In the bathroom, Nasha confidently admired herself in the mirror. She was unclothed, her curves accentuated in a way few men could resist.
She picked up a thin, long shawl and wrapped it lightly around herself, exposing most of her chest and her long, slender legs.
Hearing the door open outside, she smiled at her reflection, playfully pulling the shawl down a bit more before gently opening the door, hoping to surprise the person outside.
But then, her gaze landed on the bed, two intertwined figures.
She bit her lip, about to step forward, but the next moment, she heard Li Shen’s hoarse voice speaking to the woman beneath him. That deep, textured voice had once been her greatest obsession. But now, it was like a blade slicing through her heart.
His hands, once so accustomed to holding weapons, now caressed the girl’s body with infinite tenderness.
Nasha could no longer hear what he was saying, nor did she want to.
When she saw Li Shen lower his head toward the girl’s shoulder, as if about to kiss her, she gripped the doorknob tightly. The small sound alerted the man on the bed.
“Who’s there? Come out!”
In an instant, she saw Li Shen shield the girl with his body, one hand pointing a gun in her direction.
“Brother Shen…” Nasha stepped forward barefoot, the sheer shawl draped seductively over her.
Seeing it was her, Li Shen’s brows furrowed fiercely, his entire presence exuding hostility. “Get out!”
Hearing his voice, Wan Tong instinctively wanted to peek out from his arms, but he pressed her head back against his chest, shielding her from view.
His anger sent a tremor through her, but the next moment, his fingers brushed gently against the back of her neck, as if soothing her.
Nasha had seen Li Shen kill before, and she had never been afraid. She had even admired his wildness and cruelty. But now, under his gaze, she felt nothing but fear.
She didn’t even stop to grab her clothes. She turned and fled, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.
She couldn’t believe what she had just witnessed.
The man she worshiped was practically reverent toward another woman, whispering sweet nothings to that woman, loving that woman.
It was a crushing blow.
Inside the room, Wan Tong listened to Nasha’s footsteps retreating. She lifted her head from Li Shen’s embrace. “Brother Li Shen, you were too harsh.”
Li Shen slowly loosened his grip on her neck, propping himself up on his elbow to ease the weight pressing down on her.
A moment later, he muttered hoarsely, “I wasn’t yelling at you.”
If moments ago he had been a furious lion, now he resembled nothing more than a loyal dog guarding his home.
Wan Tong pushed at his chest, and he obligingly sat up. With a smooth motion, he wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her effortlessly.
He had intended to pull her into his embrace, but she instead sat cross-legged in front of him, looking serious, as if she had something to say.
Sensing this, he pressed his lips together and waited silently.
“Brother Li Shen…”
As soon as she spoke, the muscles at the corners of Li Shen’s mouth twitched slightly. He looked incredibly tense. “Mm.”
“You can’t do that anymore,” Wan Tong said earnestly.
Sneaking into a girl’s room in the middle of the night, it wasn’t right for someone of his status. It was also seriously affecting her mental well-being! It made her feel weird!
Li Shen lowered his gaze slightly, as if something heavy was dragging him down, the shadows around him growing darker.
At that moment, Wan Tong scooted closer, wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and patted him gently. In a soft whisper, she said, “Brother Li Shen, just wait for me, okay?”
Feeling the warmth of her delicate body, Li Shen’s vision blurred for a second, as if an invisible hand was wringing his heart. The suffering of the past decade seemed to dissipate like mist. It was as if she had never left, as if she had always been by his side…
His arms tightened around her slim waist, suppressing his burning desire to consume her completely. He just held her, wishing they could stay like this forever.
She was still so young, so fragile, like a delicate flower. How could he ever bear to hurt her?
“…Okay.” His voice was barely audible.
Wan Tong almost couldn’t breathe. He was pressing too close again. Though, at least, the safety was still on this time.
After that night, per Wan Tong’s request, Li Shen met with another psychologist. With her frequent company, his hallucinations gradually became less frequent.
Every night before sleeping, Wan Tong would check the doors and windows. Occasionally, she would wake up in the middle of the night, but as long as Li Shen wasn’t in her room, she would go back to sleep.
And since that night, the ‘mosquito bites’ on her body disappeared. She took it as a sign that Li Shen’s condition had improved.
For a long time after, Damon remained locked up. Wan Tong wanted to drive the Raider away, but solitary confinement didn’t faze him. Every time he saw her, he played the role of the perfect older brother, treating her with the utmost care.
