The night in City G was both beautiful and mysterious, with the early lights reflecting the brilliant stars in the sky.
Chenjing Restaurant, presidential suite 1008.
Ye Shu stood at the door, took a few deep breaths, then slid the password disk open and carefully entered the password.
The door sprang open, and her fingertip trembled lightly. There were no lights on inside, and the illumination from the hallway cast her shadow onto the cracked open door on the ground, which seemed somewhat eerie.
Looking at the reflection on the ground, Ye Shu suddenly hesitated.
She had never been with a man before, and now here she was, climbing into a man's bed on her own initiative, even using despicable means, at this crucial moment.
She bit her lip lightly, her expression pale and powerless.
But if she backed out now, her life would be completely hopeless, subject to others' whims.
What should she do?
Ye Shu took a deep breath, collected herself, and was just about to muster the courage to close the door and leave when a man's voice came from the room.
"It seems you've made the right choice after all."
The sudden sound of his voice startled Ye Shu, filling her with nerves as she listened to him.
She knew who Huo Shenting was waiting for.
Because of her scheming, that person couldn't come to fulfill the appointment with Huo Shenting tonight, giving her the opportunity.
Her head buzzed loudly, and she somewhat regretted drinking that glass of wine earlier, as it would have allowed her to face the current situation with more composure.
Ye Shu was so nervous she couldn't speak, and her legs felt weak. At that moment, the man loosened his grip on her hand slightly in the dark room, where no one could see anyone's expression clearly.
Ye Shu's frantic heart couldn't calm down, and her heartbeat raced violently.
Although she had mentally prepared herself, Ye Shu still didn't want to be someone's stand-in. She was about to speak up when the man suddenly proceeded to the next move, startling her indeed.
He guided her along gently, his movements light. Ye Shu grabbed his hand, her strength waning under the influence of the alcohol.
"No..."
She was anxious, her heart aching more. She didn't want to be anyone's stand-in; she wanted to leave her impression in Huo Shenting's heart.
When he heard her soft moan, the man stopped his movement, his fingers skillfully playing with her hair, his motions gentle and delicate, drawing her head softly into his embrace.
"Afraid?"
Someone as proud as Huo Shenting could also have such tender moments, carefully cherishing the woman he liked.
And even under the influence of drugs, to maintain such tenderness showed how extraordinary a place Shen Shiqing held in his heart.
Ye Shu's eyes suddenly brimmed with tears, not knowing whether it was out of contempt for her own actions or out of pity for herself, her nose filled with the pleasant scent of Huo Shenting.
She had secretly loved Huo Shenting for five years, yet she never expected to come to him in such a manner.
Ye Shu, you are truly a despicable and shameful woman, utterly faceless.
Now, she couldn't even respect herself!
But his heart already belonged to another woman, and her actions would likely earn his resentment.
Yet she really... liked him very much, starting from a long time ago.
In the darkness, the man's hand found her eyes accurately, wiping away the tears at the corners with tender care.
"Why are you crying?"
His concern wasn't for her, yet it caused Ye Shu's heart to tremble, and her tears surged even more.
The man wiped the corners of her eyes with extraordinary gentleness, as if afraid his fingertips might scratch her delicate face.
The gentler he was, the more resolute Ye Shu became in her thoughts.
Having come this far, she had to go for broke, and then let fate take its course for the rest of her life.
She wrapped her arms around the man's waist and leaned in towards his face, with a tender and cautious air.
She didn't dare to speak in reply to the man; his thin lips were cool and soothing, calming her tumultuous heart.
"Have you thought it through? No regrets?"
The man's voice was even more hoarse and restrained than before, and his speech deeply enchanting.
Ye Shu nodded vigorously, not uttering a word. This was all her own choice; she wouldn't regret it, nor did she have the right to.
Since they had reached this point, Huo Shenting had no intention of giving Ye Shu any chance for regret.
That night, Huo Shenting was very careful, each movement exceptionally gentle, as though she were a fragile object, tenderly and lovingly held in his hands.
It took a long while for the room's atmosphere to cool down.
Ye Shu hadn't expected her wild plan to actually succeed, especially under Huo Shenting's fully lucid state.
Throughout the process, Ye Shu was exhausted, suppressing her cries for fear of alerting him that the person he cherished wasn't the woman he had in mind.
Ye Shu nestled in his arms, her thoughts swirling, fingers tightly entwined, her complexion faintly flushed, and the shyness in her eyes perfectly concealed in the darkness of the night.
"Go to sleep."
The man's embrace was strong and secure, and when he spoke, Ye Shu could even clearly feel his chest vibrating.
She bit her lip hard, her nails digging into her soft flesh without feeling much pain.
She wanted to tell the man beside her that she wasn't Shen Shiqing, she was Ye Shu—a woman who would do anything for her own benefit.
But in the end, she lacked the courage to speak those words, especially as the mood seemed too good for her to bear breaking it.
"If you want to sleep well, don't move around."
As the man spoke, he took her hand into his. Ye Shu paused for a moment, then relaxed her grip.
No sooner had she loosened her grip than the man took hold of her hand, their fingers intertwining tightly.
Ye Shu's heart fluttered, struggling a bit, somewhat resentful of being used as a substitute for another woman under the influence of alcohol. However, as the effects of the alcohol faded, her strength waned, and she ended up held tightly in Huo Shenting's arms, unable to move.
Seeing that the person in his arms had quieted down, Huo Shenting's movements relaxed slightly, but then he heard a faint sobbing from her, his heart aching for her, and he gently stroked her back.
Ye Shu sobbed softly, biting her lip corner fiercely, trying hard to contain her emotions.
What she had done today completely contradicted the upbringing she had received over the years. Her mother would surely be ashamed if she knew of such a decision.
After a long while, her breathing became steady, and intoxicated with alcohol, she drifted into deep sleep.
"What am I supposed to do with you?"
The man's voice was filled with helplessness, yet it was imbued with incredible tenderness.