The house was pitch black, only a faint yellow light emanating from the hallway. I clutched the white cat in my arms, and as soon as I stepped inside, a chill ran down my spine. I didn't understand why, but the atmosphere here was… completely different.
The clock ticked, tick-tock… each tick felt like a pounding in my heart. I whispered, my voice trembling and hesitant:
"Kình… Kình Uyên?"
There was no reply. I swallowed hard, went upstairs, pushed open the door to his room… and was surprised to see him sitting there.
The faint yellow light illuminated half of Kình Uyên's face, the other half shrouded in shadow, like someone who never lets anyone see their whole being. His eyes were downcast, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table, a small but unsettling sound, striking directly at my mind.
I stood frozen, clutching the cat tightly, stammering:
"You… why are you here?"
Kình Uyên didn't answer. His eyes opened, cold as a blade slicing through my skin, so sharp I didn't dare take a deep breath. After a moment, he stood up.
The chair creaked, his shoes clattered heavily on the floor. My heart tightened with each step, pounding as if it would leap from my chest.
When he stopped in front of me, his cold breath brushed against my neck, so close I could smell the faint pheromones lingering around him, a scent that seemed slightly different...
He asked softly, his deep, husky voice leaving me speechless:
"That cat… whose is it?"
I lowered my head, my voice barely a whisper:
"It… it's Wu Shen's… he gave it… gave it to me…"
At that very moment, the pressure in the room seemed to thicken. He gripped my wrist tightly, not too hard, but enough to make me groan softly, my heart racing.
Jing Yuan leaned closer, his gaze fixed on me:
"Young master, have you forgotten? Didn't… you say you would obey me…?"
My breath hitched, my heart pounding. He spoke softly, but each word carried a deep possessiveness, making me dare not resist, only able to lower my head.
I trembled, my voice stammering:
"I… I still remember… you… you speak as if I've broken my promise to… to you…"
Jing Yuan chuckled softly, a cold, calculating smile:
"If the young master said he would obey but failed… then he must be punished. Right?"
I could only nod, my heart feeling like it was about to burst.
He released my hand, lifted my chin, his thumb lightly brushing my lips. My skin burned, but his voice remained cold:
"Good girl."
He leaned close to my ear and whispered,
"I won't be around for a few days… but when I return, I don't want to see you, young master, with that Wu Shen fellow anymore. Understand?"
I froze, his eyes as deep as an abyss, swallowing all resistance. I softly replied, my voice trembling,
"I… I understand."
He smiled faintly, his voice still cold,
"Young master, being so obedient is good."
He gently stroked my cheek, his gaze possessive, as if I were his property. Then he glanced down at the cat in my arms:
"And that cat… do you cherish it so much, young master?"
I hugged the cat tightly, taking half a step back, my voice fearful but trying to sound firm,
"I… I just like the cat… I didn't mean anything else…"
Jing Yuan tilted his head, his gaze softening, but that gentleness frightened me more than anger:
"I didn't say you meant anything else… I just wanted to look. Let me touch it a little, okay?"
I reluctantly brought the cat out. He placed his hand on it, stroked its fur, then looked straight at me. His fingers traced along my hand:
"It's beautiful. But I don't like anything else touching you, even something inanimate."
I froze, frowning slightly, thinking to myself, "Isn't he… a little too controlling?" But I didn't dare say it out loud. He gave a faint, calculating smile, then let go of my hand:
"Good night, young master."
The door closed. The air was thick with tension. I sat hugging the cat, feeling conflicted, both afraid… and drawn into a feeling I couldn't escape.
A few days later, when Jing Yuan turned on his phone, the image of me and Wu Shen together appeared. My cheerful smile in front of Wu Shen was completely different from my shy demeanor before. He gripped the phone tightly, his eyes darkening:
"Young master… you've broken your promise again…"