Chapter 148: Dying to Strip Her Naked Right Away

“No, I won’t let go.”

Shen Yanlie continued to grip Yanmai’s wrist tightly, rendering her immobile. He observed her closely, gazing at her delicate, translucent skin. Time had left no trace on her youthful face; if anything, she appeared even more exquisite.

Finally, he smiled gently and said, “Apart from releasing you, you may negotiate any other conditions you wish.”

Yanmai seemed displeased and attempted once more to break free from Shen Yanlie’s hold, but it was hopeless. His strength was terrifying; she didn’t even have the slightest chance to escape.

“You’re not allowed to buy anything I design,” Yanmai said bluntly. Since he had offered to entertain conditions, she might as well be shameless and walk right into the trap. As long as she could distance herself from him as much as possible, she wouldn’t fear what he could do to her in the future.

“Fine! As long as someone offers one hundred million more, I’ll let go,” Shen Yanlie replied without hesitation or refusal. His response was perfect. Watching her little face turn a bit uncomfortable as she deliberately avoided his gaze, Shen Yanlie found he could never truly be angry with her.

Though once, when she silently left, he clenched his fists and vowed to scour the earth to find her, to crush her bones and break her wings, so she could never escape his grasp again.

Yet in the end, he found he couldn’t summon that cruelty. He believed that if he ever saw her again, he would gently imprison her. If she resisted, he would patiently use softness to overcome hardness. But unexpectedly, upon seeing her again, he found himself willing to let her be.

“Then you must keep your word,” Yanmai said, her confidence wavering slightly as she raised an eyebrow.

“I, Shen Yanlie, always keep my word. What I say, I do,” he agreed, as if offering her a reassurance. Yet Yanmai herself knew she had little hope. One hundred million was an astronomical sum; even the most devoted buyer would be unlikely to exceed it. Besides, Shen Yanlie was the CEO of Eurasia. Ten years ago, someone might have dared to openly challenge him, but now, everyone present would surely yield to him.

After a moment, Yanmai said, “Then I’ll go back to the exhibition booth and take another look.”

Seeing that Shen Yanlie had no intention of releasing her, she pondered carefully before continuing.

“You can wait here for the result just the same,” Shen Yanlie’s lips curved into a sly smile. He was certain this young woman was hoping he would let her go.

But how could that be? He had waited three years for her, patiently found her—how could he possibly just let her go? What a ridiculous joke…

Yanmai frowned, already knowing this scoundrel would never let her leave. If only she had known sooner…

“I’m attending an international exhibition. How could I possibly skip such an important occasion? Besides, sir, you are an important guest here. If others saw us, who knows what they might say? For your sake, I think I should go back,” Yanmai said earnestly. From the start, she should have acted as if she didn’t know him at all.

But she couldn’t. If she could, she wouldn’t have fled the moment he approached her.

“That’s perfect! I wouldn’t mind if more people reported on us—whether I’m your new love or old flame, as long as I’m connected to Shen Yanlie,” he said. Since she pretended not to recognize him, he would just take the opportunity to do her a favor and also draw their relationship closer. After all, he was sticking to her.

“You’re impossible...” Yanmai began.

“Shameless,” Shen Yanlie interrupted, finishing her sentence for her.

“Exactly! Shameless to the extreme,” Yanmai retorted. A shameless person is unstoppable, and truly shameless indeed…

“Seems I was too lenient with you before,” Shen Yanlie said with a smile, gradually closing in on Yanmai.

Terrified, she tiptoed, trying to evade him, but she knew deep down she couldn’t escape.

Yet, seeing this, Shen Yanlie felt a sharp sting in his heart, as if pierced. Her refusal was like a blade cutting into the most vulnerable part of his soul.

“You were clearly enjoying it just now...” His wicked voice whispered as he turned away just before his lips met hers, his low, rich tone falling into her ear.

That passionate, wet kiss from moments ago — she had initially resisted, but then quietly accepted it. She could tell it was his... and for that, he had been delighted for a long while. Yet now, looking at her expression, his heart ached deeply.

