That vigorous, burning heart—life’s force—enveloped her.
“Ning Shangyu.”
Lin Zhishui’s silk robe had long since slipped loose, revealing a delicate collarbone and a slender, graceful neck tilted upward.
She kept her gaze fixed on Ning Shangyu, her lips trailing a soft final note: “Is your heart beating abnormally? Is it beating for me?”
Ning Shangyu’s chest was pressed lightly against hers, his expression unreadable as he stared silently at her so close by.
Then, he cupped the cold, exquisite chain in his warm palm.
“Lin Zhishui.”
Ning Shangyu’s voice was soft and slightly hoarse, repeating her name exactly as she had called him.
His face remained serious, yet his amber eyes gleamed with mischief.
“Shanshan, who gave you that childhood name? Two goats on your head—no wonder you’re so stubborn, hmm?”
That big troublemaker.
Lin Zhishui studied Ning Shangyu for a moment, her eyes roaming over his flawless, handsome brow, his thick lashes, and his lips.
He had teased her about her watery name before, and now again—making her heart pound inexplicably, perhaps affected by the sound of his heartbeat… she really was influenced by it.
Silently, she conveyed this with her moist, shimmering eyes.
But Ning Shangyu did not look away; instead, he stared slowly into her eyes, like golden ripples spreading across a summer lake’s surface under the sweltering heat.
The moment their eyes met, everything seemed to quiet down.
Lin Zhishui heard no other sound but their silent breathing.
Just being stared at like this made Lin Zhishui too nervous to calm down.
She tilted her head slightly, her dark hair falling helplessly against her cheek.
She was no match for Ning Shangyu—her weak constitution couldn’t withstand the intensity of his gaze.
Yet, she was irresistibly drawn to the vitality radiating from him.
She wanted to explore it.
Lin Zhishui liked the scent of Ning Shangyu; it was intoxicating and lingered, and she hoped this fondness would be uniquely hers, even if only for a few fleeting seconds.
Countless chaotic thoughts flashed through her mind, but one feeling was clear—her soul longed to fill her delicate, fragile body with the breath of life, to become strong and vigorous like him.
Since their arranged engagement began, Ning Shangyu had been like a capable, devoted mentor, selflessly teaching her about this life force, allowing her curious soul to absorb the warmth of his captivating vitality.
Bit by bit, it filled her fragile, translucent body like a delicate jade vessel.
One day, her soul would grow as strong and invincible as Ning Shangyu’s.
Lin Zhishui decided to fully accept this mutually beneficial marriage contract.
From her heart and soul, she accepted Ning Shangyu’s wish—to use her warmth and breath, like the towering dawn redwoods outside his floor-to-ceiling windows, to encircle and protect her weak, faint life force completely.
She was as light as silk, subconsciously pressing herself against the covers a few times, curling slightly while hooking her fingers on the jewel button of his sleeve.
“Ning Shang…”
She longed warmly to call his name.
Between them, Ning Shangyu clearly held the upper hand.
Compared to her, he stood tall and composed in his suit, unmoved.
When confusion and innocence flickered in Lin Zhishui’s eyes, his voice lowered slightly: “Will you dare next time?”
I will. Lin Zhishui closed her damp lashes.
Though she kept her lips sealed, boldly thinking to herself, she definitely would dare next time.
Her thought was abruptly cut off when Ning Shangyu gently placed her slender ankle, adorned with a delicate jeweled anklet, back under the covers.
Her skin suddenly felt cold despite the warm room.
Lin Zhishui instinctively craved his warmth, pursed her tongue, and quietly asked, “Aren’t we going to try again tonight?”
That night at Taiping Peak.
If the gap hadn’t been so huge, Ning Shangyu had already secretly arranged everything, lying in wait like a long-time stalker, ready to take real action—but she still hadn’t been able to…
Afterwards, she hid away at the Lin Family Old Residence for several days.
Though completely shaken by Ning Shangyu on every front and regretting their pre-wedding trials, after rebuilding her courage, she was willing to try again—provided he was patient and let her grow at her own pace.
At this moment, Lin Zhishui was unaware that she was making an unspoken invitation.
She simply earnestly discussed what normal fiancés should: “I reviewed that night’s details… hmm, I think the bigger problem was on your side.”
Ning Shangyu retorted, “What problem do I have?”
“Don’t you know what you look like?”
Lin Zhishui lifted her face but unexpectedly coughed lightly.
“If we try again… Ning Shangyu, I hope you can study my safety concerns. Maybe… it can prevent any bloodshed disasters.”
At the end, she sighed faintly.
Perhaps only heaven knew what she had endured.
Ning Shangyu looked deeply into her shimmering eyes and smiled faintly, calmly: “Bold as ever.”
Originally, one might have thought Lin Zhishui would develop deep psychological scars, but instead, she remained oblivious, fearless, and eager to explore.
When reprimanded, she frowned with a touch of defiance.
“Try.”
Ning Shangyu bent forward and flicked her pale forehead lightly with his long fingers, like a dragonfly’s touch.
“Your residence has no auxiliary tools; not tonight.”
