We soon arrived at the hotel. Michael pulled up smoothly at the wide marble steps, hopping out to open the door. The warm glow from the lobby spilled over the wet pavement, the sound of rain a soft hiss in the background.
Jinhai stepped out first, slipping on a sleek black masquerade mask that seemed to make his already sharp features almost dangerous. Even with half his face hidden, he looked incredibly handsome. His charm radiated from him.
I, on the other hand, was painfully aware that my own mask was sitting uselessly in my car somewhere across town. I sighed, trailing after him like an unwilling shadow, hoping my lack of disguise wouldn't draw attention.
The hope was futile. Eyes followed him the second we entered. Women — from the reception desk to guests lounging in velvet chairs — straightened instinctively, smiles blooming, voices dropping to low, melodic tones. They probably recognized him even with the mask on but hesitated approaching him because of the bodyguards tailing us.
The receptionist nearly fumbled the keycard as Jinhai approached. "Welcome, Mr. Su," she breathed, her fingers brushing his as she handed it over.
"Thank you," he replied, his voice smooth enough to melt butter. The poor girl's knees might've given way if the counter wasn't holding her up.
I bit my lip, suppressing a laugh as I followed him to the private elevator. "Do they all look at you like that?"
"Like what?" he asked without glancing at me, though I caught the subtle curve of a smirk under his mask.
"Like you just walked off the set of some ridiculously expensive perfume commercial," I muttered.
"Perhaps they just have good taste, and I did do a perfume commercial." he said lightly, stepping into the elevator.
"Or perhaps you know exactly what you're doing," I countered, leaning against the mirrored wall.
He didn't deny it — which, honestly, was more infuriating than if he'd outright agreed.
The elevator doors slid shut, a soft, lilting music filled the space. Without thinking, I began to hum along, the melody threading easily from my lips.
"You sing, Lily?"
I glanced at him, surprised. "Yes. Singing's my passion. I've been doing it since I was ten. One day…" I hesitated, the confession slipping out anyway, "…I'd love to sing on the big stage like you got to do."
"That's admirable," he said, though his tone carried a thoughtful weight, like he was filing the information away.
After a moment, he asked — far too casually — "What do you think about marriage?"
I blinked at him. "Marriage? That's a jump. We went from elevator music to wedding vows in thirty seconds."
He tilted his head slightly, as though amused by my reaction. His hair was slightly messy in a look good sort of way.
Laughing, I said, "No, I don't think I'm at the age for marriage yet. Im just 19! But eventually, yes — I'd want it to be for love, not… convenience."
His brow arched.
Was she unaware of her engagement to my brother or was she just acting oblivious, he thought. "And what if the choice wasn't yours?"
I narrowed my eyes. "Is this an interview?"
"It's just a conversation," he said with a shrug. "Nowadays, daughters are married off young for business. The higher the stakes, the younger the age. It's…" His voice dipped, bitter and low. "…rarely about love. And since you are related to a business family, i was curious."
Something in my chest tightened at that. The words hit too close to home, like he'd cracked open a page from my own life without permission.
"True" I said lightly, masking the unease. "Tell me, do you always charm women with talks of arranged marriage?"
"If I recall," he said, lips curving just enough to be dangerous, "you're the one trailing after me into a hotel suite, not the other way around."
"That is not what's happening here," I shot back, heat rushing to my cheeks.
"Of course not," he said smoothly, his gaze lingering a second too long before he looked away. "Still… you do blush rather easily, Lily."
The elevator chimed softly, breaking the moment.
We stepped out onto a corridor lined with plush carpet, the scent of polished wood and expensive cologne hanging in the air.
As we walked, a pair of women coming from the opposite end slowed their steps, their voices lowering to a whisper. One giggled behind her hand, the other shamelessly let her gaze travel from Jinhai's polished shoes to his shoulders, drinking him in.
He greeted them with the barest nod, polite and sweet and they all but melted into the wall as he passed.
Rolling my eyes, I muttered under my breath, "Do you ever get used to the stares after your instant rise to fame?"
"No one gets used to it. You just learn to live with it. After all its fans like these that make you who you are," he said simply, swiping the keycard at the door.
He again spoke in a way that was so mature. You would never catch me speaking so maturely despite us being the same age.I was as dumb as a koala.
But I didn't expect what came next.
Rose petals. Everywhere.
They spilled across the polished marble like a crimson tide, trailing toward the massive bed draped in silk sheets. Dozens of candles flickered along the walls, their glow casting a warm, intimate haze over the suite. It looked less like a place to change clothes and more like…
My breath caught. "This is—"
"A honeymoon suite," Jinhai finished dryly, his gaze sweeping the scene. For a guy who always looked composed, he suddenly seemed almost… awkward. He reached up to scratch the back of his neck, his mouth twitching into something between a grimace and a smirk. "I think there's been a blunder. I never requested this. My apologies, Lily."
I stayed planted in the doorway, my hand hovering near my mouth. "A blunder," I repeated slowly. "Right. Because people accidentally get rooms with enough rose petals to bury a body."
His eyes gleamed with amusement. "If I had planned this, you'd know."
The words made my stomach flip for no good reason. I quickly stepped further inside, partly because I didn't want to stand there gaping, and partly because the hallway felt like it was burning a hole in my back.
"Have a seat, Lily," he drawled, gesturing toward the velvet couch. Then he strode past me toward the master bedroom with an easy, confident grace.
I sank down onto the couch — or rather, onto what felt like a hundred rose petals. My fingers brushed over them absently, but my eyes were on the suite itself. The sheer size of it stunned me. The living area alone could have swallowed my entire apartment three times over. A wall of glass framed a breathtaking view of the city — glittering towers, neon lights, and ribbons of traffic streaming below us. It was like standing inside a jewel box.
"I'm getting changed," Jinhai's voice called from the bedroom, muffled by the door. "Your dress will arrive any minute. You can accept it."
"Okay!" I called back — a little too brightly — because I was still too busy drooling over the skyline.
Then came the doorbell — three quick chimes.
With a sigh, I tore my gaze away from the view and padded over, tugging the coat tighter around me. I was halfway rehearsing a polite thank-you to the delivery person when I opened the door…
…and froze.
The world seemed to tilt.
Standing there, wrapped in a gown of blood-red silk that clung to her like sin, was Ruilin Liang — my stepsister. Her lips curled into that slow, predatory smile I knew too well, the kind that promised ruin dressed as charm.
"Lily," she purred, her voice a blade dipped in honey. "Imagine my surprise… finding you here."
Her gaze slid past me into the suite, lingering just long enough for her eyes to sharpen with dangerous curiosity. "And in his room, no less."
Somewhere behind me, I heard Jinhai's voice, low and unaware. "Lily? Who's at the door?"
Ruilin's smirk deepened, her eyes glinting like a predator catching scent of prey.
"Oh," she said softly. "You're going to want to hear this."