"Second Young Master is unavailable at the moment. Please follow me with First Young Master, sir," Ling Xiao said to Wen Ningchen without showing either deference or arrogance.

"What's so urgent it can't wait until tomorrow? The sun will set soon," Wen Ningchen grumbled impatiently.

"The Lord has given Second Young Master some account books for review. There are certain discrepancies he wishes to discuss with you. First Young Master is free to refuse, though I won't force the issue. You may explain everything directly to the Lord when he returns." Ling Xiao turned to leave as if concluding their conversation.

Wen Ningchen's mind suddenly went blank at hearing this. Days before, their father had ordered them to personally sort out all business accounts and submit reports together. He'd been wasting time in brothels ever since, completely forgetting about it - just handing over hastily prepared accounts drafted by his subordinates. Worse still, he'd secretly diverted funds from the shops recently. This was definitely something he couldn't let their father discover.

"Since these are shop matters," Wen Ningchen muttered reluctantly, "I suppose I might as well go."

He followed Ling Xiao to Second Young Master's courtyard. Upon arrival, Ling Xiao gestured for him to wait in a side room while he said the second master would be right there. He then ordered maidservants to serve tea.

After sitting in the room for a moment, Wen Ningchen suddenly heard faint noises coming from an adjacent chamber - indistinct murmurs that sounded almost like a woman's voice but weren't quite discernible. At first he paid no mind, assuming it was just servants working next door.

But soon the sounds intensified into unmistakable feminine moans. As a man well-versed in such pleasures, Wen Ningchen immediately recognized these weren't the pleasurable sighs of intimacy - they were the frustrated cries of someone seeking satisfaction.

Curiosity flared within him instantly. The second master's compound shouldn't be making such noises, especially since his wife had returned to her parents' home. Were one of those maidservants in there doing something? Those girls were all beautiful and innocent-looking, he thought as his body heated with anticipation, his steps already moving toward the room.

The door was ajar when he reached it, allowing crystal-clear sounds to flood into his ears. With no further hesitation, Wen Ningchen pushed open the door.

Inside, a woman lay sprawled face-down on the bed, her features obscured by this position. But what was visible was shocking - her disheveled clothing revealed ample flesh already torn at the seams as she continued to tear it apart with trembling hands. A full breast was nearly exposed in the dim light.

A wicked grin twisted Wen Ningchen's lips immediately; desire flickered wildly in his eyes. He shut the door carefully and approached the bed, stepping closer under the faint illumination of chamber lamps. When he finally recognized the woman as Ningenuo - their adopted daughter from the main house - his steps faltered. How could she be here? Why would she look like this?

Ningenuo barely opened her dazed eyes when someone entered. Without clearly seeing who it was, she offered a sultry smile and reached out to pull Wen Ningchen's hand toward her chest.

Wen Ningchen froze at the recognition. This was their adopted sister after all - even if only by adoption, he couldn't be so reckless as to treat her like those common maidservants in his harem who had already submitted to him for years (though they remained concubines rather than formal wives due to fear of Ruyuzhen's influential family).

But there was no denying Ningenuo's striking beauty. He'd long been obsessed with her since first laying eyes on her, even going so far as plotting ways to take her into his own quarters. Only Ruyuzhen's disapproval and the fact that she wasn't merely a servant had prevented him from acting.

Now fate presented an opportunity. Though initial reservations flared when Ningenuo pulled at his hands with such brazenness, the moment his fingers brushed against her swelling curves, all reason vanished. Whether sister by blood or adoption suddenly seemed meaningless in the face of pure desire.

Wen Ningchen could tell something was wrong with her, but then again... When had he ever exercised rational thought around a beautiful woman?

That night became a blur of relentless motion as Ningenuo refused to let up. Every time Wen Ningchen paused for rest, she'd attack him anew with surprising vigor and initiative - unlike any woman he'd encountered before.

Exhausted by morning light, Wen Ningchen finally collapsed when the first pale dawn filtered through the window. His body had no strength left to question where he was or what had happened. He simply fell into unconsciousness.

He awoke to Ling Xiao's urgent calls at sunrise. The sight that greeted him made his mind spin - Ningenuo crouched in the corner weeping, her disarrayed clothes still covering all vital areas.

Wen Ningchen sat up dazed as memories began to surface. But why did she look so betrayed now? Hadn't she been the one initiating everything last night? Ling Xiao's impatient shouting outside forced him to quickly dress and drag Ningenuo toward the door just as Ruyuzhen burst in, screaming and flailing wildly.

The confrontation left Wen Ningchen both furious and humiliated. Standing before a crowd of family members while his adopted brother watched with knowing amusement made everything clear - those account books had been nothing more than an elaborate trap.