The air was thick with the mingled scents of alcohol and something sweetly pungent. The room’s air conditioning was set to a comfortable temperature, yet Ye Shengsheng felt a chill run through her, her usual composure shattered.
This was too dramatic! How had she ended up sleeping with Bian Che?!
She pressed a hand over her mouth, biting down hard on her lower lip to stifle the scream threatening to escape.
Time ticked by, her mind a whirlwind of chaos. Ye Shengsheng couldn’t recall anything—her memory cut off at last night’s "blackout plan."
How ironic. Life truly was an open wilderness, with drafts blowing in from every direction.
After taking a moment to steady herself, she finally reined in her overwhelming emotions. Gently, she lifted her head from the man’s arm, slipped out from under the covers, and stepped off the bed.
Her legs felt like they’d been through a war, muscles aching fiercely. The moment her feet touched the carpet, they nearly gave out, and she barely suppressed a curse. Gripping the edge of the bed for balance, she shot a wary glance at the sleeping figure.
Bian Che was still deep in slumber, his lashes resting against faint shadows under his eyes—evidence of exhaustion. The sheets pooled around his waist, revealing a bare chest littered with scratches, defined abs, and muscular thighs. The most conspicuous part of him was barely concealed. She quickly averted her gaze, but the heat in her cheeks betrayed her. The images from last night flashed vividly in her mind, every detail crystal clear.
Clothes were strewn from the bedside to the living room, a silent map of last night’s battlefield.
Ye Shengsheng picked them up one by one, moving soundlessly.
Her emotions in turmoil, she retreated to the bathroom, locking the door behind her. Bracing her arms against the sink, she stared at her reflection in the pristine mirror.
The windowless bathroom was bathed in warm yellow light, illuminating every mark on her body with brutal clarity.
Her hair was a mess, her eyes unfocused. Her upper body was covered in suggestive bruises, but the most shocking was the deep, purplish-red fingerprint on her inner thigh—undeniable proof of rough handling.
Ever since Zhu Ze had cheated on her with Gao Xueying, her once-peaceful life had toppled like a row of dominoes, spiraling out of control.
Her finger hovered over the numbers "110." She knew that once she made this call, there would be no turning back—she’d be thrust into the spotlight again, subjected to public scrutiny. But whether it was the sobriety or self-delusion, fragments of last night’s memories resurfaced, making her question whether she was truly the victim.
Ye Shengsheng’s eyes reddened as she glared at her reflection, swallowing back tears.
No more thinking. The priority now was to get out of this room immediately.
Gritting her teeth, she picked up the landline and called the front desk, making a snap decision.
...
Luo Ziming arrived at Room 1208. Instead of ringing the doorbell, he followed the client’s instructions and sent a text.
A third-year student at Jinghang University, he worked part-time as a drinks promoter at [Du] to cover living expenses and save for studying abroad. With his good looks and tall frame, his sales were always strong, and he occasionally indulged in relationships with wealthy older women.
The girl from last night had clearly been a privileged socialite—her clothes might not have been branded, but the accessories on her bag were unmistakably luxury. The nightclub’s manager had trained them well in recognizing high-end brands, so even in the dim lighting, he’d pegged her as a high spender. Still, he hadn’t expected her to contact him today—let alone arrange to meet at a hotel.
After sending the message, he waited, but there was no reply. Pressing his ear to the door, he caught faint sounds of movement inside. He straightened up immediately, holding his breath as the door unlocked.
The door cracked open just enough for him to glimpse Ye Shengsheng’s face. Her lashes flickered, every micro-expression radiating cold detachment as she jerked her chin, signaling him to enter.
Though the rich girl wasn’t as warm as he’d imagined, Luo Ziming was still thrilled by this stroke of luck.
The suite was luxurious, every piece of furniture exuding opulence. Even the artwork on the walls looked like it cost a fortune.
Just as he was debating how to break the ice, a soft, indifferent voice cut through the silence.
"Take off your clothes. Let’s make this quick."
Damn, straight to the point?
Despite his readiness, Luo Ziming choked back surprise. Recovering swiftly, he flashed a practiced smile, crossing his arms to pull his T-shirt over his head in one smooth motion. His torso was lean, youthful, and taut.
Ye Shengsheng’s gaze slid away as she cautiously guided him toward the bedroom. But as the door swung open, Luo Ziming froze mid-step.
The bed was a mess, and a man lay asleep amidst the disarray—the implications were obvious.
He took a step back, clutching his shirt to his chest, discomfort written all over his face. "Sorry, babe, I don’t do threesomes."
His voice might have been too loud—the man on the bed stirred slightly. Ye Shengsheng shot him a glare, pressing a finger to her lips in sharp warning. Luo Ziming instantly fell silent.
She watched the bed intently until she was sure Bian Che had fallen back asleep, then whispered, "I don’t need you to do anything. Just get undressed, lie down, and let me take a few photos."
Luo Ziming inhaled sharply. "A honey trap?"
"He’s into cosplay," Ye Shengsheng replied without a trace of guilt, her gaze steady. "100,000 yuan for a few photos with him."
