The crisp white sheets were twisted into tangled ropes, radiating from the center.
Jianglai’s oversized coat lay discarded on the floor, the room thick with intoxicating fragrance. Soft, uneven breaths broke the silence.
Sunken into the plush mattress, Jianglai pressed a hand to her forehead, clinging to the last threads of sobriety to assess her situation.
*Why is a woman pinning me down?* She could see a slender, pale hand resting on her waist—creeping upward.
"Why go out drinking," a voice purred, dripping with temptation, "without wearing any underwear?"
The woman’s earlier restraint at the bar had vanished the moment Jianglai followed her to the hotel. Politeness gave way to lewdness.
Jianglai’s skin held a cool, porcelain pallor, devoid of warmth.
The shock of being groped by a stranger sliced through her drunken haze.
*Physically a woman now, but deep down—I’m still a man.* She had zero interest in women’s clothing. The only feminine items at home belonged to her daughter. How could a father borrow his child’s clothes?
She didn’t understand why one woman would assault another. But this couldn’t go further. *One night… how could I face my daughter? My late wife?*
The woman dipped her head, the tip of her tongue brushing Jianglai’s earlobe—a shiver shot down her spine.
Before Jianglai could react, warm lips sealed against her neck. Hot breath fanned her skin, stoking a churning desire, waiting for the flame to consume her.
A strawberry-red mark bloomed unseen on Jianglai’s throat.
Mesmerized by the sight beneath her, the woman’s fingers trailed down Jianglai’s abdomen. Just as things threatened to spiral, Jianglai clamped down on her wrist.
Sober or not, she knew exactly what this stranger intended. One more touch, and her drunken resolve might shatter.
*And what kind of man lets himself be pinned like this?*
"Don’t," Jianglai’s voice cut through the heat like ice water. "I’m married… I won’t betray my wife."
The words crushed the woman’s spirit—soaring hope plummeting to despair. A shame. But even a one-night stand required consent.
Reluctantly, she withdrew her hand. That icy, restrained beauty beneath her… *What would it take to shatter that mask?* The thought made her fingertips tingle. *Force her?* No. Reason won.
As the woman retreated to the sofa in silence, Jianglai carefully straightened her clothes. The quiet gave her a chance to study the striking figure before her—elegant features radiating gentle grace, yet hauntingly familiar.
*Where have I seen her?* Jianglai rarely remembered anyone beyond work, her daughter, and her sister-in-law.
"I’m Jianglai," she said finally. "If it’s alright… could I get your contact? I’ll transfer the hotel fee."
This near-miss had at least given her shelter tonight. Without ID, she’d have been turned away from every hotel.
"Xu Ruobing," the woman replied. She knew the feast was lost. Her bold approach at the bar—so unlike her usual quiet drinks—had been pure infatuation. *Almost became the other woman on my first try.*
"No need," Xu Ruobing murmured, eyes lingering on Jianglai’s flustered posture, the fresh hickey stark against her pale neck. *I’d mark every inch of you… if you weren’t already taken.* The thought died as quickly as it came.
After Xu Ruobing left, Jianglai checked the room rate online and transferred the payment. *My fault for leading her on.*
Alone, she ruffled her hair, sinking into the bed’s quiet embrace. Her thoughts didn’t drift to Xu Ruobing’s touch—but to her daughter. *Did she eat dinner properly tonight?*
She scrolled through their chat history. Even when Jianglai said she couldn’t pick her up or come home, her daughter had simply replied: "Okay."
Since university, their contact had dwindled to weekly calls. Her daughter’s campus was local, yet Jianglai struggled to find excuses to visit outside holidays.
*My own doing.* She’d chased career success, believing material comfort equaled love. Now, time stretched before her—but her daughter no longer wanted her near.
In that young heart, the only true family left was her late wife’s sister.
