Shen Ruoxi was startled for a moment, then laughed. “That’s not a good wager — let’s change it.”

“Oh? To what?”

Shen Ruoxi said, “The tea you gave me last time is nearly gone. I’d like to shamelessly ask for another packet.”

Dai Jing looked up at her, but Shen Ruoxi was busy fiddling with the chess pieces, seemingly unaware of his gaze.

Dai Jing was visibly disappointed, but he could tell — she had understood his words and seen his feelings. She simply remained unmoved.

Even Dai Jing himself found it bewildering — why had he come to harbor such an outrageous notion?

Every time he returned home to that empty room, he would catch himself imagining Shen Ruoxi as its mistress.

He pictured her waking in the world that belonged to him, reading the morning paper, listening to the gramophone; and when he came home, sitting down to dinner together, then sleeping in each other’s arms through the night.

“All right, then — we wager on tea.” Dai Jing knew he had been too forward. She still needed time, and so did he — time to sort out whether this was a momentary madness or something true and sincere.

Shen Ruoxi lost the game.

In their matches, the wins were split nearly evenly — neither could claim to be the constant victor.

“What a shame,” Dai Jing said with genuine regret. “The stakes were too small.”

Shen Ruoxi was putting the chess pieces away when Dai Jing suddenly reached out to help her — and his hand brushed against her arm instead.

“Hss—”

Shen Ruoxi let out a muffled groan she could not suppress.

“What’s wrong?” Dai Jing asked anxiously. “Did you injure your arm?”

Nothing less than an injury would cause her to cry out from a single light touch.

“It’s nothing,” Shen Ruoxi said. “I bumped into something a few days ago.”

“Let me see.” Dai Jing stepped around the chess table and came to stand before her. “I have a family remedy passed down through generations for reducing swelling and bruising — I’ll have someone bring it over.”

“It’s fine, it’s nearly healed.”

“Let me see — I won’t be easy otherwise.” Dai Jing lifted her sleeve and found a spread of deep bruising. Though it had largely faded, the sight was still alarming.

“How did this happen?” Dai Jing’s expression darkened. “Was it an accident, or…?”

Shen Ruoxi quickly lowered her sleeve. “An accident.”

“Truly an accident?” Dai Jing said gravely. “Ruoxi, I know you are proud and self-reliant, but for matters you cannot handle alone, you can come to me.”

“It really was just an accident — I’m not lying to you.” Shen Ruoxi smiled warmly. “I appreciate your kindness, but it truly was an accident.”

“Very well.” Dai Jing said, “Whatever it is you encounter — anything you find troublesome — you can always tell me.”

He took her hand and helped her to her feet. “Let me take you home.”

“I haven’t finished my shift.”

“I’ll say a word to Supervisor Cai. I’ll cover whatever losses there are. Your injury isn’t fully healed — you need proper rest.”

“There’s really no need—”

Dai Jing paid no attention to Shen Ruoxi’s protests and led her right out of the private room.

When Supervisor Cai heard that Dai Jing was concerned about Shen Ruoxi working with an injury, she let her go without a second thought. On one hand, she had to give Dai Jing face; on the other, Dai Jing would not let the dance hall come up short.

Shen Ruoxi was bundled into the car before she could get another word in. “All right — I know what you want to say, but this time it’s my decision.” Dai Jing cut off whatever she was about to say, then instructed the driver to go.

The car moved smoothly through the night. The interior was still and warm.

“Ruoxi.” Dai Jing’s voice broke the silence. “May I ask you something?”

Shen Ruoxi had been gazing out the window. At the sound of his voice, she turned, meeting his eyes — deep and calm, even through his spectacles, their depth unmistakable.

“Go ahead.”

“Do you ever think about changing careers?”

“Singing is all I know. Apart from singing, I don’t know what else I could do.”

“I can help you find something better. You wouldn’t have to smile at the same people every day. If you’re willing, you wouldn’t even need to work at all.”

“You mean let a man support me?”

Dai Jing was quick to clarify, “That’s not what I meant.”

“If I wanted someone to support me, I wouldn’t be here.”

“I know you want to be self-sufficient. But this work is too hard — staying up through the night, eating at all hours.”

“You get used to it. It’s not as hard as it sounds.”

“I won’t push you,” Dai Jing said. “Whenever you change your mind, just tell me.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Dai.” Shen Ruoxi smiled. “But I think I’ll keep singing.”

Neither spoke after that. The night was deep, and their thoughts were their own.

When they arrived at the apartment building where Shen Ruoxi lived, Dai Jing stepped out first and opened the door. A gust of cold air swept in.

Dai Jing quickly pulled a coat from the car and draped it over Shen Ruoxi’s shoulders. “It’s cold out — don’t let yourself freeze.”

Shen Ruoxi almost refused, but the biting wind made her shudder involuntarily, and she did not resist the coat he had laid over her.

