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

Chapter 9: Call My Name Once More

"Do you need my help?" Yan Chenye's voice was cool and devoid of any emotion.

Ye Weixi opened her mouth, ready to refuse immediately, but then reconsidered. Why would Fang Wanru pass up the rare chance to charm this aloof, distinguished man? While she could mimic Fang Wanru’s coquettish, sickly-sweet mannerisms, asking a man she’d barely known for twenty-four hours to lift her naked self from the tub was a bit too much for her pride.

“Oh, Mr. Yan, no... no need to trouble yourself. I’d like to soak a bit longer. Could you… maybe leave for now? It’s just… I’m feeling a little shy.” She feigned embarrassment, covering her face with her hands to add to the effect.

In truth, her flush was hardly an act. After all, she had just accidentally exposed herself fully in front of Yan Chenye. Seeing her flustered, his sternly set jaw softened ever so slightly, and a playful smile tugged at his lips. “Next time you fall asleep in the bathtub, I may just lift you out myself and carry you to bed.”

Was he concerned… or issuing a warning? Ye Weixi found herself uncertain.

Frowning slightly, she listened as his footsteps receded, followed by the soft click of the door closing behind him. Letting out a long sigh, she murmured to herself, “Fang Wanru, what kind of man did you get yourself involved with? He’s so elusive he could give someone a heart attack.”

But just as quickly, an unsettling thought crossed her mind: what if Fang Wanru had wronged Yan Chenye somehow, and he intended to play a long, slow game of revenge? With a shiver, Ye Weixi resolved to find a way out of this predicament as soon as possible.

Lingering a bit longer in the tub, she finally rinsed off, grabbed a towel from the nearby cabinet, and dried herself. When she reached for the clothes set out for her, she found a pair of silk panties and a nightgown. Slipping on the underwear, she unfolded the nightgown.

The glossy red silk made her pause, prompting her to swallow hard. Of course… it was a bridal nightgown, bordering on a piece of “lingerie.”

Its straps were so thin they looked ready to snap at any moment, and there was hardly any fabric to speak of. With a glance at the dress she’d discarded in the laundry basket, she hesitated for half a minute, then sighed and slipped the nightgown over her shoulders. The back left her almost entirely exposed, and lace along the neckline plunged lower than she’d ever imagined a neckline could go.

“Ridiculous!” she muttered, frowning.

The skirt barely covered her, leaving her wondering if there was any point to wearing it at all. Sighing again, she adjusted the garment as best as she could. She couldn’t delay any longer.

Holding the neckline together with her left hand, she cautiously pushed open the bathroom door and tiptoed into the bedroom. The room’s chandelier had been dimmed, leaving only the warm glow of the bedside lamps, casting a faint, shadowy ambiance across the enormous space.

As she quietly made her way toward the bed, her gaze fell on Yan Chenye, casually leaning back against the headboard, reading a magazine. Clad in a black silk robe, its loosely tied belt and open collar revealed a glimpse of his sculpted chest, catching the golden light and making her instinctively lick her lips.

The palpable masculinity he exuded made her feel uncharacteristically self-conscious.

Taking her place on the far right side of the bed, she quickly pulled up the sheets, lying close to the edge, as if exhausted and ready to sleep. With the bed’s ample size, a great distance separated them.

She closed her eyes, listening to her heart pound, and wondered if it was the change of environment or Yan Chenye’s overpowering presence that left her feeling so uneasy. But all she could do was pretend to be asleep; she couldn’t think of any other option.

Just as she settled, she heard the magazine close, followed by the shifting weight of the mattress as a faint draft of cool air slipped into the covers beside her. The bedside lamps went dark, and a dim nightlight cast a gentle amber glow across the room’s edges.

“Come closer,” Yan Chenye’s deep voice broke the silence.

Ye Weixi’s already tense body stiffened further, her heart racing even faster. She edged closer to the center, inching forward reluctantly.

Yan Chenye lay on his side, one hand propped under his head, watching her hesitant movements with eyes that held a curious gleam. She barely moved two inches, leaving enough space between them for two or three people.

Pretending to be fast asleep, she lay rigidly, clutching the edge of the blanket. But her tightly clenched hands betrayed her nerves.

Yan Chenye’s lips curved into a barely perceptible smile. He slid closer, draping one powerful leg over hers and pressing his warm chest against her arm.

Unable to keep up her pretense any longer, she opened her bright eyes, and with a sweet, slightly trembling smile, whispered, “Mr. Yan…”

His expression softened, but he hid his reaction well. “Try a different title.”

She frowned. “Hmm?”

“A title that no one else uses.”

She looked at him, puzzled, considering his request.