Volume One, Chapter 16: Ye Zhaoying's Betrayal?

Because Xiao Li’s home was closer, she dropped him off first, then followed the navigation toward the address Qin Li had sent her.

However, focused on driving, Ye Zhaoying didn’t notice the white BMW tailing her.

Fu Mingchi was nearly furious to the point of losing control when he saw Ye Zhaoying get into the same car as Lu Jingchen, his expression dark and fierce.

He called Ye Zhaoying, but her phone was off. In anger, he threw his phone to the ground.

“Ye Zhaoying, if you dare to cheat, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

The Nanshan Villa District was somewhat far from the city center.

The night was dim, and Ye Zhaoying drove slowly, taking over forty minutes to reach the destination.

Suddenly, the view opened up before her; even at night, the streetlights revealed how beautiful the scenery here was.

She hadn’t expected that in the land-starved city of S, such a picturesque residential area could exist.

Indeed, wealth made all the difference.

Silently admiring this, Ye Zhaoying got out of the car and opened the front passenger door to help Lu Jingchen out.

As he stepped out, he staggered slightly, almost falling, but Ye Zhaoying’s quick reflexes caught him.

One hand held his arm, the other supported his waist.

His shirt was thin, and through it, Ye Zhaoying could clearly feel the firm muscles and smooth contours of his waist.

Lu Jingchen was tall, a full head taller than Ye Zhaoying, and at that moment, he seemed like a massive curtain enveloping her entirely.

Pressed close together, Ye Zhaoying could almost feel the steady, powerful beat of his heart.

Her face flushed deeply, and with great effort, she steadied him to prevent him from falling.

“Mr. Lu, are you okay?”

Lu Jingchen responded in a low, slightly hoarse voice, “I’m fine.”

In the hazy night, Ye Zhaoying couldn’t discern his expression clearly, but his blurred outline remained strikingly handsome and ethereal.

Having learned her lesson, she didn’t dare to relax, holding tightly to his arm as she guided him forward.

Fortunately, nothing happened on the way inside.

Once in the living room, Ye Zhaoying asked, “Mr. Lu, where is the light switch?”

“On the wall to the left.”

She fumbled to turn on the light, and the room instantly brightened, revealing luxurious and exquisite decorations that spoke of the owner's noble status.

Without time to look around carefully, Ye Zhaoying supported Lu Jingchen as they headed toward the bedroom.

The bedroom was decorated in dark tones, with deep gray bedding.

The moment Ye Zhaoying helped Lu Jingchen onto the bed, she lost her balance and both of them fell together.

“Ah!”

Ye Zhaoying ended up lying on top of Lu Jingchen, and most mortifyingly, her lips brushed against his neck.

The warm sensation transmitted through her lips, freezing her in place.

“Sorry! I just lost my footing!”

Ye Zhaoying had known since university how much Lu Jingchen disliked such close contact, so she hurriedly scrambled up from him.

But in moments of panic, accidents tended to happen.

As she flailed trying to get up, her hand accidentally pressed against Lu Jingchen’s body. Through his thin shirt, she could feel not only his burning warmth but also his firm abdominal muscles.

Like lightning flashing across the sky, memories of that night when she was drugged in Lu Jingchen’s room flashed through her mind—fragmented and blurry, yet unbearably blush-inducing.

The air around seemed to fluctuate between hot and cold. Ye Zhaoying quickly looked up and met Lu Jingchen’s lowered gaze.

His eyes were like a lake reflecting cold white moonlight at night, shimmering yet shrouded in a chilling mist.

“Sorry! I really didn’t mean to; I’ll get up right away!”

She hastily withdrew her hand from his body and quickly stood up.

At that moment, she didn’t dare look at his face, knowing well it must be extremely gloomy.

She moved swiftly to pull the blanket over Lu Jingchen, covering him without daring to remove his coat.

She feared that in the next moment, he might fly into a rage and throw her out.

“Mr. Lu, please rest well in bed. I’ll leave now.”

Having said that, Ye Zhaoying didn’t stay a second longer and fled from Lu Jingchen’s room like a runaway.

The man, still wrapped in drunkenness, sat up from the bed, watching the woman flee. His blurry eyes cleared, and beneath the dim nightlight, a faint curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Ye Zhaoying drove back to her rented apartment, but because it was nighttime and her driving skills were not yet proficient, she drove slowly.

Suddenly, a white BMW sped out from the other side of the road, blocking Ye Zhaoying’s car on the quiet street.

Startled, Ye Zhaoying slammed on the brakes, and when she saw who stepped out of the BMW, she was shocked.

Fu Mingchi?!

With her car blocked by Fu Mingchi’s, Ye Zhaoying had no choice but to get out. “Why are you stopping me?”

Fu Mingchi sneered, his face dark, as if a storm was about to break.

“This car belongs to Lu Jingchen, right?”

“Yes, so what?”

Fu Mingchi’s hostility deepened. “I was wondering why you’ve changed lately, even delaying the wedding. So you’ve hooked up with Lu Jingchen and want to dump me!”

Ye Zhaoying laughed bitterly. “I only drove Mr. Lu back because his assistant was busy and asked me to. I’ll return the car tomorrow. Mr. Lu is my investor. What’s the problem?”

Fu Mingchi suddenly understood, his tone more cutting. “So your attitude towards me these days is because I didn’t invest in you, huh?”

Looking at Fu Mingchi’s clouded face, Ye Zhaoying felt an overwhelming sense of unfamiliarity. Perhaps this was his true self; all the past had been a façade.

At this point, Ye Zhaoying no longer wanted to argue or waste time. “Move your car. I’m leaving.”

As she turned to leave, Fu Mingchi grabbed her wrist and yanked her back.

She fell against him, her nose stinging painfully, tears welling up involuntarily.

“What are you doing?!”

Fu Mingchi lowered his gaze and lifted her chin, teeth clenched. “I’m asking you—have you slept with Lu Jingchen?!”

Ye Zhaoying was stunned, unsure why he suddenly asked this, but knowing it was true left her momentarily speechless.

“Are you sick? Let go of me!”

But Fu Mingchi couldn’t hear her protests. He growled, “Answer me!”

Seeing her remain silent, his suspicion grew sharper, rage consuming him as if it were certain that Lu Jingchen had already slept with Ye Zhaoying.