Bound By It (Xianwang)

Broken

Lan Wangji

I was shaken to my core, but instinctively, I managed to kick his leg. The moment he loosened his grip on my hand, I tried to escape, but he was too quick. He caught me again, this time wrapping his arm tightly around my waist and lifting me off the ground as if I weighed nothing. Despite my frantic struggles, he held me close, his breath hot against my ear.

"I don't want to hurt you, baby, so don't make this harder than it has to be. Be good, and I'll be gentle. I'll let you go home once we're done, okay? The more you struggle, the longer this will take."

He pulled me even closer, my back now pressed against his chest, and began kissing the top of my head, completely ignoring my cries and desperate pleas for help.

"Please, let me go, sir. I did nothing to you. Please..." My voice trembled as his grip tightened, each second making me feel as though his strength was crushing the life out of me. Fear coursed through my veins, my body growing weaker as panic took hold. I could feel myself on the verge of fainting.

"You shouldn't have been this cute," he murmured, his voice dripping with a twisted kind of affection. "You shouldn't have caught my attention from the very first day I moved in here." He turned me around to face him, his eyes dark with obsession. "You shouldn't have been so tempting, making my imagination run wild to the point where I'm ready to force myself on you. You didn't hurt me? Everything about you..." His fingers brushed my lips, sending a shiver down my spine. "It all hurts my heart so much."

I had never encountered a monster like this before. In Gusu, people might flirt or try to get closer, but no one ever forced themselves on another—especially after knowing they were married. Was there no way out of this nightmare?

He leaned in closer, his lips hovering near mine. "Whenever I see you smile, talk, eat, or drink, these lips drive me crazy. I deserve a taste of them for all the pain you've caused me, don't you think?"

Terror gripped me, and I cried out louder, desperately pushing against him, but it was futile. My strength was no match for his. I shut my eyes tightly, praying to any higher power that there was a way out of this hell.

Suddenly, I felt a rush of air and heard hurried footsteps from behind. Before I could open my eyes to see what was happening, I heard a loud thud. When I finally looked, Zhao Ming was on the ground, clutching his left jaw with one hand, his face contorted in a mix of anger and pain. I followed Zhao Ming's gaze and saw the man who had come to my rescue. He stood there, seething with anger, his fist still clenched and ready to throw another punch if necessary.

Zhao Ming muttered something as he struggled to his feet, brushing himself off, but I couldn't focus on his words. My attention was fixed on the man who had saved me. "Xian-ge," I whispered, just loud enough for him to hear.

He turned to look at me, and for a brief moment, I hoped he would hold me, comfort me, and tell me everything would be okay. But instead of the reassurance I craved, his eyes were filled with anger. Without saying a word, he grabbed me roughly by the elbow and dragged me back home. The silence between us was deafening, and each step felt heavier as I struggled to keep up, confused and hurt by his reaction.

"How does that f**ker know your name?" Xian-ge demanded the moment we stepped into our flat. His voice was sharp, cutting through the tension. "What is even wrong with you, Wangji? I was scared, worried—I didn't know who to call or what to do."

I was taken aback, genuinely shocked by his reaction. "I... I went out... out for a walk," I stammered, trying to piece together a response.

"I don't mind you going out alone, but you should have informed me. I almost died when I couldn't find you. The Lan Wangji I know would definitely come back home at least an hour before I do. I was already ten minutes late today, and then I waited for about fifteen more minutes for you to return. What the hell were you doing for so long?" His anger was palpable, leaving me no room to explain what had happened. "You're silent again. Wangji, I need an answer. HOW DOES A STRANGER KNOW YOUR NAME?"