"Hua, I already have quite a few suits; why did you prepare so many for me?" Lin Xuan asked, puzzled.
He rarely wore such attire.
Su Hua leaned on the sofa armrest, resting her head on her hand.
Her white evening gown accentuated her flawless silhouette.
The alluring woman's eyes sparkled with excitement, and she smiled faintly, "Lin Xuan, why don’t you try them on to see if they fit?"
"They should fit," Lin Xuan replied.
Su Hua's selections were always tailored to his measurements; how could they not fit?
"Didn’t you say you’d do whatever I asked today, Lin Xuan?" Su Hua teased, raising an eyebrow.
Lin Xuan wasn’t sure what Su Hua was up to but complied and went to change.
He randomly picked a red suit and was about to head to the bathroom when Su Hua called him back.
"What is it?" Lin Xuan inquired.
"Change here." Su Hua smiled, her eyes gleaming.
Though they had been intimate before, changing in front of Su Hua felt... different.
Struggling to hold back, Lin Xuan eventually swapped his black suit for the red one while Su Hua watched.
When he was done, Su Hua’s gaze roamed over him boldly.
Lin Xuan frowned.
There was something unsettling about Su Hua’s look, as if she were sizing up her prey.
Moments later, Su Hua stood up from the sofa. Barefoot, she walked toward the gentle and handsome man with light steps.
Her eyes were brimming with excitement.
"What’s wrong?" Lin Xuan felt his heart race. Su Hua’s demeanor gave him the impression she was about to devour him.
Tension and excitement mingled within him.
His back was against the bed—their gray bed.
Su Hua pushed him down and her soft hair fell over him.
"Lin Xuan, you look perfect in this suit," Su Hua said, her crimson lips curling into a smile.
"My Lin Xuan looks so handsome."
Her eyes overflowed with desire, nearly swallowing him whole.
Lin Xuan’s palms were sweaty.
Su Hua chuckled lightly, "Lin Xuan, you should take the lead."
Their positions reversed.
"Lin Xuan, wear this suit and use your body to please me..." Su Hua wrapped her soft arms around his neck, her enchanting eyes glistening with charm.
That night, Lin Xuan was utterly exhausted.
The floor was littered with torn suits.
Su Hua was inexhaustible, making him change suit after suit.
Lin Xuan suspected that Su Hua was treating these outfits as fetish wear.
Before this, however, Lin Xuan had discovered a manual in his personal space that boosted stamina effectively.
His competitive spirit drove him to train relentlessly in the space for several days.
In real-time, that equated to six or seven months of practice.
His stamina had indeed improved.
Though exhausted this time, he hadn’t lost—finally managing to match Su Hua’s energy.
Lin Xuan felt a smug satisfaction that he had finally gained the upper hand.
He carried the sleeping Su Hua into the bathroom with a sense of accomplishment.
At the Shen Family residence.
Shen's Father was still seething from his encounter with Lin Li. Even after returning to the Shen Family mansion, his mood remained dark.
"What does the Lin Family take the Shen Family for?" Shen's Father growled through gritted teeth.
Before marriage, Lin Li had already been with another woman.
"Qianqian," Shen's Father comforted his daughter tenderly, "don’t be too heartbroken. Lin Li swore he’d only love you, but he turned around and slept with another woman. Such a man isn’t worth your love."
"Qianqian, don’t worry. Father will find someone else who will cherish and pamper you."
"Father, don’t worry. I’m not upset," Shen Qianqian replied, shaking her head.
Shen's Father studied Qianqian closely, relieved to see no signs of grief or resentment on her face.
"Father," Qianqian spoke up again.
"What is it, Qianqian?"
"Can we not cancel the engagement with the Lin Family?" Qianqian asked hesitantly.
"Even after this, are you still thinking of marrying Lin Li?" Shen's Father’s brows furrowed.
His expression darkened. "Qianqian, he’s already disrespected you this way. If you marry him now, he’ll never treat you well. He might even take your forgiveness for granted and behave even more recklessly."
"Qianqian, I will never allow you to marry Lin Li."
"Father, it’s not him. I don’t want Lin Li—he’s unfaithful," Qianqian explained.
"Then who?" Shen's Father’s brows knotted tightly.
"It’s Lin Xuan," Qianqian blushed, confessing shyly.
She had realized she truly liked Lin Xuan.
On the way home, her mind was filled with Lin Xuan’s image.
This was a new feeling for her, entirely different from her time with Lin Li.
She was certain she had fallen for Lin Xuan.
She was determined to marry him.
"No!" Shen's Father rose abruptly. "Qianqian, Lin Xuan has no merit. He needs money to gain entry into prestigious universities like Shangqing. He’s worthless!"
"Moreover, he’s been disowned by the Lin Family. His background isn’t fitting for someone of your standing!"
"Father, I think Lin Xuan is great." Qianqian clung to her father’s arm, cooing. "He doesn’t have to be concerned about background—he could simply become my affiliate. I’d get to stay with you all the time, Father."
"Qianqian," Shen's Father spoke patiently, "Lin Xuan already has someone he likes."
"I know. It used to be Qin Ruoyao," Qianqian said dismissively. "But Lin Xuan never spoke to her at the banquet, and Qin Ruoyao was caught with Lin Li. Lin Xuan wouldn’t still like her."
Qianqian believed she was slightly more attractive than Qin Ruoyao.
She was confident that once she made a move, Qin Ruoyao would have no chance.
"Still, no," Shen's Father insisted. "Qianqian, I’ll find you another young man from high society. You won’t marry Lin Xuan—that’s final."
For Shen Mao, Lin Xuan was no match. Anyone from the upper echelons would surpass him in talent and character.
He had only one daughter, and he demanded she be matched with a man who excelled in every aspect.
He would never permit her to wed someone so inadequate as Lin Xuan.
"Father, I want him. I won’t marry anyone else!" Qianqian shouted tearfully, her voice breaking.
With a swish of her skirt and the clatter of heels, Qianqian ran up the stairs.
Shen's father was left, head throbbing, massaging his temples.
The next morning, Su Hua awoke first, recovering faster than Lin Xuan.
Dressed in a pure white lace nightgown, she descended the stairs.
Sitting in the dining room, a servant placed a bowl of bitter medicinal soup before her.