Chapter 5: The Confrontation

When Qu Bainan came in just now, the door wasn’t locked.

Chen Su saw it.

She curled her lips and, in a voice only they could hear, said, “What do you think would happen if Aunt Qu found out her son is in my bed right now?”

Before Qu Bainan could answer, Chen Su spoke again, “I was just about to sleep. Mom, you can come in.”

As she finished speaking, the door was pushed open.

Qu Bainan almost instantly raised his hand to untie Chen Su’s bound wrists, then stood up and slipped into the nearby bathroom.

Qu’s mother held a jewelry box and sat at the edge of the bed. “Am I disturbing your rest?”

“No, I haven’t slept yet.”

Chen Su sat up and looked at the jewelry box in Qu’s mother’s hand. “Mom, what are you holding...?”

Qu’s mother smiled as she opened the box. “This bracelet was a gift from your father when we got married. Now that you’re about to get engaged to Ming Yu, consider this my engagement gift to you.”

She took out the bracelet and slipped it onto Chen Su’s wrist.

“Su Su, you’ve always been so sensible.”

Qu’s mother’s words carried deeper meaning. “When your parents had that accident, Bainan saw you as a young girl and worried you wouldn’t have a good life, so he brought you into our family. Now that you’re grown, there are some things I don’t need to say outright, but you understand.”

“I only have one son, Bainan. Whoever he marries must be from a suitable family, someone who can support his career.”

Qu’s mother was known for her shrewdness — she understood much but chose not to say it bluntly.

Chen Su had always been obedient and naturally wouldn’t oppose Qu’s mother on this matter.

Even if she didn’t want to.

“Mom, you’re right to think that.”

A bitter smile she didn’t even realize appeared on her face. “I was actually planning to move out once school starts in a few days. After all, graduating means becoming independent.”

Though Chen Su had done all kinds of wild things — racing cars, skydiving, surfing — places where no one else knew, she still played the part of the innocent good girl in front of Qu’s mother.

Because it avoided a lot of trouble.

Qu’s mother was very pleased with Chen Su’s understanding and obedience. She patted Chen Su’s hand.

“You’re still our sensible Su Su. Alright, it’s getting late. Get some rest. I’m heading back to my room.”

Qu’s mother turned and left. As the door closed behind her, Qu Bainan emerged from the bathroom.

He looked at Chen Su with dark, unreadable eyes. “You want to move out?”

“I have to once I graduate and start working,” Chen Su forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I can’t just keep mooching off the Qu family. People might think I’m some child bride they prepared for you.”

When she was little, she had obediently followed Qu Bainan everywhere, and people often said that.

Qu Bainan never explained.

He even said that if she wanted, when she grew up, he could marry her.

But now that she was grown, none of those words had come true.

Qu Bainan looked at Chen Su’s dim expression and stepped closer. “Chen Su, you’re part of the Qu family. No matter what, you’ll always have a place here.”

His eyes were deep and mesmerizing, and Chen Su felt herself almost drowning in them.

“Is that so?”

She stood, her voice cold and distant. “Too bad my surname is Chen, not Qu.”

She walked over to the side table, took out a pack of cigarettes, and lit one with practiced ease. “Besides, I quite like Song Mingyu. I’m tired of playing with you. Maybe it’ll be better with someone else — after all, he’s much younger than you.”

No man can resist that kind of provocation.

Qu Bainan was no exception.

He sneered. “Seems like you forgot how you begged me not to last time, crying.”

He stepped in front of Chen Su, grabbed her hand, and crushed out the cigarette.

Their eyes met, and Chen Su saw the unmistakable desire shining in Qu Bainan’s gaze.

She was about to speak when the man pressed his fingertip against her lips.

“Su Su, I was going to let you off tonight because of your injured knee, but now…” He laughed coldly, “there’s no need.”

Qu Bainan easily grabbed Chen Su’s waist, spun her around, and pinned her onto the sofa.

Chen Su’s back pressed against the man’s burning chest, her whole body trembling in panic.

“Qu Bainan.”

She frowned. “I said I’m tired of playing. Let me go.”