Jing City. A bedroom in a sprawling, ultra-luxurious apartment.
The lighting was dim and intimate.
The handsome man leaned over fair-skinned Su Yuqing. His long fingers threaded through her dark hair,
cradling the back of her head.
Their breaths mingled.
Su Yuqing’s long lashes trembled. Lifting her upper body slightly, she looped her arms around his neck and held him tight. Her soft body quivered beneath him, and she wanted nothing more than to pull him into her.
“Peiyan… will you marry me?”
Her peach-blossom eyes were misty, and there was an almost imperceptible note of hurt in her voice.
Huo Peiyan’s kiss faltered. He lifted himself slightly, his cool eyes lowered as he gazed at her.
“Can I?”
Su Yuqing bit her lip, her eyes full of hope and hurt.
For seven years, Su Yuqing had pursued Huo Peiyan.
Everyone in Jing City knew how deeply she loved him—
so deeply that she had lost herself, so deeply that she was willing to humble herself, even when everyone mocked her: “Huo Peiyan doesn’t love you at all. Stop imagining things.”
But in all seven years, she had never once backed down.
She was like an inexhaustible little sun, always staying by Huo Peiyan’s side with the warmest, most ardent affection.
Optimistic by nature, she believed everyone had a heart of flesh and blood.
If she just gave it enough time, she could warm Huo Peiyan’s icy heart.
She, Su Yuqing, could wait.
But…
But Huo Peiyan’s white moonlight, Ruan Qingqing, was coming back.
Su Yuqing, who had always been cheerful and optimistic,
panicked.
No. Before Qingqing came back, she had to win Huo Peiyan over.
She absolutely could not let the two of them rekindle their old flame.
She had no choice.
She wanted to risk everything on one desperate gamble.
She had offered herself to Huo Peiyan.
By now, most of the alcohol had worn off. Huo Peiyan released her lips. Most of the desire in his eyes had faded. He stared at her with dark eyes for a moment,
then braced himself to get up.
“Don’t.”
Su Yuqing bit down hard on her lip, wrapped both arms around his neck, and tightened them, pulling his head down.
Her long lashes trembling, she arched up and pressed her soft red lips to his.
Don’t go.
Su Yuqing squeezed her eyes shut. Inexperienced, she rubbed her lips against his, her breath sweet and unsteady, her kiss tinged with pleading.
“It’s okay if you won’t marry me. Just don’t go…”
She whimpered softly, like a kitten abandoned by its owner,
each soft sound scratching at Huo Peiyan’s heart.
He watched her clumsy efforts, his gaze growing heavy.
A sudden heat flared low in his belly. His eyes darkened as he parted their lips and looked at her intently.
His voice was deep and husky, thick with desire.
“Su Yuqing, do you know what you’re saying?”
The warm, soft touch vanished from her lips. Su Yuqing opened her eyes, disappointment flickering through them.
She nodded, obedient yet desperate.
Keeping her eyes fixed on Huo Peiyan, she said solemnly, “I want to marry you, Peiyan.”
So much.
She dreamed of it.
She wanted it so badly she was going crazy.
“Please… will you?”
Her eyes brimmed with hope and pleading. She clung tightly to Huo Peiyan, her soft voice on the verge of tears.
Huo Peiyan’s gaze darkened.
He answered in a husky voice, “Mm.”
It was a clear yes.
Su Yuqing’s eyes lit up at once, dazzling, as if they held a thousand stars.
She tilted her face up and kissed him again,
happiness spilling from her eyes.
She greedily took in his handsome brows, the high bridge of his nose, every inch of his skin,
every strand of his hair.
She let their breaths mingle, their lips pressed close together.
“Pay attention.”
Huo Peiyan gently bit her lower lip, then leaned over her, his tall frame completely covering hers.
He reached out and switched off the bedside lamp.
The last hazy glow faded,
and the room sank into darkness. Only their intertwined bodies remained, slick with sweat.
In the dark, Su Yuqing gazed through misty eyes at the man so close to her.
Heat. Contentment.
Her heart rose and fell like the tide.
After seven years, she had finally gotten the answer she wanted from him.
In the midst of overwhelming pleasure and contentment, Su Yuqing drifted into a deep sleep.
