Volume 1, Chapter 34: Who Could Ever Fall for a Man Who Forced Himself Upon Them!

"But..." Su Yu bit her lip, her eyes filled with conflict. "But I really don't like you!"

She admitted that Si Yan's words just now had stirred something within her. However, she had said long ago that she would choose someone she loved, and Si Yan was not that choice.

"Not liking me right now doesn't mean you won't in the future." A flash of coldness crossed Si Yan's eyes. How many times did she intend to whisper those three words—"don't like you"—in his ear? It was grating.

"I can't get through to you!" Su Yu turned her face away, her tone laced with irritation. "Who would like a man who forces himself on them? I certainly wouldn't!"

With that, she struggled to climb off him, grabbed the quilt nearby to wrap around herself, and scooted to the edge of the bed, back turned to him, clearly drawing a line between them.

The man immediately closed the distance, wrapping his arms around her waist with a clingy, spoiled tone. "Baby, I can only sleep if you’re lying on me."

"No!" Su Yu refused without a second thought. She had been forced to sleep on top of him every day; if this continued, she would develop a habit. What would she do if she eventually ran away and couldn't adjust?

But Si Yan wouldn't relent, reaching out to pull her back into his embrace. Forced into a corner, Su Yu simply grabbed the quilt and spread it on the floor. "I’m sleeping here tonight. Let me think this through!"

The man on the bed went silent. Just as Su Yu finished spreading the quilt, she was swept up by a pair of strong arms and placed back onto the soft mattress.

"Si Yan..."

"You sleep on the bed tonight." Si Yan tucked the corners of the quilt in for her, his tone uncharacteristically calm. "I'll sleep elsewhere."

It wasn't that he lacked a temper, but he had suddenly reached a realization. Su Yu was right; the first time had indeed been forced. Or rather, it seemed every time had been! That sense of guilt kept him from forcing her to compromise as he had before. At the very least, he had to give her some space tonight.

His treasure had promised to marry him. Now, he had some trash to deal with.

In the courtyard of the manor, Li Hanyan and the other three were being held together. Si Yan had promised Su Yu he wouldn't mistreat them, and he kept his word. Yet, the four of them felt an inexplicable sense of unease. They were terrified that the food delivered by the housemaid was poisoned.

Zhang Yue called out to the maid, asking, "Excuse me, what about Fina?"

"Oh, she had sticky fingers, so Mr. Si threw her into the sea to feed the fish!"

Zhang Yue froze. It wasn't about her having "sticky fingers"—she had leaked information and was disposed of by that madman Si Yan.

Just then, the door was pushed open, and Si Yan strode in. His collar was slightly open, revealing a suggestive red mark. He sat down nonchalantly opposite them. "If you don't eat, don't go complaining to Yu-bao later, saying I mistreated you. If she scolds me, you'll be the ones to suffer!"

Chen Jing was furious at his smug demeanor and started to rise, but Zhang Yue pressed him back down.

"Mr. Si, you can't do anything to us!" Zhang Yue said calmly.

"Oh, this is Wang City. I can kill a man as easily as breathing. Didn't that maid who tipped you off die exactly that way?" Si Yan leaned back in his chair, his tone lazy.

"Mr. Si, before we left, we sent an email to the President of the Northern Kingdom! We stated that a month later, the four of us would return, safe and sound!" Zhang Yue’s implication was clear: he was using the power of an entire nation to stand against Si Yan. While the Northern Kingdom and Wang City were evenly matched, a conflict would inevitably lead to mutual destruction.

"Four of you?" Si Yan chuckled. "Are you not here to save Su Yu, Mr. Qin Yue?"

He had already investigated the identities of these people. "Zhang Yue" was merely an alias for the youngest son of the Qin family! With the deep ties between the Qin family and the Northern Kingdom's President, the Qin family would surely protect him.

At Si Yan’s words, the faces of all four changed. How did he know Zhang Yue's true identity?

Zhang Yue, being a young master of a prestigious family, remained composed. "If Mr. Si doesn't let us go, none of us are leaving! Besides, you can't truly kill us, or Su Yu will hate you for the rest of your life!"

That sentence struck exactly at Si Yan’s heart. Yes, if he harmed them, his Yu-bao would hate him. For a lifetime! He wouldn't make such a losing deal. Hate was more relentless than love; once she hated him, it could never turn into love. If she didn't like him, he could still win her over, but there was no way back from hate.

Si Yan was distressed. He wanted to kill them so badly, but because Su Yu would hate him, he had to endure it. He would just have to vent his frustration elsewhere.

"A smart man—you see things clearly." Si Yan stood up. "Don't play any tricks. Just attend my wedding with Su Yu peacefully, and I will have my men send you away! And don't you ever step foot in here again!"

After he left, Chen Jing stared in the direction Si Yan had gone and suddenly jumped up, pointing at the retreating figure. "He's doing this on purpose to show off, isn't he?"

Only he had sharp eyes; when Si Yan sat there, the fresh bite mark within the arc of his open collar had been blindingly clear. "Good heavens, with his collar open that wide, is he afraid people won't see it? It's too obvious!"

He turned to the other three, only to find that Zhang Yue, Li Hanyan, and Zhou Wenwen were ignoring him, eating the food the maid had brought with methodical composure, not even raising their eyelids.

Chen Jing stomped his feet in frustration. "Hey! Didn't you hear me? Aren't you afraid he poisoned the food? There’s nothing that madman wouldn't do!"

"He wouldn't do anything that would make Su Yu hate him," Zhou Wenwen understood, and Li Hanyan even more so.

The three of them looked at Li Hanyan. He said nothing, silently eating his meal. Zhang Yue patted his shoulder. "If there's a chance, ask her yourself. Perhaps you'll get a different answer." He hoped Li Hanyan could move on; Si Yan was a stubborn man who would never let go once he set his sights on someone.

"Yeah," Li Hanyan replied, his mind filled with the beautiful memories of his time with Su Yu. They had grown up together, and their families had been betrothed by her grandfather. How had it changed so much in the three months he was away on a mission? She had become someone else's wife-to-be, and he was even coming to her wedding.

Li Hanyan refused to believe that Su Yu’s words today were sincere; he had to find a way to ask her!

Elsewhere, Si Yan was pummeling a sandbag. He had already destroyed one, and the current one was hanging by a thread. *But I don't like you!* That sentence kept echoing in his mind. *Thud, thud, thud*—the sounds followed one after another.

He was agitated. How could he make his treasure like him? Sweet talk didn't work. If a few words could trick someone, he wouldn't be this distressed; he’d probably already have eight children by now! Throwing money at her didn't work either. Su Yu didn't like using his money; the 199-yuan belt she bought him was one of the few things from her own little savings!