But he wouldn't pretend any longer. He’d been wrong to hesitate. He should have claimed her before she became consumed by her career.

He shouldn’t have indulged her ambition, enjoying her career-driven joy, only to have things spiral out of control. He often wondered if bringing Niu Shurui into this profession had been a mistake.

He’d hoped that through this work, she would encounter more unusual things and become more accepting of his true nature. But her tolerance had indeed grown, only to be captured by someone else.

The medication he’d given Niu Shurui wasn't ordinary. It was still in development.

Highly potent and unstable, a single dose had rendered an adult male unconscious for six hours in previous trials.

He wasn’t worried about it being ineffective. Even if she didn't sleep for the full six hours, it would be enough.

Of course, he’d confirmed the ingredients. A single dose wouldn't harm her.

He hadn’t wanted to drug her. For years, he'd fantasized about having her while she was conscious. But she’d disobeyed him, becoming entangled with other men while he wasn't looking.

She’d even given her v1rginity to a man she’d known for only a year. The thought made Qiao Qi's breath hitch.

He pushed open her bedroom door and saw Niu Shurui lying on her side. The large bed made her seem even smaller, lying there innocently, unaware of the danger lurking behind her.

Qiao Qi approached, pulled back the covers, and his gaze raked over every inch of her skin. Marks that didn’t belong to him littered her body, the imprints of other men's hands.

He exhaled heavily. He’d expected this, but the sight still made him grind his teeth.

His hand cupped her br3ast through her nightgown. Her position pressed her br3asts together, and he could graze the other one simply by extending his fingers.

He kneaded her flesh roughly and impatiently. Niu Shurui moaned in her sleep, her hand reaching out instinctively to push him away.

He glanced at her hand but ignored it. Even awake, she was no match for his strength, let alone now.

Her thin nightgown twisted and bunched under his touch, one strap sliding off her shoulder and swaying with his movements.

He released her br3ast, his hand sliding beneath the hem of her nightgown.

He pulled the fabric up, but because of her position, the right side remained trapped beneath her, exposing only her left br3ast. He seized it again, kneading it carelessly before pinching the n1pple and pulling. Her br3ast stretched into a teardrop shape, a beautiful, er0tic image filled with raw, violent beauty.

Niu Shurui cried out, gasping in pain, her body arching instinctively to escape the sensation. Her whimpers were filled with pleas, her hand clutching the sheets as if seeking relief.

She looked utterly vulnerable.

But Qiao Qi showed no mercy, his fingers maintaining their grip until her back arched as far as it could go. Then, he let go.

Her br3ast sprang back, shrinking to its original shape. The n1pple was swollen and red, the surrounding are0la a deep crimson.

Niu Shurui gasped, her breath catching in her throat, fear clinging to her even in sleep.

She thought the nightmare was over, but then she felt a hand roaming over her pubic mound, exploring beneath her panties.

The touch was much lighter than before, and her body slowly relaxed.

He lifted one of her legs and, still through her panties, pulled apart her labia, inserting a finger between the folds, teasing the sensitive bud hidden within.

His fingertip brushed against her cl1t repeatedly, refusing to linger, heightening the torment. Just as her body anticipated release, he would pull away.