Chapter 7: His Kiss Was Passionate

Lu You’an and Wei Lin were taken to the police station.

As the victim, Song Qingyu also went to give her statement. When she finished and stepped out, she saw Li Huaidong sitting in the station’s lobby while the deputy chief personally poured him a cup of tea.

“Qingqing, you should thank Mr. Li for putting righteousness above family and testifying for you,” Guan Xinya reminded her from the side.

To avoid exposing her relationship with Li Huaidong, Song Qingyu walked up to him and gave a slight bow.

“Thank you, Mr. Li, for your testimony.”

“Yes, thank you, Mr. Li! We really owe you today,” Guan Xinya added, her gratitude overflowing. Previously, her impression of Li Huaidong had been limited to the financial news—a cold and imposing business mogul. She never expected that beneath that exterior lay a heart of unwavering justice. After today, her opinion of him had skyrocketed.

Fully aware of his hidden marriage, Li Huaidong merely nodded faintly, not even sparing Song Qingyu a second glance.

Guan Xinya was about to say something more, her excitement barely contained, but Song Qingyu quickly grabbed her and pulled her out of the police station.

Just as they stepped outside, a black Maybach pulled up at the entrance. Lu Yanchuan and his mother, Li Xianglan, stepped out of the car.

“Song Qingyu, you wretched woman! How dare you falsely accuse our An’an!” Her former mother-in-law, Li Xianglan, immediately lashed out the moment she saw her.

“I didn’t make a false accusation—I have both evidence and witnesses,” Song Qingyu replied calmly.

“Evidence? Witnesses? All nonsense! Who knows if you were the one seducing men for resources and then turning around to accuse them of rape?”

“Well, why don’t you hurry up and die so you can ask the heavens yourself?”

Song Qingyu had been married into the Lu family for three years, and for all three years, Li Xianglan had oppressed her relentlessly. Li Xianglan had always looked down on her for being the daughter of a servant in the Lu household, believing that she had shamelessly climbed her way up to Lu Yanchuan. In the past, out of respect for her as an elder, Song Qingyu had endured Li Xianglan’s constant nitpicking and harsh words without complaint.

But now? Now that she was divorced, elders or not, Li Xianglan was nothing more than a senile, rabid dog to her.

“You… You dare curse me to die?!” Li Xianglan clutched her chest in outrage. “Yanchuan… Yanchuan… She’s completely out of control!”

Lu Yanchuan was already furious that his sister, Lu You’an, had been arrested because of Song Qingyu. Now, seeing his mother clutching her chest in anger, his rage only intensified. Without thinking, he raised his hand and swung it toward Song Qingyu’s face.

Just as the slap was about to land, a sharp voice rang out from behind.

“Stop!”

It was Li Huaidong.

“Yanchuan, raising your hand at the entrance of a police station—are you looking to join your sister inside?”

The moment Lu Yanchuan saw Li Huaidong, his raised hand immediately dropped.

“Uncle? Why are you here?”

“Mr. Li is today’s key witness for the act of bravery,” Guan Xinya interjected, throwing Lu Yanchuan a disdainful glance. “Same family, yet some uphold justice while others are utterly despicable. The difference in character is night and day.”

“You’re a witness, Huaidong?” Li Xianglan asked in shock.

“Yes,” he replied.

“You… you…”

How could he side with an outsider over his own family?

Li Xianglan almost blurted out the words but swallowed them back at the last moment.

In recent years, the Lu family had been plagued by internal strife. Although Lu Yanchuan was the eldest son, he lacked business acumen and was, at best, mediocre. His father, Lu Jianping, had his eyes set on promoting his more capable illegitimate son, Lu Shiyuan, to take over the family business. As a result, both Lu Yanchuan and Li Xianglan found their standing in the Lu family increasingly precarious. Their only hope lay in the Li family—specifically, Li Huaidong.

Li Xianglan had been relying on her powerful maternal family, hoping that Li Huaidong would support Lu Yanchuan in reclaiming his position within the Lu Corporation. Because of this, she had spared no effort in currying favor with Li Huaidong, never daring to offend him in the slightest.

“You’an is spoiled and willful. Today, she instigated an attempted rape—who knows what irreparable harm she might cause tomorrow? Big Sister, I’m disciplining her on your behalf. Are you not satisfied?”

“Huaidong, of course, I trust your judgment… It’s just that You’an is still young…”

“She’s young—that’s exactly why there’s still room for discipline. If you keep indulging her for a few more years until she’s completely depraved, how will you manage her then?”

