The Next Day at Noon
When Yun Zhiyi woke up, her waist felt as if it were about to snap in half.
That man hadn't shown her any tenderness. Instead, he had treated her like an antique, something to be handled, moved, and played with at his whim.
She had been too exhausted to refuse, so in the end, she simply endured his relentless passion in silence.
Already worn out from a night spent running for her life, now she felt completely drained. But she couldn't stay here—she had to leave this dangerous place immediately.
Getting out of bed, Yun Zhiyi walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.
The view stretched wide before her: the grand architecture of the castle and gardens in the foreground, with a clear waterfall and lush forest in the distance.
What kind of man would build his home in such a remote, secluded place?
She couldn't even remember exactly how she'd arrived here by helicopter last night.
Judging by the scale and luxury of the property, it must have cost a fortune, and the castle's owner must be incredibly wealthy and powerful. Without a doubt, "Lord Li" seemed mysterious and influential.
Her gaze drifted back inside.
The room still bore the evidence of last night's chaos. Most noticeable was the half-used condom he had discarded on the carpet.
Hearing the hum of a helicopter outside, Yun Zhiyi looked up, watching as it circled overhead before flying off into the distance.
After a quick wash, Yun Zhiyi went downstairs.
The expansive living room exuded opulence. Maids moved cautiously around the room, carefully dusting the antique vases.
"Did you hear? The young master couldn't find his lost pet, so he brought back some dirty woman from the forest instead!"
"She must be something special! Not only did she catch his eye so easily, but he even spent the whole night with her in the master bedroom. Before this, the young master never touched women!"
Their gossip came to an abrupt halt when they noticed Yun Zhiyi standing a short distance away.
The air grew tense.
Pretending not to have heard them, Yun Zhiyi said, "I need to leave. Can you show me the way out?"
One of the maids nodded.
"Oh, and one more thing," Yun Zhiyi added, "what is your master's name?"
"Li Yuye."
"Thank you. And could you please prepare two birth control pills for me?"
Yun Zhiyi understood that the chance of conceiving from a single night was low, but he hadn't stopped at just once. She couldn't afford to take any risks.
Under the maids' watchful eyes, she took the pills and left.
On the Helicopter
After answering a call, Feng Ze reported, "Lord Li, the housekeeper called to inform us that Yun Zhiyi has left."
"Who allowed her to leave?"
Li Yuye's tone was icy, a clear sign of his displeasure.
Feng Ze, taken aback, hesitated before responding calmly, "Wasn't that your order, sir? Last night, after bringing her to the castle, you gave instructions for her to stay only one night before leaving."
As he spoke, Feng Ze caught sight of a faint bite mark on Li Yuye's neck, half-hidden.
Realizing he might have misspoken, Feng Ze quickly attempted to make amends.
"Sir, if you're reluctant to let her go, I can send someone to bring her back right now."
"No, no, I mean, invite her back."
"That won't be necessary." Li Yuye dismissed the suggestion with a cold tone. "She's just a woman. Let her leave if she wants."
The events of the previous night had indeed surprised him.
Unexpectedly, he had given in to an impulsive desire to claim her delicate form, allowing an unfamiliar woman to touch him for the first time.
"Feng Ze, investigate her background. I want to know what happened last night."
"Understood."
Flashback to Last Night
On the stretch of road where Yun Zhiyi's car had overturned, there were no cameras.
Su Shen and An Yirou hadn't been able to find Yun Zhiyi.
Returning to the scene of the accident, they poured gasoline over her overturned car and set it ablaze.
"Yun Zhiyi!" An Yirou spat the name through clenched teeth, seething with hatred, wishing she could flay her alive.
Su Shen stood beside her, his arm around her waist, soothing her with gentle words, "Don't worry, Yirou, she won't survive."
"Brother Shen, what if that little tramp somehow got lucky and lived? If the truth comes out, we'll end up in prison…" The thought of losing everything her mother had schemed for all these years was unbearable.
"Relax." Su Shen held her close, reassuring her.
"There are no cameras in this area. Even if she's alive, she has no proof, and there's no one who can testify that we tried to kill her."
"Besides, the Su family is influential. With the family's connections and power, what can she possibly do to us?"
"Yes, you're right, Brother Shen. Without evidence, she has no chance of convicting us. And if she tries, we'll have her locked up for defamation!"
The Su family was one of the top elites in Jin City, highly respected and influential.
Meanwhile, the Yun family's shares had been declining recently, prompting them to seek an alliance with the Su family through marriage.
After Yun Zhiyi's mother had passed away from cancer, her father remarried, and his new wife was expecting a son. Yun's stepmother, consumed by her own ambitions, caused endless trouble, while Yun Zhiyi's father simply turned a blind eye to it all.
No matter what injustices she suffered, no one would stand up for her.