After bidding farewell to Bruce, Jiang Chen turned and left the party hall.
The princess's birthday celebration had drawn not only a crowd of wealthy elites but also a number of A-list celebrities. Even outside the entrance, clusters of lesser-known "eighteenth-tier" actresses and background extras lingered, all hoping to catch the eye of some influential figure. Some dressed particularly provocatively, eager to strike up a connection that might change their fortunes.
Jiang Chen had only heard about such "peripheral girls" from the internet before—women who might have played minor roles in obscure dramas or films, flaunting attractive figures and heavily made-up faces, trading their bodies for a shot at a better life.
He had once envied the rich who sailed yachts and threw wild open-air parties. Now, unexpectedly, he found himself among them. As he stepped out from the hall, a few women waiting by the door immediately brightened at the sight of him—a handsome man clearly from inside the prestigious gathering.
Jiang Chen barely paused before a few scantily-clad women closed in around him, their faces expertly adorned with makeup, their smiles inviting. One particularly bold beauty clung to his arm. Her dress was cut low in both the front and the back; from Jiang Chen's angle, he could easily glimpse not only her deep cleavage but also the smooth expanse of her back, and even a tantalizing glimpse of the curve between her hips. The sight was enough to stir Jiang Chen's long-dormant instincts; his hormones spiked uncontrollably.
"Miss, I think you've mistaken me for someone else. We don't know each other, do we?" Jiang Chen said lightly, reining in his wandering thoughts. Although he didn't mind a casual fling while traveling, he still had standards. Despite her bold looks, the woman relied heavily on layers of makeup to cover up her otherwise ordinary appearance.
"Sir, you're just too handsome. I couldn't help but be drawn to you," the woman replied, her voice deliberately sultry, dragging out the word "drawn" with a suggestive lilt that sent a shiver through him.
"Damn, she's like a succubus," Jiang Chen thought, feeling a prickling itch in his heart. But with his gene-enhanced body and futuristic technology at his back, he wasn't worried about anything. He decided to deal with this little vixen later.
Pushing aside the women surrounding him, Jiang Chen was about to leave when he caught sight of a lone figure standing at the end of the road—a figure that seemed strangely familiar. Thanks to his enhanced vision, he was able to see her clearly even from a distance.
Unlike the others clustered around the hotel entrance, this woman stood quietly apart, her presence out of place among the noisy crowd. Curiosity piqued, Jiang Chen took a closer look as he approached.
As he got nearer, he recognized her instantly.
"Liu Yao! Aren't you Liu Yao?" Jiang Chen called out suddenly, startling the girl, whose petite body flinched visibly, her chest quivering slightly under her small dress.
Liu Yao had once been one of Jiang Chen's favorite actresses during his college days. She had played the second female lead in That Year, a low-budget film that had briefly gained popularity. Jiang Chen had been deeply infatuated with her sweet and pure image, seeing in her the ideal of a first love. But after that, she had seemed to vanish from the public eye, and rumors suggested she had been blacklisted from the industry.
"You know me?" Liu Yao covered her mouth in surprise, her eyes widening. It had been years since she had released any new work; in a world where fame was fleeting, she had assumed everyone had long forgotten her.
Dressed in a simple black cocktail dress that highlighted her slender waist and long legs, with soft, wavy hair framing her delicate features, Liu Yao exuded a mix of innocence and allure that captivated him.
Jiang Chen stood dumbfounded, staring at her, lost in thought.
He had momentarily forgotten about the flirtatious woman still clinging to his side.
"Hey, handsome, let's go already. My feet are sore from standing," the sultry woman whined beside him.
Oddly enough, her voice grated on Jiang Chen's nerves now.
"You're not needed here," he said flatly, pushing her away without much thought. Unfortunately, he underestimated his own enhanced strength—the woman stumbled and fell hard onto the stone pavement, landing with a painful thud.
"Ouch!" she cried out.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to use so much force. Are you alright?" Jiang Chen hurriedly apologized, feeling a pang of guilt.