Li Xianglan swallowed her anger and forced a smile. “Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right. She does need to be disciplined early.”

“Since you agree, then let her reflect properly while she’s in there. And don’t bother hiring a lawyer—when words fail to teach, consequences will.”

Guan Xinya shot Song Qingyu an excited glance, her eyes practically sparkling. No lawyers allowed? That’s brutal.

“…Fine. I’ll leave it up to you,” Li Xianglan said through gritted teeth. She clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms, but all she could do was swallow her rage.

“Mom, You’an won’t be able to handle this…” Lu Yanchuan said, heart aching for his sister.

“Shut up,” Li Xianglan snapped in a hushed voice. “A few days of suffering for You’an in exchange for your bright future—it’s worth it.”

Li Huaidong left.

Guan Xinya quickly pulled Song Qingyu into the car.

“Qingqing, I’m so sorry. I had no idea that Wei Lin had bad intentions toward you,” Guan Xinya said, full of guilt. “I should have protected you better.”

“Xinya, Wei Lin was targeting me, and so was Lu You’an. It was all my personal grudge—it had nothing to do with you. Besides, haven’t they already been punished?”

“That’s true… But speaking of which, President Li was way too cool today. I mean—”

Before Guan Xinya could finish, Song Qingyu’s phone suddenly rang.

It was a call from Li Huaidong.

Afraid that Guan Xinya would see the name on her screen, Song Qingyu quickly turned to the side, shielding her phone as she answered.

“Hello?”

“Take my car back,” Li Huaidong said.

“Huh?” Hadn’t he already left?

“I’m waiting for you at the intersection.”

With that, he hung up.

Song Qingyu glanced at Guan Xinya. “Xinya, drop me off at the next intersection. I have something to take care of.”

“What is it? I can take you there.”

“No need, it’s just a personal matter.”

Guan Xinya, ever straightforward, nodded. “Alright, just be careful.”

After getting out at the intersection, Song Qingyu looked around but didn’t see Li Huaidong’s car anywhere. Just as she was about to feel puzzled, a black Bentley emerged from a side street and pulled up beside her.

The window rolled down.

“Get in,” Li Huaidong said.

Without hesitation, Song Qingyu opened the door and got in.

“You parked so discreetly—I didn’t even see you at first.”

“If my wife insists on a hidden marriage, then of course I have to hide a little better,” Li Huaidong replied.

His voice carried a hint of a Beijing accent, the tonal shifts blending seamlessly with his deep, magnetic timbre. It was a voice that was naturally pleasant to the ear. But when he said the word wife, it was as if an electric current passed through, making it even more intoxicating.

Song Qingyu’s face turned red in an instant.

“How’s your neck?” Li Huaidong leaned in, closing the distance to examine her injury.

“I’m fine.”

“It looks bad.”

Her soft, delicate skin bore a deep red mark where Wei Lin’s grip had pressed down. The bruise darkened to a purplish hue, as if it might break open at any moment.

“I’ll take you to the hospital for a check-up.”

“There’s no need, really. It’s nothing serious.”

Li Huaidong was adamant about taking Song Qingyu to the hospital.

After an examination, the doctor concluded that the capillaries had ruptured, recommending localized ice therapy along with an oral dose of vitamin E.

The two went to the pharmacy to collect the vitamin E, and on their way out, Li Huaidong stopped by a convenience store on the hospital’s ground floor to buy an ice pack.

As soon as they got back in the car, he leaned in.

“Lift your head.”

Song Qingyu glanced at the ice pack in his hand and realized he wanted to apply it to her neck. How could she let such a powerful man personally tend to her? She immediately said, “Mr. Li, thank you, but I can do it myself.”

Saying that, she reached out to take the ice pack from him.

But Li Huaidong moved his hand back slightly, keeping it just out of her reach.

“What did you just call me?”

Song Qingyu froze for a moment before quickly correcting herself. “Sorry, I said it without thinking.”

“Lift your head.”

“I can really do it myself.”

Seeing her stubbornness, Li Huaidong decisively reclined the passenger seat.

Caught off guard, Song Qingyu suddenly found herself half-lying down in front of him.

Li Huaidong tilted her chin up with his fingers and gently pressed the ice pack against her neck.

The dim lighting inside the car couldn’t hide the luminous fairness of her skin. The once-angry red mark had faded slightly, making it look less severe. Instead, it accentuated the delicate curve of her neck, adding an unexpectedly sensual undertone to her usually reserved elegance.

