Chapter 123: "Come Back Immediately"

"Hello…" Gu Yining answered the call, trying to sound calm, though her heart was racing.

Xiao Xiao gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Good luck with that call, Ning Ning. I've got to go, see you at school tomorrow," she said, quickly disappearing before Gu Yining could finish the conversation.

"Where are you?" Fu Hanyan's cold voice pierced through the phone like the icy wind of midwinter.

A shiver ran down Gu Yining's spine, but she forced herself to stay composed. "I'm just hanging out in the city. Why? What's up?"

"Come back. Now." His voice was sharp and unyielding, leaving no room for argument.

Gu Yining scratched her head nervously. "W-what now? That call earlier was a mistake! Don't overthink it, okay?"

Click.

The line went dead.

Gu Yining stared at her phone in disbelief. Did he just hang up on me? she thought, feeling completely bewildered. Is he mad again?

She walked aimlessly down the busy street, still clutching her phone, trying to figure out what had just happened. 

Suddenly, a fleet of black luxury cars appeared, blocking off both sides of the road. The sleek vehicles had consecutive license plates, and the whole scene looked straight out of a mafia movie.

Curiosity piqued, Gu Yining craned her neck to get a better view, wondering if some big event was happening.

To her surprise, the cars surrounded her, trapping her in the middle of the street like a helpless animal. One of the cars—a familiar black Maybach—stopped right in front of her.

The car door swung open, and a pair of polished black leather shoes stepped out. Then, a man in a tailored black suit emerged, exuding an aura of authority and danger. His lips were set in a stern line, and his presence was overwhelming, commanding the attention of everyone around him. 

It was Fu Hanyan.

Gu Yining stood frozen in place, her eyes instinctively drawn to him. His every step was steady and measured, and when he stopped in front of her, his sharp gaze locked onto hers.

He didn't waste time with pleasantries. "How do you plan to come with me?" he asked, his voice low and menacing.

"I… I wasn't planning to go back with you," she stammered, taking a step back. Going back with him would be a death sentence, she thought.

"Then I'll decide for you," Fu Hanyan said icily, his voice thick with menace.

Before Gu Yining could react, his strong hand grabbed her arm, lifting her off the ground like a ragdoll. She didn't even have time to struggle before she was thrown into the backseat of the car.

What the heck?! She had imagined many scenarios—perhaps he would carry her gently into the car, or if he was feeling rough, maybe even toss her over his shoulder. But this? Being dragged into the car was not what she had expected.

Her head banged against the plush leather seat, and she winced in pain. Before she could fully process what was happening, Fu Hanyan climbed in beside her, his tall frame taking up most of the space and pushing her into the corner of the seat.

The car was cramped, and Gu Yining found herself curling up into a ball, feeling small and powerless. Gone was the bold attitude she had shown earlier; now, she was just trying to avoid his wrath.

Leaning one arm against the car window, Fu Hanyan loomed over her, his voice cold and unforgiving as he listed her transgressions one by one. "Cross-dressing to seduce women? Calling me your uncle? Making everyone believe you're my male lover?"

Gu Yining bit her lip, her eyes darting around nervously. "It wasn't intentional…" she muttered.

"Was it fun?" His patience was wearing thin, but his question was deceptively calm.

Gu Yining, without thinking, blurted out, "Yes, it was fun!"

And it had been fun, she admitted to herself. Dressing up as a guy, tricking Gu Wenxuan—it had been exhilarating, the most excitement she'd had in a while.

But Fu Hanyan wasn't amused. "Fun comes with a price," he said, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

Suddenly, his hand shot out and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look directly at him. His handsome face drew closer, and she could feel his warm breath against her skin. 

"You want to find out firsthand if I'm gay?" he asked in a low, threatening voice, his grip on her chin tightening slightly. "That way, next time you won't go around tarnishing my name."

"I…" Gu Yining began, but before she could finish her sentence, his lips crashed down on hers.

The kiss was rough, possessive, and utterly dominant. His large hands snaked around her waist, pulling her body against his as he deepened the kiss. She could feel the strength of his chest pressing into her, and for a moment, all thoughts of escape vanished from her mind.