Will you let me?

"Are there steel plates in there?"

Zuo Tingyue's low voice rang out, tinged with laughter. He looked toward Xun Yuan, meeting her slightly unnatural gaze.

Through the thick, overlapping clouds of steam, Xun Yuan and Zuo Tingyue looked at each other.

The man in her sight wore laughter at his brow, rakish and unrestrained. When he looked toward her, his eyes were tender and affectionate, but on closer inspection, that surface warmth was far too shallow to withstand the slightest scrutiny.

Those eyes really could deceive.

Xun Yuan's gaze faltered, then she smiled without restraint, alluring charm flowing through the corners of her eyes and the tips of her brows.

The heat misted her eyes. She strolled toward the hot spring pool, concealing every emotion in her eyes until only a smile remained.

She reached the edge of the pool, crouched down, and smiled at the man before her.

"Can I touch?"

Zuo Tingyue raised a brow. He rarely encountered anyone so direct and bold, especially when she had clearly been shy earlier.

Their gazes met. A watery haze veiled Xun Yuan's eyes, and that indescribable, fragile allure was terribly enticing.

Zuo Tingyue's gaze was deep, a faint smile lingering on his thin lips all the while. He looked entirely at ease.

Xun Yuan reached out, her slender, white fingertips about to touch the man's chest. In that single second-

Splash!

Zuo Tingyue reached out and pulled Xun Yuan off the edge and into the hot spring.

Water droplets splashed up and fell again, setting the pool's spring waters rippling.

Zuo Tingyue drew Xun Yuan in front of him with one arm. The veins in his arm bulged, extending all the way to the back of his hand beneath his flesh, robust and powerful-the absolute command of a man's strength.

The bathrobe wrapped around Xun Yuan fell completely open, its white hem floating on the water. The ripples swayed, and her close-fitting slip dress became soaked, clinging tightly to her delicately curved body in a silent temptation. Her ink-black hair was wet, a few strands sticking to her cheek. With her vivid red lips, she looked like a little fox that fed on people's blood and essence.

In the hot spring pool, a man brimming with testosterone and a seductive, ravishing woman-however one looked at it, the scene was sensual.

"Are there?"

His low, husky voice poured into her ears, wrapped in a magnetic timbre.

His movement had come so unexpectedly that Xun Yuan had been pulled into the water before she could react at all. The moment her body touched the warm water, her mind had gone blank, right up until now.

His voice was utterly swoon-worthy, with a dampness steeped in the mist. For a hazy moment, it was like a lover's tender murmurs at the height of affection, whispering on and on, entwining and lingering.

Xun Yuan came back to herself. Remembering his earlier words, she lowered her eyes and saw her hand resting against his chest, presumably an unconscious appeal for help and support.

She quickly raised her eyes to the man before her again. Tiny droplets clung to her long lashes, and mist shimmered in her watery eyes, lending her an air that would stir anyone's tender pity.

"Mr. Zuo, what... is the meaning of this?"

Her cool voice was steeped in seduction, its final note deliberately lifted, soft and lilting.

She answered with a question, unwilling to answer something so obvious.

A faint trace of amusement seeped into Zuo Tingyue's eyes. "Are there?"

It was as though he truly insisted on an answer to that question, but she only felt that he wanted to keep the initiative firmly in his own hands.

Always so composed, never yielding an inch. A businessman's nature indeed: he wanted to win, and to win beautifully.

Xun Yuan said nothing. Her slender, pale fingers traced his powerful abs, her eyes innocent and serene.

Her soft fingertips stroked over his body, bringing waves of ticklish sensation-a physical reaction, and an even more unbearable itch in his heart.

Yet his expression remained indifferent, and her gaze stayed mild.

At that very moment, what should clearly have been a scene of mounting intimacy became, with Xun Yuan and Zuo Tingyue, a probing clash, neither willing to give ground first.

They were playing a game.

Something like loving and fighting each other.

The indoor hot spring was fed by flowing water. Its gentle murmuring sounded slow and melodious, and an inexplicable atmosphere gradually rippled out between them.

Suddenly, Xun Yuan raised her eyes. They were still calm and clear, without the slightest trace of tender affection.

"Zuo Tingyue."

