The morning after their mountain escape was blissfully quiet. Su Nian woke up wrapped in Lu Cheng's arms, the scent of cedarwood clinging to his skin and the sound of birdsong beyond the open window. She turned slightly to look at him.
Still asleep, hair tousled, lashes dark against his skin, and his chest rising and falling in a slow rhythm.
This was a side of him she never thought she'd see.
Peaceful, vulnerable, and it belonged to her.
Her fingers brushed against his cheek unconsciously. He stirred. His arms tightening around her waist, voice still thick with sleep. "Where do you think you're going?"
She smiled. "We should get back. The others will wonder."
"I don't care," he murmured, eyes half-lidded. "Just one more hour."
But there would be no more quiet hours. Because the storm was already brewing.
Later that day, in the campus, it started with whispers. Then eyes. Then gasps.
A blurry photo, taken from a distance, had been posted anonymously on a student forum.
A couple. Embracing under the moonlight by a lakeside villa.
The woman's silhouette was unmistakable—Su Nian.
And while the man's face was turned away, anyone who'd seen Lu Cheng even once would recognize his profile.
The post was captioned:
"Our scholarship Cinderella caught with a mystery man. This is the real way to success?"
Within hours, the comments exploded.
"She's sleeping her way through."
"That's not just a man—that's THE Lu Cheng."
"So THAT's why she got into Yulan on a scholarship."
"Poor Ji Chen. No wonder she rejected him."
Su Nian didn't even know the post existed until Xiaoyu burst into their room.
"You need to see this," she said breathlessly, shoving her phone into Su Nian's hands.
Her world tilted.
On the other side Lu Cheng was attending a meeting. He was on a video call with a French luxury partner when Bai Ming knocked urgently.
"Sir, there's been an incident. The retreat. Miss Su."
The screen lit up with the photo. Lu Cheng's expression iced over.
"Who posted this?"
"We're tracing the IP. Likely a student. Could've been anyone—someone near the lake, maybe using a drone. We'll track them."
"I don't care how long it takes," Lu Cheng said, voice low and furious. "Find them. Bury this."
He stood and grabbed his coat.
"I'm going to her."
Back at the lakeside studio, Su Nian tried to keep her head down. But the stares were unavoidable.
Someone "accidentally" spilled red paint near her desk.
Someone else "mistakenly" knocked her portfolio off the table.
And then— Zhou Mei happened to come.
The top student from a wealthy fashion family. She was stunning, arrogant and poisonous.
"So, Su Nian," she said loud enough for everyone to hear. "Tell us. Do you sleep with every CEO to get ahead? Or just the richest one?"
Su Nian's hands froze over her sketch.
She stood up slowly. "Excuse me?"
Zhou Mei smirked. "I mean, how else would an orphan with no background end up here?"
A few students gasped.
Su Nian's fists clenched.
But before she could say a word—
SLAM.
The studio door burst open. Lu Cheng entered. Everyone went silent.
He walked straight toward Su Nian without sparing anyone a glance. When he reached her, he took off his coat—and draped it around her shoulders.
Then he turned to the room.
"If I hear one more word," he said quietly, "from any of you about my wife—"
Gasps. Whispers. Eyes widened.
"—I'll make sure you never work in this industry again."
Dead silence.
Zhou Mei's smirk crumbled.
"Wife?" someone whispered.
"She's married to him?!"
He turned to Zhou Mei directly. "Do your parents know you're this vicious? Shall I call them?"
Zhou Mei paled instantly.
Lu Cheng looked around the room once more. "Apologize."
When no one spoke, he raised a brow.
"Now."
Zhou Mei stumbled over her words. "I-I'm sorry…"
He turned to Su Nian. "Let's go."
And she followed behind him obediently.
No one dared to stop them.
That night.
He drove her to his private villa again. This time, she didn't protest.
As soon as they entered, she collapsed onto the sofa.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I was careful. I—"
Lu Cheng sat beside her and took her hand gently.
"You didn't do anything wrong."
"But now everyone knows…"
"Let them." He pulled her into his arms. "If anyone comes for you again, they'll deal with me."
Her voice was muffled against his chest. "I'm scared."
He stroked her hair. "Then I'll protect you."
She looked up. "Even if it ruins your name?"
His expression was solemn. "You are more important to me than any name, any deal, any company. They can say what they want. I only care what you think."
Her eyes shimmered.
"Lu Cheng…" she whispered.
He leaned in, brushing his lips against hers. "You're not alone anymore. I'll make sure you never feel alone again."
They sat like that for a long time—silent, close, safe.
Later that week, Lu Cheng picked Su Nian up from the academy gates.
She ran to the car, smiling. "Thanks for—"
But paused as she saw the cold look on his face.
"What?"
"I saw that boy again. Ji Chen. He gave you a drink."
She blinked. "It was just green tea."
"You smiled at him."
"Cheng, don't be jealous."
"I'm not."
She giggled. "You are."
His eyes narrowed.
And then, without warning, he pulled her into the car, closed the door, and kissed her breathless right there in the back seat.
"Next time," he growled softly, lips brushing hers, "smile like that only at me. Understood?"
She gasped. "Y-Yes."