◎Heartless and Unfeeling?◎
At first, Yu Hekun genuinely didn’t understand what Jian Youyou was saying. He hadn’t rested for two days and nights, and all he wanted was to wrap things up quickly so he could finally get some sleep.
Frowning, he asked again, "What did you say?"
Jian Youyou’s eyes kept darting toward the lower half of his body hidden behind the desk, her mind racing. This wasn’t in the plot!
If the male lead had that kind of problem, it was a huge deal. She couldn’t help but recall how the story emphasized that Yu Hekun had remained chaste like a modern-day Liu Xiahui until the female lead returned from abroad.
Back when she read that part, she found it strange. By the time the female lead came back, Yu Hekun would be almost twenty-six. A man like him, a CEO no less, staying pure all those years—only to keep a mistress just for her looks?
At the time, she chalked it up to plot convenience. But now, seeing this, it made sense!
So the male lead had that issue. Jian Youyou’s eyes widened in realization. Truly, heaven was fair—give a man too much looks and money, and something else had to give.
Her probing gaze gradually shifted to one of pity. Yu Hekun, noticing her expression and connecting it with her earlier words, finally caught on. Furious, he slammed the medical reports in his hand onto the desk. "What the hell are you thinking?! There’s nothing wrong with me!"
Jian Youyou flinched but then gave him a knowing look, murmuring weakly, "But you said you had a personal problem..."
If not for the desk between them, Yu Hekun might have lunged and kicked her to death. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had driven him to such exhaustion and rage.
No man could tolerate being doubted like this. No man.
Under Jian Youyou’s pitying stare, Yu Hekun shoved the desk aside and stormed toward her. She stumbled back until her back hit the living room door, bracing herself as if expecting a beating.
"Y-Yu… Yu CEO," she stammered, pressing herself flat against the door like a pancake on a griddle.
Yu Hekun loomed over her, his presence overwhelming as he leaned down, teeth gritted near her ear. "If you’re so curious, why don’t you test it out yourself? Hmm?"
There wasn’t a shred of actual flirtation in his tone—just pure intimidation.
Jian Youyou slid down the door like melting putty, trying to escape his grasp. Gulping, she forced a shaky laugh. "Th-that wouldn’t be appropriate, right? Didn’t you say this was just about looks?"
But inwardly, she was already considering it. Wouldn’t this be just like a wet dream?
Her eyes wandered over Yu Hekun’s face. The male lead was undeniably gorgeous—far more so than any of her exes, even that campus heartthrob she once dated. This wouldn’t be a loss.
Then she remembered: Oh right, he’s not functional.
Halfway through her slow descent, she suddenly slid back up. Yu Hekun, still leaning in, hadn’t expected her to reverse course. Their faces ended up inches apart, breaths mingling. She caught the scent of his shower gel—this obsessive clean freak had bathed again.
Yu Hekun’s brows twitched. Every instinct screamed at him to recoil, but he stubbornly held his ground. Backing off now would only make him look guilty.
He stiffened, forcing himself even closer. "Well? Want to try?"
The line was textbook domineering CEO material—the kind meant to fluster a normal woman. But Jian Youyou was anything but normal. She swallowed hard, her gaze fixed on his lips, remembering how soft they’d felt that night in the car.
If he can’t do that, kissing should be fine, right?
Without hesitation, she tilted her head up, aiming for his mouth. Why would she refuse? A hot guy served up on a silver platter, no messy emotions attached—might as well treat it like a steamy dream.
Last time in the car, she’d caught him off guard. This time, Yu Hekun saw it coming. The moment she puckered up, he clamped a hand over her face.
His long fingers covered most of it, her warm breath and soft lips pressing into his palm. Yu Hekun’s skin prickled with goosebumps the size of eggs. He shoved her head back against the door, growling, "In your dreams!"
Jian Youyou blinked at him like he’d lost his mind. You’re the one who offered!
Yu Hekun looked away, disgusted with himself for engaging with this pathological liar. He released her, yanked out a handkerchief, and scrubbed at his palm until it turned red. Returning to the desk, he even pulled out a small bottle, spritzing and rubbing his hands like he’d touched something vile.
"Enough nonsense," he said coldly. "The contract is terminated. Since you can’t decide, I’ve prepared compensation options for you."
He slid a stack of papers toward her. "My only condition is that after leaving the Yu household, you never speak a word about me to anyone."
Jian Youyou approached the desk and glanced down. The first thing she saw was a photo of a villa.
How much would this sell for?! Rich people really knew how to play—getting paid just for being eye candy!
She nearly blurted, "Deal!" and bolted with the money. But then she remembered the system’s warning this morning: her character arc wasn’t complete. If she left now, she’d return to reality empty-handed.
She couldn’t take it. She couldn’t...
Tears of genuine despair welled up—not for the lost love, but the lost fortune. A single drop splashed onto the paper, leaving a dark blot.
When she looked up, her anguish needed no acting. "Yu CEO, my heart is broken..." You gave the money too soon! Can’t you hear my wallet screaming?!
