Yan Xi immediately stepped forward to carefully examine the wound on Zhou Yanci’s arm. Fortunately, it was only a superficial injury—nothing serious.
She let out a sigh of relief.
But the contact of their skin sent tiny electric currents through them. Zhou Yanci’s expression darkened abruptly, his fingers gripping the edge of the bathtub tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
Yan Xi didn’t notice how his ears had already flushed red, nor the storm of desire swirling in his eyes.
Assistant Sun was the first to react. "President Yan, please take care of President Zhou! The doctor is on the way—I’ll go meet him at the entrance!"
Song Zhile, meanwhile, restrained Qu Yan. "I... I’ll take this woman to security!"
The two quickly left with Qu Yan, leaving only Yan Xi and Zhou Yanci in the executive suite.
To be honest, Yan Xi was nervous.
This was her first time dealing with something like this—she had no experience.
The system chimed in: [Host, your brother probably won’t last much longer. If he keeps holding back, he’ll break.]
Yan Xi: !!!
She swallowed hard, her expression uneasy. "Has the doctor not arrived yet?"
[No. The Sheraton Hotel is in what’s politely called the high-tech district, but let’s be real—it’s the suburbs. The facilities here are lacking. Assistant Sun has already contacted the nearest doctor, but it’s rush hour. It’ll take some time for them to get here.]
Yan Xi: "..."
Black lines practically appeared over her head. "Wait, isn’t this just some kind of... stimulant? It’s not like some immortal drama’s love potion—can’t he just handle it himself?"
The system: [???]
After a moment of thought, the little glowing orb replied, [...Actually, you’re right!]
So Yan Xi didn’t understand why the system and Assistant Sun were making such a big deal out of this. If the doctor couldn’t make it in time, so what? Zhou Yanci wasn’t exactly a teenager—surely he’d done this before. Couldn’t he just take care of it himself?
The system sighed. [Host, no wonder you’re just a side character.]
"Hey, why the sudden insult?"
[You’re not wrong—Qu Yan did slip him a stimulant. But this is a novel world! Scenes like this exist to deepen relationships or push the plot forward. Why would the male lead just handle it himself?]
[By your logic, 80% of one-night-stand-and-run tropes would collapse. Most of those involve the male lead being drugged, forced into intimacy with the female lead, and then—bam!—instant pregnancy. If all those male leads thought like you and just took care of it themselves, where would the ‘ball’ come from?~]
A herd of alpacas stampeded through Yan Xi’s mind.
"But my reasoning isn’t wrong, is it?"
[Actually, yes.] The system blinked. [In a novel world, some common sense doesn’t apply. If a character is drugged, unless they go to the hospital, the only way to resolve it is through deep physical contact with the opposite sex—and achieving physiological satisfaction. Both are non-negotiable!]
Yan Xi felt like the system might as well have just said "have sex" outright.
Good grief. A simple little blue pill, and this novel world treats it like some immortal drama’s cursed love potion?
Since dealing with the drug was too complicated, Yan Xi couldn’t think of a better solution for now. She rummaged through the first-aid kit Assistant Sun had left behind, drained the bathtub, and began bandaging Zhou Yanci’s wounds.
Zhou Yanci’s rationality hadn’t fully returned—the drug still clouded his mind. As Yan Xi leaned in, he repeated his earlier words like a child:
"Xi’er, I didn’t touch her. The moment she got close, I knew it wasn’t you."
"I know. Stay still—let me treat your wounds."
Shards of glass had embedded themselves in Zhou Yanci’s arm, the pain briefly overpowering the drug’s effects. Yan Xi’s heart ached as she carefully removed each fragment with tweezers.
Zhou Yanci seemed oblivious to the pain, his breathing growing heavier.
Compared to those wounds, Yan Xi was the far deadlier poison. Every accidental brush of her fingers chipped away at his crumbling self-control.
Water dripped from Zhou Yanci’s soaked hair. The cold could no longer suppress the fire in his abdomen—the thread holding back the boulder had finally snapped.
With his uninjured hand, Zhou Yanci cupped the back of Yan Xi’s head and kissed her deeply.
