001
Autumn, 2015. Xia Xiwan was on a train pulling away from the countryside, bound for the city of Haicheng.
She had been cast off to the countryside at the age of nine, summoned back only now for a single purpose: the Xia family needed a daughter to marry into the Youlan Yuan estate.
The Xia family had two daughters, neither of whom was willing to marry. So they recalled the one they had fostered in the countryside to take their place.
Xia Xiwan was settled in her sleeper berth, engrossed in a book, when the door was suddenly thrown open. A blast of frigid air rushed in, carrying with it the cloying, metallic scent of blood.
Xia Xiwan looked up just in time to see a tall, well-built figure stumble in from the corridor and collapse.
Unconscious.
Moments later, several men in black stormed in. “Boss, no one’s here. Let’s send him straight to hell.”
“Who said no one’s here?”
The leader, a man with a prominent scar on his face, turned his gaze to Xia Xiwan.
Xia Xiwan hadn't anticipated such a sudden turn of events. The man who had collapsed in her compartment had brought a lethal danger with him. The scarred man's eyes were filled with a murderous intent; he clearly meant to leave no witnesses.
Without betraying her thoughts, Xia Xiwan glanced at the weapons in their hands, then quickly adopted a look of terror. “Please, don’t hurt me,” she pleaded, her voice trembling. “I didn’t see anything.”
The scarred man stepped forward, studying her face. She wore a veil that obscured her features, but her almond-shaped eyes were visible.
They were incredibly clear, and with just a flicker of her gaze, they held an enchanting allure.
The scarred man had never seen such captivating eyes. He was mesmerized. That, combined with the fact that he hadn't been with a woman in days, sparked a vile idea in his mind.
“Well now, little beauty,” he sneered. “We can let you live... but first, you have to take good care of me and my boys.”
Xia Xiwan’s long lashes fluttered. “I don't want to die,” she whispered, sounding utterly helpless. “I'm so scared... As long as you don't hurt me, I'll… I'll do whatever you want.”
The girl’s soft, pliant plea was all it took. The scarred man lunged, pinning her beneath him.
“You go first, Boss. We’ll finish this guy off, then the rest of us can have some fun.”
Amidst the lewd laughter and the promise of a soft woman, the scarred man set his weapon aside and reached for the buttons of her blouse.
But in the next instant, a slender white hand shot out and clamped around his wrist.
The man looked up, his eyes meeting hers again. The panic was gone, replaced by a cold, splintered light.
“You—!”
Before he could speak, Xia Xiwan moved with swift precision, plunging a silver needle from her hand deep into a pressure point on his head.
His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the floor.
“Boss!”
The other men in black started forward in shock, but at that moment, the man on the floor suddenly opened his eyes. In a fluid motion, he snatched a weapon from one of the assailants.
One by one, the men in black fell to the ground. It was over in the blink of an eye.
Xia Xiwan sat up. She had known all along the man was only feigning unconsciousness; the blood on him belonged to someone else.
She met the man's gaze. He was watching her with narrow, incredibly deep-set eyes, sharp as a hawk's. They held a darkness that felt like twin abysses, threatening to pull in anyone who dared to look too long.
“Young Master, we’re late.”
Reinforcements had arrived and began to efficiently clean up the scene. A trusted subordinate handed the man a clean handkerchief.
He elegantly wiped his hands, then, with a steady gait, walked over to Xia Xiwan. His long, well-defined fingers closed around her delicate chin.
He narrowed his eyes, studying her with a playful curiosity. His voice was low and magnetic. “Now, what do you think I should do with you?”
Her chin was trapped by the calloused pads of his fingers, forcing her to look up at him. He was tall and imposing, strikingly handsome, with an aura as powerful and cold as the dead of night.
He had wiped his hands, but she could still smell the metallic tang of blood on him, mingled with a chilling aura of violence.
She had seen too much. Getting away clean would be difficult. This man was dangerous.
*Smack!*
Xia Xiwan slapped his hand away. “How dare you!” she declared, her voice firm. “I am the bride of Youlan Yuan!”
The bride of Youlan Yuan?
The man arched a brow. Interesting. *His*… bride?
“You’re from Haicheng, aren’t you? Then you must have heard that a daughter of the Xia family is marrying into Youlan Yuan. The whole city is talking about this wedding. *I* am that bride. If something were to happen to me, do you think you could avoid an even bigger mess? Let me go. I saw nothing, and I’ll say nothing!”
