Chapter 7: Should I Submit? Or... Should I Submit?

"This is good too. Come, continue with whatever you want to do." Wen Wan lowered her hands, lifting them slowly to her ears. Her chin rose slightly, her breath coming in shallow, heated gasps, her gaze fixed intently on Chen Luo.

She looked as if she were offering herself up, ripe for the taking. Though less audacious and forward than she’d been a moment ago, to Chen Luo, this was even more alluring.

"No! Wen Wan, I didn’t mean to—I’m not into things like that! I’ve never even had a girlfriend, I mean, well, that’s not important. Anyway, let’s just stop and talk, okay?"

Chen Luo gingerly extricated himself from Wen Wan and shrank into the corner by the car door, curling up tightly.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Wen Wan’s face. "Why stop now? Don’t worry, I can bear the pain."

The words nearly made Chen Luo and the two women up front burst out laughing. Who could have imagined that the cold, decisive CEO would say something so girlish? The contrast was simply too much.

With a sharp clink, Wen Wan sat up and the chain attached to her collar struck the seat. Only then did Chen Luo realize just how compromising their situation was.

He followed the chain nervously with his eyes—the handcuffs were attached to the chain, and the chain linked to a collar. Wasn’t this just like walking a dog?

Would Wen Wan be angry? Or would she simply assume he was a pervert?

But the way she looked right now—so adorable! She hardly seemed like the aloof, dominant woman he'd known a moment ago; it was as if she’d become a different person.

As Chen Luo’s mind spun with wild thoughts, a sudden sound startled him.

"Woof!"

What was that? He looked in the direction of the sound and saw Wen Wan, hands curled into little fists, sticking her tongue out at him.

He had to admit—it was incredibly cute.

Wait, no! How did she know what I was thinking? Can she read minds?

Two sharp intakes of breath came from the front seats, and the Maybach gave a sudden lurch, nearly sideswiping the nearby hedges.

The driver and assistant had turned pale as sheets. What had they just heard?

Did things have to be this wild? Could these two stop with the antics already?

Heavens, help us! If we keep overhearing this, will President Wen kill us to keep her secret once we get out of the car?

"What’s wrong? Isn’t this what you want? Don’t you like me like this?" Wen Wan reached out, placing her right hand over Chen Luo’s heart, feeling the frantic racing of his pulse.

"Uh, I do—wait, no, that’s not the point! We really need to get this off first. This is... This just isn’t right!"

Chen Luo felt more shaken by the events in this car than by both his lifetimes combined. He desperately wanted to remove the chain and restore some normalcy.

"Oh? Sorry, I can’t take it off right now. The key’s at home," Wen Wan replied, smiling.

"What? What do you mean?" Chen Luo was stunned.

"It means you’ll have to come home with me," she whispered, leaning in close to his ear. "Don’t worry, my house is big. The bed is soft and comfortable."

At that, Chen Luo felt as though his brain had crashed. What? So it wasn’t enough in the car, she wants to continue at home?

Should I resist, or should I just go along with it—or maybe I should just go along with it after all?

No, wait—what am I thinking? I’ve lived two lives, why am I always being led by her?

No, I have to get out of this car!

"President Wen, just one more block until we reach the gates of Imperial Court Gardens. We’ll be home soon!"

(Chen Luo: Why so fast?! Can’t you drive slower?)

(Assistant and driver: Faster?! If we don’t hurry, our lives are on the line with every extra word we overhear!)

...

"Quick, take a look! There’s a huge story blowing up on the school forum!"

"Wow, Tang Xiwei from the finance department had her boyfriend snatched in public? That’s explosive news!"

"Yeah, she’d barely been here a month and was already crowned the campus belle. So many upperclassmen fawned over her—she must have been on top of the world."

"They found out the guy’s name too—Chen Luo, also from the finance department. He had already embarrassed Tang Xiwei in public once before."

"Legendary! That fake girl had it coming! As for the rich woman who took Chen Luo, she’s breathtaking—so gorgeous she makes Tang Xiwei look like a clown!"

"I wish some gorgeous sugar mama would keep me too! Heaven, send me a rich lady—I won’t be picky!"

With a bang, a petite laptop snapped shut with a dull thud. Sitting before it, Tang Xiwei’s face was livid.

"Chen Luo! You bastard, you’ll die a miserable death!"

"You said you’d always be good to me! You said every penny you made would be for me!"

"And now you’ve let yourself be kept by an older woman for money! You walked off with her in front of everyone, made me a laughingstock! You spineless jerk!"

Having shouted herself hoarse, Tang Xiwei collapsed onto the desk in tears. Her roommates, Fang Lin and Lin Tingting, exchanged a glance, both reading the same thought in each other’s eyes.

That was no older woman. That face, that figure, that aura—she outshone every beauty at Hangzhou University—no, in the entire city!

Forget Chen Luo; if we were men, we’d have gone with her too!

Tang Xiwei sobbed for a long time, then, realizing no one responded, finally looked up at Lin Tingting. "Tingting, say something! Give me some advice—what should I do?"

Lin Tingting didn’t have any idea either, so she simply patted Tang Xiwei’s back and tried to comfort her.

"Come on, stop worrying about whether Chen Luo’s being kept. Don’t you have more important things to focus on?"

"Tomorrow afternoon you’re running for Youth League secretary—that’s a big position. If you win, you’ll get to meet the upperclassmen in the student council. Isn’t that where you’ll find your true love?"

"Hangzhou University’s student council is famous for being full of second-generation heirs. By then, you’ll have your pick of handsome, wealthy guys. Why bother with Chen Luo?"

Hearing this, Tang Xiwei finally stopped crying, and a cold glint flashed through her tear-stained eyes.

"You’re right, Tingting. I can’t forget what really matters."

"That’s more like it," Lin Tingting said, relieved. But she was left speechless by Tang Xiwei’s next words.

"But! I won’t just find my true love—I’m going to take revenge on Chen Luo, doubly so!"

"He still likes me, I know it! Tomorrow, I’ll pretend to beg for his forgiveness, say I’ll consider making him my boyfriend. Once I’ve taken him back from that woman, I’ll keep stringing him along."

"I’ll prove I’m better than she is! And when I find my true love, I’ll dump Chen Luo, let him lose both love and money, and make his life a living hell!"

"Heh, I’ll send him a message now—make him promise to vote for me tomorrow, see where his loyalties lie."

Watching Tang Xiwei’s cold smile, her roommates were overtaken by a chill that reached the bone.

This woman was truly ruthless.

...

Imperial Court Gardens, Villa No. 1.

"Chen Luo, come, straight to my room," Wen Wan said, grabbing his hand and striding into the villa, heading straight for the second floor.

Caught off guard, Chen Luo stumbled after her, his mind full of questions.

Wait, she’s taking me to her bedroom? Just like that? Without any warning?