There’re Always Paranoid Thoughts to Monopolize Me - Extra 7.1

The entire private room fell silent.

Everyone stared in disbelief at the end of the sofa. The legendary Huo family’s eldest young master, whose face had been disfigured in a terrorist attack while studying abroad and who was known for his terrifying and violent personality, was now being pinned down on the sofa by a girl who looked no older than twenty, “forcibly kissing” him while gripping his tie.

If this scene were to spread, it would shock countless people.

Fang Xusheng was the first to regain his composure.

Inwardly lamenting the actions of this beautiful yet seemingly innocent girl, he smiled and clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention back while turning on the room’s built-in audio-visual equipment.

“Stop staring, will you? A couple is just having some fun in their relationship. Why are you all acting like such bumpkins? If you can’t handle even this much, don’t go around saying you’re friends with me, Fang Xusheng!”

The people in the room were naturally accompanying Fang Xusheng for a night of entertainment, so none of them lacked intelligence or social awareness.

Hearing Fang Xusheng’s words offering a way out, both men and women started laughing and joking, no longer staring at the couple in the corner.

The noisy music and laughter resumed, quickly engulfing the entire room.

In this chaotic crowd, someone made their way to Fang Xusheng’s side. Using the opportunity to pour a drink, they leaned close to Fang Xusheng and asked in a low voice, “That girl isn’t really the Huo family’s eldest young master’s girlfriend, is she? Wasn’t she supposed to be the sister of his fiancée or something? Besides, I saw how Young Master Huo treated her earlier, and it didn’t seem like she was his girlfriend.”

“…” Fang Xusheng glanced over, recognizing an acquaintance from his drinking circles, who he remembered as an uneducated rich second-generation. He turned back to take a sip of his drink and smiled, “Why do you care whether she is or not?”

“Tsk, I’m just curious.”

“Curious?” Fang Xusheng lowered his voice slightly, “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re after. Your eyes have been glued to that young lady since she walked in—Song Qingzhuo, let me give you a piece of advice: you’re certainly crazy enough, but Huo Zhonglou is far crazier than you. If you dare to touch that girl, he could kill you.”

“…”

Hearing the warning in Fang Xusheng’s words, Song Qingzhuo’s eyes flickered, and he sheepishly backed away half a step.

“Fine, I won’t do anything.”

In the corner of the sofa.

Huo Zhonglou had already recovered from his initial shock of disbelief. He truly never dreamed that after he removed his mask, Qin Ke would not only show no fear or hesitation but instead…

Huo Zhonglou had originally intended to push her away.

However, seeing the girl’s slightly closed, trembling eyelashes and feeling her lips so close, soft and inviting, the beast that had been caged in his heart for too long could no longer be restrained. It broke free from its chains and prison, bursting forth.

Amidst the noisy music, Qin Ke barely regained her senses. Her cheeks were already flushed red, and she felt Huo Zhonglou, whom she had pinned down, open his eyes and stare at her intensely. She finally couldn’t help feeling embarrassed.

The fingers gripping the man’s tie loosened stiffly, and the girl clearly showed signs of shy retreat.

But just as their heated breaths began to separate, she suddenly felt a pressure on the back of her neck, as the man forced her upper body down again.

This kiss, now led by Huo Zhonglou, was much more intense than the previous one.

Those pitch-black eyes were filled with a longing that had been suppressed for who knows how long. Like crossing an endless, despair-inducing desert and seeing the first clear lake, he desperately craved her every breath, as if he wanted to devour her whole and meld her into his bones.

The faint gazes upon them made Qin Ke feel so embarrassed she thought she might spontaneously combust.

But in the end, she still didn’t push Huo Zhonglou away. Instead, she reached out and gently embraced him.

****

On the way back, naturally, only Qin Ke and Huo Zhonglou were in the car.

Just thinking about Fang Xusheng’s teasing looks and expressions as he saw them off downstairs, Qin Ke wished she could find a crack to crawl into.

After calming down for who knows how long, she finally overcame her embarrassment.

Qin Ke looked to her side.

Huo Zhonglou had put on his white fox mask again. With it covering his face, Qin Ke couldn’t tell what expression he had now.

However…

Judging from that responsive kiss earlier, she should have succeeded, right?

As Qin Ke was pondering this to herself, she suddenly heard a voice in the car.

“Do you hate Qin Yan?”

“…”

Qin Ke was taken aback. Although she didn’t know why Huo Zhonglou suddenly asked this, Qin Ke didn’t lie to him, “The Qin family and Qin Yan have always been deceiving me, so of course I don’t like them.”

The man let out a hoarse laugh, his tone somewhat gloomy.

“As expected.”

“…What do you mean ‘as expected’?” Qin Ke suddenly had a bad feeling.

“You only want to leave her and marry me because you want to get revenge on Qin Yan.”

“…………” Qin Ke: “?”

Qin Ke was stunned by this statement for quite a while before finally letting out a slow breath.

She gritted her teeth slightly.

“I said that was the last time I’d say it—if you don’t believe me, I won’t say it again.”

Huo Zhonglou turned to look at her.

Those pitch-black eyes were full of a cold, self-destructive intent. “Then tell me, why do you like me? Since it’s not for the Huo family’s power, not for revenge against Qin Yan—then why would you like a monster like me!?”

His voice turned harsh and hoarse at the end, causing even the driver in front to tremble slightly as he gripped the steering wheel.

Qin Ke was furious.

Yet she couldn’t say it was because she knew his identity, knew that he was the Huo Jun who had saved her.

If she were to tell Huo Zhonglou this at such a time, even if he didn’t question how she could possibly know the truth through layers of secrecy, he would definitely think she was only pitying him or repaying him.

This man was both deeply insecure and incredibly proud at his core.

He would never accept feelings that seemed like pity from her.

That would only make him leave her completely.

Qin Ke clenched her fingertips.

“I admit…at first, I approached you because of Qin Yan.”

She looked up, staring steadily at Huo Zhonglou.

“But I won’t lie because of Qin Yan—when I say I like you, I mean it. No one has the right to make me lie about this!”

Huo Zhonglou’s figure stiffened slightly.

After a long while, he leaned back into the leather seat, closing his eyes forcefully.

“…Alright.”

The man’s voice was slightly hoarse.

“I’ll give you one last day to change your mind. If you’ve really decided, then wait until tomorrow when you’ve calmed down, and tell me your choice again.”

Qin Ke wanted to refuse, knowing this day was completely unnecessary, but after some hesitation, to put Huo Zhonglou at ease, she could only silently agree.

After all, it was just one day.

She had waited for so long; one more day wouldn’t make a difference.

****

The next evening.

Qin Ke had been waiting early in the main hall of the Huo family’s old mansion for Huo Zhonglou to return home.

However, while waiting, she didn’t see Huo Zhonglou, but instead, the three members of the Qin family returned.

“Put these in our room, and those in Yan Yan’s room.”

“Oh, and this one too.”

“Be careful! Don’t break anything, or you won’t be able to afford to replace it.”

“…”

Qin Ke watched in disbelief as the three directed the household staff, carrying bags of various sizes to the wing where they were staying.

This was… as if they had raided dozens of boutiques??

Qin Ke already harbored ill feelings towards the three, but seeing their shameless behavior of using the Huo family’s card and money made her feel even more disgusted.

After anxiously watching the staff take away their purchases, the three Qin family members finally noticed Qin Ke sitting on the sofa in the hall.

Yin Chuanfang’s face, which had been beaming like an overblown chrysanthemum, instantly cooled by several degrees.

—