Contract Marriage: The Tycoon's Pampered Wife
Chapter 30 - 030: Being in Hell, Yearning for Heaven

Chapter 30: 030: Being in Hell, Yearning for Heaven

The man pulled her upstairs. Ning Guiwan, stunned for a moment, quickly realized what was happening. The dry, warm touch on her wrist prompted her to struggle. "What are you doing?"

Worried about alerting others, Ning Guiwan kept her voice very low. To Quan Yu’s ears, however, it sounded like a soft, coquettish murmur.

He turned and looked at the girl. Her face, devoid of makeup, was still exquisitely delicate. She must have been in a hurry; the collar of the shirt she had thrown on wasn’t fully buttoned, leaving the top two undone. As she struggled, it skewed slightly to the left, revealing a large expanse of her fair skin. His gaze lingered on her slender collarbone for half a second before he looked away, his steps quickening as he headed toward his room.

Ning Guiwan didn’t know what he intended to do, yet a part of her seemed to. This vague, unsettling premonition made her heart pound uncontrollably with nerves.

She struggled even harder.

"Uncle Yu..."

As they neared his door, a desperate glint flickered in Ning Guiwan’s eyes.

She had thought that under Grandma Quan’s watchful eye, he would surely show some restraint. That was why she had ultimately agreed to Lai Yang’s plea. But she had forgotten what kind of person he truly was. He had gone abroad at sixteen and was only allowed to return at twenty-seven. The very next year, he had defeated his brother—a man over a decade his senior and far more respected—to become the ultimate power in the Ruiyin Group. Such a man was hardly one to be overly cautious or easily deterred.

Ning Guiwan instinctively grabbed the doorframe, desperately trying to prevent him from pulling her into the bedroom. Quan Yu glanced at her, and in the next instant, simply hoisted her onto his shoulder.

"AH!"

Her world turned upside down. Blood rushed to her head, making it throb dizzily. By the time she recovered her senses, she had been thrown onto a large sofa.

And Quan Yu stood before her, expressionless... removing his suit jacket.

Ning Guiwan stared at him, utterly shocked.

As he carelessly tossed his suit jacket beside her, then slowly and methodically loosened his tie and threw it down too, Ning Guiwan’s heart hammered so loudly she thought her eardrums would burst.

Seeing her terrified expression, a playful smirk touched Quan Yu’s handsome face. His thin lips curved into an ambiguous smile as he raised his hands and slowly, one by one, undid the top three buttons of his shirt.

Ning Guiwan looked away, her eyelashes trembling. Her heartbeat thundered louder and louder, until it was the only sound she could hear—the frantic THUMP-THUMP-THUMP in her own ears.

As if pleased by her reaction, the curve of Quan Yu’s lips deepened, and a faint smile even touched his usually cool, indifferent eyes.

He stared at her for a long while before turning and bending down to open a drawer under the coffee table.

A slight sound came from behind him. Without even turning his head, Quan Yu reached out and easily caught the girl as she scrambled up, trying to escape.

"Where are you running?" Quan Yu pulled her into his embrace. Her waist was incredibly soft, making him instinctively tighten his hold. He leaned close to her ear, his voice a low, husky murmur, "Afraid I’ll eat you up? Hmm?"

The raspy timbre of his voice, the upward lilt of his tone, slid into Ning Guiwan’s ear like countless tiny hooks, sending shivers down her spine.

"What exactly do you want?" Ning Guiwan demanded. Held tightly from behind, his breath fanned across her neck, making the skin there tingle and go numb.

"Sit down."

Quan Yu let go of her waist.

Ning Guiwan faced him, her cheeks tinted with a light blush, yet her expression was cold. "Lai Yang is sick and waiting for me."

"Sit down," Quan Yu’s tone was soft and slow, but undeniably forceful. "I don’t want to repeat myself a third time."

Ning Guiwan pursed her lips, stared at him for a long moment, then sat down.

"With your status and position, is there anything you can’t obtain? Why must you force me?" Lowering her long lashes, she avoided his gaze, her expression reverting to its usual calm, detached iciness.

But Quan Yu didn’t respond.

After a moment, Ning Guiwan noticed he had crouched down. Then, a cool sensation touched the skin just above her right eyebrow.

She looked up in surprise—

Her right eye was met with the sight of Quan Yu’s hand, magnified so large she could only make out its general shape.

His right hand’s four fingers were placed at her temple, his thumb gently massaging the bruised area.

And in his left hand, he held a tube of ointment.

His gaze was fixed on her brow bone, and for once, a hint of tenderness softened his usually indifferent, cool eyes.

After a moment of stunned silence, Ning Guiwan lowered her gaze again, her eyes landing on the crisp fabric of his trousers. A touch of ease softened her delicate features.

"You’ve gone to some trouble, Uncle Yu, but... it will heal on its own." After a pause, her voice dropped to a near whisper, "Any wound can heal by itself, given enough time, can’t it?"

"Self-healing takes too long. Having someone help with the healing isn’t a bad thing."

"Healing?" A slow smile spread across Ning Guiwan’s face. "Every medicine carries some poison. I’m afraid that while it might heal an old wound, it could inflict a new one."

The two exchanged words, one probing, the other guarded.

After applying the medicine, Quan Yu carelessly placed the ointment on the coffee table, then lit a cigarette.

Ning Guiwan stood up. "Thank you again, Uncle Yu. I should be going now."

This time, Quan Yu did not stop her.

The door slammed shut with a sharp BANG. He glanced towards it, a light chuckle escaping him as he recalled the girl’s words about old wounds and new illnesses.

Cigarette between his fingers, he walked out onto the balcony. Soon, Ning Guiwan’s figure came into view as she headed towards the parking area.

The night wind blew gently, lifting the hem of the girl’s calf-length skirt.

Quan Yu’s thoughts suddenly returned to five years ago, when he had just come back from abroad. Over a decade of dark days had extinguished any light within his heart. Back then, Ning Guiwan had been enthusiastic, cheerful, and innocent—like a brilliant ray of sunshine. Those who dwell in Hell always yearn for Heaven. But now...

Quan Yu slowly snuffed out the cigarette butt on the railing, his eyes deeper than the night sky.

The one who had once resided in Heaven had now been dragged into Hell too.