Huo Xingzhou advanced two steps, his voice cool and detached as he stood before her. “And how, exactly, do you plan on taking responsibility for this?” The sudden invasion of his space sent a jolt through Wen Ying, forcing her back a step. She held her ground emotionally, her voice steady. “The clinic visit, the examination, the cost of medicine… I’ll cover it all.” “In that case,” he said, “you can add lost wages, travel expenses, nutritional supplements, and damages for pain and suffering to the bill.” Her head snapped up, her eyes wide with disbelief. “What?!” Was this a fucking shakedown? He withdrew the hand that had been tucked in his pocket and held it out for her to see. “If you have a problem with that, we can always add a medical evaluation fee.” Wen Ying was silent. There, on the back of his hand, was a small red mark from the splash. Her slender brows furrowed, and she instinctively reached out, her finger moving as if to poke it. It couldn’t be bad enough to blister, could it…? Before she could touch him, Huo Xingzhou pulled his hand back. “I have things to do. Meet me at the Clock Tower tonight. We’ll discuss the specifics of your compensation.” Her hand, left hovering in mid-air, clenched into a fist. She gritted her teeth. Huo Xingzhou strode past her, his long legs carrying him forward. After a few paces, he glanced back at her scalded hand. “Get that treated before you see me. I don’t like my possessions to have any imperfections.” Once Huo Xingzhou had left, Chen Yue, who had been waiting nearby, gave Wen Ying a slight nod and hurried to follow. Inside the black Rolls-Royce, Chen Yue reminded him in a low voice, “Mr. Huo, you have dinner plans with Miss Liang tonight.” Huo Xingzhou’s expression didn’t change. He simply gave a faint “mm.” A moment later, his gaze dropped to the back of his hand, where the red mark was already starting to fade, and he thought of the scene just now. In his presence, Wen Ying had always been docile, obedient. But just then, she had been like a feral cat defending its territory. It was another side of her he’d never seen. It suddenly occurred to Huo Xingzhou that she was… interesting. In the past three years, he hadn’t known her at all. … Wen Ying stood frozen for a moment, taking a few deep breaths. She went to the supply closet, found a mop, and cleaned the water from the floor before refilling the kettle and returning to the hospital room. She placed the kettle on the table, cast one last glance at the person lying in the hospital bed, and turned to find a nurse to treat her burn. Her burn was actually worse than Li Jin’s. The water that had hit her had come directly from the dispenser’s tank, scalding hot. The water she had thrown at Li Jin, however, had cooled slightly in the kettle and then traveled in an arc through the air, losing much of its heat. After her hand was bandaged, Wen Ying pressed it to her chest, thanked the nurse, and turned to leave. “You’re welcome,” the nurse said. “Just a reminder, your mother’s hospital bill is due again next month.” Wen Ying nodded. “I know. Thank you.” After leaving the hospital, Wen Ying went to the pharmacy next door and bought another set of the same burn medication the doctor had prescribed for her, taking both with her to the Clock Tower. It was an apartment building in the heart of downtown Jingcheng. By day, it was part of the bustling CBD; by night, its lights glittered, offering the best vantage point to overlook the entire city. Sometimes, when the mood struck him, Huo Xingzhou would pin her against the floor-to-ceiling windows, forcing her to count the changing lights below… He was certainly creative in that department. Wen Ying placed the burn medication on the table, pulled a pen and paper from her bag to leave him a note, and then left. She had just stepped out of the elevator when her phone rang. “Wen Ying, we’re short-staffed for the performance at the restaurant tonight. Can you come in? I’ll pay you double.” Wen Ying agreed without hesitation. “Of course. I’m on my way.” She wasn’t far, just a twenty-minute subway ride away. It was an exceptionally elegant French restaurant, frequented by the city’s wealthy elite. Wen Ying had been a talented pianist since childhood and had worked here part-time before. The owner, a Frenchman in his forties, greatly admired her talent. So, over the past three years, whenever he was in a bind, he would call her, and he always paid generously. When she arrived, she navigated her way to the staff changing room with practiced ease. Wen Ying changed into her performance attire, tucked her belongings into a locker, and walked out to the main dining hall. The band played in a discreet corner where the lighting was dim and hazy. She silently took her seat at the piano and joined the performance. After playing five consecutive pieces, there was a ten-minute break. Wen Ying looked at her bandaged hand, the stinging pain now becoming almost unbearable. She shook it lightly in the air and stood up, intending to find some ice to press against it, but the hushed conversation from the musicians beside her caught her ear. “Hey, look at that table by the window. Isn’t that the CEO of Huo Group and the heiress of Liang Group? The ones who just announced their engagement a couple of days ago?” “It is! Mr. Huo is so handsome. I’m so jealous of Miss Liang.” “What’s the use in being jealous? They’re a perfect match—family background, looks, the whole package. You couldn’t find a more perfect couple. We’re not even in their league.” “Exactly. It just goes to show, you have to know your place. If something’s not meant for you, don’t even try.” “Right? The worst are those who think a pretty face makes them special. They’re just playthings, something to be amused by for a while before being thrown away.” The group chuckled amongst themselves, their words a mix of casual teasing and pointed commentary. Wen Ying followed their gaze. Liang Zhiyi was seated by the window, her hand covering her mouth as she laughed, the picture of demure elegance. Across from her, the man’s profile was all that was visible, yet it radiated a cool, refined grace—poised and aristocratic. Wen Ying had only four words for him: a wolf in sheep’s clothing. She turned away from their private world and went to the kitchen to ask for a bag of ice. The moment the cold plastic touched her skin, she let out a soft sigh of relief. The break was over all too soon. Wen Ying tucked the ice pack behind a nearby planter, planning to retrieve it later. She had only taken a few steps when a woman’s voice stopped her. “Miss Wen?” Wen Ying paused, turning back with a perfectly composed smile. “Miss Liang.” Liang Zhiyi looked genuinely surprised to see her. “What a coincidence. Are you having dinner here too, Miss Wen?” “I’m working here part-time.” Liang Zhiyi’s eyes swept over Wen Ying’s attire, a hint of confusion on her face. “I’m playing with the band,” Wen Ying explained. A smile of understanding spread across Liang Zhiyi’s face. “Oh, I see.” Just then, footsteps approached from behind them. Liang Zhiyi turned and looped her arm affectionately through the man’s. “Xingzhou, look who I ran into.” Her gaze returned to Wen Ying, her head tilted. “It seems Miss Wen and I are just fated to meet.” Huo Xingzhou glanced at Wen Ying, his face devoid of emotion. He addressed only Liang Zhiyi. “The bill is paid. Can we go now?”