*
Before long, Su Yuqing found herself at a wedding. Flowers, applause—everything was so dreamlike.
At the center of the stage stood the bride and groom.
Su Yuqing hurried closer and looked up anxiously. The groom had broad shoulders and a narrow waist; he was tall, cool, and noble. It was Huo Peiyan.
His eyes were tender, a smile playing on his lips as he slipped a ring onto Ruan Qingqing’s finger.
The two embraced and kissed.
No!
This was all wrong!
They had the wrong bride!
Su Yuqing shouted to Huo Peiyan, tears spilling down her face in her desperation.
“Huo Peiyan, I’m here! Look at me!”
But Huo Peiyan only turned and gave her a cold glance before turning back to embrace Ruan Qingqing.
“You bitch! You still want to ruin Young Master Huo and Qingqing’s wedding? Keep dreaming.”
“How can a woman be so shameless? Can’t she see that Qingqing is the one Young Master Huo loves most?”
“Exactly. If someone kept hounding me for seven years, I’d be sick to death of it.”
“…”
The crowd’s jeers and whispers grew louder and louder.
Su Yuqing clapped her hands over her ears, but the mocking voices surged in from every direction like a tide.
There was nowhere to run.
Every word was something she had heard throughout those seven years.
An unbearable anguish flooded her, and Su Yuqing jolted awake amid the crashing waves of pain.
She found herself already in tears.
“What’s wrong?”
A deep, magnetic voice sounded, as if a god had descended to pull Su Yuqing back from the depths of despair.
Huo Peiyan switched on the bedside lamp. A pool of warm light fell
across his face.
His thick, dark brows were drawn together. His narrow eyes were deep and dark as he looked down at Su Yuqing, studying her.
“Did you have a nightmare?”
He raised a hand and gently wiped the tears from her face.
His cool fingertips brushed the skin at the corners of her eyes. The delicate touch made Su Yuqing’s lashes tremble.
She suddenly sat up and threw herself into his arms.
That was Ruan Qingqing—Huo Peiyan’s white moonlight, the woman he had loved for three years.
She was the one he favored and doted on above everyone else,
and the woman all of Jing City envied.
How could Su Yuqing compete with her?
Tears streaked Su Yuqing’s face; hurt and fear flickered in her eyes.
She didn’t even dare tell him about the dream she’d just had, as if speaking of it would make it come true.
She hid her humiliating feelings like a rat lurking in a sewer,
so furtive and wretched that she despised herself.
Huo Peiyan’s gaze darkened. His expression seemed colder than usual.
He silently watched the soft, sobbing figure in his arms.
Just then, a phone rang, breaking the quiet of the room.
Su Yuqing looked toward the lit screen—
Qingqing.
“No—”
Fear surged through Su Yuqing, and the words escaped before she could stop them.
But the next second,
Huo Peiyan pushed her away without a moment’s hesitation.
He grabbed his phone, got out of bed, and answered as he walked.
His voice was low and gentle. “Hello. Have you landed?”
Su Yuqing watched his back as he opened the balcony door.
A sharp, unspeakable pain struck her out of nowhere.
She gripped the blanket tightly, holding back her tears.
“I’m going out for a while. Get some rest.”
Huo Peiyan stood by the bed, looking down at her. His expression was cool, even colder than usual.
He seemed like a stranger—as though he weren’t the same man who had just shared her bed.
Overwhelming pain and disappointment swept over her and swallowed her whole.
She fought to keep the bitterness inside,
struggling to find her voice again.
“Could you not go?”
Huo Peiyan fastened his suit buttons and lifted his eyes. His gaze drifted over her, detached.
His voice was cold and merciless.
“Su Yuqing, I’ve already agreed to marry you. Are you still going to make a scene?”
Make a scene?
Su Yuqing lowered her eyes and smiled bitterly. “Fine. Just think of it as me making a scene, then. Huo Peiyan, I’ll ask you one last time: do you absolutely have to go pick her up?”
Don’t forget—you just promised to marry me. You promised you wouldn’t leave me!
She raised her head and met his eyes.
Huo Peiyan’s handsome face hardened. He suppressed the displeasure in his eyes.
“Su Yuqing, you’re crossing the line!”
With that, he turned and slammed the door behind him without looking back.