Yan Xi: !!!
She hadn’t even finished treating his wounds!
The system was once again banished to its "black box," unable to hear Yan Xi’s internal screaming.
Zhou Yanci kissed her fiercely, all his pent-up emotions surging forth at once. His tongue tangled with hers, invading, conquering—he swiftly overwhelmed her senses, advancing relentlessly.
The iodine and cotton swabs were knocked over, the golden liquid exploding like fireworks in the water.
Just like Yan Xi’s mind—flashes of light, then blankness.
She tried to pull back, but Zhou Yanci’s broad hand held her firmly in place. There was no escape.
A passionate kiss was never just a kiss. It carried desire, restlessness, reluctance—but also restraint and love.
When the kiss deepened, even her heart trembled.
Zhou Yanci was no different. He’d thought the kiss might ease the fire inside him, but it only stoked the flames.
He kissed Yan Xi’s delicate lips, her small nose, her fluttering eyelashes. He wanted more—to claim more of her, to mark every inch of her as his. But he couldn’t bring himself to.
Perhaps he feared she might regret it.
Zhou Yanci knew he was old-fashioned in this regard. He wanted Yan Xi—but only if she wanted him too. Not out of obligation as his girlfriend.
Sex wasn’t about duty. If there was no love, there should be no crossing that line.
So all intimacy stopped at the kiss. Zhou Yanci didn’t push further. With what little rationality remained, he restrained himself, content just to kiss her.
Yan Xi heard Zhou Yanci’s voice—heavy, ragged breaths, unbearably sensual.
She didn’t dare look down.
Just from the sounds, she knew exactly what Zhou Yanci was doing.
He was... taking care of it himself.
One hand worked his own arousal, while the other interlaced with Yan Xi’s fingers. His breathing was rough, his voice strained—only faint, ambiguous gasps escaped his lips.
Deep contact. Physiological satisfaction. Both conditions were met simultaneously.
Yan Xi was stunned. Was this... exploiting a loophole?
But it was just a kiss. They’d kissed before—why did this time feel so different?
That tingling sensation spread to her scalp, her entire body reacting in ways she didn’t understand.
......
It lasted longer than Yan Xi expected.
Afterward, Zhou Yanci sat on the edge of the bathtub, his clothes completely drenched. His white shirt clung to his well-defined abs.
He pulled Yan Xi onto his lap.
Softly, she murmured, "Actually... I wouldn’t have refused..."
For a couple, intimacy was a natural progression. They weren’t practicing celibacy—Yan Xi wasn’t opposed to it.
She was just nervous because it was her first time.
Zhou Yanci nibbled her earlobe. "I didn’t want to force you. Just because you’re my girlfriend doesn’t mean you have to do this for me."
Yan Xi paused. "It wouldn’t have been forced."
Amusement and bitterness flickered in Zhou Yanci’s eyes.
"And what about your senior?"
Yan Xi blinked. "My senior? Who—Song Zhile?"
When Yan Xi mentioned that name, Zhou Yanci's gaze darkened instantly, his grip tightening around her waist.
He didn’t answer. Instead, he cupped the back of her head and kissed her again—soft yet overwhelming, possessive and aggressive, leaving Yan Xi breathless.
Gasping, Yan Xi pushed him away.
Confused, she asked, "What does Song Zhile have to do with this?"
Zhou Yanci’s eyes grew even darker. "You still haven’t forgotten him, have you?"
Yan Xi: ?
What nonsense was this? Why would she still remember Song Zhile? There was nothing between them!
"Are you misunderstanding something?"
Zhou Yanci looked aggrieved. "Wasn’t he your first crush? He even admitted you two were together. He said you refused to go public because you didn’t love me..."
Yan Xi: ?????????
Her head spun. "How could I possibly have feelings for Song Zhile? And when were we ever together? He likes Qingyu!"
Zhou Yanci froze for several seconds.
His mind worked quickly, replaying every conversation he’d ever had with Song Zhile in those few moments.
Damn it!
Yan Xi caught on and teased, "You thought my first crush was Song Zhile? No wonder you were glaring at him earlier. Were you jealous?"
