Chapter 31 Pluck Control.

Chapter 31: Grasp and Mastery.

Chen Yanli walked through the door, the first thing he did was look at Cen Yingshuang with concern: "Yingshuang, how are you? I texted you, but you didn't reply. I called, but you didn't pick up."

The past few days had been pure chaos.

After it happened, Chen Yanli reached out to her right away, but she was in a mess—she didn't even touch her phone at first, and later she was too busy and not in the mood to reply.

"I've been a bit busy these past two days. Sorry, Brother Yanli, for worrying you," Cen Yingshuang said softly.

Chen Yanli walked to the entryway, and Happy got even more excited, wagging its tail like a propeller, panting, and licking Chen Yanli's feet. Helpless, Chen Yanli picked him up, and he got even more worked up in his arms.

With his free hand, he gently ruffled Cen Yingshuang's hair, his eyes full of pity. "For something like this to happen, I just..."

Chen Yanli was at a loss for words, his eyes full of heartache. The last time he was at her place was for her 18th birthday, when she was still the apple of her parents' eye, a happy family enjoying each other's company. Who would've thought a happy family could fall apart in an instant?

She'd lost so much weight and looked so worn out. Her eyes, once so bright, had lost all their sparkle.

Cen Yingshuang lowered her head, hiding her emotions, stepped back, and instinctively pulled out Cen Powen's slippers from the shoe cabinet, handing them to Chen Yanli.

Chen Yanli took off his shoes, slid into the slippers, and said, "Do you need me to..." Before he could finish the word "help,"

He spotted a pair of men's leather shoes with red soles at the entrance.

Chen Yanli instantly realized there was a man in Cen Yingshuang's place.

Just as he was thinking that, a voice came from the living room: "Who's there?"

He didn't need to see to know who it was.

He'd heard that voice for over twenty years—how could he not recognize it?

Actually, even before He Yuzhou spoke, when he saw those shoes, Chen Yanli had a hunch.

But when his guess was confirmed, Chen Yanli felt a mix of emotions he couldn't describe. On one hand, he figured He Yuzhou had made his move; on the other, he regretted being one step behind again.

When he looked up, He Yuzhou was already at the entryway.

Their eyes met, and He Yuzhou stayed quiet.

His seemingly calm gaze swept over the excited dog in Chen Yanli's arms and the slippers on his feet—the ones Cen Yingshuang had refused to give him.

He Yuzhou's voice snapped Cen Yingshuang back to reality, reminding her he was there. For a second, she was so embarrassed she didn't know what expression to make.

For some reason, she also felt that familiar, icy tension radiating from He Yuzhou, filling every corner of the room.

Chen Yanli didn't say anything either, and the three of them existed in an awkward silence.

Only Happy's cheerful panting filled the silence.

He Yuzhou was the first to break it, turning his gaze to Cen Yingshuang: "Come here."

His tone was casual but commanding.

In front of Chen Yanli, Cen Yingshuang felt a deep shame, so strong she couldn't lift her head. But she didn't dare defy He Yuzhou's order, slowly moving to his side with her head down.

He Yuzhou raised his arm, draping it over her shoulder, his hand gripping her shoulder: "Aren't you going to introduce me?"

Cen Yingshuang felt an overwhelming pressure again, too ashamed to face Chen Yanli. But she forced herself to pull it together, first introducing Chen Yanli: "This is the son of my mom's friend I told you about, the brother I grew up with, Chen Yanli."

Then, swallowing her reluctance, she introduced He Yuzhou, "This is..."

She bit her lip, her voice getting weaker, "My boyfriend... He Yuzhou."

Right away, she heard He Yuzhou's low chuckle. His hand on her shoulder tightened a little, pulling her closer to him. He looked at Chen Yanli, the corner of his mouth lifting: "Cousin."

Cen Yingshuang thought he'd misunderstood and was about to correct him, but He Yuzhou lowered his gaze to her and said solemnly, "This is my cousin."

"... ..."

Cen Yingshuang was completely thrown off, never expecting such an absurd, dramatic twist.

She stared at Chen Yanli in disbelief.

And Chen Yanli didn't deny it.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Cen Yingshuang asked He Yuzhou.

