Chapter 31: Stay Away from Him

Under Bo Jinhang’s guidance, she closed her eyes and emptied her mind. The relentless demands, over and over, left Shen Ling utterly exhausted, barely able to keep up. She had no idea how much time had passed before Bo Jinhang finally let out a satisfied sigh and lay down beside her.

Her back ached and her waist was sore, rendering her almost immobile, but she still struggled to sit up, intent on changing her clothes. Unexpectedly, Bo Jinhang flipped over, pinning her to the bed, a hint of red warning in his eyes. “Stay away from that Xu fellow from now on.”

Shen Ling met his gaze calmly, her brows drawing together as she refused without hesitation. “No.”

“Don’t forget your place,” Bo Jinhang said coldly. His handsome features seemed shrouded in a perpetual layer of frost.

Shen Ling showed no intention of backing down. “He’s my classmate. I know my limits. You’d do best not to meddle.”

His eyes darkened dangerously, a chill flickering in their depths as he stared into her eyes. “Are you really so reluctant to let him go?”

She was silent for a moment, then met his gaze fearlessly, lifting her brows with a slight, mocking smile. “I don’t recall any such clause in our contract. On what grounds can you make demands of me?”

With that, she brushed him aside, took a set of clothes from the wardrobe, and began to change.

Bo Jinhang’s brows knitted together. He, too, dressed, his tone laced with ridicule. “So my lover seeks variety, is that it? Or are you planning to earn money from two men at once?”

Shen Ling bit her lip until it turned white. The insult stung, but she retorted coldly, “Does President Bo think his price is so low that he fears I’ll be tempted by another’s offer?”

She couldn’t be bothered to explain herself. After all, in Bo Jinhang’s heart, he’d already made up his mind about what kind of person she was.

The air between them grew thick with awkward silence. Just then, a sudden ring shattered the tension. Shen Ling went to the living room and found her phone among the scattered contents of her bag.

It was Xu Shengye calling. She hesitated, then answered, realizing they both needed a chance to cool off—perhaps this call was a blessing in disguise.

As soon as the line connected, Xu Shengye’s gentle, concerned voice came through. “Are you alright? I was worried and had to call to check on you.”

Shen Ling forced her voice to soften, managing a small laugh. “I’m fine, really. Don’t worry. I’m sorry about today—I didn’t mean to let you down.”

Hearing her reassurance, Xu Shengye didn’t sound any less worried. He probed gently, “You and…”

Before he could finish, Bo Jinhang suddenly appeared behind her, snatching the phone and hurling it to the floor with a violent crash.

The sudden bang left Shen Ling stunned. Staring at the shattered phone, she looked up at the man’s face. “What exactly do you want?”

“Don’t make me warn you again. Stay away from him,” Bo Jinhang’s tone was chilling, the fury in his eyes threatening to devour her whole.

Shen Ling’s own anger flared. She bent to pick up the broken phone, her voice icy. “You have no right to make demands of me.”

Bo Jinhang’s unreasonable behavior made it hard for her to breathe. She couldn’t be bothered to argue anymore—she only wanted to leave, to give them both space to cool off.

She threw on her coat, slipped on her shoes, and left the apartment. The door slammed behind her, but Bo Jinhang didn’t try to stop her.

After all the turmoil, night had fallen. The streetlights below glowed softly as a cool breeze swept away the lingering gloom.

She had barely walked a few steps when she saw a familiar figure under the lamp at the entrance. Xu Shengye stood tall against the pillar, staring at his phone, his soft black-brown hair ruffled by the breeze, revealing his anxious face.

Perhaps sensing her approach, he suddenly looked up.

“Shen Ling, are you alright? On the phone just now…”

She instinctively clutched her coat tighter, hiding the mottled traces of love on her neck, and forced a bitter smile. “I’m fine. Why haven’t you left yet?”

“I was worried after you went off with him,” Xu Shengye hesitated, then finally voiced his question. “What exactly is your relationship with him?”