Chapter 8: If I’m Not Happy, You Will Be Punished
Hearing Gu Xinglan’s voice out of the blue, even though it sounded gentle and even concerned, Qin Wan still instinctively flinched.
His whole body was immediately wrapped in tension.
Although they had only known each other for a day, he had deeply experienced Gu Xinglan’s madness and violence.
On the track of tormenting people, he left everyone else in the dust.
Saying he could kill someone while laughing and chatting was no exaggeration.
He was truly terrified of him.
Qin Wan propped himself up on the bed, wanting to sit up quickly.
But rising too suddenly, he felt his vision go black again and fell back down.
“You had a high fever. I called a doctor over just now to put you on an IV. It’s finished, and the fever has gone down now.”
Following the voice, footsteps approached.
Gu Xinglan walked to the bedside.
He turned on the small night light beside it.
By the soft light, he lowered his eyes, looking at the terrified, flustered, and wretched appearance of the person on the bed.
Qin Wan didn’t dare use sudden force again. Struggling to support himself on the bed, he slowly sat up.
He then tried very hard to scoot his body toward the other side of the bed.
“Qin Wan, I’m not a ghost; you don’t need to be this scared.” Gu Xinglan’s tone carried a hint of teasing.
He looked at him leisurely.
“President Gu.” Qin Wan spoke cautiously, his voice low.
“Th-Thank you for helping me out of that situation. And for treating my illness.”
“I’m fine now. I… I should go…”
As he spoke, he tried to move his legs off the bed.
Clatter— A crisp sound of metal colliding came from his feet.
Only then did Qin Wan discover with shock that at this moment, a glittering gold chain was actually tied to his right ankle.
The other end of the chain was tied to the foot of the bed.
His eyes widened instantly.
“This…”
“Gu Xinglan, what are you doing? Y-You open this for me!” Qin Wan’s heart started pounding wildly.
Gu Xinglan walked to the corner of the bed, reached out, and gently picked up the gold chain.
His fingers slowly caressed it.
“What, you don’t like gold? Then, shall I have someone change it for a platinum one?”
“Why are you putting this on me?” Qin Wan wanted to cry but had no tears. “What exactly… what exactly do you want to do?”
Gu Xinglan’s exquisite, deep phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as he shook his head.
“Qin Wan, I feel like when you’re scamming and cheating, you’re quite smart. Why are you always so stupid at times like this?”
“How many times have you asked what I want to do?”
“You provoked me, and more than once. Of course, I have to settle the score with you, principal and interest included. Do you understand now?”
Qin Wan’s eyes turned red again.
Curling his legs, he tried to pull at the chain on his ankle.
But the clasp was locked tight with a combination lock; he couldn’t open it at all.
Gu Xinglan didn’t stop him, just watched quietly.
Only when he had scratched his fingertips red and had to give up did he let out a light snort.
“Qin Wan, I told you not to leave, but you ran away in the blink of an eye. I am very unhappy.”
“If I’m not happy, you will be punished. So, there is this chain.”
As he spoke, his fingers pinched the gold chain near Qin Wan’s ankle and gave a slight tug.
Caught off guard, Qin Wan felt pain in his ankle. His entire body lost balance from the pull, and he fell backward onto the bed.
Gu Xinglan pressed over him.
Lowering his head, his cold gaze fell on the face of the person beneath him.
“Qin Wan, don’t misunderstand. I wasn’t trying to help you out. I just don’t like my things being touched by others.”
As he spoke, his eye color turned cold, his fingers sliding across his cheek.
Methodically: “Until everything you owe me is paid off, you belong to me.”
“Canary, private pet, whatever you like, call it that.”
He lowered his head, close to his ear, his voice ghostly cold.
“It’s best if you are willing. If you aren’t willing, I don’t care either. I have plenty of ways to help you become willing.”
This extremely dangerous posture triggered Qin Wan’s painful memories of last night.
Hearing Gu Xinglan’s words, he could no longer suppress his tears, which dripped down from the corners of his eyes.