How could such a coincidence even exist?

If that was the case, why did he make her introduce him just now?

This guy He Yuzhou was so scheming—he had to force her to admit he was her boyfriend in front of someone else before he'd be satisfied.

"You never asked," He Yuzhou said lightly, as if it were obvious.

"... ..."

Cen Yingshuang was full of frustration and speechlessness.

He Yuzhou's voice still had a hint of a smile: "From now on, call him cousin."

His possessiveness and need for control were that strong; he insisted she use his side of the family's title. It also subtly showed how close their relationship was.

She was still reluctant, instinctively glancing at Chen Yanli. Before their eyes could meet, she quickly looked away, took a deep breath, and said in a voice so weak it was barely audible, "...Cousin."

She couldn't see Chen Yanli's expression, but He Yuzhou saw it clearly.

Chen Yanli just gave a stiff, forced smile and said nothing.

He Yuzhou, mimicking Chen Yanli's earlier gesture, slowly rubbed her head, as if rewarding her for being obedient.

Cen Yingshuang frowned imperceptibly. His action reminded her of training a dog.

Then He Yuzhou released her shoulder and reminded her, "Aren't you supposed to be packing your luggage?"

He glanced at his watch, "Hurry up. I have a video conference this afternoon."

Cen Yingshuang let out an "Oh," turned and walked inside. After a few steps, she stopped, looked back at Chen Yanli, and instinctively said, "Brother Yanli..."

Catching He Yuzhou's gaze, she quickly corrected herself: "Cousin... come in and sit down."

Chen Yanli gave another forced smile and nodded in response: "Go ahead with your business."

Cen Yingshuang didn't want He Yuzhou and Chen Yanli to be alone, fearing He Yuzhou might say something to Chen Yanli—like the truth about their relationship.

But she couldn't ask Chen Yanli to leave, nor could she find an excuse to send He Yuzhou to help her pack.

So, reluctantly, she headed upstairs.

Just then, He Yuzhou's voice rang out.

"What are you doing here?" He Yuzhou was perfectly at ease, his tone natural and relaxed, as if making casual conversation with Chen Yanli. "We're meeting in Hong Kong in a couple of days anyway."

Cen Yingshuang was a beat behind, then stopped again, catching the key word: "we."

Her eyes lit up with surprise and excitement.

He Yuzhou saw right through her excitement, but calmly dashed her hopes: "We are."

"..."

Cen Yingshuang was caught off guard. "I have to go too?"

He Yuzhou didn't say a word, and she hurried a few steps toward him. "But I don't have any plans to go to Hong Kong."

He Yuzhou looked at her and said flatly, "Do you have other plans right now?"

"..."

Cen Yingshuang was instantly at a loss for words, standing there frozen, at a loss.

He Yuzhou realized his tone had been a bit harsh. He walked up to her, lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear, making it look intimate to anyone watching.

He coaxed, like he was soothing her, "It was wrong of me to go behind your back, but I can't do long-distance with my girlfriend right after we got together."

"It's my first relationship, so cut me some slack?" He reached out and touched her face.

Cen Yingshuang knew that even though his tone had softened with affection, his attitude was still lofty and condescending.

She never had any say in things.

Cen Yingshuang hung her head, looking dazed, not responding.

He Yuzhou didn't say a word, just casually held out his arm in front of her and tapped his watch with his finger.

A silent push.

Cen Yingshuang had no choice but to trudge upstairs, feeling heavy-hearted.

Once Cen Yingshuang left, only He Yuzhou and Chen Yanli were left.

He Yuzhou repeated Cen Yingshuang's words: "Come in and have a seat."

Like he was the man of the house.

"No need, I'm good." Chen Yanli set Happy down and went to put on his shoes. "Tell Yingshuang I'm heading out."

As Chen Yanli turned to go, He Yuzhou spoke up: "It's been this long since everything went down, and you're just showing up now. Isn't it a bit too late?"

Chen Yanli paused.

He couldn't miss what He Yuzhou was implying—Is this how you show you care about her?