Xia Xiwan had to thank her stepmother, Li Yulan, for this. Li Yulan had forced her to take a cheap train back to Haicheng, but she had orchestrated an extravagant, city-wide spectacle of a wedding to boost her own reputation.
A Xia daughter marrying into Youlan Yuan was the biggest piece of gossip in Haicheng. Xia Xiwan was betting that this man would want to avoid the trouble.
The man watched her with amusement. He'd been ambushed by business rivals who'd hired killers, and running into this girl was an unexpected complication.
She couldn't be more than twenty. Though her face was pale and her clothes disheveled, her clear eyes shone with a bright, sharp intelligence.
And most importantly, she was his bride.
The man withdrew his gaze and left with his men.
The tension drained from Xia Xiwan's clenched fists as her fingers slowly uncurled.
Just then, the man paused and looked back at her. His lips formed words she could easily read: “We’ll be seeing each other soon.”
…
Ligong Manor. The Xia family wedding was being held here today.
In the bridal suite, Xia Xiaodie sneered at her half-sister, Xia Xiwan. “Your mother died when you were nine. Then you pushed Grandpa down the stairs with your own two hands. Even the fortune-teller said you were a jinx, so Dad sent you away. If they didn't need you to come back for this, you'd be rotting in the countryside for the rest of your life. So you better know your place. You're not some pampered Xia family princess. You're just a dog they keep!”
Xia Xiwan, sitting before the dressing table, replied calmly, “And who is this dog barking at?”
Xia Xiaodie planted her hands on her hips. “The dog is barking at you!”
A small smile touched Xia Xiwan’s lips. “I know. So you can stop now.”
Only then did Xia Xiaodie realize she'd been tricked. She glared at Xia Xiwan's clear, almond-shaped eyes. Her sister had worn a veil ever since she returned, but the eyes it revealed were enough to suggest a breathtaking beauty.
A wave of jealousy washed over Xia Xiaodie. She wanted nothing more than to gouge those eyes out. How could this country bumpkin possibly be beautiful? It had to be a trick. She was probably just an ugly girl hiding her face!
“Xiwan, it's time! We must go!” Just then, Xia Zhenguo and Li Yulan entered, followed by a group of distinguished guests.
002
Li Yulan was Xia Xiwan’s stepmother. Once a celebrated actress who had captivated the entertainment world, she remained impeccably preserved even after bearing two daughters, possessing the graceful allure of a much younger woman.
Li Yulan had clawed her way up from being the other woman, but her methods were masterful. She had not only successfully buried her scandalous past but had also secured her position as the mistress of the Xia family, navigating the city's elite social circles with a slick, sociable charm that won her favor everywhere.
Today's wedding was a masterpiece of Li Yulan's planning. Even the gown Xia Xiwan wore was a custom design from Milan, costing a small fortune. Everyone was singing Li Yulan’s praises.
Feigning ignorance, Xia Xiwan adopted an air of girlish coyness. Her gaze drifted expectantly toward the door. “The auspicious hour is here,” she murmured. “Why… why hasn’t the groom come for me?”
The moment the words left her lips, Li Yulan’s expression soured.
The guests exchanged bewildered glances. What was going on? Did the bride not know who she was marrying?
She was a substitute, marrying in her sister’s place. This was a wedding destined to have no groom.
Xia Zhenguo stepped forward, his eyes filled with guilt and evasion. “Xiwan, the groom… he’s feeling unwell today, so he won’t be coming. You should just go on ahead.”
Xia Xiwan paused for a beat before offering an obedient smile. “Alright. I’ll be on my way, then.”
She stepped into the waiting luxury car, alone.
As the guests watched her elegant figure recede, they recalled the rumors that she was just a country bumpkin. But there she was, draped in a beautiful wedding gown, her frame slender and graceful, exuding an ethereal, exquisite beauty that left them speechless.
Her obedient and gentle demeanor, her apparent cluelessness, stirred a wave of sympathy among the crowd. All eyes turned to Li Yulan, and the pointing and whispering began.
So much for the perfect facade. In the end, she was still just a stepmother, willing to sacrifice another’s daughter to spare her own.
Li Yulan’s face turned ugly. The wedding, once perfectly under her control, had been completely upended by Xia Xiwan’s subtle maneuver, leaving her in a deeply embarrassing position. It seemed she had underestimated the girl.
