The next morning, Xia Wei got up early. The air in the villa still smelled faintly of cedarwood and silence.
She was making coffee when her phone buzzed.
It was from Zhao Lin, her former assistant.
Zhao Lin: Miss Xia, I accidentally found something from the past. It's… a photo. I think you should see it.
It's from the night of the banquet. Su Ruoning and Jiang Tingchen… weren't alone.
Xia Wei's hand froze mid-air.
She quickly opened the image.
In the photo, under dim golden lights, Jiang Tingchen was speaking to a man in a black suit. Su Ruoning stood a few meters away, whispering to a waiter, sliding something into his pocket.
The man in black… wasn't part of the Jiang family.
Xia Wei's expression turned cold.
That night had shattered her life—Jiang Tingchen accused her of scheming, of setting Su Ruoning up. But now, a new detail emerged.
She stared at the photo for a long time.
Not because she doubted herself.
But because—for the first time—she realized…
Maybe Jiang Tingchen didn't know the full truth either.
Just then, footsteps approached from behind.
She quickly locked her phone.
Jiang Tingchen stepped into the kitchen, hair slightly tousled, shirt unbuttoned at the collar. He looked more like a tired husband than the aloof CEO.
"I didn't sleep well last night," he said.
Xia Wei didn't look up. "Your conscience acting up?"
He was stunned for a second, then gave a low chuckle.
"You're still sharp-tongued."
She finally turned around and gave him a calm look.
"I'm not here to comfort your insomnia, Jiang Tingchen."
He leaned slightly closer. "But I want you to stay."
Silence.
Then Xia Wei slowly smiled, a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Then prove it."
And with that, she walked past him again—leaving behind the scent of jasmine and a photo that might change everything.