011 - Luxury Apartment

"Is that all? Nothing else?" He raised an eyebrow, casting her a sidelong glance. The heiress of the Bailey Group certainly had a way with words. But how could he accept being relegated to nothing more than a pampered playboy in her eyes?

"Nothing else," she replied crisply, without a hint of hesitation.

"Not even a little?" he pressed, unwilling to let it go.

"Nothing!" she repeated, her tone decisive, leaving no room for doubt.

Lu Yichen gripped the steering wheel with one hand and clutched at his heart with the other, feigning anguish. "The sound of a heart breaking!"

His theatrics earned him nothing but an eye-roll and a muttered, "Idiot."

Suddenly, the car drifted into a sharp turn, brakes screeching as he brought it to a halt. A delicate, indignant voice sounded beside him.

"What on earth! Why are you stopping here for no reason?"

"Don't blame me. Look carefully—this is an underground parking lot," he replied cheerfully, jumping out of the car. He circled around, bent down, undid her seatbelt, and swept her up into his arms in one swift, unyielding motion, giving Xia Yuwei, still reeling from shock, no chance to protest. Without pause, he strode straight toward the elevator.

"Lu Yichen, you idiot, you thug, you lunatic! What is this place? What are you trying to do?" Xia Yuwei struggled desperately in his iron grip, but her efforts were futile.

"I'm helping you find your memory," Lu Yichen retorted with a cold laugh, his steps unbroken.

"Put me down! I have legs—I can walk!" she protested.

"Not a chance," he replied gruffly, holding her even tighter.

"Maniac!"

"Listen, woman—if you dare disrespect your husband again, if you bare your claws at me one more time, I might just see to it that you lose them." Was this woman simply too used to insulting him? Aside from her, he’d never met anyone so bold.

"I don’t even know you! Help!" Xia Yuwei cried out in despair.

"You can scream louder if you want. Let’s see if anyone comes," he murmured into her ear, biting her earlobe with wicked intent.

The elevator reserved for VIPs carried them straight to the eighteenth floor of the luxury apartments.

This residence belonged to the renowned Huanlun Group’s real estate portfolio. The entire floor was Lu Yichen’s private domain—his personal sanctuary.

As they entered the hallway, the lights came on at once, like loyal sentinels welcoming their master home.

He pressed his index finger to the recognition panel on the door. With a soft click, the door unlocked and swung open.

He shoved the resisting Xia Yuwei inside with overwhelming force, pinning her against the cold door.

A faint "click" echoed—the sound of the lock snapping shut.

Her petite frame was trapped against the unyielding surface, Lu Yichen’s imposing figure looming over her, his already striking, captivating eyes now blazing with the ruthless hunger of a predator certain of his prey.