Chapter One

Chapter One

“There's an unavoidable dinner tonight; it might end quite late. Does that bother you?”

On Friday afternoon, just after Lin Wu finished communicating with a client, she saw the message sent two hours earlier. She lowered her lashes thoughtfully for a few seconds before replying, “If it goes past ten, then forget it.”

There was a half-minute silence on the other end before the message came through: “Tomorrow?”

Lin Wu glanced up briefly, expressionless as she tapped her phone screen: “We’ll see.”

Ignoring the other side, she put down her phone and raised her hand to rub her sore shoulders and neck. Since lunch, she had remained at her desk, only leaving briefly for the restroom.

Loosening the stiffness in her limbs, she felt much lighter.

After a moment, Lin Wu looked at her empty coffee cup, stood up, and carried it toward the pantry.

Before she reached the door, she overheard her colleagues gathered there for their afternoon tea chatting.

“Did you hear? A handsome boss just landed on the 29th floor!”

“No way! What happened to that hideous old man before?”

“How handsome? Is he even better looking than my new idol?”

“I haven’t seen him either. I heard from their company staff at the cafeteria earlier—he arrived yesterday. They say his handsomeness is godlike and utterly unique.”

“Is it really that exaggerated?”

“……”

As the conversation grew lively, someone noticed Lin Wu standing by the door. They quickly exchanged a look and stood up. “Lin Lu.”

Lin Wu responded with a hum and raised her cup in greeting, smiling faintly. “Don’t worry, I’m just here for water.”

She turned on the faucet to rinse her cup. “Carry on.”

The gossiping colleagues were all recent graduates, some still interns, others newly promoted.

Lin Wu was a few years older. After graduating, she had joined Xianghe Law Firm.

This was her fifth year at the firm; she was a senior attorney. Because she had a good rapport with two partners at the firm, many colleagues found her intimidating.

Those familiar with her knew her cold and indifferent nature, not fond of meddling. To break the awkwardness, one assistant lawyer asked, “Lin Lu, have you heard about the new boss at the investment bank upstairs?”

Lin Wu sipped her water and shook her head. “I just heard.”

“They say he’s even more handsome than our Li Lu. Not sure if it’s true.”

The Li Lu mentioned was Li Xiang, one of the partners at their firm, known for his striking looks and many admirers.

After the comment, someone chimed in, “I don’t think so. I’ve never seen anyone more handsome than Li Lu in real life, right, Lin Lu?”

At this, an image flashed through Lin Wu’s mind—an excessively refined, almost perversely elegant face.

She paused slightly, then smiled in agreement. “That’s right.”

Seeing her smile, a newly joined assistant lawyer nearby looked a little distracted.

Since her first day at Xianghe, she knew it was a firm that combined strength with beauty. From partners to senior attorneys, junior lawyers, even finance staff—none were unattractive.

Especially the two partners and Lin Wu herself, their appearances were striking enough to launch careers as celebrities.

They were even more beautiful than most stars today.

Lin Wu’s aura leaned toward coolness. Her features were bright and sculpted—a perfect oval face, well-proportioned features, prominent brow bones, smooth facial contours, and a high, elegant nose bridge.

Her eyes were large, with long, upturned outer corners—the classic peach blossom eyes.

When not smiling, she exuded a distinct aloofness; but when she smiled, it was charming and lively.

Noticing the colleague’s gaze from across the room, Lin Wu raised her brows in a gentle arc.

The young woman blushed deeply and shyly looked away.

Lin Wu couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

To spare the young woman’s embarrassment, she also averted her eyes and casually chatted with the others still speculating about the investment bank’s new boss. After hearing plenty of gossip, she leisurely returned to her office with her cup in hand.

The previously demanding case had recently concluded; the new case was still in the data-gathering phase, no rush to handle it yet.

Sitting in her office chair, Lin Wu began pondering what to do after work.

Usually, on Friday evenings, she had a regular place to go. But tonight, having been stood up, she found herself at a loss.

She had exercised three times that week, including yesterday, and wasn’t in the mood today.

Shopping was unlikely—her close friend and partner He Jiayun was sunbathing on an island.

Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door.

Before Lin Wu could respond, the visitor pushed the door open impatiently. “Are you free tonight?”

Lin Wu looked at Li Xiang, admired by many at the firm, and hesitated for a second. “No, I’m not.”

Li Xiang, a university alumnus and longtime acquaintance of hers—nearly ten years—knew her well. Without hesitation, he called her bluff. “Silence means yes. Will you attend the dinner for me tonight?”

Lin Wu was speechless.

She choked up slightly, asking helplessly, “Why?”

“I’m flying to Hawaii tonight. I promised Jiayun I’d pick her up.” Li Xiang had forgotten this commitment until just now; otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked her last minute.

Since he mentioned He Jiayun, Lin Wu found it difficult to refuse.

Coincidentally free tonight, she reluctantly agreed, “Make sure you coordinate with them.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll send you the details via email shortly. You can handle it.”

Lin Wu ignored him.

A few minutes later, checking her inbox, she sighed helplessly.

Well then, no need to fret over how to spend the evening.

—

Li Xiang’s client was far more difficult than Lin Wu’s.

