The bar.
The lights in the corner were dim and alluring.
In the interplay of light and shadow, Ling Nuan hid in the darkness, pinned against the wall and kissed by a man.
She was wearing a backless spaghetti - strap dress. The man's hand slid across her exposed shoulder blades and then landed on her waist. The feeling of their skin touching made her couldn't help but let out soft moans from between her lips, all swallowed by the man.
Before things could go any further, Ling Nuan seemed ready to give in.
She couldn't take it anymore and gently placed her hand on the man's chest.
The man took the opportunity to pull back a bit. The light and shadow overlapped on his face.
No matter how many times she saw him, Ling Nuan would always be amazed by the good - looks of this man named Huo Linsheng. His features, tinged with lust, were like those of a male goblin.
Ling Nuan thought that if one day he went bankrupt and stopped being the CEO of the Huo Group, and instead became a gigolo, he would surely get rich overnight.
As if sensing her distraction, Huo Linsheng gently pinched her chin and made a further invitation: "Shall we go?"
Ling Nuan neither refused nor agreed. Her gaze fell ahead: "It's not over there yet. Is it okay for the relatives and friends to leave now?"
Different from the dimness of their corner, where Ling Nuan was looking was the liveliest part of the bar, crowded with people and filled with deafening cheers.
She couldn't see clearly, but she knew what was going on inside.
Shen Shaoqing, a tech tycoon, was proposing to Huo Xiao, the daughter of the Huo family.
The proposal was a grand event. Shen Shaoqing had rented out the most popular bar in Beijing, said to be the place where they fell in love. He had invited relatives and friends from both sides to witness their love.
Ling Nuan seemed a bit curious: "It should be time for him to get down on one knee now, right?"
Huo Linsheng raised his eyebrows and asked her, "Do you know Shen Shaoqing?"
Ling Nuan withdrew her gaze, looked at the man in front of her, and smiled at him: "Not really."
An ex - boyfriend with a deep - seated hatred. Ling Nuan added silently in her heart.
"What about you? A relative or friend of the bride - to - be?" Ling Nuan asked, pretending not to know the man's identity.
Huo Linsheng imitated her and replied, "Not really."
Liar.
Huo Linsheng, the youngest son of the Huo family's old master and the CEO of the Huo Group, was also the young uncle of today's bride - to - be.
Anyone could be unfamiliar with Huo Xiao, but not Huo Linsheng.
After giving his answer, Huo Linsheng made the invitation again: "Shall we continue?"
Ling Nuan reached out and grabbed Huo Linsheng's tie, pulling him towards her. Then she tiptoed and actively kissed the man's lips.
Her action meant her answer.
Huo Linsheng picked her up. While kissing her, he walked towards the back door of the bar.
Behind them, wave after wave of cheers were erupting.
Shen Shaoqing was kneeling on one knee in front of Huo Xiao, holding a diamond ring. His expression was gentle: "Xiaoxiao, marry me. I'll dote on you and love you for a lifetime. I'll never abandon you. Xiaoxiao, whether it's in the past, present, or future, you'll always be the only one for me."
Huo Xiao's eyes were reddened with emotion.
People around cheered: "Say yes! Say yes!"
Huo Xiao smiled and held out her hand to Shen Shaoqing.
Shen Shaoqing put the diamond ring on Huo Xiao's finger. Huo Xiao then grabbed Shen Shaoqing's hand and pulled him up. The two hugged and shared a romantic French kiss.
The cheers almost blew the roof off the bar.
After the proposal ceremony, the affectionate groom - to - be sent the bride - to - be to her friends.
"Please take good care of Xiaoxiao. She's pregnant. Keep an eye on her and don't let her drink." Shen Shaoqing was sincere. As he spoke, his eyes were glued to Huo Xiao and couldn't be moved away.
The friends joked: "Mr. Shen, can't you even trust us for such a short while?"
"Don't worry, Mr. Shen. We'll definitely take good care of your bride - to - be."
"The wife - watching maniac, well - deserved."
Huo Xiao shyly glanced at Shen Shaoqing, which invited another round of teasing.
Shen Shaoqing took it all in good humor, acting the part of a man deeply in love with Huo Xiao. But when he turned around and opened his phone, seeing the photo he received three minutes ago, his face suddenly turned cold.
