She shoved him away in a fit of anger, immediately composed herself, and sat up as if nothing had happened. After steadying her breathing, she said in an extremely calm tone:
"Mr. Lu, I think we need to set some ground rules."
After being pushed away, Lu Qing stood up. His towering figure exuded a powerful sense of oppression that made her have to look up to speak to him.
Under the shadow, she couldn’t even make out the expression on his face. Every second she spent with this man required immense courage, as a single misstep could lead to being utterly defeated. Thus, Qin Miaomiao became even more cautious.
Clearing her throat, she feigned composure and said:
"First, no physical contact. We should keep things courteous. Second..."
Before she could finish, his voice interrupted her, domineering and resolute:
"I haven’t finished speaking yet!"
He leaned in slightly, and this time, she could clearly see his face—so perfect that not a single flaw could be found. How could there be such a handsome man in this world?
"I refuse. Qin Miaomiao, in this marriage, I am the one who makes all the decisions. You have no right to refuse. Understand?"
His deep, dark pupils carried a trace of icy blue. His assertive and definitive tone left her no room for negotiation!
Qin Miaomiao felt a chill in her heart, but still couldn’t help but argue:
"But we have an agreement."
He chuckled derisively, reached out to grip her chin, and applied just enough pressure. His face was so close to hers that her heart began pounding uncontrollably. His nearly cold voice resonated:
"Qin Miaomiao, everything comes with a price. If you want to secure your position as Mrs. Lu, you’d better show some sincerity."
His finger brushed against her lips lightly, sparking a tingling sensation. His gaze held a chilling intensity that made her heart thump with fear, accompanied by a layer of murky emotions she couldn’t decipher.
"You should know what the duties of Mrs. Lu entail, don’t you?"
He spoke in a tone that was almost teasing. Qin Miaomiao felt a chill run down her back as she suddenly realized something!
The agreement didn’t include any clause forbidding him from touching her!
This powerful and domineering man was far from someone who could be easily swayed. If he truly decided to force himself on her, what would she do?
She tried her best to remain composed, but her voice still quivered slightly as she said:
"Could it be that Mr. Lu is actually interested in me? I wouldn’t mind fulfilling our marital obligations, but everything has to be transactional. Shouldn’t Mr. Lu also show some sincerity?"
Her attitude, treating such matters like a business deal, instantly extinguished the faint spark of interest Lu Qing had. A flash of mockery crossed his eyes, and he withdrew his hand with a hint of distaste.
Qin Miaomiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, he was repelled by her; otherwise, were things to escalate, she would likely be at a disadvantage.
Lu Qing’s gaze, however, lingered on her face. Her slightest change in demeanor didn’t escape his notice.
Just when she thought she had successfully deceived him—
He suddenly leaned forward. Her lips grazed his cheek, startling her into instinctively backing away. She sank down and ended up sitting on the bed.
Lu Qing frowned slightly. The soft sensation had unexpectedly stirred him.
He leaned closer, his hand propped against the bed. Instinctively, she leaned back, her fair and delicate face completely flawless, its texture smooth and poreless.
His gaze fell upon her lips, unadorned by any lipstick yet so naturally rosy that they tempted him to take a fierce bite.
His eyes darkened, and his fingertip brushed lightly against hers, the gesture provocative and ambiguous.