Chapter 50: The Submissive, Obsessive Top Student

Jiang Zhiyi’s voice carried a strange bitterness that tugged at the heartstrings, but Shi Qingyi inexplicably felt a bad premonition.

In the end, Shi Mother couldn’t stop Jiang Zhiyi. She grabbed Shi Qingyi’s hand, her expression icy cold, her dark eyes devoid of any fluctuation, sending a chill through the heart.

Shi Mother refused to yield even half a step, and Jiang Zhiyi wouldn’t retreat an inch either. The two of them gripped Shi Qingyi’s arms together.

Finally, Shi Qingyi shook off Shi Mother’s hand and sighed. “I think you might not know what I want.”

Shi Mother suddenly stiffened, her lips parting and closing several times, but no sound came out.

On the way back, Jiang Zhiyi clung tightly to her arm. Outside the window, wind and snow raged. She hugged her arm, tears streaming down like they cost nothing. Shi Qingyi softly coaxed her, promising she wouldn’t leave.

Jiang Zhiyi nodded in agreement, saying she believed it, but she still wouldn’t let go. Shi Qingyi sighed silently and began kissing her, kissing away the tears and tearstains streaking her face, brushing aside the damp eyelashes wet from the snow.

The decisive and ruthless President Jiang, who was so formidable outside, now resembled an abandoned cat, pitifully clutching Shi Qingyi’s clothes and refusing to let go.

She was only fierce on the outside. In front of Shi Qingyi, she would never bare her fangs.

That had been Shi Qingyi’s previous belief—and it ended that very night.

An inexplicable wave of heat swept over her entire body, jolting her awake. In her daze, she wondered if the air conditioning was set too high, but her eyelids felt too heavy to lift.

She could only sense someone in the darkness showering her with dense kisses, trailing from her eye corners downward along her nose bridge and lips, then biting her jaw and neck. The kisses were utterly without pattern—inexperienced and reckless.

The hands fumbling with her sleepwear trembled, and only the bites were vicious enough to painfully snap her out of her haze.

She struggled a little, wanting to say something, but her throat was parched, and nothing came out. Her wrists seemed bound by something, constricting her painfully.

“Qingyi, don’t be afraid…” Jiang Zhiyi’s voice trembled too, as if startled by Shi Qingyi suddenly waking. Her body lost balance and she tumbled slightly, but she quickly propped herself up and continued kissing Shi Qingyi’s feverish eyelids soothingly.

Only upon hearing that voice did Shi Qingyi calm down. The person in the darkness caught her hand and gripped it tightly. “It’s me…”

Shi Qingyi was finally roused fully by her recklessness. The bindings on her wrists prevented any movement; even a slight twitch brought stabbing pain. She hissed, her voice hoarse as she spoke. “Let go…”

The Jiang Zhiyi, who had always obeyed her every word, didn’t listen this time.

That night was exceptionally chaotic for Shi Qingyi. Whistling winds howled outside the window, while Jiang Zhiyi’s soft sobs filled her ears. She called out Shi Qingyi’s name over and over, biting down helplessly and ferociously. Hot, damp breaths panted against her eardrums, sending shivers rippling through her core.

In the end, she collapsed powerlessly at Shi Qingyi’s side and whispered an apology. “Qingyi, I’m sorry…”

The bully cried harder than the victim. Shi Qingyi was somewhat speechless. She wanted to reach out and hug her, but when she tried to move, she discovered her arms were still tied.

Shi Qingyi: “…”

When she woke the next day, the villa’s front door was locked tight, the windows nailed shut securely, with only the howling wind blowing in.

Jiang Zhiyi crouched at the foot of the bed, holding a bowl of porridge, seemingly lost in a daze. Her pitch-black eyes were blank until she noticed Shi Qingyi awake; then, a spark of life gradually returned to them. “Qingyi, you’re awake.”

Shi Qingyi instinctively moved her wrist. It had been freed, probably bound with a satin ribbon or something similar, leaving only a ring of marks—

“I already applied medicine this morning. Does it still hurt?” Jiang Zhiyi leaned in closer, glanced at her wrist, and wanted to reach out to rub it but ultimately didn’t dare touch her again.

At least she had some conscience and knew to apply medicine. Shi Qingyi had half-expected chains.

The System: “…Host, what exactly are you relieved about?”

Shi Qingyi ignored the trash system’s question. Jiang Zhiyi said nothing more, just carefully brought over a bowl of porridge to feed her. She had braced for Shi Qingyi to knock it over outright, but unexpectedly, she ate it.

After two bites, Shi Qingyi paused and lifted her eyes in slight surprise. “You made this?”

She still remembered Jiang Zhiyi’s cooking skills. During their senior year of high school, Jiang Zhiyi had handled nearly half a year’s worth of her meals. After she went abroad, she’d never tasted anything so to her liking again.

“Mm, I had them renovate the kitchen at home so I could cook myself. It’ll be New Year’s soon, so I gave myself an early vacation. I’ve dismissed all the household staff.” Her smile was gentle as she scooped a spoonful of plain congee to Shi Qingyi’s pale lips.

“There will only be the two of us here from now on. Let me take care of you, okay?”

Shi Qingyi paused and glanced out the window. The potted plants on the balcony had all withered, and sometime unbeknownst to her, iron netting had been installed outside.

