Less than ten minutes later, TianTian was standing in front of a luxury boutique in SunMall. The mall, the largest department store belonging to the Li Company, was renowned for its exclusive shops catering to the elite—in other words, a luxury playground for the rich.
Maybe he has some business in this mall and asked me to accompany him while he works?
she guessed.
Well, it won't be that hard, right? Anyway, I do need to honor the contract...
She sighed one more time before stepping into the boutique.
"Welcome, Ms. TianTian. Please come with us," a pair of polite female employees greeted her.
Before she could react, they gently guided her toward the fitting room and, in a blur of motion, began undressing her. It all happened so fast that TianTian couldn't even find the words to object.
Wrapped only in a plush shower gown, she was pushed down into a chair. Within minutes, her hair and makeup were transformed into something breathtaking. The final touch was the dress: a stunning, short, strapless gown in shades of white and pale purple.
When she finally looked up at the big fitting room mirror, she was completely stunned by her own reflection. She had dressed up before, but never like this. She looked like a modern-day fairy tale princess.
"Beautiful..."
A familiar whisper brushed against her ear.
TianTian's eyes widened as she caught the reflection of the speaker in the mirror. She felt an instant rush of shyness and nerves, suddenly hyper-aware of how she looked in his eyes. He was standing far too close, and though every instinct told her to step away, her feet wouldn't move.
LiMingHu placed both hands gently on her shoulders.
"Don't move! I want to enjoy looking at my girl for a moment." He examined her reflection from head to toe.
She is truly beautiful... and she is mine.
He pulled out a silver necklace adorned with a tear-shaped diamond pendant and fastened it around her neck. While TianTian stood admiring the sparkle, LiMingHu pressed a soft kiss to the curve of her right shoulder.
"LiMingHu!" she gasped. He had crossed the line again—this time...
"Don't worry... I won't do anything else," he murmured with a soft, teasing smile. "It's just a small reward... for being so gorgeous."
Thump, thump, thump-thump-thump.
TianTian could feel her heart racing. For a fleeting second, she felt like prey trapped in the gaze of a beast—his eyes were soft, yet filled with a deep, consuming desire to claim her entirely.
"Come..." LiMingHu smoothly took her hand and led her toward the exit.
"Wait... where are we going?" TianTian asked. As they walked, she noticed every employee they passed bowing politely to the "king" before they reached the waiting car. Although no one dared comment on her appearance out loud, she felt intensely self-conscious.
What she didn't realize was that the moment they drove away, staff members whipped out their smartphones to type frantically. Within minutes, a brand-new rumor exploded across the internet: LiMingHu, the president of the Li Company, finally has a girlfriend. Perhaps the handsome "monk" isn't a monk after all!
As the car pulled away from the curb, TianTian tried again. "Mr. Li, would you kindly tell me where we're heading?"
"We are going to a party. You are attending as my companion."
Finally, an explanation... A party? A company party? Is it the one WenWen mentioned earlier? Thank goodness WenWen didn't come, or—wait, why do my hands feel so warm?
TianTian glanced down and realized LiMingHu hadn't let go of her hand since they entered the car.
"Mr. Li... please let go of my hand."
LiMingHu merely stared at his smartphone, pretending not to hear her.
I missed her so much today,
he thought.
I actually want to hug her, kiss her, and do much more, but I can't. At the very least, I am not letting go of this hand.
"LiMingHu!" she scolded.
The billionaire glanced back at her, a wicked smile playing on his lips. "Ms. TianTian, are you saying I'm not allowed to hold my own girlfriend's hand? What kind of girlfriend denies her boyfriend that simple comfort? Especially at the party tonight—I expect you to behave like a proper partner."
TianTian fell silent. Technically, his reasoning wasn't entirely wrong, but it had been a very long time since a man had held her hand like this, and it made her feel overwhelmingly flustered. Oh well, she had promised to play the part of his girlfriend. She decided to keep quiet and distract herself rather than listen to the frantic hammering of her own heart.
