The rain outside beat against the windows like a warning, steady and relentless. Nei Rougang stood by the bed for a long moment, staring at the girl curled against his chest. Her breathing was soft and steady, her eyelashes trembling faintly from the cold air she'd battled.
Her injured foot… it could be a reason to let her stay the night. A very good reason. The most logical one, in fact. The storm outside was loud, heavy, and dangerous.
One wrong step and she might slip again. Letting her sleep here—just for tonight—was reasonable. Sensible.
But the moment the thought appeared, he crushed it. Indulge her once, and she would never leave. Song Yue didn't take inches—she took miles, then added several more for good measure.
He lowered his head to wake her, but stopped the second he saw her face. She had already fallen asleep on him, mouth slightly open, clinging to him like a warm little parasite. Her messy hair stuck to her cheeks. Her tiny fingers were still curled around his shirt.
"Damn it…" he whispered, more helpless than angry.
His hand rose without him thinking, brushing her hair back from her forehead. The small, delicate face beneath it made something sharp in him soften instantly. His cold, intimidating aura faded like fog under sunlight.
Song Yue… what do you want from me? What am I supposed to do with you?
He sighed, picked up his phone, and called Xu Feng. "Change all the windowsills on the outer eaves to marble. Tomorrow morning." His voice was flat, controlled—but the exhaustion in it leaked through.
Only after he put the phone down did he finally sit beside her and watch her sleep, wondering when she became the one thing he couldn't control.
*
Morning arrived gently. Soft sunlight seeped through the curtains and fell onto Song Yue's cheek, warming her skin. She rubbed her face against something warm and firm—something that smelled faintly of pine, soap, and familiar comfort.
The moment she opened her eyes, she saw a face so handsome it could make anyone forget their name. His dark eyes were slightly narrowed, complicated emotion swirling inside like deep ocean waves.
Without a second thought, she flipped her body and landed squarely on top of him, grinning. "Uncle! I knew it. You can't bear to part with me!"
He didn't push her off. He didn't throw her outside. He didn't send her home. That was enough proof for her. Proof that he cared. That he always cared.
But Nei Rougang stiffened the moment his brain fully caught up. "Get off," he muttered, voice tense. "I'm your uncle."
"For goodness sake, Uncle, you're so naggy. And it makes you seem old." She emphasized the last word dramatically.
His jaw tightened. "How many times do I need to repeat myself? You listen like a goldfish."
"What does that even mean?" she frowned.
"Goldfish forget everything in seven seconds. Just like you."
Song Yue blinked, then shrugged. "Actually, that's great. I'll never stay angry at you for long, and I'll fall in love with you all over again. Every seven seconds."
Before he could respond, she curled around him again. Nei Rougang grabbed her by the waist and set her aside, getting out of bed with a frustrated sigh.
Once he left, Song Yue jumped up and raced to the walk-in closet to dress herself, humming under her breath.
By the time she rushed downstairs, the scent of fresh coffee filled the room. Nei Rougang was already in a crisp suit, sitting on the sofa with a phone to his ear.
"Second sister-in-law, Song Yue, came back last night…" he said.
From behind the sofa, Song Yue saw him pinch the space between his brows like he had a headache. She crouched lower, sneaking closer.
Second sister-in-law Su Xiao's voice spilled through the speaker, thick with exasperation. "I can't control that girl anymore! You deal with her. You raised her. Don't dump her on me now."
Song Yue rolled her eyes. Su Xiao sounded like someone refusing to adopt a stray puppy. She wasn't a pet. She just… didn't have anywhere else to belong.
Her father died before she even opened her eyes. Her mother died giving birth to her. The whole family treated her like a curse, like bad luck wrapped in human skin.
Except him. Nei Rougang was the first face she saw when she arrived in this world. And the only one who ever truly loved her.
"Come out," his voice suddenly snapped.
She froze, then reluctantly crawled out from behind the sofa, plastering on a bright, pitiful smile. "No one wants me. Why don't you just keep me?"
Nei Rougang stared at her—then immediately looked away. "Do you not understand that you're supposed to wear proper clothes in front of a man?"
Sunlight slid across her skin, highlighting soft curves beneath his oversized white shirt. His Adam's apple bobbed as he forced himself to look anywhere except her.
Song Yue pulled down the hem of his shirt. "I am wearing clothes! Besides, when I was little, you changed my diapers and bathed me. You've seen everything already. Shouldn't you take responsibility?"
She poked his chest, smirking.
He flicked her forehead. "You're eighteen. Can you not think such nonsense?"
"I'm a grown-up."
"And I'm ten years older than you."
"I don't think you're old at all." She widened her eyes sweetly, blinking like a baby owl.
For a second, his expression faltered. "I— I think you're young." Then he snapped back to sanity. "Xu Feng will send you home. If you show up here again, don't blame me for being rude."
Her heart squeezed. Her eyes reddened instantly. "You… want me to leave?"
Her mouth trembled. Her hands curled into the shirt she wore. Inside her mind, only one stubborn chant echoed:
I won't leave. I won't leave. I won't leave.
She wanted to see just how long he could keep pushing her away.
*
Night fell heavily over the villa, the kind of night where the air felt sharp and cold, as if it carried warnings. The front doors opened, and Nei Rougang stepped inside, his aura colder than the wind outside. Rainwater slid from his coat, dripping onto the marble floor like icy beads.
Xu Feng appeared immediately. "President, Miss Song locked herself inside the bedroom. I… haven't been able to send her back to the Song estate."
Nei Rougang didn't even pause. His long strides echoed through the hallway, each step packed with frustration that had built up all day. The moment he reached her room, he didn't bother with the handle. He lifted his foot and kicked the door open, the bang echoing through the entire villa.
Inside, Song Yue jumped at the violent sound. She stared at the man in the doorway, stunned. The expression on his face—frozen, terrifying, furious—was something she had never seen before. He looked like a man who had walked straight out of hell, flames still clinging to him.
"Throw her out. Now." His voice was so flat, so cold, it didn't even sound human. "And from today onwards, don't allow Song Yue to set foot into my villa or the company again."
The bodyguards stepped forward immediately. They were respectful, but firm. "Miss Song… please."
Her throat tightened. She turned to him, disbelief widening her eyes. "Why are you doing this to me? Why won't you let me stay? You're horrible!"
Before any of them could touch her, she shoved past the bodyguards and bolted out of the room. She didn't know where she was running—only that she refused to return to her grandfather's mansion. She would rather disappear.
I'll run away. Yes—run away.
Let him panic. Let him regret everything.
Behind her, Nei Rougang stood by the window, watching her small figure vanish into the darkness. His jaw clenched, but his voice stayed cold. "Xu Feng," he said. "Pack her winter clothes and throw them to her."