Thinking of this, Xia Qingqian shivered for no reason. Gu Ziqian, that little girl, was very pretty, and her smile was very sweet. But after having seen the real face behind that faint, gentle façade, she no longer thought so. For someone who could hide the dark, fearful side of her heart so well, that was truly impressive.

She turned her face away, refusing to look at the gloom darkening Beitang Yao’s expression. She didn’t dare explain, and didn’t want to explain. No matter how she tried, it would all be unnecessary. She replied flatly, "However you saw it, that’s how it is."

This woman actually didn’t even want to explain? The instant he’d appeared at the doorway, he had clearly seen a flicker of the same strange light in Gu Ziqian’s eyes, and in the next second she was kneeling in front of Xia Qingqian, begging for mercy. Just what the hell had happened! And the only voice that had reached his ears was Gu Ziqian’s; he hadn’t heard Xia Qingqian at all. Then he had seen Xia Qingqian raise her hand and slap Gu Ziqian across the face!

What on earth is this woman hiding from him?

"Xia Qingqian, everything Ziqian said is true? You think I’m just a thing, something you can fight over with other women as you please? Xia Qingqian, don’t think that just because I keep you by my side you can start imagining you’re someone special!" He seized her face and forced it straight, making her look directly into his eyes.

Xia Qingqian was forced to meet his gaze. She had always thought he was a dangerous threat, someone she mustn’t touch—yet she was trapped, unable to help herself.

His grip made her frown slightly from the pain. She could even hear the terrifying crackling sound of her jawbone grinding under his large hand. She tried to break free, but no matter how hard she struggled, it was all in vain.

"Young Master, this is the kind of person I am. I’m not someone who deserves trust or pity from anyone." She didn’t dare beg him to let her go, because there was no way she could repay everything in such a short time.

"Xia Qingqian, you’d better not cross my bottom line. If you dare to act up again, our contract ends immediately!" He threw out his final warning. Before, no matter what happened, he had never used the termination of the contract to threaten her.

How hard must this blow have hit him for him to say something like that now?

She stared blankly at the man in front of her. His entire body radiated a chilling aura, making her involuntarily shudder. The last sentence he’d spoken filled her with even more panic.

He said he would terminate the contract. That made her tremble even harder. She reached out and grabbed Beitang Yao’s arm, pleading, "Young Master, I’m begging you, please don’t terminate the contract with me, okay? I’ll never do that again. I’ll be very, very good!" She simply did not have the capability to accept it if he really ended the contract. How would she repay everything then?

"You’re only now realizing how serious this is—don’t you think it’s a little late? Xia Qingqian, did you really think it was what you imagined? From the moment I bought you at the nightclub, I only ever wanted to humiliate you properly. A woman like you, all hypocrisy on the outside and something else inside, who ends up auctioning off her own virginity—deep down, you’re just a slut in heat!" Looking at the pleading in her eyes, his brow twitched, his face went taut, and he stared at her icily.

He wanted nothing more than to crush this damned woman into pieces, so she would never again be able to affect his emotions!

"Young Master, you can punish me any way you like, but before the term is up, please take back what you just said, okay?" She got up and knelt by the hem of his trousers, begging him in a pitiful voice. Whatever the Young Master asked her to do, she could do it. Even if he wanted her to die to pay for everything, she would. But if the Young Master terminated the contract, then everything she’d been facing would happen all over again!