Lu Hanting shot Huo Xize a look. "Touch her with either hand, and I'll cut it off. Now sit down." "What was that about?" Huo Xize muttered. A hint of amusement flickered in the cool, dark eyes behind Gu Yejin's gold-rimmed glasses. "Easy, Xize," he said. "Just sit back and enjoy the show." Huo Xize had no choice but to swallow his questions and sit. Everyone knew the little tyrant feared nothing and no one—except Lu Hanting. ... Xia Xiwan was there for the meeting, and of course, Li Yulan had come along. The last time, Xia Xiwan had ruined her plans, and this time, Li Yulan wanted to see for herself what other tricks the girl had up her sleeve. Just then, Boss Wang arrived fashionably late. Li Yulan quickly plastered on an obsequious smile. "Boss Wang, last time was all Xiwan's fault. I've brought her here to apologize." Boss Wang snorted. "She nearly got me killed last time. You think a simple apology is going to wipe the slate clean?" The memory of that huge wolfhound licking him, its sharp teeth inches from castrating him, was enough to make him break out in a cold sweat. Boss Wang had literally pissed himself in terror. Just thinking about that humiliating scene made him want to ruin the girl standing before him. "Then what do you want, Boss Wang?" "This apology lacks sincerity. How about this: let's have Xia Xiwan down these few bottles of liquor first." Before Li Yulan could agree, Xia Xiwan spoke up. "I don't drink. Whoever agrees to it can drink it themselves." "You!" Li Yulan bit back her anger, forcing a diplomatic smile. "Boss Wang, perhaps you could suggest... a more sincere alternative?" Taking the hint, Boss Wang let his lecherous gaze roam over Xia Xiwan's slender, graceful figure. "Alright then. Have Xia Xiwan get on stage and give me a pole dance. Then we'll call it even." A pole dance? Li Yulan's eyes lit up. *Perfect.* A pole dance was a vulgar performance, something trashy women did to seduce men. Her own two daughters were the belles of Haicheng society; they would never touch something so tawdry. But for Xia Xiwan? It was a perfect fit. "Xiwan, if you're here to apologize, you need to show some sincerity. You don't have to drink, but you will get on that stage and dance," Li Yulan said with a malicious grin. Xia Xiwan knew exactly what Li Yulan was thinking, but she simply curved her lips into a smile and agreed. "Fine. I'll dance." She walked onto the stage. The heavy metal music was still pounding through the club. Xia Xiwan, dressed in a simple white dress, grasped the steel pole with her small, pale hands. With a single leap, her slender body was carving a shimmering arc through the air. The bar, which had been buzzing with noise moments before, fell silent. Every eye was drawn to her as if by a magnet. They watched Xia Xiwan wrap herself around the pole, spinning, leaping, dancing through the air. Her supple body bent into one graceful pose after another. Her dance wasn't sensual; it was ethereal. Soon, it was over. As Xia Xiwan landed softly on the floor, the spell broke, and the crowd erupted into a tidal wave of applause. They had never seen a pole dance like that before. It was breathtaking. When Xia Xiwan returned, Boss Wang was practically drooling. "Xia Xiwan, I had no idea you could dance like that. I'll forget about what happened last time, but you're coming back to my room. We need to have a serious talk about that investment in Xia Medical." A fine sheen of sweat coated Xia Xiwan's skin from the exertion. She looked at Boss Wang, his face flushed with lust, and smiled. "Of course. Lead the way, Boss Wang. I'll follow you." Li Yulan’s gaze turned venomous. She couldn't believe that after all these years, Xia Xiwan could still dance so beautifully. She had meant to humiliate her, but instead, she'd given her the spotlight. Li Yulan would never forget. Xia Xiwan, the former little princess of the Xia family, had always been unnaturally gifted. She remembered when a dance instructor had taught them the Palm Dance. Her own daughter, Xia Yanyan, had practiced herself to exhaustion every night but could never master it. Xia Xiwan, on the other hand, had perfected it on her first try, dancing on the tips of her toes. At nine years old, she was already poised to outshine everyone in the capital. Who knew what kind of breathtaking woman she would have become if she'd been allowed to grow up here? Li Yulan had assumed that years in the countryside would have ruined her, but she was, once again, bitterly disappointed. She had never felt such an intense urge to destroy someone. Tonight, she would make sure Xia Xiwan didn't escape. ... In the private room, Huo Beichen was stunned. "Hanting, your substitute bride is one hell of a dancer. After that performance, I don't think anyone in the 1949 Club will ever dare to pole dance again." A playful curve touched Gu Yejin's lips. "This Xia family is interesting. They send Xia Xiwan to be your substitute bride, probably to slight you, Hanting. Then they immediately turn around and pimp her out. Tsk, tsk. The way they sell their own daughter… makes me wonder if she's even theirs." "Hanting," Huo Xize chimed in, "she just went into a room with Boss Wang. The guy is basically handing you a cuckold's hat. You gonna wear it?" Lu Hanting slowly exhaled a plume of smoke, then stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. He glared at Huo Xize. "If you don't have anything smart to say, don't say anything at all." Huo Xize chuckled. "Hey, just give the word, Hanting. I'll go beat that guy until he can't find his own teeth." Lu Hanting stood up. "Let's see." With that, he walked out. "Hey, where are you going? I thought you said we were just going to watch? I already had someone install a camera in the room." But Lu Hanting's tall, imposing figure had already vanished from sight. "Yejin," Huo Xize said, "what's with him? Hanting's been celibate for years. He's never looked twice at a woman. You don't think he's actually falling for this Xia Xiwan, do you? Like, first crush kind of falling?" Gu Yejin lowered his glass. "Think bigger. I think your Second Brother is finally looking to break his fast." Huo Xize: *Holy shit!* ... Outside the door to the deluxe suite, Li Yulan delivered a final warning. "Xia Xiwan, I hope you don't try any tricks this time. You'd better take good care of Boss Wang and secure that investment. I'll be right outside this door. Let's see you try to sprout wings and fly away." A faint smile played on Xia Xiwan's red lips. The show was just getting started. Why would she leave? She entered the room. Boss Wang lunged for her immediately. "Little beauty, let me get a kiss!" Xia Xiwan sidestepped him flawlessly. "Not so fast, Boss Wang. It's not like I can run away. I'm just going to take a shower first." "Let's shower together!" As he followed her, Xia Xiwan slipped into the bathroom and locked the door behind her. But the next second, her long lashes fluttered. There was someone else in the bathroom. A silver needle appeared in her hand, and she whirled around, lunging at the figure in the shadows. Just then, a large, well-defined hand shot out, clamping down on her slender wrist and pinning her against the wall. "Mrs. Lu," a low voice murmured, "Such a warm welcome."