Lan Lingyan's voice carried no chill, yet Ning Yunhuan shivered involuntarily. She had momentarily forgotten who stood before her and dared to negotiate with him. Though she longed to return home, it suddenly seemed that Mr. and Mrs. Ning would be far more accommodating than Lan Lingyan. With reluctant resolve, she nodded, gritting her teeth as she accepted this unfair arrangement. Had she not agreed, Lan Lingyan might have succumbed to the regret clawing at his chest, but now he merely gave a curt nod signaling her departure.

Ning Yunhuan's return was convenient, for other matters demanded his attention. That brat from the Xie family had shown remarkable audacity in cornering him today - it would be fitting to visit some inconvenience upon young Master Xie Zhuoyin as well.

By the time she packed a small bag and descended the stairs, Lan Lingyan's silhouette had vanished entirely. Relief washed over her; she'd feared he might change his mind at the last moment. Yet without him around, anxiety crept in - would she have to walk through this sprawling estate? Though located in the heart of the capital city, it took well over thirty minutes on foot, and today's heat was merciless.

The idea of borrowing a car from Lan Lingyan sent a fresh wave of apprehension through her veins. Just as doubts began to swirl, a man in a black shirt entered with a nod toward Ning Yunhuan. "Miss Ning," he rumbled, "the car awaits outside."

Her breath caught - she hadn't expected such effortless acquiescence. Suppressing the sudden pang of disappointment, she quickly climbed into the vehicle.

The car halted at the edge of her family's villa complex. Ning Yunhuan declined further assistance to her doorstep, slinging her bag over one shoulder as she stepped out. She hadn't informed her parents about returning early; they should be empty this time. A hot shower and a few hours' sleep was all she needed after days cohabiting with Lan Lingyan whose nocturnal disturbances kept her awake - either by his movements or conversations that never ceased in the dead of night. School hours had only compounded her stress, fearing encounters with the ill-fated Gu Yingxi, so this return home felt almost sacred.

The journey to her villa seemed interminable through the oppressive heat. When at last she reached the gates, an eerie silence greeted her. The Ning residence, though not opulent, usually employed two servants - one for cleaning, another for cooking and laundry. Now gardens lay deserted, windows uncurtained as a muffled moan escaped from within.

"Darling, you're so soft," a man's voice rasped suggestively. "Tell me what you applied."

Ning Yunhuan froze at the sight - through floor-to-ceiling windows, she could see her father collapsed on the sofa in his pants while an exposed woman writhed beneath him, one ankle still trapped by a lavender lace thong. At least he was fully clothed above waist.

A bitter irony struck as she recalled her own fate versus this heroine's fortune - why did she get assigned to view these live-action romances when the protagonist enjoyed endless romantic encounters? First Gu Yingxi's outdoor rendezvous, now her father's indiscretion... Ning Yunhuan clenched her jaw. If only Ning Yuncheng knew his destined partner had already slept with someone else first.

Ning Yuncheng, though low in status within the capital, prided himself on exclusive conquests. His obsession with Gu Yingxi stemmed not merely from her heroine status or physical attributes, but because she was his first lover - a distinction now claimed by another man. How would he react when his next liaison inevitably discovered this?

As the woman beneath him suddenly spotted Ning Yunhuan through the window, her flushed face paled instantly. A startled shriek pushed Ning Yuncheng off balance in their tangle of limbs. With a clumsy tumble from the sofa to the floor, his... situation became embarrassingly visible.

Ning Yunhuan had just enough presence of mind - turning away before she could witness anything more graphic than she'd ever wish to see.

"Somebody outside!" The woman's scream was followed by Ning Yuncheng's furious curses as he fastened his belt. A new thought struck Ning Yunhuan when he zipped up, and she whirled back just in time for the explosion.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" He bellowed from inside while the woman scrambled to cover herself. The absurdity of the scene - her composed demeanor versus their disarray - only deepened the tension.

"This... who are you?" Ning Yunhuan strode forward, feigning offense as she shoved the half-dressed woman aside. "How dare you seduce my man!"