Chapter 30: Answer Me

Shen Ling watched as the two men seemed on the verge of a quarrel. Fearing that the conflict would escalate into something irreparable, she grew anxious. She quickly stood up and pulled Xu Shengye aside, comforting him, “It’s all right, he won’t do anything to me.”

Xu Shengye turned to look at her, his gaze complicated, as if unable to fathom the relationship between the two. Yet, he knew he could not interfere too much with Shen Ling’s wishes, so he could only offer his heartfelt concern. “No matter what happens, tell me. I’ll help you.”

Shen Ling gathered the documents from the table and slung her bag over her shoulder. “All right, I’ll go ahead then.”

She pulled out her chair and stepped out. Bo Jinhang shot her a deep look before turning to walk outside. Shen Ling immediately followed in his footsteps.

The bustling street was crowded with people coming and going. In the golden light of sunset, their shadows stretched long, one behind the other, overlapping as they moved.

Shen Ling halted on the street corner and called out, “If you have something to say, just say it.”

Bo Jinhang glanced at her coldly, expressionless. “Do you really think this is the place for a conversation?”

She raised her brow, her expression suddenly taut. “Then where do you want to go?”

“Your place,” Bo Jinhang replied, his tone utterly flat.

Shen Ling was taken aback, but as she thought about it, it made sense—Bo Jinhang’s sudden appearance here meant he must have tracked down her current address.

Seeing her indecisive reaction, Bo Jinhang suddenly stepped closer, the corners of his lips curving into a mocking smile. “It’s time you fulfilled your obligations.”

Shen Ling looked up sharply and saw the faint, insincere smile in his eyes. They were both adults; she understood perfectly well what he meant.

After a moment’s silence, her lips curved into a bitter smile. She nodded quietly, accepting, and started toward the apartment building ahead.

The last rays of sunset cast a soft glow over them both, their shadows trailing silently behind, no words passing between them.

She took out her keys and had just unlocked the door when the man’s dangerous presence closed in. His large hand seized her wrist, raising it high and pinning it against the wall.

With a light flick of his foot, the door slammed shut behind them.

In the confined space, the sound of pounding heartbeats and ragged breaths was unmistakably clear.

Shen Ling met his eyes. Where their gazes crossed, an ambiguous tension sparked—driven entirely by desire, devoid of warmth.

She shut her eyes, allowing Bo Jinhang’s kisses to trail provocatively along her skin.

But he gripped her chin hard, his eyes cold and commanding. “Look at me!”

Her gaze flickered, veiled now in a faint mist. She watched as he took what he wanted, her clothes falling away in their fevered struggle, and with a rough kiss, he pressed her down upon the bed.

Her hands were held tightly, her whole body sinking into the softness beneath. Shen Ling felt the storm of his passion, turning her head away, unwilling to meet his eyes.

Even now, her feelings were a tangled knot. She knew this was inevitable, yet the barrier in her heart was one she could not cross.

Bo Jinhang held her tight, his breath ragged as he leaned into her ear, his words a teasing command. “Respond to me.”

Shen Ling bit her lip, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder. Her delicate hands brushed over the hard muscles of his back, slick now with a thin sheen of sweat.