Did I Say You Could Leave?

With a creak, the car door opened, and Jiang Zhou got in. He glanced at Chen Ju, whose head was bowed. The dim yellow light cast a small shadow in the man’s eyes, and the spot on his cheek where he’d been pinched was slightly red.

“Awake?” Jiang Zhou looked away, his voice cool and distant. “Where do you live? I’ll take you back.”

“N-no, it’s okay. I live nearby. Take your girlfriend home.” The word “girlfriend” felt so foreign coming out of Chen Ju’s mouth that he thought someone else had said it.

Jiang Zhou’s hand tensed on the steering wheel. He turned his head, a cool glimmer in his eyes.

Chen Ju clutched the hem of his clothes and looked up with a meek, ingratiating smile. “Then I’ll get out first. I won’t disturb you two.”

After speaking, Chen Ju didn’t want to look at Jiang Zhou’s face anymore. He unbuckled his seat belt and opened the car door.

Suddenly, someone grabbed his wrist. Chen Ju stiffened, then slowly turned his head, surprise in his eyes.

Jiang Zhou’s face was completely expressionless. His eyes narrowed dangerously as he said, “Did I say you could leave?”

Chen Ju froze. He pressed his lips together miserably, and warmth welled up in his eyes.

“I want to get out,” he said softly, turning his head away...