C118 —- Violent Possession

Chu Chen’an’s cheeks were flushed. He glared at Qin Jue but was immediately caught in Qin Jue’s passionate kisses and tight embrace.

Perhaps it was because he had been exhausted during the day; as soon as he closed his eyes, drowsiness quickly took over.

Qin Jue kissed his earlobe, his cheek, his neck… gently yet domineeringly expressing his obsessive love.

Half-asleep, Chu Chen’an felt that something was strange about Qin Jue today. He couldn’t decipher the deep look in Qin Jue’s eyes, nor could he understand the unsettling calm in his emotions.

Their embrace resembled that of lovers who had been together for many years—fingers intertwined, resting in each other’s warmth.

Indeed, it had been many years.

Only, Qin Jue didn’t know that yet.

Chu Chen’an groggily thought as he rubbed against the pillow, before drifting off to sleep.

Before he completely succumbed to slumber, Qin Jue bit his earlobe and coaxed him in a low voice, “Give me a child. If you conceive in winter, we can take them to see the snow next year. Don’t you love playing in the snow? Have a little chubby one to play with you.”

In his half-dreaming state, Chu Chen’an mumbled to himself—how did Qin Jue know that he loved playing in the snow…?

And then, he was fast asleep.

Qin Jue gently stroked his peaceful face, watching him quietly for a long time.

—

Chu Chen’an leaned against the glass window outside the rooftop, watching as Qin Jue tended to a flower field below.

The villa had plenty of servants, yet Qin Jue still did it himself, just because Chu Chen’an had murmured in his sleep that morning about wanting to plant flowers.

In the dazzling golden sunlight, Chu Chen’an saw Qin Jue’s broad and tall figure. Sensing his gaze, Qin Jue turned around and smiled at him.

That deep and handsome smile momentarily stunned Chu Chen’an. Instinctively, he followed Qin Jue’s gaze, only to shy away the next second.

His heart pounded.

Qin Jue stood below, looking up at him directly.

Under the shimmering light, Chu Chen’an suddenly understood what it meant—one glance, and it felt like an eternity.

He had to leave for a little while, secretly.

Only by doing so could he complete his mission, survive, and allow them to be together for longer.

Chu Chen’an didn’t know how many years he had lost in the game copies. The only thing he was certain of was that no matter which game world he entered, this obsessive lunatic would always find him.

 

They had loved each other for a very, very long time.

Thinking about it like that, even if he couldn’t complete the final mission, it didn’t feel like a loss.

Chu Chen’an pointed to a patch of flowers in the distance and, for the first time, made a request to Qin Jue.

“I want that flower.”

A blue rose.

Qin Jue, standing below, came back to his senses. His smile darkened as he narrowed his eyes at him.

He mouthed his reply. Alright.

As many as you want.

—

Later, Chu Chen’an’s desk was covered with roses, as tall as trees, all handpicked by Qin Jue. The whole room was filled with the fragrance of roses.

As he absentmindedly caressed the petals, a notification chimed from the system control panel.

[Ding!]

[001 Reminder: Your body’s energy level is down to 3%. You will switch bodies in 20 minutes. Please prepare accordingly…]

Chu Chen’an immediately stood up, panic-stricken. He hurriedly took a few steps toward Qin Jue’s study.

He just wanted to take one last look at Qin Jue.

He was only leaving for a few days, but Qin Jue didn’t know that. Qin Jue might think he was never coming back—just like last time.

Last time, when he had died unexpectedly, Qin Jue had been devastated. The once tyrannical and powerful man had looked like a helpless child, holding his corpse in his arms for an entire night.

Chu Chen’an gently pushed open the study door—

But Qin Jue wasn’t there.

He hesitated for a moment before stepping in quietly.

Qin Jue’s study was particularly large, with bookshelves lining the walls, neatly arranged with books.

Chu Chen’an walked over to Qin Jue’s desk, which was covered with various documents and file folders, many of them in foreign languages he couldn’t understand.

He casually glanced at a couple of them before moving past the desk. By chance, his eyes fell on an old, worn book sitting in the corner. The book was left open—probably because Qin Jue had forgotten to close it.

