MTL - 55

Even a little tyrant has moments of fear. Once you fall for someone, you simultaneously develop vulnerabilities.

Tang Yu, every time I called your name in the past, my heart would soften.

— From The Diary of a Little Tyrant

“Are you scared?”

She didn’t respond.

He let out a helpless chuckle. “They don’t know. Don’t worry.”

It was enough that Tang Dingding knew. Any more people finding out would just complicate things.

Coming back to her senses, Tang Xin shook her head and smiled mischievously. “No, I’m fearless. What’s there to be afraid of?”

Tang Yu didn’t call her bluff. After getting out of the car, he walked around to open the door for her. Tang Xin glanced at him, completely ignoring his gentlemanly gesture, and stepped out holding onto the car door herself.

The sun had just set, and the warm glow of dusk enveloped the castle-like villa. The Tang family estate was vast, with sprawling lawns. Tang Xin turned back to glance at the expansive grounds after stepping out of the car. Thank goodness she had ridden in Tang Yu’s car; otherwise, she’d have had to walk quite a distance.

She turned to look at Tang Yu, a sly smile on her face. “Tang Yu, if I were your girlfriend, how much alimony would you give me if we broke up?”

Tang Yu: “...”

“Alimony?” His expression darkened as he frowned at her. “You’re only thinking about alimony?”

They weren’t even together yet, and she was already asking such questions.

Wasn’t he worth more than alimony?

“Ah, you’re here!”

Tang Dingding and You Huan called out from the doorway, surrounded by friends, family, and guests who had arrived early.

Tang Xin gave a sweet smile. “Because I like your money, of course.”

With that, she lifted her skirt and walked over.

Tang Yu’s brows furrowed tightly as he glared at the slim, graceful figure of the girl walking away.

After a long moment, he strode forward to catch up.

Tang Dingding was the cherished jewel of the Tang family, and her birthday was always celebrated grandly. Most of the time, it was held at home. Today, the entire Tang estate was decorated romantically, exuding a youthful charm. Walking through felt like walking down a red carpet, complete with bartenders, chefs, and waitstaff—a setup rivaling a five-star hotel.

In contrast, Tang Yu’s birthdays were much simpler. Sometimes, when he was busy, he wouldn’t even celebrate. His birthday was at the end of June, a time when his relationship with Tang Xin had been at its lowest point. His twenty-eighth birthday had passed in chaos.

Tang Xin had stepped out of Tang Yu’s car, instantly becoming the center of attention. Tang Dingding’s social circle wasn’t large, and most of them had already met at Shen Fei’s party before. But aside from Shen Fei, no one had noticed back then that Tang Xin had been picked up by Tang Yu and placed in his car.

Someone whispered to Tang Dingding, “What’s the relationship between Tang Xin and your brother?”

Tang Dingding wasn’t sure if she should reveal it outright, so she mimicked Tang Xin’s tone and said teasingly, “Guess!”

“...”

“Boyfriend and girlfriend?”

Tang Dingding shook her head. Not yet.

“A fling?”

Tang Dingding shot them a glare. “No! My brother doesn’t sleep around, okay?”

Huo Chendong happened to walk by just then, overhearing their conversation. His expression shifted slightly as he glanced over. Tang Dingding caught sight of him from the corner of her eye and turned to look.

Their eyes met. Tang Dingding froze for a moment, then smiled brightly. “Big Brother Huo, you’re here!”

Huo Chendong’s expression was grim as he gave a slight nod. “Mm.”

At this moment, Tang Yu and Tang Xin approached. Tang Xin asked You Huan, “When did you arrive?”

“Dingding sent a car to pick me up. She said your brother would take care of you,” You Huan leaned in close and whispered in her ear, “Let me tell you, among these young ladies, there’s definitely someone arranged by Tang Yu’s parents for him to meet.”

Tang Xin blinked. “Really?”

You Huan smiled. “I accidentally overheard it earlier.”

“If there is, then so be it.”

Tang Xin didn’t seem to care. After all, it was Tang Yu’s business. If he couldn’t handle something as simple as this, then why was he pursuing her?

