"Where are you? Wanna meet up?"

I was at the Green Lily Bar with my best friend, Chu Chu, when I received Lu Zenan's flirtatious message on WeChat. After a moment of hesitation, desire ultimately triumphed over reason.

Lu Zenan was that kind of man—sometimes just a word or a glance from him could make me drop all my pride and reserve in an instant.

After saying a quick goodbye to Chu Chu, I stepped out of the bar and hailed a cab, heading straight for the Westin Hotel, the address Lu Zenan had sent me.

The night outside the car window was hazy and chaotic, and my heart was brimming with a long-awaited fervor.

...

Standing in front of the hotel room, my heart raced as I knocked on the door. This wasn’t our first time, and I didn’t know why I was so nervous at that moment.

He was like a predator waiting to pounce. The moment I pushed the door open and stepped inside, he pinned me against the wall with such force that it sent a shiver through my entire being.

His kiss was sudden and intense, carrying the heavy scent of alcohol, and there was a brooding aura about him.

I didn’t push him away. Instead, after a few seconds of stunned silence, I began to reciprocate with equal passion.

He was wearing only a bathrobe, while I was in a black lace dress. His hands roamed freely over my body, and like dry wood meeting a blazing fire, my heart was instantly set aflame.

I was no stranger to his body. He exuded a powerful masculine energy, his muscles firm, and his strikingly handsome face was enough to make any woman’s heart race.

From the doorway to the bed, we kissed our way there, and moments later, we were completely bare before each other.

His energy was overwhelming, more intense and domineering than ever before, as if he wanted to crush and tear me apart. His skills in bed were impeccable, and I did my best to match his rhythm. The fullness and satisfaction were indescribable, leaving me utterly spent and completely fulfilled, both physically and emotionally.

Again and again, I surrendered, until finally, I lay on the bed, my body weak and exhausted. We lay side by side, and I waited for him to speak first, to pull me into his arms and whisper sweet nothings in my ear. I wanted him to tell me how much he had missed me during our time apart, or to share what had happened in his life.

But he remained silent. After lying there quietly for a while, he got up from the bed, naked, and headed to the bathroom. As I listened to the sound of running water, I began to think about our relationship and what the future might hold.

We had met at a party. At the time, I was at my lowest point—struggling at work and reeling from my boyfriend’s betrayal. I needed comfort, the kind only a man could provide. I wasn’t the type to be reckless, yet I ended up in bed with him the very next day. Over time, we became what people would call “friends with benefits.” I knew little about his true identity, and he rarely spoke of it, though I had a vague sense that he was wealthy.

We had agreed that this was purely about fulfilling each other’s needs—no emotions, no prying into each other’s lives, no interference. But as he stepped out of the bathroom and began to dress, he looked at me and said coolly, “Qiao Ye, this will be the last time we see each other.”

I tried to act indifferent, but my heart stung just a little. “What? Found someone new?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“Qiao Ye, have you forgotten the rules of our game?” Lu Zenan’s tone was cold and distant.