Chapter 16 “Bite Off Your Tongue”

Chapter 16 "I’ll Bite Your Tongue Off"

Xie Yan hadn't expected such a volatile outburst from me. He paused, momentarily stunned, but his reaction was swift. A quick turn of his head dodged my porcelain cup, though shattered fragments still left a faint, bleeding scratch on his cheek.

I knew I shouldn't have unleashed my anger on Xie Yan like that, but I was truly miserable. My father had pampered me excessively; never in my life had I experienced such profound injustice.

Xie Yan surely held no affection for me, otherwise, why would he treat me with such utter disregard? The fragile confidence I had painstakingly built up was utterly demolished by this incident.

Xie Yan made no move to wipe the blood from his face. Instead, he reached out, as if to offer solace, but I recoiled like a cornered hedgehog. Tears streamed down my face, and I couldn't stifle my sobs.

Yet, I feared the attendants outside might overhear. My pride was paramount, so I wept, muffling my whimpers, and fiercely accused him, "Xie Yan, you don't like me at all. I hate you, hate you, I hate you most of all! I want to go home. Go away, just go!"

I struggled to break free and rush out. Xie Yan reached my side just then. His face betrayed no anger, as if the wound on his cheek didn't exist. Blood still seeped from it, yet he ignored it, simply untying the belt that bound my hands.

Though it was my own belt, my wrists were bruised and scraped from my struggles.

I raised my hand, intending to shove Xie Yan away, but he suddenly seized both my flailing arms, pulling me into his embrace like a child. He gently stroked my back, calming my frantic breathing.

My tears flowed ceaselessly. If anyone else had treated me this way, I would have felt, at most, embarrassment and annoyance.

But with Xie Yan, I felt an endless sorrow. I liked him so much, cherished him so deeply. His actions today felt like a stinging slap, revealing his contempt and indifference, shattering my last shred of illusion.

I vented my fury by smearing snot and tears all over his pristine robe, sobbing incessantly, and vehemently declaring our separation, "Xie Yan, you don't like me at all! I won't like you anymore! I'll never appear before you again!"

From the moment I threw the cup until now, Xie Yan had remained remarkably composed, allowing me to vent my physical discomfort and emotional grievances without betraying any emotion. It was as if, in his eyes, I was merely a petulant child needing to be appeased.

But the moment those words left my lips, his expression abruptly shifted. His face darkened ominously, like a gathering storm. He suddenly seized my chin, and his cool lips fiercely stifled my breath.

Naturally, I resisted, struggling desperately and attempting to push him away. But with just one hand, he pinned both my wrists firmly above my head, then began to ravage my lips.

Even when he was in a good mood, his kisses were quite rough, let alone now—they carried a distinct punitive intensity.

My lips and tongue were bitten until they bled, and he even stole my breath. I was no match for him, so I could only whimper and beg for mercy, hot tears streaming down my cheeks, sliding into our entangled lips and tongues.

I tasted the blood and the saltiness of tears in my mouth. Xie Yan must have tasted it too. He paused slightly before releasing me. His gray eyes, cold and piercing like a serpent's gaze, spoke chillingly, "If you talk nonsense again, I'll bite your tongue off."

Finally able to draw fresh air, I gasped frantically, my mind hazy from lack of oxygen.

Nonsense? What nonsense? Which part was nonsense?

Xie Yan clearly didn't like me at all. If he liked me, why would he treat me so carelessly?

I always felt that people don't treat important things lightly, just as I treated Xie Yan—I always wished I could offer him the sun, moon, and stars to win his favor.

Clearly, what I wanted wasn't much—just a little affection—but Xie Yan wasn't even willing to give me that.

I wept silently, like a child denied candy. Xie Yan watched me with an icy stare. I knew he was angry too. Although he had spared my lips, his arm gripped my waist tightly, causing pain, and he showed no intention of letting me go.

