Night fell like a curtain over the villa’s other side.
Bai Shusu was bathed by Beibei, behaving obediently the entire time—quiet, well-behaved, neither noisy nor troublesome. She drank the sobering soup brought by the servants, and Yu Yi, watching from the side, softened at the sight and even fed her the antidote, which she obediently swallowed.
After changing into her sleepwear, everyone withdrew. Yu Yi also left after watching her fall asleep the moment she touched the bed, while thinking about how she would embellish tonight’s events when reporting to the master……
The villa fell into complete silence.
Suddenly, Bai Shusu opened her eyes and looked around at the pitch-black surroundings. She pulled her phone out from under the pillow, squinting as she struggled to unlock it several times.
Her small fingers swiped across the screen and tapped to start a video call——
The call connected instantly, revealing a woman with fair skin and watery eyes smiling foolishly into the camera.
“Hi~”
Qin Jindu hadn’t expected her to video call him. He had just finished showering and was sitting by the bed. His bathrobe hung loosely, exposing most of his chest. His defined muscles were faintly visible, and his wheat-toned skin carried a strong visual impact.
“Mmm…… put your clothes on properly, you’re showing too much…… so embarrassing,” the woman whispered as she licked her lips.
The man tilted the camera upward. His slightly damp hair made him look less intimidating. His facial features were sharp and smooth, and his thin lips carried a faint smile. His Adam’s apple rolled as he looked at her face……
Was she drunk?
“Why did you video call me?” His voice was deep and steady, his magnetic tone filling the room.
Bai Shusu rubbed her ear and sat up, straightening her phone to face her. Her fluffy nightdress made her skin look bright and faintly pink.
She obediently looked into the camera, her heart skipping a beat.
For a moment, even Qin Jindu thought she wasn’t drunk.
Bai Shusu lowered her head, her nose suddenly feeling sour.
“Waa…… sob……”
As if afraid of being heard, she covered her mouth and cried softly, her shoulders shaking slightly.
It was extremely pitiful. Qin Jindu’s gaze softened. Before this, he had already received messages from Zhong Jichen and reports from Yu Yi.
“What happened?”
Bai Shusu immediately pouted again, tears still at the corners of her eyes, looking pitiful.
“…I got bullied.”
Qin Jindu’s expression darkened. He had just returned tonight—he would naturally settle things with the Gu family.
They had only been quiet for a few days and already forgot the rules.
Bai Shusu suddenly leaned her face closer, tilting her head as her soft black hair fell down.
“You look like that bad guy.”
“Hm?”
“That bad guy who bullied me!” she puffed her cheeks angrily and exhaled in frustration.
Qin Jindu chuckled softly, his tone gentle. “How did I bully you?”
“You…… you gave me poison, you monitored me…… and also……”
Bai Shusu pointed straight at the screen.
“…you even covet me!”
Qin Jindu laughed again. He truly hadn’t expected that her recent avoidance of him was because of this.
His low laughter came through the phone. Bai Shusu glared at him—
Bad guy, and he still dared to laugh!
Her soft, fluffy appearance looked like an angry kitten.
Bai Shusu glared at him fiercely. Something seemed to scratch at his heart, and he curved his lips.
“Then I guess I really am quite bad.”
Seeing him admit it, she pouted. “Since you know you’re wrong, you should change, understand?”
Qin Jindu raised a brow and nodded.
He looked at her for a moment.
“But there’s one thing I’m afraid I can’t change.”
Her brows furrowed again. She knew it—this man’s words were unreliable!
“I really am coveting you.”
His gaze deepened. For a moment, even he felt slightly intoxicated. His throat turned dry.
“And I’ll never be able to change that.”
Bai Shusu finally drifted into sleep.
On the screen, the woman’s eyes were closed, long lashes resting softly. Her black hair lay gently over her fair neck as she breathed steadily. Her cheeks puffed slightly, and the entire image looked like a painting too beautiful to disturb.
He stared at her sleeping face.
An unfamiliar tide of emotion surged uncontrollably within him, breaking through restraint.
At that moment, he understood clearly—Bai Shusu was no longer just his pawn.
She had become something that could make him lose control.
A fatal attraction.
Morning arrived with bright sunlight.
Today was a good day.
Lu Xiaoxiao was blinded by the morning light. She raised her hand to block it, and the moment she opened her eyes, she instantly sobered up.
The room layout was unfamiliar. It was neither Bai Shusu’s villa nor her own room……
Sounds from the bathroom made her heart sink.
She only remembered going to a bar last night to drink, and then…… nothing.
She wouldn’t have ended up like those novel clichés, right?!
She suddenly pulled the blanket up—ah!
Fortunately, she was still wearing last night’s clothes……
She had scared herself for nothing.
Just as she was trying to recall what happened, the bathroom door opened and a man walked out.
A white towel was wrapped around his lower body. His short hair was dripping wet, and his sculpted abs flexed as he moved……
“Yo, you’re awake.”
He grabbed a towel from the sofa and casually wiped his hair.
Lu Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened.
“Zhong…… Zhong Jichen?!”
“Mm-hm.” The man caught her reaction and smirked slightly.
He walked over and sat on the sofa, looking at her with an air of accountability.
Lu Xiaoxiao let out a dry laugh to ease the awkwardness.
“How did I end up at your place……”
“Heh.”
The man pulled out his phone and played a video.
In the video, she had acted arrogantly, insisting she would go home with him, sleep on his bed, and even…… sleep with him. Her loud declarations triggered fragmented memories in her mind.
The current situation was clear—she had taken over his bed, while Zhong Jichen had slept on the sofa……
The silence made her embarrassment feel like a silent accusation.
“I’m sorry……”
He had kindly helped her, yet she had boldly declared she wanted to sleep with him. Thankfully she didn’t succeed—otherwise she would never forgive herself even as a ghost.
She noticed his coat draped over the sofa, stained from her vomit, and said guiltily, “How much is your coat? I’ll pay you back……”
“Five hundred twenty-eight thousand and forty-seven.”
“……”
So precise it was unsettling.
Lu Xiaoxiao twitched her lips. “…Alright, I’ll transfer it to you later.”
She was definitely going to borrow money from Su Su……
“I’m not being stingy. I’m at a peak in my career, and my family cut off my card.”
Lu Xiaoxiao nodded in understanding. Then she looked at his bare upper body again and felt her face heat up.
“Can you put your clothes on……”
Otherwise it really looked like they had slept together……
Zhong Jichen stood up, making her immediately cover her eyes.
“Ah! What are you doing?!”
“I’m just proving I don’t have a child’s physique.”
Lu Xiaoxiao buried her face under the blanket, flushed red.
Who proves that like this?!
Zhong Jichen thought about what she had said last night and couldn’t sleep all night. He had trained hard for those abs—how could she call him a child’s physique?!
He nudged her under the blanket.
“Take a proper look. My body is pretty good.”
“Get lost……” came her muffled angry voice from under the blanket.
Zhong Jichen smirked in satisfaction.
So bold last night—didn’t she even say she wanted to sleep with him?