“I’ll return it to you tomorrow.” Shen Ruoxi said politely.

“Of course.” Dai Jing asked, “Shall I walk you up?”

“No need — I’m only on the second floor.”

“All right.” Dai Jing did not press, and simply watched until Shen Ruoxi had disappeared into the stairwell before turning to leave.

Shen Ruoxi reached her door and rummaged in her small handbag for her key. She gave the lock a gentle turn — and a suspicion stirred in her chest.

She had a habit of double-locking the door whenever she left. Every time she went out, she would turn the bolt twice. But just now, the key had turned only once before the door opened.

Shen Ruoxi immediately slowed her movements. She eased the door open a crack and found the room in complete darkness. She began to wonder if perhaps she had simply forgotten to double-lock it today.

But just as she crept carefully through the door, a figure loomed up before her. She nearly screamed. In the instant her mouth flew open, a hand clamped over it.

She stared wide-eyed at the figure in front of her. As her eyes adjusted to the dark, she let out two muffled sounds around the hand covering her mouth.

It was Xie Yan.

Xie Yan hauled her inside. The world spun, and Shen Ruoxi found herself pinned to the sofa, his weight pressing down on her. She tried to struggle, but he forced her wrists down at either side of her face. He bent one knee and looked down at her from above.

Shen Ruoxi met his gaze and felt a chill spread through her. Xie Yan’s eyes were terrifying — savage, as though they could swallow everything whole.

“Xie Yan,” she could not help but cry out, “what are you doing?”

“Who brought you home?” His voice was low and hoarse.

Shen Ruoxi frowned. “What does that have to do with you?”

“And you’re still wearing his coat?” Xie Yan’s gaze landed on the man’s coat that had fallen to the floor in her struggle. “Is Dai Jing better than me? Can Dai Jing give you what you want?”

“Mr. Dai only happened to be heading the same way — he gave me a ride home.”

“Then why were you wearing his coat?”

Shen Ruoxi stared at him. First disbelief, then a short, bitter laugh. “Xie Yan, you are not my patron. What right do you have to interrogate me?”

Xie Yan stared at her. His thin lips were pressed tight, and his eyes were dark — darker than the night itself.

“I am a songstress at a dance hall. My job is to sing, and to keep company. Dai Jing is my customer, and I am responsible for his happiness. It was you who sent me to the dance hall. It was you who told me to adapt to the ways of this world. Who knows better than you what kind of work I do?”

Shen Ruoxi ignored the sharpening glint that had begun to rise in his eyes. “Dai Jing is just one of many customers. Besides Dai Jing, there are countless men — all of them willing to spend fortunes on me. Xie Yan, I have made a name for myself now. I can earn a great deal. I am grateful you once gave me work, but there is nothing between us — and you have no right to question me or reproach me.”

“Is that so?” Xie Yan said through gritted teeth. “Shen Ruoxi, I was wrong — if you were going to belong to someone else sooner or later, why not belong to me first? Meat within reach — why would I hold back and let someone else have it instead?”

Shen Ruoxi felt a sudden alarm and looked at him with rising unease. “Xie Yan — what are you going to do?”

“I regret it.” Xie Yan spoke as his hands moved to the buttons of her clothing. “I regret that I let you go that morning.”

“Xie Yan, stop.” Shen Ruoxi cried out in panic. “What did you promise me? Have you forgotten? You said you were only staying the night — that you wouldn’t do anything else.”

“I said I regret it. Can’t you hear me?” At this moment, Xie Yan was like a wild beast that had been pushed beyond reason.

He had let himself in with the key, prepared her favorite pastries, intending to give her a surprise. Instead, standing at the window, he had watched another man bring her home — watched her wearing that man’s coat, seen the warm farewell between them.

The moment he saw that scene, Xie Yan’s reason shattered completely. It was like being a child again, coming home to find the house soaked in blood — the feeling that something he cherished had been torn from him.

“Xie Yan, stop.” Shen Ruoxi struggled with all her strength. But against the vast difference between their strength, her resistance was nothing.

Her clothes were stripped away and thrown to the floor, one piece at a time. When he saw the bruising on her arm, his hands stilled for a brief moment — but the moment he glanced again at the coat on the floor, his reason drowned for the second time.

“Don’t.” Shen Ruoxi tried to push the heavy weight from her body. “Xie Yan, don’t.”

No matter how she pleaded and fought, he paid no attention. He had become stone. Her cries and her struggling grew distant.

“It hurts.” Shen Ruoxi let out a sharp cry, her fingernails raking two red lines across his back. “Let go of me — it hurts.”

But a man who had lost all reason was beyond hearing. There was only one thought left in his mind: he had to have her first. He would not let anyone else benefit. She was his. No one could take her away. She could only belong to him.