A familiar, deep voice resonated beside her ear. Xia Xiwan’s pupils contracted. *Lu Hanting?* She looked up, and just as she’d suspected, Lu Hanting’s handsome, refined face filled her vision, seeming to loom over her. “What are you doing here?” Xia Xiwan was stunned, genuinely blindsided by his sudden appearance. Lu Hanting pinned her slender wrist against the wall. He closed the distance between them, his towering frame trapping her delicate body between the cool surface and his own chest. “If I hadn’t shown up, I’d be growing a pair of horns by now.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” It took a moment for his words to register with Xia Xiwan. Lu Hanting arched a sharp brow. “Playing dumb with me? Who is that Mr. Wang out there?” Realizing he had misunderstood, Xia Xiwan quickly explained in a hushed voice, “I have nothing to do with that Mr. Wang. I’m just here to take care of something.” “Oh? And ‘taking care of something’ involves getting on stage to pole dance?” “I…” Xia Xiwan’s brows knitted together. “Mr. Lu, you’re being awfully snide today. Don’t we have an agreement? To stay out of each other’s private lives…” The next second, her world went dark as Lu Hanting’s mouth crashed down on hers. Her long lashes fluttered frantically, and she began to struggle. “Mr. Lu, you’re crossing a line.” Lu Hanting’s handsome eyes were half-lidded as he held her fast in his arms, his dominance absolute. “Does our agreement also say I can’t kiss you? I just did. What are you going to do about it?” “…” So he was just going to be a brute about it, was he? “Mr. Lu, let go of me first!” Xia Xiwan pressed her hands against his hard chest, trying to push him away. As she struggled, a sharp “knock, knock” came from the door. Outside, Mr. Wang’s voice called out, “Xia Xiwan, what are you doing in there? I thought I heard a strange noise.” Xia Xiwan’s breath hitched, and she froze in terror. “I… I just slipped! I’m fine.” “Well, hurry up. I can’t wait much longer.” “Got it.” As Xia Xiwan was busy placating Mr. Wang, she felt Lu Hanting’s lips trail down from her veil, then slip underneath it… A soft warmth pressed against her lips. He was kissing her. He had accidentally kissed her in the car once before, but that was through the veil. This was different. This was real. Xia Xiwan’s already tense mind went completely blank with a whoosh. She could smell the clean, sharp scent of him, laced with the faint, lingering aroma of tobacco. Lu Hanting didn’t close his eyes. He stared directly into the girl’s stunningly beautiful ones, watching them constrict in shock. The dark, wet shimmer in them was like that of a startled fawn, a picture of unparalleled innocence. He thought again of her on that stage, pole dancing. Her willowy grace had captivated countless men, driving them to distraction. She was a siren, a femme fatale straight from the pages of a book. The butler had asked him what magic she possessed. This girl he met on a train, this girl who married him as a substitute… at first, he had merely been an observer. But now, all that flashed through his mind was her radiance, her intelligence, her composure, her brilliance. Sometimes she was playful, other times cunning, like a little fox. But when it came to matters of passion, she was as pure and unblemished as a blank sheet of paper. Just as Lu Hanting was losing himself in the moment, Xia Xiwan suddenly opened her mouth and bit down hard on the corner of his lip. A sharp hiss of pain. When Lu Hanting pulled back, he could feel where she had broken the skin. The faint taste of blood was on his tongue. “Are you a puppy? Always resorting to biting,” Lu Hanting said, lifting a hand to touch the corner of his lip. Xia Xiwan was furious. She huffed, “Serves you right for bullying me!” Seeing the way her anger brought a vibrant life to her features, the gloom and irritation in Lu Hanting’s heart suddenly softened. “Alright, I apologize. I’m sorry.” Xia Xiwan looked at him. “Mr. Lu, let’s be clear about this. You can rest assured that as long as I carry the title of Mrs. Lu, I would never do anything to embarrass you. But if other men find me attractive or have ideas about me, that’s not my fault. So that doesn’t give you the right to be paranoid and bully me.” Lu Hanting felt like he was being lectured. A smirk played on his lips. “So according to you, I’m not even allowed to be jealous?” Jeal… ous? The word stopped Xia Xiwan in her tracks. So, all of his behavior just now was because… he was jealous? She had never imagined he would be jealous over her. Just then, Mr. Wang's impatient voice called from outside again. “Xia Xiwan, are you done in there? If you don't come out soon, I'm coming in! We can take a bath together!” His lewd chuckle followed. Lu Hanting slipped one hand into his pocket, his deep-set eyes narrowing slowly. He took a long stride toward the door. Seeing that he was about to go out and start a fight, Xia Xiwan quickly grabbed his arm. “Mr. Lu, what are you doing?” Lu Hanting sneered. “I haven’t even entertained the thought of bathing with you. What makes *him* think he has the right?” A blush crept up Xia Xiwan’s cheeks. She tried to soothe him in a low voice, “Mr. Lu, calm down, please. I’ll get even for you in a bit.” “Let me handle this guy.” “No, Mr. Lu,” Xia Xiwan insisted. “I’ve told you before, I don’t want to rely on others and become timid or weak. I solve my own problems. Don’t interfere.” Lu Hanting glanced at her but said nothing. “You wait here. I’m going out,” Xia Xiwan said, pulling open the bathroom door and stepping out. … Mr. Wang had truly lost his patience. Just as he was about to force his way into the bathroom, Xia Xiwan emerged. “Xia Xiwan, why didn’t you take a bath?” Xia Xiwan curved her red lips into a smile. “I suddenly don’t feel like it.” “Fine, fine, we’ll bathe together later. Come here, my little beauty,” Mr. Wang grunted, lunging for her. Outside the suite, Li Yulan had been waiting, worried that something might go wrong. She pressed her ear against the door to eavesdrop. Suddenly, all went silent inside the room. A few seconds later, there was a loud thud. What happened? Xia Xiwan had agreed to this meeting far too readily, and Li Yulan had suspected a trap all along. Hearing the strange noise, she quickly grabbed the handle and pushed the door open. “Mr. Wang, is everything alright?” The room was empty. No one was on the bed. Li Yulan found it deeply unsettling. As she turned, a shirtless Mr. Wang suddenly charged at her, grabbing her in a tight embrace. “Come on, little beauty, come have some fun with me!” Li Yulan was thrown onto the bed. Before she could even process what was happening, the brutish Mr. Wang had already torn at the buttons of her blouse.