This was the first time Shen Nanyue had entered Zhou Yushen’s study.
Like its owner, the room was cold, orderly, and rigidly disciplined.
Zhou Yushen motioned for Shen Nanyue to sit at the desk.
He dragged another chair over and sat beside her, pulled up the actress’s profile on his computer, and turned the screen toward her.
The actress was a young woman with a pure, innocent appearance named Mi Xin.
A graduate of a film academy, she had shot to fame with her very first movie, which became a global hit.
In it, she played a minor character who willingly sacrificed herself for her country.
Although the role itself was not particularly complex, Mi Xin’s acting elevated it to perfection, giving the character remarkable depth and making her unforgettable.
Thanks to that film and the promotion from Qianzhang Entertainment, she had climbed into the ranks of third-tier rising actresses within just two months.
“Her status isn’t especially high,” Zhou Yushen explained, “but she fits the concept of Shen Group’s clothing line for next quarter perfectly—delicate without being seductive, ordinary without lacking elegance.”
Shen Nanyue nodded in agreement.
With Mi Xin’s looks, she would indeed look stunning in modern Chinese-style fashion.
“Li Che said she’ll be coming to Fengcheng in a week. Can he arrange for me to meet her?”
“Yes.”
Suddenly remembering something, Shen Nanyue turned to Zhou Yushen.
“By the way, have you confirmed Ming Zifan’s schedule? If he has time to come to Fengcheng, I’d like to meet him too.”
Zhou Yushen’s eyes darkened instantly.
“You want to meet him?”
“He’s already been chosen as the spokesperson for our clothing brand. No matter what, I should at least meet him.”
Turning his chair, Zhou Yushen faced her directly.
“The company’s executives can handle that. It doesn’t really matter whether you meet him or not.”
Completely oblivious to his mood, Shen Nanyue replied, “I just want to meet him. Getting a couple of autographed photos would be nice too.”
She actually had no particular interest in celebrities.
It was Zhu Yuan who adored Ming Zifan.
She had once even threatened to use every connection she had to arrange a meeting with him.
Her father had given her a severe scolding before she finally gave up.
If Shen Nanyue showed up with Ming Zifan’s autograph and flaunted it in front of Zhu Yuan, Zhu Yuan would probably be jealous out of her mind.
The thought made her smile.
“You like him?”
A cool voice sounded beside her ear.
Only then did Shen Nanyue return to the present and turn toward Zhou Yushen.
His expression remained calm as ever, yet she somehow felt a chill radiating from him, his gaze tracing over her body and sending shivers down her spine.
“Uh… I wouldn’t say I like him.”
“Then why do you want to meet him? Why do you want his autograph?”
The air seemed thick with jealousy.
Shen Nanyue fell silent and instinctively scooted her chair backward.
Zhou Yushen grabbed the armrest and pulled her chair closer to him.
“Why?”
His persistence was almost frightening, as though he would not stop until he got an answer.
Leaning back, Shen Nanyue tried to avoid being drawn any closer.
“Zhu Yuan likes him. I’m getting the autograph for her. What’s wrong with that? Since when does a boss get to decide whether someone gives out autographs?”
She tried to keep her voice steady, stubbornly standing her ground.
Meeting her defiant gaze, Zhou Yushen felt his blood begin to boil.
Those clear, unyielding eyes were so vibrant and alive.
And the sight of her rosy lips only made him want her more.
He wanted to kiss her.
He wanted to claim her.
He wanted her heart and soul to belong entirely to him.
And once the thought formed, he acted on it.
Shen Nanyue had been prepared to insist on meeting Ming Zifan no matter what Zhou Yushen said, but she was completely caught off guard.
Without warning, Zhou Yushen leaned forward and pressed his lips fiercely against hers.
She froze for a moment before struggling against him.
Gripping the chair, Zhou Yushen yanked it toward himself.
Shen Nanyue instinctively pitched forward, placing both hands on his thighs to steady herself.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhou Yushen cupped the back of her head with one hand and seized her wrist with the other, deepening the kiss.
The long-missed warmth was intoxicating.
Ignoring her resistance, he gradually invaded her defenses, claiming her lips with relentless determination.
Shen Nanyue’s face turned bright red.
She broke one hand free and pushed against his chest, but it was utterly ineffective.
“Mmm… Zhou Yushen!”
Suddenly, Zhou Yushen released her.
Meeting his deep eyes, now glinting with a hint of fierce possessiveness, her heart clenched.
Then, without warning, he grabbed her arm and pulled her onto his lap.
One arm wrapped around her waist while the other held the back of her head.
Lowering his head, he kissed her again.
Now completely trapped, Shen Nanyue had no way to escape.
“Yushen, I—”
Li Che’s voice suddenly came from the doorway.
It was as if Zhou Yushen finally snapped back to reality.
“I didn’t see anything. Carry on.”
The door closed again.
Only then did Zhou Yushen’s grip loosen slightly.
Seizing the chance, Shen Nanyue shoved him away, jumped to her feet, and retreated several meters.
She glared at him furiously.
Her lips glistened as though coated with lip gloss, and the sight made Zhou Yushen’s gaze darken even further.
“Zhou Yushen, you jerk!”
The faint fragrance of Shen Nanyue still lingered in Zhou Yushen’s arms.
He rubbed his fingertips together.
“Compared to you using me as an antidote twice, I’m not nearly as much of a jerk as you are.”
As if she had never expected Zhou Yushen to say something like that, Shen Nanyue stood frozen in place, unable to say a word for a long moment.
Their gazes met, and as their eyes locked, the atmosphere became sticky and tense, like an invisible battle unfolding between them.
After a long silence, Shen Nanyue finally turned and left the study.
Zhou Yushen did not get up to chase after her.
Only after she had walked out did he press a hand to his head and brace himself against the desk.
The emotions he had once struggled so hard to control had somehow resurfaced.
He wanted to possess her.
He wanted to invade every part of her life.
Especially when he saw the wariness in Shen Nanyue’s eyes, a dark impulse rose within him—to lock her up here, to never let her leave until she belonged to him completely, body and soul.
Outside the study, Li Che was pacing back and forth, gritting his teeth in panic.
It’s over, it’s over. I walked in on something like that. Zhou Yushen is definitely going to kill me!
Just as he was worrying himself sick, Shen Nanyue suddenly emerged from the study, looking extremely displeased.
“Sis—”
“Who are you calling sis?”
Before he could even finish the word, Shen Nanyue shot him a glare and snapped at him.
With her handbag in hand, she turned and stormed out.
Having been scolded for no apparent reason, Li Che was immediately struck by a bad feeling.
Don’t tell me Yushen forced himself on her and made her angry?
A cat rubbed against his leg.
He bent down and stroked its head.
“Be good. Hide somewhere far away later, or you might end up seeing someone covered in blood.”
After saying that, he took a deep breath and rushed into the study.
He had expected to be greeted by Zhou Yushen’s fury.
Instead, he found Zhou Yushen slumped over the desk, his face twisted with pain.
“Yushen? What’s wrong?”
Li Che hurried over.
Only then did he notice the beads of cold sweat on Zhou Yushen’s forehead and the unnatural paleness of his face.
His expression immediately turned serious.
Bending down, he supported Zhou Yushen and said, “I’m taking you to the hospital.”
Zhou Yushen grabbed his arm and said calmly, “I’m fine. Just get me a glass of water.”
“Are you really okay?”
Zhou Yushen opened his eyes and looked at him, the warning in his gaze unmistakable.
Li Che was left speechless.
With no choice, he turned around and went to get him some water.
— The end of the Chapter–
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