“Gu Xinglan, y-you doing this is illegal!”
He sobbed.
Gu Xinglan chuckled. “Speaking of illegal, you stealing, scamming, and evading debt—isn’t that illegal?”
“If you want to test how long I can have you locked up inside, I don’t mind.”
Qin Wan felt like his weakness was instantly seized by the other party.
Choked so hard he couldn’t breathe.
“Gu Xinglan, wh-why do you have to be so ruthless…” Tears welled up in strings from his eyes.
“How… how can I be considered to have paid it off…”
Gu Xinglan stared at his beautiful fox eyes covered in tears.
His expression cold: “How is it considered paid off…”
He seemed to think for a moment.
“When I’ve played enough and don’t want you anymore, that’s when.”
Qin Wan sobbed, turning his head away.
But Gu Xinglan didn’t give him any chance to dodge or breathe, gripping his jaw and turning his face back.
“Did you understand everything I said?”
Qin Wan took a deep, gasping breath.
His lips trembling, he nodded.
“Speak.” Gu Xinglan’s voice seemed to be tinged with displeasure.
“…Understood…”
Only then did Gu Xinglan get up.
Qin Wan propped himself up to sit again.
He hugged his knees with both hands, curling his body into a ball.
Gu Xinglan’s long fingers gently stroked the ankle tied with the gold chain.
His gaze rested on it.
Fair, bony, exquisite.
Paired with this glittering chain, the visual impact was very seductive.
The fingers stroking it applied slight pressure.
It made the hair on Qin Wan’s body stand on end.
He wanted to pull his foot back, but Gu Xinglan held it firmly.
The corner of his lips pulled into a smile: “Qin Wan, if you’re not good again, I really will break your legs.”
His voice was gentle: “Such beautiful ankles, if they were broken, not only would it hurt, but it would also be a pity. Don’t you think?”
Qin Wan was forced by this madman-like man as if backed to the edge of a cliff.
Behind him was an abyss; there was no retreat.
Except for submission, he had no other way.
“President Gu, please… please let go first, it hurts…”
Gu Xinglan looked down.
Qin Wan’s ankle already had a few red marks pinched onto it by him.
He let go of his hand.
Qin Wan shrank his ankle back slightly.
“President Gu, actually… actually, this chain isn’t necessary,” he said carefully, his gaze glancing lightly at Gu Xinglan’s face.
“I promise not to run.” He tried his best to explain. “Actually, this morning, I didn’t want to run either. I was just worried about Aunt Rong.”
“In the future, whenever you… want me to come over, I’ll come over. Is that okay?”
He lowered his head, murmuring, “I still have to go to the hospital to take care of the patient, and I have to earn money to pay off the debt…”
Gu Xinglan let out a muffled snort. “Qin Wan, there is no trust to speak of between us. So, don’t mention conditions to me.”
Qin Wan’s lip line tightened, and his eyes drooped.
His voice was mournful: “President Gu, Aunt Rong really needs someone to accompany her at night. You…”
Gu Xinglan’s brow raised slightly. “Does that have anything to do with me?”
Qin Wan bit his lip, raised his head, his handsome brows furrowed tight: “Gu Xinglan, don’t force me!”
It was clearly a harsh remark, but because his voice was too low and weak, it sounded somewhat like acting spoiled and begging for mercy.
Gu Xinglan’s lips slanted into a slightly cruel arc. “So what if I force you?”
Qin Wan’s tear-filled eyes trembled slightly, full of anger and humiliation, staring dead at Gu Xinglan.
But locking eyes with Gu Xinglan’s cold, hostile, and unfathomable gaze, how could he hold up? He was soon defeated.
He buried his head in his knees and cried silently.
Gu Xinglan looked at his slightly thin shoulders trembling lightly.
He knew he was crying hard.
Silence for a moment.
“Qin Wan, starting today, for one week, I will watch your performance.”
“If your performance satisfies me, I will consider opening the chain for you.”
“However, the right of final interpretation belongs to me. So, act accordingly.”
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