Moreover, she had never been fond of such business dinners and found coping a bit challenging.

By the end, Lin Wu felt dizzy.

After getting into the designated driver’s car and dropping off her assistant, she gave her own address and closed her eyes to rest.

Only when the driver asked if she wanted the car parked above or below ground did she come to, realizing she had given the wrong address.

Staring at the very familiar hotel outside the window, Lin Wu rubbed her temples and, deciding not to make a fuss, whispered, “Underground parking, please.”

Once the driver parked and left, Lin Wu grabbed her bag and walked toward the elevator, confident and familiar.

Her hotel room key was always kept in her wallet; she had checked it carefully before leaving.

Avoiding the front desk registration, she swiped her card and took the elevator to the sixty-eighth floor.

This was a high-end serviced apartment hotel—those who stood her up had leased a suite here by the year.

The elevator doors opened. Lin Wu leaned against the wall, navigating from memory to find the familiar room number, swiping her card to enter.

Her tolerance for alcohol was decent, but tonight she had definitely drunk too much.

She kicked off her high heels upon entering, barefoot, and completely failed to notice the pair of black Oxford leather shoes neatly placed beside the shoe bench by the door.

The motion-activated light in the hallway was bright and sharp.

Frowning, Lin Wu closed her eyes and moved forward by memory, intending to shower and sleep—she felt she couldn’t hold out any longer.

As she walked in, she casually tossed her bag onto the nearby sofa. Her coat was draped over a chair, followed by her thin knit top, pencil skirt, and stockings.

The moment she took off the knit top, Lin Wu sensed something amiss.

The air carried a familiar, sharp yet slightly fresh scent of orange.

At that moment, a short, sharp laugh echoed through the room.

Lin Wu froze instantly, eyes wide, turning toward the source.

In front of the open kitchen stood Chen Zhuo, dressed casually in loungewear. His posture was relaxed, a transparent glass in hand, the contents indiscernible as water or liquor.

At this very moment, he lowered his lashes to look at her, his gaze deep and fathomless, flickering with a flame of desire.

Their eyes met, and Lin Wu snapped fully awake. “You—”

Her breath caught, hastily pulling the clothing she had just removed but not yet discarded back over herself.

After a few seconds, she took a deep breath and glared coldly at the sudden intruder, cheeks flushed crimson with anger. Gritting her teeth, she demanded, “Don’t you have a dinner tonight?”

Knowing Chen Zhuo was here, Lin Wu would never have been so foolish as to act as she did moments ago.

Hearing this, Chen Zhuo raised a brow leisurely, his lips curling into a faint smile. “I bailed.”

Lin Wu was stunned. “What?”

Chen Zhuo set down his glass and approached calmly.

As he got closer, Lin Wu caught the fresh orange scent clinging to him—the scent of shampoo and body wash she liked and had bought for this place.

“I bailed on the dinner,” Chen Zhuo repeated patiently, bending close so his warm breath brushed her face, his gaze fixed intently on her. “Lin Lu.”

Lin Wu’s breath hitched slightly, her body leaning back to create space between them.

“Get to the point,” she reminded him.

Chen Zhuo lifted a brow and reached out to tap the phone she had just placed on the table. “It’s eleven o’clock.”

He told her, “When I arrived, it was still before ten.”

Lin Wu was speechless, recalling their WeChat conversation.

She opened her mouth, frustrated. “I had a last-minute dinner.”

Chen Zhuo said nothing.

The alcohol she drank had long since been sobered away by Chen Zhuo’s presence; her mind was sharp, her logic clear.

“President Chen, you’re the one who stood me up first.”

The implication was clear: since he postponed their meeting, she naturally had the freedom to manage her own time.

Chen Zhuo hesitated, wanting to say he hadn’t intended to stand her up—he just worried he wouldn’t make it before ten.

At this point, he stopped talking, lowered his eyes, and candidly admitted, “It’s my fault today.”

Lin Wu didn’t respond.

After a brief stalemate, Chen Zhuo was the first to bow his head, affectionately rubbing his nose against hers, inhaling the strong scent of alcohol on her.

“How much did you drink?”

Lin Wu’s lips moved softly. “I… don’t remember.”

Chen Zhuo smiled gently, his voice low and husky. “Still got any strength left?”

Lin Wu tilted her face up to meet his gaze.

After a moment, she hooked her hand around his neck, stepped on his foot, leaned close to his ear, and whispered softly, her voice lowered, “If I say I’m out of strength, will you let me off, President Chen?”

Her warm breath brushed past him. One foot pressed on his foot, the other deftly slid up his pant leg, tracing his ankle slowly.

Her tone was full of provocation.

Chen Zhuo’s breath deepened, his Adam’s apple bobbed. He reached up to grasp the back of her neck, forcing her to look up at him, his voice low and thick. “No.”

As he uttered that word, his fiery, scorching kiss followed.

Lin Wu’s breath was stolen away; all she could manage were soft, pained murmurs.

The knit top she had just put back on was pulled off again and tossed aside.

Even the pencil skirt and stockings she hadn’t had time to remove upon entering were quickly dealt with by Chen Zhuo’s hands.