Lin Zhishui reacted half a beat late, then raised her hand to the spot he had flicked and murmured softly, “Oh.”
Really!
That little spark of courage she’d built up was instantly shattered by him.
Ning Shangyu didn’t give her a chance to patch her courage but turned and left, closing the master bedroom door tightly behind him.
Soon, even the footsteps down the silent corridor faded away.
Only Lin Zhishui tossed and turned under the covers, until a vague discomfort finally made her fingers quietly toss something aside, allowing her to settle down bit by bit.
An hour later.
Back at his private residence, Ning Shangyu still showed no sign of calming.
Upon entering, he went straight to the indoor pool and swam several laps.
The deep blue water was chilled to cold temperatures.
Underwater, the tall man’s form was hidden until the night deepened.
Reaching the end, Ning Shangyu removed his goggles, slicked back his jet-black wet hair, water droplets sliding over his sharp, handsome brows, tracing down his collarbone to the smooth, muscular lines of his chest.
He didn’t bother drying off, instead casually grabbing a black bathrobe from the nearby leather sofa and wrapping it around his broad frame before stepping out.
The spacious, elegant living room’s crystal chandelier was off, replaced by several dimmed lights.
Such a dark, quiet night helped soothe his restless spirit.
“Give me that.”
Ning Shangyu sat on the sofa, facing the vast glass window overlooking the vibrant natural greenery.
He coldly lit a cigar. When Li Jin appeared, holding a glass of chilled vodka with bated breath, Ning Shangyu ordered icily, “Get me a dose.”
Li Jin hesitated a few seconds and whispered, “Mr. Ning, this month’s supply of the medication has already run out. The private hospital in America notified us that replenishment is urgent…”
Even if they pushed for it now, considering flight times, the earliest delivery would be morning.
Moreover, the Old Master had already been covertly monitoring usage.
No matter how much Ning Shangyu used, the Old Residence’s informants would know.
Feeling the pressure and duty, Li Jin reminded him, “The doctors advise minimizing use recently; otherwise, there may be occasional failures despite injections.”
Ning Shangyu suppressed his urges with this drug developed over a decade ago.
But as he matured, his fierce, energetic physique demanded more, and the drug’s formula stubbornly failed to improve.
The core family members, including the Old Master, knew well:
One day, the medication would completely lose its effect.
This was why the Ning Clan invested heavily in medical technology, aiming to control the highest-level research.
Li Jin, sharp-minded and aware of Ning Shangyu’s severe germophobia, noticed that Ning Shangyu didn’t seem to care about eventual failure.
In the past, he occasionally took injections late at night amid his busy work or blew off excess energy with swimming, skiing, or shooting.
He even secretly joined underground boxing matches abroad with heirs from the Rong and Xie families to vent brutally.
This year, Li Jin noticed Ning Shangyu’s energy was over three times stronger than before…
He suddenly realized something but dared not delve deeper, standing more respectfully.
The atmosphere froze for a long moment.
Until the marble coffee table’s phone vibrated, lighting up with a new message.
It was from Wen Jian Ci, a childhood friend:【Ning Shangyu, hasn’t been half a year since we last met, right? You’re running everything now—how long do you plan to keep severing all ties, chasing only your ambitions?】
Seconds later, he sent a private party’s address.
The meaning was clear.
Ning Shangyu casually skimmed the message.
Beside him, Li Jin felt certain his master wouldn’t respond and didn’t prepare a car.
Coincidentally, Wen Jian Ci thought the same and sent another message:【I even got Rong Er invited. If you don’t come, sorry bro, we’ll have to bring the party to your place.】
Ning Shangyu coldly and nobly replied:【Go away.】
Li Jin, witnessing this, timely said, “Mr. Ning, I’ll prepare the car.”
Rong Jiali was newlywed.
Another new head of the Xie Family, Xie Chen An, was also enjoying honeymoon bliss.
No one knew what tactics Wen Jian Ci used to drag these brothers out from their wives’ tender embraces in the dead of night.
Had he been born female in a top-tier family, he’d be resented by every wife’s clique, as the long-married Xiao Jing Mo joked, forming factions:
“You’re unmarried; you’re not even in the same camp as us married ones.”
As those words landed, two towering, dark wooden doors swung open.
Ning Shangyu appeared, dressed in a classic black suit, the exquisite fabric perfectly outlining his sharp shoulders and arms.
His expression was indifferent, and under the dazzling bright lights, his presence was overwhelming.
Wen Jian Ci leaned back lazily, his deep, Phoenix eyes curving into a subtle arc as he replied, “Isn’t someone from my camp here already?”
Xiao Jing Mo wanted to mock him but thought Ning Shangyu was only half in their camp anyway, since he was already betrothed.
He feared hurting the fragile ego of the “Prince” who’d just been dumped by some third-rate celebrity.
If that ego shattered, they’d have to piece it back together on the spot.
Wen Jian Ci pulled open a red velvet chair for Ning Shangyu to sit beside him, voice dripping with offbeat meaning: “Since childhood, only you, Shangyu, have given me true security.”
