Chapter 3 — The Two Million Request

The luxurious hotel suite fell silent.

The black card still rested untouched on the mahogany table, glowing under the morning sunlight like a dangerous temptation. Yet Lin Yue didn’t even look at it again.

Instead, she slowly stepped back.

“I don’t want greedily enormous wealth, Mr. Song,” she said softly.

Her voice was calm, but Song Chen noticed the slight trembling in her fingers.

“I didn’t help you for a payday.”

Xu Kai stared at her in disbelief.

Did this girl even understand what she was refusing?

That card could buy mansions, companies—even entire lives.

But Yue’s eyes remained strangely clear.

She took a quiet breath before continuing.

“But… I am in a desperate situation.” Her lashes lowered slightly. “I don’t need 200 million. I only need 2 million. Exactly 2 million.”

The moment those words left her mouth, the atmosphere changed.

Song Chen narrowed his eyes.

“Exactly 2 million?”

Yue nodded silently.

Not 1.9 million.

Not 2.1 million.

Exactly 2 million.

It sounded less like a request… and more like a price.

Xu Kai immediately became cautious.

“Miss Lin,” he said carefully, “if you truly need help, President Song can arrange anything for you. Why insist on that specific amount?”

Yue’s fingers tightened beside her.

“That’s my personal matter.”

Her answer was polite, yet firm enough to end the conversation.

Xu Kai frowned slightly.

The girl looked harmless, but her mysterious behavior made no sense.

Meanwhile, Song Chen remained silent, observing her carefully.

Her clothes were simple and worn from yesterday’s rain. Her eyes carried exhaustion far beyond her age. Yet despite standing before unimaginable wealth, she asked for only one specific amount.

Almost like…

She had already calculated the exact cost of escaping something terrible.

Song Chen’s voice became quieter.

“What happens after you receive the 2 million?”

Yue froze for half a second.

Then she forced a faint smile.

“That’s also my personal matter.”

The room became still again.

For some reason, her answer irritated Song Chen slightly.

Not because she rejected his money—

But because she was hiding pain behind those calm eyes.

And he hated secrets.

Especially when they reminded him of himself.

Suddenly, Yue reached for her old canvas bag lying beside the sofa.

“I’m sorry for troubling you this long,” she said politely. “Once I borrow the money, I’ll write an IOU and repay you slowly in the future.”

Xu Kai almost choked hearing her words.

Repay him?

The richest man in Jiang City?

Was this girl serious?

But Song Chen did not laugh.

Instead, his gaze darkened.

“You think I care about repayment?”

Yue looked up at him quietly.

“I care.”

For a brief moment, Song Chen’s heartbeat strangely paused.

Nobody around him ever spoke to him this way.

No greed.

No fear.

No fake admiration.

Just stubborn dignity.

Yue lowered her head slightly.

“My mother always said that poor people lose their self-respect the moment they accept charity.” Her voice became softer. “I don’t want to become that kind of person.”

A shadow crossed Song Chen’s eyes.

Mother.

That word again.

His own family had poisoned him for power.

And this girl clearly carried wounds of her own.

Xu Kai’s phone suddenly vibrated.

After reading the message, his expression changed immediately.

“President Song,” he said seriously, “your third brother’s men are searching nearby hotels. Someone may have leaked your location.”

Yue’s face paled slightly.

“I should leave.”

She immediately picked up her bag.

But before she could take another step—

Song Chen grabbed her wrist.

The warmth of his hand shocked her instantly.

“You can’t leave now,” he said coldly.

Yue looked at him in confusion.

“If those people discover you helped me, they’ll investigate you too.”

Xu Kai nodded seriously.

“The Third Young Master is ruthless. Witnesses usually disappear."

Yue’s breathing became uneven.

Disappear?

For the first time, fear truly entered her eyes.

Song Chen slowly released her wrist, but his gaze never left her face.

“Stay here temporarily,” he said calmly. “Until I settle things.”

Yue instinctively shook her head.

“I don’t want to involve myself in your family war.”

“You already are involved.”

His blunt answer silenced her.

Outside the window, dark clouds slowly gathered again, covering the morning sunlight.

The atmosphere inside the suite grew heavier.

Yue looked down quietly, her thoughts in chaos.

All she wanted was 2 million.

Just enough to solve the nightmare chasing her.

Nothing more.

But somehow, after meeting this dangerous man—

Everything was becoming more complicated.

Song Chen suddenly placed the black card back into her hand.

“This card stays with you for now.”

Yue immediately tried returning it.

“I said I only need—”

“Then use only 2 million,” he interrupted calmly.

Her lips parted slightly.

Song Chen stepped closer, his deep eyes locking onto hers.

“But until you tell me the real reason…” his voice lowered dangerously, “…don’t even think about disappearing from my sight.”

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