Chapter 19: In the End, Sleep Came

Inside the room, Zhou Yao’s face was full of grievance and fear; she sobbed softly, not daring to lift her head to look at Zhang Xiluo. Her pitiful appearance tugged at even Zhang Xiluo's heart, making her want to hold the poor girl in her arms.

That bastard really is heartless, tormenting a delicate flower like this!

“You should go now. I’ll arrange someone to take you home,” Li Mingye said in a low, gentle voice, coaxing as if speaking to a child.

At first, Zhou Yao did not move. She stole a cautious glance at Li Mingye, then obediently walked out and closed the door softly behind her.

“So you just send her away after using her up? Li Mingye, you’re a real beast,” Zhang Xiluo spat, not wanting to stay a second longer with him. She struggled to leave.

“Shut up,” Li Mingye growled, grabbing her other hand and raising it above her head, pressing his body tightly against hers.

Suddenly, Zhang Xiluo sensed something was wrong. “You have a fever? Why are you so hot?”

Li Mingye no longer held back, his heavy breaths fanning across her face. “I was drugged.”

Who would dare to drug him here?

“What kind of drug is so potent that just Zhou Yao wasn’t enough for you?” Even if he’d been drugged, it had nothing to do with her—she would never let anything happen between them. Especially since he’d already been with Zhou Yao… She found it repulsive.

Li Mingye’s eyes darkened. He pressed his lips to hers, punishing her with rough kisses and bites. “I didn’t touch her. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Zhang Xiluo shivered, her hair standing on end. In her daze, he conquered her defenses once again. Her breathing grew rapid, her cheeks flushed, and Li Mingye’s touch stoked the heat within her.

Clinging to her last shred of reason, she broke free. “Don’t touch me. We can’t do this.”

“You’re my wife, and you’re telling me we can’t sleep together?”

“We’re getting a divorce.”

“The hell we are!” Li Mingye swept Zhang Xiluo into his arms and carried her to the bed. Against his powerful physique and the force of the drug, she was no match. She simply gave up resisting; after all, she’d been craving him for years—might as well indulge herself now.

As he breached her final defenses, Li Mingye paused in surprise.

“Enough talk. Just get on with it,” Zhang Xiluo turned her face away, unwilling to discuss her virginity—it would only humiliate her.

Like a fish on a grill, Zhang Xiluo was turned over and over by Li Mingye’s ardor, her bones nearly coming apart. She began to believe his words—if he’d truly touched Zhou Yao, the girl wouldn’t have been able to walk out.

But then, why did Zhou Yao look so disheveled, crying her heart out?

“Zhang Xiluo, and you’re still distracted at a time like this!” Li Mingye pressed harder. “Am I not working hard enough, hmm?”

“No, no, absolutely not!”

“Then focus on me!”

The night was endless. Only when the drug’s effects finally wore off did Li Mingye relent.

Zhang Xiluo, utterly exhausted, washed up quickly and prepared to go home to catch up on sleep.

But before she could open the door, Li Mingye did so first. Instantly, a swarm of reporters surged in, cameras aimed directly at him.

“President Li, is it true that you spent the night with—”

Before the reporter could finish, Zhang Xiluo stepped out. The sight startled her.

“What’s going on? Did you call them?”

“It must have been whoever drugged me,” Li Mingye replied in a low voice, his eyes blazing with anger as he swept his gaze across the reporters.

“Get out,” Li Mingye snapped, his temper flaring—he showed no regard for anyone.

Some reporters, recognizing Zhang Xiluo, snatched up their cameras and bolted. The ones who lingered, lacking sense, were quickly scared off by Li Mingye’s glare.

At the corner of the corridor, a graceful shadow flickered past, her face twisted with unwillingness and jealousy.