Damn, Mo Cheng is sweating buckets, his face looking kinda pale. He stammers, "Bro, just chill, I'm just tryna help you out, man."

"Help me?"

"Yeah, bro. Look, you're pushing thirty and you haven't been with a woman yet. Is that even normal? People in the city are saying you're no good. And look at Mom, she's almost fifty, and she's stressin' out over you. Bro, don't blame your lil' bro. Just try this medicine first, and if it doesn't work, we can go abroad for treatment."

The more Mo Cheng talks, the darker Mo Xi's face gets. When he hears Mo Cheng say he's no good, his whole face turns black, his fists clenching tight. He snaps, "Who says I'm no good?"

"Bro, don't be too down about it. Medical skills here suck, but if they can't fix you, we'll go overseas. We'll figure it out somehow!"

Mo Xi slams his foot down, Mo Cheng flopping onto the sofa caught off guard. Then, Mo Xi grabs that bottle of '82 Lafite and pours it straight down Mo Cheng's throat. Most of the red wine spills out, choking Mo Cheng. Damn, he's outta breath, feeling dizzy as hell. This ain't just pulling a feather off a tiger's head, this is a full-on mission his folks entrusted him with, even if he dies trying. Thank god he only laced the cup, not the whole damn bottle, or he'd be in deep trouble today! Damn, why's his bro gotta be so ruthless? Mo Cheng's never gonna dare pull this again, no matter how brave he feels. Now he's wondering, what kinda woman does his bro even like? Without today's mess, he coulda ended up a monk for life.

"Bro..." The others in the room freeze, staring at Mo Xi getting wasted. They're shakin' in their boots, nearly kneeling down.

"You guys keep playing." Mo Xi gets up, smooths his clothes, and heads out straight.

"Sure thing..." Their voices waver, freaked out by Mo Xi's sharp gaze. They thought they were in for it too. When he leaves, they breathe a sigh of relief, rushing over to help Mo Cheng up, calling out to him.

"What the hell, I'm fine."

"Cheng, are you sure this medicine's gonna work on Big Bro? The man's tough as nails."

Mo Cheng slaps himself awake, smirking, "This ain't just any ol' medicine I slipped him. I spiked the whole damn pack. No woman's gonna resist him!"

The others look at his creepy grin, feeling a chill. They mourn for Big Bro; having a bro like this...

Mo Xi gets in the car, starts the engine, and suddenly feels a wave of heat. He grips the steering wheel tight, driving off like a bat outta hell. He's burning up, sweat pouring down his forehead. What the hell did they slip him? He's dealt with this kinda stuff before, but never hit him like this. How much did Mo Cheng lace his drink with? The drugs ain't worn off yet, and his vision's already blurry. He's gotta stop, his knuckles white from gripping the wheel so hard. His back's soaked, feeling like he just got pulled outta the water. His face, icy and stoic, growls low.

The night's getting darker, just a few folks on the street. Passing by, Meng Zhan hears a low groan. He glances over, thinking for a sec before deciding. He walks over, yanks open the car door. Mo Xi's half-dead from the drugs, but his eyes are still sharp. Cold and gloomy, he spits out, "Get lost!"

Meng Zhan's eyes narrow, expressionless. Seeing Mo Xi's state, he figures someone slipped him something. In the dim light, he sizes up the man. He's stunning, tall, and imposing, but cold as ice. Even though Meng Zhan usually wouldn't mess with someone like him, now he has to. He needs money, and time's running out. He's gotta get back, see his mom one last time. Whether she's alive or dead, his heart's dead already. This body's no use to him if it doesn't bring in cash.

"I'll help you out. Hundred grand, what d'ya say?" Meng Zhan stares him down, casually offering. Cold as hell inside, he wonders when he got so cheap?

Mo Xi freezes, shocked by the offer, then sneers. Pushing back the effects of the drugs, he coldly spits out, "Screw off! I ain't interested in you!" Women tryna get close to him are a dime a dozen, but now there's another guy? This one's got some guts, straight up. But no matter what, he ain't interested.

"Oh yeah?" Meng Zhan moves closer, grabs Mo Xi's neck, and plants one on him.