“I’m the one who’s disgusted,” Yanmai said, her timid hesitation suddenly turning to firmness. He was always so confident, arrogant, and presumptuous, as if he believed she must like him just because he wanted her to. She couldn’t say whether that feeling was good or bad.

Shen Yanlie’s face darkened considerably, sensing that her indomitable spirit—the part that refused to yield to him—was fighting to resurface. He knew that despite all these years, her heart still held a place for him, but it was mixed with hatred and the pain of losing their child. He couldn’t ask for forgiveness; he hadn’t protected her.

“Then how about I make you even more disgusted?” he teased with the same intoxicating charm as before.

He remained as arrogant as ever, but with a new, deeper sinister allure gained over the years. She knew he was a formidable opponent—indeed, she was no match for him.

“Shameless,” Yanmai cursed aloud. Since he refused to reason, she had nothing more to say. She wouldn’t stoop to his level of mischief, lecturing him on morality or politics, because no matter how roguish a woman might be, she could never out-roguish a man. Men were the embodiment of roguery.

“Hmph,” Shen Yanlie snorted softly—not mockingly or derisively, but as a tender murmur, a sign of intimacy, as if she had never truly left.

“If you don’t let me go, I’ll call for help,” Yanmai warned coldly, despising him from the bottom of her heart. She wasn’t bluffing. If he continued, she would truly be driven mad. Before that happened, she had to escape his grasp.

“Call for help? Let them see how intimate we are?” Shen Yanlie said, freeing one hand to cup Yanmai’s chin, his gaze trailing down the V-neck of her gown. That luscious figure, the pale skin—it was almost unbearable to look away. This body was irresistibly seductive, the reason for his mad obsession and lingering desire.

At that moment, he wished he could strip her bare immediately, to finally quell the burning memories he had harbored for all these years.

Yanmai’s expression darkened, grave and solemn. Shen Yanlie’s burning gaze and the sudden pressure against her abdomen made her acutely aware of his presence.

It seemed God was just—granting him a peerless handsome face and a goddess-like body, but sparing him no shame.

Yanmai didn’t know what to say. Under his intense gaze, she felt like a sculpture, utterly exposed without a shred of concealment. Everything about her was in his sight, and she swallowed hard, uncertain how to respond.

“If you don’t let me go, I really will call for help,” she said, her voice trembling with fear.

“Go ahead,” Shen Yanlie said coolly, lowering his head to kiss her neck, nipping at her earlobe beside her cheek.

The ticklish, tingling sensation nearly made her tremble uncontrollably. Since losing their child, this was the first time someone had come so close to her. Shen Yanlie always knew exactly where to touch her sensitivity.

In his eyes, she was a true enchantress.

He traced a path down her earlobe, sucking at her neck, lightly biting her skin, and nuzzling her collarbone.

His craving was as intense as ever, drawn to her natural, subtle feminine scent—without overpowering perfume or harsh makeup odors. Her face was always elegantly understated, though today her bright red lips were temptingly bewitching, making him want to isolate her from the world forever.

“Hurry and let me go,” Yanmai pleaded, feeling her strength ebbing away and her breathing growing thick and labored. Her pale voice could only demand release, though deep down, a faint hope lingered.

This man had given her so much beauty and so much despair. She loved and hated him in equal measure. But now was different. She wanted to sever all ties to him, to live her own life with her dreams. The past was past; she no longer wished to be entangled in any emotional disputes with him.

Shen Yanlie did not release her. Nor would he at this moment. Instead, he loosened the hand that had held her above, and amid her confusion, his slender fingers gently flicked the strap of her dress. She wore no bra beneath, only nipple covers. Though not fat, her ample figure was instantly exposed to the air.

Shen Yanlie lowered his eyelids, admiring her body carefully, not rushing—as if cradling a precious treasure.

He had missed her for over a thousand days, longing for every second he could hold her again. He wanted to memorize every inch of her, forever etched into his mind, never forgotten.