Chapter 23: You’d Better Understand Whose Territory You’re On Now

Lin Feng did indeed intend to take a shower. He kept his head down and walked straight toward the bathroom.

No matter what, the bathroom at least had a door—a space that could be closed off. At the very least, it would give him a little time to prepare himself.

He shut the bathroom door and locked it from inside. Lin Feng took off his clothes and turned on the faucet.

Warm water cascaded down from above, washing away all his exhaustion.

He showered quickly, finishing in less than ten minutes.

After wrapping himself in a bathrobe, he didn’t rush out immediately. Instead, he lay against the door and listened for a while.

The bedroom outside was eerily quiet; you could hear a pin drop.

It was getting late by now. He guessed that Chu Lingshuang was probably getting ready to rest. Even so, just to be safe, he decided to wait a little longer.

But before he could straighten up, someone inserted a key into the lock from the outside.

Lin Feng’s heart skipped a beat. Before he could react, there was a soft click and the door swung open.

Chu Lingshuang appeared at the doorway, cold and regal.

The bathroom was still filled with the lingering steam from his shower, swirling around Lin Feng’s mind, leaving him a bit dazed.

“So quick? You’re already done?” She looked up at him, her voice as icy as ever.

The chill in her tone jolted Lin Feng back to his senses. He answered hoarsely, “It’s just a shower. How long could it possibly take?”

Chu Lingshuang’s dark eyes fell on his hands.

“Not acceptable,” she said coldly, tossing out the words.

Lin Feng was stunned. “What’s not acceptable?”

She ignored his question, lazily tilting her shoulder as she leaned against the doorframe, and ordered, “Wash again.”

Lin Feng: “?”

He had already scrubbed himself clean with soap—what more did she want?

Besides, how he showered was his own business. What did it have to do with Chu Lingshuang?

Her demands were completely unreasonable; he couldn’t be bothered to respond.

“I’ve already finished, and I’m tired. I want to sleep.” Lin Feng refused.

Of course—he wasn’t anything to her. How he showered was none of her concern. Why should he let her have her way?

With that, he prepared to leave.

But in the next instant, Chu Lingshuang’s frosty voice rang out again, “You’d better remember whose territory you’re in right now.”

“You think I want to stay here?!”

Chu Lingshuang was unhurried, arms crossed over her chest.

She was beautiful.

But Lin Feng had no mind to appreciate it. She was blocking the door, and to get out, he’d have to push her aside. With her fearless expression, she was clearly prepared for that possibility.

He was doing his best to control the urge to shove her out of the way.

A smirk tugged at the corners of Chu Lingshuang’s lips, but the amusement never reached her eyes.

She commanded coolly, “Go get the brush from under the sink.”

Her tone was detached yet utterly confident, as if certain he would comply.

Lin Feng clenched his fists, struggling to suppress the anger threatening to erupt. His voice was icy. “Don’t you have hands of your own? If you want it, get it yourself!”

Ah, his claws had come out again.

Chu Lingshuang’s smile deepened, though her eyes remained cold. She looked at Lin Feng with mocking amusement and remarked, “You seem to have made some friends lately...”

There was meaning behind her words.

She was referring to Li Hao and Xia Qingqing.

Damn!

He knew making friends would bring trouble.

He couldn’t help but wonder—did this young lady ever have actual work to do?

Lin Feng cut her off directly. “Just colleagues. We’ve exchanged a few words, that’s all. Hardly friends.”

“Is that so?” Chu Lingshuang’s brows arched slightly. She shot him a brazen glance, admiring the exquisite manicure on her fingertips, and said calmly, “I think the company’s due for some layoffs soon. What do you think?”

She wasn’t asking for his opinion at all.

Lin Feng knew all too well how hard it was to find a job these days. Especially if he were fired from the Yihan Group—no other company would dare take him in.

If just a few words with him could bring disaster upon someone, who in the company would ever dare say another word to him?

He did want freedom, but a world where everyone avoided him—he had no wish to experience such isolation.

Lin Feng pressed his lips together, silent for a moment, then asked, “What do you want?”

“It’s simple,” Chu Lingshuang’s eyes glinted as her smile grew wider. “Put your hands behind your back and turn around.”

That was it?

Lin Feng’s eyelids twitched. He didn’t believe Chu Lingshuang would let him off so easily, but if that was all, fine. Still, he needed to make things clear with her.

“I won’t talk to them anymore.”

He would take this chance to let her know: he would comply this once, but if she tried this again, he wouldn’t go along.

Chu Lingshuang arched an elegant brow, tracing a circle in the air with her fingertip.

Lin Feng turned around in silence, placing his hands behind his back as she’d ordered.

The next moment, an icy, biting sensation suddenly closed around his wrists!

Wait—

That feeling was...

A crisp, metallic clink echoed behind him!

He struggled a little, but with his hands behind his back, he couldn’t get any leverage.

He forced himself to calm down, his gaze falling on the wire above the toilet lid, and asked, “What are you trying to do?”

“You know perfectly well.”

Her voice was cold, but behind her slightly parted red lips, a fire was about to erupt...