I'm sorry, but I am no longer willing.

A man's desire can flare up without warning.

His kiss left Wen Shuang weak and trembling all over.

She admitted it—she was very much attracted to Ji Shen's body, so every time things got heated between them, she never held back. Ji Shen kissed her wildly, his body strong and athletic, brimming with a raw, masculine force that could make anyone's knees buckle.

He was exactly the sort of man every woman dreamed of.

But...

She struggled just a little.

Ji Shen noticed and, his voice low and rough, lifted his eyes to look at her. "You don't want to do it here? Or... you don't want to do it with me?"

"And if we do, what will we be to each other?"

Ji Shen was blunt. "If you're willing, you can be my regular partner. I'll give you every resource I can. But there will be no talk of love—just the physical. You'll come whenever I call, and in this arrangement, you'll submit to me completely. Is that acceptable, Miss Wen?"

Wen Shuang was momentarily dazed.

So, it would be an unequal relationship—a secret lover kept in the shadows.

She had originally wanted to get close to Ji Shen, partly for revenge on Qin You, partly to help clear her father's name.

But after all this time, Wen Shuang realized Qin You was even more twisted than she'd imagined. If he ever found out she'd been with his uncle, there was no telling what madness he would unleash.

And as for Wen Fanhai, his case was all but settled. Officer Li had already told her that further investigation was useless; only a good lawyer could argue for a lighter sentence.

So, truth be told, Wen Shuang no longer needed Ji Shen.

But there was one more reason.

She gazed steadily at the man before her: sharp brows, clear star-like eyes, wild yet cold, exuding the lethal allure of a mature man.

Ji Shen was simply too dangerous.

She had a premonition—if she fell into a relationship with him, she might never find her way out. She might very well lose herself for a lifetime.

At last, she lowered her eyes and said softly, "I'm sorry, Officer Ji. I don't want this anymore."

Ji Shen hadn't expected her answer. He'd thought that now that he'd finally spoken plainly, she would be delighted. "Why?"

"I just realized, Officer Ji, you're not someone I can afford to provoke."

Ji Shen grabbed her wrist. "You tried to seduce me so many times, and now you say you can't handle it?"

Wen Shuang bit her red lips. It was precisely because she'd tried so many times that she understood how dangerous he was. Besides, she didn't want to be a secret lover, stripped of all dignity and freedom.

"I'm sorry, Officer Ji."

Between adults, there was no point in pressing the issue further.

Ji Shen let out a long breath, rolled down the car window, and let the cool night air sweep away the lingering tension and desire between them.

"I respect your decision, Miss Wen."

After this, Ji Shen took her home.

Wen Shuang watched as the Red Flag L5 sped away, disappearing from sight. She knew that after this night, she and Ji Shen would truly never cross paths again.

—

Jinghai District in the capital was vast.

Ji Shen vanished from Wen Shuang's life completely.

They had never really belonged to the same world; their previous encounters had been part chance, part design.

Now Wen Shuang dedicated herself to teaching at the academy, while news of Ji Shen frequently popped up in the papers.

He was named the youngest division chief in the history of the Public Security Bureau, had just cracked a five-year-old murder case, and this year's awards ceremony was set to spotlight him.

In the newspaper, he wore a crisp police uniform and cap, tall and strikingly handsome.

Wen Shuang brushed her fingers over his image, lingering for a moment.

"Miss Wen." Chen Manli emerged from the dance studio and noticed the newspaper on the desk. "If you're thinking about Officer Ji, why not just go find him? I can tell he cares a lot about you."

Wen Shuang shook her head with a smile. "Officer Ji and I come from different worlds. We're not suited for each other."

"As long as you like him, does the rest really matter?"

Chen Manli had recently started secretly dating a biker boy, sneaking out at night on wild rides. She'd always been the obedient student, never having tasted such excitement before.

Now she was madly in love with her biker boyfriend.

Wen Shuang thought of Ji Shen's wild, mature face. "He and I are just not right. Even if we tried, it would only end in disaster."

Since Mr. Huang had been arrested and sentenced, Wen Shuang had stopped dancing at the bar entirely.

The creditors had become even more aggressive. What started as harassing phone calls had escalated to them causing scenes at her workplace—hanging banners, scrawling slogans, spreading rumors that Wen Shuang was the daughter of a notorious debtor, inventing stories about her family ties, and even gossiping about her relationships with older men.

In no time, both teachers and parents at the academy were whispering about her behind her back.

Several parents had already requested to switch classes.

Her boss called her in for a talk. "Wen Shuang, your professionalism and student retention are the best here. But you need to get those troublemakers away from our doors, or it’s going to ruin our reputation!"

Wen Shuang tried to persuade the creditors to stop harassing her.

The actual debt her family owed would be decided by the courts—it wasn't their place to collect it this way.

One of the debt collectors sneered, "Miss Wen, if you keep playing innocent, don't blame us for not holding back!"

Their threats made Wen Shuang anxious and on edge. Fearing they might show up at her home, she started carrying pepper spray in her bag.

One day, just as she was entering the stairwell, someone grabbed her.

Wen Shuang immediately whipped out her pepper spray and unleashed it full force.

The man choked, gasping for air.

She raised her purse and slammed it hard onto his head. "Touch me again and you're dead, you hear me?"

"Wen Shuang!" a familiar voice called out. It was Qin You.

Wen Shuang kicked him, furious. "Lurking outside my door in the middle of the night—are you trying to scare me to death? Qin You, if you lay another finger on me, I'll call the police right now!"

Qin You wiped his face, still coughing. "Still so stubborn! Not enjoying those debt collectors lately, are you?"

"So it was you!" she spat. No wonder creditors had suddenly swarmed her family.

Qin You raised an eyebrow. "If you agree to be with me, I promise those people will disappear for good."

"In your dreams!"

Now just the sight of him made Wen Shuang sick. "I’d rather be with anyone but you!"

"Still hoping Lin Ansheng will come to your rescue? Let me tell you, he can barely manage his own affairs these days."

After returning from their last encounter, Qin You had deliberately sent people to expose holes in the Lin family business. Now they were overwhelmed, and Lin Ansheng had no time to chase after Wen Shuang.

"You're despicable, Qin You! Absolutely disgusting!"

He stepped closer. "So now, Wen Shuang, I’m the only one left who can help you. Be with me, and all your troubles will vanish."

"Is that so?" Suddenly, her lips curled into a mocking smile. Thinking he had a chance, Qin You leaned in.

Wen Shuang slapped him—hard, loud, and merciless.

"To be with you, I’d rather die!"

She left Qin You standing there, disheveled, his suit stained with pepper spray, his face burning.

Scowling, he pulled out his phone.

A hesitant voice came through the receiver. "President Qin... are you sure about this? Miss Wen..."

"I'm absolutely sure!"

Wen Shuang, you refused the olive branch—now face the consequences.