C10 Chapter 10

Down in the hotel lobby, Bai Ni’an was already dressed in her most ethereal look—a flowing, pure-white maxi dress and soft, delicate makeup. But beneath that flawless face was a storm of barely contained fury.

To make sure she showed up after Gu Lijue’s drug had kicked in—without missing the moment when he’d be the most out of control—Bai Ni’an had set an alarm the instant Gu Zongyue confirmed the job was done. But the alarm never rang. When she checked, her phone was gone. By the time she made it to the hotel, she was already half an hour late.

Seething, Bai Ni’an yanked at the hem of her white dress. In the elevator mirror, she looked like something out of a dream. But the moment she stepped into Gu Lijue’s room, that pristine dress would be torn to shreds, and she’d be left looking fragile and pitiful, covered in marks—exactly what the reporters she’d arranged would capture on camera and blast all over the city...

Everyone would see it: the “pure, innocent” starlet being helplessly claimed by the most powerful, untouchable man in town. Then she’d force out terrified tears for the cameras. No matter how cold and ruthless Gu Lijue was, with everything already done—and with the company’s board watching him like hawks in the middle of a sensitive crisis—she’d have no trouble becoming the Gu family’s young madam.

When Bai Ni’an stopped outside Room 1808, she was trembling with excitement she couldn’t hold back. She slid out the keycard—this was it, the perfect turning point in her life.

Bai Ni’an took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

“Please… stop…” But what she heard was a broken, desperate plea.

What—there was another woman?

Bai Ni’an’s face twisted instantly. Sure enough, on the rumpled bed were two tangled figures. Rage surged so hard her head felt like it might explode.

“Help… help me…” Under the man’s relentless assault, Bai Nuochu could barely get the words out. When she saw someone come in, she reached out with a trembling arm, helpless.

Before she could lift herself up, the man shoved her back down. This woman had him hooked—like he couldn’t get enough. In that dizzying, intoxicating rush, he couldn’t stand the thought of even an inch of her skin belonging to anyone else, even though she still hadn’t stopped fighting him.

When Gu Lijue pinned Bai Nuochu beneath him, the little woman was so drained she could only go still and resign herself to it. A flicker of satisfaction crossed his face.

But a sharp voice cut through the air above them.

“It’s you—you slut!” Bai Ni’an’s eyes locked onto Bai Nuochu, practically spitting venom, all pretense of sweet innocence gone. “Weren’t you supposed to be passed around by Boss Tong and his buddies until you were finished? And you’ve got the nerve to steal my man!”

Bai Ni’an’s first instinct was to charge in and slap that bitch a few times, just like she used to.

But this time, before she could even touch Bai Nuochu, a large hand caught her wrist in midair—precise and unyielding.

The twisted rage on Bai Ni’an’s face froze the moment she met Gu Lijue’s eyes. The murderous fury that had been surging—her determination to make Bai Nuochu pay—locked up in an instant.

Bai Ni’an had always known Gu Lijue was cold and untouchable, but it took one look to understand just how terrifying he could be.

And the fact that Gu Lijue—who never cared about women—was looking at her like that because of Bai Nuochu made it even worse.

“If you don’t want to disappear from Ningcheng by tomorrow, get out. Now.” Gu Lijue’s voice was ice-cold. Even though she was a woman, he still yanked up the blanket and covered Bai Nuochu completely.

After having her once, he couldn’t help it—he didn’t want to share her with anyone.

“Young Master Jue, that woman doesn’t deserve to be anywhere near you.” Bai Ni’an couldn’t accept leaving like this. She could hardly believe this was real. She’d imagined Bai Nuochu’s biggest act of revenge, but never this—never that she could actually steal her man.