He Thought She’d Never Leave—Until She Did - Chapter 5

The glass door swung open, and a cold gust rushed in, making An He’s teeth chatter.

It wasn’t just the wind that made her tremble. It was the tall, sharp figure standing in front of her—his presence beneath the dim yellow light like that of a ghost emerging from the shadows.

His eyes, fixed on her, were enough to make her heart pound and her breath hitch in fear.

An He hadn’t known this blind date was arranged by Song Yu’s mother. There was no way to explain now. She could only stare at him in stunned silence as he walked toward her, step by deliberate step. Instinctively, she backed away until she collided with the shelf behind her.

The items on it rattled from the impact, and a bottle from the top shelf began to fall.

By the time she realized, it was too late. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the pain.

But instead of pain, someone shielded her.

A familiar scent filled her lungs. Slowly, she lifted her head and whispered timidly, “Yu.”

She only looked at him like this—with those tearful, pleading eyes—when she had done something wrong.

She tugged gently at the hem of his coat. “Please, let me explain, okay?”

“Explain what?” Song Yu seized her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Explain that you weren’t flirting with that man—or that this wasn’t a date?”

“I really didn’t know beforehand,” An He said quickly. “If I had known, I wouldn’t have come.”

“You have to believe me,” she pleaded, her tone desperate, as though his disbelief might destroy her.

A burning ache rose in Song Yu’s chest. He wanted her to feel that same pain. “An He, you’d better not be lying to me. Otherwise—”

Otherwise, he would destroy her.

“I’m not lying,” she clutched his arm tightly. “I swear I’m not.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks, falling onto his hand.

His furrowed brows slowly eased. “Since you say you didn’t lie to me, then kiss me.”

Kiss him…

An He froze. She didn’t dare.

She shook her head. “I can’t.”

“Why not?” Song Yu’s voice sharpened. “Don’t tell me you actually like that man?”

“He’s someone Mother introduced me to,” An He said quickly. “If he sees us kissing, Mother will find out. I can’t let that happen.”

“So I’m something shameful now?” His expression turned darker. “You really do treat me like a dirty secret, don’t you?”

An He didn’t know how to calm him. All she could do was shake her head over and over. “Please, don’t push me. Don’t push me.”

“And what if I want to?” Song Yu pressed her against the shelf. Something hard jabbed into her back, sending a sharp pain up her spine. Sweat gathered at her forehead as she trembled. “Yu, don’t do this.”

“I gave you a chance,” Song Yu said coldly. “You just didn’t cherish it.”

“No, that’s not it,” An He’s eyes reddened. “I just don’t want you and Mother to fight.”

She was afraid that if this got out, something irreversible would happen—something that might tear the Song family apart. They had taken her in. She couldn’t repay kindness with disgrace.

“An He, do you even care about me?” he demanded.

“I—care about you,” she whispered.

But her words only seemed to make him angrier. When his gaze flicked to the man standing behind them, his eyes grew sharp enough to kill. “Kiss me.”

He said it again.

An He knew there was no escaping him. She could only obey, closing her eyes and brushing her lips against his.

A gasp came from behind them. “You—you two—”

It was the man.

An He’s mind went blank. It’s over, she thought.

Images flashed before her eyes—Mr. and Mrs. Song’s furious faces, their voices raised in condemnation. She would be cast out again, wouldn’t she?

It wasn’t the first time. Every time someone was abandoned, it was always her. She should be used to it by now.

She didn’t know if the feeling inside her was sorrow or something darker. She didn’t resist when Song Yu grabbed her by the neck and deepened the kiss.

If she could, she thought she’d rather die here.

But Song Yu didn’t let her die. He loosened his hold, allowing her to breathe again.

An He gasped for air like someone who had just been pulled from drowning.

Song Yu reached into his pocket, pulled out a cigarette and lighter, lit it, then finally turned around. He strode toward the man, voice cold as ice. “You’d better forget everything you just saw.”

The man stood frozen, unable to speak.

“I assume you know what to tell Mrs. Song,” Song Yu added.

The man nodded quickly.

“Remember,” Song Yu said, inhaling sharply, “if you talk nonsense, you won’t like what happens next.”

After taking a few drags, he turned back, scooped An He into his arms, and walked out—stepping over crushed tomatoes on the floor.

As they passed a trash bin, he flicked the cigarette in and ground it out.

An He buried her face against his chest, silent the whole way.

The Bentley engine roared to life and soon vanished into the night.

She thought the farce would end there—that Mrs. Song would call to demand an explanation. But no one called. Not even once.

“Take me back to the old house,” she said quietly.

Song Yu glanced at her. “You don’t look well. Stay with me tonight.”

“Mother must be waiting for me. I have to go back.”

“An He.” His tone shifted—lower, colder. “Who taught you to talk to me like that?”

She fell silent.

