Phoenix Mountain Manor was brightly lit.
When the couple, who were married in name only, arrived, it was already 10:30 PM. After parking the car, Zhao Yanan got out first and stood by, waiting for Chu Yuxuan.
That playboy lazily opened the car door, extended a hand, and slurred, "Help me."
Zhao Yanan remained unmoved.
Chu Yuxuan teased, "Wife, you need to keep up appearances in the Chu family."
"Don't call me that!" Zhao Yanan glared at him, reluctantly stepping forward to pull him out by his sleeve. "You're hurting me, wife."
Zhao Yanan: "..."
After much effort getting him out of the car, Zhao Yanan didn't let go. What looked like support was actually just her gripping his clothes as they walked side by side toward the banquet hall.
Before they even reached the door, the old butler came out, supporting the head of the family, Chu Xiaotian, followed by other members of the Chu family.
"I'm getting old. You all enjoy yourselves. I'll…" The old man's voice trailed off as his gaze fell on Chu Yuxuan, and his face immediately turned grim.
The others also paused in surprise.
Seeing his son in a drunken state, Chu Zhiqing hurriedly stepped forward and asked Zhao Yanan, "Is he… drunk?"
Zhao Yanan stiffly explained, "He had a business meeting."
As soon as she said that, there was a burst of mockery.
"A business meeting? More like indulging in debauchery."
"Give him a break. After all, he used to be so broke he drove for ride-hailing services. Suddenly rejoining the family as a rich heir, he's got to show off a bit, right? All bumpkins-turned-rich are like this."
Chu Xiaotian had two sons and one daughter. Chu Zhiqing was the third child. The second was Chu Yuxuan's aunt, and the eldest was Chu Yuxuan's uncle. The ones who spoke just now were the aunt's two children.
Chu Yuxuan smirked, "You two outsiders seem to know me well."
Before they could retort, he turned to his grandfather and said, "Oh? Grandpa, you're still…"
"Cough, cough, cough…" Chu Zhiqing coughed violently, afraid his rebellious son would finish the sentence.
Chu Yuxuan shot him a sideways glance and continued, "You're still… pretty spry."
"Yuxuan, if you're drunk, go rest. Don't upset Grandpa," said Chu Haoran, the eldest son and grandson of Chu Xiaotian.
Compared to the aunt's unimpressive children, Chu Yuxuan's cousin was much more outstanding. Now in his thirties, he exuded noble and elegant charm, yet there was an occasional sharpness in his eyes, giving off an aura of authority.
"Big brother…" Chu Yuxuan slurred, his words almost unintelligible, "It's been over ten years. You've become quite the figure. Hehe… Let me tell you, I'm back to… hic… fight for the family inheritance with you and your father!"
The crowd fell silent in shock.
Zhao Yanan's eyes widened, and her palms instantly broke out in cold sweat. She thought, "This dog of a man… Is he asking for death?!"
Chu Zhiqing trembled with fear, "Son, what nonsense are you spouting? Yanan, quickly take him to rest!"
Zhao Yanan: "Okay."
However, the next moment, Chu Yuxuan bent over and started vomiting…
Chu Xiaotian, his face full of anger, cursed, "You worthless brat!" before striding away.
The others either mocked or ridiculed him before returning to the banquet hall, leaving Chu Yuxuan to finish vomiting on his own.
With no outsiders around, a sly look briefly flashed in Chu Zhiqing's eyes as he patted his son's back and said to Zhao Yanan, "Take him to rest."
With the help of a servant, Zhao Yanan dragged her drunk husband back to Chu Zhiqing's courtyard.
As soon as they entered the living room, she revealed her true nature, tossing Chu Yuxuan onto the sofa.
Chu Yuxuan bumped his foot and half-squinted his eyes, "Wife, you hurt me."
Zhao Yanan ignored him, not even bothering to look his way.
The servant thought to herself, "I feel sorry for the young master, but I won't say it."
Zhao Yanan took a deep breath, then turned to the servant with her usual cold expression but with a polite tone, "Excuse me, where will I be sleeping?"
The servant replied, "Young Madam, you'll be staying in the guest room on the second floor with the Young Master."
"Is there another room available? I'd like to sleep alone," Zhao Yanan said calmly.
"This…" The servant was in a difficult position, wondering if the Young Master had angered his wife by drinking too much. She glanced at Chu Yuxuan out of the corner of her eye and, seeing that he didn't object, nodded and said, "Young Madam, please wait a moment. I'll prepare a room and get you some sleepwear and toiletries."
"Thank you."
As soon as the servant went upstairs, Chu Yuxuan sat up, peering at Zhao Yanan with a smile, "Are you disgusted by me?"
Zhao Yanan had no intention of engaging with this drunken dog, standing with her arms crossed, her back to him.
However, the next moment, she suddenly felt a rush of warmth against her back. At the same time, a pair of hands wrapped tightly around her waist!
In her ear, Chu Yuxuan's voice, rich and seductive, whispered, "Wife, shall we make up for the wedding night tonight?"
Zhao Yanan's body stiffened, and the next second, as if electrocuted, she jolted and tried to break free from his grip.
But as a woman, her strength was clearly insufficient.
"Chu Yuxuan! Let go of me!" Zhao Yanan almost screamed those words.
Chu Yuxuan: "Beg me."
"Let go! Chu Yuxuan, don't touch me! Let go!"
Chu Yuxuan could feel the beauty in his arms starting to tremble.
"Isn't your reaction a bit extreme? We're both adults. Lighten up."
As he spoke, he turned Zhao Yanan's body around, pressing her down onto the sofa with his upper body.
Zhao Yanan struggled violently, her face turning pale, her eyes filled with terror.
"Don't touch me! Don't touch me!"
Chu Yuxuan grinned wickedly, "I told you, beg me. Is that so hard?"
Zhao Yanan pushed against Chu Yuxuan's chest with one hand while her other hand groped the coffee table.
She had seen a fruit knife on the coffee table when they entered.
"Get off… Get off! Don't touch me!… Chu Yuxuan, I'm begging you, don't touch me! Don't touch me!" As she said these words, Zhao Yanan's pupils suddenly contracted, her gaze becoming unfocused, tears streaming down her face as if she had fallen into a deeper fear, even… a fear that seemed somehow abnormal.
Chu Yuxuan froze. He hadn't even done anything yet, was this reaction necessary? She was acting more virtuous than the most virtuous of women.
Just as he was lost in thought, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of a flash of silver.
"Don't touch me! Don't touch me… don't touch me… Get off! Don't touch me!"
Zhao Yanan seemed to be in a bizarre state, her body trembling violently, her eyes darting around, as if possessed by some inexplicable madness. In her left hand, she held a blood-stained fruit knife.
Chu Yuxuan had already sat up straight. His white shirt had a cut near the heart, and a patch of bright red was slowly spreading. If he hadn't dodged quickly, it might have been more than just a superficial wound.
The playboy dropped his carefree demeanor, frowning as he stood to the side, watching Zhao Yanan's extreme reaction with a thoughtful expression. After a moment, Zhao Yanan began to regain her composure. Seeing the blood on the knife, she let out a small scream and dropped it to the floor.
Chu Yuxuan pressed his tongue against his molars and said in a low voice, "Attempted murder? Zhao Yan, I'm angry."
Zhao Yanan wiped the tears from her cheeks and coldly said, "Get out! Chu Yuxuan, I never want to see you again! You're nothing but a beast!"
Chu Yuxuan loosened his collar, then turned to the servant standing at the stairs and snapped, "Take care of Madam. I'll sleep in the guest house."