Chapter 7: Su Nian Wants to Back Out

Just as Su Nian was about to refuse, the hand resting on her lap was gently lifted by an elegant, sculpted hand.

Zhou Yunhe had pulled the bracelet too hard, leaving Su Nian’s wrist and hand red.

Su Nian looked up and saw Zhou Beiming.

His eyes were deep and unreadable.

Zhou Yunhe, still holding the bracelet, laughed awkwardly when she saw Zhou Beiming approach. “Just taking a look. I haven’t seen this thing in over twenty years. I heard this bracelet’s market price is over 80 million. Your mom really knew how to invest.”

“80 million for a bracelet?”

Then what about the earrings? The necklace?

Su Nian’s 90-pound frame was starting to feel the pressure.

Her ears felt heavy, her neck weighed down. The only part that felt lighter was her reddened hand.

But Zhou Beiming didn’t seem to care about the ridiculously expensive bracelet. Instead, he gently massaged Su Nian’s reddened hand with care, as if ‘her hand’ was the true treasure.

With a faint, cold smile, he said, “Apologize to Nian Nian’s hand.”

His tone left no room for negotiation.

Everyone was watching.

Zhou Yunhe, being the elder, found it hard to save face. “It’s just a bracelet, I’ll return it.”

The exorbitant bracelet was tossed back onto Su Nian.

She felt like she was being crushed by a mountain.

They say one million yuan in cash weighs 115 kilograms. This bracelet…

So heavy, she could hardly breathe.

She frowned.

Zhou Beiming saw her expression and also frowned. He tilted her chin up with his beautiful fingers. “Still not apologizing? My little bunny is clearly upset.”

This man was a master of twisting narratives.

His sharply defined, handsome face was hidden in the shadows, his gaze dark and oppressive, an aura of danger radiating from him.

Zhou Yunhe had a fiery temper, but she feared lunatics.

Those who are reckless fear the stubborn, and the stubborn fear those who don’t care about their lives.

Zhou Beiming was the type who could still crack jokes with a knife to his throat—he feared nothing.

Zhou Yunhe clenched her molars. “Nian Nian, I’m sorry. Auntie just thought the bracelet was beautiful and got a little excited. I didn’t mean to use that much force.”

“It’s not—”

The words ‘‘a big deal’’ got stuck in Su Nian’s throat.

“Heh.” Zhou Beiming’s low, chilling laugh cut her off.

He mocked, “Auntie didn’t graduate elementary school? Can’t understand a simple sentence?”

The air turned silent.

A silent battlefield.

Zhou Yunhe’s fists trembled, but she dared not explode.

Someone whispered, “Beiming said to apologize to Nian Nian’s hand.”

Zhou Yunhe’s clenched fist was trembling—she couldn’t open her mouth.

Su Nian saw it all.

Her parents argued constantly when she was a child. She used to cry silently on the side, but eventually, she grew tired of it.

She didn’t like seeing family fight—after all, Zhou Yunhe was Zhou Beiming’s aunt.

“Zhou Beiming…”

As Su Nian spoke, her lips were pinched shut by Zhou Beiming’s slender fingers.

Clearly, he’d guessed what she was about to say—and didn’t want to hear it.

“Tsk.” He clicked his tongue impatiently and, even more perversely, twisted her words. “Looks like my little bunny doesn’t think a standing apology is sincere enough. Auntie, maybe try kneeling?”

Zhou Beiming released her lips and stood up with a sudden motion.

His tall, upright figure turned away from Zhou Yunhe.

Casually, he picked up the flower vase from the coffee table—but held it upside down, like a hammer.

“I’m sorry!”

Zhou Yunhe’s apology came quickly, in a panic.

A relative had once offended Zhou Beiming—and still walked with a limp to this day.

Zhou Yunhe’s face turned pale. “Nian Nian, I apologize to your hand. I shouldn’t have taken your bracelet. My hand was out of line.”

Su Nian was stunned, unsure what to say.

Her impression of Zhou Beiming had once again been upended.

He was like a bandit.

