Qiangwei looked up in shock. For a moment, the world seemed to freeze—only Yang Chen's awkward smile remained, genuine and warm.
Some memories never fade, no matter how much time passes. They're like aged nu'er hong wine, growing richer and more fragrant with the years.
Their first meeting had been bloody and dramatic.
As Qiangwei finished recounting the memory in her soft, feminine voice, Yang Chen fell into a daze. Half a year ago, a chance rescue had brought them together. Simple interactions over the months had forged this delicate bond—distant, yet ambiguous, thrilling.
Tucking a strand of black hair behind her ear, Qiangwei sat cross-legged on the bed, smiling dreamily. "Yang Chen, do you know what I was thinking before you appeared that night?"
"What?"
"I was thinking of the fairy tales my mom told me as a kid—how a prince always saves the princess from evil, and they 'live happily ever after.' I used to think that line was silly… But you made it real." Her eyes lit up, gazing at him tenderly.
Yang Chen scratched his nose. "Who knew you had such a sentimental, childlike side."
Qiangwei chuckled. "What can I say… I know I'm no princess, and you're no Prince Charming—not even a dark knight. You just fell from the sky like a ghost. But none of that mattered… I just thought: if someone like that was by my side, not needing to stay or make me laugh—just to help me when I can't go on, to hold me when I'm sad—so I'd never feel helpless or alone again. That would be enough."
"Qiangwei…" Yang Cu reached out, brushing her soft, dewy cheek. "I'll be honest: I'm not a good man. In my past life, I've been with hundreds of women. You said you don't need a powerful ally. With your looks, you could find a loyal, honest man who'd love you completely. Wouldn't that be better?"
"Impossible." A mischievous glint flickered in her eyes. "Yang Chen, do you know the relationship between a monkey troop and its alpha?"
"Monkey troop? Alpha?" Yang Chen frowned. "What are you getting at?"
"The alpha is the strongest male in the troop—and all the females become his mating partners.
It's instinct for female monkeys to seek the strongest, so their offspring have better genes. When they see the alpha, no other male matters.
Human society isn't so different. Emperors in ancient times, powerful men today—they have many women, partly out of greed. But can we say the women were forced? When the best is available, why settle for less?"
Yang Chen laughed bitterly. "So we're monkeys now?"
"It's just an analogy. I want you to know: since that first night, no one else has mattered to me. You may not be the strongest in the world, but you're the strongest to me…"
Her gaze turned resolute, locking onto his. "I love you, Yang Chen."
…
Silence hung for over half a minute. Yang Chen's smile grew, amused and relieved. "You're such a foolish woman."
Qiangwei's anxious face lit up, shaking her head. "Foolish or not—I don't regret it!"
"Did you think I came here just for that?" Yang Chen's eyes roamed over her boldly.
Though she'd braced herself, Qiangwei blushed fiercely under his unabashed gaze, flustered. "W-what do you want?"
Yang Chen leaned close to her crystal earlobe, nipping it gently. "I came to eat you, little monkey…"
Before she could react, he roared—low, pent-up—and grabbed her slender waist, tossing her onto the bed!
…
Nearly an hour and a half later, the pair finally stilled. A blanket covered the messy sheets as they curled up together.
Qiangwei lay limp against his chest, still dazed. Blossoming after his love, she looked radiant, tracing circles on his muscular chest with her fingers. "It's so tiring. Let's not do this again."
"Fine by me," Yang Chen said, wrapping an arm around her. "I can find other women if you don't want to."
"Heartless! You just finished with me and you're talking about other women?!" She slapped his chest playfully, then asked curiously, "Did you really come here just for… that?"
Yang Chen pinched her soft cheek. "Sort of. And sort of not."
"What does that mean?" Qiangwei prided herself on being smart, but she could never read her lover's mind.
Yang Chen climbed out of bed, grabbed his cheap cigarettes from his pants, and lit one. Blowing smoke rings lazily, he said, "'Sort of' because you do attract me. I've wanted to devour this little lamb of yours for ages. But your background is messy—being with you would ruin my quiet life. So I held back."
Qiangwei nodded sadly. "I know. You don't want to get involved in West District gang wars. I'm the leader of Red Thorn—being with me means fighting the West Alliance.
You'd never accept me… but why now? Are you going to—" Her eyes flickered with hope.
Yang Chen laughed. "Don't overthink it. For some ridiculous reason, I now hate your father's West Alliance. Or rather, some people in it are making my life hard. Hiding isn't working. I might as well take over the entire West District and make it yours.
It'll take work, and there'll be messy side effects… but—"