Chapter 1: A Heart of Stone

When Gu Shenshen finally managed to escape the drinking party, her body was already numb from the alcohol. She had to steady herself against the wall just to walk. The distance from the private room to the elevator wasn’t far, yet it took her more than ten minutes of swaying and stumbling to get there.

With a soft chime, the elevator doors slid open. Just as she was about to step inside, she abruptly caught sight of a familiar man within. Close-cropped hair, black suit, white shirt, a tall and well-proportioned figure, strikingly handsome features, sharp contours, and an untamed air like a young wolf—he was exactly her type.

In that instant, much of Gu Shenshen’s drunkenness dissipated. She frowned slightly, instinctively took a step back, and turned to flee. But the man closed the distance in a few long strides, pinning her against the wall as easily as if he were picking up a cat.

His tall frame cast her completely in shadow.

Gu Shenshen no longer had the strength to resist. Her long, slender legs could barely support her swaying body.

“Ah Ci…” she murmured his name, but before she could utter another word, he lowered his head and claimed her lips, refusing to let her speak.

Gu Shenshen possessed a strikingly beautiful face, her eyes as enchanting as blossoming peach flowers, misty and languid like pools of spring water—irresistibly alluring.

“It’s been so long. Did you miss me?” Zhou Ci whispered, his breath warm against her tender skin as he nipped at her ear.

Gu Shenshen drew in a breath, her body already surrendering to the chaos of desire.

“Yes…” she whispered, her voice soft and seductive.

Zhou Ci gazed intently at the woman before him, her drunken mind clouded and her eyes unfocused. His Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily.

In the hotel’s parking garage, the black SUV rocked violently.

“Are you satisfied?” Zhou Ci asked, gripping her chin and lowering his voice.

Gu Shenshen clung to his shoulder, pinned beneath him, unable to rise—especially after drinking so much earlier and being tormented here for so long. It felt as if half her life had drained away.

“Satisfied,” she replied perfunctorily.

But Zhou Ci was not pleased with her indifferent response; his grip on her tightened.

With his refined features and gentle demeanor, he hardly seemed the type to harbor such aggression in his eyes.

“Trying to dump me?” he asked, eyes narrowed, voice low.

Gu Shenshen gently stroked his sweat-dampened face, a faint, lazy smile tugging at her lips. “Tired of you—isn’t that allowed?”

A cold fierceness flashed across Zhou Ci’s eyes.

Seeing his expression darken, Gu Shenshen lightly pinched his cheek. “Just joking, don’t take it seriously. I’m a bit thirsty. Can you go buy me some water?”

Zhou Ci stared at her flushed cheeks, then finally got up, dressed, and left the car.

As soon as she saw him go, Gu Shenshen swallowed nervously, scrambled to her feet, hastily dressed, and hurriedly called someone while making her way out of the parking lot.

“Zhou Ci found me. Meet me at Exit 2 of the hotel parking lot. I’ll be there right away.”

When Gu Shenshen emerged from the garage, she immediately saw Feng Shiyao’s car parked by the roadside and hurried toward it.

But as she glanced up, she accidentally caught sight of a man holding a drink across the street.

“Gu Shenshen!” Zhou Ci called to her over the roar of traffic.

All she wanted was to escape. She rushed into the car, urging Feng Shiyao to drive.

“Shenshen!” Feng Shiyao didn’t start the car, only called her name in agitation.

Instinctively, Gu Shenshen looked out the window. At that moment, Zhou Ci was already lying in a pool of blood, scarlet spreading across the road—a shocking sight.

Known for her cold heart, even Gu Shenshen was stunned by the scene, the pain in her chest too real to deny.

“Ah Ci!”

She screamed, jolting awake from the nightmare, drenched in cold sweat, lying on the floor.

Before she could recover, her phone rang from the bed. She crawled up to answer it.

“Sister Shen, something terrible happened. There was a fire at the hotel early this morning. As soon as the sun came up, Brother Feng was taken away by the police. He might be going to jail. It’s too much to explain over the phone—please come to the hotel right away…”