Xiao Yang smiled as he draped an arm around Lin Xi’s waist, steering her toward the side of the road to hail a taxi.

A cab pulled up in front of them. Just as Xiao Yang went to hoist Lin Xi into the backseat, a firm grip clamped down on her arm.

In the next second, Lin Xi was snatched away from Xiao Yang’s embrace.

Xiao Yang whirled around, only to be met with a punch square to his cheekbone, sending his head slamming hard against the side of the taxi.

Song Xu held Lin Xi tightly with one arm, glaring at Xiao Yang, who had collapsed onto the ground. “Who the hell are you, and what are you trying to do to Xixi?”

Xiao Yang clutched his head, struggling to his feet. Seeing it was Song Xu, he shook his head to clear his vision and stammered, “I’m… I’m Lin Xi’s high school classmate. She almost got into trouble today—she must have passed out from the shock. I was just trying to take her to the hospital.”

“High school classmate?” Song Xu eyed him suspiciously. “What kind of trouble did Xixi get into today?”

“She was almost abducted by human traffickers,” Xiao Yang said, one of his eyes already bruising badly. “I didn’t know where she lived, so I had no choice but to take her to the hospital.”

Song Xu didn’t know if he was lying or not. “I hope that’s the truth. Because if it isn’t, the consequences are something you won’t be able to bear.”

“President Song,” Zhang Qing said, pulling the car over and rushing over. “Is Miss Lin alright?”

Song Xu scooped Lin Xi up into his arms. “Give me your keys. I’m taking Xixi to the hospital—you handle the mess here.”

Zhang Qing led Song Xu to the car and held the door open. “President Song, would you like me to drive?”

Song Xu took the keys and slid into the driver’s seat. “Take that guy to the hospital to get his wounds treated, run a full background check on him, and then keep a close eye on him.”

Zhang Qing nodded. “Understood, President Song.”

—

When Lin Xi awoke, she found herself in a hospital bed. She rubbed her throbbing temples and sat up.

“You’re awake?” Song Xu sat by the bedside, watching her.

“Why am I in the hospital?” Lin Xi was bewildered to see him there. “How are you here?”

“You were drugged,” Song Xu said with a cold snort. “If I hadn’t intervened in time, who knows where you would have been dragged off to.”

“Drugged?” Lin Xi’s heart skipped a beat. She immediately checked her body, though she didn’t feel anything out of the ordinary. “What was I drugged with?”

“A date-rape drug!” Song Xu spat the words out through gritted teeth. “Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?”

Lin Xi’s head was still spinning, but the phrase “date-rape drug” snapped her to full alertness. Her brows furrowed. “Who would drug me? That’s impossible.”

She had only gone to the cafe with Xiao Yang for a single drink. Was it when she got up to pay the bill? Was it Xiao Yang?

Lin Xi shook her head. “Xiao Yang just saved me today. Why would he drug me?”

Song Xu scoffed. “Have you never wondered why he appeared so conveniently? And why didn’t the two of you call the police?”

Lin Xi had thought about calling the police, but Xiao Yang had brushed the idea aside the moment she mentioned it. Combined with her own state of panic, the thought had completely slipped her mind.

She looked up at Song Xu. “Are you saying all of this was staged by Xiao Yang? But what would be his motive? Human trafficking?”

“It’s not as simple as that,” Song Xu said, a shiver running down his spine at the thought of that freak, Xiao Yang. “At best, it’s about confinement and control—making you willing to stay by his side.”

Lin Xi was stunned speechless. She knew Xiao Yang liked her, but she never imagined he would go to such lengths.

It was terrifying. Her body began to tremble.

“Xixi,” Song Xu noticed her reaction and immediately pulled her into an embrace. “It’s alright now. It’s over, Xixi.”

Lin Xi finally felt safe in Song Xu’s arms. She grabbed his collar and buried her face against him. “Song Xu, I was so scared today. I was really, really scared.”

“I’m sorry, Xixi. It’s all my fault.” Song Xu had been in agony for the past two days. He had missed her—every moment—and had desperately wanted to come back to her, but his pride had held him back. He had finally decided to come and make amends after two days of torture.

“I won’t ever pick a fight with you again, okay?” he whispered, kissing her hair.

Hearing his words, Lin Xi couldn’t hold back her tears any longer.

“I’m sorry, Xixi.” Seeing her like this made his heart ache. He hated himself for not coaxing her more—maybe one more kind word and she wouldn’t have been angry, and she wouldn’t have ended up in today’s nightmare. “I’m sorry.”

Song Xu apologized over and over, showering her with kisses.

Lin Xi leaned into him. “Song Xu, you really like me, don’t you?”

“Of course I do,” Song Xu tightened his hold on her. “If I didn’t, why would I treat you this well? It’s not like I don’t have other options.”

Lin Xi laughed through her tears. She felt that her biggest issue was simply a lack of confidence.

In front of Song Xu, she often felt inferior, which made her doubt that his feelings were genuine—or perhaps she simply didn’t believe she deserved his love. But he had already done so much for her: introducing her to his parents and planning to register their marriage abroad just to give her a sense of security.

She realized she could take the next step. She had nothing to lose by being with Song Xu.

“Song Xu!” Lin Xi looked up at him.

“What is it, Xixi?” He leaned down and kissed her cheek.

“Let’s date!” Lin Xi said with a smile. “Like, officially.”

Song Xu froze. It took him several seconds to process the words. “Xixi, are you saying… I’m officially your boyfriend now?”

Lin Xi burst into laughter. “You can look at it that way.”

“In that case, I can kiss you whenever I want!” Song Xu pinched her cheek and leaned in to kiss her properly.

—

The sun had long set by the time Lin Xi and Song Xu returned to their apartment.

Lin Xi hadn’t expected to be unconscious for so long. The mere thought of Xiao Yang made her stomach churn with disgust. She didn’t ask how Song Xu had dealt with him—whatever the method, she knew one thing for certain: Xiao Yang’s life was over.

There was nothing wrong with liking someone; the wrong lay in using underhanded methods to possess them. She felt no pity for him. If Song Xu hadn’t arrived in time, who knows what would have happened to her, and who would have pitied her then?

The first thing Lin Xi did when she got home was hop into the shower to wash away the gloom of the day. Song Xu, hearing her enter the bathroom, went to his own room to do the same.

When Lin Xi emerged from the bathroom, she was stunned to see Song Xu lying on her bed, clad only in a bath towel.

“Why are you in my room?” Lin Xi panicked, already regretting her impulsive words earlier that day.

Song Xu turned onto his side, propping his head up to watch her. “We’re officially a couple now. From tonight on, we share a bed.”

Lin Xi stood at the foot of the bed, frozen, and swallowed hard. “I think… I think we should have a transition period.”

“We don’t need one,” Song Xu said, rising to pull her onto the bed. He ripped the towel from his body and pinned her down. “Come on, Xixi—let’s be completely open with each other!”