Wen Xi struggled to maintain her composure, unable to bring herself to look at Qin Siyan. Just then, Lu Qinghan turned to her, leaning in slightly. "Shuyu," he said, "this is my aunt." "Auntie," Wen Xi murmured, her voice a little hoarse. She had deliberately pitched her voice lower. It wasn't a perfect match for Mu Shuyu's, but in the clamor of the party, she hoped it would be enough to pass. Wen Xi recalled what Mu Jiangde had told her about Lu Jingrong: a formidable businesswoman with a keen mind. With Mr. Qin in poor health and constantly recuperating, Lu Jingrong single-handedly managed the company with remarkable success. Wen Xi's cautious demeanor struck Lu Jingrong as exceptionally polite and demure. She nodded, pleased. "Qinghan," she said, "now that you're engaged, you must treat Shuyu well." "I will, Auntie." Lu Qinghan's arm circled 'Mu Shuyu's' waist. He took a sip of his drink, his gaze shifting to Qin Siyan before he spoke to Wen Xi. "This is my cousin, Qin Siyan. You've met." At the sound of his name, Wen Xi's heart leaped into her throat. She exhaled slowly. One hand held her wine glass; the other, hanging at her side, balled into a fist. When she remained silent, Lu Qinghan simply assumed she was still upset about their last unpleasant dinner and thought nothing more of it. It was Qin Siyan, however, who raised his glass with a knowing smirk. "Congratulations... *sister-in-law*." The deliberately drawn-out word made Wen Xi's hand tremble, and wine sloshed over the rim of her glass, splashing onto her gown. "Oh, excuse me!" Color drained from her face. She quickly set down her glass. "I need to step away for a moment." Without another thought, she all but fled to the private lounge. Lu Qinghan frowned, his gaze a silent warning to Qin Siyan. But his cousin just shrugged innocently. "Hey, Fourth Bro, I didn't do a thing." *But this sister-in-law of his,* he thought, *is acting very strange today.* "Auntie, Shuyu's a lightweight. I think she's had a little too much to drink. I'm going to check on her." "Go on, then," Lu Jingrong said dismissively. "We'll be fine here. You go and take care of her." Lu Qinghan nodded and headed for the lounge. Meanwhile, even after reaching the safety of the lounge, Wen Xi's racing heart refused to slow. For a terrifying moment, she was sure Qin Siyan had seen right through her. No, she couldn't stay here a second longer. She had to change out of the gown and leave before anyone noticed she was gone. But just as she slipped the gown from her shoulders, the lounge door swung open. "Shuyu..." It was Lu Qinghan's voice. *Damn it,* she thought. *In my hurry, I forgot to lock the door!* She spun around instinctively, her eyes landing on Lu Qinghan's tall frame filling the doorway, his brows knitted in a deep frown as he stared at her. Wen Xi clutched the gown to her chest, trying to cover herself as a blush crept up her cheeks. "Wh-what are you doing here?" Lu Qinghan took in the sheer panic in her eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice low. "I-I stained my gown," she stammered, trying to appear calm. "I wanted to change before going back down." But the frantic edge to her voice didn't escape him. Lu Qinghan's eyes darkened. The first thing he'd noticed when he walked in was her back—smooth, pale, and utterly flawless. He remembered, though, that he had seen a prominent scar on Mu Shuyu's back just that morning... But now... that scar was gone. The thought solidified in his mind. His hand shot out, gripping her shoulder. His voice was a low command. "Turn around. I'll help you."