He tricked the female lead into becoming his boyfriend, but then went on to criticize the male lead.

"Okay, Mom." Sang Jiuning obediently replied and turned to go back to her bedroom.

She took out a new blue spaghetti strap mini dress from L brand. The fabric was smooth, the cut was slim, and it accentuated her waistline perfectly. There was also a delicate cutout design at the back waist, making her look both innocent and alluring.

Paired with white high-heeled sandals, pearl lace straps wrapped around the ankles, the look is exquisite and gentle.

But as soon as she was dressed and standing in front of the mirror, Sang Jiuning instantly regretted it.

This dress is way too revealing!

The halter top was thin, exposing most of her shoulders, and the cutout at her lower back subtly revealed her skin. She usually dressed conservatively, and this outfit made her feel uncomfortable, as if every move she made was particularly eye-catching.

But when she thought of her mother saying that the warm-up party was a gathering and that she had to dress appropriately and nicely, and that it wouldn't be good to change out of her old clothes, she could only grit her teeth and feel secretly annoyed.

At exactly four o'clock in the afternoon, Sang Jiuning received a WeChat message confirming that Wen Zhaoci had arrived, to the second.

Sang Jiuning picked up the packaged Totoro tableware, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door to go out.

As soon as she stepped out of the entrance hall, her gaze met Wen Zhaoci's at the door. She froze on the spot, her eyes fixed on him, unable to look away.

Wen Zhaoci had obviously just finished washing up; her dark hair was still slightly damp, with a few loose strands falling softly across her smooth forehead. She had shed her usual coldness and hardness, and gained a touch of laziness and casualness.

He wore a minimalist white V-neck T-shirt, the neckline loose and drooping slightly, vaguely revealing a small section of his fair and delicate collarbone, with smooth and alluring lines.

Thick, straight eyebrows, deep, dark eyes, a high and defined nose, and a clean, sharp jawline—his face was flawless, like a character model straight out of an anime. Standing in the sunlight, he exuded a dazzling youthful energy, yet also possessed an indescribable sexiness.

Sang Jiuning's heart skipped a beat, her cheeks flushed uncontrollably, and she screamed inwardly: It's over, she really is a complete sucker for good looks!

Wen Zhaoci's face is so handsome; he can't take your eyes off him just by standing there. All the impatience I had with him before seemed to have been washed away by his face.

Wen Zhaoci looked up and saw the little girl walking towards him. His pupils suddenly contracted, his eyes lit up instantly, and he even paused for a beat.

His Adam's apple bobbed violently, and he subconsciously swallowed. His gaze fell on her slender waist, and a strong possessiveness surged in his eyes—this waist was too thin and soft. He was afraid that one day he would lose control and break it with a gentle pinch.

He walked towards Sang Jiuning step by step, his body enveloped in a faint fragrance of bathwater. His eyes were fixed on her with intense intensity, fully catching her direct gaze from earlier, and the joy in his heart was almost overflowing.

It had been a whole week since he'd last seen him. The little guy was ignoring him verbally, but his eyes were so honest, staring at him intently.

Wen Zhaoci stopped, leaned closer to her, and spoke slowly in a deep, magnetic voice, tinged with a playful affection: "Baby, do you really not miss me?"

Sang Jiuning suddenly snapped out of her daze, realizing that he had seen her infatuated expression. Her cheeks burned even more intensely, and she frantically tried to look away, feeling both ashamed and annoyed, secretly cursing herself for being so pathetic.

She opened her mouth, originally holding back a strong desire to retort defiantly and loudly say, "Who misses you?" But when the words reached her lips, she met Wen Zhaoci's deep and serious eyes, looking at his stunning and eye-catching face so close to hers, her heart instantly started pounding uncontrollably, and her mind went completely blank.

All her pride, stubbornness, and impatience crumbled at this moment. The words that were on the tip of her tongue took a completely unexpected turn, becoming soft and insincere without her even realizing it, and she blurted out: "Who...who doesn't miss you?"

The moment she finished speaking, Sang Jiuning was stunned. She wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into and disappear. What nonsense was she spouting?!

Wen Zhaoci stood tall and straight, yet exuded a nonchalant laziness. He slowly took long strides, approaching Sang Jiuning step by step.

He was extremely handsome, with deep-set eyes, a high nose bridge, and clear, sharp lips. He was usually the center of attention at school, and now, bathed in the dazzling sunlight, his face was even more blatantly alluring, every line of which seemed meticulously sculpted, exuding an undisguised aggressiveness.

In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of Sang Jiuning, his warm breath gently brushing her forehead. They were so close that she could clearly see the subtle light in his eyes and even smell the crisp cedar scent on his body.

Sang Jiuning's heart skipped a beat, her previously steady breathing suddenly became erratic, and a thin blush uncontrollably rose on her cheeks, spreading from her cheeks all the way to the tips of her ears, burning hot.

She instinctively shrank back, glaring at him with annoyance. Her almond-shaped eyes widened, filled with a hint of coquettish panic, as if afraid that he would lower his head the next second and those crimson lips would really fall.

My mind raced, desperately trying to find a topic to break the awkward silence. My voice trembled slightly: "You...you suddenly moved? Did your family move here too?"

Wen Zhaoci lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow beneath them. The corners of her mouth, which had been smiling, drooped slightly, and her tone was tinged with a touch of melancholy. Her deep voice was filled with a heart-wrenching grievance: "In that family, I was always an outsider. My stepmother and my younger siblings took everything in the house. If I went back, I would just be the extra one, an eyesore, and make myself miserable."

Sang Jiuning's eyes widened in surprise. She knew Wen Zhaoci came from a wealthy family, but she never knew he was in such a situation at home. A pang of sadness welled up in her heart.

She quickly spoke up, her tone tinged with anxious confusion: "You could have stayed in that apartment near the school before, it was close and convenient, why did you suddenly move again?"

Wen Zhaoci looked up, his dark eyes staring straight at her, his eyes filled with even more grievance, like a large, abandoned dog. His voice was soft, full of dependence: "It's too far from you there. I want to see you every day, to see you as soon as I open my eyes or come home."

These words were direct and burning, and Sang Jiuning's heart raced again, her cheeks burned even hotter, and she didn't know how to respond for a moment.

Before she could react, Wen Zhaoci naturally reached out and gently took her wrist, leading her towards the villa next door. The warmth of his fingertips was directly felt, warm yet strong.

"I'm already lonely living alone, so I wanted to be closer to you and decided to move next door to you." Wen Zhaoci pushed open the villa door. The interior was simply and exquisitely decorated, with a cool and aloof atmosphere. It certainly didn't look like a lively place where someone lived for a long time.