Chapter 43
I struggled with the pizza. After three days of forced training, my tolerance for spicy food had improved significantly.
"Have you thought it through?"
"Huh?" I froze instantly, staring at him in panic.
"Figured out why I'm keeping you locked up?" he asked again, his beautiful eyes gleaming with an evil light, like a cat playing with a mouse.
I stiffly shook my head.
"Then choose one. Me or Brother Fei—who do you want to follow?"
I looked at him, then abruptly stood up. "Please open the door. I want to leave."
He slightly curved his lips, watching me mockingly. He slowly took a bite of pizza, chewed elegantly, and said nothing.
I took a deep breath and repeated: "I really appreciate your hospitality these past few days, but I'd like to leave now."
"So that means you didn't want to leave these past few days?" he sneered.
I almost choked on my anger. I opened my mouth to argue, but the moment I saw his mocking expression, I swallowed my words back down. Quarreling with this guy would only bring trouble.
"I want to leave now. Please open the door."
"And if I refuse?" He continued eating his pizza, looking completely at ease.
"Mr. Yang, please understand something. The only reason I'm under your threat isn't because I'm afraid of you. I just don't want to complicate things. If you insist on this, then call Shangguan. I don't care." Of course I cared. But what could I do if I really burned all bridges? If Shangguan really came, I'd ask him for my ID and bankbook, then cut ties completely—with him, with this city. Whether going back to my hometown or finding some small town, there's always a way to survive in this world.
I stared at Yang Yun firmly. This time, I would not be threatened.
Yang Yun finally put down the pizza, took a napkin and wiped his hands. His expression was still relaxed, though that mocking glint in his eyes had diminished somewhat. He set down the napkin and looked at me seriously, then spoke: "Yi, you're quite charming when you're serious."
I gritted my teeth, swallowing the curses that threatened to escape. Don't get angry—this is his trick. I absolutely cannot fall for it.
"But you really don't understand the Shangguan family at all. Do you really think I can't do anything to you? Trust me, if I wanted to, I could keep you locked up forever. Or just kill you right here."
I said nothing. I couldn't tell if he was joking or being serious. Talking about harming someone sounded like a joke, but coming from his mouth, it sent a chill down my spine. The Shangguan family? The only thing I knew about them was Shangguan himself. I knew his company was inherited from his family, and I knew this family was extremely wealthy. But could wealth really let someone hurt others with impunity?
"Now, can you tell me your choice?" he said, standing up and slowly walking toward me. Instinctively, I backed away step by step. Yang Yun was still as elegant and composed as ever, but he seemed like a grim reaper swinging his scythe.
My head struck the wall. Looking at Yang Yun closing in relentlessly, I unconsciously swallowed hard. His eyes told me he absolutely didn't care about a single human life.
He continued approaching. In no time, there was no distance between us at all. I stood rigid, barely breathing. I didn't know what I was afraid of, but the fear Yang Yun inspired in me seemed to surpass death itself. Yes, if I had to choose between him and the seventeenth floor right now, I might just jump out the window.
"Still haven't decided? You're about to die, you know." His voice was extremely soft, almost like a whisper. "Didn't I tell you? The consequence of not choosing is death."
With those words, his hand circled my neck. His fingers were ice-cold and powerful. My breath gradually diminished. My temples began to throb.
He's trying to scare me. He must be trying to scare me. Even if he doesn't care about harming people, he wouldn't just kill someone like that. He's trying to scare me.
That's what I told myself, but the hand around my neck only tightened further. My vision began to blur. Countless images flashed rapidly before my eyes—childhood, adolescence, university years, parents, classmates, colleagues...