Volume One, Chapter Seven: The Midnight Cinema...

He Yanchen had expected her first words to be a demand for why he had come, or perhaps an expression of dissatisfaction at his sudden visit; the unexpected response clearly left him puzzled.

The man said nothing more, simply looking at her calmly. "How can I help?"

Ji Yao gritted her teeth. Just as she was about to blurt it out, she noticed her parents watching her. To keep them from worrying, she waved a hand at him.

"Shall we go inside and talk?"

"Alright."

He Yanchen followed her gaze toward the room she indicated—her bedroom. The last time he had stepped into that room was the day he was taken away by his biological parents. He had no idea what it looked like now, or if she had even returned to live here after she got married.

He Yanchen quickly composed himself and followed her into the bedroom.

Before entering, Ji Yao made up an excuse about catching up on old times to prevent her parents from suspecting anything. As soon as she slipped into the room, He Yanchen’s hand came down from above her, slamming the door shut. She found herself pressed against the door by his tall, lean frame.

She looked up to see this man with his porcelain-pale skin, sharp, high-bridged nose, and straight, imposing posture.

He Yanchen leaned in closer and closer, until his thin lips brushed against her ear. She tried to retreat, but her back was against the door panel; she was cornered with nowhere to go!

She swallowed hard, squeezed her eyes shut in terror, and hissed, "Help me detoxify!"

He Yanchen’s Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily. His hot breath washed over her face, and the corner of his mouth curled into a faint, ambiguous smile.

"Here? On a single bed?"

The four-foot bed in the corner wasn't nearly enough space for him to work with!

Seeing the man’s misunderstanding, Ji Yao took a deep breath, suppressing her racing heart. "No, I mean help me detox with medication!"

She had had enough. The two near-episodes today had left her unable to control even the most basic reasoning, and she was terrified! If she were to lose her wits due to the effects of the drug while alone with Xie Huaijin and fall into his trap, exposing her true colors, all would be lost. She had to get the hallucinogenic drugs out of her bloodstream entirely!

He Yanchen looked at her, his gaze remaining calm. "It’s a long process. You won't be able to handle the strain."

Seeing the room so clean, with no trace of her personal belongings left behind, it was clear she rarely returned home. If Xie Huaijin kept such a tight leash on her, how would she have the opportunity to see him?

Ji Yao knew what he was worried about. Her breathing slightly shallow, she said, "No matter how long it takes, as long as you can clear the drugs from my system, I am willing to cooperate!"

He Yanchen pulled his hand back from where it had been pressed above her, remaining where he was without any intention of leaving. "A check-up every day. Can you manage that?"

"I can!"

Seeing the determination in her eyes, He Yanchen smiled, though the smile did not reach his eyes. "Then wait for my word."

After leaving the bedroom, Ji Yao saw her parents had prepared a table full of meat and fish. During the meal, He Yanchen even shared a few drinks with her father. At first, she worried that someone of his status—who surely drank only the most expensive vintages—would look down on the cheap, home-brewed liquor, but his willingness to partake had surprised her.

Her father and He Yanchen exchanged pleasantries, mostly centering on gratitude. When they had bought this house, He Yanchen was only twelve. It was the family’s time to move, and He Yanchen had insisted her father buy this property. Little did anyone know that in just ten years, the property value would skyrocket a thousandfold!

...

Xie Family Villa.

It was already 8:30 PM when she arrived home. As she went upstairs to her bedroom, she ran into Xie Huaijin, who had just finished showering. He usually returned home at eleven or midnight; his early arrival today was truly baffling.

Xie Huaijin seemed to be in a low mood. He wiped his damp hair with a dry towel and sat down beside her.

"Wife, I heard from Mother that you went to your parents' house today?"

"Yes."

Xie Huaijin glanced at her, a heavy pressure weighing on his heart. "You went back without me. Did your parents say anything?"

Ji Yao understood what he meant. Xie Huaijin was obsessed with appearances. She rarely visited her parents, and the fact that she hadn't brought him along would lead his parents to assume they had quarreled or that she had been mistreated—a reputation he did not want to bear.

"They didn't say anything."

Xie Huaijin choked back a retort, feeling that something was off. In fact, after receiving a call from his mother, Li Fengying, that afternoon, he had been pondering a question: What was wrong with Ji Yao these past two days? Why was her temper becoming so sharp? Had she discovered something?

He dismissed the thought immediately—it seemed impossible!

If she had really discovered his infidelity, a typical woman would be making a scene, not remaining as quiet as she had been. After mulling it over all afternoon, he concluded that he must have been too focused on Qin Zhenzhen and neglected his wife, which made her unhappy. That was why he had intentionally come home early tonight. After all, Ji Yao still possessed something he wanted, and until he had it, he wouldn't completely burn bridges with her. He still needed to coax her.

Xie Huaijin’s lips curled slightly. He tugged gently at her arm, pulling her soft body into his embrace. He rested his chin on her shoulder, his breath warming her neck.

"Wife, don't be angry with me. I know I was wrong. I've had too many social engagements lately and neglected you. See, I pushed aside my commitments tonight just to come back and dote on you."

Xie Huaijin moved to pin her beneath him. As he leaned in to kiss her, a wave of nausea washed over Ji Yao. He hadn't "pushed aside" a social engagement; he had clearly pushed aside Qin Zhenzhen to come home early! Xie Huaijin had never touched her before, and he certainly wouldn't start now!

Ji Yao pushed him away with all her might. Xie Huaijin immediately looked puzzled. To avoid raising his suspicions, she blinked her eyes, feigning innocence.

"Husband, let's go out and see a movie."

A movie at this hour?

Although Xie Huaijin had a moment of doubt, it quickly vanished. Truthfully, he hadn't planned on sleeping with Ji Yao anyway; he had intended to find an opportunity to drug her later. Now that she was suggesting a movie, it saved him the trouble of drugging her, and he wouldn't be betraying Zhenzhen. It was a win-win!

He agreed quickly. "Alright, wait for me to change."

They bought tickets for a random suspense film. The content didn't matter to Ji Yao. What mattered was that after they sat down in the theater, before the lights went out, she pulled Xie Huaijin into a selfie and posted it to her social media feed.

She knew that even if she hadn't met Xie Huaijin's mistress, Qin Zhenzhen was certainly watching her. Even if it was just her social media, Qin Zhenzhen would see it! She had been angry about Xie Huaijin’s cheating for too long; it was time to strike back!

...

In the luxury mansion.

He Yanchen, wearing a bathrobe, stepped out of the bathroom. His slightly wavy hair was damp, clinging to his temples, with droplets of water sliding down his neck to his collarbone. He dried his short hair only halfway before walking to the balcony. With his back to the light, he lit a cigarette, his other hand idly scrolling through his social media feed.

As soon as he opened it, a photo of Ji Yao and Xie Huaijin appeared before his eyes.

He lounged on the sofa, biting lightly on the cigarette filter. Surrounded by wisps of smoke, he silently "liked" her post, then crushed the cigarette butt into the ashtray with cold intensity.