Jing City, deep into the night.

A fine drizzle painted the sky in muted hues. The clamor of the day had faded, leaving only silence in its wake.

Wu Sisi woke with an aching body, every movement a struggle. But as she turned her head, a sleeping face abruptly filled her vision.

The man’s thick lashes cast delicate shadows beneath his closed eyes. His nose was sharp and elegant, his lips slightly parted as he nestled against her shoulder. His shallow breaths brushed against her neck, sending tiny, tingling waves across her skin.

Her heart lurched violently, her expression shifting through shock, disbelief, and dread.

It was Bai Jinghuan.

On the eve of her engagement, she had somehow ended up in bed with her future brother-in-law.

Memories surged through her pounding head. Last night, after drinking the beverage Tang Chenli had handed her, her mind had grown hazy. And then… she had followed her impulses, surrendered to emotions she had long suppressed.

Feelings buried deep within her had fermented like alcohol, swirling and bubbling into something new.

But why hadn’t he pushed her away? Hadn’t he always treated her with cold indifference?

Her thoughts spiraled wildly until the sudden ring of her phone shattered the silence.

The sound hit her like a depth charge. She jolted upright, scrambling off the bed as if electrocuted, snatching the phone and silencing it in one frantic motion.

Her gaze darted back to the man—still undisturbed. Only then did she exhale in shaky relief.

This was too sudden. She wasn’t ready to face it. Yet she couldn’t help staring at him, memorizing the sharp contours of his face, as if etching them into her mind forever.

With a heavy sigh, Wu Sisi bent down to pick up the scattered clothes from the floor.

A sharp pain throbbed between her legs. Gritting her teeth, she dressed quickly, covering the bruises that marred her skin.

On the large bed, the man was still deep in sleep.

What would he do if he knew the woman beside him last night was her?

Too afraid to find out, Wu Sisi scrambled out of the hotel like a thief, her heart pounding. Just then, her phone rang again.

It was her stepmother, Lin Xunchun. The background noise on the other end was chaotic. "Sisi, where are you? Today's your engagement to Jingtong! You can't be late. Hurry up and get to Caiyang Hotel!"

Before Wu Sisi could utter a word, the call ended abruptly.

Her explanation stuck in her throat. Staring at her phone, she felt a dull ache spread through her head.

How could she not know what today was? The day she was supposed to get engaged to Bai Jingtong. But after what happened last night—sleeping with his brother—how could she possibly face him now?

Clutching her phone helplessly, she stood frozen on the bustling sidewalk, lost in thought.

What should she do?

...

Bai Jinghuan was jolted awake by a barrage of phone calls. Irritation flashed across his face as he snatched up the phone and flung it aside without hesitation.

The expensive device hit the floor with a heavy thud.

A second later, Bai Jinghuan abruptly sat up, retrieving the phone. His deep, piercing eyes gleamed with icy clarity.

"Big bro, where the hell are you? Do you even know what day it is? You can't miss something this important." Bai Jingtong's voice carried an amused lilt through the phone, though his words were urgent.

The man remained silent, his brow furrowing as he took in the chaotic scene before him. A dress shirt lay crumpled on the floor, buttons scattered like fallen petals. His black suit pants were slung carelessly over the arm of the sofa, and everywhere—everywhere—there were traces of last night’s indiscretion.

Last night…

Damn it. His memory was a black hole.

Bai Jinghuan’s expression darkened. His throat worked before he managed a single, clipped syllable. "Yeah."

"Bro, I'm at Caiyang Hotel. You need to get here now—the engagement party's about to start." Jingtong’s tone remained gentle, patient.

Jinghuan lit a cigarette, dragging deeply before exhaling. "Fine. I'm on my way."

He hung up but didn’t move immediately. His sharp, predatory gaze swept the room, taking in the wreckage. Fingers brushed over a rust-colored stain on the sheets, his face stormy.

Last night had been her first time.

Who was she? Where was she now? How the hell had this even happened?

"Third Brother, what's up?" Jian Tianhua’s lazy drawl crackled through the phone. "It's too damn early for this."

"Reckoning day." Two words, and the laughter on the other end died instantly.

A long pause. Then, Tianhua forced out a weak chuckle. "Look, last night… we just thought you needed to loosen up. You’ve been wound too tight. But don’t worry—we kept it light. Won’t mess up your future… *activities*."

The deliberate emphasis on "activities" dripped with insinuation.

Jinghuan ended the call with a sharp jab of his thumb. He dressed swiftly, his movements tense. His gaze flicked to the sofa again.

The stains there told their own story—one of roughness, not tenderness.

His eyes darkened slightly.

Once tasted, forever craved.

This woman's sweetness lingered on his lips.

Bending down, he picked up the fallen earring from the floor. For a long moment, he squinted at it, as if under some inexplicable spell.

Then, he slipped it into his pocket.

...

The Caiyang Hotel was the most prestigious five-star establishment in Jingcheng.

Today marked the grand union of the Wu and Bai families—a marriage alliance of immense significance, evident from the lavish scale of the event.

From a distance, Wu Sisi could see guests from both families exchanging pleasantries, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement. Yet, an uneasy feeling gnawed at her. Steeling herself, she stepped forward.

She had to put an end to this engagement. End this mistake.

"There you are! Where were you last night?" Wu Xinran grabbed her arm with a perfectly poised smile, though her eyes were icy. "You didn’t answer any of my calls. Do you realize how important today is? Hurry up and get up there."

"W-Wait—" Wu Sisi tried to protest, raising her hand.

But before she could explain, Wu Xinran turned toward the stage and announced brightly, "Alright, everyone! The bride is here! The bride has arrived!"

In an instant, all eyes were on her.

Words lodged in her throat, unspoken. Wu Sisi walked stiffly onto the stage, deaf to the murmurs around her. Like a puppet on strings, her gaze was hollow, her movements mechanical.

"Let us bless the happy couple!" The emcee's voice suddenly pierced through Wu Sisi's consciousness, jolting her awake. With a violent shudder, she wrenched her hand free from Bai Jingtong's grasp.

"Cancel the wedding!"

Those four words instantly silenced the previously bustling venue.

"Sisi, are you feeling unwell?" Bai Jingtong gazed at her with tender concern, his voice laced with worry. The petite woman beside him had turned deathly pale, her lips trembling uncontrollably. He reached out to pull her into an embrace. "Are you not feeling well?"

"I'm perfectly fine." Wu Sisi looked up at the man, her fists clenched so tightly her palms ached. "Brother Jingtong, I'm sorry. I've failed you."

"Sisi..." Bai Jingtong's grip on her shoulders slackened, his pupils contracting sharply.

Murmurs of shock rippled through the crowd.

"You think you can just marry or cancel as you please? What do you take our family for?" The icy voice cut through the air like a blade. Bai Jinghuan stood at the entrance, one hand casually tucked in his pocket, his dark eyes glinting with menace.

Wu Sisi drew a deep breath, but confusion still swirled in her eyes. "I—"

"Wu Sisi!" Wu Hongchang could no longer contain his anger. "You'd better explain yourself right now. Whose face are you trying to disgrace?"

"Sisi, I need an explanation." Bai Jingtong's eyes dimmed as he watched her stubborn silence, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.

He had loved her for so long. He thought she understood. But it seemed...

Perhaps he simply hadn't tried hard enough.