In these eight years, have you ever thought of me?

Ji Qingran still liked Su Yiyi’s social media post.

She had no intention of contacting Lu Tingyuan. He was likely too occupied with his own pleasures to bother replying to her messages.

She called a ride-hailing service, and out of concern for her safety so late at night, she waited until the driver was nearly there before stepping out. Upon leaving the office, she saw a car parked by the side of the road with its hazard lights flashing. The driver honked once to signal her as she approached.

Ji Qingran climbed into the backseat and closed her eyes to rest. It was nearly one in the morning, and she was exhausted, hoping to steal a moment of sleep. The driver waited a moment before slowly pulling away. He seemed to say something, but she didn’t quite catch it from the back and replied distractedly, "Just follow the GPS."

She fell asleep just like that.

When she finally opened her eyes, she realized someone was sitting next to her. It was a man.

Startled, Ji Qingran was about to cry out, but the person beside her chuckled. "Ranran, don't be afraid. It’s me."

The car lights were off, so she couldn't see his face, but the voice felt hauntingly familiar. Her groggy mind turned for a moment before she realized it was Lu Weian. She looked outside; the car had stopped in an unfamiliar, silent place, illuminated only by the dim, yellow glow of distant streetlights.

"Why is it you?"

Lu Weian found her dazed expression adorable. He laughed softly and said, "Ranran, from now on, leave work with your colleagues. Don't work so late. It’s too dangerous for you to be alone."

Ji Qingran frowned. In the darkness, she could only see a blurred silhouette close to her, and she could distinctly smell his men’s cologne. She could also feel his body heat—it was intense. She leaned back, trying to put as much distance between them as possible, but the car was small, and there was nowhere to hide.

Lu Weian followed her movement, his voice low and teasing, as if casting a spell in the night air. "Ranran, the way you shrink away from me makes you look like a frightened little rabbit."

As he spoke, he leaned forward, his breath brushing against her ear, his tone becoming increasingly intimate. "What are you afraid of? Me? Is there anything about me to fear?"

Ji Qingran had nowhere left to retreat; her back was pressed against the car door, and the man’s unique scent felt suffocating, making her heart tighten. "Lu Weian, what exactly do you want?"

She reached behind her to open the door, but it didn't budge—it was locked. Lu Weian continued to press closer, his proximity stifling. She guessed what he wanted and knew that struggling or screaming would be useless. The only way out was to stall him and coax him into letting her go.

"Don't do this." She reached out to block his advance, but the firm, muscular sensation beneath her fingertips only made her heart race faster.

"Don't be afraid, Ranran. Don't be afraid of me."

Lu Weian seemed gentle on the surface, but deep down, he was just as ruthlessly assertive as Lu Tingyuan. He braced one hand against the car door, trapping her within his aura. His other hand stroked her cheek, eventually coming to rest on her earlobe. His voice was husky, seductive.

"I didn't finish what I was saying last time. Ranran, I said I have regrets. All these years, I’ve regretted breaking off our engagement. I miss you—so, so much. Every time I see Wanrou, I can't help but think of you."

He rubbed her earlobe with his thumb, a gesture of intimacy between lovers. "Now, Ranran, tell me: in these past eight years, have you ever thought of me?"

"No." Unable to stand his touch, Ji Qingran tried to brush his hand away, but he caught her wrist and pinned it down. He leaned in so close their noses almost touched, leaving her no room to escape. His movements weren't rough—in fact, they were even more tender than Lu Tingyuan’s—but his voice was laced with a toxic edge.

"Little liar."

He chuckled softly and leaned down, biting gently at her chin. "You really haven't thought of me? Not even once?"

"I..." Ji Qingran’s voice trembled. She was trying to placate him, not get involved with him. But he was too overbearing, and she was at a loss. "Lu Weian, please don't do this. Even if you have regrets, the engagement is over. Your fiancée is Ji Wanrou."

He remained unmoved, his nose brushing against her chin as he moved upward, clearly intending to kiss her. Her heart pounded like a drum, and she was forced to remind him, "I’m with Lu Tingyuan. Lu Weian, I’ve been dating your brother for six years."

Lu Weian froze. After a long silence, he spoke again, his voice strained. "Have you... slept with Lu Tingyuan?"

Ji Qingran didn't answer.

He sighed, his tone filled with disappointment, though a stifled, mocking laugh soon took its place. "Right. Of course you have."

He suddenly reached out, his fingertips grazing her chin to lift her face, forcing her to look at him, even though she could only see his blurred outline in the dark. He wanted her eyes to see only him.

"Ranran, Lu Tingyuan doesn't love you. He only sleeps with you because you were once my fiancée. Ever since we were children, he has always wanted everything I possessed—you are no exception. He’s been with you for six years; he’s long since grown tired of you. Now, the girl he likes is that girl named Yiyi."

Ji Qingran wanted to refute him, but the word "tired" left her with no argument. Hadn't Lu Tingyuan grown tired of her?

"Ranran, I don't mind. I don't mind your past with Lu Tingyuan."

Lu Weian suddenly gripped her shoulders, pinning her firmly against the seat. "I am not like Lu Tingyuan. I love you. I can give you everything you want. Just trust me one more time."

He leaned in, his lips pressing against her ear, his voice low and raspy, tinged with a near-paranoid madness. "I know what you want."

Ji Qingran’s heart was beating so hard it felt as though it might burst. She pressed a hand to her chest, desperate to hide her agitation.

"You want the Ji family. You want your parents to finally see you, to make them regret everything they’ve done."

"Ranran, I can give you all of that."

"As long as you love me."

Ji Qingran bit her lip until it hurt. The temptation Lu Weian offered was immense. But she couldn't agree.

Just then, her phone rang. It was Lu Tingyuan.

Lu Weian glanced at the name on the screen and asked with a light laugh, "Are you not going to answer?"

Ji Qingran shook her head. He picked up her phone and waited patiently for Lu Tingyuan to hang up. The faint light from the screen illuminated his face, which looked so similar to Lu Tingyuan’s, before fading back into total darkness.

Ji Qingran let out a breath of relief. For some reason, she didn't want Lu Tingyuan to know she was with Lu Weian.

But things didn't go as she hoped. Once the call ended, Lu Tingyuan immediately initiated a video call.

Lu Weian shook the phone, mocking, "He’s quite persistent."

Ji Qingran frowned, wanting to take the phone back. Before she could speak, he turned on the overhead car light. The sudden brightness caught her off guard. By the time she could react, Lu Weian had already tapped the button to accept the video call.

The next second, Lu Tingyuan appeared on the screen before her.