Zain almost lifted Aanya and brought her inside his luxurious cabin. He locked the door and gently seated her on his expensive mahogany desk. Through the tall glass windows, the city stretched endlessly below—but for Aanya, everything still looked like a blur.
Zain stood right in front of her. There was no trace left of that "wild animal" harshness in his voice now. Instead, an unfamiliar softness had taken its place.
Zain (holding Aanya's hands in his large palms):
"Aanya… everything Mei Wei said was a lie. I never thought of you as a burden. Yes, I was strict in the beginning, but now you've become the most beautiful part of my life. Forgive me—for being the reason you had to hear all that."
Zain didn't touch her any further; he simply looked at her, offering the kind of protection she desperately needed. The anger inside Aanya began to melt under the clarity of his honest eyes. A small, innocent smile curved on her lips.
Seeing her soften brought a deep sense of relief to Zain's heart. He slipped his hand into his pocket and took out the thick glasses.
Zain:
"It's time you see this world—and me—clearly."
With utmost gentleness, he placed the glasses on her eyes. The moment the lenses settled, Aanya's world turned HD. Zain's handsome face, the worry reflected in his eyes, and the faint smile on his lips—all became crystal clear.
Overwhelmed by her restored vision, Aanya lifted her hands excitedly and waved them in the air.
"Thank you! I can finally see everything!"
But in that excitement, she pulled her right arm back sharply and swung it forward without realizing how close Zain was standing.
"Thack!"
Her fist landed squarely on the very same spot on Zain's jaw she had hit that morning. His head snapped back, and a pained groan escaped his lips.
Once again, a death-like silence filled the cabin. Aanya's hand froze mid-air. Her face drained of color.
Aanya (stammering):
"Oh… oh my God! Zain! I… I didn't mean that! I was just waving my hands in happiness! Did it… did it hit the same place as this morning?"
Zain clutched his jaw and collapsed into his chair. His eyes welled up with tears—not from anger, but sheer disbelief at his fate.
Zain (smiling through the pain):
"Aanya… have you taken an oath to break my jaw today? Twice. On the same spot. You truly are my 'killer' wife."
Aanya rushed to him instantly and gently caressed his face with her small fingers. Tears brimmed in her eyes from guilt and embarrassment, though Zain found her panic incredibly cute.
The air inside the cabin seemed to freeze. Zain leaned back in his leather chair, one hand pressed against his jaw. Aanya stood extremely close to him, her face pale with fear and regret. Her fingers trembled as she reached out to touch his face.
Aanya (in a shaking voice):
"Zain… please forgive me! I was just expressing my happiness. I didn't know my aim would be that accurate. Is it bleeding badly?"
Zain slowly opened his eyes. Behind her glasses, Aanya's large eyes looked clearer and more beautiful than ever. The worry reflected in them soothed his heart, even as his jaw throbbed painfully.
Suddenly, Zain grabbed Aanya's wrist and pulled her closer so abruptly that she lost her balance and leaned near his knees. His deep, velvety voice brushed against her ears.
Zain (with a mischievous smile playing on his lips):
"You've broken my personal record today, Aanya. One punch in the morning and another now… I think you've taken a contract to destroy my jaw."
Aanya (panicking):
"No! I… I'll call a doctor right now!"
Zain (tightening his grip on her wrist):
"There's no need for a doctor. You caused the injury, so you'll apply the medicine too. Tonight… you're not going anywhere. You'll have to pay compensation for this 'deadly' attack."
Aanya's face flushed red like a ripe apple. The scent of Zain's perfume and the warmth of his body made her feel dizzy.
Aanya:
"Compensation? W-what are you saying? The office staff is right outside…"
Zain (gently brushing her cheek with his finger):
"Don't worry about the outside world. I told you—you'll apply the medicine. When we reach home tonight… I'll be waiting. And remember—if you're careless even once, the punishment will be even stricter."
He released her wrist slowly and motioned for her to straighten her clothes. It felt as if the ground beneath Aanya's feet had shifted.
As Aanya staggered out of the cabin, Huan Jing and Mei Wei's eyes were fixed on her. Seeing Aanya walk out with a flushed face made Mei Wei's blood boil. She was certain something romantic had happened inside.
Mei Wei clenched her fists and whispered venomously,
"Enough. Now I'll destroy that innocence of yours which Zain likes so much. And it will begin with your greatest strength—your friendAfter Aanya left, the night lights of Shenzhen looked like a carpet of scattered diamonds. On the 50th floor of Yan Corporation, Zain Yan stood beside the glass wall. The view outside was magical, but inside him, hell was burning.
He placed his hand on his jaw. The pain from Aanya's small punch was still there. A faint ache rose, yet a smile curved his lips—one that did not match his cold personality at all.
Zain's inner thought:
"A kitten dared to wound a tiger… Mrs. Yan, you shouldn't have come this close. The deeper I look at you, the harder it will be for me to destroy you."