Zhou Yanci: "..."
He took a deep breath. "If not him, then who?"
Even if it wasn’t Song Zhile, Zhou Yanci knew there was someone else in Yan Xi’s heart. Even after five years, even though they were together now, she hadn’t let go of that person. She still whispered about liking him when she was drunk.
And the only reason she chose Zhou Yanci was because that person didn’t love her back.
Yan Xi stayed silent. She didn’t know how to explain it to him.
Seeing her hesitation, Zhou Yanci’s eyes dimmed with disappointment. Even knowing she loved someone else, he couldn’t let her go. He just wanted to hold her tighter.
"Forget it. It’s all in the past."
He kissed her lips again, this time gentle and cautious, as if testing whether she still wanted his touch.
His heart ached sharply.
Yan Xi kissed him back, and between breaths, she whispered—
"It was you, Zhou Yanci."
He didn’t understand her abrupt words, so she repeated them, firm and clear.
"You were the one I called 'senior.'"
"You were my first crush."
Zhou Yanci was stunned.
Yan Xi countered, "Wasn’t it you who told me I could call you 'senior' when we first met?"
First… meeting…
His mind went blank, overwhelmed by the sudden rush of joy, slowing his thoughts and reactions.
Memories from five years ago resurfaced, and Zhou Yanci finally remembered.
Back then, his father had tasked him with handling the Lin family’s affairs.
That day, rain poured relentlessly.
Distraught over the Meng family’s situation, Zhou Yanci had stepped into the stairwell for a cigarette, only to find Yan Xi there.
The girl stood on the landing below him, hidden in the dim light, quietly crying without noticing his presence.
Zhou Yanci hesitated, then pocketed his cigarette.
He wasn’t addicted—just needed the nicotine to clear his head. But he didn’t want to disturb her. If she was crying in the stairwell, she probably didn’t want to be seen.
Later, in the company’s meeting room, he saw her again. That was when he learned Yan Xi was the Lin family’s disowned fake heiress, a beneficiary of his father’s charity.
But unlike the fragile girl in the stairwell, she now stood resolute, showing no trace of tears.
Zhou Yanci suddenly felt ashamed.
He was drowning in his struggles with the Meng family and Meng Yingrong, yet Yan Xi had cleanly severed ties with the Lins, never clinging to what wasn’t hers.
But he? He still longed for familial love, and that was why he was such a mess.
Perhaps that was why he intervened when Father Lin tried to hit her. And why, out of shared loneliness, he told her she could call him "senior."
He wanted to see how far this girl—abandoned by a wealthy family yet fortunate enough to earn his father’s favor—would go.
……
The past faded like smoke, and only now did Zhou Yanci recall every detail of that day, every word he’d said to her.
His heart swelled, and he gripped her hand tightly. "Then when you said you loved me while drunk… that was real too?"
Yan Xi pinched his earlobe lightly. "It was real."
"There’s only ever been you. No one else."
She met his gaze. "Zhou Yanci, let’s go public."
She had thought she could hide her feelings forever, afraid he’d leave if he ever learned the truth about why she approached him.
But seeing him so dejected hurt too much.
Zhou Yanci’s throat moved as he clasped her hand.
Yan Xi felt something cold against her wrist. Looking down, she saw him fastening a delicate bracelet around it.
The bracelet was stunning—red diamonds glittering under the bathroom lights.
Each stone was a full carat, ten in total.
Ten… ten!
Her eyes widened. "You—you—"
"Do you like it?" Zhou Yanci asked.
She had once casually mentioned wanting a red diamond bracelet. He’d actually bought it for her.
Yan Xi nodded. "I love it."
She hugged him tightly.
She loved the bracelet.
But she loved him even more.
.
Zhou Qingyu received Assistant Sun’s message in the middle of filming. She excused herself from Director Wei and rushed to the Sheraton Hotel.
Song Zhile was already waiting at the entrance. The moment she stepped out of the car, he hurried over.
"Qingyu, you’re here! Was the trip from downtown exhausting? I brought you some juice—"
"Song Zhile?"
Zhou Qingyu had a good memory and recognized her first love instantly.
