## Chapter 9: How Innocent
When the lights came on, Jane saw the mess in the room and Payne's bloodshot eyes.
Payne's face darkened.
But the next second, warm, soft fingertips gently pressed against his temples, massaging with just the right amount of pressure.
Payne's body stiffened.
Having such a vulnerable, lethal spot as the temple touched triggered years of conditioned reflexes. The muscles in his arm tensed, almost making him throw her off, but he forcibly restrained himself.
Jane's fingers were nimble, applying neither too much nor too little pressure as she massaged, showing remarkable patience.
Payne closed his eyes, and the nerves that had been constantly pulled taut relaxed slightly.
"Does that feel good?" Jane asked.
"..." Payne kept his face rigid. "No, it doesn't."
"Ah." Jane was surprised, then nodded. "Bear with it, then."
Her tone was so matter-of-fact, without a hint of emotion, not even feigned concern.
Payne couldn't help but laugh from irritation. Then he heard Jane's voice again:
"Let's distract you, then."
"How about a song, Mr. Payne? Would you like to hear one?"
Payne's lips twitched, but he neither said yes nor no. Jane didn't need his response anyway and continued on her own.
A melodious, gentle tune slowly rose, like an intoxicating mountain breeze, catching him completely off guard.
Payne was somewhat surprised.
He had thought when Jane offered a song, she would use the nearby speaker to play music. Instead, to his surprise, Jane herself began to hum softly.
The long, gentle melody, paired with her pleasant voice, was captivating.
It was a nursery rhyme.
Payne opened his eyes.
From his angle, he could clearly see Jane's bright, clear eyes. With light reflecting in them, she suddenly had an incredible softness about her.
Payne spoke, "What's the name of this song?"
"It doesn't have a name. I'm just humming whatever comes to mind."
"It's beautiful."
Payne nodded once, but in the next second, his tone shifted, and that deep, oppressive quality returned to his voice.
"Jane."
He said her name with a half-smile that wasn't quite a smile. "Are you deliberately trying to please me?"
"Oh, you caught me."
Jane blinked, the innocence on her face vanishing instantly, replaced by a sly, fox-like smile.
With an 'I'm not pretending anymore' attitude, she calmly said, "There's an auction at the end of the month. I'd like to attend. Mr. Payne has time, right?"
Payne narrowed his eyes, his deep gaze containing dangerous signals and a hint of obvious contempt.
To put it nicely, what did she mean by "like to attend"?
She was clearly asking for something in a roundabout way!
This vain, presumptuous, greedy woman!
Payne sneered and grabbed Jane's chin. Their positions instantly reversed as he flipped her over, pinning her beneath him.
"What you want, I can give you. But... singing just one lousy song and expecting more? Not enough."
"..."
Jane was completely bewildered. I just want you to show your face so I can get into that auction venue, nothing more. What else does he think I want?
Belatedly, Jane understood Payne's implication. She blinked and said knowingly:
"Since Mr. Payne is busy, I'll just have to ask Young Master Johnson."
"I think... the young master would be very willing."
As soon as Jane finished speaking, Payne's grip on her chin tightened.
The man's rough fingertips brushed across her lips. Seemingly intrigued, he rubbed several more times. Jane's lips turned red from his touch, as if painted with rouge, looking incredibly tempting.
Payne's eyes darkened, his gaze turning gloomy.
Just at that moment, Jane's phone rang with several consecutive WeChat notification sounds.
The name displayed was Young Master Johnson. They had only added each other on WeChat today, and Johnson had already bombarded her with several messages.
He asked Jane if she had gotten home and why she wasn't responding.
The last message read: [Can I miss you?]
The phone was right beside them; Jane saw it, and so did Payne.
The atmosphere froze for a moment.
Payne almost wanted to applaud.
"Can I miss you?"
Tsk, how innocent, how very innocent.
Payne didn't know what nerve had been triggered, but when Jane turned her head to avoid him, he gave a cold laugh and, still gripping her chin, kissed her directly.
This kiss came fiercely, truly without finesse, driven only by the most primitive instinct and possessiveness.
They had done more intimate things before. Everything that happened on that stormy night took place in this very room.
The windowsill, the floor, the bathroom, and the bed—every corner bore the marks of that night.
Payne smiled darkly, "Let me help you remember. In case you've forgotten whose bed you're in right now, hmm?"
Jane angrily kicked Payne, but her foot hit something.
Something hot, with a very strong presence.
Jane: "..."
She took a deep breath and said calmly, "Mr. Payne, don't you hate me? So what are you trying to do now, hate-fuck me?"
"Mm, hate you to death."
"..."
Jane's mouth twitched. Just as she was about to kick him again, Payne let out a muffled groan—probably his headache flaring up again—and his grip loosened considerably.
Jane seized the opportunity to break free from his hold, then decisively turned around, picked up her coat, and walked out.
At the door, she wasn't paying attention and kicked over an overturned fruit bowl.
"Miss Jane."
Hearing the noise, Assistant Lin, who had been waiting outside, came forward. He was about to ask something when Jane interrupted him with a smile:
"I think your Mr. Payne's headache problem doesn't seem that serious."
"Huh?" Assistant Lin didn't understand.
Jane had already walked past him and left on her own.
Assistant Lin thought for a moment and decided to go in and check the situation.
In the suite, the mess on the floor still hadn't been cleaned up, but the cold, violent, suffocating low pressure in the air had completely disappeared.
Payne stood by the window, his expression no different from usual—still that calm, nonchalant demeanor.
After all the commotion of the night, dawn had already broken. The rising sun was dazzlingly bright. Standing against the light, Payne's tall, slender figure seemed coated in gold, like a deity, unparalleled in nobility.
"Mr. Payne, are you better now?"
Assistant Lin let out a huge sigh of relief. Just as he was about to rejoice, he saw Payne turn to look at him, a smile curling at the corner of his lips.
Assistant Lin's heart sank. Sure enough, the next second he heard the big boss ask quietly:
"Explain to me, why was Jane here?"
"..."
Heaven help me! Judge between the loyal and the treacherous!!
Assistant Lin nearly coughed up blood!
He regretted not recording a video last night. That way, he could have righteously shown the video to his boss and triumphantly said:
"Here, watch the VCR!"
But he had no evidence.
Maintaining his excellent professional demeanor, Assistant Lin smiled and replied, "Mr. Payne, you called out Miss Jane's name last night, so that's why I invited her over."
[End of Chapter 9]