Song Yu never tolerated disobedience. Once he made a decision, no one could change it. “If you want to go back, do it tomorrow.”

An He curled up against the car door, whispering, “Song Yu, why do you always have to make me so miserable?”

Just like before. Every time, he pushed her to the edge and only stopped when she broke.

“You’re blaming me now?” Song Yu scoffed. “You’re the one who doesn’t listen.”

She had already tried so hard to become the woman he wanted—quiet, gentle, obedient. But it never seemed enough.

What more did he want from her?

“Am I still not obedient enough?”

“Not enough,” he said flatly.

“Song Yu, do you really love me?” The words escaped her lips before she could stop them—and even she was startled.

He paused for several seconds. “What do you think?”

“I don’t know,” she said softly. “Your love is buried too deep. I can’t feel it.”

“Ungrateful,” he muttered, gripping her waist hard. “Sometimes I really want to snap you in half.”

“Then do it,” she said hollowly.

Sometimes, she truly thought dying would be easier than living like this.

“An He, don’t provoke me,” Song Yu warned, tapping her cheek lightly. “And don’t try to make me angry. You can’t handle it when I am.”

He was right. His anger was something she could never bear.

An He felt as though a cold wind had blown through her heart, freezing it solid. “Song Yu, I’m cold.”

She wanted him to hold her. To kiss her.

But he didn’t.

He was on the phone instead.

She didn’t know who he was talking to, but his voice softened, and his expression changed completely.

Jealousy stabbed through her chest. Not just jealousy—resentment.

She turned toward the window. Even the tree shadows outside came in pairs. Her heart filled with bitterness.

But what could she do?

If she went too far, he would only grow to hate her.

She didn’t want him to hate her.

At last, the call ended.

An He’s legs were numb from sitting too long. She shifted slightly, wincing from the pain. “Song Yu, are you still mad at me?”

He slipped his phone away, expression unreadable. “As long as you behave, I won’t be.”

“And if I don’t?” she asked. “What then?”

“Same as before,” he said. “I won’t see you.”

Yes—his favorite punishment was silence. Cold indifference. The longest time he ignored her had been half a year.

He had treated her like air—unseen, unheard. Even when she cried and begged, he didn’t care.

His heart must be made of stone, she thought. Nothing else could be that cold.

“No, please,” she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I can’t go through that again. Song Yu, I was wrong. I won’t go on blind dates. I won’t meet any man alone. Please don’t ignore me.”

“I swear,” she whispered, “please don’t ignore me.”

Song Yu brushed his fingers over her cheek. “You said it. You’d better mean it.”

An He nodded quickly. “I will. I promise.”

The corner of his mouth twitched, and only then did she feel her heart settle. “Who were you on the phone with just now?”

“A friend,” Song Yu said. “You don’t know them.”

“A woman?”

“Yes.” He didn’t elaborate.

An He tried not to overthink—but she couldn’t help it. Was it someone he liked? Was she pretty? Prettier than her? What kind of relationship did they have?

Song Yu either didn’t notice her hesitation or chose to ignore it. “I’m hungry,” he said instead.

“Then let’s get something to eat,” she replied softly.

But he caught her hand and pulled her into his lap. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

“What?” she blinked, confused.

“I said I was hungry.” His gaze darkened.

And suddenly, she understood what kind of hunger he meant.

The car didn’t stop again. It sped straight home. She hadn’t even put on her shoes before he carried her inside.

The servants were gone. From the front hall to the third floor, their clothes were scattered in a trail.

“The servants will see,” she murmured weakly.

“Who dares?” he said, kicking open the bedroom door and tossing her onto the bed.

Under the hazy light, tears streamed down her face as she begged, “Song Yu, please don’t—”

“An He,” he growled, “if you don’t behave, you’re not stepping outside again.”

She bit her lip, shaking her head.

His hand traced her neck. “So sensitive. Just one touch and you turn red. I like that.”

An He didn’t know what he liked—or why—but the tears she tried to hold back slid down, dampening her hair.

She had so much she wanted to say. Above all, she wanted to ask—Can you please… not be so rough?

An He woke from the heat. Her eyes fluttered open to see a phone vibrating beside her.

It was Song Yu’s.

She bit her lip, reached out, and picked it up. The caller ID was just a string of numbers—no name. Probably a stranger.

She set it down again, but a moment later, the buzzing stopped and a text came through.

— Yu, where are you? You promised you’d come see me. Why didn’t you?
— Yu, I miss you. Please, come see me, will you?

An He froze, staring at the sleeping man beside her. Her chest tightened, bleeding out slowly from within.

Drop by drop, until there was nothing left.

That dreadful thought rose again—Song Yu… are you cheating on me?

No. She refused to believe it. Song Yu wouldn’t do that.

But as if to shatter that hope, another message appeared.

— Yu, the nightgown you bought me looks so pretty. Come over—I’ll wear it for you, okay?