Song Zhile was ecstatic. "I knew you wouldn’t forget me—"
She frowned. "Enough chatter. Where’s Yan Xi?"
"Oh! Right, this way."
He led her toward the guest suites.
Zhou Qingyu strode ahead, urgency in her eyes. She had already grilled Assistant Sun for details on the way and knew what kind of drug Zhou Yanci had been given.
The fact that Assistant Sun had left Yan Xi alone with him to "solve the problem" infuriated her.
If Yan Xi willingly slept with Zhou Yanci, that was one thing. But forcing her? What kind of logic was that? If Zhou Yanci couldn’t find a doctor, he could suffer for all she cared—but dragging Yan Xi into it?
Yan Xi was only twenty! Still a student!
The physical disparity between men and women was already unfair, and with Assistant Sun abandoning her in that suite, what chance did she have if Zhou Yanci forced himself on her?
In the lobby, Zhou Qingyu spotted Assistant Sun. Without a word, she swung her crocodile leather handbag and smashed it right onto his head!
Assistant Sun saw stars, his face instantly marked with a red welt. Yet he steadied himself and bowed respectfully to Zhou Qingyu.
"Young Miss."
Zhou Qingyu snapped, "Didn’t you already call a doctor?! Why drag Yan Xi into this?!"
Assistant Sun hesitated. "The doctor was Plan A, but it’ll take time for him to reach the Hilaire Hotel. President Yan… was Plan B."
He knew it wasn’t right, but as Zhou Yanci’s assistant, his priority was Zhou Yanci’s well-being.
Zhou Qingyu’s face darkened, and she raised her handbag again.
Just then, the elevator doors opened, and Zhou Yanci stepped out, holding Yan Xi’s hand.
Their drenched clothes had been changed—Assistant Sun had prepared fresh outfits. Zhou Yanci now wore a navy-blue dress shirt and slacks, while Yan Xi was in a champagne-colored A-line gown from a high-end designer.
As the two emerged from the elevator… Zhou Qingyu had to admit, they made quite the striking pair.
Gritting her teeth, she reluctantly lowered her handbag and pulled Yan Xi to her side.
—Given Zhou Yanci’s current state, it was clear the effects of the drug had worn off. And with both of them changed into dry clothes… well, the implications were obvious.
Zhou Qingyu glared in exasperation. "If you didn’t want to, you should’ve just let Zhou Yanci suffer! The doctor was on his way anyway!"
Yan Xi quickly caught her meaning, her cheeks flushing. "He didn’t do anything to me."
Zhou Qingyu glanced at Zhou Yanci. "Seriously? His condition was resolved, but you didn’t help him?"
"He… took care of it himself."
Zhou Qingyu’s eyes widened, and she looked at Zhou Yanci with newfound respect.
In elite circles, drugging someone to climb the social ladder wasn’t uncommon—men and women alike tried it. Most couldn’t resist, either letting the schemer succeed or keeping them as a secret lover.
But Zhou Yanci… actually resisted touching Yan Xi?
Zhou Qingyu abruptly changed the subject. "Is he… not capable?"
Though Yan Xi was young, physical compatibility still mattered!
Yan Xi recalled the duration and stammered, "He’s… decent."
Zhou Qingyu exhaled in relief. Zhou Yanci was more principled than she’d thought. She’d always assumed the older man had ulterior motives for pursuing a girl seven years his junior.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, Zhou Qingyu spotted the red diamond bracelet on Yan Xi’s wrist. Even with her extensive exposure to luxury jewelry, the piece made her gasp.
"Zhou Yanci gave you this?"
Yan Xi nodded. She’d been tempted to take it off—it was too extravagant, and she was afraid of damaging it.
"Not bad, Zhou Yanci," Zhou Qingyu conceded, a rare compliment escaping her lips. "Fine, I’ll give him a point for this."
Footsteps approached as security from the Hilaire Hotel arrived, asking how to handle Qu Yan.
Normally, Zhou Yanci would’ve sent her straight to the police. But Qu Yan was Zhou Qingyu’s aunt, and the only reason she hadn’t been handed over yet was out of respect for Zhou Qingyu.
