In the hotel's vast private room. Bo Hanshi had left, and Jiang Yuchuan had chased after him. Now, only Ye Chengze and Qiao Yu remained. Qiao Yu was no fool. A sense of dread washed over her. Clutching her violin, she moved to leave. "Mr. Ye, if you'll excuse me." She'd barely reached the door when, with a flick of his chin from Ye Chengze, the two bodyguards blocked her path. A roguish smile played on Ye Chengze's lips. "Didn't you hear me, Miss Qiao? Bo Hanshi... he already gave you to me." Qiao Yu’s grip on her violin tightened. She forced her lips into a calm line. "What kind of joke is that, Mr. Ye? Mr. Bo himself said I'm his ex-girlfriend. As his ex, he has no right to 'give' me to anyone." "Qiao Yu, don't fucking test me!" Ye Chengze's voice was a lazy drawl, but the words were no joke. Qiao Yu swallowed hard, turning to face him. "What is it you really want?" "You tricked me into breaking off our engagement all those years ago. I can let that slide for tonight. You're here to play for cash, aren't you? Drink this, and I'll let you go." Qiao Yu was wary. "That's it?" Trap or not, she had to drink it. It was her only way out. Fearing she'd be forced to drink, Qiao Yu had taken medication to counteract the alcohol—and an antihistamine, just in case—before she even arrived. So she drank the glass of liquor without a moment's hesitation, tilting her head back and downing it in one go. She turned the empty glass upside down, not a single drop remaining. "There. Satisfied?" *Clap! Clap!* Ye Chengze applauded, a flicker of genuine surprise in his eyes. "Well, I'll be. Miss Qiao looks so demure, but she’s got a backbone after all." Qiao Yu offered a tight, polite smile. "In that case, I'll be on my way." The two bodyguards at the door didn't budge. "What's the meaning of this?" Ye Chengze grinned, his gaze wandering over her. "Bo Hanshi's already thrown you away, so why not come to me? It's been six years, and I’ve learned that a man is a greedy creature. He always craves a taste of the fruit he was denied." Especially when the fruit was this exquisite, and had been picked by Bo Hanshi himself. That only piqued his curiosity further. It was then that Qiao Yu felt it—a sudden, unbearable heat surging through her veins, as if her blood had begun to boil. She glared at the empty glass, her brow furrowed. "What did you put in my drink?" "Just a little something to liven things up. For fun." With a wave of his hand, Ye Chengze dismissed the bodyguards. Qiao Yu stumbled back, her voice shaking with fury. "Ye Chengze! You bastard!" "Qiao Yu, for someone like you—used goods who's been with another man—I'm still willing to take you. You should be grateful. You have any idea how many women would kill to be in your position? And here you are, being handed the chance. You'd better grab it." Qiao Yu felt a wave of nausea. "If I'm 'used goods,' then how many hands have you passed through? Don't tell me you think a man who's slept his way through half the city is some kind of prize. To me, you're not even garbage!" "The only thing tough about you is your mouth!" Ye Chengze’s hand shot out, grabbing her wrist and slamming her back against the massive dining table. He reached for her dress, ready to tear it open. A wave of humiliation and furious grief crashed over her. "Bo Hanshi despises anyone touching his possessions! Even his castoffs! Ye Chengze, aren't you afraid of him…" she tried to bluff, to scare him into stopping. But Ye Chengze had a reputation of his own in Xizhou—a resident hell-raiser who feared nothing and no one. He sneered, patting her cheek. "You can't still be dreaming he'll come back and save you, can you? Wake up, Qiao Yu. For a man like Bo Hanshi, betrayal trumps any lingering possessiveness." Color drained from Qiao Yu's face, only to flood back in a feverish blush. His words had struck the most vulnerable, fatal point in her soul. Her struggles felt useless. The drug was taking over, blurring her thoughts and stealing the strength from her limbs. Her eyes, rimmed with red, glistened with unshed tears, as if she had finally submitted. "Please, be gentle, Ye Chengze. I'm afraid of the pain." Ye Chengze chuckled, satisfied. "See? Should have just been a good girl from the start." As he let his guard down, Qiao Yu's arm suddenly snaked around his neck. He relaxed completely, and her other hand fumbled across the table, fingers closing around the cool, heavy weight of a crystal ashtray. *CRACK!* She brought the ashtray down on his head with all her might. His head exploded in a dull roar. Warm, sticky blood streamed from his forehead into his eyes, blinding him. Snatching a dinner knife from the table, Qiao Yu scrambled for the door. The two bodyguards outside hadn't even processed what was happening when the man in the room roared, clutching his head. "What the hell are you gawking at? Get her back here! Fuck! That damn bitch… agh… shit, she hits hard!" … Under the night sky, a black Maybach with the license plate Jing A99999 was parked at the hotel entrance. Jiang Yuchuan sat in the front, trying to persuade Bo Hanshi. "Hanshi, you know what Ye Chengze is like. He’s notorious in Xizhou for how he treats women. If Qiao Yu falls into his hands…" "You pity her?" the man cut him off, his face a mask of ice. "Qiao Yu may have wronged you, but you two had something once. Hanshi, I don't want you to regret this." "Drive," Bo Hanshi commanded. Defeated, Jiang Yuchuan was just about to start the car. Qiao Yu burst out of the hotel lobby, her clothes in disarray. Right on her heels were Ye Chengze's two bodyguards. Without a second thought, she wrenched open the door of the Maybach. Bo Hanshi was her only hope. She scrambled inside, tumbling into his arms. Forgetting all pride and dignity, she pressed her lips against his in a sudden, desperate kiss, using every ounce of skill she possessed, trying to ignite even a spark of desire in him. Her eyes were swimming with tears, the corners red as she begged him, "Bo Hanshi… don't push me away…"