Chapter 84: Phone

When the sky grew dim, Yang Yi decided to leave.

It wasn’t that she had urgent business—rather, staying overnight at a man’s place on only their second date felt too bold for her. Though before arriving, she’d entertained unspoken images in her mind, daring even by Sewen standards, she was in truth a classic case of “bold in thought, timid in action.”

Chris was cooking a simple dinner in the kitchen, and Yang Yi sat beside the island counter, smiling at him.

When Yang Yi mentioned she was leaving, he seemed to guess her hesitation and couldn’t help smiling. “Baby, nothing will happen, okay? You can stay in the other house—like a hotel.”

Yang Yi’s face flushed again. She forced a calm tone. “I still have work, so…” If not for the redness on her cheeks, her excuse might have sounded plausible.

Chris turned off the stove and walked over. “Really? I think you don’t trust me…” He wrapped his arms around her waist, raised an eyebrow with a mischievous grin, “Or perhaps… you actually hope something will happen…” As he spoke, he took her hand and guided it toward his waist, his abs, and his chest.

The touch beneath her palm was soft yet firm, warm, and faintly pulsing—and indeed, no surprise he’d been named the world’s sexiest man for two consecutive years. His pheromones silently seduced her; her self-control crumbled under assault.

When he first guided her hand over his body, Chris still wore that mischievous grin, like a boy pulling a prank. But the moment her palm brushed his side, his blue eyes shifted from the clarity of dawn to the depth of night. His breath quickened; his body temperature rose.

The mischief vanished. His gaze on Yang Yi darkened, his Adam’s apple bobbed, and unconsciously, he licked his lower lip.

That look made Yang Yi’s face blaze red. She snatched her hand back and stepped away.

Ashamed of her retreat, she tried to salvage some dignity. “You know, your charm is overwhelming—and your fanbase amplifies it a thousandfold…”

Seeing Chris raise an eyebrow, she suddenly remembered his words on the balcony and quickly corrected herself:

“Remove the fan halo—your real self is even more magnetic. You’re a super nuke. No one can resist you; they can only run away… And we’re only on our second date. It’s too fast… Goodbye. I’m babbling. It’s all your fault…” By the end, even Yang Yi didn’t know what she was saying.

Chris couldn’t help laughing. He pulled her back into his arms and gently kissed her forehead, gazing at her with a hoarse voice: “No. I am your loyal servant. I am your humiliated captive. I am your defeated general. I am the prisoner who offers his entire kingdom, begging only for a glance from you, my queen… God, how I wish I could tear open this heart and let you see it—then you’d know it holds nothing but your image.”

Damn. The way he said that… Yang Yi felt dizzy. She felt herself sinking into a hot spring, warm water surrounding her from all sides, the temperature rising steadily—until she was nearly boiled alive. And she was willing.

Suddenly, in this moment when her blood surged, a thought struck her: How many women has he said this to? He’s had a long list of girlfriends. Isn’t his skill the result of countless rehearsals on other women?

That thought was like a bucket of ice water, dousing her from head to toe.

No, no! You should trust him—after all these days, he’s never lied. Though he plays countless roles on screen, in life he’s sincere…

You should try trusting others. Don’t always doubt. You automatically suspect everything—that’s why you’re distant, why you keep everyone at arm’s length. It’s made you cold, lonely, rootless, like drifting duckweed or windblown dandelions. Why not try trusting? Immerse yourself. Experience it. Don’t avoid. Don’t watch from the sidelines!

After a moment of inner struggle, Yang Yi finally stepped into his embrace. But after that thought interrupted her, she could no longer return to her earlier state of complete surrender.

She hated herself.

A sudden phone ring shattered the silence.

Few people called her outside of work. Yang Yi immediately let go of Chris, pulled her phone from her pocket—and “Chen Huanyue” flashed on the screen. She hung up in a panic.

Only after hanging up did she realize how hasty she’d been—like trying to hide silver by burying it. She and Chen Huanyue had nothing. Why panic?

She unconsciously looked up at Chris—and met his searching gaze.

“Who was that?” Chris straightened, arms crossed, head tilted slightly, his expression half-smiling, half-sardonic.

She was terrible at hiding emotion. If she’d been an actress—thank God she wasn’t—she’d starve. Chris thought, coldly, almost mockingly.

A wildfire of jealousy ignited deep within him. Though he didn’t know the three Chinese characters, they were already branded into his heart.

Her expression, her posture, her movements—all screamed that this name belonged to a man, one with a relationship beyond ordinary friendship. The realization stoked his rage higher, like a tossed cigarette igniting a forest.

He dared not let the fire loose. What if she got angry? What if she stopped talking to him? Their relationship was still in its early stage—the most intense, yet most fragile phase. A small obstacle could shake them—no, could shake her.

He forced himself to suppress the emotion.

He was a good actor. On the surface, he showed only a faint, casual displeasure.

“A college classmate…” Yang Yi had planned to brush it off—after all, she and Chen Huanyue had no future. Why stir trouble?

But seeing Chris’s raised eyebrow, she swallowed the rest. He was too perceptive. Lying to him was the worst strategy.

“He… was my college boyfriend. But we broke up three years ago!” Yang Yi quickly explained. “We ran into each other a few days ago in Wuming City, dealing with anomalous lifeforms—so we added each other…”

So you re-added him? Rekindling an old flame? Chris would think that. Everyone would think that!!! Yang Yi wished she could go back in time and punch the version of herself who’d sent that friend request.

“We haven’t contacted since then! Really! You can check my messages!” She held out her phone, then remembered the classified work info inside—some things couldn’t be revealed—and snatched it back.

“Uh… sorry. I can’t show you my messages…” Yang Yi mumbled.

She had no idea what to do.