Chen Yanli had nothing to say. He'd been busy with an exhibition in France the past few days and couldn't just leave in the middle of it. He'd tried calling Cen Yingshuang but couldn't get through. Besides, even if he wanted to help, he was just a painter with no pull in the entertainment industry, totally powerless. The only thing he could do was help Cen Yingshuang find a better hospital for Zhou Yalin.

Besides, he knew He Yuzhou wouldn't just sit back and do nothing.

Truth was, it had only been four days since it all happened. He'd rushed over as soon as he could wrap things up. He'd expected He Yuzhou to get involved, but not that things would move this fast. And the way Cen Yingshuang introduced him made it clear they'd already come to an agreement.

Chen Yanli had nothing to say for himself. As he turned, the first thing he saw was that painting, "The Girl," hanging on the wall.

So He Yuzhou had gotten the painting after all.

Chen Yanli met He Yuzhou's eyes and said firmly, "Take care of her."

Just like he'd said before: "Otherwise, I won't let you off."

With that, Chen Yanli pulled open the door and left.

As soon as Chen Yanli was gone, the dog, whose tail had been wagging like crazy, lost all its enthusiasm. It turned, lifted its head to look up at He Yuzhou's towering figure, and with its owner gone, didn't dare bark. It tucked its tail and scurried away.

He Yuzhou stared at the slippers, his face darkening.

What kind of man of the house didn't even have a pair of slippers?

He let out a silent snort.

A clueless dog and its owner who couldn't tell friend from foe.

He Yuzhou still didn't put on the slippers, walking upstairs barefoot.

The second floor had only three rooms: a yoga room, a study, and a bedroom.

He Yuzhou headed straight for the bedroom.

Cen Yingshuang had a suitcase on the floor and was packing things into it.

"Just take your essentials," He Yuzhou said succinctly. "No need for daily items or clothes; we'll buy new ones later."

Cen Yingshuang nodded.

"Is there anything you need to take?" he asked proactively, as if offering to help her pack.

"No need, I'll do it myself. You won't find anything," Cen Yingshuang said in a muffled voice.

Since she said that, He Yuzhou didn't insist.

He leisurely looked around her room.

It was all pink and girly, a very standard young woman's style. Two entire walls were covered with dolls of all kinds, including some very realistic ones.

Huang Xingyao had dolls like that too—they were called BJD dolls, weren't they?

On her desk sat a small fish tank with colorful tropical fish swimming inside.

Cen Yingshuang had just grabbed a pink pony plush from the bed to put in her suitcase when her phone, lying in the middle of the bed, caught his eye. He immediately noticed the shell pendant hanging from her phone case, which she'd painted white and pink.

Seeing this, He Yuzhou suddenly remarked, "What about the shell I gave you? Where did you put it?"

Cen Yingshuang froze mid-motion, her mind going blank for a moment.

He Yuzhou let out a snicker that sounded almost mocking. "No, I should ask—where did you throw it away?"

Cen Yingshuang's fingers curled, his sharp words piercing her and making her heart race with guilt.

"No, no!" Cen Yingshuang steeled herself and denied it.

"Where is it?" He Yuzhou pressed on relentlessly. "Find it and show me."

Cen Yingshuang's mind raced wildly as she tried desperately to remember where she had put the shell.

She thought she'd tossed it in the trash with the pearl necklace back then.

Aunt Qin probably picked it up, right?

She stood up and walked to the dressing room, praying silently.

When she saw the shell in the jewelry cabinet, she breathed a sigh of relief, like she'd just dodged a bullet.

"Here it is." She took it out.

Walking up to He Yuzhou, she held it out in her palm to show him.

The gloom on He Yuzhou's face finally eased a bit. He picked up her phone from the bed and took off the shell pendant hanging from it.

"What are you doing?" Cen Yingshuang asked, confused.

Suddenly, she got a bad feeling.

No sooner had she thought that than He Yuzhou said, "Give me this one. You use the one I gave you."

"..." Right then, Cen Yingshuang somehow mustered the courage to reach out and snatch the shell from his hand. "No way!"

He Yuzhou lifted his arm a little and dodged her easily. She grabbed at air, and they were suddenly inches apart. She craned her neck to look up at him.

He looked down at her, his gaze fixed on her. "Why not?"

His eyes had this magical way of seeing right through everything. Meeting his eyes, she felt like she was stripped bare with nowhere to hide. Her heart pounded with panic.

