The belt scraped against the joint of her wrist, chafing the skin raw as she struggled back and forth.
"Di Mingjue!" Ye Ziyu roared in anger.
Di Mingjue, positioned over her, remained utterly unresponsive. His palm, however, made its way to the buttons on Ye Ziyu's chest.
A chill swept across her chest, and tears welled in Ye Ziyu's eyes. At this moment, she was like a lamb awaiting slaughter, utterly devoid of any say, facing only the grim finale.
Impatient, Di Mingjue fumbled with the buttons. With a tug, he tore her thin garment in two.
Di Mingjue lowered his head and kissed her.
Unable to push him away, Ye Ziyu twisted her head to evade him.
Her resistance only fueled Di Mingjue's anger. He forced her head straight, pressing a rough kiss upon her lips.
Ye Ziyu struggled, and Di Mingjue's teeth grazed her lip. A metallic tang of blood filled her mouth, and it was impossible to tell whose it was.
He claimed her lips, his hand moving lower.
His cold palm traced its way over her heated body. Ye Ziyu ceased her struggles, lying like a dead fish on the surface, allowing his touch.
Her clothes lay in tatters, scattered across the floor. Ye Ziyu’s hair fanned out as she lay on the bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling lamp. Her tears had long since dried at the corners of her eyes.
Afterward, Di Mingjue lay on Ye Ziyu's shoulder, his agitated heart slowly calming. The moment he remembered the belt still constricting her wrists, he immediately scrambled off her.
At some point, the belt had rubbed her skin raw and drawn blood. The dried blood crusting on her wrist revealed the tender, red flesh where the skin had split.
"Does it hurt?" Di Mingjue panicked. In his anger, he had only been focused on eradicating any trace of Gu Xiuyu's scent from Ye Ziyu, wanting to replace it entirely with his own.
His singular focus had consumed him, making him forget that Ye Ziyu was a delicate girl, unable to withstand his forceful assault.
Seeing the belt pressing against the wound, Di Mingjue’s hand trembled. He dared not touch it, all his earlier ferocity gone.
"I-I'm sorry. Ziyu, I deserve to die!" Di Mingjue slapped himself across the face.
If he could turn back time, he vowed he would never repeat his actions.
Ye Ziyu watched him with cold eyes. Whether he apologized or punished himself, she felt nothing.
Di Mingjue’s heart quivered as he reached out towards the wound where the belt lay.
"Don't touch me!" Ye Ziyu’s roar was sharp.
She found him disgusting!
"I know you hate me right now, but please let me take this off," Di Mingjue pleaded.
The pain in her wrist served as a constant reminder of what had just transpired. Ye Ziyu got out of bed, her body bearing the marks of his assault, and went into the bathroom.
From outside the door, Di Mingjue hesitated to enter.
Ye Ziyu stood before the mirror, straining to undo the belt through its reflection. She then tossed it powerlessly to the ground. Her gaze fell upon the kiss marks on her body and the bite marks on her lips.
His outburst hadn't stemmed from Gu Xiuyu, but from his own mistrust. Her previous assurances had merely been attempts to appease him; deep down, Di Mingjue still believed she might be drawn to other men who pursued her.
More than the physical wounds, Ye Ziyu was pained by Di Mingjue's lack of trust. She even questioned if they were truly compatible.
Their relationship had begun due to money, and they were now entangled once more because of their children. They had never experienced genuine love; their encounters were always driven by external circumstances.
She averted her gaze, turned on the shower, and stood beneath the cascading water, letting it wash over her.
Outside the door, Di Mingjue listened to the sound of the water, unsure of what to say or do next. This time was different from all the others; he had inflicted both physical and emotional damage upon Ye Ziyu.
After a long while, the sound of the water stopped. Ye Ziyu emerged, wrapped in a bathrobe.
"Ziyu."
Ye Ziyu ignored Di Mingjue standing at the doorway.