But no matter. There would be plenty of time, and she had countless ways to deal with her.
…
Xia Xiwan arrived at Youlan Yuan and was shown to the bridal chamber.
The lights were off, plunging the room into a stark, chilling darkness.
In the gloom, Xia Xiwan’s dark, almond-shaped eyes shone with a wary, jade-like glint. She approached the bed and could just make out the form of a man lying on the soft mattress.
This was her new husband.
Xia Xiwan reached out, intending to take his pulse.
But in the next second, her slender wrist was seized by a grip of long, strong fingers. The world spun, and she was thrown onto the bed, pinned beneath him.
A shock went through her. She’d been told her husband was an invalid, but the fingers clamped around her wrist were powerful, clearly belonging to a healthy man.
Who was he?
Xia Xiwan quickly brought her knee up, aiming for his groin.
But the man was faster. He dodged her attack with ease, using his own knee to press down and immobilize her completely.
Fast, precise, ruthless.
“Who are you? Let me go!”
Xia Xiwan struggled fiercely, their bodies grinding against each other through the thin layers of fabric.
A low, magnetic voice resonated near her ear. “Eager, are we, my dear bride?”
“…”
Pervert!
It dawned on her that the only man who could be in this room was her new husband. But he wasn't sick at all; he was a strong, young man.
His long fingers had already traveled from her jaw to the buttons of her dress, and he began to undo them one by one.
Xia Xiwan quickly grabbed his hand. “I’ve stopped moving. What are you doing?”
“Can you scream?” he asked.
Scream?
Just then, Xia Xiwan heard furtive sounds from outside the room. It was a maid, trying to pull Old Mrs. Lu away. “Madam, this isn’t right. We should go back…”
“Hush.” The old woman made an angry shushing gesture. “I’m just going to listen, not look!”
Old Mrs. Lu had her entire body pressed against the window, eavesdropping.
Xia Xiwan tried to sit up to see what was happening, but Lu Hanting’s hand clamped down on her shoulder, pushing her back. “Hurry up and scream.”
She realized he was putting on a show for his grandmother outside and needed her to play along, but…
“I don’t know how.”
In the darkness, Lu Hanting’s deep-set eyes were as sharp as a falcon’s. He looked down at the girl beneath him, barely twenty, her brows furrowed in a mixture of demure defiance and shame.
He placed both hands on her dress and, with a sharp tug, ripped it open.
“Ah!”
A cool draft hit her skin. Xia Xiwan crossed her arms over her chest. Still a young girl at heart, she couldn't suppress a startled cry.
A smirk touched Lu Hanting’s lips. “See? Now you know how.”
“…”
Xia Xiwan glared up at him. Shameless!
Lu Hanting braced his hands on either side of her, trapping her beneath his powerful frame.
In the darkened room, a deep blush crept up Xia Xiwan’s pale ears.
“Keep going,” he threatened in a low voice, “or I’ll have to get serious.”
Xia Xiwan’s eyelashes fluttered. She didn't doubt his words for a second. Closing her eyes, she forced herself to cry out for him.
Outside, Old Mrs. Lu clasped her hands together. “Amitabha,” she prayed. “Wonderful! My grandson isn’t… isn’t impotent! He’s finally done it! The ancestors be praised, I’m going to have a great-grandson!”
Overjoyed, Old Mrs. Lu danced away, heading straight for the ancestral hall to offer incense.
Xia Xiwan immediately pushed against the man on top of her. This time, Lu Hanting complied, releasing her.
With a click, he switched on a wall lamp.
A soft, yellow light washed over the room. Xia Xiwan sat up, quickly buttoning her dress to cover her smooth shoulders and milk-white skin.
She lifted her gaze to look at the man.
He was already off the bed, his handsome face now visible. He was striking, with features so perfectly chiseled they seemed sculpted by the heavens. His every move carried an innate, cool indifference and a noble air.
But Xia Xiwan had no time to admire his looks. On the contrary, her pupils contracted slightly.
Because this man…
“It’s you!”
He was the man from the train!
He was her husband!
Xia Xiwan knew she was being married off to a man on his deathbed. She had prepared for so much, but she had never, ever imagined it would be him.
On the train that day, she had scolded him, righteously declaring herself the new bride of Youlan Yuan. He must have been laughing at her the whole time.
A half-smile played on Lu Hanting’s thin lips. “So you recognize me. I told you we’d be seeing each other again soon.”
