Chapter 23: The Scheme (1)

Su Jin didn't understand why this man, who had carried her out of bed first thing in the morning, personally helped her freshen up, and then whisked her into a car, was doing all of this. What was he planning?

The car wasn't headed towards the office.

Just as she was about to ask, she caught a glimpse of his face, his eyes closed, his expression calm and peaceful. Somehow, she found herself unable to speak. But his arms were still tightly wrapped around her, holding her close.

As time passed, her body became stiff from being in the same position for too long. Unable to bear the discomfort, she shifted slightly. But just that small movement made his grip around her waist tighten. His deep voice sounded right beside her ear, teasing her. He was clearly doing this on purpose, his lips grazing her ear as he spoke.

"Baby, what's wrong?" His hand even gently stroked her hair, as if calming an agitated pet.

Lo Xian didn't care that Su Jin was still suppressing her shy embarrassment. He could see she was trying to maintain a cold exterior, but in his eyes, she had already been sulking for long enough. Today, he would deal with it all at once.

With her lips in his, he kissed her softly—not the passionate, consuming kisses he was usually accustomed to, but light, playful pecks, almost like teasing. He even popped a piece of dried fruit into his mouth, and before Su Jin could react, he kissed her again, pressing the half-chewed piece of fruit into her mouth.

"Eat it, good girl. Don't waste food."

His voice was soft, tender, and dripping with affection—as if he were coaxing a child.

Just as she was about to spit it out, she noticed the smile on his lips, and it only grew wider, darker. There was something dangerous in his gaze.

"If you don't behave, baby, I'll feed you until you swallow it all. We have all the time in the world to explore each other's preferences," he said, his tone shifting slightly.

As expected, the driver began to slow down, his thoughts clearly wandering. He had long since learned that his boss seemed to be treating this woman as his "daughter"—teasing, pampering, and adoring her in ways that were both infuriating and amusing.

Su Jin could barely grasp the innuendo in his words. She was too naive, too innocent to fully comprehend it. She pouted and chewed on the dried fruit, all the while feeling like a little rabbit in his arms—completely adorable in his eyes, soft and helpless.

Lo Xian, this man, was powerful and domineering, but deep down, he had an overwhelming need to pamper and control the woman he loved—treating her like a precious little thing, keeping her close and feeding her whatever she wanted.

The car ride continued with him occasionally feeding her snacks, keeping her occupied, while she wondered if he had a particular liking for fuller women, constantly feeding her to make sure she gained weight.

What she couldn't have known, however, was that Lo Xian just enjoyed watching her eat in small bites, relishing the innocence in the way she chewed. It was a bizarre "hobby" he would continue for a long time.

Finally, the car came to a halt, and Su Jin found herself in a lush garden, surrounded by vibrant flowers. In the distance, a green forest stretched toward the horizon, and the mountains loomed, tranquil and untouched by the noise of the world. The air was fragrant with the scent of blossoms, and a cool breeze kissed her skin.

Her mood shifted in an instant. The sulking, stubborn part of her disappeared, replaced by wonder and excitement.

He had brought her here?

Lo Xian held her hand tightly as they walked through the forest, their steps slow and deliberate. The driver stayed behind, and they continued on foot. His large hand enveloped hers, and he deliberately slowed his pace, ensuring she could keep up.

They strolled through the woods like they were in another world—Su Jin was dressed too lightly for the cool mountain air, but the fresh atmosphere calmed her, though it also made her feel a little cold.

Before she even had a chance to react, he draped his jacket over her shoulders. The scent of his cologne, a mix of wood and musk, filled her senses, and when she looked up, she saw his warm hand gently brushing her cheek.

"Sorry, I didn't think about the cold," he murmured. His hand was warm, contrasting sharply with the chill of her face. His other hand held hers firmly.

Su Jin lowered her head, unable to deny the comfort his warmth brought. His touch seeped through her skin, as if trying to thaw the coldness in her heart that had built up over the past few days. It was as if his touch was melting away all the walls she had put up, slowly breaking through her defenses.

But what she didn't see was the smirk tugging at the corner of Lo Xian's lips or the glint of triumph in his eyes.

They continued walking until they reached an open clearing, and Su Jin gasped in surprise. There, in front of her, was a villa—elegant and refined, but still under construction. Workers were repairing the roof, and it was clear that the building was not yet complete.

"I thought you'd like a quiet place," Lo Xian said, a soft smile curling his lips. "This will be yours from now on."

Su Jin trembled, her hand shaking as she clenched her fists. "I don't want it."

Lo Xian ignored her protests, pulling her inside, where they began to tour the villa.

It was beautiful—everything was perfect.

He pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek, then winked playfully. "I'm going to take care of something, don't move. I'll be right back."

Before she could say anything, he turned to leave, but as he did, she couldn't help but raise her voice, "Just go if you want to! Why say it out loud?"

"I don't want to be away from you, not even for a minute," Lo Xian replied without missing a beat.

Su Jin, her patience already worn thin, shot back, "I'm not going with you."

As she spoke, she met his gaze, catching the mischievous gleam in his eyes. She realized—he had done this on purpose. He was teasing her, trying to provoke a reaction.

"Such a sadistic taste," she muttered, glaring at him, unknowingly displaying a temper that only made him more attracted to her.

Lo Xian chuckled softly, his voice still laced with affection. "Alright, I'll stop teasing. But don't go wandering off, okay? Stay here. I'll be back soon. You have to listen to me."

He ruffled her hair affectionately before walking off, and Su Jin's rebellious nature kicked in. She had been shutting him out for days, and now, she wasn't going to just sit still like a good little girl.

Instead of staying where he'd left her, she wandered around, exploring the villa.

But what she didn't notice was the sly smile he left behind, watching her every move.

The villa was stunning. It was everything Su Jin had ever dreamed of, every detail, every corner—exactly what she had sketched out on a piece of paper just the week before. At the time, she had been inspired by a magazine article showcasing houses with glass ceilings and open spaces. She had drawn the design without much care, but to her shock, the villa before her matched her rough sketches perfectly. The living room's ceiling was made of transparent glass, giving a breathtaking view of the sky above.

Could it be… was this all from that drawing she'd thrown away in the trash?

It was impossible for Lo Xian to have seen it, right?

But as she stood there, beneath the transparent ceiling, the realization hit her hard.

This wasn't a coincidence.

Su Jin's heart pounded as she gazed at the beauty surrounding her. She had never imagined someone would go this far just to make her happy.

But before she could process everything, the glass ceiling above suddenly cracked.

"Watch out!" Lo Xian's voice rang out as he rushed toward her, grabbing her and pulling her into his arms.

He shielded her from the falling shards of glass, pressing her to the ground with him.

For a brief moment, all Su Jin could see were the sparkling shards of glass scattering in the air. Then, everything went black as Lo Xian covered her eyes, preventing her from seeing the carnage.

The crash, the shattering glass—it all happened so quickly.

"Baby, it's okay. I'm here. Don't open your eyes. It's alright."

When she did finally open her eyes, the first thing she saw was red. Blood—his blood—coated his back, as the shards of glass had embedded deep into his skin.

Her heart stopped. She could barely speak, her voice trembling. "Lo Xian…"

He was covered in blood, but he didn't seem to mind.

As Su Jin felt a surge of panic, she realized that the man she had been pushing away had given everything for her. He had gone to such lengths just to win her over, to make her care for him, to make her break the walls she had built.

And now… it was working.