Zhou Qingyu’s expression cooled as she released Yan Xi’s arm.
"I’ll deal with this."
---
Inside the security office, Father Qu had also arrived.
He demanded to take Qu Yan away, but the hotel’s security team refused.
Qu Yan pointed an accusing finger. "Do you even know who we are? This is unlawful detention!"
The head of security remained unmoved. "Mr. Zhou gave explicit orders not to let you leave."
Qu Yan paled, and Father Qu’s face twisted in displeasure.
The door swung open, and Zhou Qingyu walked in.
Both froze at the sight of her.
Qu Yan had specifically checked—Zhou Qingyu was supposed to be filming all day, with night scenes scheduled. She never expected her niece to show up.
"Sweetheart!" Qu Yan instantly switched from haughty to tearful. "They’re framing me! I didn’t do anything wrong—I just wanted to help Yanci when he was in pain!"
Father Qu chimed in, "That’s right, sweetheart! Don’t listen to outsiders!"
Zhou Qingyu let out a cold laugh. "Do you think I’m stupid?"
Ignoring Father Qu, she focused on Qu Yan. "Auntie, you’ve never had any interest in my father—because your real goal was always to become my sister-in-law, wasn’t it?"
Qu Yan and Father Qu were stunned.
Especially Qu Yan. She’d thought her secret was well-hidden, but Zhou Qingyu had seen right through her.
Zhou Qingyu pulled up a chair and sat, arms crossed, looking down at them with disdain.
"A few years ago, you kept warning me that Zhou Yanci would fight me for the family fortune. But the moment he came of age, suddenly you’re after him? Don’t you find that ridiculous?"
Father Qu and Qu Yan exchanged uneasy glances.
Qu Yan stammered, "Sweetheart, this is a misunderstanding! I only see Yanci as a nephew—"
"As a nephew? So you drugged him and tried to climb into his bed?" Zhou Qingyu’s laugh was laced with scorn. "No wonder Zhou Yanci despises you. I used to think it was because of me, but now I get it—he knew about your disgusting intentions all along!"
"And you lied to me, saying he hated you because you supported me against him. All these years, Auntie, I treated you well. Was this how you repaid me?"
During her rivalry with Zhou Yanci, Zhou Qingyu had never sensed malice from him—only his disdain for the Qu family.
She’d assumed Zhou Yanci was just good at hiding his true feelings in front of her. But now she realized: perhaps he’d never hated her at all. His contempt had always been reserved for the Qu family.
Yet she’d blindly trusted these so-called relatives for so long.
Qu Yan clutched Zhou Qingyu’s hand desperately. "Qingqing, listen to me! Yes, I love Yanci, but that’s separate. You and he aren’t even full siblings, and now that you’ve acquired the Meng Group, he must resent you even more—"
Before she could finish, Zhou Qingyu yanked her hand away.
"Enough! You still take me for a fool? If Zhou Yanci truly wanted me gone, he could’ve acted long ago!"
She’d once believed her father’s influence was the only thing keeping Zhou Yanci in check. Now she understood—Zhou Yanci had never targeted her at all.
"Let’s end this," Zhou Qingyu said wearily. Qu Yan was still family, and she couldn’t bring herself to be ruthless.
"Auntie, you took care of me when Mother was gone. For that, I won’t destroy you."
Qu Yan exhaled shakily in relief.
"But you’ll face the consequences—whether it’s for assault, harassment, or violating personal rights. I won’t interfere, and neither will Zhou Yanci. Let the law decide."
Qu Yan panicked. "Sweetheart! You’d send me to jail? I’m your aunt! Your family! How could you do this to me!"
Zhou Qingyu stared at her coldly. "Zhou Yanci is also my family! If you weren’t my aunt, do you think sending someone to the police would be enough for daring to harm my loved ones?"
Qu Yan stiffened, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Zhou Qingyu continued, her voice sharp, "One more thing—don’t come to the Zhou residence again. Out of respect for my mother, I’ll let the past go. But if you ever lay a hand on what’s mine again—"
Her gaze flicked to Qu Yan, then lifted to Father Qu.
"It won’t end with just the police."
