"Abstinent, Overbearing CEO"

Chapter 17: Being Followed

The entire day at Desmond’s Group had been a whirlwind of tasks and meetings, with no time to breathe. Rosalina slumped into her seat, finally able to sip some water. Beside her, Su Rou was absorbed in her phone, her face lit with a hint of joy. Rosalina smiled at her, teasing, "So, you’ve been slacking off while I’ve been working nonstop?"

Su Rou pouted and playfully said, "It’s almost time to clock out! I’m just picking out curtains."

Rosalina's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, Rou, are you getting married?" She knew Su Rou and her boyfriend had just bought a new apartment together, and now that Su Rou was choosing furnishings, it seemed like wedding plans were underway.

Su Rou blushed and nodded shyly. "Yes, I'll invite you to the wedding!"

Rosalina grinned. "Of course, I’ll be there!" she said, teasing, "When you get married, Desmond might cry."

Su Rou rolled her eyes. "That’s nothing compared to you, though. Desmond would probably cry a river if you were to marry someone else."

Rosalina immediately covered her mouth. "Shh, don’t say that out loud!"

Su Rou smirked knowingly but didn’t push the conversation further. Yet, Rosalina’s mind darkened at the mention of Desmond’s name. The man was despicable—forcing her into bed, taking compromising photos of her, then threatening her. What would it take for him to lose interest? She thought bitterly. She, too, dreamed of marriage and a peaceful life, but it seemed out of reach as long as Desmond was around.

Later that evening, Desmond slid into the passenger seat of Han Yu’s Lamborghini. The day had been draining, and they had plans to relax at Han Yu’s private club to play some pool. Desmond glanced out the window and muttered, "This color is too flashy."

Han Yu, who had lost a bet to Luo Junzhi, had ended up ordering a tennis-ball green Lamborghini. The bright neon color, paired with the roar of the engine, made it a spectacle every time they drove by. Han Yu, who preferred a more subdued style, wasn’t thrilled with the choice.

Han Yu laughed, "This color suits your style, too. It’s... flashy."

Desmond shot him a sideways glance but didn’t respond. The car sped down the road, moving away from the headquarters of Desmond’s Group. As they reached a red light, Han Yu suddenly noticed something strange.

"Desmond," Han Yu said, squinting ahead, "That motorcycle up ahead seems to be following us."

Desmond narrowed his eyes, leaning against the window. "It's following closely. Wait—this could be something."

The motorcycle was an Augusta—sleek, black, and revving its engine loud enough to drown out the sound of the car. As the light turned red, the rider parked directly behind a white Audi, pulling out a phone and snapping pictures of the car. When the light turned green, the motorcycle was on their tail once more, closely following them like a shadow.

Desmond turned to Han Yu, his voice cold. "Follow them."

Han Yu glanced at him in surprise. "You want to follow a motorcycle? You know them?"

Desmond’s expression darkened as he replied, "That’s Rosalina’s car. The white Audi."

Meanwhile, Rosalina had noticed the black motorcycle trailing her, but she wasn’t afraid. As she drove, her mind raced, trying to figure out who might be following her. Could it be Desmond? No, he would know where she lived. He would never hire someone so obvious to follow her. So who could it be? Was it Qin Mengyan? Or the Lin family?

She frowned but kept her pace steady, deliberately creating distance between herself and the car in front of her. As the light shifted to yellow, she floored the accelerator, her Audi roaring forward like a beast, leaving a trail of speed behind her. Han Yu barely reacted in time, getting caught at the light while the motorcycle blew past him and continued after Rosalina.

Han Yu whistled softly. "Rosalina’s got some serious guts..."

Desmond’s face darkened, his jaw clenched. "Keep following her. I know where she lives."

Rosalina wasn’t naïve. She led the motorcycle down a quiet backstreet, avoiding familiar areas to ensure she wasn’t being cornered. When the road was empty and dark, she suddenly swerved the wheel sharply, her Audi skidding to a halt in front of the motorcycle. The rider, caught off guard, couldn’t stop in time and fell to the ground with a thud.

