Xia Xiwang watched him. The tall, long-limbed man stood backlit by the dazzling lights, which cast a golden halo around his chiseled profile. In his black shirt, he exuded an air of cool, mysterious austerity that was even more pronounced than usual. Her eyes darted downward, landing on the expensive black leather belt cinched at his waist, accentuating its lean, taut lines. Mhmm… the very definition of what Ye Ling called a ‘bad boy waist.’ Good heavens, what was she thinking? Realizing Ye Ling's bad influence was rubbing off on her, Xia Xiwang quickly reined in her wandering thoughts and forced a casual tone. “Mr. Lu, what are you doing just standing there?” Lu Hanting watched the way the light danced in her glistening eyes. He arched a brow. “I thought I saw a little kitten, meowing over here.” “Wha… what?” “In heat,” Lu Hanting stated flatly. The words had barely left his lips when Xia Xiwang's face exploded in a blush, and she hurled the towel in her hand straight at his handsome face. He didn't flinch, simply letting the towel bounce off his face and onto the carpet. A deep, magnetic laugh rumbled in his chest as he openly mocked her. Xia Xiwang reached out and tried to slam the bathroom door shut. But he blocked it with his knee. “Mad at me?” She just huffed, refusing to look at him. “I have to fly abroad for a business trip. I’ll be gone for a few days.” Her head snapped up. He was going on a business trip? This was the first time. Her anger forgotten, she asked, “When do you leave?” “In a little while.” “So soon… Well, try to get some rest. Don’t overwork yourself.” “Nothing else to say to me?” She thought for a moment, but couldn't think of anything else. Shaking her head, she said, “That’s all…” He clasped her slender wrist and with a gentle tug, pulled her stumbling into his arms. She quickly tried to straighten up. “Mr. Lu, what are you—” But before she could finish, he guided her hand to his own taut waist. Through the thin fabric of his shirt, her soft palm made contact with the hard, lean muscle, thrumming with a raw, masculine power. A jolt of electricity shot through her fingertips, as if they’d been set on fire, and she flinched, trying to pull away. But he held her hand fast, refusing to let her go. His lips brushed against her flushed earlobe as he murmured, his voice low and husky, “Is this what you wanted?” She cringed, realizing he’d remembered every word of that voice message. “Mr. Lu, we were just messing around! Let go of me!” Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Fu Bo’s respectful voice came from the other side, “Young Master, the private jet is ready. It’s time to depart.” Lu Hanting released her. “No more watching that trash,” he said. “And call me if you run into any trouble you can’t handle.” And with that, he was gone. … After her shower, Xia Xiwang got into bed and texted Ye Ling, steering the conversation away from the topic of toy boys. Ye Ling’s final message read: *Wanwan, I’m still stuck filming abroad for a while. I’ve already got people digging up dirt on Li Yulan's past. She’s an old fox, so it’ll take some time to find anything good. Just wait for me to get back, and we’ll tear that bitch Xia Yanyan to shreds together!* With a bestie like that by her side, Xia Xiwang immediately sent a huge *muah* back. But when it was time to sleep, she found she couldn’t. Every time she closed her eyes, the image of Lu Hanting pulling her into his arms replayed in her mind: him pressing her hand to his waist, his voice a deadly whisper against her ear, *Is this what you wanted?* The sheer confidence of the man! And what did he mean, *no more watching that trash*? She didn't! It was just that one time… on her eighteenth birthday, when Ye Ling had mysteriously pulled her into her room… His final words echoed in her mind: *call me if you run into any trouble you can’t handle.* Xia Xiwang closed her eyes as a sense of peace suddenly washed over her. A small smile playing on her lips, she finally drifted off to sleep. … She'd gone to bed late, so she woke up late the next morning, jarred from her sleep by the ringing of her phone. Someone was calling her. Xia Xiwang opened her drowsy eyes, fumbled for her phone, and answered, “Hello?” Li Yulan's sickeningly sweet voice oozed through the receiver. “Hello, Xiwang, it's me. I'm not disturbing you, am I?” The scandal with Mr. Wang had cost Li Yulan dearly, and Xia Xiwang could hear the bitter resentment she was so desperately trying to mask. The thought delighted her. She matched the sweet tone, “Auntie, what can I do for you?” “Well, Xiwang, today is Xiaodie’s birthday, and we’re having a party for her. We’d love for you to come. Are you free tonight?” It was clearly a trap, but Xia Xiwang had no intention of backing down from a fight. “Of course I’m free. Just send me the address, Auntie. I’ll be there.” “That’s wonderful, Xiwang! Xiaodie’s party is at the Dihao Six-Star Hotel.” “The Dihao Six-Star Hotel?” “That’s right, Xiwang. The Dihao is the finest hotel in Haicheng. It’s owned by the Lu family, the most powerful family here, and it’s where all the city’s elite hold their gatherings. This birthday is very important to Xiaodie's father, Zhenguo, so he spent a fortune to book a deluxe suite there. You just came back from the countryside, so you've surely never seen a place like the Dihao. Tonight will be a real eye-opener for you.” Xia Xiwang had to suppress a laugh. So, Li Yulan had called just to gloat. She had seen the Dihao Six-Star Hotel from a car the day she returned to Haicheng. It stood in the city’s most prosperous district, its pyramid-like design reaching for the clouds, opulent and magnificent. The driver had told her that this was the Dihao Hotel, owned by the richest man in the city. Xia Xiaodie’s birthday party was at the Dihao, with Xia Zhenguo sparing no expense to show his love for his daughter. Li Yulan certainly had every reason to sound so smug. “I really haven't had the chance to see this legendary Dihao Hotel,” Xia Xiwang said sweetly. “So, Auntie, I'll see you tonight.” Xia Xiwang hung up and got out of bed, heading for the dressing room. When she had married into the family, a separate dressing room had been prepared for her, but this was the first time she had entered it. She needed an evening gown. But when she walked in, she froze in astonishment. Racks upon racks held a dazzling array of designer dresses. A glass display was filled with high heels and jeweled shoes, and there were shelves of handbags… This was… every woman's dream closet. Xia Xiwang opened one of the wardrobes, and what she saw made her face burn. It was filled with all kinds of silk and lace lingerie—innocent, seductive, you name it. Who had prepared this? Could it be… his taste? Ye Ling had once said: the more proper and buttoned-down a man appears on the surface, wrapped in his perfectly pressed shirts and trousers, the more depraved his desires are underneath. Xia Xiwang quickly shut the wardrobe, selected a long dress to change into, and left for the Dihao Six-Star Hotel.