"Now, this Court pronounces that the defendant, Ning Kai, is guilty of murder and fraudulent fundraising. He is hereby sentenced to death, with a two-year reprieve!"

Bang.

In the courtroom, the judge's gavel definitively seals Ning Kai's fate.

Upon hearing this, Ning Xi suddenly gets up from her seat, her amber eyes misting over. She stubbornly refuses to let the tears fall, nervously watching Ning Kai.

"Dad…" She chokes as she approaches, wanting to say a word or two to Ning Kai.

Ning Kai, dressed in a white prison uniform, is dragged along by several prison officers. He looks gaunt, his erstwhile charisma completely gone. He looks as if he's aged decades, with even a hint of silver in his hair.

"Xi Xi, trust your father. Your father is not a murderer. These are false accusations. It's a frame-up by my rivals!"

Ning Xi's heart aches.

She naturally believes that her kind father could not possibly be a murderer!

Tears well up in her eyes, her voice grows hoarse, "Dad, don't worry, I will definitely find a way to overturn your conviction and rescue you…"

"This isn't your visiting time. The prisoner needs to return to the prison." The prison officer grows impatient at Ning Xi blocking the way, pushing her aside.

Ning Xi, who was already barely holding herself together, stumbles and falls onto the ground.

Her wrist is scraped raw. It hurts, but she can't cry.

She still has to find a way to save her father…

That's right, Zhan Shaohui.

He is her fiancé, he must have a way.

With desperation, Ning Xi cried and called Zhan Shaohui.

"You're begging me to save your father? Ning Xi, don't be naive. The only reason I planned to marry you was because of your father's wealth. Now that the Ning family is bankrupt and Ning Kai is in jail, why should I bother to bail him out?"

Through the receiver, Zhan Shaohui's words were like a series of sharp daggers, brutally stabbing Ning Xi's heart.

Her lower lip was almost bleeding from biting so hard, her voice trembling, "But the business world knows that the Ning family and Zhan family are about to unite in marriage. Even if you want to call off the marriage, you should at least put on a show. Aren't you afraid it will affect the reputation of the Zhan family?"

"Hmm, indeed, this needs consideration," Zhan Shaohui's nonchalant voice slowly responded, "Since you're begging so earnestly, I'll give you this opportunity. Meet me at the hotel at nine tonight. If you can satisfy me, I'll consider your proposal."

Ning Xi grit her teeth, her blood rushing to her head, "You're kicking me when I'm down!"

He sneered with disdain, "You can take it or leave it."

The tears that had been held back all day broke free.

Zhan Shaohui had made it clear that he would not marry her, yet he wanted her to accompany him in the hotel.

He wanted to treat her like a mistress!

If she doesn't go, what will happen to her father?

When her father ran into trouble, all those so-called friends vanished as if they never knew her. Overcome with anger and sadness, Ning Xi made a grave decision; she would have to dance with the devil.

Arriving at the private room in the hotel where they agreed to meet, Ning Xi knocked on the door...

The door was unlocked.

Her hand trembled as she pushed it open, revealing utter darkness inside.

Her lips tight, her long lashes fluttering.

"Zhan Shao Hui? I'm here as you asked, you... Uh!" Her words were cut off as a sudden sharp shadow flashed in front of her eyes.

A wave of hot and sultry breath approached, vastly different from Zhan Shao Hui's usual scent of cologne, mixed with the smell of alcohol, irritating to her nose.

Before Ning Xi could react, the man grabbed her wrists, arrogantly pinned her hands on either side of her head, pushed her against the door, and attacked her recklessly, like a fearsome lion...

"No, no, Zhan Shao Hui! Calm down..." Ning Xi was scared, her body trembling uncontrollably as she struggled desperately trying to plead for mercy.

But the man had lost his rationality completely.

As her clothing ripped, Ning Xi felt the cold air against her bare skin and shivered involuntarily, then a wave of pain swept over her, hurting so much...

She passed out on the spot...

Beep, beep...

She had no idea how much time had passed when Ning Xi was abruptly awakened by the vibration of her phone on her bedside table.

She struggled to move her body, feeling like she had been cleaved in half. Aching all over, her hanging fingers slowly clenched as she glared at the man sleeping soundly with his back to her on the other side of the bed.

For a moment, she genuinely wanted to kill him, even if it meant dying together!

But the thought of her father still waiting for her to rescue him in prison...

Painfully, she picked up her phone, a message caught her eyes.

The text read: "Ning Xi, hurry back, your father was in a car accident on his way to prison and his life is currently hanging by a thread!"

The moment Ning Xi saw the message, it felt like her blood had frozen. She abruptly sat up from the bed, exacerbating her wounds and causing her face to turn as pale as paper.

But it didn't matter to her. Hastily, she threw on some clothes and staggered out of the room...

How could there be a sudden car accident? He was completely fine before!

Little did she know that the moment she left, a gentle breeze slowly drifted in through the window, causing the curtains to sway gently. The serene, radiant moonlight poured through the gaps in the curtains onto the bed, illuminating the man's face.

His prominent nose, cold and stern facial features, beautifully and intricacy combined as if sculptured by a divine hand. Even in his sleep, his eyebrows were habitually furrowed.

It was a face that shared some similarity with Zhan Shao Hui's, except... it was not Zhan Shao Hui!