Her breath brushed his cheek, light and warm, like something that had been saved for too long and finally released. Soft. Intimate. Dangerous.
Eighteen years of closeness, of dependence, of silent attachment, all compressed into that single moment.
Something inside Nie Rougang snapped.
The iron discipline he'd relied on for years, the restraint that had kept him upright and in control, dissolved as if it had never existed. The man who ruled boardrooms and battlefields suddenly felt helpless, stripped bare by the girl in his arms.
"You really want to be my woman?" His voice was low, hoarse, nothing like his usual calm authority.
Song Yue's head spun. The sound of his voice alone made her heart race, like fingers striking the keys of a piano in perfect rhythm. It thrilled her, frightened her, and then pulled her forward without mercy.
"Yes. Yes." She nodded quickly, desperately.
For eighteen years, she had wanted only one thing. To stand beside him. To belong to him.
Nie Rougang lifted a hand and brushed aside her messy bangs. Her face was flushed, eyes shining with emotion she didn't bother to hide. The faint scent that clung to her rose up around him, wrapping his senses tight.
His heart beat so hard that it hurt.
Song Yue squeezed her eyes shut, brows drawn together.
Losing him—that was what terrified her most. Since childhood, pain had followed her. Injections, sickness, nights of crying. She had endured all of it.
But this?
Losing Nie Rougang felt worse than any needle ever could.
Her small, broken sounds reached him, and his expression softened instantly.
But then, fear flooded Nie Rougang's heart.
What was he doing?
What was he about to do?
No.
He couldn't. He shouldn't.
He shouldn't cross this line, no matter how much he wanted to.
Nie Rougang steadied himself and lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Yue'er, we can't think about things like this," he said firmly, though it cost him everything to say it. "This is not our future. You're still young. One day, you'll understand why this is wrong."
His voice hardened as he added. "It's not right, little niece."
Song Yue's shoulders slumped at those words. She said nothing. Not a single protest. She simply turned and walked out of his room, her steps unsteady, her back small and lonely in the corridor.
At the far end of the hallway, a figure watched her go.
Song Yuxuan stood in the shadows, fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms. She had woken from restless sleep, unease gnawing at her. Something felt wrong. And she had been right.
Song Yue's guest room was empty.
So she waited.
And now she had seen it with her own eyes—Song Yue slipping out of Nie Rougang's room.
That shameless little vixen.
"Yuxuan," He Fen hissed, approaching and taking in her daughter's thin pajamas with clear displeasure. "If your father sees you dressed like this, he'll scold you."
"What's wrong with this?" Song Yuxuan snapped irritably.
"Are you a commoner?" He Fen frowned. "Since when did Miss Song Yuxuan forget her manners?"
Song Yuxuan laughed bitterly. "What's the use of manners? Being shameless works better. I saw it myself. Song Yue just came out of Nie Rougang's room. She seduces men just like her mother."
"Enough!" He Fen cut her off sharply. "Do not mention that woman in this house."
Song Yuxuan ignored her and pressed on. "Did you tell Father? About marrying me to Nie Rougang?"
He Fen glanced around, then pulled her daughter into the bedroom and shut the door. "Of course I did. Your father agrees it would be best. But… he said it still depends on Nie Rougang."
"Depends on him?" Song Yuxuan's eyes flashed. "Didn't you tell Father about Song Yue and Nie Rougang? If that girl succeeds, the Song family will be humiliated!"
"I said everything," He Fen replied grimly. "Your father believes Nie Rougang knows his limits."
Song Yuxuan's voice sharpened. "Then send Song Yue away. She's bad at her studies anyway. Cut off her education. Without a university, what future does she have?"
He Fen hesitated. "Your father must agree."
"Why wouldn't he?" Song Yuxuan said coldly. "He's always blamed her for your eldest son's death."
He Fen's face darkened. "That… is what worries me. Your father and Song Yue… It's not so simple."
But she waved the thought away. "I'll talk to him again. You are educated, beautiful, and proper. How could you lose to that girl?"
Song Yuxuan straightened, resolve hardening. "I will get Nie Rougang at all costs."
Meanwhile, in her room, Song Yue lay on her bed, tears soaking the pillow. She didn't fall asleep until dawn had already broken.
"Song Yue, get up."
Nie Rougang's voice exploded beside her ear. Before Song Yue could even open her eyes, a strong hand gripped her chin and forced her face upward.
Pain shot through her jaw.
What the hell was wrong with him this early in the morning?!
Song Yue snapped awake in fury. Her arms flailed instinctively, slapping at the man's chest and shoulders as she tried to shove him away. "Are you insane?! Let go of me!"
Outside the door, she yelled at the top of her lungs, "Xu Feng! Drag him out and castrate him!"
Xu Feng, standing guard in the corridor, did not move an inch.
Castrate… the CEO?
He wasn't suicidal.
Hidden around the corner, Song Weisha covered her mouth, barely suppressing her glee. She strained to listen. This time, Song Yue was definitely finished. Her cousin had finally crossed the line.
Inside the room, Nie Rougang's face turned glacial.
This little demon wanted his most trusted subordinate to castrate him?
Without another word, he yanked back the blanket. Song Yue barely had time to shriek before he stripped off her wrinkled pajamas despite her kicking and struggling, then shoved her into her school uniform with ruthless efficiency.
The next second, she was hoisted onto his shoulder like a sack of grain.
His palm landed sharply on her backside.
"Are you awake now?"
Song Yue gasped, rubbing her aching bottom. The world finally came into focus.
"Uncle! You hurt me!"
"You hurt yourself," Nie Rougang snapped. "You promised me you would never be late again. And this is what you do? Sleeping like the dead?"
The memory slammed into her.
She had promised him.
Back when he'd questioned her grades after returning to the country.
"I'm awake! I'm awake!" she hurriedly cried. "I won't dare again! I swear! I swear a thousand times!"
She knew better than to keep fighting. If he really wanted to discipline her, she'd end up crippled.
Nie Rougang grabbed her school bag with one hand and strode out, carrying her in full view of the entire household.
Every servant froze.
Song Weisha stared in disbelief. She'd expected screaming, punishment, humiliation.
Instead… Song Yue was being carried out?
Was this discipline… or indulgence?
Song Yuxuan's lips tightened. She stepped forward, voice calm but sharp. "Third brother, Song Yue is already grown. Carrying her like this isn't appropriate. Put her down and let Xu Feng send her to school. We'll be late for work."
Nie Rougang didn't even glance at her.
"Xu Feng," he ordered, "send Weisha to school. Then send Miss Yuxuan to the company. I'll arrive later."
And with that, he walked straight out of the villa with Song Yue.
Song Yuxuan and Song Weisha were left standing there, faces stiff, watching his back disappear.