Professor Xie, isn't this a case of forcing customers to buy products that don't match the

The scenery outside the car window had changed drastically.

A magnificent classical gatehouse stands silently in the night.

Above the door, the ancient plaque gleams with the soft glow of time under the lamplight.

Inside the gate, a wide private road winds its way through the area, with soft glows from antique-style palace lanterns illuminating the meticulously manicured ancient trees and the shadowy pavilions and towers along the way.

Blue bricks and gray tiles, flying eaves and brackets.

Tranquil and profound, it resembles an ancient painting forgotten by time.

The car door opened silently from the outside, and Lin Zhou stood by his side with his hands at his sides. The night breeze carried the unique scent of grass and trees from the mountains into the car.

Xie Jing glanced at the familiar scene outside the window, then turned back, his gaze falling on Shang Song's face, which was filled with shock and confusion. He said softly:

"get off."

After saying that, he got out of the car first and stood in the soft glow of the streetlights. Then, he looked at Shang Song, who was still huddled in his seat, and his left hand... moved stiffly.

He seemed to want to reach out and let Shang Song take his hand to get out of the car.

But his movements seemed to be restrained by some invisible force, so that even the simplest movements were lifted so stiffly and slowly.

In that brief moment of hesitation, Shang Song had already crawled out of the car, using both hands and feet, taking two or three steps before finally stepping onto the cold ground.

So Xie Jing's hand fell back silently, as if it had never moved.

His gaze swept over Shang Song's steadied figure, and he turned his head slightly to Lin Zhou, who was waiting beside him, and instructed, "Prepare Tingyun Residence."

"Yes, Patriarch." Lin Zhou nodded and immediately stepped aside, making arrangements in a low voice through a miniature communicator.

"Follow me," Xie Jing said to Shang Song, and then walked straight into the heart of the brightly lit main building complex.

Shang Song watched his retreating figure and looked around at the unfamiliar, secluded courtyard. He could only grit his teeth and follow.

Lin Zhou followed at a distance that was neither too close nor too far behind.

After passing through several moon gates, walking along a winding corridor, and passing several clumps of bamboo and orchids, you finally enter a spacious and independent courtyard.

The main room was brightly lit, with a typical Chinese hall layout and simple and elegant furnishings. There was no incense in the air, but a faint, cool woody fragrance wafted through the air, as if it were the natural scent of the wood used in the building.

Xie Jing walked to the main seat in the hall and sat down in the large rosewood armchair, gesturing for Shang Song to sit in the secondary seat opposite him.

Shang Song did not sit down, nor did he even sit in the guest seat at the next lower level.

He stood in the hall, his back ramrod straight, trying to maintain the last bit of his composure, but his toes, exposed by his slippers, curled up slightly in tension.

He took a deep breath, his voice still a little weak: "Professor Xie, can you tell me now? What exactly do you want to do, going through all this trouble to bring me here in the middle of the night?"

Since getting off the bus, he has passed through many courtyards, and what he has seen and heard has far exceeded his expectations.

This is no ordinary mansion, but a living classical garden, exuding immeasurable wealth and unfathomable cultural heritage.

Xie Jing walked here as if he were a monarch inspecting his own territory, a sight that was both natural and unsettling.

Xie Jing looked up at him solemnly and announced, "There are some things between us that need to be clarified."

"Clarify things again?" Shang Song was so angry he laughed. He sneered, "Professor Xie, I think there's nothing unclear between us! We broke up six months ago! We parted amicably and didn't bother each other, which you tacitly agreed to! What do you mean by acting like this now?"

"I never acquiesced," Xie Jing denied, saying each word clearly, "The breakup was your unilateral decision. And I disagreed."

Shang Song froze, his mind going blank for a moment. "You...you don't agree?"

He felt like he was talking to a brick wall. "Relationships are a matter between two people, Professor Xie! If one person says it's over, then it's over! It's not something you can do whatever you want with me! Besides, we've been broken up for half a year. What do you take me for? Those ancient books you collect? You can take them out to read whenever you want, and put them away whenever you want?"

