Luring Her into His Embrace: The CEO's Deep Devotion

Chapter 6: The Nine Gardens

Ye Weixi realized she was letting her imagination run away again; Yan Chenye hadn’t even spoken, yet she was already scaring herself, feeling cold sweat form on her forehead. She raised her hand to wipe it away, momentarily forgetting her usual aversion to anything unclean.

“Don’t smile at him like that,” Yan Chenye said suddenly, his words so abrupt that Ye Weixi’s heart skipped a beat, and she nearly choked on her own saliva.

*Is he…jealous?* she wondered, slightly taken aback. So, Yan Chenye really was deeply in love with Fang Wanru—jealous even of a simple smile directed at another man! Despite her mixed feelings about Fang Wanru’s character, Ye Weixi couldn’t help but hope her sister would resurface soon, before missing out on a man as remarkable as Yan Chenye.

“Oh, it seems a bit warm in here,” Ye Weixi said, fanning herself to mask her lingering fear and attempting to change the subject.

Yan Chenye shot her a brief, restrained glance, his lips curling slightly before he leaned back against the car seat, closing his eyes as if resting.

Ye Weixi swallowed hard, doing her best to impersonate Fang Wanru, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that a man as sharp and astute as Yan Chenye might notice something amiss. Ever since she saw him at the wedding, she couldn’t help but feel as though he was toying with her somehow—though she wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination. After all, she barely knew him.

Still, the man she encountered today seemed quite different from the intimidating figure her father, Fang Wei, had described. Her instincts told her Yan Chenye was not someone easily understood.

She had barely had time to research him; unlike her, Fang Wanru was a socialite with no formal job, merely holding a nominal position at Ye Group. Now that she was on an extended leave from the hospital, perhaps she could delve deeper into understanding this enigmatic man. She only hoped she wouldn’t have to keep up this act for long.

Lost in thought, she was jolted back to reality by the sudden coolness of Yan Chenye’s lips pressing against her own, sealing her in a soft kiss.

“Mmm…” Ye Weixi’s eyes widened, not sure how to react, as Yan Chenye leaned her head back against the seat, deepening the kiss.

*He’s getting addicted,* she thought, furrowing her brow slightly as she resigned herself to the situation, closing her eyes in reluctant surrender.

Meanwhile, Pan Shui, catching a glimpse of Ye Weixi’s muffled whimper in the rearview mirror, felt his hands go weak. The car swerved slightly, and he barely managed to regain control, silently praying he wouldn’t face Yan Chenye’s wrath for the near slip.

Just as Yan Chenye was losing himself in the kiss, his hand moved instinctively to rest on Ye Weixi’s thigh. She inwardly cursed, *Pervert*, and quickly grasped his wandering hand, holding it firmly in place.

Feeling her tense grip, Yan Chenye bit down gently, as if in defiance.

“Ah…mmm…” Ye Weixi let out a soft, involuntary cry of pain.

Yan Chenye’s throat tightened, and with visible effort, he pulled away from her, settling back in his seat as if nothing had happened.

Ye Weixi, her head still resting against the car seat, took shallow, controlled breaths, calming herself. The car rode on in silence for another twenty minutes, eventually pulling into the driveway of a sprawling garden estate.

As they passed through the gates, the car wound its way through a grove of trees, looping around a half-circle before stopping at the grand entrance of the villa.

Ye Weixi had arrived in C Country from A Country with just her passport a week prior, surprised to find that Fang Wei and the family still lived in the same modest villa she remembered from eighteen years ago. Her childhood room remained unchanged, nearly bringing her to tears.

But compared to her father’s medium-sized estate, this felt like a royal palace. The villa’s grand size was almost intimidating.

Clearly expecting their return, the entire villa was brightly illuminated. Unsure of what to do, Ye Weixi stood beside the car, momentarily overwhelmed.

As Yan Chenye wrapped his arm around her waist and guided her forward, a synchronized chorus of voices echoed from the rows of uniformed staff standing neatly nearby, “Welcome home, young master, young mistress.”

Unaccustomed to such grandeur, Ye Weixi could only smile sweetly and nod in response, unsure of what else to do.

“Hm.” Yan Chenye acknowledged the greeting with a faint nod, then pulled Ye Weixi closer, murmuring, “If you need anything, tell Butler Wu. You can get to know the rest of the staff over time.”

The indulgent warmth in his tone left everyone around them visibly stunned.

Pan Shui, who had exited the car behind them, couldn’t help but think his master’s brain must have gone soft. His young master, known for his calculating nature, was now treating Fang Wanru with such tenderness. Could this truly be a wise move?

Of the four children adopted by Yan Chenye’s grandfather, only Bai Zhou had ever managed to understand their master’s mind, and even he was famously tight-lipped.

“Yes, young master. Young mistress, please don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything.” Butler Wu stepped forward, bowing slightly as he introduced himself to Ye Weixi, giving her a quick look. After an incident involving a maid, the villa staff had become especially cautious.

Ye Weixi smiled warmly, nodding politely. “Thank you. I’ll be counting on you.”

At her courteous response, Butler Wu’s eyes widened briefly. But his years in the Yan family quickly restored his composed expression, his polite smile firmly in place.

With such unpredictable masters, he had long since learned to expect the unexpected.

Behind them, Pan Shui’s mind was racing. *Has my master really lost his mind, or has Fang Wanru?*

He’d assumed her earlier smile was meant to antagonize him, but her courteous words to Butler Wu didn’t match the behavior of someone as prideful as Fang Wanru.

He remembered vividly how Yan Chenye had summoned Fang Wanru here a month ago, leaving him questioning everything he thought he knew.