Marrying into wealth is every girl's dream, and it was no different for Lu Er. But what she never expected was for her dream to become a nightmare after successfully marrying into a wealthy family.
Over the past three years, countless labels have been thrust upon Lu Er.
Homewrecker.
Cunning bitch.
Gold-digger.
Even scum.
Three years ago, her best friend, Li Qingqing, fell down the stairs and lay in a pool of blood – a scene Lu Er had witnessed with her own eyes.
But what she hadn't expected was that Li Qingqing would accuse her of causing the fall.
The child, yet to be born, was gone.
This was the child of Li Qingqing and Xu Lin.
Even till now, Lu Er couldn't understand why Li Qingqing suddenly arranged a meeting at the hospital staircase, only to confess to her how much she loved Xu Lin during their meeting.
Lu Er knew of Li Qingqing's love for Xu Lin, and upon realizing that Li Qingqing was carrying Xu Lin's child, she had decided to let him go and was prepared to sincerely wish them well.
But Li Qingqing fell right in front of her, from the stairway. She intended to catch Li Qingqing but was just a split second too late. She then had to watch as Li Qingqing tumbled all the way to the bottom of the stairs, a pool of blood forming under her.
What followed was the arrival of a frantic Xu Lin, who pushed aside the stunned Lu Er standing at the top of the stairs. Losing all sanity at the sight of Li Qingqing lying on the floor,
Xu Lin, a once-composed and stoic man, he held Li Qingqing's body, sobbing uncontrollably, crying like a heartbroken child entirely in front of her.
In the end, Li Qingqing’s child didn't make it, and Li Qingqing herself, after several days in the hospital, committed suicide when Xu Lin was not around.
She left a note, went to the river's edge, and vanished into the Huangpu River with a single leap.
Yet, by some twist of fate, she, Lu Er, became Xu Lin’s wife.
…
It was late at night.
Lu Er was the only one in the spacious room.
She received a text message from Xu Lin, which caused her eyebrows to furrow and her face to become extremely unpleasant. She tidied up hastily and prepared to head out.
Outside the window, heavy rain was falling. Lu Er got out of a taxi, holding tightly onto a man's coat in her arms, and rushed towards a high-end bar.
She took out her phone and saw the instructions: Mona Lisa Bar, Second Floor, Room 204. Standing at the door, she compared the numbers on the door with those in the text message. When she confirmed that they matched, she finally exhaled, tidied herself up hurriedly, and gently pushed open the door.
Xu Lin had texted her saying he had too much to drink and wasn't feeling well. He asked her to bring him a coat, so here she was at Mona Lisa, braving the pouring rain, not even thinking to put on a coat herself.
Yet, when she pushed the door open, after carefully surveying the room, she didn't spot Xu Lin.
Could he have gotten the room number wrong?
Just as she was about to turn around to make a phone call, she barely opened the door before someone behind her suddenly grabbed her.
"Hey, this young lady isn't bad. Come, give me a kiss," a large, alcohol-scented figure lunged towards her.
"Ah!" Lu Er shrieked, shocked and thrown off by the sudden intrusion.
"Who are you, what do you want, let go of me!"
After regaining her senses, Lu Er immediately tried to push away this unfamiliar man.
"Darling, quit playing innocent. Those of your profession, still wanting to pose as virtuous?" As he spoke, the man forcefully pulled her and threw her directly onto the sofa in the corner.
The music in the private room was deafening. Lu Er's cries for help didn't reach anyone's ears, and even if they did, people were too accustomed to such things to intervene; a few men even glanced their way and sneered.
"Let go of me!" Lu Er guarded her chest tightly, struggling with all her might, "I'm not a prostitute, if you continue, I'll call the police."
Upon hearing this, the fat man's groping hand on her chest paused for a moment. He pressed her down on the sofa and looked down at her, "Not a prostitute? Then you must be a slut?"
Immediately after, he let out a lecherous laugh and approached her again, leaving a trail of hickeys on her neck.
"Help!" Lu Er kicked violently, her hands were pinned down by the man. Feeling his dirty marks imprinting inch by inch on her skin, she was so uncomfortable that she wanted to cry.
With a "rip" sound, her already thin blouse was torn apart by the man, exposing a large amount of her smooth skin.
The man's eyes blazed even more brightly. Lu Er struggled to turn her head away, hoping for someone to help her.
"Look, boss Wang, you've caught a real beauty today. Can't even wait, can you?” The group laughed, toasting their drinks, watching under the colorful lights the vulgar scene unfolding in the corner.
“Stop!” Lu Er continued to resist with all her strength. But how could she, so frail, fend off this burly guy? The man forcefully left a scratch across her chest.
Lu Er closed her eyes in despair.
All she wanted was to fulfill her duties as a wife by delivering a coat to her husband. How could something like this happen to her?
The man started to hastily unbuckle his belt. Lu Er tried to get up again, but as soon as she attempted to rise, he saw through her plan and slapped her brutally across the face.
"Ah!" The pain was so intense; she felt dizzy and was thrown back onto the couch like a rag doll by the man.
Just then, the door opened.
Lu Er's body collapsed like a corpse, but seeing the figure who pushed open the door, she immediately found the strength to fight back.
"Xu Lin, save me!" Lu Er shouted towards the door.
Lu Er's cry made the man who was ripping her pants off halt his actions, and the people at the door were caught off guard.
"Xu Lin, I'm here, help!"
Seeing Xu Lin not moving, Lu Er tried to push the man away, but was helpless under his heavy body and could hardly move.
Xu Lin, standing at the doorway, followed the faint voice. The music in the box was too loud. He frowned slightly and pressed the switch next to him.
The music stopped and the light turned on in an instant.
Everyone was yet to adapt to the sudden flood of light; they squinted their eyes.
All eyes were drawn towards Xu Lin, who just entered. Seizing the moment, Lu Er lifted her knee and hit the pudgy man in the groin.
"Ah!" A pig-like scream echoed through the room as the fat man clinched his jewels and slumped onto the floor, his face contorting in pain.
Lu Er quickly got up and wanted to run towards Xu Lin, but the man on the ground grabbed her ankle. She fell harshly to the ground, caught off guard.
"Bitch, dare to hurt me, I will take your life!" The fat man got up quickly and viciously kicked her waist.
"Ah!" The kick was so forceful that Lu Er was unable to make a sound for a moment. It was this kick that sent her sprawling at Xu Lin's feet.
At this moment, Lu Er's clothes were already in tatters, revealing her black undergarment. Had the situation not been so awkward, the men who were enjoying this spectacle might have already been leering at her.
"Mr. Xu, this is indeed a bit embarrassing," the overweight man adjusted his disheveled clothes, grimacing from the pain in his lower body, and gave Xu Lin a forced smile.
"This woman seemed to have called out your name, Mr. Xu. Could it be that she's the woman you invited?" The overweight man asked Xu Lin with a smirk, "If it's true, I would be intruding then."
The rest of the people in the room drew a sharp breath upon hearing his words.
Xu Lin's woman?
This Mr. Wang was from out of town and perhaps he was unaware of Xu Lin's temperament. He was a renowned iceberg in the industry, a man who was brilliant in what he did. If one really touched his woman, could they bear the consequences?
Lu Er felt dizzy, her eyes weakly stared up at Xu Lin's face.
Not only was she Xu Lin's woman, but she was also Xu Lin's wife.
But, would he admit it?
"No, I don't know her.” Xu Lin answered indifferently, after shooting a brief glance over her, his gaze quickly wandered away.