Mo Yuzhen shook his head slowly, as if my words hadn't pierced him at all.
"No," he said firmly. "I don't lust for you. I love you. Truly." His voice softened, lowering in a way that felt deliberate. "And I can prove it to you."
I laughed, short and sharp, without any humor. "Prove it?" I repeated. "You think love is something you can demonstrate like a business deal?"
He took a step forward, then stopped himself. "Just give me a chance," he said. "One chance. Let me show you."
"No," I said immediately.
There was no hesitation. No wavering. I turned away from him, every nerve in my body screaming for distance, and walked straight toward the door. My hand closed around the handle, and I twisted it hard.
It didn't move.
I tried again, slower this time, then once more with force. It was locked.
