Is this the man who protected her reputation in front of everyone? How could he so quickly revert to such a superior demeanor? The small distance she had felt closing between them in her heart seemed to be widening again. She thought he was paying attention to her. But why should he? From his perspective, she was just an ordinary little maid, perhaps as insignificant as dust.

Walking up to his spacious desk, Xia Yihan stopped and thanked him very solemnly.

"Mr. Ye, I am very grateful for the opportunity you have given me once again today."

"Come here!" He interrupted her, speaking in a deep voice.

The oppressive feeling of these two words made Xia Yihan unconsciously tense. She glanced at the positions of both of them; if she took another step forward, she would reach the desk.

Did he want her to come next to his chair?

She was very afraid of such a close distance.

He wouldn't, Xia Yihan, relax. He wouldn't make things difficult for an ordinary woman like you; it's just that he likes to keep everything under his control.

Don't be nervous, just act as if nothing has happened.

She tried to calm herself as she walked around the desk and came to his side. Before she could stop, her arm was suddenly grabbed by his strong and powerful hand.

In her panic, she even tried to grab the desktop to steady herself, but he was like a swift leopard, neatly pouncing on his little prey, holding her tightly in his embrace.

His arm, as strong as steel, encircled her slender and soft waist, his cheek close to her ear, he asked softly, "What does it feel like to be kissed by me?"

The magnetic voice seemed to reach deep into one's soul, and Xia Yihan's heart couldn't help but tremble. The man's aura arrogantly lingered at the tip of her nose, like the scent of poppies, intoxicating and bewildering the mind. She knew she shouldn't feel anything for another man, yet suddenly she felt a sense of weakness and helplessness. As Xia Yihan struggled, her soft earlobe was suddenly captured by his hot lips and tongue, sending a tingling sensation, as if electrified, rapidly through her limbs and bones. She bit her lip tightly and took deep breaths, trying to break free from the ambiguity he created. Even though her body still couldn't move, she had to maintain her rational consciousness at least. 'Mr. Ye! Please, please let me go!' She said what she thought was the calmest sentence, only to find her voice trembling as well. Ye Zimo didn't seem to intend to let go, still holding her earlobe, and asked indistinctly, 'Do you like it or hate it when I kiss you?' 'I...' Xia Yihan didn't know how to answer. To say hate, she feared it would anger him. To say like? No, she couldn't say those two words to anyone else, not even falsely. She tried to stand up, but it was impossible; his arm was still around her waist, tightening further. Clearly, the answer he wanted, she must give. 'Say it!' he ordered coldly, but this time there was an undetectable hoarseness in his voice. 'It feels very special.'

She finally found a suitable answer, and it seemed he was satisfied as well, releasing his grip on her. Xia Yihan almost jumped out of his embrace, her limbs still a bit weak, but she insisted on quickly moving away from him, only stopping after she had gone two or three meters away. When she stood firm again, her face bore a calm expression, while Ye Zimo's demeanor was even more serious than hers. "Mr. Ye, thank you! I'll go back to work now!" The corners of his lips curled into a mocking smile as he asked her indifferently, "Do you think I did that on purpose to help you?" She didn't want to speculate whether he meant it or not, just smiled slightly and said, "Mr. Ye, perhaps it was unintentional, but I still want to thank you. Being able to stay and continue working is really important to me! Thank you, I will work even harder. May I leave now?" "No one informs you in the future, you are not allowed to appear in front of me casually!" He ordered coldly, his implication being that she could leave. "Yes!" She replied in the tone the butler always used when speaking to him, perhaps he liked people who obeyed. He didn't say anything more, and she turned to leave with a professional and polite smile.