But the woman's anger flared. Having been publicly humiliated and losing her potential "catch" to another woman, she snapped. Picking up one of her high heels, she hurled it toward Liu Yao in a fit of rage before grabbing the other shoe and fleeing into the night.
Lost in thought, Liu Yao didn't notice the incoming projectile.
A sudden shriek rang out.
When Jiang Chen turned around, he saw the high heel hit Liu Yao squarely on the forehead. Tears welled up in her eyes, and blood trickled down her pale, smooth skin—a pitiful sight that instantly filled him with guilt and anger.
He turned around to chase after the culprit but found she had already vanished into the night.
"Miss Liu, are you alright?" Jiang Chen quickly rushed to her side, his voice full of genuine concern.
Seeing the swelling bruise on her forehead, Jiang Chen anxiously said, "Come on, let me take you to the hospital."
Without giving her a chance to refuse, he gently took hold of her slender hand and started leading her away.
"N-no, it's just a small injury. I'll be fine," Liu Yao tried to pull her hand back, but Jiang Chen's grasp was firm—firm but not forceful.
Left with no choice, she followed him quietly, feeling the sting of the wound and, at the same time, a strange warmth blossoming in her heart.
It had been a long time since someone had shown her such sincere concern.
Back when she first entered the entertainment industry, Liu Yao had dreamt of becoming a star. She had been discovered by a small-time director and cast as the second female lead in a low-budget film. For a while, she had naively believed that, with talent and hard work, she could bypass the ugly hidden rules of the industry and forge her own path to fame.
Reality had proven far harsher.
After her brief moment of fame, she was left wandering between small productions, watching the ugly faces behind the glittering lights. To even secure a minor supporting role, she would be asked to compromise her body.
But Liu Yao had refused. Although she, too, craved success and admiration, she wasn't willing to pay that price. She knew that once she took that step, there would be no turning back; even if she became famous, she would never respect herself again.
Thanks to that early lucky break, she had tasted a fleeting bit of success. But without strong backing, she had slowly faded into obscurity.
In recent years, she had survived on minor gigs and small appearances, just barely scraping by. Her dreams seemed to drift further and further away, swallowed by the tides of time.
When she heard about tonight's party, she had come harboring a desperate thought—maybe, just maybe, she could gamble one last time. She still had her dignity, her "first time" intact, something that made her different from the others. If she was going to fall, at least she wanted to choose who she gave herself to.
Yet the moment she arrived and saw the throngs of provocatively dressed women swarming the venue, she had felt nothing but regret. She had retreated to a corner, standing alone, unsure of what to do.
After walking for a while, Jiang Chen suddenly realized: there were no hospitals nearby, and it was already late at night. Without a car, it would be hard to get her proper help.
He stopped and turned to Liu Yao, saying, "How about this—come back to my villa for now. We'll treat your wound first."
Still holding her hand, Jiang Chen noticed she didn't resist anymore. He smiled inwardly.
Back in his university days, he had watched Liu Yao on screen with a beating heart.
And now, he was holding the very hand that had once seemed so distant.
Her hand felt soft and delicate in his palm, almost dreamlike.
Liu Yao seemed to sense something too. She shyly tugged her hand back but didn't say anything.
Hearing the word "villa" made her heart skip a beat—Hilton's beachfront villas were notorious for their luxury. A single night could easily cost tens of thousands.
The man before her—young, handsome, and evidently wealthy—was unlike the vulgar rich men she had seen before. And earlier, his sincere concern for her had not seemed fake.
Maybe... just maybe...
A twinge of self-destructive impulse rose inside her, mixed with years of suppressed pain and exhaustion.
"What should I call you?" Liu Yao asked lightly, pretending to be casual.
"Jiang Chen," he replied.
"I've seen That Year. You were Liu Lele, right?" she said with a faint smile, referring to his small role—one he still remembered vividly.
In recent years, teen melodramas had flooded the market, cheap to produce and easy to profit from. Although Jiang Chen didn't particularly like them, he had once accompanied a girl he had a crush on to see That Year.