But when she looked up at him—

Under the dazzling chandelier light, he glowed.

This was the first time someone had protected her like this.

Even if he was only doing it to assert his girlfriend’s status—anyone else would have received the same treatment—it still gave Su Nian a very real sense of security.

Zhou Beiming casually waved his hand. “My little bunny isn’t a monkey. If you want to watch monkeys, go to the zoo.”

The nosy aunts, intimidated by the flower vase in his hand, dispersed.

Once they left, Zhou Beiming still hadn’t put down the vase. Instead, he flipped it upright.

His large hand easily cradled the round base, his fingertips lightly stroking it.

Su Nian quietly shrank into the sofa.

The bracelet had fallen onto the couch.

She quickly picked it up and offered it to Zhou Beiming, careful and gentle. “It’s not broken. You didn’t need to get angry.”

The porcelain glinted under the light. Zhou Beiming’s gaze suddenly turned murky. “But they broke ‘you’.”

Su Nian: “…”

Isn’t ‘he’ the only one who ever breaks her?

Compared to the last time they slept together, this little redness on her hand was nothing.

She looked at the back of her hand and gave a dry smile. “It’s fine. A few skin cycles and it’ll be gone.”

Zhou Beiming set down the cold porcelain vase with a blank expression. “Remember this: anyone who breaks you—besides me—will pay a price. Including yourself.”

That was when Su Nian realized she didn’t even own herself.

She nodded obediently. “Got it.”

Seeing her being so docile only made Zhou Beiming more irritable.

Su Nian noticed his mood sour and gently hooked her finger around his. “It just happened so suddenly. Next time, I’ll protect myself better—won’t trouble you.”

But his mood didn’t improve.

His gaze remained sharp and cold.

Su Nian started to panic.

Before, they only met in private—just the two of them.

Same setting every time: private room, car, his apartment.

And the activities? Also predictable.

Very little eating, a lot more sleeping.

To Su Nian, it felt like a routine task.

She always cooperated wholeheartedly. His bad moods were rare.

But today, too many people, too many variables.

As she was still thinking of how to calm him down, Zhou Beiming suddenly pulled her off the couch.

Holding her chin, he warned, “Next time, even if someone pulls a single hair off you, you better get a fistful of theirs in return. If anything happens, I’ll handle it.”

His dark eyes narrowed as he lifted her slightly, his fingers playing with her long hair. He whispered in her ear, “If you don’t, I’ll pull all your bunny fur out.”

Su Nian swallowed hard. “I…”

Can I still back out?

Her life wasn’t some feel-good fantasy story. Being obedient and timid had defined her for years.

People don’t change overnight. She wasn’t cut out for this role.

“I want to go home…”

A subtle plea.

Zhou Beiming looked down at her from above—utter dominance. “You’re already here. No going back.”

“What did that mean?”

Su Nian blinked. “I can’t go home?”

She wanted to quit.

Zhou Beiming’s eyes were full of amusement. “Mm. From now on, you live with me. We’re doing the full act.”

“Live with Zhou Beiming?”

Su Nian was full of regret.

Just then, the butler walked in. “Young Master, Old Master Zhou wants you to bring Miss Su to the study.”

“Mm.” Zhou Beiming responded, releasing her waist.

He took the bracelet from Su Nian’s hand and fastened it back on her wrist. “If anyone takes this off you again, I’ll chop off your hand.”

Su Nian stared at the bracelet. Even if she died, it couldn’t fall off.

She followed Zhou Beiming to the study, feeling heavy.

Zhou Yunhe was already there, tearfully complaining. “Dad, I only wanted to see Nian Nian’s bracelet. Beiming humiliated me in front of everyone. I’m still an elder! If he’s this arrogant now, what will he do to you in the future?”

Old Master Zhou’s face was dark. “He’s only been here a while and it’s already a mess. What happens if he stays longer?”

Zhou Beiming swaggered in with Su Nian and sat on the sofa opposite the old man. He crossed his legs lazily. “Grandpa, when did Auntie turn into an animal? Is she a chicken or a dog now?”