Translator:Atlas StudiosEditor:Atlas Studios

A year of imprisonment in the past caused Xia Ling to deeply understand one thing: in the face of power, any semblance of care was fake.

Those in power could trample on the will of another as they pleased. No matter how convincing the reasons were, they could not change the scary facts. Take Li Lei for example. He could tear the property certificate belonging to her with ease without worrying about incurring any punishment He controlled her life at will, stipulated what she could and could not accept, and still felt that he was her savior.

Ha, this was so laughable.

Yet, it also sent chills down ones spine.

Xia Ling slowly raised her hand and pointed at the door. Please leave.

Youre chasing me out? Li Lei raised his eyebrows in a displeased manner.

This is my house.

That you are renting from me.

She quietly looked at him for a moment and suddenly smiled. Youre right. I almost forgot that Im renting your house. No wonder you keep thinking that you can come here as you please. Dont want to leave? Fine, Ill leave.

She turned her back and walked towards the door.

Li Lei grabbed her hand and asked, Where are you going?!

Let go, she said. Where I choose to go is none of your business.

Ye Xingling! He burst out into a rage. Do you not know that it is very dangerous outside? Pei Ziheng has brought misfortune on you so many times yet you still want to go out alone?! Or is living in a small apartment like this now not up to your standards and you are going to stay in that villa he gave you?

Thats enough Li Lei! She suddenly spun around and glared at him. Are you a police officer? What sort of position are you in to interrogate me?! Even if I were torn into shreds by others outsides, it would still be unrelated to you!

As she spoke, she vehemently broke free from his grip and continued to walk away.

Li Lei immediately pulled her into his arms. Before she could react, he looked down and fiercely kissed her.

You! She was taken aback and could only mouth a single word before he sealed her lips with his kiss and she could not utter another sound. She tried to push him away as hard as possible, but he grabbed her wrist effortlessly

They kissed for a long time until she felt like suffocating before his lips slowly parted from hers.

Be my girlfriend, he said in a husky voice.

Only now was she thoroughly stunned.

You asked me why I should be entitled to care about what you do. He wound his arm tightly around her waist, refusing to let her struggle. So be my girlfriend and I will give you a villa, many other presents, and also keep you safe.

The thought of her leaving him scared him out of his wits. When she looked at him coldly just now, he felt as though she was so far away. So far that if he let go of her slightly, she would leave and never come back.

The villa gift sent by Pei Ziheng caused Li Lei to develop an unprecedented sense of awareness of danger.

His Xiao Ling had been coveted by someone else for a long time. The strong enemy was near and he could not let matters rest unchecked.

He needed to quickly secure his relationship with Xiao Ling and declare his ownership of her.

What did you say? She thought she heard him wrong.

Be my girlfriend. He looked at her seriously.

Xia Ling frowned. Im not that type of person. As early as the first time they met, he had always tried to buy her with money to ensure that she stayed by his side but she had always rejected him. Now as the same situation unfolded, she still had no interest in him.

Li Lei said, I said, girlfriend. Not just any girl with no status, but the one who will be my future wife and the one I want to take the relationship to the next level.

Xia Ling felt as though she was dreaming or stimulated by something, leaving her bewildered. Your wife? That was unimaginable to her. Are you alright? How could I possibly become the daughter-in-law of the Li family? In her past life, her marriage to Pei Ziheng made one thing very clear to her. Even if she became an empress or an A-list celebrity, someone like her with no status or background would never be qualified to marry into their prestigious family.

Although Li Lei usually did not mention his family background, Xia Ling knew that the eminence of the Li family was on par with the Pei family. This was such that even when Pei Ziheng, the head of the Pei family, talked about the Li family, there was some fear in his voice.

However, Li Lei replied. Why not? Youre the one Im set on marrying.

I She wanted to say that she was of a lower class, but thinking about it again, she had not even agreed to be his girlfriend. Why was she thinking about marrying into the Li family? Nothing had ever happened between them yet.

As such, she changed her tone, Were not suitable.

Why are we not suitable? Li Leis voice had a sense of urgency. Arent you very happy being with me? I know all your habits, what you like to eat and what you like to do. I also have the money to take care of you and give you the best of everything Xiao Ling, just say yes.

Unfortunately, Xia Ling just shook her head.

She knew that he was a good man.

However, she had been hurt too deeply in her past life such that even if she tried her best to distance herself from the pain and not think about it, the dark wound had only barely healed on the surface but was badly mutilated underneath.

She did not believe in love anymore and did not want someone to pledge his eternal love to her. Her romance with Pei Ziheng had exhausted all of her strength and destroyed all of her fantasies and sense of security Presently, she was exhausted and only wanted to live the rest of her life peacefully and grow old alone.

Im sorry, she said softly.

The light of hope in Li Leis eyes was extinguished.

Why? he asked. Is it because of Pei Ziheng?

He wished that she would turn back and maybe even give him a hint of uncertainty. However, she did not. There was a somber look on her delicate face. Stop wasting any more time on me, she said.

That fearful feeling started to creep in and Li Lei tightened his grip on her hand like he was trying to hold onto his lifes final treasure.

Xia Ling felt the pain but calmly looked at him. Im sorry.

I will not give up, said Li Lei.

I will also not change my mind.

The fact that you did not go to Pei Ziheng but remained here with me just proves that I still have a chance, right?

Xia Ling shook her head. Boss, dont ask any more questions. Dont force me to leave. The reason why she remained here was to have an undisturbed place to start anew. If even this place was filled with love or resentment, she would have no choice but to look for a new place to live.

After she was done speaking, there was nothing good left to say.

Li Lei slowly let go of her and decided to use that as a strategy to gain more time to plan his next move. As long as she remained here, he would still have a chance. With the passing of time, love would blossom, especially since they were in close proximity. One day, he would win her heart.

He looked at her and smiled lazily. Dont be so tense Xiao Ling, you dont have to make a decision now. The proposal to be my girlfriend is valid for life. You can tell me your answer at any time after you have given it some thought.

Then, he turned around and said, Lets go eat something together now. Just treat it as a landlords invitation to his tenant.

Xia Ling wanted to reject him, but since he had phrased it as such, she really could not think of any reason to refuse his invitation. As such, she sighed and followed him out to his house next door in resignation.