After Su Li left his room, Xiao Luo immediately cleared all traces of the previous night. He then stepped into the bathroom to bath, but as he saw himself in the mirror, he was shocked to notice the love marks Su Li had left on his neck. She had been under the influence of the drug and acted wantonly, and in her interest, Xiao Luo would have to make sure that no one found out about this.

“These would take at least two to three days to wear off.”

Xiao Luo would have to think of a way to conceal them for the next few days.

Before leaving for Su Li’s apartment, he turned up the collar of his shirt and pulled over a black woolen sweater. Satisfied that the marks were properly concealed, he headed over for breakfast.

It was part of the arrangements that Aunt Lee would be responsible for preparing his daily meals, allowing Xiao Luo to focus on his role as Su Xiaobei’s surrogate father. When he got there, only Aunt Lee was present, and she was busy setting the table. He was expecting Su Xiaobei to run down any time to greet him, but there was no sign of her.

“Xiaobei was waiting for you and Miss Su to return last night. She waited a long time and slept really late. She hasn’t woken up yet,” Aunt Lee said.

“Oh, I see.”

Xiao Luo acknowledged with a nod, then sat down on the dining table, and as the breakfast had prepared, he helped himself.

As he was having his breakfast, Aunt Lee went to him, looking like she had something on her mind. She took a glance at the second floor and keeping her voice low, she asked, “Mr. Xiao, do you know what happened? Miss Su doesn’t look in good condition. She went back to her room after she came to my room to check on Xiaobei, and I think she has been crying a lot. She hasn’t come out since, and she didn’t respond when I called her for breakfast. I’m quite worried…”

“Maybe something bad happened to her?”

Xiao Luo didn’t know what else to say, and that just blurted out… he couldn’t possibly be telling her the truth about last night, could he?

Aunt Lee shook her head and said, “That can’t be it. I was once a young maiden too. Miss Su looks like…” After looking around to make sure that no one else was around, she whispered, “…it seemed to me like her first time… you know, her maidenhood?”

Xiao Luo swore he felt his spirit leave his body for a brief moment. The older they are, the wiser indeed. Aunt Lee had even figured that out…

“A-hem…”

Xiao Luo coughed and put on his best expression of a solemn face. He then said, “Aunt Lee, I think it’d be better if we don’t gossip about Miss Su’s affairs.”

Aunt Lee visibly stiffened and nodded her head several times. “Err… you’re right, Mr. Xiao. I’ve spoken too much.” She felt the blood rush to her face, realizing that it was taboo to gossip about her employer’s personal affairs. She looked at Xiao Luo nervously with guilt written all over her face. “Mr. Xiao, I…”

“Don’t worry, it happens… I won’t mention it,” Xiao Luo said, he smiled then returned to his breakfast.

“Thank you.”

A look of relief washed over Aunt Lee’s face, and she was smiling once again.

Shortly after, Luo Pingxiang walked in, and she was accompanied by Su Li’s manager—Chai Zhiying.

She had an oval-shaped face with well-proportioned features, not what you would call beauty, but she was reasonably attractive and appealing. Her short black hair was slicked back, giving her an imposing demeanor, and she was dressed in black business attire.

The moment she saw Xiao Luo, Chai Zhiying glared at him with a loathsome expression. Of course, she had known that Su Li intended to hire Xiao Luo as Su Xiaobei’s surrogate father. As it was Su Li’s insistence, she couldn’t interfere, but that didn’t stop her from hating Xiao Luo.

She couldn’t refrain from a vicious sneer. “As neatly dressed as you try to be, you’re still a bumpkin as far as I’m concerned. So, don’t try too hard!”

In her eyes, Xiao Luo was nothing more than a penniless slug struggling at the very bottom of the social hierarchy, a hanger-on trying to fit into their level in society.

“Who farted so early in the morning? It sure stinks. Miss Luo, do you smell that awful stench?” Xiao Luo retorted, waving his hand in front of his nose.

Luo Pingxiang froze in shock. She was terribly afraid of Chai Zhiying, who was a stern and domineering woman. She was often reprimanded by Chai Zhiying and sometimes felt like she was a mere handmaiden serving an ill-tempered empress. So, when Xiao Luo spouted those words, her eyes nearly popped out, and she was giving him the faintest shake of her head, as she inconspicuously tried to signal for him to not provoke Chai Zhiying.

Chai Zhiying was so infuriated that she shouted back at him, “You better believe that I will get you, and I’ll kick your sorry *as out of Xiahai, you hear me!”

Xiao Luo calmly turned to face her and said, “My apologies, I don’t believe you can… but you can try.”

“Grr, You…”

Chai Zhiying snarled, gritting her teeth with clenched fists.

A door opened on the second floor, and Su Li came walking down the stairs. She was in a white pleated skirt, and her hair was neatly pulled back in a classic chignon. She was elegant as always, but she looked slightly fatigued and unwell.

“Sis, are you alright, is there anything wrong with you?”

Luo Pingxiang was concerned and quickly went to support her.

Xiao Luo held himself back, feeling the urge to rush over and help her as well. The first time was always special to a girl, and so too for Xiao Luo. Although they were not in a relationship, it was an indisputable fact that Su Li was his first, and there was a natural instinct for him to protect her.

“I’m fine, there’s no need to help me.”

Su Li gestured to Luo Pingxiang as she slowly walked down the upstairs. She kept her composure well, but she sat down at the dining table, a cold sweat broke out, and her face turned pale.

“Maybe you should get more rest?” Xiao Luo said.

Su Li glared at him, and there was a hint of resentment in the way she looked. But she said nothing and quietly ate her breakfast.

“Su Li, are you feeling unwell?” Chai Zhiying looked at Su Li with some concern.

“Caught a cold, that’s all,” Su Li said.

“About the event today…”

“Drop it.”

Su Li cut her off with just two words.

Chai Zhiying frowned. “Drop it? But this is Mr. Lee’s…”

“I said, drop it!”

Su Li raised her head, and her tone made it clear that she would tolerate no objection.

Chai Zhiying was stunned, unsure why Su Li was reacting this way, but she backed off with a nod. “Okay, then.”

Chai Zhiying duly called Mr. Lee to informed him, and she expressed her sincere apologies. She offered to pay the default and assured him that they would make it up to him, ensuring opportunities for future events.

The doorbell rang.

And, when Aunt Lee opened the door, it was none other than Yang Hongzhi.

Yang Hongzhi walked in hurriedly, but he tried to appear that he wasn’t. Last night, he had persuaded Su Li’s mother to spike Su Li’s drink with a potent drug he had shipped in from abroad. He had vile intentions as the drug could turn even the most devout nun into a harlot. But his well-laid plans went awry as after all the arrangements were made, someone showed up unexpectedly and took Su Li away. Based on Su Li’s mother’s description, he immediately suspected it was Xiao Luo.

He had wanted to show up even last night, but he would’ve given himself away if he had done so. As such, he had to endure until now before he could come over to find out more, and he’d not be able to accept it if his bride-to-be had already been tarnished by someone else.

Now that he was here, his heart was thumping wildly. He felt restless, hoping that Su Li was still untainted—and praying for that the aphrodisiac would not be as effective as advertised.

“Yang Hongzhi, what are you doing here?!”

Su Li screamed and slammed her hand on the table.

Yang Hongzhi shuddered as guilt played on his mind. But he pulled himself together, attempted a nervous smile, and said, “Ah, look at yourself, Su Li, so unwelcoming, haha… I was just passing by on my morning run, so I got you breakfast…”

…