Paradise Celeste.
The villa stood like a crown upon the secluded in an estate, a place untouched by the chaos of the city sprawling far below. Paradise Celeste wasn't just a home, it was a fortress of power, wealth, and untold secrets. Only a few men had the right to step inside, and each of them carried an empire in his name.
Inside the lavish lounge, Yang Yufan sat in silence, swirling amber whiskey in a crystal glass. The golden liquid caught the warm glow of the chandelier above, yet his thoughts were miles away. Across from him, Zhu Zihan sat stiff-backed on the leather sofa, his laptop balanced on his knees. His sharp, calculating eyes reflected the screen's cold light. He was every inch the businessman, methodical, relentless, a man who treated every move like a chess game.
Meanwhile, Wu Xiang was sprawled out on the armchair, one leg hanging carelessly over the armrest as he scrolled through his phone. He looked casual, almost lazy, but beneath that laid-back charm was a man who controlled half the entertainment industry, his influence crossing borders with ease.
"So," Wu Xiang finally said without looking up, his voice teasing, "you're really going to see her today?"
Yufan's fingers tightened around his glass. He hesitated, eyes narrowing at the rim of his drink before answering. "...It's been a while."
Wu Xiang let out a theatrical sigh, finally tossing his phone onto the table. "Unbelievable. Yang Yufan, the man who stares down colonels and and the army regimen without blinking, reduced to hesitation over a woman."
A low glare flickered in Yufan's eyes, but Zihan's reaction was different. He simply smirked faintly, the corner of his lips twitching as if amused by Yufan's rare display of weakness. He said nothing, his silence sharper than words.
Yufan leaned back, exhaling heavily. "She's not just any woman." His voice dropped, firm yet weighted. His gaze went distant. "She's… everything."
The room went still. Even Wu Xiang didn't crack a joke immediately; his brows lifted, curiosity mixing with respect at Yufan's admission.
Then, with a sudden burst of seriousness, Wu Xiang straightened. "Then quit wasting time. If you don't confess soon, someone else will. Stop being a coward."
Zihan finally looked up from his laptop, his tone as calm as ice. "…You hesitate, another man takes what was meant to be yours."
Yufan's jaw clenched. Both of them were right. He'd waited too long.
"Fine," he muttered, his voice like steel.
Wu Xiang grinned, triumphant. "That's more like it. Now..." he leaned back with mock seriousness. "does she have a friend who's single? My mother's been hunting me down about marriage, and I need a decoy."
Yufan's lips curved faintly. "Ruoxi."
Wu Xiang's brows shot up. "The CEO of Wang Group?"
Yufan nodded. "She's carefree, but… too adventurous."
Wu Xiang chuckled. "A hassle, then. Not interested."
Zhu Zihan shut his laptop with a quiet click and stood. "I'm going to the office." He gathered his things without another glance.
"Workaholic," Xiang muttered under his breath as the door closed behind him.
---
Imperial hotels and Lounge.
Guo Min's grip on the brass lamp was so tight her knuckles whitened. The weight of it didn't matter, what mattered was the rage boiling in her chest, sharp and violent. Her heart hammered against her ribs, but her mind was in rage.
The bastard didn't even notice her. Mr. Chu was too lost in his filth. His hands roamed greedily over Ruoxi's trembling body, his lips dragging across her collarbone. Ruoxi's wide, tear-streaked eyes stared helplessly at the ceiling, her body limp from whatever drug he had slipped into her drink.
Something inside Guo Min snapped.
With one swift, brutal swing, she brought the lamp crashing against the back of his skull. The crack of impact echoed through the suite, followed by the thud of his body collapsing forward. Blood smeared across the carpet as he groaned, stunned and disoriented.
But Guo Min wasn't done.
She dropped the lamp with a dull thud, crouching down beside him. Her hand shot forward, gripping his jaw so hard his teeth clacked. She forced his dazed gaze upward until his bloodshot eyes locked with hers, eyes burning with pure hatred.
