Chapter 9: Don’t Touch Me

Some rejoice, some grieve; some gain, some lose.

Shen Linyang in the US, after taking the call, became completely distraught, repeatedly trying to contact her via WeChat and phone.

But he never got through again.

“Ring ring ring…”

The phone rang, and he answered instantly, but it wasn’t her on the other end, but Zhao Qian, a fellow international student.

“Linyang, where are you? The exam starts in five minutes! You’re not here yet?”

…

Five minutes later, he received a call from home. His father, Shen, angrily questioned him:

“How did you manage to offend that demon, Lu Beiyuan? I don’t care what you usually do, but Shen Linyang, as long as you’re still my son, I warn you, don’t go against him, or our whole family will suffer the consequences!”

His mother cried beside him, snatching the phone: “Yangyang, there are plenty of women out there. When you come back, Mom will introduce you to some. Don’t fight with Lu Beiyuan! Do you know that once you offend the Lu family, we won’t have any foothold in City A!”

…

The next day, Shi Ran visited her grandmother. Under the care of a top doctor and with the best medication, her grandmother’s complexion was much better than before; she could even joke with Shi Ran.

“Ranran, when are you going to bring your boyfriend to see Grandma?”

“Grandma, you get better, and I’ll bring my boyfriend to see you.”

Two days later, Shi Ran started school at Jiang University, studying oil painting.

On the first day of school, she left early. Lu Beiyuan was insatiable; if he kept tormenting her like this, she would be drained sooner or later.

She wasn’t surprised. He was almost thirty, a powerful man. Logically, he should have experienced countless women, perhaps even keeping several in different places.

But why was he like a boy experiencing his first time? He started clumsily, but now he was increasingly skilled, becoming more and more addicted to her body.

At school, early March, the spring chill was still biting. Spring semester didn’t have many new students, unlike September. She was a transfer student.

She didn’t join any clubs. She didn’t need to live in the dormitory; she only went to class when she had classes. However, she applied for a dorm room to use when she didn’t have classes.

As soon as class ended, Tang Yiting eagerly sought her out, followed by a man. As they got closer, it turned out to be Lin Yue!

“Ranran, you really came to Jiangda? Wow, can we take classes together now?”

She linked arms with Shi Ran, nudged her with her elbow, and raised her eyebrows: “Look, Lin Yue, your senior, whom I bumped into on the road. Surprised?”

Lin Yue had a gentle and warm appearance, a sunny boy who made people feel comfortable.

Shi Ran hadn’t seen him for over a year, and her heart still pounded like a deer when she saw him.

“Shi Ran, long time no see.”

His voice was also pleasant.

“Senior, long time no see.”

“Hey, Ranran, didn’t you say you wanted to join the animation club? Senior is the president of the animation club. Senior, what do you think of Ranran? Is she qualified to join your animation club?”

Lin Yue smiled and readily agreed: “Of course! I saw Shi Ran’s junior’s blackboard design in high school. The style was wild yet artistic. With your addition, the animation club will be honored.”

It was settled so happily. They went to the cafeteria for a meal and caught up.

There were only two classes in the afternoon, ending at 4:10 pm. Shi Ran wanted to leave quickly to see her grandmother before returning to the villa.

As soon as she left the school gate, a conspicuous Maybach stopped at the entrance—the same car Afei had sent her in that morning.

She raised her bag to cover her face, trying to pretend she didn’t see it and walk around, but Afei had already gotten out of the car and blocked her path.

“Miss Shi, please get in the car. Mr. Lu instructed me to ensure your safe transport to and from school.”

Shi Ran was annoyed, but there were students coming and going at the entrance, so she didn’t say anything. She used her schoolbag to shield her face and walked towards the car.

Only after getting in the car did she speak: “Afei, you don’t need to pick me up anymore. Just drop me off at the west gate in the morning.”

Lu Beiyuan’s Xishan Villa was inconvenient even by taxi.

Afei remained professional: “I’m sorry, Miss Shi, please tell Mr. Lu. I only follow Mr. Lu’s instructions.”

Back home, she took out her textbook. Although she was an art student, Jiangda’s tradition was that every major had to study calculus.

Since high school, Shi Ran had focused on art. Mathematics was very difficult for her.

Suddenly, someone hugged her from behind. She was startled and looked up to see Lu Beiyuan leaning against her neck.

She stood up, wanting to leave, but found his large figure tightly wrapped around her, making escape impossible.

“I heard you wanted to escape today?”

“I… There were too many people; I didn’t want him to pick me up.”

Lu Beiyuan kissed her cheek, his voice low and husky: “Don’t want people to see us?”

Shi Ran nodded.

The next moment, she was lifted into his arms and placed on the dressing table.

“Ugh…”

Shi Ran exclaimed. Soon, he was on top of her, his hot lips lingering on her body, his hands not slowing down.

“Don’t touch there~”

“Don’t want others to know our relationship?”

His voice was low, his anger unclear, each word distinct.

Shi Ran subconsciously nodded.

Of course, who would want others to know she was being kept?

But seeing his burning gaze filled with anger, she shook her head and stopped speaking.

“Ranran, I want to go public!”

“!”

“No!”

Shi Ran refused without hesitation. How could they go public? How could such a relationship be made public? Wouldn’t that be a public execution for her? No, absolutely not.

Once Lu Beiyuan decided on something, no one could change it.

He had plenty of ways—just get someone to take a few intimate photos of them, or get a reporter to wait at the villa entrance. What material wouldn’t he get?

But with Shi Ran, he didn’t want to use those methods.

“Ranran, I’ve decided. As compensation, you can make one request.”

“My request is not to go public!”

“No.”

Lu Beiyuan’s attitude was firm, unyielding. Shi Ran’s biggest wish was to leave him!

But Lu Beiyuan would never agree to that!

“I want to live in the dorm!”

“No!”

Two consecutive “nos,” Shi Ran was annoyed. Large teardrops fell, tracing paths down her flushed cheeks.

“No, no, nothing is allowed! Lu Beiyuan, you’re a jerk! Nothing is allowed! You just bully me!”

Lu Beiyuan felt a little sorry for her, pressed his temples, thinking he would endure this. To make their relationship public, to let everyone know that Shi Ran was Lu Beiyuan’s woman, so no one would dare to touch her.

“Tell me one more, and I promise to agree.”

“Separate bedrooms, and don’t touch me without my permission!”

Lu Beiyuan: “!”

“Ranran, you’re really good at making requests!”

“But right now, I’m very uncomfortable. What should I do?”