There were quite a few guests today, some of them from the older generation in business circles. Tang Yu needed to go greet them and make small talk. He glanced back at Tang Xin; she seemed perfectly at ease mingling with the crowd.

Just as he was about to turn away, Tang Ming, Tang Yu’s older brother, followed his gaze. “Is that the girl?”

Tang Yu gave a faint smile and didn’t hide it. “Mm.”

Tang Ming raised an eyebrow. “Then let me warn you—among the young ladies here today, there are probably some your mother has arranged for you to meet.”

Tang Yu hadn’t expected this. He frowned, nodded, and walked over. “I’ll talk to her about it later.”

Previously, Tang Dingding had shown a photo obtained from Huo Chendong’s assistant to Zeng Wan, Tang Yu’s mother, which caused a misunderstanding—Zeng Wan mistook Tang Xin for Ming Zhu. Later, Tang Dingding clarified it for her. Zeng Wan had looked at the photo several times, remembering both Ming Zhu and Tang Xin.

The Tang family wasn’t overly particular about social status or arranged marriages. This time, Zeng Wan had her eye on the daughter of a senior executive in the Tang family’s real estate division, whose demeanor resembled the woman Tang Yu’s son had failed to pursue. Today, she had invited the girl over, though she hadn’t explicitly stated the purpose—just asked her to come and enjoy the party.

As Tang Yu approached, Zeng Wan was happily chatting with the executive’s parents. Beside them sat a young girl in a white dress, beautiful and gentle.

Tang Yu gave a faint smile. “Mom.”

Seeing him, Zeng Wan stood up with a smile. “Come, let me introduce you…”

Before Zeng Wan could finish, Tang Yu walked over, greeted them politely, and then turned to her. “Mom, I need to talk to you about something.”

Seeing his serious expression, Zeng Wan assumed it was important and quickly followed him to the side.

Tang Yu kept his hands in his pockets, looking down at Zeng Wan with a hint of helplessness. “Mom, the person I’m pursuing is also here today. Why are you introducing other girls to me now? It’s only making things harder.”

“Ah?” Zeng Wan was astonished. “Who are you pursuing? Why didn’t I know anything about this?”

“I didn’t say anything because I was afraid you’d interfere,” Tang Yu said casually, glancing toward Tang Xin. “I’ll tell you when the time comes. Don’t introduce anyone else—it’ll make her uncomfortable.”

“Who is it?”

Zeng Wan followed his gaze. Among Tang Dingding’s group of friends, everyone was dressed beautifully, but she couldn’t immediately tell who it was.

Tang Yu glanced over. The girl was chatting animatedly with someone beside her, laughing brightly with dimples showing. Her yellow dress made her radiant and striking.

“The one with dimples, the one who smiles the sweetest.”

“...”

Zeng Wan looked over in surprise and recognized her almost instantly.

Isn’t that… Tang Xin?

Her expression grew complex as she looked at her son, momentarily speechless.

Tang Yu understood her gaze and didn’t bother explaining. Before turning away, he left one last remark. “Don’t cause trouble, or it’ll be hard for me to pursue her.”

By ten o’clock in the evening, the guests had dispersed. Tang Xin stood outside the gate while Tang Yu finished seeing off the remaining guests. He walked over to her and said softly, “Let’s go.”

The night breeze blew gently, causing her dress to sway. Tang Yu stood beside her, his hands hanging loosely at his sides, his gaze softening unconsciously as he looked down at her.

“Tangxin!”

Suddenly, Tang Dingding’s voice called out from behind.

Tang Dingding ran over in her high heels, her cheeks flushed from drinking, though she wasn’t drunk. She remembered that Tangxin had promised to share a secret with her as part of her birthday gift.

When Tang Xin saw her running over, she suddenly remembered too.

Tang Dingding stood in front of her, glanced at her brother behind her, and whispered, “Did you forget?”

Tang Xin looked at her and suddenly smiled. “I forgot earlier, but I remember now.”

Tang Dingding leaned in, expecting Tang Xin to whisper the secret.

“Why haven’t you agreed to my brother’s pursuit when he’s chasing you so hard?”