Amusingly enough, he hadn't even managed to hold that girl's hand by the end of the night.
"Such a shame," he thought with a chuckle.
"Such a beautiful role," Jiang Chen said, his gaze softening slightly as he looked at Liu Yao.
Playfully, he added, "I think I'll just keep calling you Lele. I like that nickname better."
The name "Lele" sounded sweet and full of youthful innocence.
Unaware of the deeper meaning behind his words, Liu Yao beamed, her smile as bright as the stars.
Without hesitation, she followed Jiang Chen toward his villa by the beach.
At the villa, Jiang Chen first called room service to deliver some alcohol and first-aid supplies.
Carefully, he helped Liu Yao clean the wound on her forehead.
Because of the location of the injury, standing or sitting upright was uncomfortable.
Liu Yao suggested lying down, so she reclined gracefully on the luxurious leather sofa, closing her eyes slightly.
Jiang Chen leaned over her with a spray of Yunnan Baiyao medicine in hand.
In the soft, ambient light, her face appeared even more delicate—porcelain skin, tender and glowing under a thin layer of makeup.
Her slightly parted lips were plump and pink, radiating an alluring charm, while her long lashes cast faint shadows on her cheeks.
Although the swelling on her forehead marred her otherwise flawless features, it only made her seem more fragile, stirring an aching tenderness in his heart.
Holding his breath, Jiang Chen gently sprayed the medicine over her wound.
As he finished, he looked up—and froze.
From his vantage point, he caught a glimpse down her neckline, where the curve of her chest formed a soft, inviting valley.
For a moment, his mind went blank.
He couldn't move. His eyes lingered, irresistibly drawn.
The tension in the room thickened.
Time seemed to stretch infinitely until Liu Yao, sensing his gaze, slowly opened her eyes.
Their eyes met directly, a current passing instantly between them.
"Do you like what you see?" she asked, her voice soft, teasing, sticky with a faint sweetness.
"You're beautiful," Jiang Chen replied without hesitation, his voice low and sincere.
Perhaps the old Jiang Chen would have looked away, embarrassed.
But now, after surviving blood and fire, with vast resources and confidence at his command, he had long shed the boyish insecurity of the past.
He lowered his head.
Her breath, warm and fragrant, brushed against his lips.
He didn't hesitate. Their lips met softly.
Liu Yao did not resist.
Perhaps she had already guessed that something like this would happen when she followed him into the villa.
Perhaps it was resignation, or maybe it was a lifetime of suppressed emotions finally breaking free.
Since it was inevitable...
Why not choose someone she didn't despise?
Jiang Chen—young, handsome, and wealthy—was a much better option than the sleazy businessmen she had been forced to face before.
At least, when she saw his earlier concern, she had seen no trace of fake affection.
As their lips parted, breathless, Liu Yao looked up at him with glistening eyes, her face flushed.
"Carry me to the shower," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly but no longer shy.
Something inside Jiang Chen snapped.
Without a word, he scooped her into his arms and headed toward the villa's bathroom.
Inside the marble bathroom, he was careful—he gently washed her body, avoiding her injured forehead.
Afterward, Jiang Chen carried her, wrapped in a soft towel, back to the bedroom, where he laid her carefully on the wide, luxurious bed.
Because of her head injury, the earlier temptation in the bathroom had been restrained, but now, in the warm, low-lit bedroom, with Liu Yao lying so trustingly before him, the air grew thick with charged emotion again.
The room was filled with a soft, golden glow from the bedside lamps.Jiang Chen stood by the bed, gazing down at Liu Yao, his tall frame casting a shadow over her delicate figure.
Liu Yao's misty eyes locked onto his lips."Kiss me," she whispered, her voice barely audible, trembling with nervous anticipation.
"At your service," Jiang Chen murmured, leaning down to claim her lips once more.
Liu Yao instinctively reached out, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him closer as she returned his kiss with a tenderness that made Jiang Chen's heart ache.
He cradled her face with both hands, deepening the kiss.His fingertips lightly traced the curve of her ear, making her shudder and giggle softly.
