Chapter 1: A Fatal Encounter

In this prosperous and splendid era, our meeting was inevitable—why call it a mere chance encounter?

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Tick-tock—the hour hand on the wristwatch slipped quietly past a quarter past four.

“The last piano piece of the day is dedicated to the gentleman over there—‘Burning,’ burning for you!”

The woman’s cheeks flushed with a hint of suggestion, setting off a storm of applause in the room. Yet no matter how thunderous the ovation, a mocking, disdainful glint gradually surfaced in the man’s icy eyes.

His long, slender fingers idly swirled the clear liquid in his crystal glass, his gaze falling on the woman’s nimble fingers dancing across the keys. But now, those melodious, sorrowful notes seemed nothing more than a relentless incantation echoing in his mind.

As the piece drew to a close, the hawk-like eyes lifted, watching as a graceful figure rushed toward him—was she angling for a photo op, or eager to spark some scandal? As Lu Huaining coldly speculated about the woman’s motives and prepared to thoroughly humiliate this shameless creature, his view was suddenly blocked by the upright back of someone who had stood up.

Not every appearance is a debut; a search will tell you that.

“Chen Sang!” the woman cried, as if she were a sprite set free, flinging herself into the arms of the man addressed as “Chen Sang.” Rising up on tiptoe, she pressed a kiss, shy yet passionate, to his refined face. Her ethereal voice seemed to come from the boundless sky. “Happy birthday!”

The man affectionately embraced her, bending down deliberately so her sweet kiss would land just right. With a gentle touch, he curled a finger and teased her delicate nose. “Thank you, Teacher Xiao Ning, for the gift—so humble, yet so precious.”

At his words, Xue Zhuining raised a cool, arched brow, but caught sight of the hotel’s lobby manager striding angrily toward her. She had already planned to go wild on her last day at this side job, so, emboldened, she grabbed the man’s hand, ducked her head, and dashed for the staff’s temporary lounge.

“Xue Zhuining, stop right there—!”

Brushing past, Lu Huaining watched the fleeing figure, her fingers intertwined with another’s. So, that performance of “Burning” was for him.

“Manager Zhang.”

The man’s frosty voice sounded like an alarm, halting the suited manager in his tracks.

“President Lu!” the manager turned and bowed deeply. “How may I assist you? Please, say the word! Or if there’s been any oversight…”

“No need to be nervous,” Lu Huaining interrupted with a smile that never reached his eyes, cutting off the manager’s obsequious ramble. “I simply realized it’s been so long since we last met, I was afraid I’d forgotten your surname.”

The manager’s forced smile froze instantly. The man’s very presence was intimidating enough—what could he do with this kind of “teasing” but endure it?

Xue Zhuining? So that’s her name?

His arm brushed the jacket he carried, and Lu Huaining shook his head in frustration. Since when had he devoted so much thought to a stranger whose name he’d never even known? Ridiculous!

Just before Xue Zhuining closed the door in haste, she glanced outside, making sure the manager was still detained by guests and hadn’t followed. Only then did she lean against the door and exhale in relief.

“Thank goodness. Hopefully the manager won’t have time to report me, or I’ll lose my bonus…”

Chen Sang watched her lift her hands above her head in prayer, his warm smile growing wider. He ruffled her soft hair with a gentle palm. “If you’re so afraid of losing your bonus, why take such risks?”

“That’s different!” Xue Zhuining smoothed her tousled bangs, opened the door, and ushered him out. “There’s no one around—go now! Aren’t you supposed to meet your mentor? If you don’t hurry, you’ll miss the group…”

“Teacher Xiao Ning, when did you become my personal housekeeper…”

The man’s familiar tone made Xue Zhuining pout playfully. Glancing again at the clock on the wall, she calculated silently—his flight was at seven; she should have just enough time to give him one last birthday surprise this year!

In the elevator, Xue Zhuining checked her hard-earned bonus once more. Staring at the thick stack of crisp bills, she felt an urge to plant a big kiss on them.

“Lady Luck, you haven’t let me down today, not after all my countless prayers!”

Her phone rang, and she answered naturally. “Hello, this is Xue Zhuining.”

“Miss Xue, are you a relative of Ms. Zhong Yilan?” came a routine inquiry from the other end.

“I’m her daughter, may I ask—” But before she could finish, the voice cut her off.

“Miss Xue, your mother is currently being resuscitated in our emergency room. Please come to Second Hospital at once, and bring all her medical documents.” The nurse finished the instructions clearly and hung up.

The busy signal echoed in her ear, leaving Xue Zhuining momentarily stunned. Only after three seconds did her racing heart finally settle back in her chest.

Mother! At this moment, that single word swelled in Xue Zhuining’s mind, drowning out all else.

The elevator doors opened. The corridor stretched wide and empty. Lu Huaining, phone in one hand, the other tucked in his pocket, walked with head lowered, watching the tips of his shoes slide across the floor in silence.

Suddenly, a foot darted out from the side, landing squarely on his shoe. Good upbringing kept Lu Huaining from crying out, but the unexpected pain made him draw a sharp breath.

The person in a hurry realized she’d stepped on someone and tried to pull back, but the more anxious she grew, the more clumsy she became—her upper body stumbled forward and collided with him.

“I—I’m so sorry—”

Instinctively, Lu Huaining reached out to steady the figure that collided with him, only to feel the delicate curve of a shoulder under his palm. Startled, he withdrew his hand at once, now fully aware that the one who had run into him was a woman.