Tang Xin gave a faint smile. The wind blew her hair back like seaweed, partially obscuring her face. She brushed her hair aside, revealing a delicate, pale face under the moonlight. Calmly, she said, “I quit my job because your brother rejected my confession. He said we weren’t compatible. Do you know what ‘not compatible’ means? It means he didn’t like me. I swallowed my pride and kissed him for two minutes, but he didn’t respond. If he had held my hand back then, I wouldn’t have left.”

Tang Dingding’s eyes widened. “...”

Tang Yu’s heart ached, his throat tightening. His expression was unreadable as he stared at Tang Xin’s back.

Tang Dingding swallowed nervously and whispered, “Why did you force a kiss after being rejected?”

“At the time, I thought that if I kissed him, it would feel like I had gotten something. I wouldn’t dwell on it afterward.”

“... Really?”

The next second—

Tang Yu coldly interrupted: “Tang Dingding, if you dare imitate her, I’ll break your legs.”

@Endless great content, exclusively on Jinjiang Literature City

That single sentence crushed Tang Dingding’s budding thoughts.

Tang Yu looked at her, his voice low and commanding. “Go back.”

Tang Dingding glanced at Tang Xin, who appeared calm, then looked up at her brother with a pitiful expression before turning to walk back toward the castle, lifting her skirt as she went.

The two were left standing there in silence for a few seconds.

Tang Yu gazed at the figure in bright yellow under the moonlight, his voice hoarse. “Tang Xin...”

Tang Xin turned her head, meeting his complicated gaze. She brushed a strand of hair from her lips and smiled faintly. “Let’s go.”

She walked straight toward the car parked ahead, while Tang Yu silently followed her with his eyes, opening the car door for her when he caught up.

After the car started moving, both were silent. One gazed out the window with an indifferent expression, while the other leaned back against the seat, openly and intensely staring at her. Tang Xin, feeling as though her scalp was about to catch fire from his gaze, finally couldn’t resist turning her head.

She smiled brightly at him. “Why are you staring at me? Do you think I’ve corrupted Dingding and now you want to hit me?”

Tang Yu frowned slightly and said in a low voice, “No.”

Tang Xin snorted. “I’ve noticed that although you look cold on the surface, your temper is quite short. You’re always threatening to break people’s legs—does that mean you’ll become abusive in the future?”

Tang Yu: “...”

He looked at her profile, feeling somewhat helpless. “That’s impossible. Don’t overthink it.”

Thinking back to how casually she had recounted that incident earlier, Tang Yu’s heart felt heavy. When she had nibbled and bitten his lips, he hadn’t been completely unresponsive. At the time, his emotions were complex—he hadn’t expected her to force a kiss, leaving him stunned and confused. The only thing he clearly remembered was that he had just rejected her moments before.

Back then, he had thought she was being reckless.

At that moment, he had indeed been cold and restrained.

He shifted his gaze, his emotions tangled and indescribable, his voice suppressed. “When Dingding spoke earlier with such admiration, I was afraid she might actually do something reckless. Huo Chendong is different from me—he truly loves to play around and finds it hard to settle down.” He looked at her again, his gaze deep. “I’m not like that. You can trust me completely on this point.”

Tang Xin believed him. Although Tang Yu had as many rumors swirling around him as Huo Chendong, most of them were quickly debunked after trending online.

Perhaps his gaze was too intense. Tang Xin softly murmured, turning her head to look out the window.

After a while, she simply closed her eyes.

As they drove past the intersection, Tang Yu took a deep breath and absentmindedly glanced out the window. For a fleeting moment, he thought he saw Huo Chendong’s car parked by the roadside.

The car quietly drove into the underground garage.

After stopping, Tang Xin seemed to have just woken up, looking around groggily. “Are we here?”

Tang Yu gave a faint hum in response and pushed open the car door.

The two got out and walked into the elevator. Tang Xin, having worn high heels all night, felt her calves ache. Add to that the alcohol she’d consumed, and she was now utterly exhausted and drowsy. Tang Yu, lost in thought the entire ride, was overwhelmed by thoughts of her, particularly her offhand remark: “I won’t dwell on it anymore.”

