Fatal Lover: CEO’s Dangerous Game

The Mysterious Stranger

Xinan's stunning beauty was always the center of attention wherever she went. The black cocktail dress she wore accentuated her alluring figure, radiating a magnetic charm that drew the admiring gazes of many men.

Wen Ruoxian couldn’t help but glance at her friend a few more times. After clinking glasses with Edward absentmindedly, the strong alcohol slowly warmed her stomach, and the pain in her heart seemed to dissolve under the warmth of the liquor. Without thinking, she poured an entire cocktail into her throat.

She grabbed another drink from the waiter’s tray, but Xinan and Edward were deep in conversation. Wen Ruoxian was about to make an excuse to leave when a few figures walked directly towards her.

“Hey! How have you been?”

“It's been so long!” The newcomers gathered around, exchanging enthusiastic greetings with each other.

To Wen Ruoxian, they were all unfamiliar faces, and she wasn’t particularly interested. She stepped aside and, as she did, her heel twisted slightly. In that instant, a firm and strong arm caught her.

“Are you alright?” A soft, gentle voice spilled from his lips, carrying the warmth of spring. She couldn't help but feel her heart flutter as she looked up into his bright, clear eyes.

The man’s height was at least 1.8 meters, and his chiseled features were striking. Standing before him, Wen Ruoxian felt almost a head shorter than him. There was an indescribable, complex aura surrounding him, a presence that commanded attention.

Her face flushed involuntarily. She wasn’t the type to swoon over handsome men, but this was the first time in a long while that she had such an intimate encounter with a stranger, though it was only a brief touch of the arm.

“I’m fine, thank you.” She steadied herself and quickly pulled her arm away, glancing at Xinan, who was surrounded by a group of people, excitedly waving for the waiter to bring over eight servings of cocktails.

At that moment, a cold, damp sensation touched her arm. Looking down, she realized that her drink had spilled all over her. A neatly folded men's handkerchief was offered to her. “I think you might need this.”

“Thank you!” She took it instinctively and began wiping the spill on her arm. She hadn't expected this man to be so polite and gentlemanly. When she looked up to smile at him, she thought she saw a fleeting, almost predatory glint in his eyes.

Quickly blinking, she saw only his warm, shallow smile. Shaking her head, she quietly laughed at herself for how easily the alcohol had gotten to her. One cocktail, and she was already tipsy.

The empty glass was taken from her, and Xinan handed her another. Then, she raised her glass, announcing to everyone, “Let’s all drink to this happy occasion!”

After toasting with the others, the man raised his glass toward her once more. Grateful for his earlier help, she smiled and softly said, “Cheers!”

The alcohol slid down her throat smoothly, and when she placed her glass down, her expression remained calm, unaffected.

The man raised an eyebrow, his smile turning more refined. “Alcohol isn’t good for a woman’s skin.”

Damn it! Those words sounded eerily familiar. Yu Qian had said the same thing to her before. She gritted her teeth, the old pain suddenly resurfacing in her chest.

Her mood shifted suddenly, irritation rising within her. She remained fully aware and determined not to confuse this man with Yu Qian. She turned, intending to leave, but before she could take another step, darkness suddenly enveloped the room. Someone in the shadows called out, “The power’s out…”

It was a blackout. She froze in place as a strong arm tightened around her waist, pulling her into a firm embrace. A voice, haunting and seductive, whispered in her ear, “I think… I want you.”

What? She gasped, her blood rushing to her head. The voice... wasn’t it the same man who had helped her earlier?

After a moment, a sleek Hyundai sped down the wide, asphalt road. The night was deep, and an inexplicable heat seemed to radiate within the car. The alcohol began to take effect, a rising wave of warmth coursing through her body, growing stronger with each passing second, as if desperate to find an outlet.

She gripped the seatbelt tightly, questioning herself. Did she not realize that the man driving beside her was clearly suggesting he wanted a one-night affair? Damn it! What had possessed her to get into his car?

He parked the vehicle in front of the park’s closed gates, as though he could read her conflicting thoughts. Gently lifting her delicate chin with one hand, he spoke, his voice low and composed, “We are adults. If you don’t want this, I won’t force you.”

Her lips moved, but no sound escaped them. Only the touch of his fingers on her chin sent a tingling sensation through her skin. Her legs were growing weaker, almost unable to move, but with great effort, she regained a shred of sanity, turning her face away and pulling herself free from his grasp.

There was no denying it—this man was cultured, graceful, and far from repellent. In fact, he was the type she found appealing. She began to hesitate, and then, an odd voice echoed in her mind. Since she had already decided to live a life of solitude, what harm was there in indulging herself just once? After all, it could be a form of compensation for the long, lonely years ahead.

Driven by some inexplicable impulse, she opened her purse and pulled out all the pink bills and coins from her wallet, shoving them into his hand. “I’m not an easy woman,” she said, her tone firm, “this is payment for hiring you as my temporary lover for the night.”

It was the first time any woman had ever tried to pay him for his company. He stared at the money in his hand, surprised, before raising his eyes to gaze at her with interest. “Do you know how much it costs to buy a night with me?”

Did he think she was a fool? How expensive could a man driving a Hyundai possibly be? With a swift motion, she zipped up her purse and responded confidently, “It doesn’t matter how much you’re worth. This is all I have.”

In truth, this was the first time she had ever made such a bold decision, and her palms were already sweating with anxiety.

“Looks like I have no choice but to accept,” he said with a low chuckle, his voice rich with desire. He casually tossed the money toward the front of the car, then, without hesitation, pulled her into his arms and began kissing the smooth, graceful curve of her neck.

As he descended upon her, her thoughts grew muddled, Yu Qian’s face flickering in and out of clarity, like a black-and-white painting in shifting light and shadows.

Pain suddenly surged through her, and she gritted her teeth, unable to suppress the anguished gasp that escaped her lips.

In the early morning, as soon as she returned to her residence, she rushed into the bathroom. Large swaths of cold water washed her delicate skin recklessly, making her completely awake.

Oh my God! She groaned, hugged her head, and slowly squatted down. What on earth did she do? She actually had a relationship with a man whose name she couldn't even call out. The two cocktails last night really hurt her!

Since it happened, it was useless to regret it. She sighed and comforted herself, hugged her aching head, and fell on the bed. She was so tired that she fell asleep in a short while.

In the early morning, she barely got up under the urging of the alarm clock. When her legs touched the ground, she still felt a dull pain deep in her body. In the bathroom, she desperately slapped her face with cold water and finally hypnotized herself to forget about it.

At 7:30, it was time to leave. If she went out later, she might not be able to catch the bus. She cheered herself up, grabbed her backpack, and walked out of the apartment. She suddenly remembered the box of things he bought for her at the convenience store when they separated last night. She hurried back, poured some water, and took the medicine.