Chapter 1: You're Getting Married

June, Jincheng.

By the time she finished explaining the homework, it was already past ten, and the torrential rain outside showed no sign of stopping.

The butler came in. “Ms. Liang, the guest room is ready. Please stay the night.”

This wasn’t her first time spending the night at the Shang residence, so she was well aware of even the servants’ routines.

She waited until everything outside had fallen completely silent before sitting up and quietly making her way to the third floor.

There was only one bedroom on the third floor, spacious and superbly soundproof—

Very convenient for doing things that might otherwise disturb the quiet of the night.

Barefoot, Liang Jinshang walked over.

Beneath the silk quilt, the masculine body was tall and well-built. Even with his eyes closed, his handsome face could easily make any woman’s heart race.

But Liang Jinshang didn’t look at him; her gaze was fixed on the wedding photo on the wall.

He was striking, she beautiful: yet she only stared coldly at the bride’s delicate face.

She looked for a long time—so long that the man in the bed finally spoke. “Have you looked enough?”

Liang Jinshang sat down at the edge of the bed and asked in a low voice, “Mr. Shang, are you getting married?”

Shang Yucheng curled his lips with indifference, unwilling to answer her question to which she already knew the answer.

The news of the engagement between the Shang and Gong families was so sensational that no one in the city didn’t know. Even at dinner tonight, his fiancée had run into her.

Shang Yucheng liked to keep the air conditioning on low while he slept. Liang Jinshang waited a few seconds for a reply that never came, then lifted the quilt and climbed in.

Still not warm enough, she burrowed into Shang Yucheng’s arms as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Shang Yucheng condescended to glance at her—the face pressed against his shoulder was fair and soft, her eyes innocent and clear, but her hands, hidden from view, were anything but well-behaved.

“Climbing into the bed of a man about to get married in the middle of the night,” he said coldly, holding down her hand, “is this how you behave as a tutor?”

It was her fifth day working as a private tutor for the Shang family when he first pulled her into his bed, and now he wanted to lecture her on professionalism?

Liang Jinshang raised her hand to his throat, her eyes carrying a hint of innocent bewilderment, “Wasn’t it you who said I only needed to be an obedient student in your hands?”

Two years ago, Liang Jinshang had come to apply for the tutoring job.

She was every inch the picture of a student, innocence personified.

Just looking at her, no one could fit the phrase “as pure as a blank sheet of paper” better.

In matters between a man and a woman, it was indeed Shang Yucheng, over these two years, who had taught her, stroke by stroke, to become exactly what he wanted.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he grabbed her wandering hand and rolled her beneath him.

……

That night, Liang Jinshang barely slept four hours.

She hadn’t done this in half a year, only to encounter someone with not a shred of tenderness.

Six months ago, in her attempt to sever this ambiguous relationship, she’d made some foolish decisions, offending him deeply.

Whether it was to punish her or because, like her, he’d been abstinent too long, he was rough and relentless, as though his energy was inexhaustible.

By the time Liang Jinshang got up, the family was already seated at the breakfast table.

She first greeted the old madam, then obediently took her place beside her student, Shang Ao’er, never sparing Shang Yucheng so much as a glance.

Breakfast was lavish, but aching all over, Liang Jinshang had no appetite and only sipped at her rice porridge out of politeness.

The old lady offered her a piece of pastry. “Eat more, Ms. Liang.”

Liang Jinshang quickly thanked her, eating politely, as well-mannered as if she were her own granddaughter.

The old lady was warm and loving. “You’re such a petite teacher—about the same size as our Ao’er. Girls your age are still growing, you know.”

Shang Ao’er, who was on good terms with Liang Jinshang, laughed without restraint, “Great-grandma, Ms. Liang is almost done with her graduate studies! She’s over twenty—hardly still growing!”

“Over twenty already…” The old lady asked, “Do you have a boyfriend?”

Liang Jinshang hesitated before replying, “No, madam.”

The old lady asked a few more questions, all of which Liang Jinshang answered with her signature gentle smile, never showing a hint of impatience.

Then the old lady turned to Shang Yucheng. “Ms. Liang is quiet, pretty, and well-educated. Those idle friends of yours should really settle down. I think it’s time they found a proper girl to keep them in line. You should introduce them!”

Shang Yucheng didn’t even lift his eyelids, giving a dismissive snort.

Quiet and well-behaved?

If only they could have seen her last night.

Shameless beyond compare.

The old lady was displeased with his attitude. “You think I’m just a meddlesome old woman, don’t you? Not taking my words to heart?”

Finally, Shang Yucheng replied perfunctorily, “Grandma, those friends of mine are wild by nature. They’re not interested in quiet, well-behaved girls.”

He didn’t spare Liang Jinshang a glance, his tone indifferent.

With the Shang family’s overwhelming influence in Jincheng, anyone close to Shang Yucheng was certainly no ordinary person.

Even if he looked down on others, at least he maintained a veneer of respect in front of his elders.

But Shang Ao’er was annoyed. “I think none of those spoiled rich kids are good enough for my teacher. Their taste is questionable, and you, uncle, are the worst of the lot!”

She had never liked Gong Xueyuan and had been adamantly opposing the marriage alliance for days, though no one cared for her opinion.

“Not even talking about character or substance—things that Gong Xueyuan sorely lacks—just on looks alone, she can’t compare to Liang Jinshang!”

She was so worked up, she even dropped the honorific and called her “teacher.”

Shang Yucheng tilted his chin, a faint sneer on his lips. “Shang Ao’er, when did you go blind?”

Gong Xueyuan was famously beautiful in their circle, with a temper to match—proud and willful.

Liang Jinshang lowered her head and sipped her soup as if the person being discussed wasn’t her at all.

Of course, Gong Xueyuan couldn’t compare to her. Had she not been so badly beaten in the past, she wouldn’t have resorted to such cruel acts out of jealousy.

Seeing Gong Xueyuan again last night had dredged up those bloody memories, leaving a lump in her throat. She’d made several mistakes even while tutoring Shang Ao’er afterward.

A lesson scheduled for two hours had stretched past three.

So even if it hadn’t poured all night, she would have found a way to stay over, making it seem only natural.