Exiting the elevator, Tang Xin walked directly toward her apartment door.

Tang Yu stood behind her, watching her enter the password. The moment the door opened, all his pent-up emotions surged forward, transforming into an uncontrollable impulse.

Just as Tang Xin was about to pull the door open and step inside, her wrist was suddenly grabbed. Her shoulder was pressed, and she was spun halfway around, her back colliding solidly with the door.

Click.

The door shut again.

The man’s kiss, laced with the scent of alcohol, descended upon her like a storm. His breath was scorching, biting gently on her lips. When she let out a whimper, he plunged deeper, kissing her passionately and fiercely—more intensely than the last time.

Tang Xin was startled by his fervor. By the time she realized what was happening and tried to struggle, it was already too late.

Her hand was grabbed the moment she raised it, pinned against the door, and firmly pressed down.

Her chest grew short of air, and her body gradually went limp. Tang Yu’s kiss... was intoxicating. With a sigh in her heart, she gave up resisting and closed her eyes.

For a long time, there was no sound. The hallway lights dimmed.

In the darkness, only the sounds of kissing and mingled breathing could be heard, drawing them deeper into the moment.

After a long while, Tang Yu released her, burying his face in the crook of her neck as he panted. Word by word, he asked, “Little Tyrant, what is the thorn in your heart? Was it because I asked you to help me chase someone? Because I didn’t agree to be your producer? Or because I didn’t read your book? Was it because I rejected your confession, didn’t respond to your kiss, or failed to hold your hand in time? Was it because you fell for me first, and I realized it too late?”

His low, husky voice sent a shiver through Tang Xin’s entire body.

“Hmm?” He straightened up, his usually dark eyes tinged with a hint of red, gazing deeply at her. “Or is it all of the above?”

“...”

Tang Xin’s hair was disheveled, her pale shoulder marked red from his grip. Still catching her breath, her face and lips flushed, she stared at him blankly.

The thorn in her heart... perhaps there was only one: he didn’t love her enough.

The man cupped her chin, lifting it, and gazed into her eyes. “Let me pull it out for you, piece by piece. How does that sound?”

Tang Xin’s heart trembled. She lowered her head, remaining silent for a few seconds before pushing him away.

Tang Yu stepped back without resistance, lowering his gaze to look at her. The girl pursed her lips, raised her head, and smiled faintly. “Tang Yu, the last kiss was settled. This time, you took advantage of me again.”

“You can take it back next time.”

“In your dreams!” Tang Xin stopped smiling and glared at him. “If you ever do this again, I’ll treat you like a thug and beat you up.”

All the romantic tension shattered instantly.

Tang Yu paused, suddenly feeling self-destructive. With a bitter smile, he mocked himself. “Go ahead and hit me if it makes you feel better.”

Tang Xin: “...”

Tang Yu narrowed his eyes and continued coaxing her. “If you can’t bring yourself to hit me, then bite me instead.”

Tang Xin: “...”

She looked up at him, her eyes wide open.

Don’t push her—he would regret it if she really bit him.

Tang Yu met her gaze unflinchingly. Tang Xin felt that if she didn’t bite, it would be admitting defeat. She bit her lip, suddenly grabbed his hand, closed her eyes, and sank her teeth into the fleshy part of his palm.

The man clenched his jaw, making no sound as he allowed her to bite down like a fierce little kitten.

It wasn’t until she tasted blood that Tang Xin finally released her grip, lowering her head and letting go of his hand without daring to look. Tang Yu’s palm throbbed with numb pain. He furrowed his brow and smirked slightly. “You’re ruthless.” @Endless great content, exclusively on Jinjiang Literature City

Tang Xin whispered softly, “You told me to bite.”

Tang Yu chuckled lowly. “Mm, did it feel good?”

“...”

“Who’s the abuser here?” He held his hand up in front of her. “Hmm?”

“...”

Tang Xin stared at the deep bite marks on his palm, still oozing blood, and guiltily lowered her head.