"Fine," she thought rebelliously. "If he wants me to act like his girlfriend, maybe this is my chance to completely ruin his image. That way, he'll be disappointed, dump me, and I'll finally be free. Now... what should I do?"
LiMingHu, on the other hand, was deep in his own thoughts.
Is this wise?
Bringing this woman to the party meant introducing her to the world as his; while it ensured she couldn't run away from him, it also meant putting her on display for other men to see. He hated that idea with a passion. Honestly, he would have preferred locking her away in his room forever. But because of his demands—to prove to "Him" that LiMingHu wasn't serious about this girl—he had to dare to bring her into the open at every formal event where "He" might be watching.
Before long, they arrived at SunHotel, a five-star luxury establishment also owned by the Li Company. Before stepping out of the car, LiMingHu turned to her with a stern warning.
"Remember, you must stay by my side the entire time. Don't say or do anything unnecessary, and absolutely no smiling at other men!"
"So you're saying I'm just supposed to be your living doll tonight?" TianTian blurted out, meaning it as a sharp critique.
LiMingHu simply chuckled, taking it as a compliment. "Exactly... my beautiful doll."
The car door swung open, and he pulled her out into the night.
The moment her feet touched the red carpet, a barrage of camera flashes blinded her. A swarm of reporters surged forward, pelting LiMingHu with questions:
"Mr. Li, who is the woman beside you?"
"Mr. Li, is she your new girlfriend?"
"Mr. Li, which prominent family does she come from?"
"Mr. Li..."
Feeling dizzy from the sudden onslaught of light and noise, TianTian squinted against the glare. Without missing a beat, the king tightened his grip on her hand and forged a path straight toward the quieter sanctuary of the ballroom.
As they stepped inside, the chatter in the room instantly died down. Dozens of eyes swung toward LiMingHu, then darted curiously to TianTian, sizing her up from head to toe.
Whispers rippled through the crowd, mostly from the female guests:
"Who is that girl? How did she manage to catch the attention of the Ice King?"
"She isn't even that pretty. Okay, the necklace is gorgeous... I'm way prettier than her! Why her? She must come from some insanely powerful political family."
"Unbelievable..."
"Unacceptable..."
Once inside, LiMingHu finally released her hand—only to loop her arm securely through his, making it clear she wasn't going anywhere as they began greeting the guests. "This beast really is stuck to me like glue," she muttered inwardly.
For the first time, TianTian realized just how massive of a public figure LiMingHu truly was. Everyone who approached him practically tripped over themselves to shower him with flattery. Meanwhile, the master businessman expertly deflected every probing question about her identity, answering for her whenever anyone tried to speak directly to TianTian. True to his orders, all she could do was offer polite, canned smiles.
Not far away, YuFang—the "Whitefox" who was busy managing the venue—widened his eyes when he spotted TianTian.
Well, well. The little bunny cleans up nicely. No wonder the lion couldn't resist catching her.
For a moment, he was captivated by her elegance, but he quickly refocused on his duties. YuFang walked over and greeted them with a gentle smile. TianTian was genuinely happy to see him and instinctively started to smile back, but LiMingHu immediately tightened his grip on her wrist, pulling her flush against his side.
His warning glare toward YuFang was unmistakable: She's mine. Back off.
Feigning ignorance, YuFang politely reminded LiMingHu that it was time to take the stage for his speech.
Hearing his name called, LiMingHu finally had to let go of her.
"Stay right where I can see you. Don't wander off. I'll be right back." With a final glance, he dragged YuFang toward the stage.
"Phew, thank goodness," TianTian exhaled, watching him climb the steps. Down below, eager reporters were already clamoring for his attention. "I hope he gets stuck up there forever."
As she stood alone, trying to figure out how to ruin his impression of her, a waiter walked past with a tray of champagne. An idea sparked in her mind.
She picked up a glass of wine and gulped it down in one go. "Maybe if I look completely drunk, it'll humiliate that beast. Three or four glasses should do the trick..."
Even though she wasn't a fan of alcohol, she quickly grabbed a second glass... and then a third.
