The Cage of the Heartless Wolf
It was 1:00 a.m.
The grand room of Yan Mansion was bathed in soft, dim light. Anya lay unconscious on Zain's bed. The wound on her arm was still fresh, and the torn pieces of her golden gown silently narrated the story of her struggle.
Zain called his old female servant—the maid who had worked in the house for years—and said,
"Aunty, please change her clothes. There is no other woman in this house, so dress her in some of my clothes."
The aunty cleaned Anya and dressed her in one of Zain's expensive black T-shirts, which looked much too big on her. After the aunty left, Zain entered the room. A first-aid kit was in his hands. He noticed that even in her sleep, Anya was whimpering softly.
Zain sat beside the bed with the first-aid kit. He gently held Anya's arm.
The man who could change the fate of thousands with a single gesture—his hands were trembling today while holding a small needle and bandage.
As soon as he applied antiseptic to her wound, Anya whimpered in her sleep,
"No… leave me… uncle…"
Zain's hand froze mid-air. He wiped the sweat from Anya's forehead.
At that moment, the fire of hatred and revenge inside him seemed to cool down. He bandaged her wound and covered her with a blanket. As he looked at her, that same night from five years ago flashed before his eyes once again.
Part 2: Qian's Question and Zain's Truth
Zain stepped out of the room, where Qian was already waiting.
In Qian's hands was the marriage contract file, bearing the signatures of Anya and Zain.
"Sir, how is Anya?" Qian asked seriously.
"She's fine. Just in shock," Zain replied emotionlessly as he walked toward his liquor cabinet.
Qian placed the file on the table and looked straight into Zain's eyes.
"Sir, I saw you in that alley today. The way you carried her in your arms… the fear in your eyes at that moment… it didn't look like part of any 'contract' or 'revenge'."
Zain poured wine into his glass.
"What are you trying to say, Qian?"
Qian stepped closer.
"The question is simple, sir… have you started falling in love with her? Are you forgetting that she is Lu Kang's niece?"
The glass in Zain's hand seemed to freeze. He let out a bitter laugh and turned toward Qian. His eyes were pitch black and ice-cold.
"Love?" Zain said in a low, lethal voice.
"Qian, there is no feeling called love left in my heart. It died eleven years ago, the day I watched my mother and sister's bodies burn in that fire."
He downed the entire glass of wine in one go.
"Anya is nothing more than a means to reach Lu Kang. Keeping her alive is my compulsion—because if she dies, my revenge will remain incomplete. Love is for the weak, and I am not weak."
Part 3: Qian's Silent Conspiracy
Qian lowered his head, but a mysterious smile played on his lips.
He knew Zain was lying to himself.
"Alright, sir," Qian said.
"But remember this—sometimes the fire we light to burn others ends up turning our own hearts to ashes first."
Qian left.
He went straight to his cabin and texted Huan Jing. He still had a task to complete—retrieving that briefcase from Anya's house.
Zain's 'love' might be dead, but Qian's mission was still alive.
Part 4: Anya's Awakening Memories
Inside the room, Anya slowly opened her eyes. Everything looked blurry because her glasses were broken. She felt a bandage on her arm. She sensed someone's presence in the room.
"Sir…?" she called softly.
Zain stood in a corner of the dark room. He didn't reply.
Anya extended her hand and felt around the nearby table, where Zain had placed a new pair of glasses for her (which he had ordered from Qian on the way).
As soon as Anya put on the glasses, she found herself on a vast, regal bed.
She realized that her heavy gown was no longer on her body. Instead, she was wearing Zain's white silk shirt, which reached her knees, and the same pants she had worn under her gown.
She looked around the room—high ceilings, priceless artwork, and that same mysterious, cold fragrance lingering in the air.
"So luxurious…" she murmured in disbelief.
Just then, the door flew open.
Zain entered, holding some documents in his hand.
Anya immediately stood up.
"boss thank you for saving my life and—"
Her words were cut off when Zain threw the papers at her.
"Sign this."
His voice was an order, not a request.
Anya looked at the papers—