Elena Shen curled beneath the blanket, fingers clutching the edge so tightly they had gone numb.
At that moment, she wished more than anything that Ethan Jiang's bed would open up and swallow her whole, so she could disappear without a trace.
Ethan watched her with mild amusement as her eyes darted everywhere but at him.
"Remember what happened last night?" he asked, his lips quirking faintly.
"No! I mean—no," she refused at once, shaking her head. "I… blacked out. I was drunk. I don't remember anything."
His dark eyes remained fixed on her. "Is that so?"
Elena nodded like a woodpecker.
Ethan glanced down at the glass of water in his hand. "Still want the water?"
"N-No, I'm not thirsty," she stammered. She couldn't stay there a second longer and instinctively tried to flee.
But the moment she shifted under the covers, she suddenly remembered what she was wearing—or rather, not wearing—and froze.
Her body stiffened under the quilt.
Forcing herself to meet his eyes, she asked in a small voice, "Ethan… can I borrow something to wear?"
Ethan turned slightly and gestured to the nearby sofa, where a neatly folded set of new clothes had been placed earlier.
Then, without warning, he stepped forward and gripped the edge of the blanket—her makeshift shield—pulling it down slightly against her resistance. Under her startled and wary gaze, he pressed the glass of water into her hands.
"Take it."
"It's warm. Just drink a little."
Elena dared not disobey. Trembling slightly, she accepted the glass.
"Get dressed and come out when you're done. I'll wait outside."
Elena nodded like a frightened quail, her head hung low.
After Ethan left the room, she quickly set the water down, threw back the blanket, and scrutinized herself—and then the sheets—for any suspicious signs. Seeing nothing out of place, she finally let out a long sigh of relief.
During the ten years she'd lived with the Jiangs, Elena hadn't even stepped foot in Ethan's bedroom—barely spoken to him, really.
Now she was here, in his private space.
Even though Ethan had left the room, the cool-toned bedding and austere decor carried his presence, making it impossible for her to relax. She was constantly on edge, like a trespasser awaiting punishment.
Too unfamiliar with her surroundings to move freely, Elena didn't dare explore the walk-in closet or the other rooms. She padded across the carpet, snatched the clothes from the sofa, and immediately retreated under the blanket to change.
As soon as she finished dressing, she didn't linger.
She quietly opened the door and, without making a sound, crept toward the stairs, ready to make her escape.
But just as her hand brushed the banister, a calm, unreadable voice rang out behind her—
"Elena."
Her heart lurched, and her back went rigid.
She paused for a second, then turned slowly, forcing a shaky smile as she met Ethan's eyes.
She was terrified he'd bring up what had happened the night before. Her memory was patchy at best, and although nothing too extreme had occurred, she couldn't be sure what else she might've done under the influence—what else her drunken, reckless self had dared.
"Ethan," she began, trying to keep her voice steady, "It's Monday, and I have an early class. I need to get back to campus."
Ethan ended his call with Eric Chen and began walking toward her.
Instinctively, Elena took a step back—only to find the staircase behind her. Her knees trembled, but she didn't dare bolt in front of him. She simply gripped the banister tightly, knuckles white.
Ethan said nothing about last night.
It was as if it had never happened.
"I've had breakfast prepared," he said mildly. Eat first. I'll drive you to campus after.
"I'll skip breakfast," Elena replied too quickly. "I'm in a hurry."
"Elena." He glanced at his phone and cut her off gently. "It's seven fifty. If I remember correctly, your first class is at ten."
Elena: "…"
He compromised, his voice calm. "Go wash up and eat. I'll have Eric drive you."
She dared not argue further.
Loosening her grip on the railing, she looked toward the hallway on the third floor, planning to duck into any guest room she could find. But before she could take a step, Ethan spoke again.
"Use the master bathroom. Your toiletries are inside."
Elena froze in surprise.
And sure enough, when she entered the bathroom, she found a full set of women's toiletries arranged neatly beside Ethan's on the sink—each item brand new, clearly prepared in advance.
A strange, surreal feeling welled up inside her.
If someone had told her yesterday—before she'd gone out for drinks with that traitor, Annie Gu—that she'd wake up in Ethan Jiang's bed and brush her teeth next to his razor, she would've laughed in their faces.
After breakfast, Elena gave Ethan a polite but quick goodbye, then rushed into the car, letting Eric Chen take her back to school.
The entire ride, she sat in silence, replaying her own daring, drunken antics from the night before—utterly mortified.
When they finally reached the area near Huaihai University, Eric glanced at the time and spoke through the rearview mirror, addressing his future young mistress with the utmost courtesy.
"Miss Shen, would you like me to drop you off directly at campus?"
Elena blinked, checking the time on her phone. It was only nine o'clock.
Her class wasn't until ten—plenty of time to swing by her apartment and grab her laptop.
"I'd like to stop by my apartment first," she said. "I have something to pick up."
"Of course, Miss Shen."
Her apartment was close to the university. Once the car stopped, Elena thanked Eric and asked him to head back.
After he left, she took the elevator upstairs.
As soon as the doors opened, she was greeted by an unexpected sight—Annie Gu, lounging casually outside her apartment like she'd been waiting there all morning.
Gone was the dejected mess from the day before. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she looked Elena up and down, grinning from ear to ear.
"Well, well, look whose back," Annie drawled. "So… where'd you spend your night?"