The dead of winter. The wind cut to the bone. Even the heat blasting in the van couldn't warm the chill in Su Li's heart. A knot of fear tightened in her stomach. But then again, his days were numbered. What more could he possibly do to her? Su Li steadied herself and sent a quick text to Lu Jing, telling her to stay calm. The van pulled up to the largest entertainment club in Jiucheng. The driver opened the door for her. His movements were deferential, but his expression held not a shred of respect. Su Li stepped out, following the man who walked ahead. They passed through a dazzling corridor and stopped at a room at the very end. As the double doors swung open, the man stepped aside. "Mr. Mo, she's here." With that, he gestured for her to enter. The die was cast; there was no turning back. With a 'what's done is done' mentality, she strode inside. The doors clicked shut behind her. A tense energy saturated the enclosed space. The air grew thin, and her heartbeat thudded in her ears. Her eyes swept across the room and landed on a figure seated on the sofa. He had one leg crossed over the other, his entire body slouched deep into the leather couch. From this distance, she couldn't make out his features clearly. A single point of red glowed and faded in the gloom, the faint scent of tobacco hanging in the air. Su Li took a deep breath and walked closer, until his face came into view. The camera didn't do him justice. He was far more handsome in person than in his photos, with one exception: his complexion was even paler. The collar of his black shirt was slightly open, revealing a surprisingly sensual throat and collarbone. That sickly pallor gave his sharp, refined features an almost ethereal, yet menacing, beauty. But he looked vigorous, nothing like a man on his deathbed. With a face like that, she could see why so many women would want to bear his children. As she drew nearer, Su Li saw the marriage certificate in his hand. Right. It was his copy, the one his mother had taken. Of course he would be told after his mother had gone and registered their marriage. She'd been naive to think she could hide. "Ever heard the saying, 'die for a fortune'?" Mo Xingyuan’s gaze was fixed on the woman before him. Any woman who would marry him at a time like this had to be in it for the money. Su Li knew there was no escaping it; his words were a clear warning. So she decided to throw caution to the wind, a devastatingly charming smile curving her lips. "And why can't it be that I've been planning to marry you for a long time, out of pure adoration?" Mo Xingyuan's fingers tightened around the cigarette. *Planning for a long time...* There were women like that, but not now. Not at a time like this. He saw right through her glib lies and that counterfeit smile. He crushed the cigarette in the ashtray, then beckoned her closer with his long, slender fingers. Su Li swallowed hard and took another step forward. Mo Xingyuan uncrossed his legs and sat up straight. In one swift motion, he seized her wrist and yanked her off balance, pulling her into his lap. Caught by surprise, Su Li stumbled into his chest before he pushed her upright again. His hand tightened on her waist, his palm resting on the small of her back. Even through her thick winter coat, a searing heat bloomed where he touched her. Before she had a chance to react, he used the edge of the marriage certificate to tilt her chin up, his deep-set eyes glinting with ridicule. "Adoration?" Her heart hammered against her ribs, but she kept her composure. The sharp edge of the certificate dug uncomfortably into her skin, yet she met his gaze head-on. "I imagine every unmarried woman in Jiucheng adores you." "Hah." A cold chuckle escaped his throat. "You're not afraid to die?" "I am." Mo Xingyuan raised an eyebrow. Su Li’s expression was earnest. "Death comes for everyone. But to die as the wife of the man I adore… I'd have no regrets." Four words flashed through Mo Xingyuan's mind: *A pack of lies.* He shoved her off him forcefully, then brushed his hand over the spot on his trousers where she had sat, not bothering to hide his disgust. "Divorce." Su Li regained her footing. Her eyes fell on the marriage certificate he’d tossed aside. "There's a mandatory one-month cooling-off period," she stated calmly. Mo Xingyuan looked up. "Do you think that applies to me?" Su Li's lips pressed into a thin line. It didn't. Mo Xingyuan stood, his tall frame unfolding. He was all broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long, straight legs. As he strode past, the cuff of his trousers brushed against the hem of her coat. He shot her a glacial look, an unspoken message in his eyes that instantly extinguished any admiration she might have felt. "I won't divorce you." Mo Xingyuan stopped, his eyes turning frigid. Su Li looked straight at him. "I'm not playing games." He narrowed his eyes. "I've thought this through," Su Li said, her voice filled with feigned sincerity. "To be your wife, so I can care for you, bear your children, with the right to do so." "No matter how much time you have left, I don't want any regrets. Call me selfish, but as long as I can be with you, I'll do anything." Her performance was flawless, her eyes even welling up with moisture. She almost impressed herself with the emotion she could summon on cue. Mo Xingyuan moved closer, his voice a low growl. "Anything?" His proximity was suffocating, but she forced herself to nod. "Of course." A faint smile touched Mo Xingyuan's lips. That whisper of a smile sent a shiver down her spine. He sat back down, his legs spread slightly. "Kneel." Su Li thought she had misheard. But the way his legs were parted, the predatory gleam in his eyes, the icy command in his voice—it all told her she had heard correctly. "You can't even do that?" So this was the pervert Lu Jing had warned her about. Seeing the contempt in his eyes, Su Li's brow furrowed. She straightened up, shedding her coat and tossing it onto the sofa. She tied her loose hair back with a band, and then swung her leg over his lap, straddling him and settling her knees on either side of his thighs. "Like this?" The position made her slightly taller than him. As she looked down, she saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes. The tight black wool sweater did nothing to hide her stunning curves. Denim clung to her shapely rear, and her straight posture hinted at a supple waist. She was so close their breath mingled. The pose was intimate, sensual, a scene ripe with scandalous potential. Su Li was a stunner, even more vibrant and alluring than in her ID photo. A playful glint in her eyes, shaped like a fox's and tilted up at the corners, held a faint smile that was utterly captivating. Mo Xingyuan leaned back, his arms draped over the back of the sofa, his deep eyes reflecting her bewitching smile. "Take it off." The words slipped from his thin, pale lips, a command for her to continue. Su Li took a quiet breath and reached for his chest. Her slender, pale fingers landed on a black button, creating a stark, beautiful contrast, like black and white stones on a Go board. With a steady hand, she undid the first button. As it slipped free, more of his chest was revealed. Not tanned, but a cool, pale skin that held its own unique allure. One button. Two. More and more of him was exposed. Su Li held her breath, the playful smile on her face beginning to feel strained. She glanced up. Mo Xingyuan was watching her with a detached air, like a king on his throne. And in his eyes, she was nothing more than a plaything for his amusement. Steeling herself, Su Li continued unbuttoning his shirt until her hand brushed against the hard plane of his abdomen. He seized her wrist, his grip like iron. Su Li’s gaze shot up to meet his, a bottomless, dark abyss, and her heart leaped into her throat. "So slow," Mo Xingyuan said, his voice laced with impatience. "At this rate, when will you ever bear me a child?" Su Li’s breathing hitched. She refused to flee in defeat. A smile touched her lips again. "We can't just rush into it, can we? I've heard that children conceived in a moment of passion are more beautiful, and smarter." Mo Xingyuan's eyes narrowed. "Is that so?" "Mm-hmm," Su Li hummed, emboldened, and reached with her free hand to touch the bare skin beneath his shirt. He was faster, catching that hand too. "Why should I be the only one undressing?"