Volume One, Chapter 21: Fragrance

The VIP suite was lavishly decorated.

On her way over, Jiang Wan had imagined the scene she might encounter—she had even hoped to catch Gu Huaixu entangled with another woman. If things unfolded that way, she could claim the moral high ground, make Gu Huaixu feel guilty, and while he compensated her, she could retreat strategically, gaining leverage over him.

But reality was...

The moment she burst into the private room, the first figure to enter her sight was Lu Wenzhou.

He lounged against the circular sofa, dressed in a black sweater. One arm rested on the back, his long fingers wrapped around a glass of whiskey. He sat with his legs crossed.

Lu Wenzhou, at that moment, resembled a black panther hidden in the jungle—languid yet elegant, mysterious and dangerous.

On the coffee table in front of him, several bottles of liquor lay scattered—some empty, others half-finished.

Upon seeing him, Jiang Wan froze in place, forgetting even to breathe.

Then, behind Lu Wenzhou, the semi-open circular arch was draped with a laser bead curtain. Though the scene beyond was unclear, the laughter of men and women spilled out.

"Baby, you're so good at this!"

A familiar voice and pet name from within made Jiang Wan's heart skip a beat.

She looked deeper into the room.

Indistinct figures tangled on the bed—more than just two. Without needing confirmation, Jiang Wan knew it was Gu Huaixu.

Her expression darkened. But her urgency to catch him in the act waned.

The laughter and revelry from inside suffused the air with decadence.

At the entrance, the manager was about to explain.

Lu Wenzhou raised his chin slightly.

"She's with me."

His steady voice sealed the matter; the manager nodded and withdrew, closing the door and leaving Jiang Wan inside.

The enclosed space made the music and laughter more pronounced.

Debauchery and indulgence reigned.

Jiang Wan stood, face heavy, unable to advance or retreat.

Lu Wenzhou casually set down his glass. The clink of glass echoed, sending a tremor through Jiang Wan's chest.

"You came all this way—aren't you going in for a look?"

His voice was low, seductive, a strategist whose presence seemed to control everything.

Inside, the music mingled with coquettish cries and masculine gasps.

It was easy to imagine what was happening—and Gu Huaixu remained oblivious to her presence.

Her earlier impulsiveness unraveled, thread by thread, under Lu Wenzhou's gaze.

The man before her seemed to see through her hesitation and withdrawal.

Lu Wenzhou's eyes were laced with amusement, even a hint of provocation—as if betting she wouldn't dare confront the truth, stripping away her prior pretense.

An inexplicable fire welled up in Jiang Wan's chest.

Remembering her purpose, she clenched her hands, her bright gaze turning resolute.

She ignored Lu Wenzhou, preparing to expose Gu Huaixu's chaotic private life.

She moved toward the inner room.

But before she could reach out to lift the beaded curtain, the man lounging on the sofa suddenly extended his arm, pulling her firmly into his embrace.

With a thud, Jiang Wan landed on Lu Wenzhou's lap.

His broad, hot palm pressed against her waist, and even through her clothes, Jiang Wan felt as though she were being scorched.

She tried to rise, but he anticipated her move.

His arm tightened, making escape impossible.

"Lu Wenzhou, let me go!"

Jiang Wan turned her head, lowering her voice in furious desperation.

Almost simultaneously, the private room door was knocked.

"Young Master Lu, your drinks."

"Come in."

Lu Wenzhou replied calmly, and the door swung open.

Jiang Wan, sitting on his lap, saw he had no intention of releasing her. Instinctively, she lowered her head, letting her loose curls hide her face.

She had announced her identity at the entrance. As Gu Huaixu's wife, how could she behave so intimately with another man?

Jiang Wan's body stiffened, not daring to move.

Lu Wenzhou, seeing this, took advantage, grasping her leg and turning her to face him.

Jiang Wan sat on his lap in an utterly humiliating posture.

Still, Lu Wenzhou did not relent; he tightened his hold and whispered close to her ear.

"Sitting like this, he can't see you at all."

His hot breath slipped through her hair, brushing against Jiang Wan's ear.

Because of his actions, her hands inevitably touched him.

Her sensitive fingertips traced over the sleek, dense fabric of his sweater, distinctly aware of the strong body beneath.

A flicker of electricity seemed to pass through her.

Jiang Wan wanted to avoid him, yet there was nowhere to hide.

His scent—familiar as ever—filled her nostrils.

A rich fragrance mixed with grapefruit's clean freshness, layered with the steady notes of wood. Not cologne sprayed onto skin, but the unique scent of a man's aftershave.

Still the one she had chosen for him, long ago.

Catching the scent, Jiang Wan froze, her mind flooded by memories.

The air around her shifted imperceptibly.

Lu Wenzhou's hold on her grew tighter, their bodies pressed so close there was almost no space between them.

Such intimate behavior between a man and a woman was commonplace at "Tonight," but his distinguished status, coupled with her alluring silhouette...

The server entering with the tray couldn't help but glance several times, slowing his steps.

Until—

Lu Wenzhou wrapped his arm upward, hand against Jiang Wan's nape, drawing her fully into his embrace.

His black gaze turned sharp as he faced the server.

A chill radiated from him, sending shivers through the air.

The server immediately lowered his head, avoiding eye contact, and, following Lu Wenzhou's signal, delivered the drinks to the inner room.

As he lifted the bead curtain, Jiang Wan, seated with her back to him, glanced up and saw a scene she could hardly bear to witness.

The lighting cast shadows on the wall. Someone lying, someone kneeling, someone prostrate...

Jiang Wan was unable to discern any faces, but she heard Gu Huaixu's heavy breathing and the sounds of lips and tongue entwined.

"Did you see clearly?"

Lu Wenzhou's voice sounded in her ear again, mocking and derisive—an arrow straight to Jiang Wan's heart.

"He's always been this wild," Lu Wenzhou said quietly.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Wan replied calmly.

"So what?"

The hand holding her paused.

Jiang Wan withdrew her gaze and told him, "I'm here to take him home."

"Jiang Wan!"

Lu Wenzhou growled in displeasure.

He gripped her nape firmly, pinning her down onto the sofa.

His broad body loomed over hers, their noses mere centimeters apart.

Lu Wenzhou gazed down at her, anger swirling in the depths of his black eyes.

"He can indulge like this, and you still forgive him? But when it comes to me, I'm unforgivable?"

His thin lips parted, each word biting to the bone, as if he meant to tear her apart.

Jiang Wan stared at the reflection of herself in his eyes.

The eyes that once brimmed with tenderness and affection had grown cold as ice.

She had killed herself with her own hands.

Jiang Wan looked at him, enunciating each word.

"You are not the same."

As her words fell, the world began to shake.