She clutched her chest, her eyes and nose red, tears glittering like diamonds. Her usually plain face now glowed with a captivating flush.
"I confessed to you just days ago. I know you look down on me, that you’d never accept my feelings," she whispered. "I never asked for your love. But now you’re taking even the chance to stay by your side away from me..."
Covering her face, her neck flushed with distress. Cutting off my income is like killing my parents! How could I not be devastated?!
Yu Hekun: "..." He’d seen her hesitate over the villa!
"This isn’t a negotiation," he said icily.
Watching her terrible acting, he regretted everything. What kind of twisted logic led me to pick this walking disaster in the first place?!
Jian Youyou covered her face in frustration, nearly hysterical. "Even if you try to negotiate, I won’t do it!"
Her cheeks flushed red as she grabbed the stack of papers worth tens of millions from the table and hurled them at Yu Hekun. "My love for you can’t be bought with something as vulgar as money!"
Yu Hekun was pelted right in the face, his expression darkening murderously. He had never heard of a sugar baby throwing a tantrum when their sugar daddy offered money to break things off!
"You’ll do as I say, whether you like it or not. Pack your things and get out by tomorrow!" Yu Hekun roared, shoving his chair back with a screech. "Don’t delude yourself. You know exactly how you wormed your way into the Yu family—just because your face happens to resemble..."
He paused, biting back the rest of his words, then sneered. "Don’t even try that pathetic acting on me. Love me? You’re not even worthy!"
As far as he was concerned, she was just trying to squeeze more out of him before leaving. His gaze swept over Jian Youyou, who stood frozen, tears welling in her eyes, before he turned and stepped squarely on the photo of the villa lying on the floor.
His foot hesitated for a second before he exhaled slowly. "Know when to quit. Taking what I’m offering and leaving is the best choice you’ve got."
With that, he yanked at his tie and headed for the stairs to take a shower. But just as he reached the landing, Jian Youyou—realizing things were spiraling beyond repair—blurted out, "If you dump me now, who are you taking to that seaside party in three days? Some random woman?"
Yu Hekun froze mid-step.
Jian Youyou squeezed her eyes shut, clenched her teeth, and went all in. "If you kick me out, I’ll tell everyone you’re bad in bed!"
Yu Hekun whipped around, but Jian Youyou was faster—darting into the kitchen and slamming the sliding door shut, bracing herself against it with all her strength.
Yu Hekun stormed over and hammered on the door. "Get out here!" he bellowed, completely enraged.
"No! I won’t!" Jian Youyou shouted back. "You’re the heartless one, throwing me away for no reason! If you make me leave, I’ll go straight to the tabloids!"
"Heartless?" Yu Hekun’s face twisted. "First, explain how you even knew about the seaside party in three days!"
"Get out here!" He kicked the glass door, sending cracks spiderwebbing across it.
Jian Youyou shrieked, "Stop! You’ll crush my fingers!"
Yu Hekun’s next kick halted mid-air. His temple throbbed violently as he rolled his aching neck, breathing hard. Finally, he lowered his foot and growled, "Come out. And start talking."
He had only received the invitation to Zhan Cheng’s private seaside party—an exclusive industry event—that very evening. How could she possibly know about it?
Yu Hekun had already been suspicious when she’d mysteriously vanished for two days, and her flimsy excuses after returning only deepened his distrust. Now, he wondered if she’d been planted by a rival to sabotage him—or worse, to steal something.
Jian Youyou had only mentioned the party out of desperation, but now, clutching her fingers in the kitchen, her usually sluggish mind raced. How could she possibly explain this?
"Out. Now." Yu Hekun tore off his tie, gripping it in one hand as he glared at the door. The only reason he hadn’t kicked it down and dragged her out was his last shred of restraint.
Trembling, Jian Youyou scrambled to recall the next plot point, digging through the deepest corners of her memory until she found a lifeline. Shakily, she slid the door open.
The second she did, Yu Hekun seized her by the scruff of her neck and hauled her out. With no other options left, she decided to go all-in—either her lie would work, or she’d be sent packing back to her old life of saving pennies with Bian Xia while selling pancakes.
Ignoring Yu Hekun’s seething rage, she grabbed the front of his jacket and forced her way into his arms. Running wasn’t an option—the sheer difference in their size and strength meant close quarters were her best bet. If he tried to hit her, she’d at least have a fighting chance to retaliate.
Though Yu Hekun had never laid a hand on her, his constant roaring and cruel words had convinced her he was a brute.
Pressed against him, she didn’t stop talking, shouting before he could peel her off, "I’ll confess! I’ll tell you everything! Just calm down, Yu Hekun, please—I’m scared! I’ll explain, I swear!"
Yu Hekun fisted a hand in her hair, tightening his grip—but not enough to hurt.
"If your explanation doesn’t satisfy me..." He scoffed, releasing her hair and even patting her head mockingly.
...then she’d learn the hard way that he wasn’t a nice man.
