I just wanted to try it on

Though I had said that, Yu Hui and I both knew those words seemed good only for comforting ourselves.

I knew I couldn't stop him. Even if he went to fight, he could only get five million within three days.

What about the rest?

I warned him again, "You're not allowed to go again. Five million won't solve much, either."

I still had to go to Gu Hansheng.

When I returned to the villa, Auntie Zhang, the housekeeper, said dinner was ready.

I asked again, "Has Gu Hansheng come home?"

Auntie Zhang shook her head.

I saw that it was still early. He might come back tonight.

After all that running around, I really was hungry.

An IV really did work better than medicine. Even my fever had gone down.

After dinner, I sat in my room, thinking about how to bring up the fourteen million with Gu Hansheng tonight.

Still worried about Yu Hui, I sent him another message: "Don't go again. Rest and let your injuries heal."

After showering, I went to the wardrobe to get my pajamas, and my gaze happened to fall on a box.

It was the lingerie set Auntie Zhang had given me.

I stared at the box for a while, then silently took it out.

If I wore this, would Gu Hansheng agree to lend me the money?

With that thought, I opened the box. That piece of burgundy "fabric" lay quietly inside.

What would Gu Hansheng do if he saw me wearing this? What expression would he have?

A round of sneering would probably be inevitable.

Hadn't I embarrassed myself enough already? Hadn't he mocked me enough?

I couldn't worry about that now.

Why not try it on?

Gu Hansheng wasn't home anyway. I could try it on and see how it looked.

I took the "fabric" into the fitting room.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I saw that the tiny piece of "fabric" really did barely cover the important parts.

Just as I was about to take it off, I heard my phone chime outside.

Without thinking much of it, I came out of the walk-in closet and picked up my phone. It was a message from Yu Hui.

"Sis, stay out of this."

I grew anxious. Yu Hui had probably gone back to the underground boxing arena.

I got up to return to the walk-in closet and change out of those two pieces of "fabric," but then the door suddenly opened.

Gu Hansheng and I froze there.

He was dressed very formally in a suit and leather shoes, while I stood before him in this outfit, on full display.

Gu Hansheng reacted first. His eyes darkened, and he shut the door.

Gu Hansheng looked me up and down. "What? Do you think you're so bad at pleasing me that you need props?"

"No, no..." I wanted to argue, but then it immediately occurred to me: Wasn't this an opportunity?

Gu Hansheng watched me without a word, his eyes growing darker and darker. I was afraid-afraid he would leave the moment I mentioned money.

But I was already out of time.

"C-can you lend me thirteen million?" I asked softly, as though he would leave if I spoke any louder.

I'd said six million before, and now I was asking for thirteen million. He would probably mock me, then turn around and leave, wouldn't he?

No, I couldn't let him leave.

After saying that, I took two steps toward him, raised my arms around his neck, and stood on tiptoe to kiss his lips.

I distinctly felt his body tremble slightly. The next second, he pulled me into his arms.

Joy stirred in my heart. He still felt something for me. As long as he did, that was enough.

He didn't seem to care why the amount I wanted to borrow had increased.

"So, for money, you're willing to dress this cheaply?"

My body stiffened, and a faint ache stirred in my heart.

I had long since thrown away things like dignity. If it was cheap, so be it. It was better than getting slashed.

"As long as you agree to lend me thirteen million, I-I'll do whatever you say tonight. Whatever you want."

I looked up at him, but instead of the desire I had expected, his eyes were ice-cold.

While I was still puzzling over it, he picked me up and pinned me to the bed. "What? Will you dress like this to seduce anyone who's rich and can lend you money?"

I had never thought about anyone else. It seemed that whenever I needed money, he was the one I thought of.

In my heart, I took it for granted that he was the only one willing to help me.

When I didn't speak, he seemed a little angry. "What? Is your silence an admission?"

He paused, then suddenly gripped my cheeks. "Tell me. If I had no money, would you dress like this to please another man?"

"No! If it weren't you, I-I'd just accept my fate."

I was telling the truth, because I really couldn't think of anyone other than him.

He stared fiercely at me and asked in a low voice, "You never thought of going to Gu Mingze?"

"Huh?" I froze for a moment, not understanding why he would mention Gu Mingze.

He leaned closer, almost touching the tip of my nose. "Hmm?"

"No, I never even thought of going to him!" Growing anxious, I hurried to deny it.

He watched me, seemingly weighing the truth of my words, and warmth gradually returned to his eyes.

Seeing his brow relax, I could feel his mood improving.

I kissed the corner of his mouth, giving him one soft, appeasing kiss after another.

He slid one hand between the bed and my neck, pressing me toward him as he deepened the kiss.

The money should be settled now, right? I thought.

Then I suddenly remembered that Yu Hui might still be at the underground boxing arena.

His hand had already reached beneath that piece of "fabric."

"So you're willing to lend me thirteen million?" Now was the best time to ask for confirmation.