Du Luowei stood outside room 2706, taking a deep breath before pressing the call button on her phone. Within seconds, the door swung open, and a seductive woman swiftly slipped out, whispering sharply:
"What took you so long? Get inside now!"
Frowning, Du Luowei lowered her head timidly and stepped forward.
"I've already drugged him. Get out immediately once it's done. And remember—don't you dare fall asleep!" The woman grabbed her arm, her voice icy, her crimson lips curling into a mocking smirk.
Biting her lip, Du Luowei pulled free and gently closed the door behind her.
The room was bathed in dim, warm amber light, casting an intimate glow. The sound of running water echoed from the slightly ajar bathroom door, a faint fragrance drifting out.
After a moment's hesitation, Du Luowei moved to the bed and switched off the lamp. The king-sized bed was rumpled, its crisp white sheets tangled—clearly, someone had just been lying there. Shivering, she stripped off her coat, shoes, and socks before slipping under the thin blanket, curling into a tight ball.
The water stopped. Then came the hum of a hairdryer. Her gaze flickered to the two wine glasses on the nightstand. Han Mei had mentioned drugging him—but with what? Sleeping pills?
Click. The bathroom door opened with a soft sound, the scent of lemon wafting in.
Boom. Du Luowei's scalp prickled, her mind blanking. He—he was coming out.
"Why'd you turn off the lights?" The man's voice was deep, thick with alcohol.
"D-don't... like them." She barely recognized her own voice, her teeth chattering behind bloodless lips.
The man frowned as he sat on the bed, the mattress dipping heavily under his weight. God, was he as fat as a pig?
He lay down, his hand landing on her shoulder. "Shy now? You weren't like this earlier. Turn around."
"I—I..."
Du Luowei trembled uncontrollably, his long fingers sending waves of fear mixed with an unfamiliar sensation that made her shiver even more violently. She tried to pry his fingers away, but each time she managed to loosen one, he would immediately clamp down again, gripping her shoulders with even greater force.
His ragged breaths fell against the nape of her neck, and when his lips brushed her earlobe, Du Luowei froze. What was happening? The faint sound of teeth clashing was drowned out by his heavy breathing. Utterly bewildered, she briefly lost consciousness before suddenly screaming, pushing the man away and sitting bolt upright, her hand raised—
*Slap!* A sharp, crisp sound rang out.
The man clutched his face, staring at her in disbelief, then swiftly turned on the light, flooding the room with blinding brightness.
Du Luowei hastily pulled up the fallen strap of her dress, her eyes wide with terror as she took in the man before her. He wasn’t the "fat pig" she had expected—instead, he was strikingly handsome, his lips pressed into a tight line, his dark eyes glaring at her with ferocity.
"You’re not Han Mei. Who the hell are you?" He seized her throat, yanking her up from the pillow, his voice dripping with menace.
"Ghk—" Du Luowei felt as though her windpipe was being crushed, her face flushing a deep, suffused purple.
His own face grew increasingly flushed, and suddenly, he cursed under his breath before pinning her beneath him with brutal force. With a single rough motion, the fragile fabric of her dress tore apart like the wings of a broken butterfly, scattering in tatters.
Then, silence fell...
Yet beneath that calm, something far more turbulent seemed to be brewing.
Shu Jingyue sat up, draping a robe over his shoulders before lighting a cigarette. His gaze lingered on Du Luowei, who lay pale and lifeless on the bed. Her delicate oval face bore the stark imprint of his slap, her slender neck marred by the bruises of his grip. Her breathing was shallow, her eyes tightly shut, long lashes trembling faintly. Deep teeth marks marred her lower lip—a sight that might stir pity in any man.
But who was Shu Jingyue? The most ruthless man in Luofeng City, a figure feared by both the underworld and the elite. The iron-fisted CEO of Jinbi Group, which controlled the economic lifeline of Luofeng—real estate, entertainment, hospitality—there was no lucrative industry untouched by his empire. A man like him had no room for compassion toward a stranger, least of all a woman. Women were nothing more than playthings in his bed, burdens in his life.
A smoke ring curled from his sneering lips, dissipating into the air. Han Mei had sent him a virgin—what was her game? To make him believe she was untouched, so he’d treat her differently, maybe even marry her? Ridiculous.
He stubbed out the cigarette, dressed, and pulled a check from his pocket. With a few swift strokes of his pen, he tossed it onto Du Luowei’s motionless form.
Her lashes fluttered weakly before her eyes slowly opened.
Was this a nightmare? Mom, is this just a nightmare? But before she could even cry, the demon's icy voice already floated through the air:
"Take the money and get out!"
Money? Right—that was why she had come here in the first place!
Humiliation washed over her like a tidal wave. She abruptly sat up, snatched the check that had fallen onto her abdomen, and hurled it back with a furious roar:
"Get out! Take your filthy money and go! No—I’ll report you! I’ll sue you for rape!"
Rape? How amusing. Shu Jingyue narrowed his eyes, exuding a dangerous aura. He let out a cold laugh. "Go ahead, miss. I’d love to hear how you explain sneaking into my bed in the dead of night—and for what purpose?"
Du Luowei froze. What purpose? Hadn’t she come precisely to sleep with this devil of a man?
"Stop pretending to be pure." Shu Jingyue grabbed her phone from the nightstand and dialed a number. "Han Mei, thanks for the 'gift.' But starting tomorrow, your Xinxin Entertainment Club is shutting down. And don’t ever let me see you in Luofeng again."
"Jingyue—wait! CEO Shu! Hello—?" Han Mei’s frantic, frustrated voice crackled through the phone.
My God… What kind of man was this? Du Luowei trembled, hugging her shoulders as she curled into a ball. Was this it? Had she really sold the innocence she’d guarded for eighteen years—just like that?
"You have ten minutes to leave my hotel. And don’t ever let me see you again." Shu Jingyue’s voice dripped with arrogance as he turned and strode out.
BANG! The door slammed shut, sealing Du Luowei inside with nothing but despair. Her hands shook as she lifted the check again, the numbers searing into her vision: 100,000. Her purity—for 100,000. Du Luowei, was this a loss or a gain? Where else could she have earned 100,000? Little brother… you’ll live now. Your sister has the money. Tears of shame streamed down her face once more, followed by unrestrained, heart-wrenching sobs.
