I almost mistook you for dessert after dinner.

Wen Yao still tried to explain, her voice tremulous, “Brother Qin, you’ve misunderstood me! I just wanted them to put a little psychological pressure on my sister. She’s my own flesh and blood—how could I ever truly harm her!”

“Yes, Wen Yao, that’s what I can’t believe either. She’s your real sister, and yet you could be so ruthless, actually able to go through with this.” Qin You gripped Wen Yao’s collar tightly, a storm raging in his eyes. “You really are venomous, like a viper!”

He flung Wen Yao aside with force.

Her elbow struck the nightstand hard, and she let out a cry of pain.

“Brother Qin, I didn’t do it. It wasn’t me!”

“Today Xiao Wang called and told me that Old Li was taken in by the police—all because he failed to assault Wen Shuang yesterday. And he said it was you who gave the order, using my name to do it.”

Qin You’s narrow eyes were icy. He stepped on Wen Yao’s hand, grinding down. “Wen Yao, where did you get the nerve to go after her?”

Wen Yao screamed in agony.

She crumpled at his feet, tears streaming down her face. “Brother Qin, I... I didn’t mean for it to go this far. I only told Old Li to put on a show, that’s all. I never told him to actually hurt her! It must have been his own lust that drove him, and now he wants to blame me for it!”

As she spoke, she tried to clutch at Qin You’s pant leg.

But he kicked her away, hard. “Spare me your pitiful tears! Wen Yao, I always thought you and your sister just didn’t get along, but I never imagined you could be this malicious at heart! As far as I’m concerned, we’re finished!”

“No! Brother Qin, please don’t!” Wen Yao wailed, desperate to beg forgiveness. She had worked so hard to catch Qin You, such a desirable man, and she couldn’t just let him go like this.

“Brother Qin, I was wrong, I’ll never dare again!”

As she spoke, she slipped off her clothes, revealing the provocative lingerie she had carefully prepared in advance.

“Brother Qin, I like you. I was just too jealous of my sister before, that’s all...” Wen Yao pressed herself against him from behind, her hands roaming. “I swear, I’ll never do anything like this again! Brother Qin, please, won’t you have mercy on me?”

Qin You’s tone was cold as ice. “I sleep with you because you throw yourself at me. Why refuse when it costs me nothing? But don’t expect anything else from me. You’re just a bed partner—nothing more!”

She dropped to her knees, trying to please him.

He pressed her head down even further, his voice cruel. “If you ever pull a stunt like this again, I won’t show you any mercy!”

Wen Yao sobbed, “I—I understand.”

...

Recently, Xia Anran noticed that Qin You was out of sorts.

Now, even when she came home from dance practice and climbed into bed with him, Qin You was unmoved.

She tried everything to entice him, but eight times out of ten he pushed her away, claiming he was too exhausted from work and that they’d try again another time.

At first, Xia Anran believed he really was just tired. She even bought several sets of sexy lingerie, yet Qin You still showed little reaction.

Each time, he merely kissed her gently to appease her, then fell asleep, leaving Xia Anran burning with frustration.

She began to wonder if Qin You had another woman outside. People always said a man uninterested at home must be sated elsewhere.

So Xia Anran started investigating.

The person she sent reported back that lately, President Qin was always accompanied by a certain Miss Wen.

Wen Shuang!

It was Wen Shuang again!

Xia Anran’s nails dug into her palm. She couldn’t hold back her anxiety any longer. That night, she took leave from the dance troupe and came home early. She confronted Qin You directly, asking whether he was seeing someone else.

Qin You sat down as if nothing was amiss, drawing her into his arms. “How could that be, Ranran? You’re overthinking. My heart is yours alone.”

“Really?” Xia Anran was skeptical. “Secretary Ye says there’s always a woman around you lately.”

“Oh, that’s just the new legal advisor the company hired, darling. Don’t overthink it.”

To placate her, Qin You pressed her onto the sofa.

At first, Xia Anran pretended to resist, but soon surrendered, wrapping her arms around his neck and responding eagerly.

Xia Anran was nothing like Wen Yao in bed. Though she sometimes wore provocative lingerie, she could never let herself go the way Wen Yao did. Qin You felt little for Wen Yao emotionally, but physically she suited him quite well.

Wen Yao was wild in bed, utterly uninhibited, willing to do whatever he asked. She gave herself completely, satisfying almost every desire for conquest a man could have.

Of all his women, Wen Yao was the most wanton.

In the end, Xia Anran clung to his shoulders, gasping, “Qin You, do you love me?!”

She loved him so desperately, so humbly, longing only to possess him. If he would just say the word, she would believe it without question!

“I love you, Ranran. You’re the one I love most!”

Moved to tears, Xia Anran believed him.

She didn’t realize that, since ancient times, a man’s declarations of love in bed have almost always been nothing more than idle words.

—

That day, Ji Shen had a rare evening without overtime.

He clocked out on time and left right at the end of the workday.

The young officers in the outer office were abuzz with gossip.

“Wow, this is Officer Ji’s first time leaving on the dot this month. He always stays until the last minute.”

“You didn’t hear? Officer Ji met with Miss Wen again the other day. I bet the two of them are dating now!”

“So he’s seeing Miss Wen again? I thought they’d split up. Officer Ji’s been in a foul mood all month, but today he’s in high spirits—it seems only Miss Wen can handle him!”

...

When Ji Shen returned home, he was greeted by the aroma of home-cooked food.

He walked in to find four dishes and a soup on the table, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

“So Miss Wen is a little kitchen fairy after all.”

He took off his police uniform and tossed it onto the sofa.

Wen Shuang had just burned her hand on the sweet and sour ribs. Tilting her head, she rubbed her earlobe. “Officer Ji, you’re back. Perfect timing—the food’s just done. Go wash up, let’s eat!”

She still wore her black and white apron, her long hair twisted into a low bun, a few stray locks framing her face.

Ji Shen quickly took her hand, frowning. “Burned yourself?”

Wen Shuang replied, “Just a bit of hot oil splashed on me, it’s nothing.”

Ji Shen carefully applied ointment to her hand.

Wen Shuang urged, “You should eat before it gets cold.”

Ji Shen was meticulous as he dressed her burn. “Young ladies all love beauty—scars on your hands wouldn’t look good.”

Wen Shuang looked up at him, realizing that at moments like this, Ji Shen could be incredibly gentle and considerate.

When he finished, their eyes met.

A familiar tension began to rise between them.

Unable to help himself, Ji Shen leaned in, his breath warm and electric.

Wen Shuang’s long lashes trembled as she turned away from his kiss. “Officer Ji, let’s eat before the food gets cold.”

She hadn’t come to Ji Shen’s home this time to deliberately seduce him again.

Ji Shen smiled. “Sorry, Miss Wen. I almost mistook you for dessert before dinner.”