Feeling unwell, Shen Yue hailed a taxi after leaving the hospital. Her black, tousled hair fell to her cheeks, framing a delicate and beautiful face that showed a hint of weakness and fatigue.
Shen Yue looked down at her phone. It was newly purchased, and the contacts listed only Xie Jiangsheng and a few colleagues from her shop. Her relationships with them weren't deep, and over the past few days, no one had sent her a message.
The scenery outside the car window blurred as it sped by. Her dark, moist eyes were slightly lowered, a faint alluring hue tracing the graceful curve of her eyes' corners.
---
At the entrance of her apartment, a bouquet of vibrant roses lay, still clinging to a few dewdrops and emitting a faint, sweet fragrance.
Shen Yue squatted down, picked up the bouquet, and examined it. A small card was tucked among the roses.
SY.
The English initials of her name.
Her black, tousled hair cascaded down the sides of her fair, porcelain-like face. A flicker of confusion crossed her delicate features.
These past few days, inexplicable people had been leaving things at her door.
At first, it was just simple greeting envelopes, with no signatures. Shen Yue had put them all away in her drawer.
Today, instead of an envelope, there was a bouquet of roses that seemed freshly bought.
The question of who was sending them had been troubling her. After all, she had no friends or family around. The consistent delivery of such items by a strange person made Shen Yue feel somewhat uneasy and peculiar.
She could put away the envelopes, but Shen Yue had no intention of accepting the roses. Instead, she left a line of text below the small card.
—Who are you.
Then, she placed the bouquet beside the door and opened it to go inside.
The next morning, as Shen Yue stepped out, she instinctively glanced at the side of her door. The bouquet of roses was still there, as vibrant and lush as ever. The bright, tender petals were a refreshing sight.
Normally, fresh roses left overnight without water would have wilted somewhat. However, the vibrant red petals remained tender and beautiful.
Shen Yue squatted down to inspect them. These must have been bought this morning. Crystal dewdrops glistened on the fiery rose petals.
There was another card.
Shen Yue picked it up and read it.
—Why don't you accept them? Do you not like roses?
He still hadn't revealed his name. He seemed solely concerned with why Shen Yue wasn't accepting his roses, and even through the cold text, his disappointment and sadness could be felt.
Shen Yue frowned slightly and took out a pen from her bag.
—Before I accept them, I hope to know your name.
The woman's handwriting was neat and well-formed.
After leaving this message, Shen Yue stood up, adjusted the roses, and headed to work.
---
Late at night, Lu Jin returned to his villa, having had a bit to drink. The dark, dim hall was devoid of any light. He flipped the switch, and the blindingly bright light felt exceptionally harsh at that moment.
The silent, empty house made no sound, save for the subtle ticking of the clock. It was desolate, lacking any sign of life.
Lu Jin tugged at his tie, his lips pursed into a thin line, his expression intensely gloomy and cold. Despite possessing a face that hinted at romantic charm, such an expression made him look particularly chilling.
At the club, amidst the hazy lights, the woman's red lips and fair skin were enough to ignite men's unrestrained desires.
Those women were all exceptionally beautiful, wearing minimal fabric.
There were many stunning beauties, both in appearance and in their perfect figures, to which hardly any man could resist.
He was supposed to enjoy himself thoroughly tonight. However, during their drinks, the moment the women leaned in, Lu Jin felt no desire whatsoever.
The alcohol he had consumed burned within him like a fire, yet there was no outlet for it.
Inappropriate thoughts of a person he should have forgotten constantly surfaced in his mind.
Soft black hair, skin as fair as milk, eyes that were a stark contrast of black and white, beautiful as if sprinkled with stardust, and those slightly flushed eye corners, as if painted with rouge.
A slender waist, delicate wrists, seemingly fragile enough to break with a slight touch.
"Young Master Lu?" A curvaceous beauty, with a charming smile, offered a wine glass to Lu Jin's lips. As she drew closer, the pungent scent of perfume rushed into his nose, almost making him gag.
The curvaceous beauty, unaware, spoke in a sweet, coy voice, "Why aren't you paying attention to me?"
Lu Jin's standards were high; he rarely took notice of ordinary women. Those who caught his eye were almost all earthly delights. Yet, Lu Jin had no interest at all now. He roughly pushed the curvaceous beauty away.
The curvaceous beauty lost her grip, and some of the liquid spilled from the wine glass.
Under the curvaceous beauty's uneasy gaze, Lu Jin simply said, "It has nothing to do with you. Go accompany someone else."
The curvaceous beauty initially wanted to say more, but seeing Lu Jin's displeased expression, she grew a little afraid and quietly went to attend to other VIPs.
Logically, the curvaceous beauty should have been Lu Jin's type: fair skin, red lips, a voluptuous figure, and long legs; a single glance could captivate anyone. He had always been attracted to such women.
Yet, for some reason, he felt no enthusiasm. Something felt missing, making the experience as dull as chewing on wax.
Others nearby, seeing Lu Jin sitting alone, called over several women to accompany him, but he rejected them all.
Boring.
Lu Jin took a cigarette from his pack and lit it, smoking for a while.
If one were to talk about fairness, no one was as fair as Shen Yue.
She was truly like a piece of white jade, cool and delicate to the touch. His hand seemed to stick to her, unable to retract, without a single flaw.
He had touched her, and that sensation was something he would never forget.
The fire that had almost subsided reignited, burning ever brighter. His chest felt consumed by the overflowing craving.
He had almost managed to forget her.
This woman, with a heart as proud as the heavens but a fate as thin as paper.
She was so foolish, yet possessed a face that catered to his every fetish.
How could she be so perfectly formed? It was as if every feature was etched into the core of his heart.
That's why, from the moment he first saw Shen Yue, he had set his sights on her.
It was a pity, however, that Xie Jiangsheng had gotten there first. As the saying goes, one should not covet a friend's wife, so Lu Jin had refrained from making a move.
Lu Jin understood Xie Jiangsheng well. In Xie Jiangsheng's eyes, women were like playthings, and Shen Yue was merely better looking than others, with no other advantages.
Xie Jiangsheng was a businessman; his greatest concern was his own interests.
Lu Jin merely ceded a piece of land to Xie Jiangsheng and made a slight indication of his interest in Shen Yue. Xie Jiangsheng, with virtually no hesitation, sent the woman to his bed.
Unfortunately, before he could savor her fully, something happened to her.