Chapter 1: The Bet

I was halfway through my shift at my part-time job when Jiang Ye called.

His voice was slurred and urgent on the other end of the line.

“Come pick me up at the club. I drank way too much. I’m about to puke. If you don’t come, I swear I’m going to die.”

I’d always been the obedient type.

The second I heard him say that, my mind went into overdrive. I didn’t stop to think, didn’t even bother changing out of my work uniform. I rushed out into the pouring rain and headed straight for the club.

And now—

I stood frozen in the middle of an extravagant private room.

My hair was completely soaked, and my clothes clung to my skin, rainwater dripping steadily onto the floor. I looked like a drowned rat.

Jiang Ye, on the other hand, looked as immaculate as ever.

Not a single wrinkle marred his clothes, and his hair was perfectly styled. A glamorous woman sat beside him, dressed head to toe in designer brands.

My mind went completely blank.

I just stood there, rooted to the spot.

Jiang Ye turned his gaze toward me, his eyes traveling over the muddy footprints and puddles of rainwater I had left behind.

He clicked his tongue, a mocking smile playing at the corner of his lips.

“Hsu Lian, what are you waiting for? Go say hello to Young Master Yu.”

Only then did I notice the man sitting at the other end of the sofa.

Half his body was swallowed by shadow, his long legs stretched out casually before him.

Beneath his neatly trimmed black hair, his eyes were dark and cold.

He looked like a lion lazily resting in the darkness—seemingly indifferent to everything around him, yet fully capable of tearing his prey apart the moment someone dared provoke him.

I only dared steal a glance before quickly lowering my head.

My heart pounded violently against my ribs.

I knew who he was.

Zhou Xiangyu.

I’d crossed paths with him several times recently whenever I accompanied Jiang Ye.

I didn’t know much about him. I’d only heard bits and pieces—that he was one of the most powerful men in Port City, born into a prominent family with influence in both the legitimate world and the underworld.

For a girl like me, who’d grown up in a small town, a man like him existed only in the kind of old Hong Kong gangster movies I used to watch.

Just thinking about it made my stomach knot tighter.

My fingers clenched around the hem of my shirt until my knuckles turned white.

“H-hello, Young Master Yu.”

Silence.

He didn’t respond.

Instead, Jiang Ye suddenly burst out laughing.

“What was that? You were so quiet, even a mosquito couldn’t hear you. Come on. Get a little closer and say hello properly.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

The glamorous woman beside him laughed openly.

I was Jiang Ye’s girlfriend.

His actual girlfriend.

And yet, standing there drenched and trembling, I felt less like his girlfriend and more like some pathetic clown he’d dragged onto a stage for everyone else to laugh at.

The cold rain had soaked through my thin clothes and seeped into my skin, chilling me to the bone.

I waited.

And waited.

Some foolish little part of me was still hoping Jiang Ye would say something—anything—to defend me.

He didn’t.

His smile only grew wider, as if he were thoroughly enjoying the spectacle and couldn’t wait to see how it would end.

Eventually, even my heart turned cold.

I drew a deep breath and swallowed the humiliation burning in my throat.

Then I forced myself toward Zhou Xiangyu, taking one trembling step after another.

I didn’t dare meet his eyes.

With my head bowed, I clung to the last scraps of dignity I had left and whispered,

“H-hello, Young Master Yu.”

The atmosphere in the room seemed to turn colder.

Then he asked me a question.

And somehow, that was enough.

All the pain I’d been bottling up for so long finally shattered.

Tears spilled down my cheeks.

One drop after another landed on the perfectly pressed black suit covering Zhou Xiangyu’s chest.

“I… I don’t like him anymore.”

My voice trembled.

“But I really did love him before. I loved him so much. I used to think…”

My throat tightened.

The words wouldn’t come.

Zhou Xiangyu clicked his tongue softly.

His brows drew together, his expression darkening as if he were on the verge of losing his temper.

I flinched.

For a moment, I was sure he was going to tell me to shut up.

Instead, he pulled out a handkerchief.

His movements were rough, almost impatient, but there was something strangely careful about the way he wiped away my tears.

His touch wasn’t gentle.

And yet, somehow, it made me feel safe.

Which only made me cry harder.

Before long, the white dress shirt beneath his suit was damp with my tears.

After a long moment, he suddenly reached out and caught my cheeks between his fingers.

“Stop crying.”

His voice was firm, almost domineering.

But beneath that commanding tone was a trace of helplessness I never would have expected from him.

I startled and gave a tiny hiccup.

Only then did I realize just how badly I’d been crying.

I hurriedly swallowed my tears, leaving myself with nothing but red-rimmed eyes and a faint sheen of moisture clinging to my lashes.

I looked at him cautiously.

A completely ridiculous thought crossed my mind.

Please don’t suddenly decide to throw me into the ocean for the sharks.

But Zhou Xiangyu only looked down at me.

He sighed.

Then, unexpectedly, he lowered his head and pressed the lightest kiss to my hair.

The arm around my waist tightened slightly.

His deep voice sounded right beside my ear.

“Good girl.”

My entire body went rigid.

I didn’t dare move.

Jiang Ye’s earlier words suddenly echoed through my mind, and my heart began pounding all over again.

I gathered every ounce of courage I had.

“Y-Young Master Yu…”

I swallowed hard.

“I never agreed to be part of anyone’s bet. So maybe…”

His eyes narrowed.

An invisible pressure seemed to settle over me.

My voice grew softer and softer until it disappeared completely.

I wisely decided to keep my mouth shut.

Zhou Xiangyu leaned closer.

His handsome face suddenly filled my entire field of vision.

So nervous I could barely breathe, I squeezed my eyes shut.

One second.

Two.

Three…

Nothing happened.

The room remained utterly silent.

I cautiously opened my eyes.

Our faces were so close that the tips of our noses were almost touching.

Then his lips brushed lightly against my cheek.

His warm breath skimmed my ear.

“Hsu Lian.”

His voice was low and steady.

“I don’t make a habit of forcing women.”

He paused.

“But a bet is a bet. Someone has to pay up.”

His arm tightened around my waist.

The faintest smile touched his lips.

“Stay here with me tonight.”

“Understood?”