Three days quickly passed, but Han Yan grew increasingly haggard. Each day when she arrived at work, she became more and more silent, barely speaking a word. Instead, she would quietly watch him with eyes clouded by emotion. Bai Peiwen no longer brought up the events of a few days ago. He wanted to give her plenty of time to think, to truly consider the matter. He knew well that if he rushed her, it might only make things worse.

  Han Yan was not as fragile as her outward appearance suggested; inwardly, she was stubborn and determined. But after three days, Han Yan remained silent, which drove Bai Peiwen to the edge. Every day, facing her pale face, her misty eyes, and her delicate demeanor, his desire to possess her grew stronger. This desire had turned into a burning pain that consumed him, torturing him day by day. As a result, he too had become gaunt and weary, now impatient and irritable.

  That day, as work ended, Han Yan was hurriedly trying to leave the factory, eager to escape the constant weight of Bai Peiwen's gaze following her. However, Bai Peiwen intercepted her at the factory gate.

  "I'll take you home," he said simply.

  "Oh, no, Mr. Bai..."

  "Get in the car!" he ordered. Han Yan gnced at him, his gaze firm and intense, one that left no room for resistance. She obediently got into the car, sitting silently, helplessly twisting her hands in her skirt. He started the car, and throughout the drive, neither of them spoke. The car headed toward the pce where Han Yan lived. Inside, the air was tense and frozen.

  When they reached the alley, Bai Peiwen stopped the car, turned off the engine, and got out. He locked the car doors. Han Yan, unable to refuse him, allowed him to walk her into the alley. When they reached her doorstep, Han Yan took out her key and unlocked the door, turning back to say, "Goodbye, Mr. Bai." Bai Peiwen grasped her wrist and pushed her into the room. He followed her inside and closed the door behind him. Before Han Yan could figure out his intentions, his strong arms had already wrapped around her.

  She was startled and immediately tried to struggle free, but he tightened his hold on her, using one hand to support her head. Quickly, he leaned down, and his lips pressed firmly against hers. She gasped and pushed him away with her hands, but his arms were so strong and solid that she couldn't even move in his embrace.

  And his kiss, so passionate, so fierce, so intoxicating, so full of twists and turns... She lost the ability to resist and also lost the awareness of resistance. Her hands unconsciously embraced him; her body went limp like cotton; she couldn't help but moan, couldn't help but close her eyes, couldn't help but respond to him with the same passion, the same intoxication, the same deep-seated longing and desire.

  "Han Yan." His voice came out stifled, his heart pounding like a drum against his chest. "Say you love me! Say it! Han Yan."

  She moaned. "Say it! Han Yan! Say it!" He was urgent, his lips moving from her lips to her cheek, her earlobe, then sliding down to her delicate, tender neck. His breath, warm and heavy, blew against her chest. "Say it! Han Yan! Say it!"

  "Mm," she replied vaguely, "I don't know..."

  "You know!" He held her tighter. "Say it! Say you love me! Say it!" His lips moved up again, brushing against her neck, her chin, and finally nding back on her lips. After a long while, he moved away again. "Say it! Han Yan! Is it so hard to say? Say it! Han Yan, say you love me! Say it!"

  "Mm," she gasped, her mind hazy and dazed, as if lying on clouds, stepping on mist, so ethereal and elusive. Nothing else existed; everything had melted into nothingness. The only reality was his embrace, his kiss, his urgent words. "Mm," she instinctively responded. "I love you, yes, I love you. I've always loved you, always loved you."

  "Oh." He trembled, his entire being quaking and reveling at those words. "Oh, Han Yan! Han Yan! Han Yan!" He shouted, kissing her again. "How long have I waited for you to say this! Han Yan! You little tormentor, how much you've made me suffer! Oh, Han Yan!" He cupped her face with both hands, pressing his forehead against her lips, closing his eyes, his entire being bathing in the waves of joy, letting the waves crash and drown him. "Han Yan, say you will marry me! Say it!" She trembled violently, as if suddenly waking from a deep dream. She quickly broke free from him and said loudly:

  "No!" This was a bomb that suddenly exploded between them. Bai Peiwen straightened up, looking at Han Yan with distrust. Han Yan took two steps back, her body hitting the table. She leaned against the table, standing there with a passive demeanor, looking at Bai Peiwen. Bai Peiwen took two steps closer, his eyes fixed on her, and asked in a hoarse voice, "What did you just say?"

  "I don't want to marry you, sir," she said clearly.

  He fell silent for a few seconds, then stepped closer, stopping in front of her. His hand reached up, gently brushing aside the hair on her cheek, tenderly caressing her face. His eyes were passionate yet gentle, and his voice was low and soft.

  "Why? Do you think my proposal is insincere?"

  "I know you are sincere," she hesitated, timidly saying, "but I can't accept it." His fingers stiffened. "Alright! Why?" he asked patiently, his gaze no longer gentle but carrying a hint of fierceness. "We won't be happy if we get married. You shouldn't marry a factory worker. I don't want to marry you, sir. I feel ashamed."

  "Rubbish!" he cursed. "You know very well the pce you hold in my heart; you know that I almost idolize you. What kind of excuse is this? Self-deprecation? If you feel ashamed just because you've worked as a maid for a few days, then you're being childish! Absurd! Ignorant! The one who should feel ashamed is not you, but me!

  You are elegant, you are pure, you are noble, you have thoughts, depth, and ability... Why would you feel ashamed of that?" "Oh, no, no," she turned her head, tears welling in her eyes. "Don't speak so highly of me, please! I'm not like that; I'm not! Let's not talk about this, okay? I beg you!"

  "Here we go again, right?" Bai Peiwen turned her face towards him, his eyes bzing as they fixed on her face, staring deep into her eyes as if trying to see through her, to penetrate her. "Don't try this with me again. I won't let you off today!" His voice was deep and powerful, stubborn and overbearing. "I want you! Do you know? From the day you fainted at the tea pntation, I was sure of it! I knew you were mine, definitely mine. You are the girl I have been searching for all these years! If I weren't overly cautious about marriage, I wouldn't still be unmarried at thirty. I trust my judgment, I trust my vision, and I trust the feelings I don't easily act on! You must marry me! Han Yan, you must!"

  She looked at him with a pained, sorrowful, pleading gaze. This look made his heart ache, filling him with urgent tenderness, making him more eager to pull her into his arms, to possess her, to own her, to protect her. "No, Mr. Bai..."

  "Call me Pei Wen!"

  "Yes, Pei Wen," she said softly, "I love you, but I don't want to marry you, and you can't marry me. Others will gossip, will talk, and will affect your reputation!"

  "Nonsense!" he shouted. "Even if they do, I don't care!"

  "I care, Pei Wen," she said softly.

  "I don't know where all these concerns of yours are coming from!" He was somewhat irritated. "Han Yan, Han Yan, be a bit more carefree! Getting married is a matter between the two of us, not the whole world. Do you understand?"

  "I..." She shrank back, pleadingly pcing her trembling hand on his arm. "Forgive me, Pei Wen, forgive me, I can't marry you, I can't."