Chapter 1: Quite Skilled, Aren't You?

"I have spent a fortune raising you to this age, and it is time for you to pay me back. You must do exactly as I say, or your sister’s life will be at risk."

Aunt Yue, her face distorted by the jagged scar that marred her features, gave Ning Lu a thorough inspection before wrapping her tightly in a fine red silk cloth.

"You must earn Lu Yanfeng’s trust, help me steal items from the Lu estate, and then follow my instructions to bring about the total ruin of the Lu family!"

Ning Lu and her younger sister, Ning Xiang, had been taken in by Aunt Yue from an orphanage. Aunt Yue often remarked that Ning Lu bore a striking resemblance to "that bitch," and from a young age, she had subjected her to rigorous discipline—teaching her the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, tea ceremony, vocal performance, and the appraisal of antiques, ceramics, and embroidery. Under this tutelage, Ning Lu had been polished into the image of a perfect, high-society socialite.

Her sister, Ning Xiang, however, had been relegated to all the menial chores of the household. Then, on the day Ning Lu reached adulthood, Ning Xiang suddenly vanished; no one knew where Aunt Yue had hidden her. To find her sister, Ning Lu had no choice but to obey Aunt Yue’s every command.

Soon, Ning Lu was delivered to the Lu Manor. It was said that Lu Yanfeng, the master of the Lu family, was a man of Jiangnan origin with a deep passion for ceramics, embroidery, and antiques—a man who could discourse on such subjects with profound expertise. He was rumored to be a gentleman who spent his time playing chess and sipping tea, possessing the gentle, scholarly air of a refined intellectual.

Yet, he was already a man of forty.

As the car slowly drove into the sprawling Lu estate, Ning Lu’s heart began to race, thumping painfully against her ribs at the thought of the master she was meant to serve. The Lu Manor was a grand, traditional Chinese compound of interconnected courtyards and winding corridors. Ning Lu was carried into the innermost old residence and laid upon Lu Yanfeng’s bed, still swaddled in the red silk.

Like a concubine of old awaiting an imperial summons, she huddled beneath the covers, trembling.

Time passed.

The rapid sound of polished leather shoes clicking against the wooden floorboards echoed down the corridor, sending a chill of terror through Ning Lu. Someone was coming.

The man stood by the bed for a long moment, watching her, before finally settling into a mahogany chair opposite. Ning Lu’s heart drummed like a war beat; she peeked out from a corner of the quilt. From her angle, she could only see his crossed legs and the gleaming black leather of his shoes.

After a long while, the man spoke, his voice slow and languid: "Come here."

The tone was icy, devoid of any warmth. Ning Lu shuddered, not daring to delay, and climbed out of bed, still wrapped in the red silk.

The man reached out and tilted her chin upward. "Afraid of me?"

Fear made her stutter as she tried to answer. He let out a low, dark chuckle that crawled into her ears, making her skin crawl.

"Look at me," he commanded.

Ning Lu was forced to look up, and only then did she see his face. The man before her did not look like a man of forty; he appeared to be roughly her own age. His skin was fair, and his features were handsome, though with a certain wicked, ruthless edge.

He seemed momentarily stunned upon seeing her face. Ning Lu had always been beautiful, with eyes that could bewitch, and wrapped in the red silk, half-hidden and half-revealed, she looked all the more exquisite.

He steadied himself, eyes fixed on the silk cloth, and ordered, "Take it off."

Ning Lu’s face burned with shame; she had never been seen by a man before. But for the sake of her sister, she lowered her head and tremblingly unfastened the cloth. As the silk fell away, her pale skin was exposed to the light.

He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "A nice figure."

The sensation of being touched by a man for the first time sent a dizzying, electric jolt through her, leaving her flushed from head to toe.

"Do you know how to serve a man?" he asked, his voice rough.

Ning Lu shook her head. A flash of fanaticism and cruelty flickered in his eyes. "I will teach you."

Ning Lu felt as though she were suffocating, yet she dared not resist. *For my sister, for my sister... I must endure this.*

With that resolve, Ning Lu slowly knelt before him, bowing her head in humiliation. The fire in the man’s eyes flared instantly. "Clench it!" he commanded.

Watching her fumbling, desperate efforts, his eyes burned with even greater intensity. "You’re quite talented."

A buzzing filled Ning Lu’s ears, her cheeks burned with pain, and sweat rolled down her forehead in beads.

"Continue," he sneered.

Suddenly, the booming voice of a bodyguard echoed through the door: "Young Master, the Master has returned!"

The atmosphere in the room vanished in an instant. Ning Lu froze, her eyes locked on the door, fear washing over her like a tide. This man was not Lu Yanfeng!

It was... it was the Lu family’s eldest son—Lu Hongyu!

Lu Hongyu reacted with lightning speed. With the tip of his shoe, he hooked the red silk and threw it over Ning Lu, pinning her shoulders and dragging her back onto the bed. He quickly threw on his coat and sat upright by the bedside, sipping tea with an air of leisure, as if nothing had happened.

Hearing the door open, Ning Lu peeked out from the quilt. A man in a black suit stepped in with a brisk, powerful stride. He wore a deep gray cashmere overcoat, his hair cut short and neat. With gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose and his collar perfectly crisp, he looked both elegant and noble.

Lu Hongyu set down his teacup and looked up slowly. "Father."

Ning Lu’s heart skipped a beat, and she nearly bit her tongue. Was this imposing, charismatic man the Lu Yanfeng she was supposed to serve?

Lu Yanfeng’s gaze fell upon the bundle on the bed, and he smiled faintly. "You’ve worked hard."

Lu Hongyu squeezed Ning Lu’s hand through the quilt, waiting a few seconds before replying, "Indeed, it was hard work."

Lu Yanfeng took off his gray overcoat and hung it on the rack by the door, revealing a brand-new suit beneath. He walked straight toward the mahogany chair and sat down with grace.

A trace of their recent intimacy remained on the armrest, catching the light from the chandelier. He frowned, brushing his fingertips lightly over the spot.

Ning Lu’s body went rigid, her heart pounding uncontrollably. Fortunately, he only paused for a few seconds before wiping the surface clean, his expression unchanging, saying nothing.

"A new shipment has arrived at the company. Go and inspect it yourself."

Lu Hongyu pulled out another mahogany chair. "There’s no rush. I wanted to see my future stepmother."

Lu Yanfeng’s expression darkened instantly. "Haven't you seen enough?"

Seeing his father’s anger, Lu Hongyu shrugged. "The older you get, the more you enjoy a joke. I’m going."

Lu Yanfeng closed his eyes and said no more. Lu Hongyu rose and left. Just as his foot reached the threshold, Lu Yanfeng’s authoritative voice rang out: "Button your coat; it’s cold outside."

Lu Hongyu paused, then closed the door behind him with a cynical smile.

Only Ning Lu and Lu Yanfeng remained in the room. He leaned back in the mahogany chair, facing the empty space as if asking Ning Lu, "My wayward son—he didn't frighten you, did he?"

Ning Lu’s heart leaped into her throat. She scrambled off the bed and knelt at his feet, her voice trembling as she replied, "No... no, Master."

Lu Yanfeng glanced at her, startled for a moment, before quickly averting his eyes. "Why aren't you wearing any clothes?"