He reached out to pick it up, but as his hand lifted it, something slipped out from between the pages.

Chu Chen’an crouched down to pick it up and, upon closer inspection, was stunned.

It was a set of photographs taken in the snow.

The person in the pictures was him.

He was bundled up in a thick winter coat, wrapped in a red scarf, looking somewhat clumsy. In the photos, he was crouched down in the snow, his nose reddened from the cold, seriously shaping a snowball with both hands.

Chu Chen’an blinked and flipped through the book further, discovering that there were more than a dozen photos tucked inside—all taken that same winter.

Judging by the angles, Qin Jue must have been standing nearby, secretly capturing these moments.

Chu Chen’an held one of the photos between his fingers and turned it over, only to find a line of writing on the back:

My love, whom I desire even in death.

…Psycho.

Chu Chen’an muttered inwardly, but still, he carefully wiped the dust off the photo and placed it back in the book.

Time was running out.

He quickly jogged back to his room, climbed onto the bed, and hugged Qin Jue’s pillow, rolling over twice.

Whatever.

He’d deal with it when Qin Jue caught him.

…

Before long, he fell asleep.

Or rather, he entered a temporary state of death.

Chu Chen’an transformed into a light, weightless soul, floating midair. Just as he lingered in this ethereal state, the bedroom door creaked open.

“Baby, I found a vase for your flowers. See if you like it.”

Qin Jue entered the room, holding a white jade-carved vase he had won at an auction.

He glanced at the bed and saw Chu Chen’an sleeping soundly. With a soft smile, he walked over.

“Sleeping again?”

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Qin Jue reached out to pinch Chu Chen’an’s cheek.

“Baby?”

There was no response.

When his fingers brushed against Chu Chen’an’s nose, he suddenly froze.

“…An’an?”

Chu Chen’an lay still, eyes closed, utterly lifeless.

Qin Jue’s gaze darkened.

A heavy silence filled the room. His fists clenched tightly.

“What is it… What the hell is it…”

Qin Jue’s voice was low, almost murmuring, but filled with an eerie, seething rage.

Then, in an instant, his expression twisted, and he roared:

“Who dares to take you away from me?!”

With a sudden motion, he hurled the vase in his hand to the ground.

Crash!

The ancient relic, worth seven figures, shattered into countless pieces.

Qin Jue was completely consumed by fury, his emotions spiraling out of control. His eyes burned with a dark, dangerous madness.

Hidden within the system’s space, Chu Chen’an flinched at the deafening sound, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Qin Jue had always been prone to anger, but rarely in front of Chu Chen’an—only a handful of times.

So he had seldom witnessed this terrifying side of him.

“…I’m sorry, baby. Did I scare you?”

Qin Jue seemed to realize his own outburst. He returned to the bed, gently scooping Chu Chen’an into his arms. Pressing soft kisses to his face, he murmured in a soothing tone:

“I’m sorry… Go to sleep, don’t be afraid…”

His hand tenderly stroked Chu Chen’an’s back, his voice gentle, almost hypnotic—so much so that it sent a shiver down one’s spine.

For a moment, Chu Chen’an nearly forgot.

Forgot that Qin Jue was a lunatic.

He always had been.
……

Qin Jue held him for a long time, until nightfall.

“When you wake up, be good and come back,” Qin Jue murmured, using a warm towel to wipe Chu Chen’an’s face. “If you don’t, your husband will come and find you himself.”

The transparent Chu Chen’an hid in the corner of the room, his body trembling involuntarily at the eerie echo of Qin Jue’s voice.

“And once I find you, I’ll lock you up here,” Qin Jue said with a smile. “No… I should lock you away on the island directly…”

Perhaps it was the oppressive aura of Qin Jue in the darkness, but Chu Chen’an had the terrifying feeling that Qin Jue could somehow sense his presence. That these words were meant for him.

This time, his departure might have only pushed Qin Jue’s plans further along.

Qin Jue never joked.

 

When he said he’d make him pregnant, he meant it.

