Ye Zhonglou's brief, intense gaze made Yao Ji's heart leap into her throat. The bud between her legs, already caressed by his long fingers, involuntarily tightened, drawing one fingertip further into its silken folds. When Pei Yan's light, amused voice broke the silence, she trembled, close to fainting.

She had never experienced such shame. Even in her past life, her most unrestrained moments with Zong Jun had been under the vast, open sky, with only each other for company. Now, before another man's eyes, her lover toyed with her. Pei Yan's apparent indifference only intensified her humiliation. Remembering that Ye Zhonglou had witnessed her pleasuring herself, Yao Ji wished she could truly faint, to escape this torment.

Pei Yan seemed oblivious to her distress. When Ye Zhonglou didn't answer, he chuckled. "Master Ye?" As he spoke, his fingers found the sensitive nub beneath her silk trousers and pinched it hard, twisting cruelly.

"Ah..." A moan escaped Yao Ji's lips. She quickly covered her mouth, her wide eyes, hidden beneath her bangs, shimmering with tears. Shame and fear warred within her, yet an undeniable allure radiated from her.

Ye Zhonglou abruptly stood, his voice icy. "It seems Young Master Pei has other matters to attend to. I won't disturb you." With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and left.

The moment he was gone, at Pei Yan's subtle gesture, the remaining servants quickly filed out of the room. Pei Yan pulled the girl into his arms, but felt her small hands pushing against him. Her voice, thick with tears, cried out, "Let me go! Why... why are you humiliating me?"

"Humiliating?" Pei Yan's heart twisted. He gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him. How he wished he weren't blind, that he could see the expression on her face.

Yes, humiliating.

He had done it on purpose, driven by an inexplicable fear, a near-malicious desire to flaunt his possession of her before Ye Zhonglou. He knew it would hurt her, knew his own actions were despicable. But like a man desperately ill, consumed by jealousy and fear, he had to prove his claim on Yao Ji to Ye Zhonglou, no matter the cost.

Why, why am I doing this...?

Suddenly, Pei Yan understood. He was afraid. The deep-seated insecurity he had suppressed since losing his sight at the age of eight now surged to the surface – the thought he had always buried in the darkest corner of his mind: he was blind, incomplete. No matter how hard he strived, how much he excelled beyond ordinary men, if another, equally exceptional man appeared before Yao Ji, he would be utterly defeated.

"Are you disappointed?" A tender, almost agonizingly sweet smile touched his lips. His hand gently caressed her cheek. His words were both a question and a sigh. "Or do you regret it?"

Because I am not as noble or aloof as you think. I am just a broken, blind man.

As his words faded, his other hand, still between her legs, tightened around the swollen bud, flicking it cruelly. "Ah!" Yao Ji screamed, clutching his arm, her body convulsing under the sudden assault. He kneaded the hardened nub roughly, ignoring its delicate sensitivity, pulling and pinching it mercilessly. Wave after wave of arovsal flowed from her, but even her tearful pleas for mercy couldn't soften him.

Only when Yao Ji cried out, her legs stiffening as a spasm ripped through her, her essence soaking her trousers, did Pei Yan finally release her. He breathed gently against her ear, "Good girl, Yao Yao. Feels good, doesn't it...? Does it excite you when I play with you like this?"

"No, Master..." Yao Ji sobbed, tears streaming down her face, the remnants of her moans still clinging to her voice. "Don't..."

"Don't what?" Pei Yan chuckled, spreading her legs and lifting her onto the table. With a sweep of his arm, he sent the dishes crashing to the floor. Yao Ji trembled like a frightened rabbit at the sudden cacophony. He pulled her close, his hands roaming over her quivering skin. "Are you afraid of me?"

"No, I'm not..." Yao Ji shook her head desperately, wanting him to see the pity and pain in her eyes.

But he couldn't see.

Before she could finish, he leaned in, silencing her whimpers with a kiss. His hardened shaft pressed against the moist opening beneath her silken trousers.