"It tickles... it's strange," she gasped, squirming slightly, her cheeks flushed.
Jiang Chen smiled against her skin, untying her hair so that it fell like a silky black curtain across the snow-white pillow.The contrast between the dark strands and her pale complexion was breathtaking.
"You're absolutely mesmerizing," he said hoarsely, the gravel in his voice revealing the depth of his desire.
"I... I'm a little scared," Liu Yao admitted in a small voice, her fingers clutching the bedsheets.
"Don't be," Jiang Chen whispered against her ear. "Just relax and enjoy."
He kissed her again, deeper this time, his hands moving to gently caress the curve of her waist, feeling the delicate tremble of her body under his touch.
She gasped and clutched at his shirt, caught between fear and a growing heat that she could no longer deny.
Under the soft light, her figure seemed to glow—every curve, every line a silent invitation that he could no longer resist.
"You're beautiful," he murmured again, almost in awe, as he let his fingers trail down the side of her face, across her slender neck, and down to her trembling shoulders.
"I... thank you," she whispered shyly, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it.
He chuckled softly at her bashfulness and continued to trace her silhouette, his hands gentle but sure.
"I want you," Jiang Chen said finally, his voice low and rough with emotion.
Hearing those words, Liu Yao's body tensed for a moment—but then slowly relaxed.
"...Okay," she breathed, her voice softer than the rustle of silk.
With exquisite patience, Jiang Chen continued to caress her, pulling her closer into his arms.Her body, once tense with uncertainty, melted against his, responding instinctively to the warmth and reassurance in his embrace.
As the night deepened, they became entangled in each other—two lonely souls finding solace in the other's warmth, cautiously but irresistibly surrendering to the connection that had sparked between them.
Their breaths mingled as Jiang Chen held Liu Yao gently in his arms.Her delicate figure curled trustingly against him, and her soft scent filled his senses.
Jiang Chen brushed a few stray strands of hair from her forehead, careful to avoid her injury.He kissed her lightly, reverently, as if worshipping something fragile and precious.
"You don't have to be afraid," he whispered, his voice soothing.
Liu Yao closed her eyes and nodded slightly.She could feel the genuine tenderness in his every gesture, melting the last defenses she had so stubbornly held onto for so long.
Slowly, Jiang Chen pulled the thin blanket over them, wrapping them in a cocoon of warmth.He wasn't in a hurry. He simply wanted to feel her, to let the quiet intimacy between them unfold naturally.
Under the soft cover of night, time seemed to lose all meaning.
Their kisses deepened, growing more urgent but never rough.His hands roamed her body with reverent slowness, tracing every curve, every trembling line of her, as if memorizing her by touch alone.
Liu Yao clung to him, feeling as if she were floating, caught between dreams and reality.Her heart pounded violently against her ribs, but she didn't resist. She responded, shyly at first, then with growing passion.
Every caress, every kiss peeled away another layer of the loneliness she had buried deep inside.
Finally, their bodies pressed even closer, as natural as breathing, as inevitable as the tide meeting the shore.
Jiang Chen whispered her name like a prayer, and Liu Yao answered with a soft moan, giving herself wholly to the moment, to him.
The night outside was silent but for the sound of waves washing against the distant beach.Inside, the villa glowed dimly with golden light, bearing silent witness to two souls finding each other in the darkness.
Afterward, Liu Yao lay sprawled across the soft, luxurious bed, like a kitten basking in the afterglow.Her cheeks glowed with a warm blush, her eyes still shimmering with a lazy, seductive sheen.
Beside her, Jiang Chen stretched out languidly, utterly relaxed, the music drifting softly through the villa, the distant sea breeze brushing against the curtains.
"This is... wonderful," Jiang Chen sighed from the depths of his heart.
Liu Yao propped herself up on her elbows, her hair cascading down her shoulders, and leaned in close to him.Her voice was playful as she teased, "So, Mr. Jiang Chen, are you satisfied with the special tutoring session personally delivered by your math class representative?"
