kình Uyên took another step forward, closing the distance, his eyes now filled with a scrutinizing gaze. I felt like prey being surrounded.
It wasn't that I was afraid of him. Nor was it that I was infatuated with him. It was just… I knew I needed to be magnanimous, not show my embarrassment, not let him see my fear or shyness. I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure:
"I… this is the last time I'll let you off the hook. If there's a next time, then—"
Before I could finish, he lunged forward, grabbing my wrist tightly, pulling me unsteadily, my face slamming against his muscular chest. A small "thump" echoed, the slightly pungent pheromone scent almost suffocating me.
"You… what are you doing?!" I screamed, my voice a mixture of panic and shame.
He leaned down slightly, his breath brushing against my ear, his voice low and deep:
"Young master… you still want a next time?"
I blushed, almost shouting, "What do you mean 'next time'?!"
He looked at me, his gaze lingering on my lips for a few seconds, then suddenly chuckled softly. That laugh… was both teasing and sarcastic, making me want to hit Jing Yuan and cry at the same time.
He casually released me, returning to his usual serious expression:
"It's almost time, young master, go down for lunch."
I was stunned for a few seconds, my anger gradually rising. "Jing Yuan! Stop right there!"
He only chuckled softly, pretending not to hear. I was furious, chasing after him, our footsteps echoing down the hallway as we bickered.
When we reached the dining room, I finally sat down, breathless, still glaring at him, but I managed to ask:
"Hey, Jing Yuan, do you know where my parents…they went?"
He calmly replied:
"They went out on business."
I said "oh," and continued eating, but I felt uneasy. His quiet demeanor lingered behind me, and then, his familiar deep voice whispered in my ear:
"Are you free this afternoon, young master?"
I answered instinctively:
"Nothing at all…"
Hearing this, a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes, and he turned away:
"Good. Then enjoy your meal, young master. I have some work to do."
I looked up and watched his figure disappear. It was strange; he smiled more than usual today, but his gaze, that way, still made me feel…something wasn't quite right.