It was the first time she had called him by his full name. Before, she had always addressed him as "Mr. Zuo," maintaining a measured distance with a gentle, faint smile on her face.

Zuo Tingyue lifted his eyelids to look at her. As his lowered gaze swept past, he could see the view down the front of her body. Her figure was impeccable, her skin cool and pale, fine and tender.

He watched her, waiting for her to finish.

"Do you want to sleep with me?"

Xun Yuan's voice fell flat and direct, without the slightest tact or concealment, so frank and bold.

Zuo Tingyue looked at her. He truly could not figure this woman out. Too many facets, too much mystery-she never let anyone discern where her hidden cards lay, and she hooked the heart.

His thin lips curved into a rakish, dissolute smile, and he pushed a few words up from deep in his throat.

"Will you let me?"

There was no more feigned courtesy, evasion, or probing. He was equally direct, yet seemed utterly unconcerned.

Will you let me?

Such suggestive words. How could he say them so casually?

Xun Yuan leaned closer to his face, wanting, for a moment, to see the expression deep in his eyes, to see whether there was even a trace of genuine feeling.

But control over his emotions was already ingrained in his bones. He had mastered it to perfection; how could he let her see through him so easily?

There was only a shallow smile and a little desire in his dark eyes.

Under these circumstances, he had not simply gone with the current. Instead, he asked whether you would let him, seemingly tossing control into your hands.

When your eyes met and he lowered his gaze to look at you, he really could give you the illusion that you were the only one in his eyes-that those eyes, which had witnessed shifts in power and the rise and fall of the business world, held only you.

How could that not stir your heart?

Even knowing an abyss lay ahead, you still could not help wanting to fly into the flame like a moth.

Xun Yuan had to admit that she had been bewitched. The man before her truly did have what it took to make women fall.

For that one second, she wanted to throw all caution aside. Whatever came later, she would concern herself only with the present.

She wanted him.

The taut string in her mind snapped. She wound her arms around his neck, a damp haze spreading through her eyes. When she looked at him again, her gaze was silken with seduction, her allure boundless.

"Yes. Why wouldn't I?"

Hello, my wives!

I'm getting ready to sign the contract today. I've put this book off for ages again (ashamed yet completely unapologetic-just kidding).

The inspiration for this novel's story came from a special friend. More precisely, the inspiration for the character concept came from them, but important things must be said three times!!!

-Not based on a real person, not based on a real person, not based on a real person!!!

The character is different from my actual friend. They just opened the door to a new world for me (diverse character concepts, not being limited to just one), while also giving me a type of character concept. The story is entirely fictional; any resemblance is purely coincidental~ (No, wait, what am I saying? That just rolled off my tongue. But I've probably made my meaning clear, right? Mm, that's that.)

I had the characters before I had the story. The plot was gradually fleshed out afterward...

Honestly, I'm a little nervous. Unlike the writing style of my previous two books, this book represents a change in my style. I don't know whether that change is good or bad, and I'm still not sure whether I'll continue with this style afterward or do something else. But one thing is certain: I love every story I write, every book. To put it sentimentally, they're all my heart's blood, all my own children.

I don't know whether you'll like this book or the characters in it. In my heart, I hope you'll like them all, but I know even better that different flowers appeal to different eyes. A thousand people see a thousand Hamlets, so let's leave it to fate. If you don't like it, just leave. Don't hurl abuse; writing takes a lot of mental energy from me too.

I'll delete comments that spoil my mood. This is just my line of work; I don't owe anyone anything. Reading is about finding comfort for the soul, whether through emotion or enjoyment. If it isn't to your taste, just click out. There are thousands upon thousands of good stories, and one of them is bound to be your cup of tea. I won't indulge people who say nasty things.

I always feel that meeting is a matter of fate, something both sides willingly choose. High summer is approaching, so don't get so hot-tempered~

Also, those reading my work probably aren't very old. Your studies come first; don't get addicted~

Of course, I'm happy with readers of any age. I love you all~

I love seeing comments asking for updates-the more, the better. I also love your "Generate power with love" support~

All right, I've rambled a bit too much without noticing and taken up everyone's time. Sowwy.

In short, I hope my wives enjoy reading! Finger hearts, finger hearts~