Yongye glanced down at her and gave a scornful laugh. "Explain? Explain my ass."
He tossed the tablet onto the desk, slipped an arm around Lois's waist, and drew her closer. The grin at the corner of his mouth was teasing and infuriating.
"Do you really think your story would get published if you spoke up for me? Even if you are General Lane's daughter?"
Lois's fingers stilled.
She knew he was right.
She bit her lip. Anger, frustration, and helplessness churned in her light brown eyes.
She believed in doing her job. She wanted to report the whole truth and fulfill her duty as a journalist!
But she knew the world's media was controlled by a handful of people—the same people pushing the Golden Armor God of War versus Wakanda narrative!
Anyone who dared go against them might, if they were lucky, lose only their story and their account. If luck truly abandoned them, they would disappear too!
Lois lowered her voice, weary with the helplessness of someone worn down by reality. "Then what do we do? We can't just let them pin it all on you."
Yongye's smile grew brighter.
He lowered his head to her ear, his voice soft and low, his warm breath making Lois shiver.
"What do we do?"
"We do you. That's enough!"
Before Lois could react, Yongye's hand slid down from her waist. Through the thin fabric of her shirt, his fingertips found the hollow of her lower back.
Her body tensed as if jolted by electricity, then went soft. She punched his chest in annoyance, but the blow was barely more than a tickle.
"You really are..."
His kiss cut her off.
Then came another round of friendly, heated, intimate exchange...
Outside, the harsh white light of noon warmed to afternoon gold.