Chapter 2

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, three years had passed. Jiang Xingzhi had transformed from a down-and-out youth into a poised and elegant young man. The inferiority and timidity that once filled his eyes were gone, replaced by the authority and confidence of someone in a position of power.

Jiang Zhinan stood before the mirror, looking at the formal dress she was wearing, feeling a bit uneasy. Tonight was a banquet hosted by the Jiang family, and as the daughter of the family, she had to attend in full dress.

“Zhinan-jie, you look beautiful,” came a low voice from behind her.

Zhinan turned around and saw Jiang Xingzhi standing at the doorway, eyes blazing as he looked at her. Dressed in a black suit that accentuated his tall build, his handsome face carried a faint smile that made Zhinan’s heart skip a beat.

“Xingzhi, when did you come back?” she asked, slightly surprised.

Xingzhi walked slowly toward her. “Just got back not long ago. I heard there was a banquet tonight, so I came over.” His voice was gentle, but carried an almost imperceptible sense of pressure.

Zhinan nodded. “Then let’s go together.”

At the banquet, the lights were dazzling, and guests chatted and laughed as glasses clinked. Zhinan moved gracefully through the crowd, handling small talk and greetings. Though she wore a smile, she felt exhausted inside.

Suddenly, a hand gently grasped her wrist. Zhinan turned and saw Xingzhi standing behind her, his eyes filled with a complex emotion.

“Zhinan-jie, come take a walk with me,” he said softly.

She hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. The two of them walked into the garden. The night breeze was cool, carrying a slight chill, and Zhinan shivered involuntarily.

Seeing this, Xingzhi immediately took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders. “Be careful not to catch a cold,” he said gently, though his voice carried a heated undertone.

Zhinan looked up and met his gaze. His eyes were full of affection and desire, making her panic. She tried to turn away, but Xingzhi gripped her wrist tightly.

“Zhinan-jie, do you know how I’ve lived these past three years?” he said, voice low and slightly hoarse. “Every day, every night, your image haunted my mind. Do you know how much I missed you?”

Zhinan was stunned and tried to pull away, but his grip was shockingly strong. “Xingzhi, let go. We’re siblings,” she said in a flustered voice.

“Siblings?” Xingzhi sneered. “We’ve never really been siblings. Zhinan-jie, can’t you feel how I feel about you?”

With that, he suddenly pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers. Zhinan’s eyes widened in shock. She tried to resist, but he held her so tightly she couldn’t move.

His kiss was dominant and frantic, as if he wanted to merge her entirely into himself. Zhinan felt dizzy, torn between fear and an inexplicable flutter of emotion.

It wasn’t until a long while later that Xingzhi finally released her. Looking at her flushed cheeks and labored breathing, his eyes grew even more intense. “Zhinan-jie, I want you—forever,” he whispered, his voice filled with obsession.

Zhinan shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. “No, we can’t be like this. Xingzhi, let me go, I’m begging you.”

But Xingzhi remained unmoved. He gently caressed her cheek. “Zhinan-jie, you can’t escape. From this day on, you can only be mine.”

Then he lowered his head again and kissed her lips. This time, Zhinan no longer had the strength to resist and could only sink deeper into Xingzhi’s kiss.