Jingshi Apartment.
Su Luo had just gotten home from work when someone swept her into his arms. There was the scent of liquor, perfume — and anger all mixed together.
"Don't …" Su Luo pushed at him, but she was too tired to protest properly.
He'd flown all night just because of one message from her: "Jian Sheng seems like he might propose to me."
He panicked.
Obviously, Su Luo had feelings for him too — how could she even say that? He bent down and pressed his lips to wherever he could, afraid she'd pull away.
"Mmm…" Su Luo's breathing hitched. From the corner of her eye she saw Shen Yichi — usually so cold and composed — now burning with heat in his gaze.
Su Luo smiled low, "Go… inside."
Shen Yichi froze for a moment. Then he lifted her and carried her in, coming down on her like a storm, kissing her until the room spun.
He reached to take her clothes off, his eyes red with urgency. Su Luo lay back, her curls spread around her, half hiding her face. With a playful tone, she said, "I don't have one — did you bring it?"
"Of course," he said, breathless. "I bought ten boxes."
She no longer refused him. Half-pushed, half-consenting, she let him strip her down almost completely.
Then she hesitated. Her voice softened, a little hurt: "It's Lulo's birthday tonight — if someone sees us … what if we get caught? Maybe … maybe next time?"
"You guys are brothers, after all," Shen Yichi said quietly.
"That's not right."
He couldn't bear it any longer. His fingers curled around her neck, pulling her back to him, heat radiating between them.
"LuoLuo, I've made up my mind. I don't care about titles anymore. I'll be your side lover — is that okay?"
"...LuoLuo, please don't push me away again."
"Jian Sheng will take advantage of you. But I won't."
"He can't satisfy you. He's useless …"
Shen Yichi — the aloof flower of Jingshi, one of Jian Sheng's best friends — he had surrendered so completely. In less than half a month, he'd already cheated on his best friend. And he was so eager.
Su Luo's gaze grew dreamy. She really enjoyed this.
In the original story, Jian Sheng had been hurt before. He wasn't good in that department — five minutes was long for him, and that included taking off his clothes.
But Su Luo never cared.
She was gentle, beautiful, understanding — always forgiving him. Nobody knew the real Su Luo had died in a car accident. The current Su Luo was a soul from another world, from a girl who was long dead in the book — someone the Jian family had killed.
She had taken over Su Luo's body, bound with a revenge system.
She meant to make the Jian family pay. She was going to make Jian Sheng's life a living hell.
Using pain — the heart‑wrenching kind — to earn her billion-dollar prize, and then leave. Never to see that damned man again.
She had won.
But Shen Yichi wasn't done. This was the first time he tasted her, and he was greedy. From the bed … to the carpet … then to the bathroom. Even when she wanted to get a drink, she accidentally set the kitchen counter on fire.
One box emptied quickly.
They were tangled up until nearly midnight. Her phone blew up; dozens of messages from Jian Sheng:
"Where are you? I'll come pick you up.""LuoLuo? They said you got off work a while ago — where did you go?"
Then — the doorbell rang.
The apartment was a mess. If Jian Sheng walked in now, even his gentle nature couldn't save him. He'd be furious — maybe kill someone. Or two.
Even though Jian Sheng was always soft and refined, tonight — tonight their fight might be fatal.
"He knows the code?" Shen Yichi said, finally coming back to himself, though his arm still curled around Su Luo.
"He does."
Shen Yichi shifted uncomfortably. Did he try to hide? Or just lay everything bare?
Su Luo was calm. She didn't raise her head. She sent a message:
I'm on my way. I stopped to buy a gift and ran into an old friend — just a little delay, ten minutes and I'll be there.
When Shen Yichi saw the words "old friend," his brow furrowed.
Soon footsteps thudded away outside the door.
He lowered his head, his chest burning, "Can we … do more?"
"You're insane. Don't you value your life?" Su Luo stood, barefoot, and walked into the bedroom.
Shen Yichi leaned back against the headboard, a silly, satisfied grin on his face.
Two minutes later, she came out. One more minute to change clothes. Then she pulled on a coat.
She was stunning — breathtaking, even. Everyone envied Jian Sheng: he had a beauty like her, with wealth, status, and looks all in one. Especially her eyes, so clear, so pure.
But Shen Yichi now knew she was more than just pretty.
She was lethal.
"Before you leave, call a cleaner. Give them about three hours — we'll be back tonight. And turn the ventilation on, okay?" she said.
"You just slept with me … and you want to bring Jian Sheng back here tonight?" Shen Yichi's clothes were still half undone, and he sat up, staring at her.
"For Lulo's birthday, the hotel's just across the street. Of course we'll come back to sleep here."
"I …" He didn't know what to say.
Was that it? After everything?
But she was already gone — her scent faded at the doorway.
Alone in the room, he had never felt so powerless.
Did Su Luo really think he was just some obedient dog, ready to drop everything when she called?
Su Luo went downstairs, and the system's voice echoed in her mind: [Congratulations, host, Heart‑Wrenching Value +10, but that's still far from enough. The male lead loves you so much, and he has his flaws — he'll always tolerate you.]
"Well then," she thought, "let's give him more. Enough that he'll remember me forever."
She pressed send, her face bare of makeup yet more stunning than ever.
One time wasn't enough.
She needed Shen Yichi so greedy he couldn't let her go — then she'd tear everything apart with Jian Sheng. When the Jian family's business fell into chaos, when dogs bit other dogs, her family would reap the benefits.
When Jian Sheng saw her message, he waited at the restaurant entrance for a long time before seeing her step off the ride‑hail car.
Cold wind nipped her cheeks; she buried her face under her scarf, her skin rosy red from the chill.
"LuoLuo," he said softly, stepping toward her, draping his coat around her.
"You…" he started, but couldn't finish. His chest seemed empty without her — she was way too bewitching tonight, not like her usual self.
In his beautiful features, his eyes sparkled with that hopeful light — all for her.
Su Luo was gorgeous, her face strangely seductive. He just wanted to take her home.
Though Jian Sheng wasn't… well, perfect, he'd try anything to make her happy.
"I prepared a surprise for Lulu's birthday — come in. It wasn't easy to get …" Su Luo didn't care about the fire in his gaze. Smiling, she walked in first.
Everyone in the Jian family was her enemy — identical in glamour, but venomous. Jian Sheng was no exception.
Right now, she was just using him. The sweet, devoted guy was on a leash.
After drifting through the story of the book, seeing all the disgusting things people do, she'd learned one thing well: good people don't last, damage echoes for a thousand years.
As soon as she arrived, Jian Sheng's face lit up like sunshine.
His eyes only saw her.
"You two are so in love. When are you getting your marriage license?" someone asked.
He peeled an orange, handed a slice to her. His gaze held hope.
Su Luo just ate quietly, saying nothing.
The light left his eyes.
He clapped his hands, "Let's talk about that next year."
Su Luo stood up, "I need to use the bathroom." Her hand slid off Jian Sheng's shoulder — a tingling, electric touch.
He looked down, sadness flashing in his eyes. But then it faded, gone as quickly as it came.