Mo Xi clearly didn't catch the meaning of his words, just staring wide-eyed as this guy straight-up kisses him. And he doesn't feel repulsed or grossed out. The faint scent's kinda nice, and he can't help but grab her waist. Wait, her waist feels just like a woman's? Is she a woman? He stares at her, captivated by her sharp features, beautiful and cold. Even she's getting a little lost in his gaze. Damn, with looks like that, no wonder women flock to him.

Meng Zhan grunts, then smirks. So this is what men do instinctively? Ice runs colder than ice itself. Damn.

Suddenly, Mo Xi's eyes turn icy, but he's still sharp and clear. Pushing her away, he lowers his voice, "Get lost. And just so you know, I ain't interested in men or women!" His grip on the steering wheel turns his knuckles white. He's gotta stay calm, but the pressure's suffocating. Meng Zhan squints, sneering.

Meng Zhan Yan was pushed by him, almost falling out of the car. Instinctively, she grabbed onto him. Gu Mo Xi furrowed his brows, caught off guard by her sudden move. His body swayed, and he ended up pulling her towards him. She fell onto his lap, catching Meng Zhan Yan off guard. Her face stiffened for a moment, then returned to normal. Wasn't this what she wanted?

Gu Mo Xi stared at her fiercely. As she lifted her head to meet his gaze, he couldn't resist any longer and pulled her into a fierce kiss.

Meng Zhan Yan let out a muffled groan, her face expressionless. She thought, as long as it was just for tonight, using this broken body to see her mom one last time would be worth it. Her life had been ruined by a man in the first half, so this body could be used by anyone. As for Lu Xi Chen, just wait for her. A chill crept into her heart as she thought of him.

Closing her eyes, she embraced him, lifting her gaze to meet his deep, unreadable eyes. He looked so elegant and refined, a true sight to behold. His breath was ragged as it hit her face, but she continued to stare at him, saying nothing.

Gu Mo Xi's breathing grew heavier as he continued to stare at her in silence. Up close, he could barely make out the scar on her face, running from her forehead to her eye, adding a touch of fierceness to her once delicate features. Was it him? No, was it her? He couldn't help but feel conflicted.

Raising his hand, he traced the scar on her face with rough fingertips, his eyes burning with intensity. If the knife had shifted a little, she would have lost her eye. Who was she? What had she been through? Questions swirled in his mind as he sought answers. "Why?" he asked, unsure if he was asking why she did this or what she had been through.

"Ten thousand," Meng Zhan Yan replied coldly, turning her face away as his hand reached for hers.

"You!" Gu Mo Xi's face darkened at the mention of money, his appearance still immaculate despite the circumstances.

Gu Mo Xi looked at her pale face, both of them devoid of any emotion.

...

As the night grew darker, a sudden downpour drenched the streets, washing away any traces of ambiguity in the air. The ambiguous atmosphere slowly dissipated into the rain. By the time dawn approached, a faint light appeared on the horizon.

When Gu Mo Xi woke up, the sun was already shining brightly, causing his eyes to sting. Where was he? Suddenly, he remembered something and sat up straight, only to see the woman sitting beside him, wearing his suit jacket. Her face was pale, but her demeanor was calm. "Awake?" she asked, her tone so familiar, as if they had known each other for a long time. Did he really sleep with this woman last night? His expression darkened. Gu Mo Cheng! Wait till he got home, he would deal with this brat! With a glance, he noticed his black shirt was torn to shreds, complementing his pale, bruised face. His eyes grew cold and dark. What was this woman's motive?

"What do you want?" Gu Mo Xi asked, irritated. He hated trouble the most. He took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and held it elegantly between his fingers, taking a drag. His demeanor was refined, adding to his masculine charm.

"Ten thousand!" He hadn't promised her ten thousand, but judging by the luxury car he drove last night, he could probably afford it. So she took the chance.

Gu Mo Xi frowned, took a few deep drags from his cigarette, then extinguished it with a cold voice. "Get out of the car." His voice was icy, devoid of any warmth.

Meng Zhan Yan glanced at him, took a deep breath, and said, "You promised ten thousand last night!" Before she could finish her sentence, she saw the temperature in his eyes drop, as if she had tainted them. She knew she wouldn't get the ten thousand. Perhaps to him, she was just a woman who came to him willingly. And he hadn't promised her ten thousand at all. She had lost this bet. With a pale face, she opened the car door and got out.

