Sun Qianqian descended, wrapped in nothing but a bath towel, her complexion oscillating between pale and ashen. Her emotions, clearly turbulent, were difficult to put into words. She strode up to Liang He and, without hesitation, slapped him hard across the face.
"Who gave you the right to come in here?!"
The sting of her hand jolted Liang He into sharp clarity.
His eyes narrowed, and with equal force, he struck her back. "I always thought you were proud, dignified, someone who climbed her way to the top through talent and resilience. I never imagined you'd stoop so low. Sleeping your way forward? Sun Qianqian, I truly misjudged you."
Unfazed, she sneered. "So what if you did? Yes, I slept with Producer Zhou—what of it? Who are you to question me? Oh… that's right, you've always liked me, haven't you? Well, maybe now you can finally stop."
"How did you get in here?!" Producer Zhou's voice thundered from behind.
Liang He tossed the room card at his face. "With this. And if you're thinking of making trouble with the hotel—by all means, try. But be warned, I'll make sure every detail of this disgrace ends up on Weibo. Consider yourself warned."
"You—! Don't test me, or I'll make sure you never work in this industry again!"
Liang He scoffed. "You overestimate your influence."
He cast a long, penetrating look at Sun Qianqian, then murmured coldly, "A shallow, cheap fraud. I must've been blind."
Fuming, Sun Qianqian rushed to retort, but Liang He had already stormed out.
Shi Xiaotian, who had witnessed his dark expression, quietly followed behind without a word.
They exited the hotel and climbed into the car. Instead of heading home, Liang He directed them to a nearby entertainment lounge.
In a private room, he began drinking heavily. Shi Xiaotian watched him in silence until she could no longer bear it.
"Liang-ge, you've had too much. Please stop."
He ignored her completely, as if her words had never reached him.
She had always suspected he harbored feelings for Sun Qianqian—his gaze gave it away. A man's eyes never lie when it comes to love.
But tonight, whatever illusion he once held of her had crumbled to dust.
So she stayed quiet, letting him drink his sorrow dry.
When he was finally too far gone, she helped him up.
It was no small feat getting him from the lounge to the car, and then from the car back to his apartment. She was drenched in sweat by the time they arrived.
Just as she was about to lay him down in bed, he suddenly straightened, cupped her face, and kissed her.
Shi Xiaotian stumbled back, catching herself against the doorframe. He followed instinctively, eyes closed, deepening the kiss.
It struck without warning.
Her mind went completely blank.
It was her first kiss.
Taken without a word of warning, without any chance to prepare.
And just when she thought her heart might burst, he slumped against her and fell asleep.
She gently lowered him to the bed, removed his shoes, and covered him with a light quilt.
Then, with her cheeks burning, she sat on the floor, both hands pressed over her face.
The next morning.
Gu Lili accompanied Long Yubei to the place where Yuan Yi was being held.
The mask that once obscured her face had long since been removed. The scars across her features were now glaringly visible.
"I knew it!" she snapped. "I always wondered why you were so desperate to keep your face hidden. Turns out it's because you're hideous. And you had the audacity to call me ugly?"
She unhooked a whip from her waist. "This is the exact same one you used on me. I had it made to match yours perfectly. Every lash you gave me, I'll return—double."