Su Jingsheng pressed her lips together and said softly, "I didn't."
"I just..." She paused, her finger gently poking at his chest.
"It hurts here, and only you can cure it."
Bo Jinghuai grasped her hand and pressed it against his own chest.
His voice low, he asked, "Then what if it hurts here too? Who cures that?"
Su Jingsheng's face flushed slightly, but her eyes brightened.
"Me," she whispered, leaning in to kiss his Adam's apple.
"I can cure it."
Bo Jinghuai's Adam's apple bobbed violently. He suddenly flipped over, pinning her beneath him.
Su Jingsheng let out a soft gasp, her hands pushing against his chest.
Bo Jinghuai braced himself above her, looking down.
She lay against the dark gray sheets, her hair fanned out, cheeks flushed, like a startled fawn.
Her collar was askew, revealing a glimpse of her collarbone and shoulder, her skin as white as snow.
Bo Jinghuai's gaze traveled downward before finally settling back on her face.
"Su Jingsheng," he spoke, his voice terribly hoarse.
"This time, you're the one who provoked me."
Su Jingsheng bit her lip, then reached out with her slender, pale arms to wrap them around his neck.
"Mhm," her voice was small, yet firm.
"I provoked you."
Bo Jinghuai's eyes darkened, and he lowered his head to kiss her.
This kiss was deeper, more fierce.
His hand slipped under her skirt, grasping her slender, tender thigh.
Su Jingsheng's fingers tightened in his hair.
Bo Jinghuai kissed her lips, her chin, the delicate skin of her neck.
Su Jingsheng bit her lip, holding back a moan, but her body softened honestly in response.
Just as Bo Jinghuai's hand moved towards the hem of her skirt, Su Jingsheng's phone rang.
The sharp ringtone shattered the intimate atmosphere in the room.
Bo Jinghuai's movements halted.
Su Jingsheng was also startled for a moment, then reached for the phone on the nightstand.
Two words flashed on the screen: Dad.
Su Jingsheng's face paled. She bit her lip and looked at Bo Jinghuai.
Bo Jinghuai had already gotten up from her, sitting on the edge of the bed with his back to her.
His shirt was disheveled, his hair mussed, his breathing ragged, yet his silhouette remained upright.
"Answer it."
Su Jingsheng took a deep breath and pressed answer.
"Hello?"
"Su Jingsheng!" Father Su's furious voice erupted from the other end.
"Where the hell are you? I already made arrangements with President Wang. Where are you?"
Su Jingsheng gripped the phone tightly, but her voice was calm. "I'm at a friend's place."
"Friend?" Father Su sneered. "Which friend? Get your ass back here right now! President Wang said he must see you tonight!"
Su Jingsheng bit her lip.
"I'm not coming back," her voice was small, yet resolute.
"What did you say?!" Father Su's voice rose sharply.
"Su Jingsheng, don't be ungrateful! Don't you know the situation the Su family is in?! It's your good fortune that President Wang has taken a liking to you!"
Su Jingsheng's eyes reddened slightly, but her voice remained steady. "Then you can have that fortune. Go keep him company yourself."
There was a second of silence on the other end.
Then Father Su's enraged voice nearly pierced through the receiver.
"Su Jingsheng! Have you lost your mind?! You think hiding will solve anything?"
"I'm telling you, President Wang has already sent people to find you! Just wait until they drag you back. See how I deal with you then!"
Su Jingsheng's voice was still soft, yet each word was a challenge.
"Dad."
"I'm currently at Bo Jinghuai's house."
"Bo Jinghuai of the Bo family."
"If you want to deal with me, ask him if he agrees first."
With that, she hung up directly.
Dead silence filled the room.
Su Jingsheng wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn't come. Instead, she felt a surge of defiant satisfaction.
She secretly pinched her own wrist. Tears welled in her eyes, but stubbornly refused to fall.
Bo Jinghuai turned around to look at her.
She sat on the bed, her dress rumpled, hair disheveled, face pale, eyes red, like a frightened rabbit.
Bo Jinghuai watched her for a few seconds, then reached out and pulled her into his embrace.
Su Jingsheng was stunned for a moment, and then the tears finally fell.
She buried her face in his chest, sobbing quietly.
Bo Jinghuai didn't speak, just held her, his hand gently patting her back.
When her crying subsided, he finally spoke.
"Who is President Wang?"
Su Jingsheng sniffled, her voice muffled. "An old man."
"Over fifty. Wants me to be his mistress."
A cold glint flashed in Bo Jinghuai's eyes. "Did your father sell you off?"
Su Jingsheng nodded, tears falling again.
"The Su family is bankrupt, deep in debt," she whispered. "My father wants to hand me over to settle the debts."
Bo Jinghuai didn't speak, just tightened his hold on her.
Leaning against his chest, Su Jingsheng asked softly, "Jinghuai, will you protect me?"
Bo Jinghuai looked down at her.
She tilted her face up, like a pitiful kitten.
He raised his hand to wipe the tears from her face.
"Mhm," his voice was calm, yet firm.
"From now on, no one will dare touch you."
Su Jingsheng's eyes lit up.
She leaned in and planted a kiss on his lips.
"Jinghuai," she whispered. "You're so good."
Bo Jinghuai stared at her for a few seconds, then lowered his head and kissed her.
This kiss was gentle.
He cradled her face, carefully savoring her lips.
Su Jingsheng closed her eyes.
When the kiss ended, Bo Jinghuai rested his forehead against hers, his voice raspy. "Su Jingsheng, I just like your pheromones, that's all."
Su Jingsheng blinked. "Liking my pheromones is liking me. There's no difference."
Bo Jinghuai tugged her collar aside again, burying his face to kiss her collarbone.
He counted in his mind. How many times had they kissed in the last 24 hours?
Impossible to count.
Meanwhile, downstairs, inside a black sedan, the men sent by President Wang looked at the address Father Su had sent to their phones, then at the luxury apartment building before them. After hesitating for a long time, they ultimately didn't dare go up.
The young master of the Bo family was not someone they could afford to provoke.
