The woman wore a slip dress, its sheer fabric accentuating her fine figure.
Her face, devoid of makeup, was remarkably pure.
Even with her eyes closed, motionless, she was a fatal temptation to Ling Yucheng at that moment.
Perhaps he had seen too many overtly made-up, charming women.
Or perhaps he simply found the woman on the bed more pleasing to his eye.
That night, he inexplicably lost his self-control.
The woman lay still on the bed, unresponsive. If not for her warmth, her breathing, Ling Yucheng would have thought she was dead.
After a night together, he woke up late the next morning.
This woman's origin was unknown, and he felt a pang of regret, wondering why he had lost control so completely.
He had initially assumed it might have been someone disreputable arranged by his friends.
However, the bright red stain on the bed told him that this woman was also a virgin.
Moreover, it was evident she had been drugged and he had slept with her without her knowledge.
Yet, he was not a casual person; instinctively, he felt this situation was not simple.
Leaving his phone number on the bedside table, Ling Yucheng departed.
He instructed his secretary to investigate the woman's information.
If her background was clean, without any schemes, manipulation, or exploitation, he didn't mind taking responsibility.
He had never liked any woman in his life and had always maintained his integrity.
He believed it was better to have no one than to settle for the wrong person.
He didn't dislike this woman; compared to others, he felt a certain good impression.
Through his secretary's investigation, he obtained all the woman's information.
Name: Xia Wantang, a third-year university student.
Adoptive Father: Xia Linfeng, who ran a small company, but it was currently facing bankruptcy.
Adoptive Mother: Han Wenjuan, Brother Xia Yichen, Sister Xia Wanyuan.
Best friend Wen Xuanyuan.
Wen Xuanyuan, the eldest daughter of the Wen family.
Her father was a major shareholder of Guotai Group.
Xia Wantang had been doted on since childhood, often bullied by her brother and sister. She completed her university studies while working part-time.
She was almost invisible in the Xia family, no one paid her much attention.
...
Ling Yucheng turned off the computer screen, his mind having formed a rough picture.
Last night, Xia Wantang had likely been set up by her adoptive parents and sent to the hotel.
And he hadn't missed a small detail: the damaged room number.
He also had someone investigate who was staying in room 206.
The person who booked room 206 was Du Jiasheng, the chairman of Jiasheng Group.
Investigations revealed he was indeed deeply connected to the Xia family; Xia Linfeng's company was a partner with Jiasheng Group.
This Du Jiasheng had a fatal flaw: he was lecherous.
Based on the information gathered.
Xia Linfeng was highly likely to have sought Du Jiasheng's help to save his business.
And given Du Jiasheng's character, he would have certainly made some demands, which Ling Yucheng speculated would be for Xia Wantang to sleep with him.
Xia Wantang was not valued in the first place, and to save the company, the Xia Linfeng couple would surely abandon their adopted daughter.
Having seen too many storms, Ling Yucheng had met all kinds of people.
Therefore, Xia Wantang must have been drugged and forcibly sent to the hotel.
It was just that the room was wrong, and by chance, she was sent to his bed.
Moreover, the investigation report specifically noted.
Xia Wantang was virtuous and independent, strong-willed.
Due to her outstanding appearance, she was also a campus belle.
Many wealthy second-generation heirs and young masters of prominent families spared no expense to pursue her, to keep her.
She refused them all, unmoved, preferring to work and earn money herself rather than compromise herself.
Of course, she couldn't handle those bothersome flies on her own.
Wen Xuanyuan came from a well-off family; her father was a major shareholder of Guotai Group.
In the capital, Guotai was a well-known entity. Under Wen Xuanyuan's protection, Xia Wantang was unlikely to be exploited.
Ling Yucheng dismissed the secretary and took out his phone, finding Xia Wantang's phone number.
This was the phone number he had obtained earlier that day by using Xia Wantang's hand to unlock her phone with her fingerprint.
Now that the matter was clear, they should have an open and honest conversation.
However, just as he was about to press the call button, the phone screen flashed, and a call came in.
The caller ID read Situ Jun.
Ling Yucheng pressed the answer button.
His thin lips parted, and his voice was cold, "Yes?"
"Hello, Yucheng, did you have a memorable night last night?" Situ Jun's voice was full of laughter.
The substance he had secretly added to Ling Yucheng's drink yesterday was only revealed after he had finished drinking.
Ling Yucheng's face had turned as black as the bottom of a pot at the time; Situ Jun found it amusing now.
Of course, he was just joking.
After all, that stuff was good for nourishment and had no other harmful effects.
This guy had always been so serious since childhood; he just wanted to tease him.
Ling Yucheng's lips curved slightly, but his voice became even colder.
"I heard you've been playing around a lot lately! Situ Jing is returning to the country in a few days, and I'm sure she'll be very interested in your affairs."
"Ah... no, no, I was wrong, don't tell my sister."
Situ Jun feared nothing in the world except his elder sister, because she would genuinely beat him.
Situ Jing idolized Bruce Lee and had learned Jeet Kune Do since childhood, so very few people could defeat her.
Moreover, she was very doted on at home. If he got beaten up, he would only hear her say, "Serves you right."
Ling Yucheng ignored the howling from the phone and directly hung up.
As soon as the call ended, the silence returned.
Ling Yucheng found the number without a caller ID and dialed it directly.
"Ring... ring... ring..."
After ringing for a while, the call was finally connected, and a slightly hoarse female voice came from the other end.
Xia Wantang spoke politely, "Hello."
Her voice was clearly strained, as if she had been crying. Ling Yucheng frowned, feeling a touch of annoyance.
He thought it was likely due to what happened last night, perhaps she still believed she had been taken advantage of by Du Jiasheng.
Xia Wantang sat in the taxi, and an unfamiliar number called. However, the person on the other end didn't speak.
She thought it was a wrong number and was about to hang up.
Then she heard a magnetic, pleasant male voice.
"I am Ling Yucheng. It was me last night. I apologize. We can discuss the specifics when we meet. Where are you?"
Xia Wantang's pupils widened, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Her heart was in turmoil at this moment.
This person named Ling Yucheng said that it was him last night?
What was going on?
Wasn't it Du Jiasheng last night?
The other end of the line fell silent. Ling Yucheng patiently waited for a response.
This was a matter that required giving the other person time to process.
After a moment, Xia Wantang said, "I'm in a taxi now. Where are you? I'll have the driver find you."
"No need. Have the driver stop. I'll come to you."
"Alright."
Xia Wantang asked the driver to stop the car and gave the address to the person on the phone.
She got out of the car by the roadside. There was a milk tea shop nearby, so she walked straight into it.