Chapter 12: Irresistible

Falling in love with a song often begins with a single lyric. The romance and time-travel novels update here first, and you only come for them. But what truly moves you isn’t that line of lyrics—it’s the stories in your life connected to that song...

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The misty steam slowly accumulated in the room, decorated with antique elegance, yet Xue Zui Ning felt as if her body, submerged in the hot water, had suddenly turned cold. The blood in her veins didn’t flow—it congealed, inch by inch.

“How does it feel, my all-powerful senior?” The embroidered curtain was lifted, and Ma Siqi’s mocking face appeared before her. Leaning over the edge of the wooden tub, she scooped a handful of hot water and poured it over Xue Zui Ning’s bare, pale shoulder. “You look cold, senior. You’ve got goosebumps all over.”

The petals floating on the water rippled gently at her touch. Xue Zui Ning wanted to avoid her mocking gaze, but Ma Siqi reached out and offered her a bright red rose.

Meeting Xue Zui Ning’s questioning eyes, Ma Siqi laughed lightly. “This is Director Fu’s idea. Though you’re just my stand-in, we’re both from W University. Don’t disgrace our school.”

“I understand.” Xue Zui Ning raised her damp arm to take it, but Ma Siqi suddenly straightened, loosened her grip, and the rose fell into the water, sending ripples across the surface.

Watching her triumphant silhouette, Xue Zui Ning sneered inwardly. He Min, you’ve arranged such a scene for me—a perfect scheme, striking two birds with one stone! Not only did you humiliate me, but if Lu Huai Ning ever learns that I’d rather endure this than ask him for help, he’ll probably want to strangle me!

Lost in thought, she barely noticed the heavy curtain being drawn back up. The director shot her a glance. “Lights, ready.”

“Action!”

The voice shattered her dreams, making Xue Zui Ning shudder. At this moment, facing more than a dozen pairs of eyes, she had no retreat left.

Her slender arm rose from the water, bracing against the wide rim of the wooden tub. Naked, she slowly lifted herself, leaving the protection of the hot water bit by bit. But as soon as her shoulder touched the cold air, the director called, “Cut!”

“Xue Zui Ning, the flower! The flower!” The director pointed at the bloom in her hand. “I want you to hold it seductively between your lips, not wave it around like a fan. Remember!”

“Understood.” Xue Zui Ning glanced at Ma Siqi’s smug face, only to receive a cold look in return.

The second attempt, Xue Zui Ning obeyed. Yet as her body was exposed inch by inch to those varied, watchful eyes, memories of Chen Sang flashed through her mind. A strange chill made her teeth chatter uncontrollably, and the rose tumbled from her grasp with a splash.

“Cut!” The director, frustrated, threw down his script and strode toward her. “Xue Zui Ning, Miss Xue! Film costs money, you know. It’s just a ninety-second scene—how many takes do you need? Or do you think He Shao’s offer is too low? Maybe you’d like to renegotiate with him?”

“Director Fu, please don’t be angry. She’s probably just nervous. She’ll get used to it,” Ma Siqi smiled, pulling him back to the monitor. Still, Fu Ke Ming’s dissatisfied voice pierced Xue Zui Ning’s heart like a needle.

“It’s just showing some skin—not even your face. Yet you act like it’s the end of the world! If you’re so principled, storm out and leave! I can’t stand these actresses who want to sell themselves and still pretend to be virtuous!”

Xue Zui Ning was about to speak, but the assistant director shot her a warning glance. Enough—under the eaves, one must bow their head.

On the third attempt, she seemed much calmer. To her, there was still a difference between selling one’s body and selling one’s dignity; at least in this way, her body remained intact.

This pale consolation brought her a moment’s peace. The lights shone on her again, making her blink. Her deliberate, slow movements appeared flawless on camera.

“Bang!” A heavy thud—the tightly closed door was kicked open from outside.

Lu Huai Ning’s furious face was reflected in her stunned eyes, and before she could react, he had strode in, trampling over scattered equipment, fire in his steps.

“Don’t—don’t come near me!”

Xue Zui Ning saw the murderous look in his eyes, felt her heart seize, and didn’t even realize her nakedness beneath the water. She pushed herself up, trying to escape.

“Damn it!” Lu Huai Ning fixed his gaze on her attempt to rise. The set was already in chaos from his arrival; more than a dozen greedy eyes watched, eager for drama.

In the next instant, he rushed forward, grabbed the curtain hanging from the pillar, and wrapped it around her, hiding every inch of exposed skin.

“Splash!”

The sudden force pushed Xue Zui Ning fully into the water, hot liquid flooding her throat. She struggled, gasping for air, but the face she feared appeared beneath the surface!

The tub, once spacious, now felt cramped with both of them inside. Hot water spilled onto the already messy floor, making it even more chaotic.

“You—” Underwater, Xue Zui Ning tried to speak but only bubbles escaped her lips. The suffocating sensation made her cough instinctively.

Through half-open eyes, she watched him lift his head above water. She thought the torment was finally over, but the next second, his face plunged back down!

It appeared, enlarged.

His cool lips and teeth, filled with anger and undeniable force, pressed against her trembling red lips—and her mind went blank.