Chapter 72: Lodging a Complaint

Who could have known that letting his guard down would lead to such a disaster?

When Xie Junchen woke up the next morning in a hotel near the bar, and saw a naked woman lying beside him, he nearly lost his mind.

“Jin Youqian, I curse you to never win Song Wan’s true affection for the rest of your life!”

Damn it!

A low, pained moan escaped from the woman on the bed as she furrowed her brows. Even that single sound sent an inexplicable ripple through Xie Junchen’s heart. Suddenly, last night’s loss of control flashed vividly in his mind.

Strangely, a wave of nervousness washed over him.

The woman’s long, curled lashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes. At first, she seemed not fully awake, a haze of confusion in her gaze as she looked at Xie Junchen—adorable and alluring. But that daze lasted barely two seconds before her eyes cleared, and when she looked at him again, her gaze was icy and appraising.

“Was it you who seduced me last night?” Her tone was cold.

Seduced? Xie Junchen’s face darkened. “Beauty, don’t go making baseless accusations. Last night was entirely consensual. If you insist on naming it, call it mutual seduction. I get that waking up next to a stranger can be hard to accept, but shifting all the blame onto me…?”

He narrowed his eyes, his tone tinged with mockery. “Isn’t that a bit unfair?”

If they were being honest, it was she who had thrown herself at him last night. Sure, he had gone along with it, but hadn’t Jin Youqian set him up in the first place? He was already primed and ready; his usual self-control had long since vanished.

On his vacation, he wasn’t about to let himself suffer. With someone coming to his arms, he saw no reason to refuse.

The woman clearly hadn’t expected him to be so shameless, and tried to get up to strike him. But the exertion of the previous night had left her utterly drained. She barely managed to lift herself before collapsing back onto the bed.

Xie Junchen glanced at her and silently turned his head. How awkward…

She hadn’t anticipated such a predicament either. Her face flushed red with anger, but her glare had lost all its power.

He cleared his throat. “About last night—I wasn’t exactly in my right mind. You, on the other hand…” Xie Junchen’s face burned with embarrassment. “You can’t blame me for everything.”

He felt wronged, too. Was he not just stating a fact? Jin Youqian had set him up, and this was the result.

Still, he didn’t suspect the current situation was another of Jin Youqian’s schemes. He knew Jin Youqian well enough to trust that he was only out to teach him a lesson, not to drag an innocent woman into it.

The woman’s expression remained hostile.

Xie Junchen, who was never one to suffer a loss, was already fuming from Jin Youqian’s trap. He’d been humble long enough, and now being met with her attitude, his own temper flared. “Listen, I never lie about these things. You were the one who climbed on top of me last night. If we’re assigning blame, look to yourself first.”

A slight smirk curled Xie Junchen’s lips, a trace of contempt in his expression.

Though dissatisfied, he hadn’t planned to shirk responsibility. It was just that his intention to preserve a bit of dignity for this obviously drunken woman had vanished.

Her heart stung at his words, all color draining from her face.

After a moment’s serious reflection, she lowered her eyes. “I apologize. I misunderstood.”

They were both adults. Though she still resented having ended up in bed with a stranger, as the man said, she had been the one to make the first move. She couldn’t blame him. After all, they’d met in a bar—a place where people often sought one-night stands. If someone threw themselves at you…

The woman—Ji Youning—clenched her brows in pain.

Seeing her discomfort, Xie Junchen thought he’d been too harsh and wanted to apologize, but his pride held him back, leaving him looking sheepish.

Ji Youning took a steadying breath before sitting up. “Sir, we’re both adults and both at fault. Let’s just consider last night a dream. I hope…” She hesitated, squeezing her eyes shut, “if we ever meet again, please pretend not to know me.”

It was clear the man was wealthy and powerful—someone well beyond her social circle. But if he could show up at that bar, their paths might cross again, and she needed to nip that possibility in the bud.

Relieved, Xie Junchen flashed a roguish grin. “Miss, you haven’t told me your name yet.”

Ji Youning shot him a cold look. “It was just a mistake. There’s no need for us to be acquainted.”

He touched his nose and raised an eyebrow. “If you’re so against it…”

Ji Youning’s fists clenched nervously.

He let a crooked smile play across his lips, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Fine, as you wish. But next time we meet, I’d like to know your name.”

Ji Youning’s expression softened, only for Xie Junchen to suddenly lean in close. “But honestly, aren’t you interested in seeing where things could go between us? I think we were quite compatible last night.”

