After her shower, Wen Ni lay in bed when she remembered the unopened package waiting for her.

The wrapping was a deep berry hue, tied with a sleek black satin ribbon into an elegant bow. A matching skull motif grinned suggestively at her from the corner. She was a regular at this shop, and the owner knew her taste well—this design was exactly her style.

Work had been exhausting, and she felt moments like these—indulgent, self-pleasuring—were absolutely necessary. Moonlight filtered through the sheer curtains as Wen Ni examined the item closely. Compared to last month’s purchase, this one was discreet enough to sit on her nightstand without raising eyebrows.

She sank back into the mattress, her emerald-green silk slip dress riding up her thighs and pooling at her waist. With a slight wiggle, she settled into a comfortable position, closed her eyes, and prepared to lose herself in bliss.

But her body, still fatigued from the late-night meeting, needed a little extra stimulation. Struggling to get in the mood, she reached for the remote and turned on the projector, cranking up the volume.

The screen erupted with vivid, exaggerated imagery. As she watched, she slid one strap of her dress down her shoulder—

Just then, the electronic lock chimed. A man wheeled a black suitcase inside, pausing in the entryway to shut the door behind him. He slipped into black house shoes and neatly straightened the high heels his wife had carelessly kicked off.

Before he could even stand upright, the unmistakable sounds of pleasure echoed through the ceiling.

The source? The master bedroom.

*Their* master bedroom.

A blinding flash seemed to burst behind Wen Ni’s eyes. In the sudden blankness of her mind, she plummeted straight into post-climax clarity.

She felt exhausted, maybe she should just sleep like this.

Her eyes stung from the harsh glow of the screen. She lifted an arm to shield them, exhaling softly as she closed her weary lids.

Then, suddenly—something felt off.

A shadow seemed to loom over her, dark and unsettling. In an instant, Wen Ni’s mind raced with grim headlines—stories of women living alone, of intruders slipping silently into their homes.

Her eyes flew open. Propping herself up on her elbows, she jerked upright—only to lock gazes with the man standing in the doorway.

Jian Yuchen arched a brow.

For a heartbeat, Wen Ni’s thoughts blanked.

Their eyes held, tension crackling between them.

She looked away, then back—but he hadn’t moved, his expression unreadable.

The air thickened with awkwardness.

After a long pause, Wen Ni slowly tugged the thin blanket beside her over her disheveled lower half. Then, with deliberate calm, she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

“Ahem…” She finally spoke, her voice deliberately casual, grasping for words.

“You could’ve told me you were coming back.”

Damn it, why come back now!

Of all times, you had to show up now!

Wen Ni was seething inside, practically ready to leap up and strangle the bastard. But on the surface, she forced herself to remain perfectly composed.

Jian Yuchen smirked, his infuriating lips parting as he let out a low whistle. "All by yourself, huh? Getting creative, I see."

"..." Wen Ni snatched a pillow and hurled it straight at him.

Jian Yuchen didn’t even flinch. He caught it effortlessly and strode right in.

"I'm taking a shower. Wanna join?" he asked casually, shrugging off his coat as if he were merely suggesting a late-night snack.

Wen Ni gave up, flopping back onto the bed and cocooning herself into a tight roll. "No. Go use the guest bathroom."

"Why should I? This is *my* bedroom," he countered, as if the idea was utterly ridiculous—like taking off your pants just to fart.

With that, he walked to the bedside, looming over the little lump buried under the blankets.

Wen Ni considered playing dead, but she knew Jian Yuchen would never let her live down what he’d just seen. She decided to feign sleep instead, shutting her eyes tight.

"Weren’t you full of energy just a second ago? Now you’re suddenly exhausted?"

"......"

She just knew it!

That bastard would never miss a chance to mock her.

Now that he'd caught her red-handed with such damning evidence, he'd attack her from every possible angle!

The screen had already changed positions. Before Jian Yuchen could unleash another verbal assault, Wen Mi squeezed her eyes shut.

She burrowed deeper into her blanket cocoon, playing dead. No matter what he said, she'd be like a turtle chanting scriptures—completely deaf to it all.

Did she think turning it off meant he couldn't see?

He picked up his phone, tapped into the browsing history, and drawled, "Last time I suggested this, you said the actors had terrible bodies and you weren't interested. When did you evolve into this level of tsundere—denying it with your whole being? Did you undergo some secret ultimate evolution while I was away on business these two weeks?"

His lazy voice dripped with malicious amusement.

Every word made her blush from head to toe—right down to her toenails.

Wen Mi realized tonight's battle had taken a disastrous turn from the start. Maybe playing possum was her best strategy.

Seeing her stubborn act, the man reached out. His slender fingers poked into the blanket, leaving a crumpled little dent.

"That lacy thing's still dangling from your ankle, yet here you are pretending to escape unscathed."

"Tsk tsk tsk... how pitiful. All alone and abandoned..."

The cocoon-like bundle on the bed immediately stirred. Wen Ni had almost forgotten where she'd tossed her underwear earlier, but his reminder sent her thrashing under the covers like a Muay Thai fighter in training.

"Shut up, you jerk!"

"Enough already!" Wen Ni flung the blanket aside and glared at him.

Jian Yuchen arched an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on the exposed view, before smirking. "Done playing dead?"

"Who's playing dead? I was recharging efficiently—something you wouldn't understand." She shot him a withering look before calmly adjusting her nightgown.

"Why bother? You’re just going to take it off again later. Or is this little show enough to satisfy you?" This time, Jian Yuchen didn’t dodge in time—the pillow smacked him square in the face.

But the man didn’t seem fazed. He caught the pillow effortlessly with one hand, then swiftly slipped under the covers. Like a python striking its prey, he seized her by the ankles and dragged her out of the nest of blankets, casually propping the pillow beneath her lower back.

"Save your sass for later," Jian Yuchen murmured, his gaze darkening as he pinned her down.

...

When Wen Ni opened her eyes again, the bed beside her was empty. Dawn’s faint glow seeped through the curtains.

After being thoroughly worn out by that bastard Jian Yuchen, her back ached like hell.

She shuffled toward the kitchen for water, only to spot a flickering red glow on the balcony.

Pulling her robe tighter, she peeked outside—sure enough, there he was, sneaking a smoke.

Wen Ni had banned indoor smoking, so the balcony had become his designated escape.