Brother Shen, please bear with it a little longer.

After the two people outside the door left, Wen Shuang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The man spoke in a low voice, “We shouldn’t have to worry now—everyone's gone to the celebration banquet.”

Wen Shuang’s cheeks were still flushed. “Shen, could you please wait? Let’s do this when we get home…”

“How come you’re suddenly shy now? I remember the second time we met, you were already hiding in the cloakroom seducing me.” Ji Shen played with her chestnut hair, teasing, “Where’s that boldness you had then? It’s all gone.”

Wen Shuang hit his chest in embarrassment. “Oh, you!”

In the end, he silenced her with a deep kiss.

...

Forty minutes later, Wen Shuang emerged after changing her clothes.

She still needed to mend her dance costume—the sleeve had been pulled so hard by Ji Shen just now that the threads came loose!

By this time, almost everyone in the dance troupe had already left.

Wen Shuang deliberately pulled Ji Shen to leave through the back door.

Given the sensitivity of his position, she didn’t want too many people to know about her relationship with him. Any hint of scandal could bring trouble to his work.

Xia Hanyan had been waiting for Wen Shuang in his car outside for quite a while.

Still, he hadn’t seen anyone come out.

It was then that he noticed a familiar figure: his brother-in-law, Qin You.

Qin You seemed to have just arrived and was hurrying toward the theater.

The security guard told him the performance was over. Qin You bowed his head, looking rather dejected.

Suddenly, he spotted a familiar silver-gray Ferrari driving past.

Xia Hanyan frowned and opened his car door.

Qin You was startled. “Yan, what are you doing here?”

“That’s what I should be asking you.” Xia Hanyan narrowed his eyes. “Anran has food poisoning and is still in the hospital. What are you doing here?”

A fleeting look of discomfort crossed Qin You’s face. “She left something here earlier. I came to pick it up for her tonight.”

He quickly turned the question around. “What about you, Yan?”

He’d noticed lately that Xia Hanyan came to the theater whenever he had the chance.

Xia Hanyan replied, “You don’t need to worry about that. Your job is to take care of Anran—don’t let her down!”

Perhaps it was just a brother’s intuition.

From the first time he met Qin You, he felt the man wasn’t truly invested in his sister. He’d even warned Xia Anran, but she wouldn’t listen—she stubbornly insisted that Qin You had eyes only for her.

He had never been able to do much about his sister, so he could only drop hints to Qin You, warning him not to let his mind wander elsewhere.

“You and Anran are engaged already. Mom says you’ll be married next year. Qin You, don’t let her down—or as her brother, I won’t let you off easy.”

Qin You gave a faint smile. “Don’t worry, Yan. I already consider Anran my wife. I’d never let her down!”

...

After Wen Shuang and Ji Shen returned home, it was as if a fire had been rekindled after a long separation.

They tumbled together on the sofa for a long time, not stopping until the latter half of the night.

In the sprawling city, the buildings beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows were still ablaze with light.

Wen Shuang nipped at the man’s Adam’s apple. “Shen, was your business trip very exhausting? I can see the red in your eyes.”

“It was tiring. The suspect was clever—hard to catch.” Ji Shen wrapped his arms around her slender waist. “But the moment I see you, all the fatigue disappears.”

No matter how tired he was, he always wanted her.

Wen Shuang gave him a seductive smile.

Ji Shen continued, “While I was gone, did that kid Qin You come bother you again?”

He actually had.

But Wen Shuang didn’t want to trouble him further, so she shook her head and said no.

“If he dares bother you again, just tell me.”

“I know, Officer Ji~”

After returning to the bedroom, they went at it twice more.

The bed shook relentlessly.

The next morning, Wen Shuang woke up aching all over.

Ji Shen, however, was bright-eyed and refreshed.

“Good morning, Shuang.”

Wen Shuang groaned feebly, “…I don’t feel so well.”

Ji Shen loved seeing the woman at home unable to get out of bed after he’d worn her out—it gave him a deep sense of satisfaction.

“Why not take the day off? Looks like you barely have the strength to get up.” Ji Shen buttoned up his police uniform.

Clad in his uniform, he looked especially upright and dignified, though his words had a roguish undertone.

Wen Shuang stubbornly sat up. “No, I can’t. There’s rehearsal this afternoon, I have to be there.”

Otherwise, Xia Anran and He Luo would surely seize the chance to talk behind her back.

Wen Shuang had no intention of giving them any more ammunition.

“Then sleep in a bit longer this morning.”

Ji Shen pressed her back down into bed.

With her head buried under the covers, Wen Shuang’s voice was muffled, “This is all your fault. I told you to take it easy last night and you wouldn’t listen! Now I’ll probably lose my perfect attendance bonus this month!”

“How much is the bonus? Officer Ji will make it up to you.” Ji Shen tapped her nose, finding her especially adorable at this moment. “Besides, you enjoyed last night as much as I did—didn’t you?”

Wen Shuang blushed. “Go away—you’re going to be late for work!”

Ji Shen leaned down and gave her a deep good-morning kiss.

“Don’t forget to eat breakfast.”

Wen Shuang thought, the two of them really were like a pair of love-struck teenagers.

That afternoon when she arrived at the theater, Yao Qianqian looked troubled.

Wen Shuang thought perhaps Xia Anran had come back to snatch the lead role in “Bronze Finch Branch,” but Anran hadn’t returned.

As soon as she entered the dance studio, the lively chatter died away.

Wen Shuang immediately sensed something was wrong.

Yao Qianqian told her, “Shuang! I don’t know which bastard overheard you with a man in the cloakroom last night, and then someone else saw you leaving in a luxury car. Now, everyone is spreading rumors about you…”

Wen Shuang frowned. “What rumors?”

“They’re saying you slept with that greasy President Lin for money and the lead role! They’re awful—they even claim he’s a man in his fifties or sixties and that you must be especially wild with him.”

“That’s nonsense!” Wen Shuang snapped.

President Lin had indeed shown interest in her before, but she’d rejected him outright.

Still, gossip in the theater spread like wildfire, and the stories always grew with each telling.

In just one night, Wen Shuang’s reputation had been twisted—she was now painted as a woman who’d stop at nothing for advancement.

They claimed she was wild and daring, hooking up with a sleazy old executive in the cloakroom.

Yao Qianqian had stood up for her several times, but no one believed her. They even sneered, “We’re talking about Wen Shuang—why are you so agitated? Don’t tell me you’re one of them too?”

Yao Qianqian was furious, nearly coming to blows. If you dare talk about me, I’ll tear your skin off!

He Luo walked over, raising a brow. “Wen Shuang, I never would have guessed you were that kind of person. At university you acted all aloof, as if untouched by worldly things. But behind the scenes, you’re just as eager for excitement with greasy old men in the cloakroom.”