Chapter 7: The Counterattack Fails

When Su Jin heard Luo Xian's explosive declaration moments ago, she was too shocked to respond. Her mind went blank, and she found herself helplessly swept up in his relentless declarations of possession. It left her entirely on the defensive, as though she had no choice but to let him do as he pleased, her resistance utterly futile.

But now, her thoughts had cleared somewhat. She took a deep breath, gathered her wits, and prepared to fight back.

Su Jin was not the kind of woman who sat idly by and accepted her fate. She fought when she had even a sliver of hope—unless she had no other options left.

She mustered her courage and exploded with defiance. "I'm only here because of the agreement," she said, her voice firm. "But that doesn't mean I have to marry you. Nowhere in that agreement does it say I'm required to be your wife. Marriage is a decision between two willing people, and I'm not willing. I refuse. So please, retract your proposal."

Luo Xian chuckled, the sound low and menacing. His emerald-green eyes seemed to pierce right through her as he said, "Do you think you have the power to refuse me? Do you believe I'll play by the rules and ask politely for your hand in marriage? This world is ruled by the strong. And if I decide to use certain... methods, you'll come to me willingly in the end. I've already told you, I have all the time in the world to wait."

His laughter shook Su Jin's fragile defenses. She felt her carefully constructed resolve start to crumble.

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice trembling despite her attempt to sound brave.

Luo Xian's eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. "Before we marry, I think it's time to play a little game." His tone was casual, almost playful, but the underlying threat was clear. "Tell me, Su Jin, do you trust your only living family member?"

Her heart sank. She immediately felt a sense of danger and stiffened. "Why are you asking that? I don't want to play any games with you."

"Then marry me," he said, shrugging as though it were the simplest solution in the world. "Marry me, and we can skip the game altogether. I've given you two options. My advice? Be obedient. Don't overthink this. If we play, I will win. That's a guarantee."

Arrogant. Overbearing. Maddening.

Su Jin glared at him, her hands clenched into fists. "What is it you're planning?" she demanded. "I said I won't marry you, and I'm not playing any games!"

At that moment, a knock interrupted their tense standoff.

"Come in," Luo Xian called out, his tone as calm as if nothing had happened.

Annie, the housekeeper, entered with a chef trailing behind her. They pushed in a cart laden with dishes and began setting the table with practiced precision.

"Let's eat," Luo Xian said casually. "It's lunchtime."

Su Jin opened her mouth to refuse, but Luo Xian cut her off. "If you don't eat," he said smoothly, "it must mean you're dissatisfied with the food. That would imply Annie and the chef aren't doing their jobs. And you know, I have no use for incompetent employees."

Annie stiffened. She had worked for Luo Xian long enough to understand the razor's edge she walked every day. His mood was unpredictable, and his punishments swift.

Su Jin ground her teeth, her fists trembling with anger. Of course, this man would find a way to turn even her hunger strike into a threat against others. She sighed inwardly, stealing a glance at Annie and the chef. She couldn't let them lose their jobs because of her stubbornness.

"Who said I wasn't eating?" Su Jin snapped, forcing herself to sound defiant rather than defeated. "I'm starving."

She brushed past Luo Xian and sat down at the table.

Out of the corner of her eye, she missed the triumphant and strangely tender look that flashed across Luo Xian's face. Annie, however, caught it. She blinked, wondering if she was imagining things.

The meal was undeniably sumptuous. Once Su Jin started eating, she couldn't stop, her earlier anger momentarily forgotten in the face of the chef's culinary mastery. But she couldn't help noticing that the dishes were overwhelmingly meat-based. And across the table, Luo Xian didn't seem to be eating much himself. Instead, he focused on piling more food onto her plate, his intense gaze never leaving her.

Feeling his eyes on her, Su Jin squirmed. She muttered under her breath, "Why is it all meat?"

"Too thin," Luo Xian said, his voice almost offhand.

She looked up, confused. "What?"

"You're too thin," he said bluntly. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he passed her a plate of perfectly sliced steak. "I prefer a little more... substance."

The implication made her choke on a piece of chicken. She sputtered, and before she could reach for a napkin, Luo Xian was there, gently wiping her mouth with a handkerchief. His cool fingers brushed her cheek, sending a jolt through her.

"Like a child," he murmured, shaking his head. Then he gestured to the steak. "If you're not comfortable with a knife and fork, just use chopsticks. It's only us here."

Her heart raced, thundering so loudly she was certain he could hear it. She kept her gaze fixed on her plate, avoiding his penetrating eyes. This man was dangerous. He had the power to strip her defenses bare, to expose vulnerabilities she didn't even know she had.

She reminded herself once more: Don't fall for him. This man is not safe. If you give him your heart, you'll lose everything.

But when the meal was over, Luo Xian dropped another bombshell.

"Now, we're going to your house," he announced, rising from his seat.

He didn't ask. He didn't suggest. He simply declared it, leaving no room for argument.

Su Jin stared at him, her mind racing. This man, with his domineering presence and unyielding determination, had thrown her entire world into chaos. She couldn't help but wonder: how could she possibly win against someone like Luo Xian?

One thing was clear. The battle between them had only just begun.