A flicker of amusement danced in his eyes. The butler had told him the Xia family was sending over a country bumpkin as a substitute bride.
Fine, let them send a substitute. As long as his grandmother was happy.
And better yet, that substitute turned out to be her.
But was this really a country bumpkin?
He had seen with his own eyes on the train how she had made that scar-faced man collapse right on top of her.
003
A soft knock echoed at the door. "Young Master," came the voice of Butler Fu from the hallway.
Lu Hanting’s thin lips parted slightly. "Enter."
Butler Fu pushed the door open. "Young Master, the Young Mistress… what are your instructions?"
Lu Hanting stood by the bed, an imposing figure at well over six feet tall. He wore a simple white shirt and black trousers, yet the expensive, custom-tailored fabric accentuated his lean, elegant frame and gave him an air of extraordinary distinction.
Lu Hanting’s gaze was lowered, his fingers expertly toying with a gleaming silver cufflink on his sleeve. He shot a careless glance at Xia Xiyuan. "I suppose you don't know, but we keep two wolves in the backyard of Youlan Garden. Perhaps... we should toss you in as their next meal?"
Xia Xiyuan’s heart clenched. This marriage had been arranged by the previous generation, linking the four great families of Haicheng: the Lu, the Gu, the Huo, and the Su.
The young master of the Lu family was said to be a man of immense power, a legendary business magnate—the youngest and most handsome of his generation. But no one had ever seen his face; he was shrouded in mystery.
Youlan Garden was located in a remote area and certainly didn't look like the estate of a wealthy clan. The Xia family had investigated it, only to find an old woman and her grandson living there—the very grandson from the legends.
Li Yulan's greatest ambition was to marry her two daughters into Haicheng’s four great families. The reality of Youlan Garden had made her so furious she wanted to dig up the Xia family's ancestral graves and demand an explanation for this cursed engagement.
Li Yulan refused to let her own daughter marry into such a place, but Xia Zhenguo, a man bound by tradition and filial piety, was unwilling to break the engagement set by his elders.
Since her own daughter was out of the question, Li Yulan’s thoughts had turned to Xia Xiyuan. And so, she had been brought back to be the substitute bride.
Based on this, Xia Xiyuan had assumed the man before her was no one of importance, but now, she was filled with doubt.
Every gesture of the man before her radiated a commanding, almost contemptuous, authority. A cold, noble grace emanated from his very bones, like a king issuing decrees, compelling an instinctual urge to submit.
And he kept wolves in his backyard. Wolves. That was not a pastime for an ordinary man.
Xia Xiyuan was about to speak when the man suddenly braced his hands on the table, his handsome features contorting in a mask of pain.
The butler's face drained of color. "Young Master, I'll call the doctor right away!"
Xia Xiyuan’s clear eyes drifted downward. The veins on the hands he had planted on the table were bulging violently, the clear sign of an attack.
He was ill?
And it was a terrifying illness.
Just then, her gaze met his—a pair of narrow, bloodshot eyes. Lu Hanting turned his head to look at her, but his words were for the butler. "Get her out!"
The butler spoke urgently, "Young Mistress, please, you should leave now."
Xia Xiyuan knew she couldn't leave. She had returned to the Xia family with a purpose, and she needed the identity of the bride of Youlan Garden to achieve it.
Her gaze, clear and unwavering, met Lu Hanting’s. "You're ill. What is it? I have some knowledge of medicine, and I'm skilled in acupuncture. I can treat you."
Lu Hanting’s lips pressed into a thin, grim line. A single word rumbled from his throat, "Out."
Not only did Xia Xiyuan not leave, but she stepped closer. "Earlier, I smelled the scent of lily, poria, and gastrodia on you, among other medicinal herbs. Those are all used to treat… insomnia. If I'm not mistaken, you suffer from a severe sleep disorder. You can't sleep at night."
The butler stared at Xia Xiyuan in shock. "Young Mistress, you…"
Xia Xiyuan’s luminous eyes remained fixed on Lu Hanting's handsome face. "How advanced is your disorder? Once it reaches a certain stage, it severely impacts one's mental state. Your body is pushed to the brink of exhaustion but finds no rest, no release. It's like another self begins to live inside you—a darker self, one that is brooding, volatile, terrifying… almost pathological."
The corners of Lu Hanting’s narrow eyes grew redder, a shadow of torment settling over his brow.
"Young Mistress, stop provoking him!" the butler pleaded, looking ready to intervene.
