In the pitch - black night, a towering fireball erupted. Her weak body was pushed away by the heatwave, and excruciating pain gnawed at her flesh. The only thing she could see was the blood - red full moon hanging in the sky.
Xie Bingxia jolted awake from the nightmare, drenched in cold sweat. Daylight had already filled the outside world through the window. How long had it been since she last dreamed of that night two years ago? Why did it suddenly intrude into her dream last night? While calming her rapid breathing, she looked around. She was in a simply - decorated residence she had never been to before. Gu Bei had once mentioned that he owned many properties. This must be one of them.
She flipped out of bed, but a hand reached out from under the quilt and grabbed her wrist. "Where are you going?"
Then Gu Bei sat up. His sharp eyes swept over Xie Bingxia, and he forcefully pulled her into his arms. "You're not going anywhere."
"Let me go!" Xie Bingxia struggled. "Is there anything else you can do besides confining me?"
"Nope." Gu Bei didn't feel the least bit ashamed. Instead, he thought Xie Bingxia made sense. "For you, this one trick is enough."
"You—" Xie Bingxia was so angry that she couldn't speak. Gu Bei continued, "For the next month, you'll stay here and not go out. I'll take care of your daily life. I've also asked for leave for you at school."
Xie Bingxia sneered, "Oh, so you'll marry Yuan Yiyun and then come back to play with me? Gu Bei, you've got quite the perfect plan, keeping your wife at home while having a mistress outside. Sorry, but I, Xie Bingxia, won't stoop so low as to be your mistress!"
"You know about it?" Gu Bei was surprised. No wonder she had gone crazy last night. It had nothing to do with Qin Feng. Somehow, Gu Bei felt a bit happy.
Seeing the faint smile on Gu Bei's lips, Xie Bingxia thought this man was so shameless. It also confirmed his intention to have two women at the same time. She picked up the pillow on the bed and threw it at him, shouting, "Get out! You disgust me!"
The soft pillow did nothing to Gu Bei. He brushed it aside, then flipped over and pinned Xie Bingxia down. Their eyes met, and his hot breath fanned across her face. His upper body was bare, and the contact made Xie Bingxia tense up.
"You promised me you'd trust me," Gu Bei said seriously.
Xie Bingxia spat at him, "Bah! How can I trust you? You whisper sweet nothings to me while secretly arranging your wedding with another woman. What, should I wait until Yuan Yiyun gets into your bed to realize I've been cuckolded?"
The little rabbit had a sharp tongue. Gu Bei pinched her aggressive little mouth and said, "Give me a month. I'll give you an explanation."
"No!" Xie Bingxia pouted. "Explain it right now if you dare."
Gu Bei shook his head. "No way." His actions and decisions were part of a private plan. Telling Xie Bingxia would be like burying a mine for himself. She was such a terrifying variable that he had to keep a close eye on her.
Xie Bingxia lifted her right leg and kicked Gu Bei in the stomach. Before he could react, she jumped out of bed and ran towards the door. She grabbed the door bolt, thinking she was about to gain freedom. However, no matter how hard she pulled, the door didn't budge.
"It's an electronic lock. It won't open without my fingerprint," Gu Bei said as he rubbed his stomach and walked over. Xie Bingxia turned and rushed towards the huge French window. When she looked down from the window, her heart sank.
"You're on the 36th floor. If you want to be a flying person, you'll end up dead and dismembered," Gu Bei said.
Xie Bingxia glared at him angrily. "Gu Bei, what on earth do you want?"
Gu Bei softened his tone. "Obey me."
"I won't! I won't! I won't!" Xie Bingxia covered her ears. Anyway, Gu Bei couldn't watch her 24/7. As long as he was a bit negligent, she was sure to find a chance to escape.
Gu Bei was no pushover. He knew exactly what the little rabbit was thinking. He took something out of the bedside drawer. When Xie Bingxia saw what it was, she almost bit her tongue. "You can't do this to me... Ah!" She was so scared that she stepped back and bumped into the sofa. Gu Bei pushed her down, grabbed her right ankle, and snapped—he put an ankle - cuff on her.