Just then, his phone buzzed—'Zenyu.'
The name itself felt like a voice rising from a frozen grave.
As soon as Zain brought the phone to his ear, his father's voice pierced him like a poisonous dagger.
Zenyu:
"Zain… I hear you're getting attached to your 'contract wife.' Have you forgotten that she is Lu Kang's niece—the man responsible for your parents' and your younger sister's deaths?"
Zain's jaw tightened instantly. Blood and fire from that night flashed before his eyes. The hand holding the phone trembled slightly.
Zain (in an icy, heavy voice):
"I don't need reminders. Aanya is just a pawn. What could she possibly have that would tempt me? I could never… love her."
He ended the call, yet an unfamiliar suffocation gripped his chest. He was lying to himself, and that lie was cutting into his soul.
In the quiet office corridor, Qian and Jing were still there. The light in Qian's eyes when he looked at Jing was pure—free of the darkness that lived inside Zain.
Qian (with a playful smile):
"Miss Jing, may I have the honor of dropping this beautiful designer home?"
Huan Jing (laughing as she gathered her files):
"No, Qian. I still have some work left. You go ahead."
Qian stepped closer and gently placed his lips on Jing's forehead. Jing closed her eyes, a shy blush spreading across her face. She lost herself in the feeling of safety, unaware that a storm was already knocking at the door.
Huan Jing's inner thought:
"Is this real? Can someone as balanced and kind as Qian truly love an ordinary girl like me? Aanya used to say love is beautiful… maybe she was right."
Qian hugged her softly, yet fear lingered in a corner of his heart. He knew Zain's shadow could swallow their small world at any moment.
As soon as Qian left, the office lights dimmed slightly. Jing picked up her coffee cup—and Mei Wei appeared before her like a shadow. She held a silky handkerchief, fake tears shimmering in her eyes.
Mei Wei (with false trembling in her voice):
"Oh Jing… my heart aches for you. You're so innocent. You fell for Qian's words?"
Jing frowned.
"How dare you come here, Mei Wei?"
Mei Wei (taking a deep breath, wiping a tear):
"Hate me if you want, Jing—but don't hate the truth. Qian kissed you? Jing… honestly, I never wanted to hurt you. Seeing you like this pains me."
Jing clenched her coffee cup.
"Stop your nonsense, Mei Wei."
Mei Wei:
"Nonsense? Jing, what you think is love is actually an order from Zain Yan. Qian is only doing what he was told—keeping you distracted. And Aanya? Your 'best friend'? Who is she really… and what is she to Zain?"
Meanwhile, Aanya was enjoying the roadside scenery on her scooter. She slowed down when she noticed a young couple nearby. The boy gently adjusted the girl's hair, and they smiled at each other.
A sad yet beautiful smile appeared on Aanya's face. She touched the small note Zain had left for her that morning, tucked inside her purse. She felt as if the bitterness in her life might finally be ending.
Aanya (softly to herself):
"Maybe… Zain is starting to understand me. Maybe one day, we'll be happy like that couple."
She had no idea that the man she dreamed of resting her head on had nurtured poison in his veins—hatred toward her family.
When Zain reached the penthouse, his father Zenyu's hateful words were still echoing in his mind. But the moment he opened the door, the aroma of spices and Aanya's humming softened the darkness a little.
Aanya was arranging food in the kitchen. Zain walked up to her silently and pointed at his jaw, where a faint bruise had formed.
Zain (serious yet teasing):
"Mrs. Yan, the one who caused this wound will apply the ointment."
Aanya shot him a sideways glance.
"Does it hurt that much? You didn't exactly give me any less pain. Who's going to account for the way you've made me dance around the office for the past two months?"
Zain (stepping closer):
"That was work, Aanya. And this… this is a personal attack."
Zain took her hand and studied her closely.
Zain:
"I heard girls who wear glasses are weak and submissive. But you? Watching all those K-dramas and Chinese dramas taught you how to beat your own husband?"
Aanya scrunched her nose and tried to pull her hand free.
"That's exactly the problem! In those dramas, when the villain troubles the heroine, the hero comes to save her. But here? Here, the hero himself has become the villain! If my hero won't save me, then the heroine has to become the villain herself, right?"
Her voice softened, carrying an unspoken sadness.
Aanya:
"I don't know when I'll find my 'hero'—someone who won't command me, but love me. Someone who won't see me as a pawn, but as his entire world."
For a moment, Zain's heart forgot how to beat. His father's words echoed again—'She is Lu Kang's niece.' He abruptly withdrew his hand from her shoulder.
Zain (coldly):
"Stop dreaming, Aanya. There's a huge difference between drama and reality. If the food is ready, come to the table."
Aanya took a deep breath and set the table. Zain ate, but his attention wasn't on the food—it was on Aanya sitting across from him. She ate so simply, unaware that Zain had sworn to destroy her.
Zain thought to himself:
"You're right, Aanya. I am the villain. And a villain can never become a hero."."