His acting was too good. If Wan Tong didn’t already know he was a Raider, she might have been deceived.
Once Wan Tong’s new identity and passport were ready, Li Shen took her back to their home country. Naturally, Damon came along.
The Cen family’s old villa was still standing. Li Shen had repurchased it at an auction. But upon returning, Wan Tong refused to stay there. It was where she had watched her father get stabbed to death, and the familiar decor would only drown her in sorrow.
Father Cen’s tomb was in a secluded place. Li Shen had personally erected the headstone.
“What about my mom?” Wan Tong asked on the drive back.
Li Shen glanced at Wu Li, who was driving. “I’ll take you to see her now.”
Wan Tong looked at him in confusion, a glimmer of hope rising in her eyes. The plot had never mentioned her mother, she had only learned of her passing from the newspapers…
The car drove toward a sanatorium halfway up the mountain. There, Wan Tong saw Mother Cen, who had been in a vegetative state all these years. It turned out that after her car accident, she had remained this way. Because of Father Cen, some medical staff had neglected or even harbored hostility toward her. It was Li Shen who had sent her to this sanatorium and announced her death to the public.
Li Shen had kept the truth from Wan Tong because Mother Cen’s condition was poor. The doctors had even recommended removing her life-support equipment.
He didn’t want to give her hope, only to have it shattered into despair.
But in the end, he still chose to tell her. He couldn’t let her live with regrets.
Mother Cen was frail, lying silently on the bed. Wan Tong wanted to bring Damon over, but remembering that his body was occupied by the Raider, she dismissed the idea.
Unexpectedly, after learning about Mother Cen, Damon himself requested to see her, and Wan Tong did not refuse.
She held onto a small hope. Maybe, just maybe, her mother would wake up at the sight of her children?
And miraculously, Mother Cen really did wake up, right when Demond arrived!
He had exchanged points for ten more years of Mother Cen’s life. This was something Wan Tong had never expected, as Shishi did not have this ability.
Perhaps because of the system’s intervention, Mother Cen woke up with complete mental clarity. Her first sight was Li Shen standing by the bed, and instantly, her expression turned to hatred and fury as she roared at him, “Li Shen! Get out of here! Haven’t you done enough harm to the Cen family?!”
The needle in the back of her hand dislodged, blood and IV fluid splattering. Wan Tong hurriedly held her down, while the doctor urged Li Shen to leave for now.
After much effort, Mother Cen finally calmed down. Wan Tong glanced at Damon across the bed, suddenly understanding why he had awakened her mother.
Mother Cen despised Li Shen.
And that hatred might just be enough to crush him completely.
The doctor reinserted the IV, but Mother Cen still clutched Wan Tong’s hand tightly, mumbling, “As long as Tongtong is safe…”
Wan Tong gently patted her back in comfort. Across from them, Damon spoke, “Mom, you’re gripping Tongtong’s arm too tightly, it’s turning red.”
Mother Cen looked at Damon with uncertainty and caution. “You…”
“I’m Lingyu.” Damon touched his face and gave a bitter smile. “I had an accident, and after reconstructive surgery, I look like this now.”
To Mother Cen, his voice had merely matured a little. But she could still recognize it. It was her son’s voice.
Tears streamed down her face again as she turned and embraced Damon. “My Xiaoyu, you’ve suffered…”
Wan Tong softly said, “Mom, I’ll go get some hot water.”
With that, she walked out.
Damon watched her retreating figure, the smile on his lips unchanged, but his gaze darkened.
Even now, she still cared about Li Shen?
Wan Tong walked out of the room, down the corridor, and into a small garden before finally spotting Li Shen.
He was leaning against a wall, a half-burned cigarette between his fingers, wisps of white smoke curling into the air.
“You smoke?” Wan Tong approached, surprised.
Smokers always carried a distinct scent, yet she had never smelled it on him before.
But somehow, the sight of him with a cigarette felt… fitting.
No wonder the young nurse earlier had been sneaking glances at him.
Still leaning lazily against the wall, he smirked, his brows slightly raised, lips curved in a way that exuded a wild, untamed charm. His presence was overpowering, exuding sheer masculinity.
“I smoke, but I’m not addicted.” Even his voice was tinged with a husky allure.
His hand hovered before her, flicking away the cigarette ash.
Wan Tong smiled and leaned in, trying to take the cigarette with her lips.