Chu Chen’an shuddered. Just then, 001’s voice sounded in his ear, notifying him that the system transfer was complete.

His vision blurred.

…

“Cough, cough!”

Chu Chen’an regained consciousness amidst thick smoke and raging flames.

He was back in his identity as Chen An.

Covering his nose, he scanned his surroundings.

This was Qin Jue’s underground cold storage room.

The refrigeration system had malfunctioned due to an electrical failure, and 001 had used the wiring to create a massive fire—an attempt to make it look like an accident.

Chu Chen’an looked at the rapidly spreading flames around him and began to suspect that 001 was trying to kill him on purpose.

Smoke burned his throat. “001, get me out of here now!”

[Understood.]

[Apologies for the miscalculation.]

[Initiating emergency relocation…]

[Ding!]

[Transfer successful.]

The fire continued to rage in the basement. It took an hour before the servants discovered it.

By the time the fire was extinguished, the underground chamber had turned into a heap of scorched ruins.

The ice coffin had been reduced to ashes.

Qin Jue knelt before the remains, his fingertips slowly pressing into the darkened dust.

Rubbing the soot between his fingers, his eerie eyes flickered with a twisted kind of delight.

Then, ever so slowly, he smiled.

In a soft murmur, he whispered, “Foolish little darling.”

…

The system had sent Chu Chen’an to a remote location.

For now, he was staying at a small inn. Exhausted, he collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

When he woke up, he stared blankly at the unfamiliar, run-down ceiling before realizing he was in a motel.

A message from Jiang Lin came through the system.

 

Jiang Lin: [Chen’an, did you manage to escape?]

Jiang Lin: [Qin Jue has started monitoring me. We can only communicate through the system now.]

Jiang Lin: [If you’re safe, reply to me.]

Chu Chen’an quickly typed back.

Chen’an: [I’m fine. I made it out.]

A few seconds later, Jiang Lin replied.

Jiang Lin: [Good. We’ll meet on the ship.]

Chu Chen’an hesitated.

Chen’an: [But the ship’s departure time hasn’t been confirmed yet.]

Jiang Lin: [It has been confirmed.]

Chu Chen’an was surprised.

Chen’an: [When was it decided?]

Jiang Lin: [Last night. It’s set to depart today at 9 AM.]

Chu Chen’an’s gaze darkened.

Last night?

That was right after the fire in the basement…

Maybe it was because he hadn’t slept well, but an inexplicable sense of unease settled in his chest.

He turned on the TV to watch the news replay.

The female anchor spoke clearly and steadily:

 

“The Star Group’s cruise ship will open boarding at 9:00 AM tomorrow, with final boarding at 11:00 AM. According to the person in charge, the voyage had been delayed twice due to weather conditions. As an apology, the company has decided to provide several complimentary VIP travel services for passengers…”

After her report, the screen transitioned to a live broadcast of the company’s press conference.

Chu Chen’an immediately spotted Qin Jue sitting at the center of the press conference.

This press conference had been held last night—while he had been fast asleep.

Qin Jue was dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, his perfect features adorned with a faint smile. To the world, he was the billionaire CEO, the epitome of success.

Chu Chen’an stared at the screen.

Qin Jue’s eyes held nothing but a warm, polished smile—no trace of the ruthless madness he had displayed the night before.

Just yesterday, he had been cradling Chu Chen’an’s lifeless body, completely losing control of his emotions. And now, in the blink of an eye, he was here, calmly hosting a press conference?

The abrupt shift unsettled Chu Chen’an.

Something was off.

 

But he had no time to dwell on it. He hurried into the bathroom to freshen up.

By the time he stepped out, still toweling his damp hair, the news broadcast was still ongoing.

On the screen, Qin Jue gave a small nod, flashing an easy smile as he answered the female reporter’s question.

“Yes. As a sincere apology for the delays, I will personally oversee this cruise voyage.”

The towel in Chu Chen’an’s hands slipped and fell to the floor.

 

---

TN:

Double updateeeee!!!

Someone asked, so there’s like 9-10 chapters left 😁