With a swift turn of her wrist, Xia Xiyuan plunged a silver needle into an acupressure point on Lu Hanting's body.
His hands went slack, and he sank onto the sofa.
Xia Xiyuan gasped for breath. She had not returned this time only to lose her life here. For a moment, she had been truly afraid.
The man before her was too dangerous. His mysterious identity aside, the sleep disorder alone could transform him from an elegant, noble gentleman into a monster at any moment.
But she had no other choice. This was her only gambit.
Taking a moment to steady her breathing, Xia Xiyuan moved behind him. She lifted her slender, pale fingers to his temples and began to massage them gently.
Lu Hanting closed his handsome eyes, hiding the crimson hue within. "Is this your treatment? A massage?"
"You ought to be pleased with yourself. You're the first man I've ever massaged."
"As if you're not the first woman who's had the privilege."
"..."
So much for conversation.
"Let me stay. We can coexist peacefully. You don't ask about my private affairs, and I'll help you keep up appearances for your grandmother. I can also treat your insomnia. What do you say?"
Lu Hanting didn't answer.
As Xia Xiyuan slid a long, thin needle into a point on his head, his eyes closed completely, and his head lolled back against the sofa.
She quickly reached out, her hands gently and tenderly catching his handsome face as he slumped over.
He was asleep.
The butler stood to one side, his forehead beaded with a cold sweat. Others might not know his Young Master's identity, but he did. This was the heir of the Lu family, a true prodigy who had dominated the business world since his teens, single-handedly forging the Lu Corporation legend.
No one had ever dared to… negotiate with his Young Master like this, let alone a young woman.
All the girls who had been fortunate enough to meet him had stars in their eyes, filled with adoration and a desperate longing to throw themselves into his arms.
But this new Young Mistress was so different. She remained calm, poised, and intelligent, even when facing him during one of his episodes.
Even more astonishingly, the Young Master had actually fallen asleep!
He hadn't been able to sleep for so long!
The specialists they had consulted were top-ranked experts from around the world, but none of their treatments had worked. Yet, here he was, asleep in the Young Mistress's hands.
"Young Mistress…" the butler began.
Xia Xiyuan raised a finger to her lips in a hushing gesture. "Shh. You can go. I'll stay here with him."
For some reason, the butler felt a reassuring strength emanating from her. He obeyed, quietly backing out of the room.
...
Silence filled the room.
Xia Xiyuan let him rest against her hands for a while, waiting until he was in a deep sleep before gently laying his head back on the sofa. Then she covered him with a blanket.
With that done, Xia Xiyuan lay down on the bed, still fully clothed, and drifted off to sleep.
A while later, Lu Hanting’s eyes slowly opened. He was awake.
He rose from the sofa and walked to the bed. He reached out, his long fingers moving to lift the veil from Xia Xiyuan's face.
004
Lu Hanting’s fingers froze, stopping short of lifting the veil from her face.
He gazed down at the girl sleeping on the bed. If she were to open her eyes, he knew he’d see those stunning pupils—dark and glistening like a kitten’s. The way she looked up at you was just like the gentle scratch of a kitten’s paw.
A perfect blend of innocence and allure.
His eyes fell on the red mark blooming on her neck. Her skin was so delicate; a single, light squeeze from his fingers earlier had left its trace.
Lu Hanting turned and returned to the sofa, lying back down.
His insomnia was progressively worsening, far beyond what her acupuncture could ever hope to cure. Still, her skills were undeniable. He had actually managed to drift off for a moment while she held his hand—a brief respite of about ten minutes.
He couldn't remember the last time he'd managed even that.
Lu Hanting’s gaze shifted back to the delicate figure curled up on the bed. A thought drifted through his mind: how could her hands be so small, so soft?
…
The next morning.
Xia Xiwan was seated in the dining room, sipping a bowl of sweet red date and lotus seed soup brought by a maid. Old Madam Lu sat beside her, beaming as she chattered away.
“Oh, Wanwan, I took a liking to you the moment I saw you. If Hanting ever dares to bully you, you tell Grandma, and I’ll sort him out for you… Drink up, don’t stop, have more of this soup. We need to have a baby soon! Lots of babies, one after the other! I want to hold a little Hanting in one hand and a little Wanwan in the other…”
Old Madam Lu’s hair was white, but she was full of vigor, her expression kind and warm. If you could ignore her goofy streak, Xia Xiwan found her quite lovely.