It was said that women viewed from this angle—smiling, eyes sparkling—appeared even more alluring.
"Very satisfied," Jiang Chen replied with a gentle smile, reaching out to stroke her delicate face.
Her skin felt soft and flawless, like polished porcelain under his fingertips.
"Do you think I'm beautiful?" she asked, half-shy, half-expectant.
"Beautiful," he answered honestly, running his fingers through her tousled hair.
For a while, the two of them simply lay there, savoring the intimacy that had bloomed so suddenly between them.
But then, Liu Yao suddenly changed the topic, her eyes soft yet carrying a trace of something deeper."Where's your girlfriend?" she asked lightly, almost casually.
"In another world," Jiang Chen replied after a moment's thought.
It was the truth, in a way.But to Liu Yao, the words carried a different meaning—she assumed that his beloved had passed away.
In an instant, Jiang Chen's image in her mind shifted: from a carefree rich playboy to a successful, lonely man carrying hidden wounds.
Her heart softened.
Without a word, she pulled Jiang Chen into her arms, pressing his head against her chest, offering silent comfort.
In Liu Yao's eyes, Jiang Chen's silence was no longer indifference but a profound sorrow he carried deep inside.
Jiang Chen, meanwhile, said nothing. He simply enjoyed the quiet warmth of the moment, letting her soft embrace heal the loneliness he hadn't even realized he was feeling.
Yet beneath the peace, another stir of desire began to awaken.
Noticing the change in his body, Liu Yao giggled softly.She lightly tapped his chest with a playful finger, stopping him from moving.
"Let me take care of it this time," she whispered, her voice filled with mischievous tenderness.
—
After a while, Liu Yao wiped the corner of her lips with a tissue, her movements casual, almost innocent.Seeing Jiang Chen's momentary spark of excitement, she smiled to herself, pleased.
"Feeling better now?" she asked sweetly.
"Feels like I could fly," Jiang Chen said, exaggerating with a playful grin.
"Aren't you lonely traveling all by yourself?" she asked, swinging her long, beautiful legs lazily.
"Of course. Vacationing without a beauty by your side is just too dull," Jiang Chen replied, stretching comfortably.
Liu Yao's smile softened, her eyes deepening.
"Do you want me to stay with you... for the rest of your trip?" she asked, her voice filled with a tentative hope.
"If you're willing," Jiang Chen answered, not giving a firm promise, but his tone was gentle enough.
Originally, he had only intended for this encounter to be a fleeting pleasure.But when he had seen the crimson trace of her first time, everything had changed.
Earlier, Liu Yao had told him about her years of struggling alone, her refusal to compromise, her stubbornness in holding onto her dreams.
Now, Jiang Chen understood why she had once briefly shone before fading from public view.Her spirit had been too proud for the filthy realities of the entertainment world.
Stretching lazily, Liu Yao smiled.Maybe she didn't completely trust him yet—but it was a good beginning.
And somehow, after losing the thing she had guarded so fiercely, her dream of becoming a big star no longer seemed so important.Maybe... staying by this man's side wasn't such a bad path after all.
After all, Jiang Chen was young, handsome, and strong—so much better than the beer-bellied producers and investors she had once faced.
Besides, he wasn't frivolous or arrogant like other rich men she had seen.He had shown her a rare, genuine tenderness.
In the end, wasn't that what really mattered?
"You'll receive 10,000 yuan in pocket money every day during these seven days," Jiang Chen said softly, brushing his fingertips across her cheek.
"Use it to buy yourself something nice."
"Mhm," Liu Yao murmured, closing her eyes and gently covering his hand with hers.Her heart settled into a peaceful warmth.
Compared to her meager earnings from small-time events, this was far more than she could have hoped for—and the "work" was so much sweeter.
No unreasonable demands, no humiliation.Just gentle, sincere companionship.
At that thought, Liu Yao slowly climbed onto Jiang Chen's body, a smile blooming on her lips.
Since fate had brought her such an unexpected blessing, she decided—
For the next seven days, she would treasure every moment of this rare, beautiful holiday.