Cen Yingshuang went quiet again.

"Who gave you this?" He Yuzhou asked.

"No, I found this on a beach in Fiji," Cen Yingshuang said.

He'd seen that with his own eyes.

"Why not?" He Yuzhou stayed sharp, digging into things, not giving her a chance to slip away. "Give me a reason."

It was just an ordinary pendant. Her stubborn refusal to let it go had to have a hidden reason.

Cen Yingshuang's scalp prickled.

For some reason, He Yuzhou seemed especially overbearing right now, pushing her so hard she had no room to back down or escape.

Even though his expression was calm and normal, she could still feel his strong, overwhelming aura—cold and fierce, seeping into every bit of air.

Cen Yingshuang had no choice but to give in. "It's nothing... I'm just used to it..."

She gave in, taking the sun-shaped shell he'd given her into her hand. "The one you gave me is really pretty too. I'll put it on my phone in a bit."

The shell she'd found herself, turned into a phone pendant with her own hands.

Jiang Suian had one in the same color.

He Yuzhou was even taking away this little piece of her cherished memory.

He was like a fierce hurricane, flooding her world, leaving his traces and presence everywhere, and she didn't even belong to herself anymore.

Cen Yingshuang felt disheartened, fighting back the urge to cry, and went back to packing her luggage.

She kept her word. After packing, she used the tools she'd bought to tweak the shell a little, turning it into a pendant and putting it on her phone.

Only then was he satisfied.

Before going downstairs, He Yuzhou specifically told her to change.

She swapped her dress for pants.

He Yuzhou carried her suitcase downstairs.

As they passed the photo wall, He Yuzhou stopped and glanced over at her.

"Mind if I take a few pictures?"

Even though he asked politely, he didn't wait for her answer before reaching up and taking down a few of her photos.

"..."

So it was just a polite formality.

The pictures he took included one of her learning to walk as a baby, one from elementary school wearing a red scarf, one from middle school learning piano, and a solo shot from two years ago when she went to Hokkaido with her parents to see the snow.

Was he a bandit? He didn't even spare the photos. He took them, and that was fine, but—

"Why take the baby one too..." Cen Yingshuang muttered.

He wasn't a pedophile, was he...

He Yuzhou's gaze was still on the photos, searching for more to take, and naturally heard her mutter. He replied, "I want to know every stage of your life."

He had been focused on the photos documenting her growth and hadn't looked closely at the others. Now, he shifted some attention away, and his eyes landed on a photo almost hidden by the others.

In the photo, Cen Yingshuang wore a simple plaid skirt, looking very young with a hint of baby fat still on her face, though she was already graceful and elegant. Her features were bright and striking, her figure tall and poised.

She stood in front of the Eiffel Tower, smiling brightly and making a peace sign, while a hand rested on her shoulder.

A man's hand.

A hand He Yuzhou recognized—one that held a paintbrush.

He brushed aside the other photos covering this one.

The man standing beside Cen Yingshuang in the photo was clearly revealed.

It was indeed Chen Yanli.

"How old were you here?" He Yuzhou asked.

"Thirteen or fourteen, I think," Cen Yingshuang thought for a moment. "That was my first time in Paris. Brother Yanli was my guide..."

Before she could finish, He Yuzhou's gaze turned cold as he looked at her. Cen Yingshuang stopped, realized her mistake, and corrected herself: "...my cousin."

Thirteen or fourteen years old.

The bloom of youth.

He didn’t want to miss a single stage of Cen Yingshuang’s life. As luck would have it, Chen Yanli had already experienced and witnessed them all.

He Yuzhou withdrew his hand, choosing not to take down that photo. Instead, he covered it again with other photos.

When Happy saw Cen Yingshuang appear, it darted over in a flash. Emboldened by its owner’s presence, it got cocky, letting out a few small barks at He Yuzhou.

Dogs have a keen sense of smell; they always pick up on danger signals first.

The instant He Yuzhou’s sharp eyes landed on it, Happy immediately tucked its tail and hid behind Cen Yingshuang’s feet.

