HuaXia Hotel.

Just after Sophia stepped out of the elevator, she received a WeChat message from Emily.

"Sister-in-law, it's confirmed. My brother will be back next Monday. Are you excited?"

Sophia paused, reading this short message over and over again.

She had dreamt about him last night.

In her dream, he was just like he was in high school, holding a basketball in his hands, his smile as bright as a clear blue sky. He stood against the light, his handsome face glowing under the sun.

He waved at her, steadily walking towards her step by step.

For so many years, Sophia has had this dream time and time again. Every time she wakes up, she can't wait to check the date, but every time, it tells her that he won't return for more than a thousand days.

It seems to be forever.

By day, her thoughts are consumed by him; at night, she dreams of him.

She missed him so much.

Sophia calmed herself, her heart fluttering with a mixture of excitement and nervousness, and began to type a reply.

"Don't call me sister-in-law. Your aunt won't be happy if she hears it."

"My brother said no one else but you! My mom's words don't count! I’m going to call you sister-in-law no matter what! Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, sister-in-law!"

Unable to suppress her smile, Sophia felt a warm sensation in her heart, she was reminded of the wedding dress she had seen in a bridal shop few days ago.

Would he like it?

As soon as Julian opened the door, he saw Sophia at the entrance, looking down at her phone.

"Miss Lin, why didn't you knock?"

Sophia came back to her senses, smiled politely, and shook the phone in her hand as a sign, "Sorry, I was replying to a message."

Julian stepped aside, indicating her to enter the room.

Sophia hesitated slightly, clenched her hand around her phone, and stepped inside.

Julian's gaze lingered on Sophia's departing figure, from her neck to her waist, all the way down.

Noticing his gaze, Sophia frowned uncomfortably, pulled out a USB flash drive from her bag, and handed it to him.

"This contains all the details of your father's personal account and all the funds transferred overseas in the past six months. Take a look. If there's no problem, I'll notify others to prepare the contract. For the next five years, you can only cooperate with the Ye family."

Julian snatched the USB flash drive surprisedly and opened his laptop to check.

Scrolling through the financial details, his expression became more and more excited, "How did you get this? Did you sleep with him?"

Sophia's eyes were cold, and she directly unplugged the USB drive.

Julian was startled for a moment, then laughed and coaxed, "Just kidding, why so serious?"

Sophia stared at him and said coldly, "Not funny."

"Okay okay, my bad!"

Julian half-threatened, half-coaxed as he snatched the USB drive out of Sophia's hand.

"Miss Lin has been a massive help. With that old man's secret on this drive, I'll be able to claim my position. Once I rise to the top, I can sign contracts for not only the next five years but even ten to twenty years."

He grandiloquently grabbed a bottle of red wine and poured two glasses, handing one tall glass to Sophia and raising his in a toast.

"Come, Miss Lin, to a happy cooperation."

Sophia took the glass, her wrist slightly twisting, making the red wine in the glass subtly sway with her movements.

"Do you really think I would harm you in broad daylight, Miss Lin?"

As if intent on proving his point, Julian tilted his head back and gulped down more than half of his drink while keeping a steady gaze on Sophia as if her not sharing this drink with him would signify her mistrust and disrespect him.

After some hesitation, Sophia raised her hand and finished her glass in one gulp.

"Swift! No wonder they say Miss Lin is a strong and courageous woman. Indeed, the reputation is well deserved."

Julian chuckled darkly and, tossing his head back, drained his glass too. He left it carelessly on the floor and moved closer to Sophia, bearing a pitying expression.

"It's just a shame...you don't know me at all, Miss Lin. I'm a daylight person, like everything out in the open and clear."

Sophia stepped back half a step, her foot faltering, and she stumbled backward.

Julian smoothly caught her around the waist, pushing her up against the wall, panting heavily and kissing her wildly.

"Let me go--!"

Pinned against the wall by him, Sophia was immobilized, and a prickling numbness slowly spread throughout her body just like an electric current, causing her body to gradually heat up; so much so that it made her head spin.

Julian was not any better. His mind was somewhat foggy, driven by the raging flames of desire as he attempted to tear at her clothes.

Fear allowed Sophia to cling to her last bit of clarity, she mustered up all her strength and vigorously kneed the man standing before her between his legs.

Julian grunted painfully, clutching his stomach as he collapsed onto the ground.

Taking advantage of his momentary agony, Sophia stumbled towards the door. Just as she opened it, she lost her footing and fell to the ground.

She tried to stand up but she was completely drained of energy, and her vision was becoming hazier.

Not far in front of her, a figure suddenly stopped in its tracks.

Upon noticing the tall figure, Sophia cried out in desperation, "Help me..."

**

The person hesitated for a moment, then quickly stepped forward, crouched down, and held her outstretched hand.

His palm was warm, his sleeves faintly smelt of tobacco, even from a slight distance, Sophia could feel the musky, masculine aura emanating from him.

It was a man...

Suddenly, Sophia recoiled.

Given her current condition, encountering a man was too dangerous.

She was poised to plead for help but didn't know what to say or do.

But the desire that had already been awakened didn't give her any leeway. Her heart began to race, her blood seemed to be boiling with restlessness, engulfing the little rationality she had left.

The man in front of her was very quiet, neither asking questions nor showing any signs of panic.

She strangely craved the scent of him.

She tightened her grip on her own hand, pressing her burning cheek against the back of her hand as she pleaded, “Take me with you…”

The man recoiled slightly as if he'd been scalded, then felt her cheek with the back of his hand.

It was as if he only now realized what had happened. Without any further hesitation, he picked her up and briskly walked to the room at the end of the corridor. Using his key card to open the door, he laid her on the large bed.

Sophia gasped for breath, her chest rising and falling drastically with each breath. Her disheveled clothing was more than halfway undone, revealing the seductive curve of her fair and round bosom that was tinged with an unnatural blush.

The strange feeling within her caused her to shiver non-stop. An immense emptiness resided in her heart, as if she were starved for a long time, desiring to be filled...and the man beside her emitted such a tantalizing scent.

Recognizing her own thoughts, Sophia knew the medicine had begun to take full effect.

She couldn't go on like this; she needed to take a cold shower.

Biting her lower lip to restrain herself, she pleaded for help: “Sir, could you please help me...”

She could hardly speak properly anymore, her voice trembling slightly. Each word she said was followed by a painful whimper like a kitten.

The man beside her silently observed her for half a second before leaning down to place a kiss on her.

"Mmm..."

A soft moan escaped from Sophia, but it also brought her back to her senses. She pushed him away with both hands and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Didn't you ask for my help?"

"...Not like this!"

She couldn't clearly see the man's face, but she could distinctly feel his slight chuckle.

He leaned down, pressing his body against her back, his warm breath washing over her ear.

"Then, like this?"