"You picked the wrong woman, Mr. Chu," she hissed, her voice low and venomous. "And now, you're going to wish you never crawled out of the gutter that spat you into this world."
Ruoxi whimpered softly, a fragile sound that only fueled Guo Min's fury. Without hesitation, she raised her heel and slammed it into his groin. He let out a strangled cry, his body convulsing in agony.
"Min… Min…" Ruoxi's voice cracked, barely a whisper, pulling Guo Min back from the edge of violence.
She released him, letting his pathetic body slump against the floor, and turned to her best friend. Ruoxi's face was pale, her pupils wide from the drugs, her body trembling.
"I've got you," Guo Min whispered fiercely, brushing damp strands of hair from her friend's cheeks. She grabbed her bag with one hand, Ruoxi's arm with the other, and led her out of the suffocating suite.
By the time they reached her car, Ruoxi had calmed a little, though her voice was weak. Guo Min settled her into the passenger seat, buckling her in with hands that still shook with restrained fury, before sliding behind the wheel.
Her heels hit the brakes, her grip on the steering wheel tight. "Now tell me, how the hell did this happen?"
Ruoxi closed her eyes, letting out a shaky sigh. "Mom… set up another blind date. I didn't realize I got the wrong person until it was too late." Her lips trembled with a bitter laugh. "I walked straight into a trap."
Guo Min's eyes darkened, the engine roaring to life. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened. "Time to tell Auntie to stop these blind dates. For now."
Wang Mansion.
The sleek car rolled into the wide driveway of the Wang estate, headlights cutting through the dusk. The towering mansion stood in quiet elegance, its warm lights spilling against the night sky.
Guo Min parked in the garage and hurried around to Ruoxi's side. Supporting her with steady hands, she guided her inside. The faint scent of jasmine tea lingered in the hall.
As soon as they entered the sitting room, the Wang family rose in alarm. Wang Mingze's brows knitted together at the sight of Ruoxi's weakened state, while Yun Ai, their mother, rushed forward with worry.
Guo Min's voice cut through the room, sharp and unflinching as she narrated what had happened at the hotel. Every detail spilled out...the drugged drink, Mr. Chu's filthy hands, the blow she had dealt with stopped him. Gasps and dark expressions swept across the family.
Wang Mingze's jaw clenched, fury simmering beneath his calm exterior. Yun Ai's hand pressed to her chest as though steadying herself, and Ruoxi leaned tiredly against the sofa, her eyes lowering in shame.
"We all agree," Mingze finally said, his voice like stone, "these blind dates end here. At least for now."
Ruoxi nodded faintly. Relief washed over her, but so did guilt. She hated worrying them, yet she was grateful Guo Min had been there.
The atmosphere softened slightly as they all moved toward the dining hall. Plates of steaming dishes were set upon the table, the air filling with the comforting scent of home-cooked food.
They had barely begun when footsteps echoed from the entrance. The room hushed as a tall figure appeared at the doorway.
Yang Yufan.
He stood still for a moment, for a heartbeat, no one moved.
Then Guo Min and Ruoxi's lips broke into a smile. "Brother Yufan… you're back?"
Her voice carried warmth, the kind reserved for someone long-missed.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Yun Ai asked softly, her eyes bright with both surprise and fondness.
Yufan's lips curved. "It was meant to be a surprise."
He crossed the room with unhurried steps and took a seat beside them. The tension melted into warmth as Yun Ai reached out, patting his head gently, her smile full of maternal affection.
"Welcome," she said simply.
The table filled with chatter, laughter weaving between spoons and chopsticks. Ruoxi's smile was lighter now, her earlier ordeal momentarily forgotten in the warmth of the reunion.
Yufan's gaze often drifted to Guo Min, lingering a second too long before he masked it behind his glass.
Dinner stretched into the night. The air was thick with nostalgia, unspoken bonds rekindling as the hours slipped away.
When Yufan finally rose to leave.