"I didn't! I swear I didn't!" I scrambled to explain. "Madam, I wasn't trying to seduce your husband!" Qiao Yan scoffed, holding up a long strand of hair between her pinched fingers. "I found this on my husband's trousers. Don't even try to deny it." My panic surged. "Madam, that's not my hair, you're mistaken." Her glare was venomous. She lunged forward, her fingers digging into the soft flesh of my waist and twisting, hard. "You little bitch. You think you can take me on? You're not even in my league." Pain bleached the color from my face. Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zhou Sihan approaching. My eyelashes trembled, and fat tears began to spill down my cheeks. "Madam, it really wasn't me," I pleaded, my voice breaking. "Please, let me go." Qiao Yan twisted my side again, twice, her nails digging in. "You like seducing men, do you? Someone, rip her clothes off and throw her into the street!" The maids started pulling at my clothes. I cried out, helpless. "No!" Just then, Zhou Sihan strode into the room. "Stop!" The maids froze. My legs gave out, and I crumpled onto the carpet. I clutched at my torn blouse, covering my exposed shoulder, and looked up at Zhou Sihan, my small face a mess of tears. I didn't need a mirror to know how pitiful—and alluring—I must have looked. Zhou Sihan’s gaze fell on Qiao Yan. "She didn't seduce me." Qiao Yan brandished the strand of hair. "Husband, I found this on your trousers! And you're still defending this little slut?" Zhou Sihan took the hair from her. In the sunlight, it glinted with a reddish hue. My hair is jet black. "Look at it," Zhou Sihan said, his voice laced with anger. "This isn't Ruan Ruan's hair!" Qiao Yan was dumbfounded. Just then, a maid in her fifties rushed out, frantic. "Madam, that's my hair! It must have fallen when I was tidying Sir's clothes. At my age, I would never try to seduce the master!" The whole drama turned out to be a misunderstanding. Qiao Yan froze, speechless. Zhou Sihan glared at his wife. "Qiao Yan, apologize to Ruan Ruan!" Qiao Yan's face twisted with fury. She stomped her foot. "Husband, you're making me apologize to a lowly maid?" A faint smile touched my lips. The truth was, I'd planted that hair myself. Surprise, surprise, Qiao Yan. I knew exactly how to provoke her. It was time to teach her another lesson. I reached out a small, trembling hand, tugging timidly at the hem of Zhou Sihan's trousers like a frightened kitten. My voice choked with manufactured sobs. "Sir, please don't fight with Madam because of me. It's all my fault." Every woman has a built-in detector for this kind of act. Recognizing my performance for what it was, Qiao Yan exploded. "Ruan Ruan, shut your mouth!" Zhou Sihan's tone turned to ice. "Qiao Yan. Don't make me say it a third time. Apologize." Qiao Yan was practically fuming, but she swallowed her rage. She lowered her proud head. "Ruan Ruan… I'm sorry." I shook my head pitifully. "No, Madam. You did nothing wrong. It was all my fault." Qiao Yan was silent. The look she gave me could have killed. ………… Back in my room, I sat on the edge of the bed. A moment later, the door clicked open, and someone came in. I knew he would follow. It was Zhou Sihan. I shrank back, looking up at him with wide, tear-filled doe eyes. "Sir, please don't come any closer. If Madam finds out, she'll hit me again." He reassured me, "She won't hit you again." I didn't believe him. "Really?" "I promise," Zhou Sihan said. A sweet smile immediately bloomed on my face. "You're so kind, Sir." Zhou Sihan placed a tube of ointment on the bedside table. "Put some of this on." He turned to leave. "Sir," I called out to him. Zhou Sihan turned back to look at me. "Sir," I began, "I can't reach. Could you… help me put it on?" Right there in front of him, I lifted the hem of my blouse, revealing the pale, smooth skin of my waist.