Chapter 22: So bland, it’s going to get me stuck all night

"How old are you?"

"Over a thousand years old."

Shi Yi sat with her hands resting lightly on her lap, her posture impeccably straight, radiating the natural elegance of a young lady from a noble house. Because the era she originated from was separated from this one by more than a millennium, she genuinely felt as though she were over a thousand years old.

"Hiss... that old?"

Ling Siye assumed she was speaking nonsense. He took her fair chin in his hand, examining her closely, and said with complete sincerity, "You don't look it at all. Even if you really were a thousand years old, I wouldn't mind."

Shi Yi asked him, "Young Master, how old are you now?"

"Twenty-seven."

Shi Yi let out a soft laugh, waving her hand dismissively. "I would like to keep you, but you are far too tender. It won't do, it simply won't do. People would say I am an old cow grazing on young grass."

In the next second, the man leaned in, his upper body pressing against her. His predatory gaze locked onto her, his eyes traveling from her delicate, upturned nose down to her cherry-red lips, causing his throat to bob involuntarily.

"As long as I don't mind you being 'old,' we can certainly try. What do you think, Yi-yi?"

His Yi-yi was becoming more humorous by the day, and the way she called him "Young Master" was particularly charming. Yi-yi was actually a year younger than him; when they were children, she had always trailed behind him, calling him "Brother Ling." The heartless little thing had forgotten it all.

"Young Master, no, you mustn't..."

Shi Yi's hand was injured, leaving her unable to push him away. She could only feel his scorching chest pressed tightly against her, making her entire body flush with heat.

Ling Siye lowered his head, drawing close to her, his low, hoarse voice thick with longing. "Yi-yi, let me kiss you, hmm?"

"Young Master, I have just divorced my husband, and I am so much older than you; we are not a good match." Shi Yi felt her body go limp, her back pressed against the car seat, yet she still forced herself to look at him.

"Yi-yi, none of those things you mentioned are problems."

Ling Siye wrapped one arm around her waist while his other hand held her chin, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on her vibrant red lips. He wanted so badly to taste them.

"How could they not be problems? Your family would never agree." Shi Yi flinched, avoiding his burning stare.

Ling Siye curved his lips into a smile. "If you are willing, I will go with you to get our marriage certificate tomorrow."

Shi Yi blushed as she replied, "I cannot. I have only just left my husband; if I were to remarry immediately, the world would revile me."

She was a noble lady, raised in strict adherence to tradition. She had already defied the world by choosing to divorce. How could she marry another overnight? In her era, such a thing was absolutely forbidden and would bring shame upon her entire family.

Seeing her shy, timid expression, the smile on Ling Siye’s face deepened. What era did she think it was? The little thing’s thinking was truly feudal. He acted like a hunter, enunciating each word: "I. Want. You."

"Don't talk about being married; even if you had children, I would still want only you."

As he finished speaking, he pressed his lips into a smile and leaned down to kiss her, giving Shi Yi no chance to argue as he forcefully invaded her space.

The man kissed her fiercely, prying open her lips, claiming her with unchecked abandon as he tasted the sweetness within. The longing of countless days and nights had gathered like a river, and at this moment, it surged forth like a flood, a sudden, desperate urge to possess her completely. Especially after tasting her, she had become like a bone-corroding poison—he was obsessed, addicted, and unable to stop.

Shi Yi was kissed until she couldn't catch her breath. Her injured hand, finding nowhere else to go, rested lightly on the man's waist. Ling Siye slid his palm down, tracing her body inch by inch through the thin fabric of her clothes. His eyes, like those of a tiger or wolf, stared at her as if he wanted to devour her whole.

Shi Yi bit his lip in retaliation, trying to make him stop.

As their lips parted, the man’s bewitching voice emerged: "Yi-yi, in this life, you belong only to me."

Seeing her slightly swollen lips, Ling Siye felt a pang of self-reproach. "Yi-yi, I'm sorry. That was my fault just now; I hurt you. Next time, I will be gentler."

Shi Yi rolled her eyes at him. In truth, she was not repulsed by the man's advances; on the contrary, she rather liked it. He was the only person in this world who had given her a sense of security. She would have to cling to his support for now and plan for the long term later.

*Ring, ring...*

Ling Siye’s phone rang at an inopportune moment. He sat up straight, pulled out his phone, and tapped the answer button.

Ling Yaoting’s stern voice came through from the other end: "I have heard all about your affairs. If you like the daughter of the Shi family, I can introduce the real daughter to you. Our Ling family will absolutely not accept you marrying a divorced, fake daughter."

The two were so close that every word fell clearly into Shi Yi’s ears, like a basin of cold water poured over her, chilling her from head to toe. *See?* she thought. *What did I tell you?* Even if Ling Siye was merely the "fake" young master of the Ling family, he still had no say in his own marriage. It seemed that no matter the era, family status was all that mattered.

She had been thinking of temporarily leaning on Ling Siye for support, but it appeared that was not a viable path.

Ling Siye’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. "You haven't concerned yourself with me for so many years. I will make my own decisions regarding my marriage."

Ling Yaoting sneered. "What do you mean I haven't concerned myself with you? I paid for you to go abroad, sent you to the best universities, and gave you the best education. Is this how you repay me? Do not forget, we are businessmen. For a businessman, profit comes first. Your partner must be someone who benefits your career, not a stumbling block."

After a moment of silence, Ling Siye glanced at Shi Yi beside him and said firmly, "She has never been a stumbling block."

Ling Yaoting’s brow furrowed into a knot. "Regardless, if you insist on finding a divorced, fake daughter, I do not agree. If you persist in this, the Ling Corporation will have nothing to do with you. Don't forget, you are not my only son."

Shi Yi listened quietly. She suddenly felt a sense of irony. As a female general who had fought on the battlefield, countless sons of noble houses in the Great Qin had come to propose to her, and she had looked down on them all—she had even looked down on the Emperor himself. Yet, after crossing into this era, she was being spurned by a mere businessman?

Then again, there were no wars in this era, and she had no place to put her talents to use. Now that her hand was injured, even the skills of the original owner might be lost. What else could she do in this era?

A deep sense of sorrow welled up in her heart.

After a long while, Ling Siye said in a low voice, "You may have more than one son, but right now, she only has me."

Hearing the man’s words, a wave of bitterness rose in Shi Yi’s heart. A man she had only met a few times was truly not worth him falling out with his family for her sake.

Shi Yi stared blankly out the car window, not knowing where she should go. Living a good life in this world did not seem to be any easier than it was in ancient times.

"A man should prioritize his career; he cannot be lost in the sentimentality of romance. You will regret this sooner or later," Ling Yaoting said, his tone harsh.

"If there is nothing else, I am hanging up." Ling Siye ended the call directly.

He did have regrets. He regretted leaving two years ago; he regretted not returning sooner...

He took a deep breath and looked at Shi Yi. There was no way he would ever let this woman go.