Before she could reach for a fourth from a passing tray, a gentle, familiar voice called out to her.
"Tian-er?"
Startled, TianTian turned around and beamed. "Uncle Sam?!"
She spotted the elderly man sitting in a wheelchair, accompanied by a graceful-looking woman.
"What a wonderful surprise to see you here, Tian-er."
"Me too, Uncle Sam! It's been ages. And... your legs, what happened?" Driven by the sudden kick of the alcohol, TianTian dropped right down to her knees beside his wheelchair, completely unbothered by how odd it looked in a formal ballroom.
Uncle Sam chuckled warmly, patting her hand. "Life happens, my dear. I lost the use of my legs in a car accident ten years ago."
"Oh, Uncle, I'm so sorry..."
She remembered when she was in elementary school; Uncle Sam had been one of her grandfather's dearest chess-playing companions. Sometimes he even brought his shy granddaughter along, whom TianTian loved to play with. Back then, Uncle Sam could still walk. But as she entered junior high, he had simply stopped visiting. "So that's why..." she thought sadly.
Now, with three glasses of wine coursing through her veins, her emotional filters were entirely gone. The sight of Uncle Sam brought a sudden wave of grief, reminding her painfully of her beloved grandfather. Tears welled up, and she couldn't hold them back.
"I'm... hic... so sorry, Uncle... hic..."
"Now, now... don't cry like that. You'll ruin your pretty face," the woman beside him soothed, gently handing TianTian a handkerchief.
"Thank you..." TianTian sniffled loudly, letting out another small hiccup.
"Tell me, what's making you so sad, my dear? I know it can't just be about these old legs of mine."
"I'm sorry, Uncle... Seeing you... it made me remember Grandpa... hic... I miss him so much..."
"Ah. I miss him too," Uncle Sam smiled wistfully, deeply touched by how fiercely loyal TianTian was to her grandfather's memory. "I only wish my own granddaughter cared half as much..."
Suddenly, a young man hurried over, bowing apologetically to Uncle Sam for taking so long in the restroom.
TianTian blinked through her hazy vision. "Why does the back of this guy look so familiar?"
When the man turned around, their eyes locked. For a second, both froze in sheer horror. TianTian instantly wanted the floor to swallow her whole, but it was too late—he had already seen her.
"TianTian! What on earth are you doing here?!"
"Hi... brother Kang..."
"Oh, sht... my brother is here... Why?! Does he work for Uncle Sam?! Oh no, I'm completely doomed. Brother Kang is going to murder me if he finds out I made a deal with that beast! Wait... he doesn't know yet, does he?"* In her drunken state, TianTian desperately tried to hold onto whatever rational thought she had left.
Muttering hasty excuses to Uncle Sam, she grabbed her brother's arm and dragged him into a shadowy, unoccupied corner of the hall—completely forgetting LiMingHu's strict warning.
"Brother Kang, I can explain..."
TianKang, her eldest brother, was notoriously strict and often played the role of a disciplinarian father figure whenever his siblings stepped out of line. More importantly, he possessed an unyielding moral compass. He leaned in and caught the scent of alcohol on her breath.
"You're drunk?! Since when do you drink? Did you forget Dad's rules about alcohol?! And this dress—what on earth are you wearing? Tell me the truth right now: who did you come here with? Outsiders aren't even allowed in without a special invitation. Did you come with a man?"
Da*n! What kind of psychic intuition is this? Brother, you're way too good at guessing...
"I came... with a friend...?"
"Who? WenWen? Don't lie to me, I know she couldn't make it tonight. What is really going on here?"
"I... I..."
"If you can't give me a straight answer, you are going home with me right now!"
TianKang looked genuinely upset. Furthermore, seeing how striking his sister looked tonight made him realize how dangerous it was to leave her here, especially intoxicated. Any of the predatory rich men at this party could easily take advantage of her. He grabbed her hand, intending to politely inform Mr. Sam that they had to leave.
"I... I can't... wait—" TianTian panicked, suddenly remembering the terrifying look in LiMingHu's eyes.
WHACK.
