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墨書 Inktalez
Recently, I have noticed that the number of "admirers" around me has been increasing.
Though they are called admirers, they are actually just some colleagues and clients from the company who occasionally bring me a cup of coffee or steal a few extra glances at lunch.
But these subtle changes do not escape Huo Ting's sharp eyes.
Whenever a male colleague approaches my desk, his usually stern face darkens a bit, his brows furrowed, and his gaze sharp as a knife.
At first, I thought it was just my imagination.
Until one day, Director Wang sent me a bouquet of flowers to thank me for helping him complete an important project.
Less than half an hour after the flowers were placed on my desk, Huo Ting "just happened" to appear in my department.
He glanced at the vibrant roses, his expression darkening, and without saying a word, he picked up the flowers and threw them straight into the trash can.
"Huo Ting! What are you doing?" I stood up in anger, my voice rising involuntarily.
He merely gave me a faint look and said, "Allergic."
With those simple two words, he turned and walked away, leaving me and my colleagues in stunned silence.
From that day on, Huo Ting began to openly interfere in my life.
He would suddenly show up at my favorite café, "coincidentally" run into me at gatherings with my friends, and even when I visited my parents, I would spot his car at the entrance of my neighborhood.
What was worse was that I realized I was being followed.
There was a man dressed in a black suit and sunglasses, exuding an air of confidence that screamed experience. He always kept a distance that felt both close and far away, but whenever I turned around, I could sense his presence.
Fuming, I called Huo Ting to confront him. "Are you having someone follow me?"
On the other end of the line, his voice remained calm: "Protection, not surveillance."
"Do I need protection? I'm not a celebrity!" I nearly shouted.
"You are Mrs. Huo; that identity is dangerous enough." His tone left no room for doubt.
I hung up the phone, stomping my feet in frustration.
However, when I calmed down, I found an unusual feeling bubbling up inside me—he cared about me.
Once that thought emerged, it sprouted like tender shoots in spring, impossible to suppress.
On the surface, I continued to express strong dissatisfaction with his controlling nature, but deep down, there was an indescribable sense of delight.
I began to intentionally test his limits.
Over the weekend, I invited my old college classmate Li Ming to watch a movie. Li Ming was a straightforward engineering guy who had treated me like a brother since our university days; our relationship was clean and devoid of any ambiguity.
I specifically chose a romantic film and selected couple seats.
Less than twenty minutes into the movie, while I was munching on popcorn, I suddenly felt someone standing next to my seat.
Looking up, it was Huo Ting.
He was dressed in a well-tailored suit, his expression dark and foreboding as he scanned between me and Li Ming.
"Huo Ting? What are you doing here?" I feigned surprise.
He didn’t answer but coldly regarded Li Ming: "And who might this be?"
Li Ming was intimidated by his presence and stammered his introduction: "I—I’m Wen Wan’s college classmate, Li Ming."
Huo Ting nodded and then reached out to pull me up. "Let's go, there's an urgent matter."
I struggled, unwilling to get up. "What urgent matter? The movie just started!"
He leaned down, whispering in my ear, "If you don't leave now, I'll kiss you right in front of your friends."
His threat made my face flush instantly, and I had no choice but to hurriedly say goodbye to Li Ming and follow Huo Ting out of the cinema.
As soon as we got in the car, I exploded. "Huo Ting, what do you want? Who gave you the right to control me like this?"
He started the car, his voice as cold as ice. "I don't want to see my wife on a date with another man."
"Date?" I laughed in anger. "It was just a movie with a friend! Besides, aren't we just contract spouses? You never cared about me!"
The car suddenly slammed to a stop, and my body lurched forward, only to be pulled back by the seatbelt.
Huo Ting turned his head, his gaze burning into me with an intensity I had never seen before, as if flames were igniting in his eyes.
He grabbed my wrist with a grip so tight it hurt.
"I won't allow you to have any intimate contact with other men," he said slowly, each word seeming to be forced out between clenched teeth.
My heart raced, and it felt like my blood was boiling.
But I couldn't just give in; I couldn't let him know my inner thoughts.
I feigned calmness and shook off his hand. "You have no right to control me. The contract doesn't say I can't socialize with men."
A flicker of hurt crossed Huo Ting's eyes, but it quickly returned to his usual indifference.
"Suit yourself." He restarted the car, his tone reverting to its usual aloofness.
The atmosphere in the carriage was tense, with only the roar of the engine echoing in our ears.
I stole a glance at him and noticed his profile was taut, his jawline sharp, and the knuckles of his hands gripping the steering wheel were turning white from the pressure.
In that moment, I suddenly realized that my probing seemed to have worked.
Huo Ting, the man who was always calm and composed, had lost control because I went to the movies with another man.
Was he jealous?
The thought sent a wave of sweetness through me, but I dared not show it. Instead, I feigned anger and turned to look out the window, though my lips betrayed me by curling up at the corners.
Perhaps this contractual marriage still held some hope.
Maybe the boy who once made my heart flutter hadn’t completely vanished beneath this cold exterior.
I decided to continue my "testing" until I could tear away his mask of indifference and see the truth hidden deep within him.
However, I needed to be more careful next time, so I wouldn’t end up getting burned myself.
After all, provoking a lion is no trivial matter.
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