His smile was slow and predatory. "Exactly like this." His hand gave one final, firm squeeze, thumb pressing possessively into her inner thigh before he finally stilled his movements, though he left his palm resting high on her leg, warm and claiming. "But I’ll behave... for now."

Shuyin exhaled shakily, cheeks flushed beneath her perfect makeup. She placed her hand over his, intertwining their fingers against her thigh. "You’re dangerous, you know that?"

"Only for you," he murmured, pressing a careful kiss to her temple, safely away from her lips. "Now tell me what you remember about Madam Zhao."

The security cars continued their vigilant circling around them as the convoy moved toward the venue, while inside the car, the air crackled with restrained desire and quiet intimacy.

Shuyin tried to focus, but his thumb kept stroking slow, deliberate patterns on her inner thigh, occasionally dipping just beneath the slit of her dress to brush bare skin. The heat of his touch made it hard to think clearly.

"She leads the women’s circle," Shuyin replied, keeping her voice as steady as she could. "Elegant on the surface... but sharp. Notices everything. If she asks about my background, keep it simple and confident. She respects power more than empty politeness."

Lu Yuze hummed in approval, his fingers giving her thigh a gentle, rewarding squeeze. "Good. And Director Li?"

Shuyin shifted slightly in her seat as his hand slid a fraction higher, the warmth of his palm pressing firmly against her soft inner thigh. She bit the inside of her cheek to suppress a soft sound. "She handles the major donations. Compliment her latest project, the children’s wing. Don’t let her dig too deep about... us."

"Exactly."Lu Yuze’s voice dropped even lower, almost a purr. His fingertips traced teasing lines along the edge where silk met skin, brushing dangerously close to the lace of her underwear. "Director Li measures people by influence and money. If she probes about the ring or our relationship, smile and redirect. Let her wonder. It keeps her off balance."

His hand kneaded her thigh with slow, rhythmic pressure, firm enough to claim, gentle enough to tease. Every stroke sent little waves of heat curling through her body, making her acutely aware of how close his fingers were to where she was growing increasingly sensitive. Shuyin’s thighs pressed together instinctively, trapping his hand for a moment, but that only seemed to encourage him. He chuckled softly, dark and satisfied, and used the movement to slide his palm even higher, fingertips grazing the delicate lace edge with deliberate slowness.

"Lu Yuze..." she breathed, half warning, half plea. Her free hand gripped the edge of the seat. "If you keep this up, I won’t be able to walk straight when we arrive."

"Good," he replied without shame, eyes dark with desire as he watched her reactions. "I want you thinking about my hands the entire time you’re surrounded by those women." He leaned closer, lips brushing the shell of her ear. "Thinking about how I’ll peel this dress off you later... slowly. How I’ll kiss every mark I left on you last night."

A soft, involuntary whimper escaped her. Shuyin turned her head, meeting his intense gaze. The blue diamond on her finger sparkled as she tightened her grip on his hand, silently urging him on even as she tried to maintain composure.

"And the men’s side?" she managed, voice slightly husky. "What should I know if someone tries to approach me there?"

Lu Yuze’s expression hardened slightly, though his hand never stopped its sensual exploration. His thumb pressed possessively into her inner thigh, stroking in slow, heated circles. "The men will watch. Some will test boundaries. If anyone gets too familiar, smiles too long, asks too many personal questions, you don’t engage. You look for me. I’ll handle it."

He gave her thigh one final, firm squeeze, fingers digging in just enough to make her breath catch. "Because you’re mine, Shuyin. The ring makes it official, but this..." His hand slid higher, cupping the warmth between her thighs through the thin silk and lace, pressing gently but unmistakably. "...this has always been mine."

Shuyin’s eyes fluttered half-closed for a moment, heat flooding her body. She had to fight the urge to rock against his palm. "You’re going to make this event very difficult,"she whispered, a breathless smile tugging at her lips.

Lu Yuze finally eased the pressure, though he left his hand resting high and heavy on her thigh, thumb still stroking lazy patterns against her sensitive skin. "That’s the plan," he said, voice rough with restrained hunger. "Stay composed out there. But when we get home tonight..."

He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to. The promise hung heavy in the air between them.

The security cars continued their vigilant circling around the convoy, one pulling ahead to clear the path, the other staying close behind, as the car carried them closer to the Orchid Charity venue.

Shuyin leaned her head back against the seat, trying to steady her breathing while Lu Yuze’s hand remained possessively on her thigh. The contrast between the cool professionalism waiting for them and the heated intimacy inside the car made her heart race with anticipation.

She squeezed his hand gently, a silent acknowledgment of everything unsaid.

"I’ll behave," she murmured finally, eyes meeting his with quiet fire. "But you’d better make it worth the wait later."

Lu Yuze’s lips curved into a slow, satisfied smile. "I always do." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The car soon slowed as it approached the grand entrance of the Orchid Charity venue, an elegant, modern building with wide marble steps and tall glass doors that reflected the afternoon sunlight. Two security vehicles flanked them until the last moment, then pulled smoothly to the sides, maintaining a discreet perimeter.

Inside the backseat, the air still crackled with unspoken desire. Lu Yuze’s hand remained possessively high on Shuyin’s thigh, his thumb tracing one final, slow circle against her sensitive skin before he reluctantly withdrew it. He straightened in his seat, adjusting his tailored jacket with calm composure, though his dark eyes still burned when they landed on her.