Just then, a maid’s voice cut in, “Good morning, Young Master.”
Lu Hanting was coming downstairs.
Xia Xiwan looked up. Today, Lu Hanting wore a classic white shirt and black trousers, the very picture of a heartthrob. The tailored fabric was pressed without a single crease. He descended the carpeted stairs with an innate elegance and aristocratic air.
Behind him, an older woman, a wedding matron, followed, holding a white silk handkerchief. On it was a distinct crimson stain.
The matron smiled and congratulated Old Madam Lu. “Old Madam, congratulations! May you soon be holding your great-grandchild.”
“Excellent, excellent! Butler, give her a reward!”
Old Madam Lu generously handed out a red envelope.
Xia Xiwan knew at a glance that the handkerchief was meant to be proof that she and Lu Hanting had consummated their marriage last night. A woman was supposed to bleed her first time. But they hadn't done anything. So… where did the blood come from?
At that moment, Lu Hanting stopped beside her. He leaned his tall frame down, one hand casually tucked in his pocket, and murmured into her ear, “I did that. Wasn’t overstepping, was I? You’re still… untouched, right?”
His question was so blunt. Xia Xiwan had never even been in a relationship, and the tips of her snow-white ears instantly flushed a deep red.
The posture was intimate—Lu Hanting leaning in to whisper in her ear, looking for all the world like a pair of doting newlyweds.
Old Madam Lu immediately covered her eyes with her hands. “I don’t see anything! I’m not looking, I’m not looking! You two carry on.”
Then she spread her fingers to peek through the gaps.
Lu Hanting watched the blush creep up Xia Xiwan’s small earlobes, a roguish glint in his eyes. He arched a handsome brow, exuding the playful charm of a mature man. “You haven’t even turned twenty yet. Nineteen. You’ve never been with… a man, have you?”
Xia Xiwan was still very young, only nineteen.
Lu Hanting was twenty-seven, a man in his prime, handsome and sophisticated.
His relentless, hushed questioning, their proximity—all she could feel was his warm breath against her delicate skin, making her want to shrink away.
“Want a bite?”
Xia Xiwan spun around and, in a swift motion, put the spoonful of red date and lotus seed soup directly into his mouth, desperate to shut him up.
The butler standing nearby gasped aloud. “Young Madam, that’s your spoon!”
The Young Master had a severe case of germaphobia. That was the Young Madam's used spoon! The butler scrambled to fetch some mouthwash.
Xia Xiwan’s long lashes fluttered. In her haste to silence him, she had fed him with her own spoon. This…
Lu Hanting straightened up after being fed the spoonful of soup. He furrowed his handsome brow slightly, then, under everyone’s astonished gaze, he swallowed it.
The butler’s jaw dropped. *What… what is wrong with the Young Master?*
*Sir, you’re a germaphobe! Have you forgotten?*
Old Madam Lu nodded in satisfaction. In her seventy-odd years, she had become a good judge of character, and she’d liked Xia Xiwan from the start. This girl and her grandson were destined for each other.
“Wonderful, wonderful! You two are sharing a bowl of soup. It seems my great-grandchild will be in Wanwan’s belly very soon,” Old Madam Lu chirped, as happy as a child.
Xia Xiwan stared at the spoon in her hand—the same one she had just put in Lu Hanting’s mouth—and then at the half-empty bowl of soup. Was she supposed to eat it, or not?
Just then, Lu Hanting sat down beside her. His narrow eyes met hers as he asked with feigned concern, “Why did you stop? Go on, finish it before it gets cold.”
“…”
Xia Xiwan knew he was doing this on purpose. She had fed him with her used spoon, and now he wanted her to continue using it.
It was tantamount to an indirect… kiss.
“That’s right, Wanwan, why aren’t you eating? Hurry up. I’ll have them bring you another bowl when you’re done,” Old Madam Lu urged.
Xia Xiwan quickly picked up the spoon and finished the rest of the soup in a few hurried gulps. “I’m full, Grandma. No more for me.”
Watching the girl’s charmingly flustered expression, Lu Hanting’s thin lips curved into a slight smile. He was in an excellent mood.
…
After breakfast, Old Madam Lu asked Xia Xiwan, “Wanwan, are you going out later?”
Xia Xiwan nodded. “Grandma, I need to go back to my parents’ house for a visit.”
