Why don’t you come with me, darling?

Officer Li, the colleague Ji Shen had introduced, informed Wen Shuang that there was no way to overturn the case.

At present, every piece of evidence pointed directly to Wen Fanhai; even the documents regarding the embezzlement bore his personal signature. The sum involved exceeded thirty million, and Wen Fanhai was facing at least twenty-five years in prison.

Stunned, Wen Shuang protested, “That’s impossible, Officer Li. My father is an upright man—he would never embezzle public funds! Someone must have deliberately diverted his assets!”

“Miss Wen, this is all I’ve been able to uncover so far,” Officer Li replied politely. “I suggest you find the best attorney in Jinghai District and have them try to get your father’s sentence reduced. I’ve done all I can.”

Wen Shuang left the police station in a daze.

No sooner had she stepped outside than she spotted a car she recognized. Remembering what the man had said three days prior—don’t contact me again—she immediately turned aside and lowered her head.

Ji Shen strode past her quickly, not sparing her so much as a glance.

Cold and distant.

It was as if all the ambiguous intimacy of the past days had been nothing but an illusion.

Of course.

A man of Ji Shen’s stature would never descend from his lofty heights for something as ordinary as carnal desire.

Wen Shuang mocked herself inwardly. Still, Ji Shen had been more than kind to her—he’d even introduced her to a colleague to help at the end.

As Ji Shen passed Officer Li’s desk, he rapped his knuckles on the surface. “Officer Li, any progress on that case I asked you to investigate?”

“Miss Wen just came to see me. It’s a tough one—right now, all the evidence points to her father. She wants me to dig deeper, but my own authority only goes so far.” Officer Li glanced at the file on his desk. “But if you were to handle the case yourself, Officer Ji, perhaps Miss Wen’s father would have a sliver of hope.”

Ji Shen said nothing more and turned away.

Through Tang Yan’s connections, Wen Shuang eventually managed to get in touch with a renowned lawyer in Jinghai District.

After hearing her story, the lawyer quoted an astronomical fee.

It was far beyond what Wen Shuang could hope to afford.

“Mr. Gu, I’m sorry, but I really don’t have that much money right now. Could you possibly lower your price a bit...?”

“Miss Wen, my fees are always like this. If you’re short on funds, don’t waste my time.”

For the sake of her father, still behind bars, Wen Shuang begged Mr. Gu for half a month’s grace—then threw herself into a desperate scramble to earn money.

Now, not only was she accepting as many teaching jobs as she could manage, but she’d even taken up commercial dance performances—something she’d once considered beneath her.

These commercial gigs were usually arranged by developers on the opening day of a hotel or property, or at banquets, where the bosses would have dancers perform to liven up the atmosphere. Sometimes, after the show, there were those who’d try to take advantage.

In the past, Wen Shuang would never have accepted such private jobs. But now, she had no choice. One dance paid five thousand in cash.

When Wen Shuang arrived at the new property’s opening ceremony, a light rain was falling from the sky.

Clad in a revealing costume, she hugged her arms to keep warm. “Are we still dancing tonight, given the rain?” she asked the team leader.

“I think Mr. Wang still wants the show,” the leader said, standing under an umbrella. “Don’t worry. Grit your teeth and get through ten minutes—five thousand will be in your hand.”

The girl who’d brought Wen Shuang for the gig was Yao Qianqian, a college classmate.

“Shuangshuang, you’ll get used to it. The bosses all have secretaries to hold umbrellas—they don’t care about getting wet!”

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a group of young women took the stage, swaying with alluring grace.

In the center, Wen Shuang was the most beautiful and her dancing the most enchanting. Though her face betrayed not a hint of a smile, her almond-shaped eyes sparkled with a bewitching allure, cool and languid as a cat, effortlessly drawing every gaze.

As the dance unfolded, many men’s eyes were glued to her chest and legs, their gazes hungry, as if wishing for x-ray vision.

After the performance, the team leader pulled Wen Shuang aside. “Lucky you, little Shuang! Mr. Huang, the real estate developer down there, took a liking to you. He wants you to accompany him to dinner tonight. Serve him well, and you’ll have more money than you can count!”

Wen Shuang shook her head. “Sister Mei, I don’t take dinner appointments. Please help me decline.”

“Really? You’re turning it down? This is a golden opportunity—Mr. Huang is a famous real estate tycoon in Jinghai. Plenty of women would kill for a chance like this!”

Still, Wen Shuang refused. As desperate as she was for money, she’d rather die than drink with such a greasy old man.

Fortunately, the team leader didn’t press her.

Finished with the show, Wen Shuang prepared to leave—she had classes later that night.

To her dismay, Mr. Huang followed closely behind. “Miss Wen, I’d like to get to know you. How about dinner tonight?”

Clearly, Mr. Huang had not given up. Even as he spoke, his lecherous hand reached for her backside.

Wen Shuang sidestepped him smoothly. “I’m sorry, Mr. Huang, but I have other plans. Please ask someone else.”

Mr. Huang’s gaze devoured her fair, flawless skin, his desire only growing. “Miss Wen, I thought you were a smart woman. Aren’t you here to make money? Be with me, and I promise you a life of untold luxury.”

“Thank you, Mr. Huang, but I truly have something to do. Good night.”

She turned to go, but Mr. Huang grabbed her arm, trying to pull her into his embrace. Wen Shuang struggled, when suddenly a voice called out, “Wen Shuang, so here you are.”

She looked up—it was Lin Ansheng, Qin You’s childhood friend.

Like Qin You, Lin Ansheng was a well-known heir in Jinghai District.

Back when Wen Shuang was dating Qin You, she’d often dined with Lin Ansheng; each time, he’d have a different woman on his arm.

“You were hard to find,” Lin Ansheng said with easy familiarity, taking Wen Shuang’s hand. “Mr. Huang, what a coincidence, meeting you here.”

The Huang and Lin families were currently discussing a business deal.

Seeing that Wen Shuang was with Lin Ansheng, Mr. Huang snorted and left.

Wen Shuang breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you. Otherwise that fat pig would have hounded me all night.”

“Mr. Huang is notorious for his cruel ways with women. Wen Shuang, you should steer clear of him in the future.”

The woman was dressed in a short-sleeved skirt, her figure graceful, her skin fair as snow. No wonder Mr. Huang had been so brazen. Lin Ansheng took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. “What brings you to a place like this?”

Wen Shuang curled her red lips in a bitter smile. “Necessity. No one would dance here by choice. Still, thank you for today.”

Seeing Lin Ansheng again, she felt a little awkward, remembering he was Qin You’s friend.

But Lin Ansheng didn’t mind her breakup with Qin You—if anything, he was glad. He’d had his eye on Wen Shuang for a long time, but Qin You had beaten him to her.

Now that they’d split, Lin Ansheng couldn’t be happier.

“It’s nothing. If you really want to thank me, add me on WeChat and buy me dinner sometime.”

They exchanged WeChat contacts.

Wen Shuang tucked a strand of wavy hair behind her ear, unaware of her own allure. “Of course.”

The next day, worn out from running around and having been caught in the rain the night before, Wen Shuang came down with a high fever.