Ling Nuan was being kissed against the wall. The man's back was all that could be seen, but Ling Nuan's expression was clearly captured, looking very much in the throes of passion.
The person who took the photo had good skills. The photo was full of eroticism, allure, and an ambiguous atmosphere.
Shen Shaoqing recognized the location in the photo. It was right here.
"Ling Nuan, you're cheating on me!" Shen Shaoqing gritted his teeth.
After the photo, there was also a message.
Three words: At the back door.
Shen Shaoqing lost all his rationality. He grabbed his phone and chased towards the back door.
Huo Linsheng carried Ling Nuan towards the parking lot.
After finding his car, he pressed her against the front of the car, looking as if he was about to devour her right then and there.
The atmosphere between the man and the woman seemed to raise the surrounding temperature. It was almost scorching.
In front of her was the passionate fire, while behind her, her bare back was pressed against the cold car. It was truly a combination of ice and fire.
Just as a passionate encounter was about to happen, the phone in Ling Nuan's small handbag started vibrating wildly.
One vibration after another shattered that indescribable atmosphere.
Huo Linsheng took a step back and motioned for Ling Nuan to check her phone.
Ling Nuan knew exactly who the message was from.
"Who!"
"Who is it?"
"Ling Nuan, how dare you cheat on me!"
"Who on earth is this man? Where are you now, Ling Nuan?"
"If you dare to sleep with that guy, I'll surely kill you!"
"Ling Nuan, you can only be mine. You'll never be able to escape from me in your whole life."
Not finding Ling Nuan at the back door, Shen Shaoqing could only dig out her WeChat and bombard her with voice messages.
As soon as Ling Nuan played the voice message, Shen Shaoqing's furious voice came out of the phone, sounding extremely loud in the quiet parking lot.
Huo Linsheng wasn't deaf. He could hear and also recognized the owner of the voice.
His tone was a bit ambiguous: "Shen Shaoqing."
Ling Nuan didn't deny it. Leaning against the car, her face still flushed with passion, she gave Huo Linsheng a bright smile and explained, "An unfamiliar ex - boyfriend."
Huo Linsheng wasn't angry. Instead, he let out a laugh.
"Sorry. I was unknowingly the other woman. I just wanted to get back at them, so I found a relative or friend of Huo Xiao to make them uncomfortable." Ling Nuan's apology was insincere and extremely perfunctory.
"You have quite an idea. You're really something." Huo Linsheng commented, mostly mockingly.
Hearing this, Ling Nuan raised her eyebrows: "If I don't make them uncomfortable, am I really going to have a fling? Or are you not willing to give up and still want to continue with me? I don't really mind. The relatives and friends of Huo Xiao are either rich or powerful, and they're handsomer than Shen Shaoqing. I won't lose out."
"Don't you know who I am?" Huo Linsheng seemed a bit curious.
Of course she knew.
But she had to pretend not to.
Ling Nuan played with her hair: "Does it matter who you are? As long as you know Huo Xiao. It'd be even better if you have a close relationship with her."
She walked towards Huo Linsheng.
She was full of bravado, but as soon as she took a step forward, her legs went weak and she directly fell into Huo Linsheng's arms.
She was weakened by the kisses.
That pretentious bravado instantly became a joke.
Huo Linsheng put his arm around her waist and teased her: "It seems you really want to continue?"
A look of annoyance flashed across Ling Nuan's face, but she quickly regained her composure.
She pushed Huo Linsheng away, took two or three steps back, and stood steady.
She put on that look that seemed to say "I'm a charming and promiscuous woman".
"The mood is gone. I can't get it back. See you if we're fated." Ling Nuan smiled at him and even winked, then turned around and wanted to leave, looking like a heartless woman.
However, she didn't get far.
Huo Linsheng grabbed her wrist.
Ling Nuan looked back at him. Meeting Huo Linsheng's somewhat dangerous gaze at the moment, she couldn't help but feel a bit scared.
Huo Linsheng lowered his head and got closer. He gently pulled her fingertips and kissed them on his lips, as sincerely as if he was kissing a gift from God.
He hooked his lips and smiled: "Using me? You're quite bold."