Gu Bei turned around and cuffed the other end to the wrought - iron bed. "I'm putting an insurance on you. After all, I'm afraid when you bite like a wild animal." The chain of the ankle - cuff was long enough for Xie Bingxia to move freely in the room.
"Aren't you afraid I'll chop off my own foot?" Xie Bingxia said angrily. Gu Bei pointed to the four corners of the room. "Hidden cameras, and there are bodyguards in the living room. Do you want to try?"
Xie Bingxia gave in. For the time being, she had no choice but to become Gu Bei's prisoner. Gu Bei was very thorough. He confiscated her communication devices and replaced everything in the house with harmless items. There was not even a sharp object to be found, let alone knives and forks. Except for going out for a few hours occasionally, Gu Bei stuck by Xie Bingxia's side for work and daily life. Having to live like this for a month, Xie Bingxia thought she was going to go crazy.
Another night came. Xie Bingxia sat on the sofa, staring blankly out of the window. Gu Bei had been out longer than usual today. When he came back, he smelled of alcohol. Maybe he was too exhausted. He leaned against the bed and looked at his iPad for a while, then fell asleep.
Xie Bingxia looked at him. Even in his sleep, his brows were still tightly knitted. The iPad fell to his side and suddenly lit up. Xie Bingxia's heart skipped a beat. She quietly reached out and took it, then pointed it at Gu Bei's face. It opened smoothly.
She had been out of society for a while and was eager to know what was going on outside. But the moment she opened the news website, she couldn't stop trembling.
"Xie and Yuan Families Officially Engaged, Wedding to Be Held Soon"
"Mr. Gu Attends the Annual Business Circle Seminar with His Beautiful Wife. What a Perfect Couple!"
"Public Display of Affection: Yuan Yiyun Says Her Husband Dotes on Her"
...
One headline was more shocking than the last, and one report seemed more genuine than the other. Photos of Gu Bei and Yuan Yiyun being intimate kept flashing before Xie Bingxia's eyes. She suddenly felt like she couldn't breathe. The suffocating pressure made her stomach churn. She quickly covered her mouth and rushed into the bathroom.
She hadn't eaten much for dinner. By the end, she was just vomiting acid. Xie Bingxia slumped beside the toilet. A sense of exhaustion and weakness overtook her whole body. Even after vomiting everything out, her chest still felt as if it was being crushed by a thousand - jin boulder.
It hurt so much, even more than the physical pain on the night of the accident.
But why? She was just playing a love - game with Gu Bei under the guise of Xie Bingxia. She was supposed to not get involved emotionally. Why was she feeling so miserable?
"What's wrong? Did you eat something bad?" Gu Bei followed the sound and walked into the bathroom. He bent down to help Xie Bingxia up, but she slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me."
Xie Bingxia staggered to her feet and walked back to the bed in a daze. She lay down and wrapped herself in the quilt. She counted silently in her heart how many days had passed and how many were left.
What on earth was Gu Bei up to after getting engaged to Yuan Yiyun? He must be fooling her, just buying time. Once the news of their marriage had spread for a month, it would be a done deal. No matter what Gu Bei's purpose was, she couldn't just sit around and wait!
That's right. She was just a revenge - seeker. Since this body could be useful, she couldn't waste it. Xie Bingxia secretly made up her mind.
Next, she just had to wait for the opportunity to execute her plan. Before that, Xie Bingxia behaved very obediently. She didn't argue, ate well, and slept quietly. Finally, the day came when Gu Bei put on that tie.
After a day of socializing, Gu Bei was extremely tired. The pre - wedding preparations were more than he had expected. He had less time to accompany Xie Bingxia, which made him a bit uneasy. He took off his suit jacket and walked into the bedroom. He saw Xie Bingxia sitting on the bed. It seemed that she had already taken a shower. Gu Bei smelled the familiar fragrance of the shower gel and gradually put his uneasiness aside.
Xie Bingxia turned to look at Gu Bei and slowly approached him. Tonight, she was unexpectedly wearing a silk camisole nightgown she rarely wore. Her innocent and lovely appearance momentarily made Gu Bei intoxicated.
She took Gu Bei's hand and gently placed it on her shoulder. Then she began to untie his tie and said, "Let me help you undress."