"Slap, slap."

A faint burning sensation spread across her cheeks. Summer, discomforted by the hand calloused against her skin, opened her foggy eyes.

The sight that greeted her was an indescribably handsome face.

"Help... help me."

"Help you? How can I assist you?" His low, pleasant voice caused her eyes to squint. Her body, apprehensively, twisted towards him.

"I... hug... want a hug..."

"Are you sure?"

His pleasant voice seeped into her ears. Her body felt as if it had been ignited by something. Her small hands hung around his neck, as she offered her own red lips.

Her response made the man understand her answer. Taking control, he dived into the disordered kiss...

...

"Ah... hurts... it hurts so much!"

A feeling of tearing pain crashed over her. Her eyes squinted involuntarily, and her previously relaxed face morphed into a grimace. Without realizing, her fingers dug into his muscular back, leaving a trail of bloody marks.

...

After a bout of acute pain, an indescribable numbness followed.

It is as if a small boat is adrift in the vast sea, bobbing with the waves. It is only after a long while that it returns to calm.

"Bang! Bang! Bang..."

The sound of knocking on the door awakened Xia Duo from her deep sleep.

...

Xia Duo's body, depleted of strength, only symbolically moved a bit.

"What, you still have strength?"

"You, who are you?"

Finding herself in the arms of an unfamiliar man, even Xia Duo's usually foggy intellect was completely clear now.

"Bang, bang! Open the door, Xia Duo, are you in there? Hurry up and open the door."

This voice?

"It's Lu Shaochen."

Memories flooded back like a tidal wave, and she clenched her hands into fists in rage.

Not only has she been double-crossed by her sister and her fiance, she had fallen into the trap they meticulously laid out for her. They drugged her and then staged a scandal, intending to ruin her reputation. Truly, they are ruthless.

Fortunately, the man beside her was not Yang Jinlong.

Thankfully, their cunning scheme did not succeed. Thinking about this, Xia Duo cast a complex glance at him.

"Sir, please help me."

"Didn't I just help you?"

"......"

The implied meaning in the man's words made Xia Duo choke, her face burning with embarrassment.

"I've got the room key here, make way, make way...."

"They're coming in, what should we do? What should we do?"

Hearing the sounds coming from the door, Xia Duo was so frightened that she didn't know what to do.

The man grinned, Xia Duo was dazzled by his faint smile.

"Don't worry, stay calm."

"Calm down? How can I stay calm?"

"Click...Bang..." The door was busted open, whoever kicked it caused such a loud noise that Xia Duo's body shook, clutching tightly the blanket on her.

"Stay calm, trust me, everything will be fine."

There seemed to be a magical power in the man's voice, miraculously, Xia Duo managed to relax.

"Xia Duo, how could you be so shameless? How could you do this to Shao Chen? You're about to get married."

Xia Duo's mother, Yuan Fang, who was heartbroken and severely reproached Xia Duo, rushed in, pointing at her nose and cursing.

Xia Duo tightly wrapped herself in a blanket, tears pitter-pattering down. Xia Ziyi, Lu Shaochen, you're too cruel.

"Yes, Xia Duo, what, what are you doing? You've utterly humiliated the Xia Family. Hurry up and dress yourself. Just look at you... " Xia Junhua chided in agreement.

"I always said we shouldn't take in a woman of unknown origin, but the old man insisted on this arrangement. Look, they're not even married yet and Shaochen is about to be cuckolded. It's infuriating!"

"Lu Auntie, please don't get angry and harm your health. I think, I think there might be some misunderstanding here. After all, my sister... my sister is about to marry my brother-in-law. My sister wouldn’t do such shameless things. Isn't that right, sister? Please, say something, explain yourself."

Xia Ziyi’s attempt at soothing Lu Furen only added fuel to the fire.