Chapter 1

The morning sunlight filtered in through the curtains, casting a soft glow over Xiang Nuan’s porcelain-like face. She frowned slightly at the brightness and turned over, burying herself deeper into the blankets.

But she could no longer fall back asleep.

The sound of the shower in the bathroom had stopped. A moment later, the man stepped out, once again dressed in his usual crisp suit, exuding that refined yet roguish air.

As he buttoned the cuffs of his shirt, he glanced toward the bed. “Awake?”

Xiang Nuan thought to herself, How could I not be, with all your noise?

She sat up, her drowsy eyes still misty with sleep. Her voice carried a slight nasal tone as she asked, “You’re leaving?”

Her movement caused the white blanket to slip off her shoulder, falling just right to cover her chest. She wore nothing beneath, and her fair skin still bore the faint marks he had left on her the night before—obvious and intimate.

Shen Yanshi’s eyes briefly darkened as they landed on the kiss marks on her chest.

Xiang Nuan reached out and hooked her finger around his, acting coy. “Can’t you stay a little longer? I never know when I’ll see you next.”

Shen Yanshi was a man of principle. Once he made up his mind, he never changed it.

He had already planned to leave, and no matter how sweet her plea, it wouldn’t make him stay.

Besides, she’d already asked his assistant yesterday—he had an important meeting this morning. He wouldn’t miss it.

His fingers brushed over her slightly swollen lips. “Why are you so clingy?”

Xiang Nuan pouted, feeling wronged. “I only see you once every two weeks. That’s clingy?”

He tilted her chin up and kissed her lips.

She was a little stunned, caught off guard. The next moment, he pushed her back onto the bed and leaned over her.

“Mm…”

She turned her face slightly, whispering, “Aren’t you supposed to have a meeting?”

“I’ll go later.”

He kissed her again, their bodies tangling together once more.

—

When Shen Yanshi finally left, an hour had already passed.

Xiang Nuan lay limp on the bed, her body still aching. She reached toward the nightstand and grabbed her phone. As soon as she turned it on, a flood of messages popped up.

The one at the very top was from her manager, Zheng Xuanlin:
“Call me back the moment you see this!”

She called him back immediately, and he picked up almost at once.

“Where the hell are you, ancestor? You’ve got a magazine shoot today!”

Xiang Nuan replied, “Busy attending to the real ancestor.”

“…”

“No more nonsense. Get your ass here within thirty minutes!”

Xiang Nuan hung up and took a deep breath before tossing the phone aside and dragging herself out of bed.

She quickly showered, dressed, put on a mask, cap, and sunglasses, and left in a hurry.

This apartment had been a gift from Shen Yanshi—an upscale unit in the city center. Convenient for getting around, but they rarely came here. Only when Shen Yanshi needed her did he show up, and all she had to do was wait here in advance.

Shen Yanshi usually saw her once every two weeks. He was the heir of the Shen Group—its future successor. Extremely busy. Though he had taken a sudden interest in keeping a small actress like her, he didn’t have much time to waste on her.

Still, Shen Yanshi was a generous benefactor. In the two years she had been with him, she’d gotten many valuable resources. From a nameless extra on the fringes of the industry, she’d been pushed up to second-tier status and had become one of the most promising young actresses.

Everyone envied Xiang Nuan’s good fortune—being favored by the noble Third Young Master Shen, with such a powerful backer that everything went smoothly for her.

But Xiang Nuan knew the truth.

She wasn’t lucky to be chosen by Shen Yanshi—she was lucky to have a face that resembled his “white moonlight” love.

It was this face that got her picked by the prince of the Shen family.

To cling to this golden opportunity, she had studied and imitated that legendary woman’s mannerisms. For two years, she had acted sweet, innocent, obedient. She had devoted her best performance to Shen Yanshi.

And her efforts hadn’t gone to waste—two years later, he still hadn’t grown tired of her.

But she knew… it was only a matter of time.