Li Shen lifted his hand slightly higher, an eyebrow arching. “What are you doing?”
“Testing the taste of your hidden stash,” she teased, playfully attempting to bite it again.
Of course, she was just messing with him.
He saw through her antics and raised his hand even higher, looking at her with amusement.
Clearly, he was teasing her for being short.
Wan Tong grabbed his arm, stood on tiptoe, and this time, she really aimed for the cigarette.
But in the blink of an eye, he moved his hand away—at the same time, he lowered his head.
Wan Tong’s lips landed on his chin.
His faint stubble pricked against her skin.
Li Shen chuckled lowly, voice deep and amused. His hand pressed against her back, pulling her soft form against him.
For a long moment, he held her there.
When he finally let go, he snuffed out the cigarette, tossing the stub into a nearby trash bin.
Wan Tong, slightly breathless and unsteady on her feet, half-leaned against him. “…I told you to wait for me, didn’t I?”
Wait until she had dealt with the Raider.
Wait until she had reassured her mother.
Li Shen traced his thumb over her slightly swollen lips, his gaze dark. “I’m waiting.”
Wan Tong pressed her lips together, then patted his waist lightly. “Then hang in there.”
Amused by her gesture, Li Shen laughed, his black eyes brimming with warmth and indulgence. She was still so adorably silly.
Not far away, Damon’s figure disappeared around the corner.
Under the bright lights, his face twisted slightly.
[Host.] The system suddenly chimed in. [You’ve been neglecting your mission lately.]
[Shut up!] Demon’s emotions were clearly fluctuating. [I’ve been getting close to Li Shen and Cen Wantong this whole time, are you blind?]
Day after day, he tried different ways to please Cen Wantong. Sending her beautiful flowers, performing magic tricks for her, even cracking jokes despite her cold demeanor… Every moment, he was thinking of ways to draw closer to her. Hadn’t he sacrificed enough for this mission?
[Host, you’re approaching them, and then what?]
Damon frowned and remained silent. Of course, it was to find the perfect moment to kill Cen Wantong, right in front of Li Shen. Watching her die before his eyes would plunge Li Shen into unbearable pain, and the mission would be complete.
The system continued, [According to your plan, shouldn’t Li Shen and Cen Wantong develop a deeper bond first?]
[Aren’t they doing exactly that?] Damon ground his teeth, his expression turning even colder.
[Host, your emotions are being overly influenced by this world. I suggest you adjust yourself before continuing the mission.]
[That’s just the original owner’s emotions interfering. He didn’t like Li Shen, so he didn’t want him near his sister! Besides, I know exactly what I’m doing!]
Damon was certain, he was merely lowering Li Shen and Cen Wantong’s guard. He just didn’t bother acting any differently, so he simply followed the original owner’s emotions.
[But Host, per your earlier request, the system has already completely suppressed the original owner—including his emotions and past feelings.]
The moment those words fell, Damon abruptly stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Now that it was mentioned, he did recall such a thing happening.
Pressing his fingers against his temple, he frowned. But then… where were these strange thoughts and emotions coming from?
Before, he had felt nothing toward Li Shen, just a desire to complete the mission and leave. But now, he found himself disgusted by him… because Li Shen was seducing Cen Wantong, the sister of this body he inhabited.
[Did Host awaken Mother Cen with some other intention?]
The system’s voice droned on, but Damon no longer responded.
Like hell was he going to admit that waking Mother Cen had been a moment of impulse? He knew she hated Li Shen, so he woke her up.
Before, he could confidently blame all his impulsive actions on the original owner. But now, even his own excuses felt hollow.
Just before stepping into Mother Cen’s room, Damon murmured darkly, “If I can wake her up, I can kill her just as easily.”
In the garden, Li Shen glanced toward the corridor.
Curious, Wan Tong asked, “What are you looking at?”
“Nothing. Just someone spying on me,” Li Shen replied ambiguously, a glint of something unreadable flashing in his eyes.
Wan Tong immediately thought of the young caretakers around the facility and simply smiled.
She wanted to stay in the sanatorium to accompany her mother and suggested Li Shen go home to rest, but he refused.
Then, he told her, “Don’t worry, the sanatorium is mine. Stay in any room you like.”
“…” Wan Tong was momentarily speechless. Just how rich was he?
“Tonight, stay in my room?” Li Shen’s hand slid to the back of her neck, gently stroking it.
The touch tickled a little. Wan Tong thought for a moment before nodding. “Okay.”