Ten Rules to Bind Her Heart - Chapter 41
Shen Yu walked in with the chill of the night dew clinging to him.
He had dealt with a mountain of business and then sat through a five-hour international conference.
Weariness shadowed his brow.
At that moment, violence simmered beneath his skin. All he wanted was somewhere to vent it.
He casually undid the top button of his shirt and swept his gaze across the middle of the room.
Then he spotted the small, pale-green bundle in front of the sofa, and his steps came to a halt.
Moonlight filtered through the gauze curtains and fell across the girl.
The reckless little puppy was sprawled on the floor in a kneeling position, utterly lacking in dignity.
Her bottom was in the air, her cheek mashed against her arm, squeezing out a soft little mound of flesh.
The green toothbrush that had held up her long hair had come loose. Her ink-black hair spilled over her shoulders, hiding her slender neck.
She must have been exhausted. Her lips were slightly parted, and a suspiciously shiny bead of drool hung from one corner of her mouth, nearly dripping onto the floor.
Shen Yu walked up behind her and silently took in the sight.
Stupid puppy. He had told her to reflect on her mistakes.
Yet here she was, sleeping soundly.
He raised the toe of his boot and lightly nudged her calf.
She did not wake.
She even whimpered, shifted position, and buried her face deeper into her arms.
Idiot.
For some inexplicable reason, the violent fury inside Shen Yu dissipated by more than half when he saw that bead of drool.
He even found it somewhat amusing.
What a foolish, carefree little thing.
He almost wondered whether, if he truly threw her into a wolf pack, she might fall asleep hugging one of the wolves’ legs.
He crouched and reached out, intending to pinch her cheek, wake her, and listen to her terrified pleas.
But just before his fingertips touched her warm skin, he stopped.
The girl’s lashes were long, casting faint shadows beneath her eyes and trembling gently with each breath. Even in her sleep, her brows were slightly furrowed, as though something still worried her.
Unbelievably stupid.
And drooling, too.
Shen Yu stared at the droplet poised to fall onto the floor for a long moment.
“Tsk.”
He clicked his tongue in disdain.
If he woke her now, the little thing would probably be frightened into cardiac arrest on the spot. Then she would sob without end and give him a headache.
Forget it.
He would deal with her tomorrow.
Shen Yu went to the bed and picked up a thin gray cashmere blanket.
He returned and tossed it over her with a motion that was neither gentle nor careful, but casually rough.
The light cashmere settled over her slender back.
Xia Zhiyao seemed to feel the warmth in her sleep. Instinctively, she rubbed her cheek against the soft blanket and mumbled something under her breath. Her brow smoothed, and she sank into an even deeper sleep.
Shen Yu watched her lying there without the slightest trace of caution. His lips curved coldly before he turned and walked out.
…
Early the next morning, sunlight pierced the clouds and streamed into the white building.
Xia Zhiyao woke with a start at the sound of quiet footsteps.
The instant her mind came online, the memories of the night before flooded back, and immense panic seized her heart.
Oh no!
She had fallen asleep!
She had actually fallen asleep!
Not only had she failed to kneel properly, she had slept like the dead!
This could hardly be called reflecting on her mistakes. It was practically an act of defiance!
She hurriedly opened her eyes. Her mind was still sluggish, but her body remembered before she did.
Her legs were numb! She tried to stand, but the sensation of ten thousand ants crawling through her veins threw her off balance, and she toppled sideways.
“Ah!”
She did not hit the floor.
Something wrapped around her had caught on her body and hindered her movement.
It was a gray wool blanket.
Who had covered her with it? Auntie Mei? Or…
“Did you go reflect on your mistakes in your dreams?”
A deep, magnetic voice suddenly sounded above her, its tone lazy and mocking.
Xia Zhiyao jerked her head up and stared toward the voice in terror.
Shen Yu sat in the single armchair, dressed in a black T-shirt and tactical pants.
He held a cup of black coffee and regarded her with an ambiguous smile as she lay in a heap on the floor.
Xia Zhiyao scrambled out of the blanket. Ignoring her numb legs, she hastily knelt properly again and wiped the corner of her mouth.
It was dry.
Oh no. She had drooled.
“Mr. Shen…”
She lowered her head, her voice no louder than a mosquito.
“I’m sorry! I… I don’t know how I fell asleep. I really didn’t mean to. I…”
Shen Yu set down his coffee, his tone cool.
“And how did your reflection go? Did you dream about how to please your master?”
Xia Zhiyao’s face flushed scarlet. She did not dare answer.
At the sight of her cowering like a quail, the malicious urge to bully her rose in him again. But he glanced at his watch. They did not have much time.
“Enough. Get up,” he said flatly.
As though granted a royal pardon, Xia Zhiyao braced her hands against the floor and tried to rise. But her knees, after a whole night on the floor, refused to obey. She had barely made it halfway up when her legs buckled and she began to fall again.
A large hand appeared from nowhere and caught her arm.
With one forceful pull, Shen Yu hauled her upright.
Xia Zhiyao staggered before finally regaining her balance.
“Thank you, Mr. Shen…” she murmured, still shaken.
“Go wash.”
Shen Yu swept a disgusted glance over her, lingering for a second on her tangled hair and crumpled dress.
“Make yourself presentable. Especially that face.”
“And throw away that broken toothbrush in your hair.”
He pointed toward the bathroom. “Ten minutes.”
Xia Zhiyao did not dare delay. Dragging her still-numb legs, she limped into the bathroom as fast as she could.
Only when she stood before the mirror did she realize how ridiculous she looked.
Her hair resembled a bird’s nest, two red creases marked her left cheek, and a suspicious stain remained at the corner of her mouth.
No wonder Shen Yu had looked at her with such disgust.
She washed and showered as quickly as possible. The cold water splashed over her face, clearing her mind considerably.
When she emerged wrapped in a bath towel, Shen Yu was already gone.
A maid had appeared in the room.
The maid held a set of clothes, while several exquisite wooden boxes rested on a tray beside her.
“Miss Xia, Mr. Shen instructed you to put this on,” the maid said respectfully.
Xia Zhiyao looked over, and her breath caught.
It was a brand-new, extraordinarily luxurious fitted dress suit.
The special fabric shimmered like peacock feathers. One glance was enough to tell that it was priceless.
Dark green intertwined with sapphire blue, shifting with the light. Intricate totems had been embroidered into it with muted gold thread, resembling ancient thorns and savage beasts.
Peacock King.
The pinnacle of Southeast Asia’s finest weaving artistry.
“And this.” The maid opened one of the wooden boxes.
Inside lay a hairpin.
Made of glossy black agarwood, it had been carved into a mythical bird poised to take flight. Two tiny rubies set into its eyes gleamed with an enchanting, mysterious light.
Its extravagance was understated, yet unmistakable.
The unease in Xia Zhiyao’s heart grew stronger.
This attire was… far too formal.
So formal that it seemed ceremonial.
“Where is Mr. Shen… taking me?”
She could not help asking in a small voice.