Bian Che’s face was buried in the sheets, so Luo Ziming couldn’t see who he was dealing with—unaware of the storm he was stepping into. After a long pause, the allure of money won out. "Can I cover half my face?"
"Fine."
As long as it was clearly a man.
Luo Ziming’s pale torso contrasted starkly with Bian Che’s sun-kissed skin. Being straight, he hadn’t overcome the mental hurdle of getting too close to another man, so he kept a pillow’s width between them—pants still on.
"Move closer. And could you at least try to look natural? Bros passing out drunk together is totally normal." Ye Shengsheng frowned. Male escorts these days had too much morality and too little professionalism.
It took forever to get the right shots. Throughout it all, Bian Che remained motionless, like a corpse. Ye Shengsheng even entertained the idea of punching him to vent her anger. But with the leverage she now had, she reluctantly clenched her fist and let it go.
After transferring the payment, she grabbed her bag and stood. "Money’s sent. I’m leaving. I’m blocking your number—we never met."
The door clicked shut behind her, the sound echoing in the silence.
Luo Ziming was about to bolt too, halfway into his shirt when he turned—and locked eyes with a pair of cold, narrowed ones.
"You... you're awake..." The man's oppressive presence was overwhelming. Ye Shengsheng shrank back abruptly, tumbling off the bed onto the floor, her throat tightening as if swallowing had become difficult.
Bian Che's cold brows furrowed with shadowed intensity, his dark eyes simmering dangerously as he ground out a single word.
"Leave."
......
Noon at twelve, the sun blazed mercilessly. Last night's storm had been nothing more than a fleeting guest of midsummer, leaving not a trace of coolness behind.
Ye Shengsheng hailed a cab back to Jingyun Villa.
Before getting in, she deliberately checked the hotel's registration records at the front desk—her name wasn't listed. Only then did she exhale slightly in relief. As long as she stubbornly denied it, then the one who had slept with Bian Che last night was that male model.
Leaning her head against the window, she gazed outside, though the scenery held little appeal. The glass clearly reflected her wistful expression and the faint redness at the corners of her eyes.
She spent ten minutes mourning her first time—a memory she couldn’t even recall—then another twenty analyzing the current situation and how to handle the aftermath.
The more she thought, the worse her headache grew.
Her phone vibrated in her palm, Fu Zhicheng's name flashing across the screen. Ye Shengsheng swiped to answer.
The voice on the other end immediately launched into an apology: "I'm sorry, Shengsheng. I was drunk last night and slept like the dead this morning. I didn’t hear your calls at all."
Ye Shengsheng forced herself to focus. "Who took me home last night?"
Rubbing her throbbing temples, her stomach aching dully, she needed to piece together last night’s events immediately.
"Bian Che took you home."
Irritation flared, and her voice rose sharply in accusation. "Why would you let him take me? Since when are we on 'take-each-other-home' terms?"
"Huh?" Confusion laced Fu Zhicheng’s reply. "You two drank so much together last night—still not reconciled? And my stupid two-seater couldn’t fit a third person after the driver showed up. Next time we drink, I swear I’m not bringing that damn sports car. All for show, none for comfort..."
Ye Shengsheng couldn’t be bothered with these trivial details anymore. "You could’ve called my family’s driver."
"Oh, come on! You were the one refusing to leave, making a bunch of guys line up at midnight to compare abs. You even said Bian Che was a liar if he couldn’t lift you up like a barbell."
It was Fu Zhicheng’s words that unlocked a dormant memory.
Last night, during a drinking game where they compared bench press weights, Bian Che had claimed sixty kilograms, leaving the others in awed defeat—except Ye Shengsheng, who’d doubted him, convinced he was exaggerating as usual.
The rest of the night came back in fragments: being tossed into the air like a weight, the blur of a ceiling as waves of soreness and tension rolled through her, the sweat dripping from Bian Che’s jaw...
It hit her like a hammer—scattered shards of memory reassembled into a scene where she had forced herself on him.
"What happened? Shengsheng? Shengsheng!" Fu Zhicheng was still on the line, calling her name repeatedly when she didn’t respond.
Ye Shengsheng rolled down the window. The breeze tangled her hair, and in the fresh air, she found her voice again.
"Zhicheng, I have this friend... who did something really ridiculous..."
Halfway through, Fu Zhicheng cut her off. "It’s my fault, okay? Just forgive me already."
"What?" The alcohol still fogged Ye Shengsheng’s mind, her reactions sluggish. She’d hoped to disguise her own blunder under the "friend" pretense and get advice, but now everything was even messier.
"Who else would 'a friend' be but me? You’ve already blocked all those fake friends of yours. Just because I didn’t take you home, it’s not like I committed some unforgivable crime!"
Ye Shengsheng: "......"
As the car turned into the villa district, she closed her eyes and gave up entirely. "Go back to sleep."
Security at Jingyun Villa had recently been heightened to the highest level. Ye Shengsheng lowered the rear window, and after the guard verified her identity and logged the license plate, the taxi was allowed through.
The car pulled up smoothly to the main entrance. Distracted, she paid and stepped out, failing to notice the man smoking by the gate.
Zhu Ze approached, his handsome face weary. "Shengsheng, finally caught up with you."