Xie Jing frowned slightly, seemingly finding the analogy with Shang Song inappropriate, but he didn't dwell on it. Looking at Shang Song's face, which was unusually lively with excitement, he said, "You are Shang Song. Not any collectible."

Shang Song pointed to the unsettlingly luxurious surroundings, then to the deep night outside the window, "You brought me here in the middle of the night for no reason! Do you know this is illegal detention! It's kidnapping!"

"It's safe here, you'll receive the best care." Xie Jing dodged his accusations. "As for the rest, we have plenty of time to talk about it."

The best care? Let's talk it over slowly?

Shang Song was completely speechless.

He suddenly thought of a word, a word that should never be associated with the man before him, who was as aloof as the moon in the mountains.

"Are you... are you engaging in forced sex?" he blurted out, his voice rising in shock.

Forced love?

Xie Jing seemed intrigued by the term; he even raised an eyebrow slightly, but didn't deny it. He simply leaned back in his chair and said calmly, "You can interpret it that way. I think you need time to reconsider our relationship. Until you've thought it through, this is the best place for you."

Just then, Lin Zhou appeared in the corridor outside the hall and bowed slightly: "Patriarch, Tingyun Residence has been prepared."

Xie Jing nodded and looked at Shang Song: "It's late, go and rest. We'll talk again tomorrow."

Shang Song's mind was still replaying the words "forced love" in his head. Upon hearing Lin Zhou's reply, he instinctively asked, "Where is Tingyun Residence?"

"It faces southeast, is near water, and is about 200 meters away," Xie Jing answered precisely. "It takes about three minutes to walk there."

Shang Song scratched his head: "...I'll sleep there. Where will you sleep?"

Xie Jing seemed slightly surprised by his question, but still calmly replied, "I will sleep here, in the main courtyard."

Shang Song was at a loss for words: "..."

His mind was buzzing.

Forced love?

Then... sleeping in separate dormitories??

Is there something wrong with this process?

Whose forced love involves kidnapping someone, politely escorting them to a guest room 200 meters away, and saying goodnight and see you tomorrow?

And... they've been dating for a year and haven't even properly held hands. Now they're trying to force love, and they even want to sleep in separate yards?!

? ! ? ! ? !

Shang Song stared blankly at Xie Jing.

The man sat there, the light highlighting his features and skin, which were even more perfect than a model. His height, his long legs... even while doing something so unusual, he exuded a calm yet powerful aura, so handsome... and as always, it made my legs weak.

He knows he's obsessed with looks, which is pathetic and unambitious, but aesthetic sense and instinctive reactions don't lie.

But... this is forced love! Professor Xie, whom he hasn't even held hands with, is seriously engaging in forced love with him!

"I..." He swallowed hard, trying to suppress the restless flutter in his heart, but when he spoke, he asked stubbornly, "Are you really that worried? Aren't you afraid I'll run away in the middle of the night?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Jing looked up at him, his voice calm and without any inflection: "This is Xishan, with the highest level of security."

"You," he paused, his gaze lingering on Shang Song's face before he picked up the teacup on the table, took a small sip to moisten his throat, and continued:

"They can't escape."

Shang Song: "..."

Okay, he understands.

House arrest is confirmed.

He clenched his fists, but raised his head as if resigned to his fate - if he hadn't been unable to defeat him, he would have really wanted to rush forward, hold down this logical piece of wood and beat him violently.

At this moment, Lin Zhou, with great perceptiveness, stepped forward and made a gesture of leading the way: "Mr. Shang, please follow me."

Shang Song let out a heavy sigh, as if to release all the pent-up frustration in his heart, then turned and left without looking at Xie Jing again, as if he didn't want to see that blockhead anymore.

He was afraid that if he looked at that outrageously handsome yet shockingly wooden face any longer, he would burst into laughter or tears on the spot.

That's incredible! A genius!