Her fingers trembled slightly. Then she heard Jiang Zhiyi continue, “Whatever you like, we can have them deliver it. It’s not far from the city center—they’ll bring it quickly. It’s so cold outside; why go out?”

Seemingly dissatisfied that Shi Qingyi was still looking outside, she used one hand to turn her thin chin back toward her, her voice coquettish. “Qingyi, don’t look outside anymore. Look at me, okay?”

Shi Qingyi was forcibly turned back. It had to be said that Jiang Zhiyi was beautiful. Even in her youth, she had a fragile, pitiable vulnerability that stirred pity and the desire to shelter her under one’s wings. She knew her advantages well and had always known how to soften Shi Qingyi’s heart.

Now, that fragility was laced with a sickly madness, like a delicate, fragile porcelain doll on the verge of shattering, begging for mercy.

Something stirred inexplicably in Shi Qingyi’s heart, and she quickly lowered her eyes to suppress the strange thought.

“It’s okay if you don’t look at me,” she said, as if hurt but forcing a smile, her voice laced with inexplicable obsession. “We have a lifetime to look slowly. Don’t we, Qingyi?”

The wind howled outside. Shi Qingyi closed her eyes, intending to catch some more sleep. Before drifting off, she opened them to look at the woman by her bedside. She guarded her like she feared she might run away.

“You plan to keep me trapped here forever?”

Jiang Zhiyi’s ears twitched. She heard the exhaustion in her voice and hurried over to smooth her hair. After agonizing for a while, she finally spoke with difficulty. “We can go out occasionally—together. In spring, to see the peach blossoms in the courtyard; in autumn…”

She trailed off. Shi Qingyi let out a cold laugh and closed her eyes.

Jiang Zhiyi didn’t get upset. She leaned against her hand and stealthily slipped one hand under the covers to hold hers. “Qingyi, were you angry yesterday?”

It was fine if she didn’t mention it, but now Shi Qingyi’s neck began to throb faintly. Jiang Zhiyi’s teeth were unnaturally sharp; every bite left a mark.

She had once questioned her about it, and Jiang Zhiyi had only apologized profusely, promising to do better—yet never changing.

If she asked now, she’d probably get a righteous response: We don’t go out anyway, so a bite mark doesn’t matter.

Shi Qingyi rolled over, shoving these vexing thoughts aside.

Jiang Zhiyi stared at her back, her gaze cooling inch by inch. She really was angry and ignoring her. Was Qingyi disappointed in her?

She subconsciously bit the soft flesh inside her cheek until the pain made her release it, the metallic taste of blood spreading in her mouth. She didn’t know if Shi Qingyi was asleep. She simply lay beside her and began murmuring.

“Qingyi, don’t be mad at me. I was just too scared. My parents’ marriage was always a failure. My mom was such a proud person—in her heart, meeting my dad was a mistake, and giving birth to me was another. But she was so proud, too proud to go back to her own parents, so she always pushed me to be the best. She was harsh on me, and I tried so hard, so hard to meet her expectations, but she still left in the end…”

“Later, I lived with my uncle. He always beat my aunt and scolded me too. In high school, I liked you, but you tricked me. You were nice to me just to toy with me. I heard you say…” She sniffled. “I heard you say the most disgusting thing to you was homosexuality.”

Shi Qingyi’s tightly shut eyes finally opened. The person behind her continued in a soft, hoarse voice. “Later, you were so good to me. I thought we could be together forever, but you left again. You abandoned me for three years. I thought you didn’t want me anymore…”

“I just want to be with you forever, Qingyi. I don’t want to hurt you. I’m so afraid you’ll abandon me anytime. My face has a scar, I lost a leg, and I even threatened you to stay by my side…”

Her tone was so pitiful, as if she were crying again. Just as Shi Qingyi wanted to turn around and hug her, Jiang Zhiyi seemed to confirm she was truly asleep. She propped herself up with her arms and climbed onto the bed, hugging her over the quilt.

Her voice was hoarse; even her gentle timbre sounded eerily gloomy. “This is good now. You can’t leave, and I’ll never have to worry again. You’re finally mine, always by my side.”

“Qingyi, you’re mine.” As if afraid of waking the sleeping person, she gently and restrainedly kissed the tip of her hair.

Shi Qingyi froze, finally realizing Jiang Zhiyi had gone completely unhinged. She couldn’t recall when this instability had started—not overnight, but built up over years. Jiang Zhiyi had simply disguised it too well in front of her.

In the days that followed, Jiang Zhiyi indeed didn’t let her go out. She stayed home to watch over her most of the time. For unavoidable business, she’d leave with the doors locked and guards outside. The villa had surveillance, and her phone was monitored at all times.

None of Shi Qingyi’s actions escaped Jiang Zhiyi’s eyes. This time, Shi Qingyi was very obedient and made no attempts to escape. But staying home alone was too boring, so she ordered a bunch of supplies and started painting inside the villa.

The day the canvases and paints arrived, it was snowing heavily. Jiang Zhiyi returned from outside, pushed open the door, and quietly watched her. For some reason, she suddenly curled her lips into a smile. “Is this the dream you chased abroad for three years?”

More important than me?

She felt aggrieved, but her tone sharpened without reason. “Paint one for me, okay?”

Shi Qingyi’s hand, holding the palette, trembled inexplicably.