She nearly jumped in fright, barely restraining herself from slapping him.

Though she managed to hold back, her face was anything but pleasant. “Sir…”

Xie Junchen tilted her chin up, inspecting her as one might a cherished rifle. “Call me Junchen. Even if you won’t tell me your name, I don’t mind.” He brushed his lips lightly against hers. “My name is Xie Junchen.”

Ji Youning could hold back no longer, and raised her hand in a swift arc—

Xie Junchen looked at her fair, pretty hand, nodding in satisfaction. “Not bad reflexes, but you forgot—I’m a soldier.”

Taking a swing at a soldier?

“Don’t play such dangerous games next time. If I weren’t on leave…” A flash of danger streaked through his eyes. “That hand of yours would be useless by now.”

The sense of being stalked by a wild predator sent a shudder through Ji Youning, and before she knew it, goosebumps prickled her skin.

Seeing her fear, Xie Junchen softened his expression. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.

Ji Youning, still shaken, only realized she’d been taken advantage of again as he finished dressing and left the hotel room.

She clapped a hand over her face. “What kind of man did I end up with last night? Ah—”

—

Though Song Wan and Jin Youqian had agreed to marry, Song Wan insisted that their relationship remain secret until she had established herself in the entertainment industry.

This current state—countless rumors online, but no one willing to believe them—was actually ideal.

Song Wan called Gao Xiang.

“What did you say? You went to see Mr. Jin? In just that short time, you managed to marry yourself off?” Gao Xiang was nearly hysterical. “Have you lost your mind?”

She couldn’t help but curse. In over twenty years of managing artists, she’d never met one so “reckless.”

Song Wan, embarrassed, tried to explain, “Well… it’s mutually beneficial. He agreed not to make our relationship public and won’t interfere with my career.”

Seeing Gao Xiang still fuming, Song Wan recounted everything Jin Youqian had told her. “I think he made a lot of sense,” she ended.

She’d never planned to pursue love—no daydreams of finding a soulmate, falling in love, and entering a fairytale marriage. Given that, Jin Youqian’s proposal was genuinely tempting and hard to refuse.

Gao Xiang calmed down, slipping into analysis mode.

But no matter how she weighed it, she had to admit Song Wan’s choice was perfectly reasonable.

Looking at it another way—

If Jin Youqian, the richest man in Jiuzhou, proposed to her, would she refuse? Absolutely not; she wasn’t stupid!

Besides, Jin wasn’t just wealthy—he was handsome, charismatic, and had an impeccable reputation. With qualities like that, he was surely coveted not just by women in the entertainment industry, but by countless society heiresses as well.

Thinking of this, Gao Xiang looked at Song Wan with a touch of pity. “Song Wan, do you realize how many rivals you’ll have now that you’ve agreed to marry Mr. Jin?”

Even before today, the mere hint of scandal between them had drawn so much online hatred that the trolls practically built careers out of it.

“You know how many attacks I’ve deflected for you since that rumor broke?” Gao Xiang gave her a look that said she’d seen it all. “A fair number of those were from popular actresses and even some socialites.”

Song Wan paused, as if only now realizing how much Jin Youqian meant to others.

But she soon arched a brow. “If you could handle it before, I’m sure you can keep my work safe from interference now.”

Gao Xiang gave her a long, serious look and sighed. “That was when it was just rumors. In reality, the two of you barely met. But once you’re actually married, even without a wedding, the truly influential people will find out.”

Song Wan’s expression grew grave.

Gao Xiang grew agitated. “I might be able to shield you on set, even leverage Mr. Jin’s name for your protection, but outside of work—Song Wan, you need to be prepared for trouble.”

Song Wan understood, but showed no fear. “As long as my acting isn’t disturbed, they can come at me all they want.”

Gao Xiang looked at her, confused by her confidence.

Song Wan grinned, the tear-shaped beauty mark at her eye dazzling. “Since Mr. Jin wants to be my husband, he’d better take some responsibility. Protecting his wife is a husband’s natural duty.”

Gao Xiang blinked, momentarily thrown.

Song Wan shrugged nonchalantly. “If someone causes trouble and I can’t handle it, I’ll just go complain to him! I don’t buy into that ‘adults must solve everything themselves’ nonsense. Hiding your troubles only hurts yourself and those who care about you. That’s the dumbest thing imaginable, bar none.”