3:00 a.m., Zhouxi Hotel.
The room was dim.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the rhythmic flickering of neon lights cast an ambiguous, cold glow over the two figures tangled on the bed. The faint luminescence traced the elegant, alluring silhouette of the woman.
Suddenly, the man’s hoarse voice was tinged with suspicion:
"Is this... your first time?"
The woman gathered her senses, let out a sharp hiss, and replied with a trembling, honeyed laugh:
"What is it, Senior? Do you not like it?"
When Qiao An woke again, the curtains had been drawn shut and the lights were on.
She propped herself up on her arms.
The warm, dim light defined the messy bed, illuminating several dark red bloodstains on the white sheets. She shifted uncomfortably.
Just then, the sound of water in the bathroom ceased, and the man stepped out.
Clear, crystal droplets slid down his chest, tracing the line of his abdominal muscles before catching on the towel wrapped around his waist.
The man paused, his gaze fixed on the bed.
"Awake?"
In the soft, slanting light, Qiao An looked like a scene from an exquisite, melancholy portrait of a lady, her brow slightly knit in the amber glow, a vision of dense, lingering charm.
His Adam's apple bobbed, drawing attention to the bright red mole at its center.
Qiao An’s face burned slightly.
She pushed back the quilt and, enduring the soreness between her legs, walked toward him naked to embrace him.
"Senior."
Her voice sounded as if it had been dipped in honey.
Gu Jingxing’s eyes were dark and inscrutable, his gaze fixed on her upturned face.
Qiao An took the opportunity to stand on her tiptoes and press a kiss to his red mole: "Senior, you were so rough just now, it hurt."
His fingers, long and slender like proud bamboo, rested on her waist. His voice was flat: "Knowing who I am, you still dared to drug me?"
Qiao An’s body stiffened; she carefully studied his expression.
There was no anger in Gu Jingxing’s eyes. His long index and middle fingers gently caught her chin and tilted it upward.
It was almost like a flirtation.
Qiao An scanned his features.
Good, he didn't seem angry.
She let out a sigh of relief in her heart.
She bit her full, rounded lower lip and ran her fair fingers along his v-line: "Since we’re chasing a thrill, we might as well see it through to the end. Just now... weren’t you quite satisfied, Senior?"
Her gaze flicked toward the torn packaging on the floor.
Gu Jingxing laughed abruptly, then suddenly seized Qiao An’s wrist and flung her aside!
Qiao An felt the world tilt; she stumbled and slammed into the TV cabinet.
"Hiss—"
Her back!
Gu Jingxing looked straight ahead, bent down to pick up his shirt, and put it on with slow, methodical, and icy indifference.
Qiao An’s fingers clenched unconsciously. Her alluring brow furrowed, and her expression darkened.
What, was he planning to deny everything?
Soon, Gu Jingxing buttoned his shirt and pants. He picked up his belt from the sofa and was about to fasten it.
Qiao An, her legs weak, moved forward and wrapped her slender arms around him, her lashes glistening with unshed tears: "Do you not like me, Senior? We were clearly so happy just a moment ago."
Gu Jingxing’s thin lips curled slightly in a curve that was exceptionally insulting: "Like you? Like what exactly?"
Qiao An looked at him with innocent, childlike eyes.
Gu Jingxing’s gaze swept over her body. His finger pointed below her left collarbone: "This?"
Then it dropped to her waist: "This?"
Qiao An’s body went rigid.
He retracted his hand and tapped her temple: "Or this?"
Qiao An’s fingers tightened abruptly, digging deep into her palms.
Gu Jingxing pulled his arm away, his expression slowly smoothing out until his gaze was as cold as if he were looking at a mortal enemy: "Tell me, who sent you?"
"No one sent me," Qiao An said, tears pooling in the corners of her eyes. "Senior, it was love at first sight for me. I’ve liked you ever since I started my freshman year."
Gu Jingxing said nothing.
Qiao An sobbed, her voice filled with endless grievance: "I-I don’t want your money, and I don’t need a title. I only want you to spare me a little love, is that too much to ask?"
Her tone was humble and devoted.
What a performance. She wanted to award herself a trophy for this.
Damn it.
Qiao An cursed herself in her heart for three seconds, but on the surface, she grabbed his hand timidly and rubbed her cheek against the back of his cool hand.
Gu Jingxing shot her a faint look, lowered his head, unlocked his phone, and dialed a number: "Send it over."
Qiao An looked at him innocently: "Senior, what are you talking about? Send what?"
Gu Jingxing didn't even look at her; he pulled his arm back and drew a tissue from the table to wipe his fingers meticulously.
His phone chimed.
Gu Jingxing slid the screen open and tossed the phone to Qiao An.
Qiao An scrambled to catch it and looked down at the screen.
A video was playing.
It was 2:03 a.m.
She was taking a glass of wine in the banquet hall, then pulled a small paper bag from her clutch and, in full view of the security camera, sprinkled white powder into the glass.
She swirled it and walked toward Gu Jingxing with the glass in hand.
The footage sped up, stopping at 2:35 a.m.
She was seen helping a "drunk" Gu Jingxing out of the banquet hall and taking the elevator straight to the top floor.
The footage sped up again, stopping at 3:05 a.m.
The room was dim; the lights from outside the window only barely outlined the forms of two people on the bed, making their identities impossible to discern.
Qiao An had just let out a breath when voices suddenly erupted from the video.
"First time?"
She laughed and replied, "What is it, Senior? Do you not like it?"
Then, the man rolled over, and she whispered, "Brother Jingxing"…
Qiao An was completely stunned.
Gu Jingxing fastened his belt, his posture once again tall and imposing.
"Guess," Gu Jingxing said slowly, "if this is enough to earn you ten years in prison."
You bastard!
Qiao An suppressed her rage, her eyes reddening as she looked at him pitifully: "Yes, I admit my methods weren't honorable, but that’s only because I love you! Senior, how could you treat me like this? It was all consensual, so why—"
Before she could finish, the phone suddenly rang.
"Lin Xi" flashed on the screen.
Qiao An’s eyes shifted, and she snatched it up with lightning speed.
Before the other person could speak, she put on a sugary, delicate tone: "Hello, are you looking for Brother Jingxing? I’m sorry, he’s in the shower right now. Is there something you need? Why don’t you tell me, and I’ll pass the message on for you?"
Gu Jingxing’s eyes darkened.
There was silence on the other end of the line.
Only a few seconds passed, but it felt like a century.
Then, a stammering voice came through: "B-Boss, uh, Sister Xi left her phone in my car! If you see her later, just tell her we'll see her tomorrow!"
With that, the man hung up.
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Qiao An licked her dry lips.
She had been reckless.
*Click.*
A lighter flicked.
Gu Jingxing lit a cigarette and took a drag: "It seems your target was Lin Xi."
"No!" Qiao An said instinctively. "I just like you too much, I couldn't help myself."
But in her heart, she knew tonight’s act was a failure.
She had just claimed she didn't want money or a title, only to be passive-aggressive toward his girlfriend a second later...
It had been too hasty.
Qiao An thought quickly. Seeing Gu Jingxing exhale a plume of smoke, obscuring his vision, she reached up and touched her ear, flicking her fingertips, then dove into Gu Jingxing’s arms once more:
"Senior, please, just believe me, okay?"
Her fingers brushed his suit pocket, and she let go.
Something slipped inside.