“Of course, you should. Hanting, you’ll go with Wanwan. Bring some gifts. A new son-in-law must observe the proper etiquette,” Old Madam Lu called out to Lu Hanting.
It was too late for Xia Xiwan to object. Lu Hanting was already walking over. “Alright,” he said. “Let’s go together.”
The two left the Youlan Villa and walked out onto the lawn. Lu Hanting opened the passenger-side door like a gentleman. “Get in.”
Xia Xiwan waved a dismissive hand. “Grandma can’t see us anymore. You can go do your own thing. I’ll just get a cab.”
Lu Hanting raised an eyebrow. “Weren’t you the one who said you’d play along for Grandma’s sake? Get in. Don’t make me repeat myself.”
The man was impossibly bossy.
But a thought sparked in Xia Xiwan’s mind. He had agreed to the peace treaty she proposed last night!
Without further protest, Xia Xiwan obediently slid into the luxury car.
The car sped along the road in silence. To avoid the awkwardness, Xia Xiwan turned to look out the window.
Lu Hanting’s reflection was cast on the gleaming glass. He drove with intense focus, his large hands resting capably on the steering wheel, executing turns, lane changes, and accelerations with a fluid, effortless grace.
Xia Xiwan noticed the expensive steel watch on his strong wrist, a piece worth millions.
She had no idea what his real identity was, only that they had now reached a truce, which would make her own plans at the Xia family home much easier to carry out.
Her gaze drifted back to the scenery rushing past outside.
…
Half an hour later, the car pulled up in front of the Xia family residence. Xia Xiwan looked down to unbuckle her seatbelt.
But it was stuck.
“Let me,” Lu Hanting said, leaning his tall frame across the console.
Xia Xiwan let her hands fall away, allowing him to help.
He had noticed her fragrance last night, but now, with him so close, the pleasant, girlish scent filled his senses, swirling around him.
005
Lu Hanting was no stranger to the perfumes women wore, but the cloying, artificial scents always repulsed him.
The fragrance drifting from this girl, however, was different. It was captivating.
Lu Hanting unbuckled his seatbelt and asked in a low voice, “What perfume are you wearing?”
Perfume?
Xia Xiwan shook her head. “I’m not wearing any.”
“Then how do you smell so…”
Lu Hanting lifted his head, but he froze mid-motion. As he did, his lips brushed gently against Xia Xiwan’s.
A thin veil was all that separated them, and in that unguarded moment, they kissed.
Xia Xiwan’s long lashes fluttered. This was… her first kiss.
Lu Hanting pulled back quickly. His deep, narrow eyes swept over her lips, hidden behind the veil, and he swallowed hard. “I apologize,” he said, his voice low. “Unless… you want a chance to kiss me back?”
Xia Xiwan stared at him. “I think… I should slap you.”
A smirk played on Lu Hanting’s thin lips, and a magnetic, amused chuckle rumbled in his throat.
Xia Xiwan pushed open the passenger door. “I’m leaving.”
“My name is Lu Hanting.”
Xia Xiwan didn’t give it much thought, offering only a noncommittal “Mhm.” She couldn’t care less about his name right now; all she wanted was to see her grandfather.
“Got it, Mr. Lu. Goodbye.” Standing outside the car, Xia Xiwan gave him a small wave.
She was wearing a red sweater, and as she waved, it rode up slightly, revealing a sliver of her slender waist. Lu Hanting’s fingers, resting on the steering wheel, traced a slow circle. He wondered if that waist was slender enough for his hand to wrap around.
“I have a meeting, but I’ll come pick you up later.”
“There’s no need—”
But before Xia Xiwan could finish her refusal, the luxury car had already sped away.
...
Upstairs, Xia Xiaodie had witnessed the entire scene. Well, well. That Xia Xiwan acted all prim and proper, but she’d only been married a day and was already hooking up with another man.
Xia Xiaodie’s gaze fell on the luxury car. It was nice, but not top-of-the-line. But that license plate…
She’d never seen one like it, but she’d heard her friends talk about it. A plate like that was insane—it meant you could do whatever you wanted in all of Haicheng.
How could some random guy Xia Xiwan picked up have a plate like that?
Xia Xiaodie figured she must be mistaken. She rubbed her eyes and looked again, but the car was gone. She must have seen it wrong.
She rushed downstairs just in time to see Xia Xiwan. “Xia Xiwan!” she shouted with a laugh. “Who was that man who just dropped you off? I didn’t realize you were so desperate you had to keep a boy toy!”
