Hehehe… I never expected the young mistress of the Lu family to dress like this…”

From the shadows, a man licking his lips crept closer. His target: a slender beauty seated quietly in a rocking chair by the window of the lavish room.

Beneath the nearly transparent nightgown lay a perfectly toned, slender figure—no excess, no flaw. Her curves flowed seamlessly from shoulder to hip. Even in the moonlight, the silhouette beneath the fabric was undeniably alluring.

Long, silken hair cascaded like a waterfall. Her features were sharp yet elegant: eyes glinting with cold light, a delicate nose, lips that stirred imagination. One glance could captivate countless men.

Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly as she fixed her gaze on the blond man emerging from the dark—clearly dyed, cheap dye at that, applied so sparingly it looked patchy.

Tonight was meant to be the engagement ceremony’s culmination. Yet her fiancé had vanished, leaving his bride-to-be behind.

“Since you know who I am, leave now. If someone arrives, you won’t escape.”

After all, she was the famed young mistress of the Lu family—one half of Shangjing, the City That Never Sleeps.

The other half belonged to the Xia family, home of her fiancé, Xia Tianle.

Everyone knew the truth: the Lu family had pursued this alliance. They’d arranged for their eldest daughter to marry into the Xia household.

“Don’t be like that, Miss Lu—ah, should I call you Mrs. Xia now?”

“It’s only an engagement. The wedding’s in three years. Don’t get familiar.”

Lu Zixuan shifted her gaze to the window. Moonlight bathed her flawless face, deepening her aura of untouchable grace.

Her habitual coldness made her seem distant—even Xia Tianle called her “artificial.”

Truth was, she was slightly nearsighted. She frowned unconsciously when focusing—a quirk others mistook for aloofness.

At the thought of the engagement, shadow crossed her face. Xia Tianle’s indifference was academy gossip. Lately, he’d been lavishing attention on a new freshman girl.

To reclaim his notice, the engagement had been rushed. And the moment it ended? He vanished again—abandoning her on what should’ve been their first night.

Lu Zixuan was still a virgin. Pressured by family, she’d planned to seduce him tonight—to cement the bond.

She was merely a pawn in her family’s alliance play.

“Miss Lu… do you know where your fiancé is right now? What he’s doing?”

The man stepped into the moonlit patch near the window. Recognition dawned. She gave a slow, stiff nod.

Chen Yaoyi. Xia Tianle’s butler. A man of unknown origin. She barely knew him—he’d only joined the Xia household a week ago.

“This room isn’t for you.”

She wanted answers… but this space was meant for her and Xia Tianle alone. Not a servant.

“Now, now, now—calm down! I’ll leave… tomorrow morning.”

Chen Yaoyi licked his lips again, flashing a wicked grin.

“Tomorrow morning?! What do you want?! I’ll scream!”

Panic flashed across her face. *Is he… after me? His master’s fiancée?!*

She yanked the nightgown tighter, curled into the chair, and opened her mouth—

“Wait! Just look at this first!”

He clamped a hand over her mouth. Muffled cries died instantly. She clawed at his arm, pounded his chest—weak, frantic taps.

“Watch the video!”

He thrust the phone screen toward her. A secretly recorded clip: a man and a black-haired girl locked in an intimate embrace. Lu Zixuan’s struggles stilled the moment she recognized the golden hair, the voice, the familiar smirk.

Chen Yaoyi slowly withdrew his damp palm. Cranked up the volume. Brightened the screen.

Xia Tianle. Kissing another girl. Raw. Unmistakable.

Lu Zixuan snatched the phone. Scanned every frame—every movement, every detail—until her arms trembled. Her body went limp. The phone nearly slipped.

On-screen, sounds grew crude. She couldn’t watch anymore.

“My phone!” Chen Yaoyi snatched it back. “Haven’t replaced it in years!” He studied her hollow expression. Pressed on.

“Miss Lu… will you hear my request?”

“You… obviously. Since you brought this… how much to stay silent?”

She lifted her gaze. Met his strange smile.

“Silent?”

“This concerns the Lu-Xia alliance. How much to delete it and never speak of it?”

Reluctant, but duty-bound. Damage control came first.

“Money? No, no, no. If I wanted cash, I’d go straight to your father. Why do you think I came to *you*, Miss Lu?”

Silence stretched. Then—a choked cry.

“You… shameless!”

A faint blush rose, instantly drowned by disgust. Tears welled. She bit her lower lip hard, eyes burning with humiliation and regret.

“Miss Lu… you wouldn’t want this leaked, would you…?”

After a long pause, her trembling arms slowly opened. Revealing her flawless skin beneath the thin fabric.

“…I understand.”