107: Chapter 108 Going Home with Shen Nian

Yu Bo’s hand steadily pressed down on the one that intended to roam upward. He firmly pinned her hand to his thigh, stopping her further movements. Only then did he slowly turn his head to look at Shen Nian. His gaze was no longer indifferent; instead, a faint layer of playfulness and... an almost imperceptible hint of mockery surfaced within it.

"Miss Shen," he began, his voice not loud but carrying a peculiar tension as his eyes roved unreservedly over her exquisite face and slightly parted red lips. "I’m no Liu Xiahui who can remain unmoved while a woman sits in his lap, nor am I some man of noble character. You should be well aware of how beautiful you are and how much... attraction you hold for men."

Shen Nian felt her heart skip a beat under his gaze. With her wrist held by him, she could clearly feel the warmth emanating from his palm and that undeniable sense of power. Steeling herself, she met his eyes as a watery sheen rose in her own. Her tone carried a perfectly measured sense of resentment and self-deprecation. "So what if I'm beautiful? Didn't you... still reject me?" She said this very softly, like a feather brushing against the tip of his heart, hinting at the vague past between them—one that had never been explicitly stated but was mutually understood.

"Yes, I did reject you," Yu Bo admitted candidly. His fingers rubbed almost imperceptibly against the delicate skin of her wrist, a touch that was ambiguous and evaluative. "You know I have a girlfriend. I can't give you any promises, nor can I give you a future. No matter how much of a bastard I, Yu Bo, might be, I still know there are some lines that shouldn't be crossed."

"And now?" Shen Nian pressed, her body leaning slightly toward him as her other hand gently rested on his arm, her breath smelling of orchids. "Can you give them to me now?"

"Now?" Yu Bo gave a light chuckle, though the mirth didn't reach his eyes. He leaned in closer until he could almost smell the increasingly clear base notes of her perfume. His voice dropped lower, carrying a dangerous, magnetic rasp. "I still can't. I have a girlfriend who... will soon be my fiancée. I can't give you a status, Shen Nian."

The red light began to flash, about to turn green.

Shen Nian looked at his handsome and slightly roguish face so close to hers. Hearing his bluntness regarding "status," her heart beat even faster. This was different from the rejection bound by moral shackles she had expected; it was more like... a naked showdown about transactions and desire. She bit her lower lip, her gaze becoming even more charming, her voice carrying a desperate resolve. "Heh... As the saying goes, 'don't seek forever, only that we once had.' Can't I... be your lover?"

Yu Bo looked at her deeply, his eyes dark like two bottomless cold pools swirling with complex emotions—desire, scrutiny, and... a trace of cold, imperceptible calculation. He slowly released her hand but didn't move away immediately. His fingers tapped lightly on the back of her hand as if in final confirmation.

"A lover?" he repeated, his tone rising slightly at the end. "Are you sure? Shen Nian, there's no turning back once the arrow is shot. If you follow me, you can't think about anyone else. No regrets?"

"No regrets!" Shen Nian said decisively, meeting his aggressive gaze and even tilting her chin up provocatively. "Do you dare, Yu Bo?"

"Heh..." Yu Bo chuckled low. This time, there was a hint of wickedness and abandon in his laughter. He sat up straight again, his hands returning to the steering wheel just as the green light lit up. He shifted gears smoothly and stepped on the accelerator. The car surged forward, the powerful thrust forcing Shen Nian back against her seat.

"I'm a man; what's there to be afraid of?" He looked straight ahead, a faint, inscrutable curve at the corner of his mouth. His tone returned to its previous flatness, yet it held a new, unquestionable decisiveness. "Where to? Your place?"

Shen Nian's heart raced wildly. It felt as if her blood rushed to her head in an instant before quickly cooling down. She hadn't expected him to agree so... directly, so... bluntly. There was no hypocritical refusal, no moral struggle—only a naked confirmation of location and method. This seemed... a bit different from the script she had envisioned. But the arrow was on the string; she had to fire.

"...Fine." She steadied herself and gave the address of a high-end apartment, her voice tight.

Yu Bo stopped speaking, merely following the navigation's instructions to skillfully weave through the traffic. An eerie silence fell over the car, punctuated only by the occasional cold, electronic female voice of the GPS. The surging lust and probing from moments ago seemed to have solidified with this sudden "deal," and the air was filled with a tense, hair-trigger sense of danger.

Shen Nian stole a glance at Yu Bo's profile. He was focused on the road, his jawline sharp and cold. The fleeting wickedness and playfulness from before seemed like a mere illusion. This version of him made her feel a hint of strangeness and... a faint sense of unease. But there was no turning back; she had chosen this herself.

The car soon entered the underground garage of the high-end residential complex Shen Nian was familiar with. Yu Bo parked the car and unbuckled his seatbelt with crisp, efficient movements.

"Which floor?" he asked, his tone as flat as if he were asking about the weather.

"...28th floor, 2801." Shen Nian also unbuckled her seatbelt, picking up her bag and the dessert bag. Her fingertips felt slightly cold.

The two got out of the car and entered the elevator. In the cramped metal space, there were only the two of them. The mirror-like walls of the cabin reflected their slightly distant figures, one in front of the other. Yu Bo stood tall with his hands in his trouser pockets, his gaze calmly watching the floor numbers climb. Standing slightly behind and to his side, Shen Nian could smell the crisp scent of tobacco and aftershave coming from him, mingling with her own carefully chosen perfume to create a subtle and... suggestive atmosphere.

With a "ding," the 28th floor arrived.

The elevator doors slowly opened.

The elevator doors slid open silently to both sides, and the voice-activated lights in the 28th-floor hallway flickered on, casting a cold white glow. Shen Nian was the first to step out, her high heels clicking sharply and somewhat hurriedly against the smooth marble floor. She reached the door of 2801, her fingers trembling almost imperceptibly as she pulled the keys from her bag.

With a "clack," the door lock opened. She didn't push the door open immediately. Instead, she stepped aside to make room and looked up at Yu Bo. Her eyes held a mixture of final struggle, desperate resolve, and a spark of nearly self-destructive fire.

Yu Bo's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, his eyes so calm they made her heart tighten. Without hesitation, he stepped inside.

Behind him came the sound of the door being gently closed, followed by a soft "click" as Shen Nian locked it.

The light in the foyer wasn't very bright; only a small wall lamp was on, creating an ambiguous, dim yellow glow. In the enclosed space, the elegant scent of Shen Nian's perfume became even more concentrated, weaving around the nose in wisps.

Yu Bo stood in the narrow foyer. He didn't continue further inside but instead turned around to face Shen Nian, who had just finished locking the door and was about to straighten up.

Their eyes met.