Chapter 1

Chapter 1

My sister’s face turned green the moment she saw what I was wearing.

“Are you dressed like that because you’re planning to-”

The word seduce nearly slipped out.

But with my brother-in-law present, she couldn’t let her delicate white-lotus persona collapse.

She clenched her molars and forced herself into an extremely restrained smile.

“Chen Xi, aren’t you a little overdressed for a family dinner?”

My dad shot me a subtle glare too. “We’re all family here. Casual is fine. What are you doing dressed like that? Go change into something normal.”

“Clothes are bought to be worn, aren’t they?”

I lifted my eyes lazily and swirled the wineglass in my hand. The burgundy liquid gleamed seductively beneath the light.

“I think it’s perfectly appropriate.”

They still wanted to say more, but I had already raised my glass and smiled gracefully at the man sitting across from me.

“Brother-in-law, this is our first time meeting, and I didn’t prepare anything special. Let me toast you.”

I leaned forward slightly, and the neckline of my burgundy French corset slip dress shifted, revealing a tempting shadow.

The curve of my chest rose and fell beneath the light like ripe peaches, mature and full.

My sister’s fingers curled, clutching the tablecloth so tightly she was about to grind her teeth to dust.

She had always presented herself as pure and innocent in public, wearing pale colors every time, looking delicate, pitiful, gentle, and sweet.

But to men, in the face of sex appeal, cuteness was worthless.

My brother-in-law lifted his lashes slightly. His expression was so calm that no emotion could be read from it. “No need to be so polite. We’ll all be family from now on.”

Our glasses met with a crisp clink.

I tilted my face a little, raised my head, and drained the glass in one go.

Under the table, the tip of my high heel brushed against the edge of his leather shoe as if by accident.

He didn’t move away. My smile deepened.

My mom carried out the last dish and smoothed things over with a smile. “All right, let’s eat.”

The moment we picked up our chopsticks, my sister reached out her hand.

She softened her voice and coquettishly complained to my brother-in-law, “Look, I accidentally cut my hand while making your favorite red wine braised beef. Hurry and taste it. Tell me how it is.”

My mom’s heart immediately ached for her. “You’re pregnant. How can you still be around all that cooking smoke? And if you don’t know how to use a knife, why didn’t you tell me? Mom could have cut it for you.”

My sister tilted her head and leaned against my mom’s shoulder.

“I just wanted to learn how to cook. That way I can help Mom in the future, and Mom won’t have to work so hard.”

My dad smiled warmly as he watched them.

“Shuyan used to be the little princess we held in the palms of our hands. We never had the heart to let her step into the kitchen. Now, seeing her work so hard to be a good wife, as her parents, we’re both comforted and heartbroken.”

A faint smile appeared in my brother-in-law’s eyes. He nodded lightly. “Uncle, don’t worry. I’ll treat her well.”

“With Shuyan marrying you, I can be at ease. Out of the three children in this family, I love her the most.” My mom’s tone abruptly darkened. “Unlike some people, whose hearts are crooked and who have never known how to be grateful to this family.”

Unmoved, I picked up a piece of beef.

After chewing twice, I spat it back out.

“It’s overcooked. The beef is so tough I can barely chew it. And it’s a little too salty. Sis, pay attention next time.”

My sister’s smile froze slightly. She quickly glanced at my brother-in-law, then turned to my mom with an aggrieved tone. “It’s all my fault. I’m so clumsy.”

My mom could no longer hold back. She pointed her chopsticks at my face.

“You don’t cook, so what right do you have to nitpick? I don’t even want to start on you. Ever since you were little, you never did housework. You waited for people to serve you in everything, and the moment something didn’t go your way, you showed the whole family your attitude. Do you think everyone owes you?!”

My dad slammed his wineglass down heavily too.

“Exactly! You’ve been selfish since you were a child. This family has never been in your heart. All you know is enjoying yourself.”

“You’re still so young. If you don’t suffer a little now, you’ll have endless suffering waiting for you later.”

I had heard these words since childhood. My ears had practically grown calluses from them.

I listened carelessly, but under the table, my foot had already slipped out of my high heel. Through my stocking, I stepped directly onto the knee of the man across from me.

His fingertips curled slightly, and a faint blush spread over his earlobe, but his face remained composed and proper.

Intrigued, I raised a brow. My foot slowly moved upward, following the muscle line of his thigh as it hooked and explored deeper.

My mouth wasn’t idle either. “But Sis and my brother never do housework either. How did I become the only one who likes to enjoy myself?”

“Besides, who doesn’t like enjoying life? If you all love suffering so much, then suffer more. I was born with the fate of someone meant to enjoy blessings.”

Before I came back, I had already searched this brother-in-law of mine and painstakingly dug through all of his social media accounts.

There wasn’t much.

But on an overseas account he had registered a long time ago, I discovered that he had liked a set of BDSM photos.

My sister had complained to her friends that he was somewhat frigid and a man of few words.

I didn’t believe it. The quieter they were, the filthier they got.

Today, I had deliberately dressed exactly like the woman in those photos.

The tips of my toes pressed down lightly and circled. His breathing abruptly grew a fraction heavier, and his Adam’s apple shifted almost imperceptibly.

In the occasional meeting of our gazes, something seemed to be burning under tight restraint.

Just then, my mom spoke with a cold laugh.

“Listen to her. Chen Xi has been full of crooked logic since she was little. She was born to bring disaster on this family.”

“Normally, she doesn’t answer our calls, and she never asks how your dad and I are doing. Now that she’s finally come home, she dresses so indecently. Who knows what she’s been doing out there?”

“Out of my three children, you’re the one I dislike the most.”

I met my brother-in-law’s dark, deep gaze. My toes pressed against the base of his thigh with just enough force. Then I curled my red lips, my smile brazen and unrestrained.

“That’s right. Mom is absolutely right.”

“That’s exactly the kind of person I am.”