The rose-red tassels of the canopy bed dangled softly.
Li Qiyu opened her eyes, her head in great pain, unable to recall who she was or where she was.
She climbed off the French bed and staggered out of the living room.
The long corridor, with its intricate carpets and carvings, seemed heavenly…
Drawn unconsciously to the source of the sounds, Li Qiyu walked toward the brightness at the end of the hall.
She found a door ajar and had just walked in when she was stunned by the scene before her, and her cheeks began to burn.
The man turned his face to see her, his eyes locking onto her like a hawk to its prey.
Kneeling on one knee on the black-purple sofa, he was strikingly handsome with well-defined features, his solid and tense body exuding a captivating sexiness.
Li Qiyu realized she had intruded on forbidden territory. A smirk tugged at her lips, breaking the awkward atmosphere, "I'm the new servant, do you need a towel?"
"..."
"It seems my services aren't needed, pardon the interruption."
"Second Young Master… who is she? Such audacity.
"She's the Young Lady of the Bo family."
"Your sister-in-law?" The woman looked astonished toward a certain direction.
Bo Yexun also smiled, looking toward the French study desk: "Brother, you see."
Under the cascading bookshelves, behind heavy flannel curtains that let no light through, Bo Yeyuan browsed through a contract, his long legs crossed, radiating the air of noble blood.
Two men, two identical faces.
Bo Yexun exuded a wild charm, while Bo Yeyuan embodied the malice of a hellish king.
"She's changed, interesting." Bo Yexun pondered – usually Li Qiyu avoided him like the plague, but today she dared to challenge him?
"Let her be, Second Young Master, let's indulge in something even more thrilling…"
"Get out."
"Young Master, do you have any instructions?" asked Nanny Petty respectfully from the other end of the phone.
"Bring the lady up."
...
Li Qiyu wound her way through the palace-like corridor, the Roman columns spiraling around the stairs that wound upward in tiers.
A middle-aged woman waited at the base of the stairs, dressed in a black gown akin to a nun, high cheekbones, rigid and authoritative: "Where are you going, Young Lady? The Young Master is waiting for you on the second floor."
The Young Lady? "I'm married?" Li Qiyu could scarcely believe it.
Several servants followed behind the woman, the first of whom hurriedly came up to grab her by the shoulders.
"Let go of me, where are you taking me?" Li Qiyu struggled furiously but was taken back to that study, where she was thrown to the floor.
"Since you call me Young Lady, who gave you the right to push me?! What Young Master? Call him out to see me!"
"Quite the temper," a deep, melodious male voice commented, quite pleasing to the ear.
"Young Master," Nanny Petty greeted with respect.
Li Qiyu looked up to see the man sitting in the high-backed chair, his dark figure casting a shadow, one hand resting on the desk, fingers drumming rhythmically on the surface.
"It's you?" Li Qiyu gasped, "How could I possibly have been blind enough to marry you?"
"Because you were very much in love with me," Bo Yeyuan said, cocking his head, a mocking smile on his lips.
"Impossible!" Li Qiyu stood up, her spine rigid, her gaze hard and cold as she stared at Bo Yeyuan.
From his indifferent, mocking face, she understood that she must have had a miserable past, where even the servants dared to look down on her.
"Mrs. Bo, your scheme to seduce me has failed miserably…"
"I have no such interest."
Bo Yeyuan's eyes darkened, a strange look in his gaze as he watched her.
"You make a mistake and show no remorse, and now you dare to insult the Young Master!" Nanny Petty exclaimed in shock. The Young Master was usually extremely cold to this woman, and if it weren't for her crying and attempting suicide, he wouldn't bother with her at all.
"Attempted suicide," the man, like a leopard, rose from his chair, a cold smirk on his lips as he approached, "what game are you playing this time? Amnesia?"
Li Qiyu's frown deepened. She had tried to kill herself?
"Don't think by threatening me with your life, I'll touch you."
"Then let's divorce," Li Qiyu narrowed her eyes.
Bo Yeyuan grabbed her chin forcefully, the smell of tobacco on his breath, "You've become even more repulsive to me, Li Qiyu."
Li Qiyu rolled her eyes, "Repulsed by divorce? You hate me so much you should be thrilled…"
Bo Yeyuan gazed at her intently, no longer able to find in her face that foolish adoration she once had for him.
**