Is not being able to do as you please also called rebirth?

Chapter 213 The European Pact
The background noise of financial news became the only sound in the room, and the light and shadow on the screen flickered on Yan Jin's cool profile.

Jiang Xun's arm rested on the back of the sofa behind her, so close that he could count her lowered eyelashes.

Her body remained taut, like a fully drawn bow, yet subtle flaws were quietly emerging within that deliberately crafted stiffness.

Jiang Xun's gaze fell on her tightly clenched fist, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

He smiled silently, his fingers seemingly unintentionally gliding over a few strands of her hair that were scattered on the back of the sofa.

Her hair was cool and smooth, carrying the crisp scent of cedar. This subtle movement made Yan Jin's body tremble violently, as if a pebble had been thrown into the surface of a lake.

She almost immediately wanted to turn around and scold him, but when she met his deep, smiling eyes, all the words stuck in her throat.

His eyes held tolerance, insight, and a hint of undisguised possessiveness that made her uneasy.

She had used that icy gaze to scare away countless men who tried to get close, but in front of him, that layer of ice was so fragile that it was easily broken.

She could only hastily turn her face away, the blush from her ears quickly spreading to her cheeks, even tinging her fair neck with a lovely pink. Her hands, resting on her knees, curled up even tighter.

"Relax, Teacher Yan." Jiang Xun's voice was deep, with a hint of lazy huskiness, like a feather tickling her eardrums. "I'm not going to eat you."

He deliberately slowed down his speech, and the last word had a slightly ambiguous ending.

Yan Jin's breath hitched.

Can't eat? Then what about all that forceful plundering and entanglement in the car, by the lake, and even in the office...?
The thought sent a shiver down her spine, a mix of shame and a secret thrill washing over her.

She glared at him angrily, trying to express her accusation with her eyes, but her shimmering eyes had no intimidating power at all; instead, they added a touch of charm.

"Jiang Xun!" she warned in a low voice, her voice trembling slightly without her even realizing it.

"Hmm?" Jiang Xun readily agreed, but moved even closer to him.

His free hand tentatively and very slowly covered her clenched fist. His hand was warm and dry, and his calloused fingertips gently caressed the cold back of her hand and her tense knuckles.

That fleeting touch, like a faint electric current, pierced Yan Jin's last fragile line of defense.

She tried to pull her hand away, but her arm felt as heavy as lead. She could clearly feel the roughness and burning heat of his palm, and the powerful, comforting touch beneath his fingertips.

A powerful, irresistible tingling sensation spread from the back of her hand throughout her body, almost making her collapse.

A barely audible sob escaped her throat, and her tightly clenched fists, under Jiang Xun's gentle caresses, slowly and with great difficulty loosened, like spring snow melting away.

A triumphant smile curled at the corners of Jiang Xun's lips. No longer content with just the back of her hand, he forcefully squeezed his long fingers between her slightly loosened fingers, interlocking them tightly.

Skin to skin, Yan Jin's palms instantly became damp with sweat, a mixture of coolness and heat. She tried to pull away as if burned, but Jiang Xun gripped her even tighter, holding her firmly in his palm.

"Don't move." His voice was gentle and undeniable, and the other arm around her back tightened slightly, pulling her closer to him.

Yan Jin was forced to lean against his strong arm, half of her body pressed against his warm chest.

Through the thin cashmere sweater, she could clearly feel his steady and powerful heartbeat, pounding against her back, a stark contrast to her own sudden, erratic heartbeat.

That refreshing yet aggressive masculine aura completely enveloped her, bringing a suffocating warmth and sense of security.

She gave up resisting. Her tense body deflated like a punctured balloon, instantly going limp. Her forehead rested against his shoulder, her nose filled with his scent. A deep weariness and an unprecedented sense of security washed over her simultaneously.

So this is what it feels like to let down all your cold defenses and immerse yourself in someone's warmth.

She closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, like a weary bird returning to its nest, finally finding a safe harbor to rest in.

Despite the ambiguity and danger that made her uneasy.

Jiang Xun felt the body in his arms soften, and a huge sense of satisfaction welled up in his heart.

He gently brushed his chin against the top of her soft hair, the crisp scent of cedar filling his nostrils.

He held her quietly like that, his fingers unconsciously tracing circles on the back of her hand.

The light and shadow from the television screen flowed over them, financial news had long since become background noise, and only their intertwined breathing could be heard in the room, tender and quiet.

After what seemed like an eternity, Yan Jin finally seemed to gather enough strength and spoke in a muffled voice from his shoulder, her voice slightly hoarse from emotion and carrying a hint of barely perceptible vulnerability:

"...You don't need to come tomorrow."

Jiang Xun paused slightly as he stroked the back of her hand, then looked down at her.

She remained nestled in his arms, not looking up, her profile revealing soft lines and her eyelashes drooping.

"Hmm?" he asked in a low voice.

Yan Jin took a deep breath, as if gathering her courage.

She finally raised her head slightly. The tears in her eyes behind her gold-rimmed glasses had not completely faded, but some of her former clarity had returned. However, beneath that coldness lay a deep struggle and determination.

She looked into his eyes and said clearly, word by word:

“I’ve gotten used to this kind of quiet and independent life. You should have your own life, and I don’t want to affect you.” Her tone was flat, as if she were just stating a fact, but Jiang Xun keenly caught a fleeting, faint hint of bitterness in her eyes.

"I should never...and could never be the center of your life."

She paused for a moment, as if considering her words or trying to calm herself down.

But sensing Jiang Xun's emotions, she felt a strange sense of panic and quickly said:

“I…I’ll be going to Europe soon to attend an academic conference, and I might be staying for a while. If you’re free, you can come and be my assistant.”

As she spoke, Yan Jin's beautiful cheeks inexplicably flushed, as she could almost picture the two of them alone together in a foreign land.

Jiang Xun, who had thought that Professor Yan would continue to keep her distance from him, was overjoyed when he heard this. He didn't say anything, but simply reached out and pulled Yan Jin's soft and delicate body into his arms, and lowered his head to seek her soft lips again.

Yan Jin gave him a symbolic push, then once again succumbed to the passionate kiss.

However, once the two finally separated, Yan Jin quickly asked Jiang Xun to leave, because she was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would do something even more outrageous. In particular, she herself was a little flustered, not knowing whether to be afraid or expectant.

"Thank you for today... The food was delicious, and... this evening." Her voice was soft, with a hint of barely perceptible shyness.

(End of this chapter)