Tainted Affections

"I... I'm fine." She tried to pull her hand away, but the man wouldn't allow it. At this moment, Pei Yimo was like a child who had just obtained a piece of candy, carefully protecting it to prevent it from being lost. His tongue carried a strange warmth as it carefully licked over the wound on Qian You's palm where her nails had scratched. Each and every palm line, one after another, he treated with extreme seriousness, as if his warmth alone could heal her wounds. But the man didn't realize that his actions only carved deeper wounds in Qian You's heart than those in her palm. Finally, he licked clean all the bloodstains and slowly lifted his head. Moonlight poured in, but it couldn't match the radiance emanating from him. A drop of bright red blood hung from his thin lips, making him look even more alluring and dangerous. "Why can't you love me?" He squinted his hazy black eyes, alcohol clouding his vision. Qian You lowered her gaze. Pei Yimo's eyes lacked focus, as if he wasn't looking at her. She realized that although he could speak, his mind might not be clear. Pei Yimo seemed oblivious to Qian You's presence as he continued, "Siyin said she lacks a sense of security. Fine, then I'll give her a sense of security. Even if it's humiliating, even if people laugh at me, I declared my love for her in front of so many people. I gave her a hundred times the security, hoping she would smile for me. But why... why can't she love me?" The man's voice was filled with exhaustion, and Qian You softly brushed away the stray hair falling over his forehead, speaking gently, "Because she's too bad, too selfish. She's afraid that carrying emotions will harm others, so she hides away, rejecting your love." The man furrowed his brows and growled, "I won't allow you to speak ill of her! She's not bad, she's not selfish!" Pei Yimo, in his drunken state, was as stubborn as a child. Just a moment ago, he was complaining about why she didn't love him, but now he was fiercely defending her against any criticism. Qian You lowered her gaze, tears dripping down like crystal beads, tracing silver foxes in the air. As the tears fell to the ground, they shattered into pieces. Pei Yimo froze, reaching out to lift her chin gently. "You're crying... why are you crying?" "I'm not." Qian You bit her lip, trying to hold back the sobs, but the tears flowed uncontrollably. "Liar! You are crying." Suddenly, Pei Yimo's black eyes flickered, and he reached out and pulled her close. Qian You felt a dizziness, and when she came to, she found herself lying on the bed with Pei Yimo covering her body. "Chairman, what are you doing?" His black eyes were filled with a deep magic as he gazed at her. "You seem like her, really like her." His strong fingers slid gently across Qian You's delicate eyebrows, eyes, and finally came to her slightly parted red lips, caressing them. Suddenly, he lowered his head and swallowed those two tender lips into his mouth. His tongue traced the contours of her lips one by one, then attacked her tender tongue. And at this moment, there was still a faint hint of blood and a light scent of alcohol in his mouth. He only let go of her already swollen lips when Qian You's breathing became erratic. He shook his head, his voice filled with immense disappointment and frustration. "No, you're not her." Qian You looked at him in confusion, only to see him bow his head, slightly desolate and mournful. Like a child who had been careful for a long time, but still lost his beloved candy: "If it were her, she would definitely push me away. She hates me so much, how could she let me kiss her obediently?" The tears, long ceased, suddenly burst forth again after hearing his words. She bit her lip, gripping his chest, which ached for him. She wished so much, so much to kiss his black eyes, to kiss away his heartbreak and sadness, and to tell him: "No, I don't hate you, I..." But she couldn't. "I can't, love you..."