For some reason, Si Tian’s face suddenly appeared in Shen Yifan’s mind.
A vague, inexplicable anxiety stirred in his chest.
Today was his engagement banquet with Si Tian.
He had specifically arranged for the guests to stay at this hotel and rest.
Zhou Si was staying in the room next door.
Si Tian and Zhou Si were like oil and water; there was no way they could get involved with each other.
Besides, Si Tian loved him so much that she would never betray him.
And yet, for some inexplicable reason, Shen Yifan felt an oppressive tightness in his chest.
The unease drove him to reach out to Si Tian as urgently as he could.
“Something just came up. I have to go.” Shen Yifan pushed Si Rou off him and climbed out of the bathtub.
He picked up his clothes from the bedroom and quickly pulled them on.
It had all happened so suddenly that by the time Si Rou came out of the bathroom, Shen Yifan had already opened the door and left.
The door slammed shut with a bang.
Staring at the closed door, Si Rou clenched her hands at her sides until her fingertips dug into her palms.
Shen Yifan had abandoned Si Tian on their engagement night to come see her. He must love her.
There was plenty of time. Shen Yifan would never escape her grasp!
Shen Yifan left the hotel and drove to the new home he shared with Si Tian.
If Si Rou hadn’t called him away that night, he and Si Tian would have had a wonderful evening together.
Shen Yifan pushed open the door and said softly, “Atian, I’m ho—”
The words died on Shen Yifan’s lips. He stared, stunned, at the neatly made, empty bed.
The anxiety that had only just subsided surged back.
His mind conjured the sweet, hushed voice he had heard earlier at the hotel.
Suppressing his unease, Shen Yifan took out his phone and made a call.
“Ring, ring—”
The phone’s ringing pierced through the fabric, filling the dim, clammy, stifling room.
Si Tian had just finished showering. Zhou Si had carried her out of the bathroom and laid her on the bed.
She was so exhausted she didn’t even want to move a finger.
Si Tian glanced at the phone ringing incessantly on the floor, then looked at the man wearing only a towel around his waist, looking satisfied as he prepared to light a cigarette. “Could you get my phone for me?”
Zhou Si paused and raised an eyebrow at Si Tian.
The lighter snapped shut with a click.
He said nothing. With an unlit cigarette between his lips, he walked over to her pants, bent down, and took out her phone.
Si Tian didn’t know Shen Yifan was calling.
If she’d known it was him, she would never have asked Zhou Si to get her phone.
Zhou Si glanced at the caller ID, handed it to her, and said four words:
“Your fiancé.”
Si Tian’s heart gave a jolt.
Wasn’t Shen Yifan next door with Si Rou?
Why was he suddenly calling her?
The call stopped, then rang again. With no time to think, Si Tian pressed answer.
“Atian, where have you gone in the middle of the night?!”
As soon as she picked up, Shen Yifan’s heavy, accusing voice came through the phone.
From his tone, it sounded as though he’d noticed she wasn’t at the villa…
Before, he’d never asked where she went.
And now, on this bitterly ironic night, he was calling her.
In the past, she would have been thrilled, thinking he cared about her and was worried for her.
At that moment, Si Tian could only feel how laughable it was.
She had once loved him sincerely, after all. Fighting the ache and tightness in her chest, she replied coolly, “You went out in the middle of the night too, didn’t you?”
Shen Yifan froze.
Si Tian had never spoken back to him like this before.
But he didn’t think much of it; he assumed Si Tian was jealous.
After all, on their engagement night—the first day they’d lived together—he had left her behind and gone out.
It was only natural she’d be a little upset.
Shen Yifan’s voice softened. “It isn’t safe for a young woman to be out alone. Whatever’s going on, come back first and we can talk, okay?”
Hearing his false concern, Si Tian laughed coldly to herself.
She did need to go back, to make a clean break with Shen Yifan.
After a few seconds’ thought, Si Tian parted her red lips, about to speak, when a sudden gust of warm breath brushed her ear.
Then a dry, scorching palm came from behind and clasped her slender waist.
At the same time, cool lips slowly closed around her earlobe…
The man’s low, dangerous voice slipped into her ear. “I’m not done with you yet. Where do you think you’re going, hmm?”