"Xie Yan, if you don't like me at all, then don't take advantage of my feelings for you to bully me. That... that," I rubbed my swollen eyes vigorously, "would hurt me a hundred times more than if you directly rejected me."

Only after hearing my words did Xie Yan lean in to examine the small mole under my right eye. He seemed oddly fascinated by it. Suddenly, he extended his tongue, like some kind of canine, and licked away the tear stains beneath my eye and the teardrops clinging to my wet eyelashes.

After this, his anger seemed to have dissipated. He leaned in again to gently lick the broken wound on my lip—the one he had just bitten. I couldn't help but feel there was a clumsy attempt to appease me in his actions. I turned my head to avoid him, but he grabbed my chin, preventing my escape.

This time, he was much gentler. When the kiss ended, I still lingered, licking my lips. Xie Yan didn't immediately pull away. His handsome face was so close to mine. I could see his long, thick eyelashes, his straight nose, and his glistening thin lips. I couldn't help but swallow.

Then, he lifted the sleeve of my injured arm. I didn't know what he intended to do, but a cool breath landed on my scar.

Xie Yan was blowing on my itchy scar.

At this thought, my heart softened by half. I was so pathetic. As long as Xie Yan beckoned, I couldn't help but like him, couldn't help but want to give him my absolute best.

"Still itchy?"

Xie Yan's voice was soft. His eyes watched my expression, as if observing whether I was still itchy.

For some reason, I felt shy. Suddenly, I realized my earlier behavior was utterly unreasonable, yet Xie Yan had shown me patience and didn't hold it against me.

I shook my head, muttering thickly, "Not itchy."

Xie Yan said nothing more. Throughout the journey, he stayed close to my upper arm, gently blowing on it, and only released me when we stepped off the sedan chair.

After my outburst, I felt much better. As long as Xie Yan was by my side, a single glance from him was enough to make me resist scratching my scar.

But at night, unconscious urges were uncontrollable. I waited to see what method Xie Yan would use to deal with me.

"Come here." Xie Yan leaned against the bed, reading a book, and patted the space beside him, beckoning me over.

So Xie Yan's method was to keep an eye on me even while sleeping.

Resigned, I walked over. Only when I reached him did Xie Yan lift his eyelids and gesture with his chin toward the inner side of the bed, but he showed no intention of making room.

I had no choice but to step over his waist and try to climb inside. Just as I stepped over, Xie Yan set down his book. I looked up and met his gaze.

It was late at night, and the cold crows cawed outside the window. Xie Yan's jade-like face was faintly illuminated by candlelight, his gray eyes shining like daylight in the cold night, brilliant and captivating. Mesmerized by his beauty, I braced my hands on either side of him, reluctant to move.

Xie Yan's expression was neutral. His narrow phoenix eyes held my infatuated reflection. He lowered his head slightly, and delicate kisses landed on my lips.

His slender fingers gripped my waist, pulling me closer to him. Our intimacy at that moment felt as though he was holding me in his embrace.

Xie Yan and I had kissed many times, but I never knew how to breathe properly. Each time, I ended up flushed and breathless.

Xie Yan's palm rubbed my back, helping me catch my breath. I leaned into his embrace somewhat dependently, unable to resist nuzzling my face against his collar.

"Sleep." Xie Yan's voice was slightly hoarse. He lifted me and placed me on the inner side of the bed, then reached into my sleeve and rested his hand on my scar.

Hazy from his kisses, I fell asleep quickly. When the itchiness flared up at night, I reached out to scratch, but only encountered a cool hand—I couldn't succeed.

Although I was in Xie Yan's bed, I slept surprisingly well. When I woke the next morning, I was still in Xie Yan's arms, my head resting on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.

"Awake?"

I had barely opened my eyes when I met Xie Yan's gaze. His eyes were clear, as if he had been awake for a long time. I could only nod and negotiate with him, "Xie Yan, when you go to court today, can you not tie me up?"

I was truly afraid of that helpless feeling.