Boy toy?
Lu Hanting?
An image of Lu Hanting’s handsome, chiseled face appeared in Xia Xiwan’s mind—his commanding presence, a mix of mature restraint and raw dominance. She couldn’t possibly connect him with the term “boy toy.”
She wondered what acceptance speech the “boy toy” Lu Hanting might give for such an award.
“Where’s Grandpa? I need to see him.” Xia Xiwan bypassed Xia Xiaodie and headed upstairs.
In an upstairs room, Grandpa Xia lay on the bed. He had been in a coma for ten years, long since declared to be in a vegetative state by the doctors.
In the Xia family, aside from her mother, Grandpa Xia was the person who had loved her most.
Ten years ago, when she was only nine, her mother had died from an illness. One day, she woke to find herself at the top of the stairs while her grandfather lay in a pool of blood at the bottom. Her father, Xia Zhenguo, and the maids rushed in. No matter how she tried to explain, they all insisted that she had pushed him.
Later, Xia Zhenguo brought in a fortune teller who claimed she was a curse, an ill-omened star whose presence brought calamity to those around her.
And so, overnight, Xia Zhenguo sent his nine-year-old daughter to the countryside, cutting off all contact.
It was only later that Xia Xiwan learned her father had been having an affair all along. He had ended up in bed with the famous actress Li Yulan and even had two daughters with her—the older of whom, Xia Yanyan, was even older than she was.
Xia Xiwan had used this arranged marriage as a pretense to return, determined to uncover the truth of what happened all those years ago.
Xia Xiwan checked Grandpa Xia’s pulse, then took out a set of silver needles and inserted them into his acupuncture points.
After putting the needles away, she tucked the blanket around him. “Don’t worry, Grandpa,” she whispered. “I will heal you. You’ll wake up very soon.”
...
In the kitchen.
Xia Xiaodie found Li Yulan. “Mom, I have to tell you something! Xia Xiwan was just dropped off by a man—a boy toy she’s keeping!”
Li Yulan was preparing bird’s nest soup. She paused, surprised. “She’s already keeping a boy toy? What a shameless creature.”
“Mom, who are you making the soup for?”
“For Xia Xiwan.”
“What? Mom, did I hear you right?”
“Don’t be so hasty. I put something in it. At the wedding yesterday, that Mr. Wang took a liking to Xia Xiwan. She’s got a nice figure; she can be a plaything for these old bosses. Once I get some compromising photos of her, she’ll have no choice but to obey me.”
Xia Xiaodie gave her a thumbs-up in admiration. “Mom, you’re a genius! I’m going to the bakery to buy a cake. I’ll be back later to watch the show!”
Li Yulan brought the soup out. Just then, Xia Xiwan came downstairs. “Xiwan,” Li Yulan called out sweetly. “I made some bird’s nest soup just for you. Come and have some.”
Li Yulan made her soup? Could she really eat this?
A small smile played on Xia Xiwan’s lips. She walked confidently into the dining room, took the spoon, and ate a few mouthfuls. Then, with an air of pure innocence, she smiled. “This is delicious, Auntie. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. If you like it, finish it all.” *Idiot*, Li Yulan cursed inwardly, forcing a smile.
A moment later, Xia Xiwan’s vision blurred. “Auntie,” she slurred, “what did you… give me?”
She slumped forward onto the table.
Li Yulan sneered and ordered someone to carry Xia Xiwan to a room upstairs.
...
Soon, a portly, sleazy-looking middle-aged man hurried over, his excitement palpable. “Mrs. Xia, where is she? Did you get her?”
“Mr. Wang, Xia Xiwan is in the room,” Li Yulan said with a smile. “The drug will keep her out for two hours. You can take your time and… enjoy yourself.”
“Mrs. Xia, you’ve done a fine job.” Mr. Wang scurried toward the room.
But Li Yulan grabbed his arm. “Mr. Wang, you promised you would invest in Xia Medical…”
At the wedding banquet yesterday, Mr. Wang had been captivated by Xia Xiwan’s delicate and stunning figure, so he had struck a deal with Li Yulan.
“Don’t you worry, Mrs. Xia. I’m a man of my word.” With that, Mr. Wang hurried into the room.
...
Inside, Mr. Wang practically drooled at the sight of Xia Xiwan lying on the bed. He hastily tore off his clothes and lunged for her. “Little beauty, here I come!”