Her skin was unbelievably soft.

No wonder that night, with just a little pressure from his lips, he had left marks on her skin.

Thinking of that night they spent together, Li Huaidong felt his lower abdomen tense, a slow heat spreading through him.

Song Qingyu, under his gaze, felt her entire body stiffen, warmth creeping up her neck.

“You… you should drive. I can hold it myself.” She quickly grabbed the ice pack and turned her gaze toward the car window.

Li Huaidong said nothing, straightened up, and started the car.

**

Uncle Kang knew that Li Huaidong was returning today, so he specially asked the kitchen to prepare a table full of delicious dishes.

Song Qingyu was already feeling hungry just by looking at the food, but in order to maintain her figure, she didn’t dare to eat too much. After all, she was planning to return to the entertainment industry, and she had to manage her figure properly.

After dinner, Li Huaidong went into the study to handle some work.

Song Qingyu went back to her room to take a shower. Just as she finished drying her hair, she heard the bedroom door handle being pressed, and Li Huaidong walked in.

It was her first day moving to Taoyuan, and Li Huaidong had been away on a business trip. Over the past few days, Song Qingyu had gotten used to having the large bedroom all to herself. With Li Huaidong suddenly back, she felt a bit uneasy. The thought of sharing the bed with him that night made her even more nervous.

“You go ahead and sleep, I’ll take a shower,” Li Huaidong said.

Song Qingyu nodded.

The bed in the bedroom was very spacious. In the past few days, Song Qingyu had been able to toss and turn freely, but today, as soon as she got into bed, she only dared to sleep on the very edge.

When Li Huaidong came out of the shower, the bedroom was lit only by a small wall lamp, and there was a small, slender mound at the edge of the bed.

“Are you asleep?” Li Huaidong walked over to the bed.

Song Qingyu was completely wrapped up in the blanket, her eyes tightly closed, her long black hair spread out on the white pillow. The air was filled with the scent of her shampoo, like summer citrus, fresh and sweet.

She didn’t make a sound, nor did she open her eyes, pretending to be asleep.

Seeing that she didn’t respond, Li Huaidong dimmed the wall lamp by the bed and lay down on the other side of the bed.

In the darkness, the mattress sank slightly, and the blanket was lifted.

Song Qingyu held her breath, quietly tightening her body and moving even closer to the edge.

“Do you want to sleep on the floor tonight?” Li Huaidong spoke again.

Before Song Qingyu could react, Li Huaidong had already reached out and pulled her to the center of the bed, encircling her in his arms.

Their bodies were pressed close together under the blanket, one hard, one soft.

Her nostrils were filled with his scent, like a surging wave enveloping her.

“Miss Song, after three years out of the industry, your acting skills have declined. Pretending to be asleep doesn’t look convincing at all,” he said with a hint of teasing in his voice.

Song Qingyu opened her eyes. “What gave me away?”

“No one keeps their eyes shut that tight when they’re actually sleeping.”

Song Qingyu pursed her lips and remained silent.

When Li Huaidong walked over just now, she had been too nervous. And when people were nervous, they tended to slip up.

“Let go of me first.”

Song Qingyu reached out to push him away, but Li Huaidong caught her hand and guided it to his waist.

His waist was firm and toned—just a little lower, and she would have felt the distinct lines of his V-cut abs.

Startled, Song Qingyu quickly withdrew her hand.

“Do you remember what I said the day I left on my trip?” Li Huaidong asked, his voice low beside her ear.

Of course, she remembered.

The day he left, he had told her that what was owed on their wedding night would be repaid in double when he returned.

Double…

“I don’t remember,” Song Qingyu blurted out.

“You’re still a terrible actress.”

“I…”

Before Song Qingyu could finish, Li Huaidong captured her lips in a searing kiss. His touch was fervent, burning away her rationality like fire.

Her body tensed instantly.

She knew that whatever happened next was part of their marital obligations. Li Huaidong had helped her mother, and she was bound by her promise. But the thought of the woman in his heart—the first love he cherished like an untouchable moon—made her instinctively resist his closeness.

This passionate kiss… he was imagining she was Shen Mengli, wasn’t he?

In this marriage, she was just a stand-in.

Maybe one day, when Shen Mengli decided to return to him, Li Huaidong would cast her aside just as ruthlessly as Lu Yanchuan had.

“What’s wrong?” Li Huaidong sensed her distraction and paused, looking at her.

Song Qingyu pressed a hand just below her chest. “My stomach hurts a little.”