“It’s so warm to others,” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

“It’s known my… cousin longer than you…” Cen Yingshuang mumbled under her breath as she picked up Happy. “It’s only natural it’s not friendly to you…”

To He Yuzhou’s ears, those words carried a deeper meaning.

She seemed to be talking about the dog, but she meant herself as well.

He Yuzhou didn’t respond. He just stared at her in silence.

For some unknown reason, Cen Yingshuang felt the temperature in the well-heated room drop several degrees.

It only took one look from him.

He said nothing more. He neatly stacked the photos he’d taken and slipped them into his pocket. Then, carrying her suitcase, he left in silence.

Cen Yingshuang kissed Happy before setting it down, and she quickly followed him.

He ordered the bodyguard waiting downstairs to go up and retrieve the painting *The Girl*.

On the drive back, He Yuzhou stopped talking to her. Instead, he focused on his laptop and made phone calls, acting as if she weren’t there.

Even though he looked calm and gave nothing away, the mood in the car was inexplicably heavy.

Her gut told her He Yuzhou was upset. As for why, she had no idea.

She even replayed their conversation, wondering if she’d said something to upset him.

But she’d been so careful, choosing every word around him. She really couldn’t think of a reason.

So she gave up trying to guess.

As long as he still kept his word and helped her, his coldness was actually welcome. This way, she could avoid another awkward situation like the one at noon.

Back at the mansion.

True to his word, He Yuzhou headed straight to the study for a video conference.

Cen Yingshuang went back to the room she’d slept in last night and set down her luggage. She lay on the sofa, zoning out for a while. Feeling bored, she took out her phone and scrolled for a while, not knowing what to do.

Jiang Suian had sent her many messages, all asking if she was okay. He explained that his phone had died that night, and he was at a work event, with his agent not letting him leave.

She didn’t blame him, but she didn’t know how to face him now, because she had sold herself out.

She had no choice anymore.

She replied briefly: “Don’t worry, I’m okay.”

Then she logged out of WeChat, hesitated for a moment, and finally opened Weibo.

The reason she was so fragile was that she had faced so little hardship. She gathered her courage to face the storm again, only to find that the morning’s trending topics about her had all vanished by the afternoon.

She refreshed the page several times. Same result.

It dawned on her.

He Yuzhou had acted quickly and had it all suppressed?

Cen Yingshuang let out a breath, logged out of Weibo, and stopped looking.

Still bored, she got up and headed downstairs.

She wandered into the ridiculously large garden.

They say there’s a “twenty-minute park effect.” When you’re feeling down, spending time among plants and trees can absorb nature’s energy and significantly reduce stress.

Cen Yingshuang strolled aimlessly, finally sitting on a bench, listening to the ambient sounds. Her heavy mood did lighten a bit.

Before she knew it, it was dinner time.

The butler called her to eat.

She went to the dining room, but He Yuzhou wasn’t there.

The butler said Mr. He was still in a meeting.

Cen Yingshuang just nodded, saying nothing.

As long as He Yuzhou wasn’t around, she felt much lighter. At least he wouldn’t touch her or force her to eat so much.

That evening, she ate only until she was seventy percent full and then left the table.

Upstairs, she took a shower and, to pass the time, turned on the TV in the bedroom to watch a cheesy drama. Midway through, the butler brought her a glass of warm milk.

Soon after drinking it, drowsiness set in. She turned off the TV and lamp and drifted off to sleep.

She didn’t know how long she’d been asleep when a need to pee woke her. Groggy, she was about to get up and head to the bathroom when she heard a noise at the door.

The room was dead silent. Even with the thick carpet, she could detect faint footsteps.

Realizing what was happening, her heart tightened.

Instinctively, she closed her eyes again and pretended to sleep, holding her breath.

Only when the footsteps passed her bed did she dare to breathe softly, straining her ears.

The bathroom door opened, followed by the sound of running water.

Cen Yingshuang sat up abruptly and looked toward the bathroom.

The room was dark, lit only by the faint glow from the bathroom. She could make out a set of dark men’s pajamas laid out on the sofa.

What’s going on?

Why was He Yuzhou taking a shower in her room?

Are we seriously supposed to sleep together?!

Cen Yingshuang panicked, thinking she could sneak off to another room while she had the chance. She was totally out of ideas.