Ning Shangyu sat but turned to his left, looking at Rong Jiali: “Wasn’t he dumped, now drinks daily, and has split personalities? How does he even have energy to organize this?”
On the right, Xie Chen An spoke with a cold tone: “Unwilling to accept being dumped, so he wants to learn a thing or two from us.”
Rong Jiali, always appearing saintly, only revealed his true emotions among close friends.
He joined the teasing: “After all, in his princely, high-flying life, it’s rare to face setbacks and slaps—no wonder he’s feeling wronged and seeking comfort.”
The topic of ‘learning’ had been sarcastically debated before Ning Shangyu arrived.
Wen Jian Ci was clearly just a lovesick man trying to vent with old friends.
After a brief verbal sparring, the topic shifted to Ning Shangyu himself.
Xiao Jing Mo’s wife was from a prominent family in the Hong Kong area.
He had heard many rumors and, with Ning Shangyu before him, casually leaned his fingers over a glass and, catching Ning’s glance, teased, “My wife’s second cousin is close to the Qin Family. I heard they say you chose to marry into the Lin Family to use that little Miss Lin as a new drug?”
His question carried a genuine concern.
Could Ning Shangyu’s medication be close to failing?
“The medication to suppress his desires may not have failed yet, but it can’t keep up with how fiercely he uses it.”
Meanwhile, in the Si Cheng district.
In another private club’s top-floor room, Qin Wanyin confided in longtime friend Min Gu Xue.
She sat elegantly on a half-circle golden leather sofa, lazily tracing the patterns with her fingertips. Suddenly, a deeper smile curved her lips.
Min Gu Xue, feeling the air conditioning too cold, put fewer ice cubes in her glass and asked, “If he can ignore his severe germophobia, he might also use Lin Zhishui as a new drug.”
Her words struck deeply into Qin Wanyin’s heart. In her eyes were not only feelings for Ning Shangyu but also a trace of jealous resentment.
“That’s why I’ll develop a new drug to completely eliminate his worries, making the Ning Clan see my value and replace Lin Zhishui as the living drug.”
Qin Wanyin’s tone shifted instantly as she revealed to Min Gu Xue a secret: “The Old Master has already given his silent approval.”
With the Old Master’s blessing, it was like holding a get-out-of-jail-free card.
With this immense backing, her research would face no outside obstruction; otherwise, someone would naturally help clear her path…
“A girl with no achievements for the family can’t be compared to our Wanyin. I think Ning Shangyu’s fierce medication use mostly comes from his germophobia.”
Min Gu Xue’s comment didn’t sit well with Qin Wanyin, but she passed the glass over like a preemptive celebration, winking, “When you develop the drug, you’ll be the Ning family’s great contributor, and it’ll be time to replace the Ning Madam.”
Qin Wanyin had time on her side.
She knew better than anyone that Lin Zhishui had just come of age and would need at least two more years to mature.
The Lin Family must have realized the situation was unfavorable and hastily sent her to Si Cheng, ostensibly to adapt to a new environment early.
Adapt to what?
Merely that a mere engagement contract was flimsy; the marriage was still uncertain.
“Gu Xue, I love Ning Shangyu so much.”
Qin Wanyin lifted her crescent eyes to the wide, beautiful window, gazing at the mysterious night sky as if searching for the brightest star of Leo.
Then she softly said, “A man like him is destined to sit high and look down on the world as if we were ants. He shouldn’t be bound by a woman’s petty affections.”
“Using a new drug?”
Ning Shangyu repeated Xiao Jing Mo’s earlier question with an unreadable expression and a usual air of arrogance, sneering.
Xiao Jing Mo seemed to catch his meaning and added, “The Lin Family’s selection stirred too many interests. The Qin Family is one of them and understandably harbors resentment.”
This remark drew a lazy comment from Wen Jian Ci, who loved to insult indiscriminately:
“The Qin Family’s eldest daughter has had a crush on our Shangyu for over a decade; her radical thoughts are somewhat understandable.”
He never held back.
Xiao Jing Mo feared things might get out of hand and discreetly signaled to stop.
Ning Shangyu nonchalantly drained his glass.
The private party went on drinking until dawn.
When Ning Shangyu returned to his car, the dark blue skyline outside gradually yielded to the golden flames of the rising sun, the light flowing like molten amber into the exclusive quiet cabin.
He loosened his tightly bound silk tie and leaned back, eyes closed, resting.
That night at Taiping Peak replayed in his alcohol-burned mind…
The scene changed.
It was Lin Zhishui on that neat, richly scented black velvet bed, lips softly pressing a strand of wet black hair, head tilted back like an innocent, trusting little creature looking at him.
No longer showing any sign of sensing danger or wanting to flee helplessly.
Suddenly, a phone notification interrupted Ning Shangyu’s prolonged reverie.
He cracked his knuckles and rubbed his dark, shadowed brow hard.
Then he pulled out his phone and swiped open the screen.
Reflected not only was his dark, difficult-to-erase expression but also a barely awake voice message from Lin Zhishui: “Ning Shangyu, I dreamed of you and me that night at Taiping Peak.”