Chapter 108: Obsessive Ardor

“I trust you won’t harm me, but I cannot believe in the final outcome. Your violent way of handling things is not a good thing. We must always focus on the future, remain vigilant in times of peace, if we want to endure. If we keep looking back, all we do is create obstacles for the future.

A Yan, I care deeply for you, but if you continue to be stubborn, your love will never bloom or bear fruit. Passionate, fleeting love is precious, but lifelong companionship is even rarer.”

Zhong Huayan fed him bite by bite. Such childish behavior didn’t make the man feel awkward in the slightest. On the contrary, he tended to the wound on his knee while eating. A faint smile curved his lips, his obsession difficult to fathom—like wild, chaotic calligraphy, rough yet astonishingly elegant. Swallowing the food, he said,

“Bloom and bear fruit? For me, Fu Yanyan, that’s a rarity, something that can’t be demanded. If my obsession brings even a glimmer of light, then it’s worth it. I’d rather burn to death with the one I love, seizing that earth-shattering moment when all wishes come true. I won’t bow to the world’s rules, living a miserable life watching the one I love slip away.

A Hua, I have long accepted that obsession is wrong, but when it comes to love, it’s this obsession that gave me you.”

His words shattered Zhong Huayan completely.

At that moment, she understood clearly that their ideals were worlds apart.

She wanted him to live well.

But he believed that as long as she was by his side, that was living. Even if it was only for a second, dying together would be happiness.

“What if one day, you have to pay the price for your obsession...”

Fu Yanyan’s hands bore wounds, yet he wiped the blood clean from his fingers. His hands were strong and hovered just centimeters from the back of her neck. The woman still felt the oppressive weight, a creeping unease.

“It won’t happen. Even if someday something truly happens to me, I will be prepared in advance, cutting off all roots. You can live your life at ease. Besides, A Hua, you don’t really love me, do you? No need to carry such psychological burdens.”

“I don’t want you to be like this! Why can’t we just be okay?”

“I—am—willing—without—reservation!”

Fu Yanyan’s tone brooked no argument. His words were sharp, tinged with bitterness.

Suddenly, as Zhong Huayan threw down her bowl and turned to leave, the man immediately softened, hastily grabbing her slender wrist and caressing it.

“Let go.”

“No. Anyway, you don’t have any good impressions of me left in your heart.”

Might as well be stubborn to the end.

Fu Yanyan pulled the woman into his embrace, placing a firm hand around her waist, rendering her immobile. Then, he began feeding her again, carefully selecting dishes she liked.

“A Hua, it’s my turn to serve you now.”

---

Zhong Huayan refused to open her mouth, yet she never expected this madman to pull off his scarf and kiss the bruised collarbone. Though cold, the touch was gentle, as if a feather brushed her skin. He chuckled softly.

“A Hua, if you don’t open your mouth soon, I will.”

Her lips twitched; she ate wearily, the food tasteless. Yet he was determined to watch her finish.

Fu Yanyan felt pain in his heart. Seeing the bruises on her collarbone reminded him that losing control could harm the one he loved. He hated that feeling of being uncontrollable. At this moment, he wished he could burn a scar onto her collarbone with tongs—the more painful, the better—so he would forever remember the pain and regain reason when losing control.

“A Hua, are you afraid of me?”

His fingers lightly traced the bruise, his eyes full of tenderness.

“No. I’m just afraid I’ll never see you again.”

Zhong Huayan spoke honestly. She couldn’t understand this kind of love but knew clearly she depended on him.

This, without doubt, was like a balm to the man’s heart. He heard it, treasured it, and the sweetness grew amid the bloodshed like blooming gardenias. He felt proud, unwilling to believe any slander or suspicion, even if false—willing to drown forever in this endless sea of suffering. Love breeds fear, obsession, madness… feelings A Hua would never understand.

She had never truly loved anyone.

She was rational.

But how could he bear to let her taste the bitterness of love...

“I want to visit Xu Chuyin later and ask him a question.”

Fu Yanyan paused, perhaps pleased by his own words.

“Alright. But it has to be behind bars. I’m afraid he’ll hurt you.”

Zhong Huayan was incredulous—so calm?

She followed the assistant to the infirmary.

Blood-stained paper was everywhere, and the air was thick with the metallic stench. When she entered the innermost room with a cage, the doctors and assistants nearby tactfully left, taking the door with them.

Zhong Huayan looked at the boy inside the iron cage. His face was twisted with pain as he leaned in the corner, dressed in fresh clothes with bandages wrapped neatly. But he seemed to be in unbearable agony. The wound had been medicated but not numbed; the pain seeping in was heart-wrenching. When the scabs formed later, it would likely be even worse.

Still, the situation was better than she imagined.

At least he could still eat and had regained consciousness so quickly.

---

Xu Chuyin’s disheveled hair fell over his forehead. Half-closed eyes gazed at her.

His lips trembled slightly.

“Li Yanyan? That bastard didn’t bully you, right... cough cough...”

Though young, his voice was hoarse beyond recognition, as if his vocal cords had been cut, leaving him even more mute.

She could barely hear him and gestured a couple of times with her hands.

Xu Chuyin wasn’t dazed despite his injuries. He shakily approached the iron cage, pressing his ear against it.

Probably worried about surveillance or monitoring devices in the room.

“What was the last thing you said when you were in the underground palace?”

“Wh-which... cough cough... sentence?”

“The one where you, studying forensic science, discovered something strange about me?”

Xu Chuyin suddenly recalled but looked sad; the starlight in his eyes fell. Caring from others always had ulterior motives.

Yet, he sighed and continued to cherish her.

After all, he had been harsh to her before.

Consider it repayment... During his fight with Fu Yanyan, he thought about those classmates he had bullied—how unbearable their pain must have been. Many times, he had taken advantage of others’ weakness, forcing them to carry a hundred meals to the school gate, barking orders like a dog, humiliating, even stomping on injured spots until tears fell or they fainted, only then calling the hospital.

He never imagined retribution would come one day.

Starting with toying with feelings, ending with getting paid back in kind.

Xu Chuyin whispered the truth into her ear.