But just as she lifted the blanket to get out of bed, the sound of water stopped abruptly, and the bathroom door opened.

Freaked out, she flopped back down, closed her eyes, and pretended to be asleep. No choice—she'd just have to keep faking it and hope to make it through the night.

She heard footsteps approaching, stopping right at the edge of the bed.

Then the blanket was lifted at one corner, and the soft mattress dipped deep under his weight.

Even before he got close, she could feel the heat rolling off him.

The next second, his burning chest pressed against her back. Even through her pajamas, the fabric couldn't block the heat.

His heavy arm landed on her waist.

Cen Yingshuang clenched her teeth, forcing herself to stay still—she absolutely could not move!

But he was way too close. His breath kept brushing against the back of her neck, warm and tingly.

It was like a trigger for her need to pee, and she was barely holding it in.

Her legs started shaking.

He clearly noticed the slight movement and shifted his waist to press even closer.

The next moment, Cen Yingshuang froze, because she felt something else...

Her toes curled tight. The need to pee made her shiver, and with his rubbing, it was sensory overload, giving her goosebumps all over. She couldn't keep faking it anymore.

He Yuzhou let out a low, suppressed sigh from his throat, his hoarse voice shattering the hazy quiet, lingering right by her ear.

"You're up."

His rubbing made her shake all over, and she instinctively reached back to stop him.

Her palm pressed against his waist and stomach, feeling his firm, chiseled abs, still damp with leftover moisture.

He wasn't wearing pajamas—just a thin towel tied around his waist.

"I need to..."

The words "I need to pee" never made it out of her mouth, turning into a startled gasp instead.

Because He Yuzhou, without a word, flipped her onto her back. His body half-pressed over hers, arms braced on either side of her head, the mattress sinking deep under his weight.

Cen Yingshuang was startled by his sudden move, her mouth hanging open, still in shock.

His overwhelmingly aggressive aura hit her like the tallest wave in the ocean, unstoppable, crashing over her completely.

In an instant, she couldn't breathe.

His lips were to blame.

Her slightly parted lips let him slip right into her mouth, recklessly tangling with her tongue. Her chin was forced up, her neck aching from the effort.

His tongue even pushed deep into her throat, almost dislocating her jaw.

It instantly dragged her back to that crazy, terrifying kiss on her birthday.

Cen Yingshuang whimpered nonstop, panicked, instinctively struggling to push him away, but it was like hitting a brick wall.

She couldn't talk, so she couldn't ask why he was breaking his promise. Just today, he'd asked what level of intimacy she was okay with.

She'd said holding hands and hugging—definitely not kissing.

He'd agreed.

And yet...

Even though she hadn't said a word, He Yuzhou knew what her muffled sounds meant.

He knew exactly how pissed and upset she was.

But he'd been pissed all afternoon too.

Because of a photo, or maybe not just one photo.

Chen Yanli had been there for every important stage of her life.

This wasn't Cen Yingshuang's fault.

He admitted to himself that he'd come too late. The order of things couldn't be changed.

He felt regret, helplessness, and remorse for missing so much, for not being in her life sooner.

Even though he knew it wasn't his fault.

This was the first time he'd felt such bitter emotions.

But in the end, it was jealousy. Envy that she treated Chen Yanli differently than she treated him.

Possessiveness ate away at his reason.

He knew he was being irrational with his jealousy.

But he'd never been one to hold back.

So what if the order couldn't be changed? Advantage wasn't about who showed up first.

From now on, every day, every minute, every second of Cen Yingshuang's life, he wanted to have in his hands.

Every strand of her hair, every inch of her body, would carry his mark.

With that thought, He Yuzhou wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her tight against him.

Her waist lifted slightly off the mattress, hovering a few centimeters, locked tight in his embrace.

They were pressed together with no gap between them.

He Yuzhou finally let her go, but before Cen Yingshuang could even breathe, he grabbed her hand and pressed it forward.

The towel had already fallen off.

"Now do you know what this is?"

He was still kissing her, his mouth opening and closing as he spoke, catching her lips, then reluctantly moving to her ear. In a breathy whisper, he said a few words that made her blood run cold.

He said.

"It's for fucking you."