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Zhong Shuning, the adopted daughter of the Zhong family, was ousted from her home on the very night her fiancé arm-in-arm with a new lover topped entertainment headlines.
 
Scandals swirled around her as she later became entangled with the most powerful man in the city. Society mocked her as nothing more than a passing plaything for Mr. He's whims.
 
But what none realized was this:
 
The moment he laid eyes on her,
 
he conceived a scheme as audacious as moonlight poaching —
 
to steal the moon that rightly belonged to the heavens.

Orchestrated Romance

Encounter 004: The Savage Accusation

The accusation hung in the air like a venomous snake.

"He Wenli." Zhong Zhaoqing's forced smile froze on his face. "You...you're here to..."

"Clarify rumors?" He Wenli stepped forward, his polished oxford shoes clicking against marble. The hotel's crystal chandeliers reflected off his black trench coat - the same one now draped over Zhong Shuning's shoulders like armor.

Chen Zui held up his phone, screen glowing with security footage. "Sir requested surveillance footage from tonight." His tone suggested he'd enjoy watching the Zhongs burn.

Zhou Boyu's sneer died mid-air. "You...you can't be serious!"

"Serious?" He Wenli's voice dropped to a predator's growl. "Your fiancée called my car 'wild man's gift'. Interesting choice of metaphor."

Zhong Shuning's gaze met his through the crowd. In that instant, their unspoken pact crystallized - this was no rescue mission, but a mutual hunt.

"Let me refresh your memory." He Wenli's gloved hand gently lifted Zhong Shuning's chin. The gesture drew gasps as it publicly claimed ownership. "Last week in my penthouse..."

"Enough!" Zhou Boyu lunged, fists clenched.

He Wenli sidestepped with balletic grace, his other hand pulling out a velvet box. "To celebrate our new acquaintance, allow me..." He snapped open the lid to reveal an emerald signet ring - identical to the one on his finger.

"Wait!" Zhong Mingyue shrieked, clutching Zhou Boyu's arm. "This is what she meant by 'other men'!"

Zhou Boyu paled beneath his tan. That ring - seen only in family portraits of He Wenli's late grandfather - was worth more than his entire inheritance.

He Wenli turned to Zhong Shuning, his eyes darkening. "Shall we continue our conversation in private?"

Outside, rain lashed against black limousines. Chen Zui lit a cigar, watching through tinted windows as He Wenli's hand slid possessively down Zhong Shuning's spine.

"Not yet." He Wenli's gaze lingered on Zhong Shuning's trembling lips. "Let them stew a while longer."

Inside, the Zhongs' screams echoed down the hall.

"Traitor!" Zhong Zhaoqing slammed his fist against wall art worth more than his daughter's dignity. "You'll regret crossing the He family!"

He Wenli's laughter echoed through the marble halls. "Regret? My grandfather built this city's financial district. Your ancestors served as his chauffeurs."

Chen Zui added fuel to the fire through the intercom: "Oh I forgot to mention - your precious Zhou Boyu's company holds 40% debt in He Group subsidiaries."

As alarms blared, He Wenli finally removed his coat from Zhong Shuning's shoulders. The gesture was brutal in its intimacy - he pressed the emerald ring directly onto her wound.

"Pain is good." His breath warmed her ear. "It reminds you who owns you now."

The ring's sharp edges bit into flesh as Zhong Shuning gasped. In this moment, she understood - He Wenli didn't want her loyalty. He wanted her suffering transformed into something useful.

Outside, rain began to taper. Chen Zui checked his watch. "Your flight to Singapore leaves in three hours."

He Wenli adjusted his cufflinks, the emerald ring now secured on Zhong Shuning's finger like a shackle. "Make arrangements. I want her out of China by dawn."

As they departed, Zhong Shuning stared at her reflection in the hotel mirror - a stranger wearing emerald and rain, walking away from everything she'd ever known.

chapter 4