Chapter 2: Surprise
This woman was like a poppy flower—unwittingly intoxicating, drawing him in until he couldn't pull himself away.
Liang Xiaoluo, in a hazy stupor, leaned into him without realizing what she was doing. She had no idea what was happening.
Ye Tianlin froze for a moment, his usual self-control crumbling. He cupped her face, deepening the kiss with an intensity he'd never felt before.
Everything spiraled out of control.
He furrowed his brows slightly, for the first time tempted to indulge himself. Gently stroking her flushed face, he murmured, "Woman, give yourself to me. I'll take responsibility."
The women he wanted had to come to him willingly.
And he wanted her.
Liang Xiaoluo was completely dazed, unaware of what was unfolding. She had no idea how far things had gone or how irreversible it had become—like the sky collapsing on her.
Eventually, a physically exhausted Ye Tianlin let go of her, lying beside her. He turned his head to look at the sleeping Liang Xiaoluo, her breathing soft and steady.
Reaching out, he gently touched her face, pulling her closer into his arms. He kissed her forehead and whispered, "Woman, do you remember me?"
The morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, illuminating the room. Liang Xiaoluo stirred from her deep slumber, shifting slightly.
But as she moved, a wave of soreness and pain washed over her. Her head throbbed uncomfortably, and her body felt heavy and stiff.
Forcing her eyes open with difficulty, she took in her surroundings. The spacious room and luxurious chandelier were unfamiliar. This wasn't her home. Everything felt strange.
Perhaps… she was still dreaming?
She let out a soft breath, closing her eyes again in an attempt to go back to sleep. But suddenly, like a lightning bolt, memories from the night before crashed into her mind. Her eyes snapped open, and she turned her head toward Ye Tianlin, taking in their situation.
What was going on?
Her mind was on the verge of exploding. For a moment, everything went blank. How could this have happened? Who could explain why she was in bed with a stranger?
No. This couldn't be real.
She refused to believe it.
Yet, how could she explain the current situation?
Desperately trying to calm herself, Liang Xiaoluo pieced together the fragmented memories of the previous night. She vaguely remembered drinking at the bar, trying to escape Peng Yuyang, and grabbing a man, saying she'd buy him for the night. Could it be…
She couldn't believe it. Had she really done something so reckless? Her heart pounded furiously as panic set in. Quietly, she slipped Ye Tianlin's arm off her and got out of bed. Her body's soreness almost made her collapse, but she gritted her teeth and pushed through the pain.
Gathering her scattered clothes from the floor, she dressed as quickly as possible, intending to leave without a sound and pretend nothing had happened.
But just as she reached the door, she glanced back at Ye Tianlin.
Watching his peaceful sleeping face, she hesitated. Would it be wrong to leave like this? After all, she had been the one to proposition him last night. Searching her pockets, she found only a single coin—five cents.
Knocking her own forehead in frustration, she muttered, "I should've brought more money last night." With a sigh, she placed the coin on the bedside table along with a hastily written note. "Don't blame me," she whispered to herself. "This is all I have. Just think of it as a bad business deal. Honestly, I lost out too—it was my first time. Ugh!"
Sighing deeply, she tiptoed out of the room.
The soft click of the door startled Ye Tianlin awake. He hadn't slept so soundly in a long time, and memories of the previous night flashed in his mind.
A faint smile played on his lips as he reached out, only to find the space beside him empty. Jolting upright, he turned to see that Liang Xiaoluo was gone.
It felt as if last night had been nothing but a dream, and a wave of disappointment swept over him.
But then, his gaze fell on the faint red stain on the sheets—like a blooming peach blossom. The memories of last night replayed vividly in his mind, and his dark eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
That satisfaction quickly soured when he noticed the five-cent coin and note on the table. His expression darkened.
This damned woman had left him five cents?
Ye Tianlin, the second young master of the prestigious Ye family—was his night with her worth only five cents?
In an ordinary district of L City.
Liang Xiaoluo hurried away from the Imperial Hotel, her disheveled state reflecting her inner turmoil. With no money for transportation, she walked all the way home, a journey that took nearly an hour.
The modest house she now called home stood before her. She had moved here less than a month ago after her father's business collapsed due to financial troubles.
Everything had been sold off, leaving them no choice but to move into this working-class neighborhood.
Liang Xiaoluo sighed heavily. After a month, she had adjusted to this simpler life. Still, the thought of not returning home last night gnawed at her—her father must have been worried.
With that thought in mind, she entered the house. Finding it empty, she let out a breath of relief. She went to her room, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror—messy hair, disheveled clothes. A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
"What's the big deal? It's just a one-night stand."
Collapsing onto her bed, she tried to sleep, exhaustion weighing her down.
But no matter how hard she tried, images of the previous night kept flickering through her mind. She couldn't shake them off.
"Ugh…" she groaned, opening her eyes and tossing restlessly. She told herself not to dwell on it. No amount of overthinking would change what had happened.
She and Ye Tianlin were unlikely to ever cross paths again. So why did she feel a strange sense of loss deep inside?
The sharp trill of her phone broke her thoughts, startling her.
Bolting upright, she fumbled for the phone in her pocket. Seeing the caller ID, she hesitated briefly before answering.
"Xiaoluo!" came the impatient voice.
She took a deep breath. "Shao Jie-ge!"
His voice was warm yet anxious. "Xiaoluo, where are you? What happened while I was in the U.S.? I heard your father's company went bankrupt."
Her heart sank at his words, a complex mix of warmth and bitterness flooding her. She didn't know how to respond. This man, who had grown up with her, was the heir to the globally renowned Nan Corporation.
Forcing a bitter smile, she laughed softly. "Heh…"
The other end fell silent for a moment before his gentle voice came through again. "Xiaoluo, I'm returning to the country tomorrow. Can you come pick me up?"
"Uh…"
"Xiaoluo! Are you home? Open the door—it's Dad!"
Before she could respond, urgent knocking and her father's anxious voice interrupted her.
Stunned, she quickly told Shao Jie, "Wait a moment," before hanging up.
Opening the door, she saw her father, Liang Hui, his face drenched in sweat and filled with exhaustion. Gripping her hand, he said, "Xiaoluo, thank goodness you're back. Do you have any idea how worried I was? Where were you last night?"
Caught off guard, she fumbled for a reply. But before she could speak, Liang Hui pushed her into the house, frantically gathering her belongings. "Pack your things quickly. You need to leave here immediately."
"Huh?" She stared at him, bewildered. "Dad, what's going on?"
Liang Hui froze, his back to her, and sighed deeply. "Your stepmother…"
"Stepmother?"
Hearing that word, Liang Xiaoluo's expression hardened, her voice turning icy. "What has she done now?"
That woman who had replaced her late mother…
If not for her stepmother, her father's company wouldn't have gone bankrupt, and they wouldn't have been reduced to such misery.
Liang Hui remained silent, avoiding her gaze as he continued packing her things.
Seeing his reluctance to speak, Liang Xiaoluo grew anxious, grabbing his arm and demanding, "Dad, tell me! Did she sell this house? Or did she get into trouble with the police again?"
Her stepmother and Lin Xue had only ever caused chaos for their family. If it wasn't one disaster, it was another unexpected "surprise."