Chapter Three: The First Night

The opulent Hilton Grand Hotel, resplendent in gold and jade, stood on the most bustling street of City X. Only those recognized by the world as super-wealthy magnates or powerful politicians could afford to stay here, for the nightly rates alone were enough to make one gasp in disbelief. Beneath the hotel lay the city’s largest golden casino, ablaze with lights every night, yet the lively clamor below did nothing to disturb the serene life above. It was as if two worlds existed in parallel: above, the refined leisure of the aristocracy; below, the intoxicating, hedonistic playground of fame and fortune.

Rong Qing stepped into the hotel in elegant wine-red heels, dressed in light-washed jeans and a beige knitted sweater, casual yet graceful. Her black hair was tied at the back of her head, and an oversized pair of sunglasses concealed most of her face. The dazzling, gilded revolving ceiling made her head spin, and even someone accustomed to grand occasions like herself was awed by the sheer magnificence. It was splendid but not vulgar, noble without ostentation. Those who could afford to live here must be extraordinarily wealthy. She could only hope the president of the Huo Corporation was not another old, ugly, pot-bellied man. Rong Qing swept a cold gaze around the lavish hall, the chill at her lips betraying a touch of desolation.

Summoning her courage, she walked toward the presidential suite.

There was only one suite on the top floor. No matter how prepared she thought she was, the surge of anxiety and anticipation at this moment was more than she had imagined. It felt as though her feet might turn and flee at the very threshold, never to cross it.

With the room card her assistant had given her, Rong Qing hesitated again and again before finally opening the door—thus stepping into the most pivotal turning point of her life.

Inside, the room was silent, seemingly untouched by human presence. The décor was understated yet tasteful; the plush, luxurious carpet beneath her feet felt like a net from which there was no escape, draining away all her earlier bravado.

Were it not for the faint sound of running water from the bathroom, Rong Qing would have thought the president had canceled their meeting. She knew backing out now would be spineless, but the sheer absurdity of selling herself so willingly almost made her want to bolt from the room.

Lost in her own thoughts, she was startled when the bathroom door opened without warning.

Before her stood a man with a powerful physique. Droplets of water slid down bronze muscles; pronounced abs rippled across his abdomen, the whole of him exuding the latent energy of a hunting leopard. His chiseled face was all masculine resolve, and if not for the cold, emotionless eyes, Rong Qing might have cheered for such a flawless specimen of manhood.

Their eyes met, and half of Rong Qing’s wary pretense faltered: Thank goodness he’s not an old lecher! If he had been, her first move would have been to grab the massive antique vase in the room and smash it over his head, then ransack his belongings and make her escape!

"I..." All words died on her lips. Was she supposed to declare herself as the actress he intended to bed, only to proclaim her chastity before anything happened? The thought alone made her feel laughably foolish.

The man’s eyes, which had shown a flash of surprise, now brimmed with a hint of disdain.

He regarded her with complete composure. For a girl in the entertainment industry to maintain such innocence was rare. Years of relentless work left him in need of a companion, and the dossier his assistant had provided showed this girl was a perfect fit.

"Come here." His deep voice carried an irresistible command, shifting the very air in the room.

Rong Qing’s beautiful eyes locked onto him in silent defiance, as though they were locked in a silent struggle. In the end, she forced her feet to move, drawing nearer to the man with great reluctance.

"Ah!" In a dizzying instant, Rong Qing was pressed onto the bed by his powerful body, trapped beneath him like prey beneath a leopard’s claws.

"Have you showered? Hmm..." His seductive voice brushed her ear, laced with teasing. The faint scent of rose essence lingered on her skin—delicate and unpretentious. Her shy countenance was veiled in a rosy haze. That exquisite face stubbornly turned away from his gaze, exposing a slender, fair neck—damnation, how alluring she was!

...Content omitted, to be seen in the reviews...

All night, the man ravaged the woman on the bed, from the mattress to the carpet, their clothes strewn across the room. It was not until dawn neared that the two finally drifted into a muddled, exhausted sleep.