Tang Yu didn’t press her further. He reached out and entered the password for her. With a beep, the door unlocked. Tang Xin was momentarily stunned, then glared at him. Tang Yu smirked and casually explained, “I saw it earlier. It must’ve slipped into my memory by accident.”

Tang Xin: “...”

What the hell kind of “accident” was that.

Fuming, she shoved him aside, turned, and walked in, slamming the door behind her.

...

Monday morning.

Tang Yu sat in his office chair, while Gao Heng looked at the swollen bite mark on his hand with a complicated expression. The morning meeting was about to start, and Tang Yu stood up, walked around his desk, and glanced at his assistant, who seemed hesitant to speak. Without much emotion, he asked, “What is it?”

Gao Heng looked at his hand and finally couldn’t hold back. “Boss Tang, shouldn’t you get that treated? Or maybe get a rabies shot?”

Tang Yu: “...”

He gave him a cold glance. “No need. It wasn’t a dog bite.”

Besides, he had already treated it last night.

Shoving his hands into his pockets, he headed toward the door. “Meeting.”

Gao Heng followed behind him, his expression even more complicated. Miss Tang was truly a ruthless woman to leave such a bite on Boss Tang’s hand. As they reached the door, he couldn’t help but add, “Boss Tang, maybe you should bandage it? Otherwise, if someone sees it... it wouldn’t look good.”

Tang Yu paused mid-step, remained silent for a moment, then walked out without looking back. “No need.”

Gao Heng: “...”

Fine.

During the meeting, Tang Yu sat in the main seat, listening to reports from various departments and signing necessary documents on the spot. The bite mark on his hand was left uncovered, drawing the collective gaze of everyone present, their expressions filled with suspicion.

After the meeting ended, a group of people poured out of the conference room. Huo Chendong walked beside Tang Yu and chuckled. “Little Sugarbit’s work, huh?”

Tang Yu gave a faint nod and turned to look at him. “Dingding didn’t go to you, did she?”

Huo Chendong’s smile slowly faded, his expression stiffening slightly. Tang Yu frowned, and Huo Chendong let out a self-deprecating laugh. “She did come to me. But don’t worry—I didn’t touch her.”

The two walked to the office door, and Tang Yu finally turned to him. “I’ll repeat what I said back then.”

If you want Tang Dingding, you’ll have to give up the rest of the forest.

Huo Chendong paused, recalling Tang Dingding’s dejected and disappointed expression from the night before. He felt a pang of discomfort in his chest but still believed he hadn’t done anything wrong. His expression grew somewhat restless, though his tone remained calm. “She probably won’t come looking for me again in the future.”

Meanwhile, the others began whispering amongst themselves as they returned to their respective departments. “Did I see that wrong? Was that a bite mark on Boss Tang’s hand?”

“No, you didn’t see it wrong—it’s definitely a bite mark. Much deeper than when my daughter bit me.”

“That doesn’t look like a kid’s bite…”

“It was probably a woman… maybe Boss Tang’s girlfriend? But I don’t think he has a girlfriend…”

…

Within moments, gossip spread throughout the company, with every department buzzing about the topic.

When the news reached Tang Dingding, she immediately sent a WeChat message to Tang Xin: “Did you bite my brother’s hand? Now practically the whole company knows he got bitten by a woman—there’s a deep bite mark! I’m so embarrassed for him…”

Tang Xin sat in front of her computer, feeling a twinge of guilt as she read Tang Dingding’s message. She typed back, “Well, he started it—he bullied me first.”

Tang Dingding: “What did he do to you?”

Tang Xin hesitated for a moment, then deliberately changed the subject. “Forget what I said last night. Your brother was just worried you’d follow my bad example. Listen to him, and don’t get into trouble.”

This time, it was Tang Dingding’s turn to fall silent.

The silence dragged on, and Tang Xin suddenly grew nervous. She grabbed her phone, stepped out of the office, and called Tang Dingding. “You didn’t actually go and kiss Huo Chendong, did you?”

Or worse—what if that playboy Huo Chendong lost control and took advantage of her little lamb’s advances? What then?

“No, I didn’t kiss him, and I won’t ever kiss him,” Tang Dingding murmured, picking at her fingernails. “I won’t think about him anymore.”