C197 The Punishment Now You Have to Listen to Me

The door closed, leaving the room in complete silence.

"Mr. Lin, everyone has left. I think you should go back to your seat," Hsu Ziyan said, struggling to contain the rapid beating of her heart.

Lin Dong was standing uncomfortably close to her. His gaze was calm but carried an assertive edge that made her squirm.

He flashed a slight smile and said, "I won't go back. I've already said I don't like being told what to do. I'm going to stand right here, and furthermore..." He trailed off as his finger reached out, hooking gently under Hsu Ziyan's chin.

Involuntarily, Hsu Ziyan tilted her head up, her eyes betraying her panic. She looked at Lin Dong with breathless urgency and asked, "What are you trying to do?"

"I'm someone who responds to softness, not force," Lin Dong replied with ease. "You've been quite forceful in telling me what to do, and I'm not pleased. You'll need to compensate me for that."

The power dynamics in the room had shifted. Lin Dong was now the one in control, and Hsu Ziyan found herself at a disadvantage.

She had been so assertive with him earlier, and now he was determined to show Hsu Ziyan who was truly in charge.

In that moment, Hsu Ziyan let go of all pretense. Her usual grace and poise vanished, replaced by the nervousness of an ordinary girl. She was at a loss for how Lin Dong might retaliate.

"Mr. Lin, I apologize for my earlier impulsiveness," she said, her voice steady despite her discomfort. "I hope you can forgive me. If there's any way I can make it up to you, I will. But please know that I bear you no ill will. We are friends, and my only intention is to assist you in claiming your inheritance of the thirty billion in assets."

She looked earnestly at Lin Dong, emphasizing that they were allies, not adversaries.

"Is that so?" Lin Dong scrutinized Hsu Ziyan's lovely features, which had shifted from composed to pleading. The transformation almost brought a smile to his face.

In this world, he knew that absolute power was paramount. All the schemes and tricks amounted to nothing in the face of true strength.

From the outset, Lin Dong understood the principle at play.

Hsu Ziyan was also aware, but her abilities paled in comparison to Lin Dong's, leaving her no choice but to acquiesce.

Lin Dong leaned in close to Hsu Ziyan's ear and whispered, "My trust in you is already quite low. To become friends with me, we need to forge a deeper connection."

"What?"

Hsu Ziyan couldn't suppress a shiver.

She was then pushed into a high-backed chair by Lin Dong, her beautiful face illuminated by soft lighting, betraying a look of sheer panic.

Yet, this expression only endeared her more to Lin Dong.

The interplay of light and shadow danced around the room, accompanied by the sweet strains of a melody.

As the music came to a close, the light filtering through the gauze bathed the pair in a soft glow.

Lin Dong buttoned up his shirt and watched as Hsu Ziyan slipped on her windbreaker.

A blush spread across her pale cheeks, enhancing her already captivating beauty.

Delicate beads of sweat lingered on Hsu Ziyan's face, causing a few strands of hair to cling to her skin. This, juxtaposed with her composed visage, created an allure of its own.

Lin Dong exhaled deeply, a sense of liberation washing over him.

His nature wasn't to be forceful with women he didn't know well.

Yet, inexplicably, he hadn't been able to resist when he was near Hsu Ziyan.

Perhaps it was the aftermath of his first kill the night before.

Or maybe the consecutive challenges he faced today had left him on edge, culminating in an impulsive act.

But right or wrong, Lin Dong harbored no regrets.

He was, by nature, a man of decisive action. What was done was done, and he would stand by his actions.

Hsu Ziyan adjusted her windbreaker and smoothed out her hair, her usual poise nowhere to be found. She gazed at Lin Dong, her eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions.

From this moment on, she was Lin Dong's woman.

Lin Dong regarded her and stated, "You'll need to follow my lead from now on. Any objections?"