Chapter 6 – First Time Alone

He slowly leaned in, the tip of his nose nearly brushing hers, as her warm, rapid breaths fanned across his cheek, carrying a faint, sweet fragrance.

She seemed to want to retreat, but he held her slender waist firmly with his other hand, refusing to let her move even an inch.

Those eyes that had been glaring at him were now even shinier with tears. A flush of red crept into the corners, as if she were on the verge of crying but stubbornly holding back.

“Let go…” she finally squeezed out a few words, but her voice was so soft it carried no threat at all.

Li Hanye’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, his gaze growing darker. He didn’t speak. Instead, he lowered his head and pressed a burning kiss onto the swollen skin of her ankle.

Her body tensed up noticeably, the soft sound of her sharp inhale loud in the quiet. He could feel her small hand gripping his shirt tighter, her fingertips trembling.

He lifted his head and met her wide eyes, full of shock and shameful anger—and yet his heart was filled with an unfamiliar sense of satisfaction.

He leaned in again, and this time, his thin lips brushed against hers.

“Mmh…” A low, husky moan escaped from deep in Li Hanye’s throat.

His eyes flew open.

The bedroom was dim, only a few strands of moonlight slipping through the gaps in the curtains. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might leap from his chest, and a thin sheen of sweat covered his forehead.

He threw off the blanket, heat rising from deep within, leaving his mouth dry and throat parched.

Sitting up, he remained still at the edge of the bed for more than half a minute. The fragments of the dream were still vivid in his mind—especially her tear-filled eyes and the softness of her touch.

He took a deep breath, got out of bed, and headed directly to the bathroom.

The cold water crashed against his face and body, finally cooling the storm within and the strange emptiness gnawing at him.

—

At the gates of Jinghua University, a black Maybach sat silently like a dormant beast, parked conspicuously in the most eye-catching spot. The fading rays of sunset outlined its sleek and cold lines, completely at odds with the youthful, energetic atmosphere of the campus.

The car window rolled down slightly, revealing Li Hanye’s sharp side profile. His straight nose bridge, thin pursed lips, and unreadable gaze were all fixed in the direction of the school gate. The aura surrounding him warned others to stay far, far away.

Occasionally, bold students tried to sneak a glance, but his commanding presence made them quickly look away, speeding up their steps for fear of inviting trouble.

Finally, Si Tiantian appeared at the gate.

She wore an ivory white V-neck knit sweater that highlighted her slim waist, paired with light blue jeans that hugged her long, shapely legs.

Her wavy black hair cascaded casually over her shoulders, making her delicate, palm-sized face look even fairer and more refined. She walked side by side with Gu Yazhi, saying something funny. Her lips were curved in a soft smile, and her eyes sparkled like stars.

Li Hanye pushed open the car door. His tall figure leaned casually against the vehicle, eyes locked tightly onto her, unwavering.

His gaze was so focused, so intense, that it felt invasive. Si Tiantian was mid-laughter with Gu Yazhi when she suddenly felt it. She looked up instinctively—her smile froze, and her steps faltered.

She clenched the straps of her backpack. Why is he here?

“Tiantian, isn’t that… Master Han from the Li Corporation?”

Gu Yazhi noticed too. She lowered her voice, eyes wide. Tugging at Si Tiantian’s sleeve, she whispered, “Why is he here? He looks like he’s staring at you?”

Si Tiantian’s heart thumped wildly. She forced a strained smile. “Zhizhi, you go home first. I… I have something to deal with.”

Gu Yazhi knew this was beyond her involvement. She reluctantly gave a few last reminders—“Call me if anything happens”—before walking away, turning back every few steps, her eyes filled with worry and flaming curiosity.

Si Tiantian took a deep breath and slowly walked toward the car.

Li Hanye’s tall figure loomed over her, completely enveloping her in his shadow. The cool scent of tobacco mixed with his unique fir-wood fragrance surrounded her, making her feel breathless.

“Get in.” His voice was low and emotionless, yet carried an undeniable authority.

A few nearby students had already started to notice them, whispering among themselves, their eyes darting curiously between the two.

Si Tiantian’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. She didn’t want to become the subject of campus gossip. She quickly pulled out her phone and dialed the driver’s number at home.

“Uncle Wang, I have something with a classmate tonight. You don’t need to pick me up, just head back first,” she said, trying her best to sound casual so Uncle Wang wouldn’t suspect anything unusual.

After hanging up, she all but fled into the back seat, tugging the car door shut behind her and shrinking into the corner, as if trying to distance herself as much as possible from the man beside her.

Li Hanye caught her evasive little movements. His obsidian-black eyes darkened slightly, but he said nothing, simply giving a slight nod to signal the driver to start the car.

In truth, he had no idea how to interact with girls. All those so-called tricks from Yan Chengyang—“domineering CEO and forced love,” “cold male god stares deep into her soul”—sounded absurd to him. But right now, he didn’t have a better approach.

He just wanted to see her. The desire was so overwhelming he could no longer ignore it.

The space in the car was spacious, but with the man sitting beside her, the atmosphere felt strangely suffocating.

Si Tiantian kept her eyes lowered, staring at her own fingers as if willing herself to vanish.

Li Hanye took in her tense side profile and the way her long lashes quivered ever so slightly. A strange irritability crept into his chest.

“What do you want to eat?” he suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

Si Tiantian blinked in surprise and looked up at him. “Huh?”

“As compensation… for last time. When I bumped into you. Let me treat you to a meal,” Li Hanye said flatly, his tone matter-of-fact, as if this were simply a routine gesture. Only he knew how awkward and forced this excuse was.

The “compensation” was just a pretext. What he really wanted was to spend more time with her.

Si Tiantian had initially intended to decline, but the words caught in her throat the moment she met his deep, unreadable gaze.

“…Anything’s fine,” she murmured softly.

“Is your ankle better?” he asked, already reaching out to check her leg.

His movements were natural, even gentle, but still carried that unmistakable air of dominance—like she had no say in the matter.

Startled, Si Tiantian jerked back like a frightened little rabbit, her voice trembling. “It’s fine! It’s really fine! My family took great care of me!”

She clutched her backpack with both hands, her entire body nearly pressed against the car door.

Li Hanye’s hand froze midair. After a few seconds, he slowly withdrew it, as if nothing had happened, though his fingers curled ever so slightly, betraying a sliver of stiffness.

The air inside the car seemed to thicken again. His presence grew noticeably colder, and he said nothing more.

—

The car pulled up in front of an inconspicuous-looking restaurant. But once inside, Si Tiantian realized it was anything but ordinary. The decor was tasteful and understated, every detail refined. The space was quiet, with few patrons—clearly not a place accessible to just anyone.

A waiter greeted them with utmost respect and led them into a private room.

Li Hanye handed her an elegantly bound menu. “See if there’s anything you like.”

Si Tiantian didn’t put on airs. Truth be told, she was actually quite hungry—and when faced with delicious food, her defenses unconsciously lowered.

She flipped open the menu. The beautifully photographed dishes instantly whetted her appetite. When she reached the dessert section, her eyes lit up—without hesitation, she ordered a tiramisu, then a mango mousse. Only after that did she softly order two light savory dishes. After finishing, she stole a glance at Li Hanye, a little embarrassed, worried he might think she had too much of a sweet tooth.