Sent to the countryside at the age of nine, Xia Xiwan knew better than to hold any hope for the man she was supposed to call father, Xia Zhenguo. Sure enough, the phone call unfolded exactly as she’d expected. He was the same Xia Zhenguo she'd always known: obsessed with medicine, driven by vanity and a need for prestige, and singularly focused on expanding Xia Medical. His pride and joy was his other daughter, Xia Yanyan, while she, the daughter brought back from the countryside, was merely a pawn to be married off in her sister's place. “Father, I understand. I'll be there tomorrow.” Her quiet compliance seemed to soften Xia Zhenguo’s tone. “Xiwan, even though you’re marrying in her place, that husband of yours will tire of you soon enough. Once this matter with Mr. Wang is resolved, I’ll find you a proper match.” “Then I’ll thank you in advance, Father.” Xia Xiwan hung up. Switching off her phone, she closed her eyes in Lu Hanting's arms. A deep ache settled in her heart. She was, for all intents and purposes, an orphan. She longed to be loved by her parents, to have a simple, peaceful life like a normal child, but for her, that was an impossible dream. She had no home. She was just an unloved child, with no father to dote on her and no mother to care. A chill seemed to creep over her, and Xia Xiwan nestled deeper into Lu Hanting's embrace. His arms were strong, solid, and warm—a sanctuary that could shelter any woman from the storm. Her head rested against his chest, right over his heart. The steady, powerful beat—*thump, thump, thump*—grounded her, a rhythm of safety in the quiet room. Xia Xiwan thought she would lie awake all night, but wrapped in this man’s arms, she slept soundly until dawn. … Lu Hanting’s eyes fluttered open. It was already the next morning. Bright sunlight filtered through the layers of curtains, scattering golden motes in the air. His gaze was heavy with sleep, a flicker of disorientation in their depths. It had been years—so many years—since he’d slept until morning, waking naturally to the gentle light of dawn. Lu Hanting closed his eyes again, reaching for the girl in his arms. He knew she had been there all night; her warmth and a faint, sweet scent still lingered where she had lain. But his arms closed around empty air. The space beside him was cold. Xia Xiwan was gone. Instantly, all traces of sleep vanished. Lu Hanting threw back the silk comforter and rose from the bed. Just then, the study door opened, and the butler, Uncle Fu, walked in, his face beaming. “Young Master, you’re awake? The Young Madam told me not to disturb you, to let you sleep a while longer. It’s been so many years since you’ve slept in like this! Even Mr. Nanyuan couldn't manage it, but the Young Madam did. What kind of magic does she possess?” Uncle Fu found it incredible. He knew his young master’s condition better than anyone. He had been worried when the Young Madam went in last night, but instead, the Young Master had held her and slept through the entire night. Lu Hanting glanced toward the door. “Where is she?” “Young Master, the Young Madam said she had to take care of some things and would be back tonight.” “Did she say where she was going?” “No, she did not.” “I see.” Lu Hanting returned to the bedroom and stepped into the bathroom for a shower. As he took off his white shirt, he caught his reflection in the mirror and saw it: the small but deep imprint of her teeth on his shoulder. She had bitten him. Just looking at the mark, he could imagine the force of her bite. She had left her mark on him. Lu Hanting didn’t go to the office that day, working from his study instead. That evening, he checked his watch. It was already eight o’clock, and Xia Xiwan still wasn't back. He pulled out his phone. No messages. No missed calls from her. A dull ache of irritation settled in his chest. Just then, a melodic ringtone broke the silence. He had a call. Lu Hanting answered. “Hello.” Huo Xize’s voice burst through the receiver. “Second Brother, it’s been forever since you came out to play. Grandma gets you a new bride and suddenly you’re lost in marital bliss? Living the life of a house husband now?” House hus… what? Lu Hanting’s sharp brows knitted together. “Get to the point or I'm hanging up,” he said, his voice laced with impatience. “Hey, don’t do that! Come hang out. Yejin and I are at 1949 Bar waiting for you.” … 1949 Bar. In a secluded private booth, Lu Hanting sat on the main sofa, a cigarette smoldering between two long fingers. The smoke swirled around his handsome face, obscuring his features but not the cold, hard set of his jaw or the deep furrow between his brows. Huo Xize poured a drink. “Second Brother, what’s with you? You’ve been smoking ever since you got here. You’ve got too much pent-up energy. You need to blow off some steam.” With that, Huo Xize pushed a beautiful woman sitting beside him forward. “Second Brother, this is the new top girl at 1949, and she’s clean. I saved her just for you. Xiao Ying, it’s up to you whether you can get my Second Brother to drink this.” 1949 Bar was a den of indulgence where men squandered their fortunes. There was no shortage of beautiful women, and it just so happened to be one of the Huo family’s enterprises. Of the four great families of Haicheng—the Lus, Gus, Huos, and Sus—three were gathered here tonight, men who had been running in the same circles since they were in diapers. Pushed toward the man, Xiao Ying’s innocent, pretty face flushed. Tonight, Lu Hanting was dressed in a simple black shirt and trousers. Even while smoking, the CEO of Lu Corporation exuded the captivating aura of a mature, successful man. That, combined with his flawless features, made him a man Xiao Ying would have accompanied even without pay. Xiao Ying picked up the glass and said with a coy smile, “Mr. Lu, care for a drink?” The cloying scent of artificial perfume hit Lu Hanting instantly. He gave her a cool glance. “Stay away from me.” The color drained from Xiao Ying’s beautiful face. Huo Xize quickly shooed her away. “Second Brother, you’ve been living like a monk for years. Are you really not interested in women at all? Grandma already forbade me from hanging out with you, she’s worried you’ll start playing for my team.” At that moment, Gu Yejin, who had been quiet, spoke up. “Hanting, I heard the Xia family sent a substitute bride to you, a daughter named Xia Xiwan.” Hearing her name, Lu Hanting lifted his gaze to meet Gu Yejin’s. Gu Yejin was exceptionally handsome, with a pair of refined, gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. He took a sip of his red wine and then gestured with his chin. “Take a look over there. See who that is?” Lu Hanting looked up and immediately saw a slender, delicate figure. It was Xia Xiwan. And beside her was another man—the pot-bellied Mr. Wang. “Damn it,” Huo Xize slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet. “Second Brother, what the hell is Xia Xiwan doing drinking with that old geezer? How dare she cheat on you!” Grabbing a bottle, Huo Xize started forward. As the heir to the Huo Corporation, he was known as the little tyrant of Haicheng. “Second Brother, I’m going to teach them a lesson for you!”