Lin Wan closed the webpage, unsure whether to feel happy or sad. The day before her birthday, Tan Xizhe called, saying he had found a chance to strike at Chen Jin. When she first heard the name "Zhicheng," she immediately declined. She hated Chen Jin and wanted revenge, but she didn't want to drag anyone else into it. The day after her birthday, she contacted Tan Xizhe, and found out that someone had submitted a report to the regulatory authorities, exposing how Zhicheng's forced demolition had caused a death. However, it was suppressed by Chen Jin's connections. On the day she fell ill, she had overheard Chen Jin on the phone giving instructions on how to handle the situation. Driven by a sense of revenge and a desire for justice, she decided to collaborate with Tan Xizhe.
Now, the so-called "truth" had surfaced, but she was skeptical. It might be linked to Chaohui, but it couldn't have been Tan Xizhe's plan; if it had been, why would he have asked her to steal the letter? He could have just sent it himself. And Chen Jin, who was always good at twisting the truth—who knew if those three people in the hospital weren't hired actors posing as the real victims. The suspect's confession? That could easily be fabricated, too. The more she thought, the more doubts arose. She even began to suspect that this "bloodshed" was entirely staged by Chen Jin himself as a publicity stunt, framing the competition in the process. She laughed bitterly to herself. Justice? The man who claimed to be seeking justice was the most ridiculous joke of all.
After work, Lin Wan had managed to calm her emotions after a whole day of turmoil. She hadn't contacted Tan Xizhe again; he was probably busy with damage control. Although they had once been allies, she didn't care whether he could defuse this backlash. After all, he and Chen Jin were cut from the same cloth—both wielding incredible power. What intrigued her was how he would feel when the tables were turned and the backlash hit him.
As Lin Wan walked out of the office building, she immediately spotted Old Li, dressed in black, standing tall, with the familiar black Bentley parked beside him. Looking around, the towering buildings seemed like massive barriers, enclosing her in a prison. The glass facades reflected the setting sun, making her eyes sting. A deep sense of helplessness flooded her, and she sighed before walking toward the car.
When she opened the car door, she was surprised to see that Chen Jin was inside. He was wearing a dark blue striped shirt, the sleeves rolled halfway up his arms, with his arms crossed, watching her. With a calm tone, he said, "I came to pick you up from work. You're touched, right?"
Lin Wan suddenly felt a sense of disconnection in time. When had they ever had such a harmonious atmosphere? The answer was simple—it was all an illusion. She tried to speak, but couldn't even muster a formal greeting. She simply sat down in silence. To her surprise, Chen Jin didn't get angry at being ignored. He smiled and leaned back, closing his eyes to rest. Lin Wan glanced at the man beside her, who appeared calm and harmless but was, in reality, the most dangerous.
The car drove smoothly, and when Lin Wan snapped out of her thoughts, she realized they had already left the city. A sense of unease washed over her. The man beside her, seemingly still asleep, had his eyes open, staring blankly ahead. From the side, he looked as cold as ice. Her mind immediately ran through a line: isolated, far from help, and "disposed of." Unable to stop herself, she asked, "Where are we going?"
Chen Jin turned his head, smiling once again—this smile appeared gentle, but there was a mysterious depth behind it. "You'll find out when we get there."
Lin Wan decided to stay quiet, hoping she'd have the strength to fight back later. She reminded herself that the man beside her was easily twice her size, and she was just a frail woman. Forget it, I just hope the process isn't too painful.
Instead of the expected wild grass and cawing crows, the car slowed, and Lin Wan's eyes were met with a luxurious villa district. The European-style villas stood gracefully amidst the trees, red rooftops and white walls paired with greenery and blue skies, creating a beautiful and vivid scene. Unfortunately, Lin Wan couldn't appreciate the view. Her mind was clouded with doubts, and no matter how beautiful the surroundings were, they lost all color in her eyes, like a bleak black-and-white sketch.
The car passed through two large iron gates that automatically opened, and as it drove through a meticulously manicured lawn, it eventually stopped in front of a luxurious three-story villa.
At the entrance, a middle-aged couple stood respectfully, waiting. Before they could even get out of the car, they ran over to greet them, bowing and smiling. "Mr. Chen, Miss Lin, you're back…"
Lin Wan couldn't help but glance at Chen Jin, but he just walked inside with a blank expression, while she hesitated at the door, gripped by an inexplicable fear. The couple kept urging her to enter, but it felt like the three-story house was inhabited by dangerous beasts she wanted to avoid.
When they reached the center of the grand hall, Chen Jin turned around with a smile, teasing her. "What's wrong? Afraid to come in?"
Lin Wan took a deep breath and stepped forward. What other choice did she have? When had she ever had an escape route?
The living room was vast and empty, resembling a public space rather than a home. A chandelier hanging from the second-floor ceiling emitted a dazzling light, much brighter than daylight. It made Lin Wan, who had just entered from the outside, feel uncomfortable. The marble floor emitted a cold, eerie glow, and everything in the room exuded an unfriendly atmosphere.
Chen Jin had already gone upstairs. Lin Wan stood in the middle of the living room, feeling lost. The woman who had greeted them earlier walked over with a smile, saying, "Miss Lin, the bedroom is on the second floor. Please go upstairs and take a shower, rest a bit. Dinner will be served in the Xituolanya restaurant downstairs in half an hour." She pointed toward the direction of the restaurant.
Lin Wan sighed at her own nervous, uncertain reaction and gave the woman a smile. The woman added, "The man you saw earlier is my husband, Mr. Zhou. He's the housekeeper here. Just call him Old Zhou, and you can call me Zhou Sao."
Lin Wan smiled back, this time genuinely thanking the kind but unfamiliar woman. "Thank you, Zhou Sao," she said, then climbed the stairs.
Thankfully, the room layout wasn't complicated. On the second floor, Lin Wan found a large bedroom. The door was open, and the lights were bright. She immediately saw Chen Jin, who was adjusting his tie. She quickly walked in and asked what had been on her mind. "Why bring me here?"
Chen Jin casually unbuttoned his shirt, watching her with a half-smile, not answering her question directly. "It's nice here, don't you think? Beautiful environment, clean air…"
Lin Wan's heart skipped a beat, and she interrupted, "What do you mean?"
"This place is suitable for living, and even more suitable for reflection. It might get a little lonely, though."
Lin Wan's heart sank. She couldn't believe it, but she seemed to already know the answer. "You… are you planning to house arrest me?"
Chen Jin casually tossed his shirt onto the carpet. "Don't say it like that. I said it's for reflection."
"What's there to reflect on? This is obviously house arrest. What gives you the right?" Lin Wan took a few steps forward, raising her voice in anger.
Chen Jin's smile faded, and his usual imposing demeanor returned. He looked into Lin Wan's eyes, his voice cold. "What gives me the right? Just this—you betrayed me earlier. Don't give me the 'I'm not yours' nonsense. As long as you're with me for one day, you're mine."
Lin Wan gritted her teeth, trembling with fury, but his twisted reasoning made it impossible for her to argue. She sighed deeply and asked, "How long are you going to keep me here?"
"That depends on when you wake up."
"Wake up?" Lin Wan quickly ran through all the meanings of the word in her mind, but couldn't find one that fit. She finally admitted, "I don't understand."
Chen Jin looked at her as if she were an unteachable child, crossing his arms as he slowly explained. "Just think about how you got here and how you can leave. You crave freedom, don't you? But you need to know, your freedom is something I give you. Within the boundaries I allow, you can do whatever you want. But once you cross the line, you'll face the consequences."