The car beside her immediately started its engine and zoomed past her. Gu Mo Xi's face tightened as he watched the woman getting farther away through the rearview mirror. He felt a surge of anger rising inexplicably in his heart, even he couldn't understand why he was suddenly so angry. Perhaps it was because of those sharp, uncompromising eyes he saw when they first met.

Meng Zhan Yan watched the car as it moved further away from her, then looked down at her suit jacket. A self-deprecating smile tugged at her lips as she heard his muffled laughter echoing in the empty street. The pain hidden in her eyes flashed briefly before she turned and walked away.

The sun was blazing down the street, practically blinding her. She shielded her eyes with her hand, not used to such intense sunlight. Walking past Huangye Gate, an Audi rolled up, coming to a stop. The driver hopped out immediately, opening the door with a respectful nod.

She glanced up and caught sight of shiny black shoes hitting the pavement. After a moment, a dude emerged from the car. In that blinding sunlight, she couldn't make out his face, but she could tell he oozed natural elegance. Every move he made was smooth and pleasing to the eye, even the simplest gestures. His hair was just right, covering his ears with a casual flair. Dressed in a white shirt and trousers, he had an air of refinement and sophistication.

Meng Zhan Yan's pupils shrank, caught off guard. Han Jin Yu, on the other hand, felt the intense gaze from her end. He'd been the subject of such looks before, thanks to his good looks and high status. He met her eyes, the sunlight casting a glow over her features. She was stunning, and before he could even process that thought, she yanked him back. "Watch out!" came a clear voice. She pinned him to the ground, and then he heard gunfire. He caught a glimpse of bullets grazing her arm, blood staining her wrist.

Han Jin Yu blinked at her in shock. He hadn't expected this guy to react so fast and save her. Seeing her bleeding, his expression tightened, his voice hoarse with concern. "Are you okay?"

Meng Zhan Yan gritted her teeth, feeling the pain. Only now did she get a proper look at his face. He had classic good looks, soft eyes, an easy charm. But those eyes had turned cold. She shook off her daze, just in time to realize she had mistaken him for someone else. Getting up, she glanced at the blood on her hand, lips pressed tight, saying nothing.

The driver, too, was stunned by the gunshot. Then, he sprang into action, running over to Mayor Han. Seeing that he was okay, he breathed a sigh of relief and helped her up.

Hearing the gunshot, a crowd poured out of Huangye Gate. Li Hu noticed her dazed look and immediately made a call to investigate. Li Hu also dispatched people to find the shooter.

"I'll take you to the hospital," Han Jin Yu offered, trying to support her, but she moved aside, leaving him hanging.

"No need," she said coldly, turning to leave.

Han Jin Yu spoke sincerely, "Thanks for today. If it weren't for you, I might've been the one injured. What's your name, kid?" He felt a strange fondness for this guy.

Before Zhan Yan could reply, Li Hu intervened, "Mayor Han, she's Meng Zhan Yan." Lucky kid, stepping out and saving the renowned Mayor Han of B City. Who didn't know about Han Jin Yu? Young, talented, potential heir to the Han family. With a bright future and a big family business, he had earned his position through sheer ability, not to be underestimated.

Han Jin Yu had already gotten into the car and opened the door for her to get in. Li Hu glanced at her and gently helped Zhan Yan into the car. Getting shot in the flesh required immediate surgery to remove the bullet. This kid had guts, actually taking the initiative to shield someone from bullets. He was really asking for trouble, but now it seemed like a stroke of luck! Making friends with someone powerful was not a bad thing after all.

Han Jin Yu drove all the way, occasionally turning to look at her. There was some concern in his eyes. He had just experienced a close call, and if it weren't for her, he might not have escaped unscathed. Actually, he was a bit puzzled now. Why did she save him? Moreover, her swift action made it difficult for him to see clearly. Squinting his eyes, he carefully sized up this young man. He had to admit, this young man was quite delicate. His face was thin and small, yet it appeared even more refined. His eyes were large and clear, giving people a good impression. After she was shot, she remained calm and didn't even show any signs of pain. Looking at this young man, nearly ten years younger than himself, for the first time, he couldn't see through someone.