Inside the villa.

Luo Ke escorted Luo Xiaoqian to the door of her bedroom on the second floor.

"Or, perhaps we could take a walk by the seaside..." Luo Ke suggested from behind her.

"I’m a bit tired, not really in the mood." Luo Xiaoqian turned on the light, apologetically replying, "I just... want to think it over..."

"Alright then." Luo Ke shrugged with a smile, "If you need anything, just ask the maid to get me, and my door will always be open to you."

"Okay, thank you."

Luo Ke looked at her expectantly, "May I have a goodnight kiss?!"

Luo Xiaoqian stood awkwardly, lowering her face, "Luo Ke, I... I’m not used to kissing strangers... I mean... I’m not saying you’re a stranger, it’s just that..."

Luo Ke watched her adorable nervousness and just chuckled.

His Sissi, truly adorable.

Raising her hand gently, Luo Ke lifted her palm like a gentleman, "Then, may I kiss your hand, Miss Sissi?!"

Luo Xiaoqian, unable to refuse him again, nodded slightly.

Bringing her hand to his lips, Luo Ke gently kissed the back of her hand, his dark green eyes filled with affection as they rested on her face.

"I won’t force you, I’ll wait for the day you fall in love with me again, Sissi, goodnight!"

"Goodnight." Luo Xiaoqian gave him a slight smile.

Stepping back, Luo Ke turned and headed upstairs.

Watching him go downstairs, Luo Xiaoqian finally closed the door, glancing at the faint mark left on her hand where he had kissed. She turned and went to the bathroom, turning on the faucet to wash her hands.

Even though he always said they used to be very much in love, deep down, Luo Xiaoqian had a subconscious resistance to Luo Ke’s closeness, something she hadn’t even realized herself.

As she washed her face, Luo Xiaoqian looked up at her reflection in the mirror.

It was a very beautiful, delicate face, with long black hair cascading silkily over her shoulders.

Her skin was porcelain white, her brows long and fine, her eyes shining black, her lips as pink as cherry blossoms...

Luo Xiaoqian raised her hand, gently caressing her cheek.

Is this really how she looked?!

Noticing the necklace peeking out from her collar, she curiously reached her fingers to pull it out, revealing a shining key below.

It wasn’t a decorative key; it was a real key.

A key?!

Why was she wearing a key around her neck?!

Luo Xiaoqian slowly lifted the key dangling from the necklace. Under the bathroom light, the silver key reflected an eye-catching gleam.

...

"Without my permission, you’re not allowed to take it off, not even when bathing!"

...

In her mind, a domineering voice suddenly echoed, along with fragmented flashes of memories like light and shadow.

Luo Xiaoqian stared at the key in her hand, trying to catch those clues, when the bathroom door was suddenly pulled open from the outside.

She turned around in shock, seeing a tall figure in black workwear standing outside the door, looking at her. His face was covered with a black mask, revealing only a pair of deep, night-like eyes filled with surprise.

Such a gaze was like a pearl diver discovering a large lost pearl at the bottom of the ocean, or a passerby finding a very important belonging long lost, thrilled to the point of madness.

...

Good afternoon.