Her silence was taken as confirmation.

His touch was slow, deliberate, and firm. The sensation of his fingertips against her skin was amplified in the quiet room.

Jiang Yi's heart raced.

Unexpectedly, Zhong Lin's expression remained unchanged. His eyes flickered, and then, to her surprise, he seemed to let it go.

Jiang Yi shifted slightly, held securely in his one-armed embrace. His other hand moved from her collarbone to gently cup her chin. He lowered his head and captured her lips.

The familiar sensation washed over her, his scent filling her senses. After a moment of surprise, she opened her mouth. His tongue entered, claiming her, tangling with hers.

His kiss started gentle, restrained, but the moment their tongues met, it became unrestrained, a fierce, consuming passion.

Jiang Yi's body melted against him, her breath quickening, soft sounds escaping her throat.

The kiss went on, deepening rather than abating. When they finally parted, Zhong Lin pulled her down against him, his lips trailing across her skin, settling on her collarbone. He nipped and sucked at the delicate flesh.

A small gasp escaped her at the sharp, sweet pain.

The sound seemed to flip a switch, and his movements softened. He pulled back slightly, leaving a mark on her neck.

It looked beautiful.

A sense of satisfaction filled him. He lowered his head, tenderly licking the red mark.

When his lips finally released her, the mark bloomed, a vibrant red against her skin. Zhong Lin looked up, his eyes still dark with lingering intensity.

Jiang Yi shrank back slightly, tears welling in her eyes.

"Are... are you angry?" she asked, referring to his reaction to her earlier admission. Was he angry about Zhong Cheng sleeping with her?

"Yes," he admitted, his throat bobbing. "Not at you."

Not at her, then at Zhong Cheng?

Jiang Yi parted her lips to speak.

As if anticipating her words, Zhong Lin pulled her close, rolling over to hold her tightly. He didn't want to hear anything that would upset him, anything in Zhong Cheng's defense.

He suppressed his jealousy, holding her possessively. "Sleep with me for a while," he said.

Jiang Yi sensed his mood. She hesitated, then finally spoke the words she'd almost held back.

"Don't be angry," she whispered, her voice soft, almost pleading.

The tension in Zhong Lin's chest instantly dissipated.

His eyes darkened as he realized the profound effect she had on him. A single sentence could spark jealousy, a whimper could evoke tenderness, and a soft tone could make him crumble.

He closed his eyes. "Sleep."

After a while, Jiang Yi relaxed, nestled in his arms. She glanced up at him, noticing the dark circles under his closed eyes, and her heart softened. He must have been working hard lately.

Afraid to disturb him, she lay still, listening to his heartbeat, eventually drifting off to sleep herself.

The pull of sleep was strong. When she woke again, it was past ten in the morning. The other side of the bed was cold; Zhong Lin was already up.

Downstairs, she was surprised to find both Zhong Lin and Zhong Cheng in the living room. Her eyes met Zhong Cheng's, a mix of surprise, joy, and guilt flooding through her. Their gaze lingered for a beat too long.

"Ahem," Zhong Lin coughed.

Jiang Yi quickly looked away.

Then she noticed another person in the living room, besides Zhong Lin and Zhong Cheng.