Volume One, Chapter 19: Leave Jiang Kexin with Nowhere to Go

He lifted his head from the crook of her neck, his eyes unfocused as he stared at the wall. Then, his tone shifted, becoming unexpectedly tender, as if he were coaxing a temperamental child.

"From now on... no matter the occasion, whenever you want, you can come to me... I... I can give you anything."

This nonsensical response caused Gu Xingnian’s heart to plummet. He was completely out of his mind!

Catching him off guard, Gu Xingnian whirled around and bit down hard on his shoulder!

She used all her strength, tasting the metallic tang of blood almost instantly. Fu Beichen let out a muffled groan, but instead of anger, he laughed—a smile twisted with a sick, perverse excitement.

"Ha... is my wife looking to try something new?"

The pain seemed to stimulate him, fueling his frenzy. He leaned in again, one arm locking her firmly in his embrace while the other lifted her chin, ready to kiss her once more.

"Fu Beichen! No!" Tears spilled from Gu Xingnian’s eyes as she let out a final, hoarse cry for help: "I’m sick! Please... don’t touch me."

Fu Beichen’s movements faltered. He looked down at her tear-streaked face, a flash of struggle and hesitation flickering in his eyes. His calloused fingertips toyed with her soft, red lips, his touch possessing a strange, eerie tenderness. In the past, he would have already forced himself upon her. But now, gazing into her beautiful, icy eyes, he hesitated.

His voice was rasping heavily. "Then... use another way to help me."

At that critical juncture!

*Knock, knock, knock!*

A sharp rapping on the door rang out, accompanied by a familiar, anxious voice.

"Niannian! Are you in there? Are you alright?"

It was Lu Lie!

Hearing Lu Lie’s voice outside, the madness in Fu Beichen’s eyes didn’t fade; it intensified, flickering with a violent, possessive fervor, as if the threat of his prey being snatched away only fueled his obsession.

"Let me go!" Gu Xingnian whispered, her voice laced with tears and desperation.

But Fu Beichen, like a wild beast provoked, bent his head and kissed her again, intent on making enough noise to drive the person outside away.

"Mmph—"

Outside the door, Lu Lie clearly heard the commotion. His voice became more urgent, and he began to throw his weight against the door.

"Niannian! Answer me! Fu Beichen, if you dare to touch her, so help me!"

A thought flashed through Gu Xingnian’s chaotic mind. Instinctively, she reached for the large blue gemstone necklace she always wore. Her fingers pressed firmly against the stone and gave it a slight twist. A faint, almost imperceptible fragrance began to waft out from the jewel in delicate wisps.

Fu Beichen, still buried in the crook of her neck, inhaled the scent before he could stop himself. His movements stiffened. The crimson madness in his eyes faded with visible speed, replaced by a look of blank confusion and encroaching drowsiness.

The next second, his large frame went limp, and he lost consciousness entirely, collapsing heavily onto Gu Xingnian.

Gu Xingnian helped him onto the bed, then scrambled to tidy her disheveled dress and hair. She took several deep breaths, fighting to steady her racing heart and trembling limbs. Then, she walked to the door and opened it.

Outside, Lu Lie stood there, his face etched with anxiety, sweat beading on his forehead, his hand still poised as if to strike the door. When he saw Gu Xingnian’s disarrayed clothes, reddened eyes, and slightly swollen lips, his expression darkened, and a fierce rage ignited in his eyes. He could easily guess what had just happened inside.

"Fu Beichen!" Lu Lie roared, pushing past Gu Xingnian, intent on charging in to pummel the bastard who dared to hurt her.

"No!" Gu Xingnian grabbed him, her voice still raspy, heavy with the exhaustion of someone who had just escaped a nightmare. "I’m fine. Take me off the ship."

She only wanted to leave this suffocating place immediately.

Seeing her pale face and the way she forced herself to remain composed, Lu Lie felt a heartache beyond measure. He suppressed his fury, took off his suit jacket, and draped it gently over her shoulders to hide the red marks on her porcelain skin. Then, he took her hand.

"Alright, let's go."

The night was deep, and the fireworks on the sea were still exploding in brilliant displays. Gu Xingnian and Lu Lie had already boarded the yacht for the return trip. She bravely looked up at the beauty in the sky, but her eyes welled with tears. Her heart bled and labored with every breath.

That year, she was only twelve. She had been shoved into a wooden crate and set adrift down the river. The water slowly seeped in, soaking her clothes. It was pitch black, and she was freezing. She had screamed for help in terror and despair! That day was Lunar New Year’s Eve; through the gaps in the crate, she had seen the fireworks illuminating the sky. That display had become a pain branded into her very bones.

And yet, he was using them to celebrate the world...

It was nearly dawn by the time Gu Xingnian dragged her exhausted body back to her apartment. She submerged herself in the bathtub, eyes tightly shut, but she couldn't wash away the weariness that had seeped into her marrow. On her fair neck, those ambiguous red marks were glaringly obvious. They were left by Fu Beichen.

Her mind uncontrollably echoed his words: "I never slept with Jiang Kexin."

She couldn't fathom why he was so obsessed with her and so protective of her if that were true. Suddenly, she recalled that white silhouette, the cold gaze, and that bloodied left hand. Her heart was a mess, like a clump of sodden cotton—heavy, suffocating, and impossible to untangle.

Forget it!

She shook her head, trying to cast off the tangled mess of thoughts. She washed quickly and climbed into her soft bed.

The night was deep. Just as Gu Xingnian drifted into sleep, the internet in Haicheng completely exploded.

[Breaking News! Pure-image film queen Jiang Kexin suspected of being the 'other woman' in the Gu family second son's relationship!]

[Sheng family heiress tears into the mistress? Video of Jiang Kexin being slapped in public leaked!]

[Jiang Kexin’s reputation collapses; past scandals unearthed!]

Countless media accounts, like sharks smelling blood, frantically reshared the news with photos and articles. In the photos, Jiang Kexin and Gu Shaoheng were seen pulling at each other in a dim corner, the angle suggestive and scandalous. The video of Sheng Weiwei’s assault was high-definition and unblurred. In the footage, Sheng Weiwei was livid, her slaps landing crisp and loud. Jiang Kexin was struck dizzy, clutching her face and weeping in a way that was both pitiful and utterly pathetic.

The onlookers found it incredibly satisfying!

Jiang Kexin’s team moved quickly to manage the PR, trying to scrub the trending topics, only to find there was nowhere to turn. As for Fu Beichen, his phone was ringing off the hook but went unanswered, as if lost in a bottomless abyss. Given the influence of the Sheng and Gu families, who would dare risk offending these two titans for the sake of a starlet with an uncertain future?

Consequently, the news snowballed, continuing to ferment. Three related topics were firmly pinned to the top of the charts, each marked with a bright red "Explosive" tag, with discussion volume easily surpassing ten million.

Jiang Kexin was completely stunned. Hiding in her apartment, she stared at the malicious comments on her phone screen and the incessant notifications of contract terminations. She felt a chill spread through her, as if she had fallen into an icy cavern.

No, she couldn't go down like this! She would make Sheng Weiwei and Gu Xingnian pay a heavy price...