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"I have never heard anyone praise themselves like that. Miss Wen, you really are quite skilled at gilding your own lily," Jiang Ning sneered.

"I don't consider it gilding; I’m simply stating facts."

Wen Shuang had known since she was a child that she was beautiful. Back when she was preparing for university, talent scouts would frequently approach her on the street, wanting her to become an actress. However, Wen Shuang only had eyes for dance and had no interest in acting. After entering university, several prominent directors came to the arts academy in search of a lead actress. They would spot Wen Shuang and immediately want to cast her, calling her a rare cinematic gem with flawless features and a natural beauty—yet, Wen Shuang turned them all down. Her passion was the world of dance, and she wanted to focus solely on that.

"Miss Wen is certainly confident!"

"Compared to you, Miss Jiang, I am absolutely confident."

In truth, Wen Shuang had no interest in competitive rivalry between women. She had never blatantly compared herself to anyone before, believing that every woman possessed her own unique beauty. She felt that the competitive atmosphere in society was largely driven by men who held themselves to low standards while demanding high ones from women, forcing them into a toxic cycle of self-improvement—a trend Wen Shuang detested. But since Jiang Ning insisted on a beauty contest today, she certainly had no intention of losing.

Jiang Ning glanced bitterly at Wen Shuang’s figure; regarding that, she really had nothing to say.

"Using beauty to serve others—how long can that last? Miss Wen, I advise you not to think too highly of yourself!"

Wen Shuang gave a faint smile. "Miss Jiang, I return those same words to you."

She turned and walked away with a graceful, swaying gait. Watching her back, Jiang Ning had to admit, as a woman, that in terms of looks and figure, Wen Shuang was truly top-tier. Yet, she remained unwilling to give up. She refused to believe that her years of history with Ji Shen would end up like this.

Jiang Ning wanted to find Ji Shen, but he didn't spare her a single extra glance that night. Once the awards ceremony concluded, he left with Wen Shuang.

Jiang Ning was left facing the reporters’ questions. "Miss Jiang, what was the reason for your crossover to present an award in the dance circle today?"

"Miss Jiang, is there a specific reason behind this?"

Jiang Ning picked up the microphone. "Actually, I came here specifically for someone."

...

After leaving, Ji Shen began explaining himself to Wen Shuang as if his life depended on it. "I didn't come with Jiang Ning tonight. It was just a coincidence that she arrived at the same time I did, so we walked in together."

Wen Shuang arched an eyebrow. She knew he wouldn't dare to be so blatant. Furthermore, she had indeed seen Ji Shen actively maintain his distance from Jiang Ning throughout the night.

"I know. I didn't misunderstand," Wen Shuang said, her eyes flickering. "It is clear that Miss Jiang’s intentions are one-sided for now. But after a long time, it’s hard to say~"

"I won't give her the chance."

Ji Shen reclined the car seat and leaned into Wen Shuang. She was stunningly radiant tonight. Emerging from the spotlight of the banquet hall, she hadn't dimmed in the slightest; instead, she seemed even more captivating under the dim streetlights, like a little enchantress. The black off-the-shoulder gown accentuated her perfect figure, making one unable to help but wonder what scenery lay beneath it. Ji Shen had always considered himself a man of great self-restraint, but whenever he saw Wen Shuang, his defenses crumbled completely.

Wen Shuang pushed him away. "What are you doing? Stop messing around..."

"You know exactly what I want to do, don't you, Shuangshuang?" Ji Shen lowered his head, a faint smile on his lips as his scorching breath brushed against her neck, leaving a tingling, fiery sensation.

"We’re still in the car. Someone might see us." Wen Shuang pulled up her neckline. "Officer Ji, watch your behavior!"

"Police officers are human, too. Can’t we have normal desires? You’re so harsh on me, Shuangshuang." Unable to hold back any longer, Ji Shen bit down lightly on her translucent earlobe. "Let me love you properly, my treasure."

...

They were together twice in the car. Wen Shuang’s flexibility was legendary, and she could be molded into all sorts of positions—the splits, legs lifted high, or arched back. To her, it was effortless. The man was addicted to the thrill of it, watching the gown of the woman beneath him torn and disheveled, thinking of how she had been dazzling on stage an hour ago, only to be lying beneath him now with soft, melodic moans. To a man, this was an immense pleasure.

They had intended to stop after once, but when Ji Shen saw Wen Shuang putting her dress back on, he couldn't help himself and pulled her back for another round. There were no contraceptives left in the car. Wen Shuang didn't want to continue, but the man was too overwhelmed by passion tonight. In the end, they didn't even have time for precautions; they just went for it.

Wen Shuang let out a cry. "Ji Shen! Have you lost your mind?"

The man was still savoring the afterglow. "I’m sorry, Shuangshuang. I couldn't control myself."

Wen Shuang felt like killing him. Ji Shen took off his coat, wrapped it around her, and carried her upstairs. There were no pills at home, and since Ji Shen had always used protection, this was the first time he had lost control.

"I’ll go buy medicine for you tomorrow!"

Wen Shuang was so angry she hit him several times. "Taking those pills is bad for my health!"

"I was wrong. It won't happen again." Ji Shen carried her into the bedroom. "But for tonight, let’s continue!"

...

The next morning, Ji Shen was awakened by a call from the bureau and rushed off to work. Before leaving, he didn't forget to urge Wen Shuang to buy the medicine, apologizing profusely. Now sober, he regretted his reckless behavior from the night before.

Wen Shuang had been exhausted from the previous night and slept until the sun was high in the sky. When she checked WeChat, it was flooded with congratulations for her award. People were saying her look at the banquet was a massive hit and had even trended on Weibo overnight, noting that a dancer could hold her own against any celebrity.

Wen Shuang clicked on the trending topic and saw the clip of Jiang Ning’s interview where she mentioned coming for "someone." The reporters were sharp; they quickly dug up the fact that Jiang Ning and Ji Shen had once been in a relationship. The news was sensational—a former girlfriend who was now an A-list star, and a dashing detective who already had a new partner from the dance world. Insiders even leaked sweet details of their past romance.

Reports mentioned that there was a five-year age gap between Jiang Ning and Ji Shen. When Ji Shen was a sophomore, Jiang Ning was still in high school. Her school was right across from his, and having known each other since childhood, they naturally fell in love. Ji Shen would often visit her as soon as class ended, and later, he chose his graduate school to be closer to her. However, they eventually parted ways with regret when Jiang Ning gave up her studies to pursue acting abroad.

The Weibo comments section was abuzz, with many labeling their story as a tragic romance.

"I think Jiang Ning and Officer Ji are such a perfect match. They look so good together. I wonder if they can get back together."

"I think so too! Look at how tender Jiang Ning’s eyes are when she looks at him~"

"Forget it, don't ship the wrong couple. Wen Shuang is the official partner now! Besides, I think Wen Shuang is even more beautiful and has a better figure than Jiang Ning..."

But with Jiang Ning’s massive fan base, those comments supporting Wen Shuang were quickly buried.

Wen Shuang read through comment after comment, unable to help but imagine the scenes of Ji Shen and Jiang Ning together back then. She slowly placed a hand over her stomach.