Without any warning, a heavy, brutal blow landed squarely across TianKang's face, sending him crashing to the floor.
"No one is allowed to hold my girl's hand except me."
"No!" TianTian shrieked in horror. She tried to rush to her brother's side, but LiMingHu hauled her up and dragged her violently against his chest.
"And you... YOU DISOBEYED ME!"
"Let me go! No! I have to check on him—" Following a burst of drunken defiance, TianTian bit down hard on LiMingHu's hand.
"Agh!"
He hissed in pain, but what hurt him far more was watching her care for another man right in front of him.
"Are you okay?" TianTian cried, kneeling down to help TianKang up.
Furious beyond reason, the billionaire finally snapped. He scooped TianTian up, heaved her over his shoulder like a sack of grain, and stormed out of the room. The stunned reporters and guests watched the dramatic exit in awe—guaranteeing it would be the number-one gossip headline for weeks. Several reporters managed to snap dramatic photos, but YuFang—who trailed behind—instantly went to work, ensuring no unauthorized images or negative press would leak from the venue.
Honestly, what a dangerously jealous lion
YuFang sighed internally.
Meanwhile, TianKang stood frozen in shock, staring at the empty doorway. "Did... did LiMingHu just throw my sister over his shoulder and carry her out of here?" he muttered, utterly bewildered.
Uncle Sam, who had witnessed the entire spectacle, let out a long, heavy sigh as he stared toward the door.
"Poor little Tian-er..."
Back in a private VIP suite upstairs—a room LiMingHu frequently used to rest—the billionaire tossed TianTian unceremoniously onto the mattress.
Before she could even protest, LiMingHu loomed over her, his eyes blazing with fury. They stared at each other at dangerously close range, setting TianTian's heart into a chaotic, terrified flutter.
Without warning, the king captured her lips in a harsh, bruising kiss before trailing his teeth down her neck in a mix of anger and raw desire.
"No... you can't touch me! Get away!" TianTian screamed, fighting back weakly as dizziness washed over her.
Consumed by blind rage, LiMingHu refused to stop. "THIS IS YOUR FAULT FOR MAKING ME ANGRY!"
"What are you talking about?! WHAT DID I DO WRONG?!"
"YOU SMILED AND TALKED TO ANOTHER MAN!"
He's Uncle Sam, an old man!
"YOU LET ANOTHER MAN HOLD YOUR HAND!"
He's Brother Kang, my actual brother! This beast is pathologically, irrationally jealous of my family!
"AND YOU BIT MY HAND, SO I'M BITING YOU BACK!"
He continued planting heated kisses along her collarbone, his hands slipping beneath the fabric of her gown.
"Stop... stop it! I'm sorry! I'm sorry, okay?! Please stop... hic... please..." TianTian sobbed, tears streaming down her face. She was terrified. Between the alcohol and sheer panic, she had no strength left to fight him off—though she doubted she could have overpowered this beast even if she were completely sober.
Hearing her cries, LiMingHu suddenly froze. The sound of her tears pierced through his red mist of anger. Abruptly, he pulled his hands away, scrambled off the bed, and stormed into the adjoining bathroom, turning on the cold shower fully clothed.
"Sh*t!" he cursed himself beneath the roar of the water.
This girl always drives me completely out of my mind. The rage of seeing her with other men, the uncontrollable urge to make her mine... she's driving me insane.
Back on the bed, TianTian curled into a ball, trembling with fright. She wanted to run, but the combination of alcohol and exhaustion quickly dragged her down into a heavy, dreamless sleep.
A few minutes later, LiMingHu emerged from the bathroom wearing only a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. He walked over to the bed and found TianTian fast asleep, her eyelashes still damp with tears as she murmured softly in her slumber:
"I..so...sorry..."
Gently, LiMingHu reached out to cup her face, wiping away the lingering tracks of tears before pressing a tender kiss to her eyelids.
"I forgive you, little girl... let's just sleep."
He pulled her into his arms, lying down beside her. His hand gently patted her shoulder until her breathing slowed, and finally, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep beside her.