Chapter 313: Chapter 313; The night is over..
He caught her wrists gently, then with a possessive flourish, spun them so her back pressed fully against the door. "You are mine tonight, Fei’er," he whispered, lips brushing the shell of her ear, voice dripping with possessive need. "And I... am not merciful when it comes to taking what is mine."
Her pulse thundered in her temples, a delicious mix of fear, longing, and the intoxicating certainty that, no matter how dangerous, she could not pull away. She tilted her head, lips parting, almost inviting him, almost daring him to take that final claim.
Huo Ting Cheng’s dark gaze swept over her, hunger and obsession colliding in the depths of his eyes. "I have always waited, Fei’er. Waited for you... for you to come back to me. And now that you are here, I will never let you go."
He leaned down again, their bodies pressed as one, every inch of the moment charged with a dangerous intimacy, raw, possessive, and utterly unrelenting.
Huo Ting Cheng’s lips descended again, claiming hers with a fierce, possessive urgency. The kiss was heated and demanding, yet beneath it lingered something softer, raw but intimate, a tether of trust and desire.
Tang Fei’s fingers threaded into his hair, pulling him closer, her body pressing instinctively into the strength of his frame.
The world beyond the door, the mansion, the night, even their earlier fears, seemed to dissolve. There was only this closeness, the heat of his body, and the wild rhythm of their heartbeats matching as one.
After a few moments, he pulled back just enough to hover over her, their foreheads resting together, breaths mingling, eyes locked. "Stay with me, always..." he murmured, voice low and husky, every word a confession and a command.
Tang Fei nodded, a soft, breathless "I will" escaping her lips. He lifted her gently, and together they moved toward the bed. The sheets welcomed them, warm and inviting, as they lay side by side, bodies still pressed close, hands tangled together.
Huo Ting Cheng’s arm curled around her, pulling her flush against his chest. Tang Fei rested her head on his shoulder, her hand tracing lazy patterns over the taut muscles beneath his pajama shirt.
The intensity of their passionate kiss had ebbed into a gentle warmth, a quiet intimacy that wrapped around them like a shield.
"I could hold you forever," he whispered, his fingers brushing through her hair, the possessiveness in his tone softened by tenderness.
"And I... would let you," Tang Fei murmured, closing her eyes, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her ear.
In that quiet cocoon, the darkness of the night and the weight of the mansion faded completely. Only the two of them remained, tangled together, breathing in sync, until their lids grew heavy and sleep claimed them both, Huo Ting Cheng still holding her possessively, Tang Fei nestled safely against him.
— — — — — — — —
Xu Xie’s car cut through the quiet streets, the only sound the low hum of the engine and the occasional shuffle of the shadow guards beside her. Ahead, the neon glow of the underground district began to pulse through the darkness.
She knew exactly where her older brothers had taken refuge: definitely, a hidden casino, a den of vices and whispers, protected by men who respected only power and fear.
The entrance was nondescript, a flickering sign reading "Fortune’s Shadow" barely visible under the night haze. Xu Xie’s sharp gaze pierced the dim light as she parked a block away, the shadow guards already assessing exits, noting guards, and readying containment strategies.
Inside, the casino buzzed with low murmurs, dice rattling, and cards shuffling. The air was thick with smoke and alcohol, and the faint hum of illicit machines created a soundtrack of tension. At a corner table, two familiar figures laughed carelessly, throwing down chips with reckless abandon. Xu Hongfei and Xu Huang, her older brothers, were oblivious to the storm about to descend upon them.
Xu Xie’s pulse remained calm, controlled. She stepped out of the car, the shadows immediately swallowing her form as she moved toward the entrance. Her presence alone shifted the atmosphere; the guards flanking the brothers stiffened, unsure whether this was some rival gang or the arrival of authority they couldn’t ignore.
"Xu Hongfei. Xu Huang," Xu Xie’s voice cut through the haze like a blade, soft yet commanding. "The night is over."
Her brothers turned, surprise flickering across their faces, quickly replaced by brash grins and arrogance. "Xie’er? What’s the little sister doing here? Coming to lecture us again?" Hongfei teased, trying to mask the tension in his tone.
Xu Xie didn’t respond to their mockery. With a gesture, the shadow guards stepped forward, swift and precise. In moments, cuffs were fastened to their wrists, tight but not cruel, the click of metal echoing like a judge’s gavel. The casino erupted into murmurs, but no one dared interfere; the aura of Xu Xie’s authority and the deadly efficiency of her shadow guards silenced even the boldest of patrons.
The brothers struggled briefly, more in disbelief than defiance, but the shadow guards held them immovable. Xu Xie approached, her gaze sharp, unwavering. "Huo Ting Cheng doesn’t tolerate negligence or treachery," she reminded them, the words ice over flame. "Your recklessness tonight could have cost the entire Xu family everything. You would have to clean your own mess..."
Hongfei’s laughter faltered. Huang’s bravado wavered. Xu Xie’s shadowed eyes bore into them, and finally, both brothers ceased their protests, muttering under their breath.
The convoy of black vehicles waited outside. The brothers were escorted swiftly, their hands cuffed, heads bowed not in submission but in recognition of the authority they could no longer defy. Xu Xie climbed back into the lead car, her composure immaculate, her mind already calculating the arrangements for their arrival.
When the Huo Mansion loomed ahead, the shadow guards at its gates moved with disciplined precision. Xu Xie’s brothers were handed over to the shadow guards of Huo Mansion, no words exchanged, no delays. The fortress-like home absorbed them silently, holding them in a place where authority and control were absolute.