CHAPTER 28: THE PRICE OF DEFIANCE

Thinking about what he had done to him that night, Yue Mingxuan felt that whatever happened now was probably well deserved.

His palm struck the man’s solid muscular chest but it had no effect at all.

The next moment, the man’s entire body radiated a fierce and powerful aura as he moved closer and completely surrounding Yue Mingxuan with his presence.

"Still not giving up?" the man asked.

His voice carried a dangerous charm, it was deep and magnetic. His handsome brows lifted slightly and the corners of his lips curved into a faint breathtaking smile, one that could make anyone lose themselves.

But Yue Mingxuan clearly felt the icy coldness hidden beneath that smile.

"I’ll make you accept your punishment willingly," the man said softly.

Before Yue Mingxuan could even react, the man’s hand moved.

Rip!

The sound of tearing cloth filled the air.

In an instant, the thin robe Yue Mingxuan wore which barely covered him to begin with was split cleanly in two.

As the torn fabric slid down, Yue Mingxuan gasped and let out a startled cry, "Ah—ah!"

His hands didn’t even know where to go first whether to cover the smooth skin above or the lower part that was now exposed to the cold air.

Shang Qinghua was frozen for a brief second. His usually calm and sharp eyes flickered with clear shock.

He had not expected that beneath those layers of robes, Yue Mingxuan hadn’t been wearing anything at all.

"You pervert! You bastard!" Yue Mingxuan shouted angrily.

That damn man, he had actually torn his clothes into two pieces!

Even in his previous modern life, no one had ever seen him like this.

The humiliation and fury burned through him and without thinking, he lashed out with a kick aimed straight at the man’s lower body.

But before his foot could land, the shock in Shang Qinghua’s eyes had already vanished.

His expression turned cold and stern.

He caught Yue Mingxuan’s slender ankle in one swift motion.

His large hand tightened around it, before he snatched a piece of the torn fabric nearby.

With one smooth motion, he tied Yue Mingxuan’s ankles together, completely restraining him.

"Mmm... what are you doing?" Yue Mingxuan managed to say, his voice trembling slightly.

Before he could finish speaking, the man’s large hand moved again, this time, he grabbed Yue Mingxuan’s wrists and pressed them firmly above his head, trapping them there with a strong grip.

Below him was a stretch of pale flawless skin, rising and falling with each quickened breath.

The smooth and delicate lines of Yue Mingxuan’s body were unexpectedly soft and refined. It was far more exquisite than Shang Qinghua had imagined.

He had thought that this annoying person, Yue Mingxuan, couldn’t possibly have a good body or smooth skin.

He only wanted to scare him a little to vent his anger, there was no way he would really touch him.

But what he saw before him was far better than anything he had imagined...

"Let me go! Let go!" Yue Mingxuan struggled hard, but the man’s strength was too great.

No matter how he tried, he couldn’t break free.

Then he saw the dangerous light slowly gathering in Shang Qinghua’s deep, dark eyes.

He didn’t forget that while his face wasn’t very good looking, his body was more than decent.

If this man really lost control, it would be disastrous for him.

It was better to admit fault quickly.

"Your Highness, I know someone like me wouldn’t interest you. If I did something wrong that day, I’ll apologize to you."

"Now you admit it?" Shang Qinghua asked coldly. "Weren’t you pretending not to know anything just now and acting pitiful and innocent?"

This person, his acting skills were as good as his body.

Pretending to be weak and crying only to fooled those naive soldiers with too much righteousness in their hearts.

A person who could change moods faster than turning a page.

"Yes," Yue Mingxuan said quickly, forcing a nervous smile. "Didn’t Your Highness also say that you’d rather punish wrongly than let someone go free? I admit my mistake now and apologize sincerely. Please be generous and forgive me this time. I was forced and didn’t have a choice that day."

Of course, that "accident" back then had gone a little too far...

Looking down at the person beneath him, whose trying so hard to look harmless and submissive, Shang Qinghua’s thin lips curved slightly with lazy amusement.

Everything seemed under his control.

"Now you beg for mercy? Don’t you think it’s a bit late?"

"It’s not too late! Not too late at all!" Yue Mingxuan’s face turned pale.

Inside his heart, he cursed the man, what a stubborn and unfeeling beast!

However, outwardly, he smiled even more pleasingly. "If you’re still angry, you can hit me to vent your anger."

He had already thought it through, getting beaten was fine.

With his medical knowledge, he could recover.

It was far better than losing his innocence to this perverted prince.

"You’re scared?" Shang Qinghua asked quietly, catching the flicker of fear in Yue Mingxuan’s eyes. His lips curved slightly in mockery. "You think, with acting skills like yours, my men would still dare to lay a hand on you?"

"Then... what will make you let me go?" Yue Mingxuan’s heart was pounding wildly.

Even during his most dangerous missions back in the 21st century, he had never felt this terrified.

The man’s narrow eyes darkened as his grip tightened.

The chill in his voice returned.

Shang Qinghua reached for another piece of torn fabric, looped it over the bedpost, and tied Yue Mingxuan’s wrists firmly to it.

"Did I ever say I would let you go?"

He had tied him to the bedpost. The bedpost!

Yue Mingxuan’s mouth fell open in shock and for a long time, he couldn’t even close it.

He was completely stunned.

By the time he realized what was happening, he saw the tall and elegant man leave the bed and walk to the other side of the room.