Chapter 2: Shamelessness

Lin Lu turned her head to glance at him, then said, "Not interested."

A sudden brake nearly sent her head crashing forward.

Furious, she snapped, "Did you pick your driver's license up off the street?"

"I stole it," Xu Yancheng replied, slamming the accelerator. The sports car shot forward like a bullet.

In a whirlwind, they arrived at the hotel.

By the time Lin Lu stepped out, her face was drained of color, and she was dizzy to the point of nausea.

She managed only a single step before crouching down, overcome.

She wanted to retch, but nothing would come.

"Are you interested now?" Xu Yancheng tossed the keys to the doorman and crouched beside her.

"You're insane," Lin Lu muttered weakly.

Without waiting for her reply, Xu Yancheng scooped her up and strode into the hotel.

"Didn't you say last time that it was pointless? What do you call this, then?" Lin Lu lowered her gaze, the stiff ends of her hair tickling her neck.

"Better than nothing," he replied.

"You don't look like someone who's just settling..." Lin Lu's words were cut short as her mouth was covered.

Two hours later, Xu Yancheng reclined against the headboard, idly playing with his phone.

The room was shrouded in darkness, the curtains tightly drawn, with only a small orange lamp glowing by the bed.

Lin Lu lay with her back to him, not asleep.

Her thoughts wandered to Su Yi's impending return to the country.

She was far from pleased about it.

Her relationship with Xu Yancheng was as fragile as a wisp of smoke—one gust and it would vanish, all the more so with Su Yi, his ex-girlfriend, reentering the picture.

In the end, she would be left with nothing but empty hands.

Sooner or later, Xu Yancheng would forget her entirely.

Just then, she felt him stir behind her, as if preparing to leave.

On instinct, she wrapped her arms around his waist, her voice soft and pleading, "Don’t go, please…"

Xu Yancheng stared at her alabaster arms for a long while.

Her skin was luminous as jade, glowing faintly even in the near darkness. Coupled with her remarkable figure and features, she was a siren, enchanting to any man.

But what of it?

It was nothing but physical infatuation—he could detach himself at any moment.

"What, still unsatisfied?"

His voice was cold and indifferent as he pried her arms away, showing not a trace of pity.

"I heard Xu Mingchuan is after you too. If you’re feeling empty, you could ask him out."

Xu Mingchuan was Xu Yancheng’s cousin, well regarded in their circles.

He had tried to add Lin Lu on social media a few times, but she had always declined.

She pulled the thin blanket around her, picked up her phone, and scrolled to Xu Mingchuan’s friend request. Just as she was about to accept, her phone was snatched away.

"Lin Lu, sleeping with two brothers at the same time—have you no shame?"

"We’re finished, so it’s not at the same time."

Xu Yancheng tossed the phone back at her, nearly hitting her face. "Go on, call him right now."

With that, he sprawled on the bed and didn’t move again.

"Weren’t you leaving?" Lin Lu scooted closer to the wall.

"Suddenly I’m not in the mood. This room is expensive," Xu Yancheng replied lazily, his eyes half-lidded. "If your legion of rich-kid fans knew what you were really like, they’d be so disappointed."

That night, Xu Yancheng didn’t leave. He tangled with Lin Lu until dawn.

The next day, Lin Lu didn’t get up until noon.

Covered in marks, she dragged herself to the bathroom for a shower, planning to return to her dormitory.

Her dance troupe, Dreamweavers, was one of the top companies in North City, their lead mentor none other than the internationally renowned choreographer, Huang Han.

Their chief rival was Celestial Harmony, a troupe that matched them step for step.

Celestial Harmony was set against Dreamweavers because their lead mentor had a long-standing feud with Huang Han.

But with powerful backers, Celestial Harmony was not easily crossed, so Dreamweavers often found themselves suppressed.

Lin Lu’s arrival six months ago had reinvigorated Huang Han.

It had been ages since she’d seen such a gifted protégé.

Lin Lu was not only talented but exceptionally diligent, often practicing alone late into the night.

Such a rare find—someone with both natural ability and perseverance—was a treasure. As the saying goes, one minute on stage takes ten years of practice. Dance is grueling, and without true passion, the monotony quickly becomes unbearable.

Huang Han believed Lin Lu was a dancer blessed by all the fates.

In her long career, she’d met only one other like her.

Coincidentally, that woman’s surname was also Lin, but misfortune had forced her to leave the dance world early, and her whereabouts remained unknown.

Cherishing talent, Huang Han doted on Lin Lu.

It made Lin Lu feel at home even as she drifted through the unfamiliar city.

At times, she thought of Huang Han almost as a mother.

Not feeling well today, Lin Lu practiced only the basics before returning to her dorm to study music.

Dreamweavers’ dorms were doubles.

Lin Lu was grateful for her easygoing roommate—no scheming or rivalry, unlike other dorms.

When she walked in, Yuan Ruoxia was hunched over her laptop, deep in research.

"Hey, want some fruit tea?" Yuan Ruoxia called, turning her screen toward Lin Lu. "Come look at this!"

Only then did Lin Lu see she was reading Xu Yancheng’s profile.

"The second young master of the Xu family—did you see him at the theater yesterday? The one surrounded by all the girls," Yuan Ruoxia said excitedly.

"Mhm, I saw him." Not only had she seen him, she’d spent the night tangled in his sheets.

Xu Mingchuan’s friend request popped up again.

This time, Lin Lu accepted.

Soon after, she received an invitation to a gathering.

The party would be at the equestrian club.

She changed into a fiery red riding outfit and mounted her horse, heading out to meet Xu Mingchuan.

She wasn’t skilled, so a trainer led her horse along.

Across the vast riding grounds, the flash of red drew every eye.

Almost all the men turned to watch.

Lin Lu’s tall, slender figure was accentuated by the fitted riding attire, every curve elegantly defined. She looked both valiant and alluring.

As she passed, she stole the breath from everyone present.

"Well, well—who’s this fairy who just descended from the heavens? Turns out it’s Lin, our own beauty from above," Zhou Ruikang called out, unable to hold his tongue. "Who had the nerve to invite you out today?"

After all, among their crowd, many had tried to ask Lin Lu out—tea, dinner, movies—but none had succeeded.

Today was a marvel.

"I was just looking for you over there, and here you are already. Whoa—" Xu Mingchuan galloped over, reining in his horse with a flourish.

He looked at Lin Lu and was genuinely stunned.

She wore only a hint of makeup—a touch of lipstick.

Xu Mingchuan had never seen her outside the stage or dressing room, where her makeup was always heavy.

Now, he finally understood the allure of striking features and natural grace.

A true beauty didn’t rely on cosmetics.

His admiration for Lin Lu deepened yet again.

"You invited her?" Zhou Ruikang looked at Xu Mingchuan in equal surprise and envy.