Rosalina got out of the car, folding her arms and watching the man struggle to get up. "May I ask why you’re following me, sir?"

The rider spat on the ground, his face contorting into a sneer as he removed his helmet, revealing a lecherous grin. "A beautiful lady like you deserves special attention. I’m here on someone’s orders to... give you a little pleasure."

Rosalina’s lips curled into a cold smile. "Sir, I think you’ve got the wrong idea. I’m not some cheap woman who can be bought for a few bucks."

Despite his crude words, Rosalina wasn’t fazed. Her mind raced—who would hire someone like him to intimidate her? She was certain it was someone she had crossed. With her combat training, she wasn’t worried about handling this man.

Meanwhile, Han Yu had been circling the area for a while, unable to find Rosalina. Desmond’s patience wore thin. "Check nearby. She’s not stupid enough to lead them straight to her doorstep."

Han Yu chuckled. "We’re on the same page there."

Suddenly, they spotted a scene on the quiet street—a man and a woman standing face to face. Han Yu stopped the car, turning off the engine.

"Should we intervene?" Han Yu asked.

Desmond looked out the window, unfazed. "Let’s see what happens."

Han Yu blinked, taken aback. Desmond’s indifference was strange. Rosalina, his secretary, had even been in his bed on occasion, yet Desmond didn’t seem concerned at all. Han Yu looked back at Desmond. Could it be that this cold, unfeeling man truly didn’t care about Rosalina?

The confrontation between Rosalina and the rider escalated. He lunged at her, grabbing her wrist and pulling her toward him with a lewd smile. "A beauty like you deserves to be treated well."

But Rosalina wasn’t having it. In one fluid motion, she delivered a spinning kick, slamming her foot into the man’s chest. He staggered back, breathless and disoriented. "Sir, if you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m not someone you can push around," she said coolly.

He charged at her in a fit of rage, but Rosalina was quick. Her fists connected with his face with precise force, and a swift kick to his leg sent him tumbling to his knees in pain.

Rosalina dusted her hands off nonchalantly, "You’re outmatched, sir. I’ve been training in martial arts for years."

The man groaned, blood trickling from his nose, unable to get up. Rosalina shot him a dismissive look. "I didn’t call the police because I have a hunch about who sent you. I’ll let him save face. But tell him this: Rosalina is no longer the same woman."

With that, she turned and got back into her car, hitting the gas as her Audi sped away.

Han Yu was left staring, dumbfounded by how effortlessly Rosalina handled the situation. Desmond’s lips twitched, a subtle smile curling at the corners of his mouth. He wasn’t surprised. He had always known Rosalina wasn’t just some helpless woman.

Han Yu turned to Desmond, raising an eyebrow. "If Rosalina ever got on top of you in bed, do you think you’d still be able to sleep?"

Desmond’s expression remained unreadable. His thoughts, however, lingered on Rosalina’s words: "I’m no longer the same woman."

And he knew—he was far from being finished with her.

Chapter 17: Being Followed (English Translation)

The entire day at Desmond’s Group had been a whirlwind of tasks and meetings, with no time to breathe. Rosalina slumped into her seat, finally able to sip some water. Beside her, Su Rou was absorbed in her phone, her face lit with a hint of joy. Rosalina smiled at her, teasing, "So, you’ve been slacking off while I’ve been working nonstop?"

Su Rou pouted and playfully said, "It’s almost time to clock out! I’m just picking out curtains."

Rosalina's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, Rou, are you getting married?" She knew Su Rou and her boyfriend had just bought a new apartment together, and now that Su Rou was choosing furnishings, it seemed like wedding plans were underway.

Su Rou blushed and nodded shyly. "Yes, I'll invite you to the wedding!"

Rosalina grinned. "Of course, I’ll be there!" she said, teasing, "When you get married, Desmond might cry."

Su Rou rolled her eyes. "That’s nothing compared to you, though. Desmond would probably cry a river if you were to marry someone else."

Rosalina immediately covered her mouth. "Shh, don’t say that out loud!"

Su Rou smirked knowingly but didn’t push the conversation further