"Do you think you can force me?" Impatience flickered in his eyes.

Tao Yu blinked, then smiled. "I suppose not. So, we're really dating?"

"What do you think?" he countered.

Tao Yu's smile widened. "Of course, Linze. Don't worry, I'll treat you well." Until his inner darkness completely dissipated, she would play the role of the perfect girlfriend.

Compared to the deep-seated hatred he held for Gu Yansheng and the others, the darkness stemming from her was like an egg hitting a stone—it would likely be resolved quickly.

The thought that her mission had taken such a positive turn made her smile even more genuine. Yue Linze glanced at her, then lay down on the bed with an impassive expression, patting the empty space beside him.

Tao Yu blinked, questioning with her eyes.

"Come here." Yue Linze frowned.

Tao Yu's lips twitched. "Sir, even in relationships, it's rare to sleep together on the first day." Despite her words, she obediently walked over and lay down beside him. She had already refused him so many times; further refusal might genuinely anger him.

"This won't happen again." His current darkness wasn't some incurable disease. A little sweetness, a little happiness, and it would surely be resolved.

Seeing her obedience, Yue Linze's brow relaxed slightly. As soon as she settled onto the bed, he switched off the light and pulled her into his arms.

The force of the pull nearly made Tao Yu cry out. Instinctively, she pressed her hand against his chest. Yue Linze closed his eyes, a crease forming between his brows. "Don't move."

His voice was thick with exhaustion. Tao Yu had never seen him so tired. She froze. As if sensing her thoughts, Yue Linze murmured, "I haven't slept since yesterday."

"Why?" Tao Yu asked immediately.

He didn't answer. Instead, he shifted her onto her side, nestled his face against her chest, and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, preventing any escape. Every time she moved, his grip tightened. Gradually, she stilled, allowing him to hold her. Only when his breathing evened out did she dare to shift slightly.

Yue Linze, a light sleeper, stirred briefly, adjusted his position to follow her movement, and then took her hand, lacing their fingers together before returning to sleep.

The moment he grasped her hand, Tao Yu froze. She suddenly remembered holding onto a similarly lean, strong hand during her unconsciousness. She had assumed it belonged to a paramedic and hadn't given it much thought. But now, Yue Linze's words echoed in her mind: he hadn't slept all night…

What a strange twist of fate, she sighed inwardly.

Having slept too much during the day, she wasn't tired. Now, with a myriad of thoughts swirling in her head and a man draped over her, sleep was even further away.

However, being awake had its advantages. Once Yue Linze was deeply asleep, Tao Yu carefully extracted her hand from his, then gently removed his arm from her waist, inching away like a thief.

Aware of his light sleep, she barely dared to breathe. Finally, with a small gap between them, she exhaled, closed her eyes, and began to contemplate the future.

Her focus was so intense that she didn't notice Yue Linze silently open his eyes a short distance away. His gaze, cold and unwavering, fixed on her as if he wanted to incinerate her, body and soul.

After much deliberation, a wave of drowsiness finally washed over Tao Yu. She turned over, her eyes meeting Yue Linze's—or so she thought. He appeared to be fast asleep. A wry smile touched her lips, and she quickly drifted off.

Perhaps due to excessive brain activity, her sleep was restless. She dreamt of clinking metal, then felt a cool sensation on her wrist. She struggled to open her eyes, but exhaustion pulled her back under.

The next morning, she woke up in a daze. Before her mind fully cleared, she noticed a gold bracelet on her right wrist.

"He's already giving me jewelry…" Tao Yu mumbled, her voice hoarse with sleep, still lost in the haze of waking.

She stared at it for a long moment, her mind gradually sharpening. The bracelet was remarkably small, barely larger than her wrist. It wouldn't come off without unclasping it. Attached to the bracelet was a thin chain, about the width of her little finger.

Her gaze followed the chain upwards, to where it was fastened to the bedpost. Tao Yu froze. Instinctively, she moved her right hand. The chain jingled softly.

It was the same sound she had heard last night.

…So she was chained up?! What had happened? Hadn't everything been fine last night? Tao Yu stared at the chain connecting her to the bed, utterly bewildered.

Just as she began to wonder if she had amnesia and forgotten something crucial, Yue Linze, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit and leaning on a cane, walked towards her. His footsteps on the thick carpet were silent.

"What is the meaning of this?" Tao Yu asked, raising her right hand and forcing a smile.

Yue Linze stared at her for a long moment, then slowly lifted his chin, his voice elegant and haughty. "You wanted to be in a relationship with me? This is how I conduct relationships."

Tao Yu's smile instantly froze.