"This painting is truly remarkable!"

"I agree, it's stunning—so profound and evocative!"

At the art exhibition, a steady stream of admirers had come to appreciate the works of Hang Yunruo. Small groups of people gathered around her masterpiece, *Shadow*, discussing and marveling at its depth.

The painting exuded a sense of desolation and solitude, yet it was also brimming with conflicting emotions—jealousy, longing, and passion. It was the kind of art that left viewers spellbound, transcending the mundane.

Hang Yunruo, a rising star in the art world, had skyrocketed to fame with *Shadow*. If it weren’t for her insistence that the painting wasn’t for sale, it would have been snapped up at an exorbitant price long ago.

As she observed the bustling crowd in the gallery, a faint, satisfied smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She stepped out of the gallery and stood outside, gazing up at the sky. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. She had been back in the city for a few days now, and memories—long buried—were beginning to resurface, piece by piece. Though the pain wasn’t as sharp as it once was, it still left her feeling suffocated.

Suddenly, the screech of brakes pierced the air. A sleek black Maserati came to a halt outside the exhibition. A tall, striking figure emerged from the car. Dressed in a tailored black suit, he exuded an air of elegance and nobility. His jet-black hair framed a face so flawless it seemed to glow in the sunlight. His sharp features—arched brows, piercing eyes, and chiseled jawline—made him look like he had stepped out of a painting.

Mu Jingyang’s presence immediately drew the attention of passersby. His strikingly handsome face was impossible to ignore, and it quickly caught Hang Yunruo’s eye. Her breath hitched, her fingers turned cold, and her palms clenched tightly, nails digging into her skin.

*Speak of the devil,* she thought, her heart sinking. She instinctively hunched her shoulders, wanting to retreat to the corner of the building, but a cold, commanding voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Hang Yunruo!!" The deep, magnetic voice was undeniably attractive, yet it struck Hang Yunruo's eardrums with a force that made her clench her fists tightly.

She took a deep breath, turned around slowly, and fixed her large, beautiful eyes filled with intense hostility on Mu Jingyang.

Their eyes met. Mu Jingyang, with his long fingers tucked into his pockets, had already closed the distance between them in an instant.

His cold, piercing eyes looked down at the woman before him, his thin lips curving into a perfect arc. His tone was laden with meaning. "Long time no see, Hang Yunruo."

"Really? I have no desire to see you at all. Mr. Mu, I have things to attend to. Please, do as you wish." Hang Yunruo sneered, ready to leave, clearly unwilling to engage in any further conversation with Mu Jingyang.

As she brushed past him, Mu Jingyang's strong, well-defined hand suddenly grasped her delicate wrist. His lips curled into that same perfect arc, and his cold eyes tilted slightly, locking onto hers without a blink. His voice was icy yet teasing, and he let out a light, almost playful laugh. "Oh? You don’t want to see me? Then why did you paint me? I heard the new artist, Miss Hang Yunruo, has made quite a splash with a piece called 'Shadow,' which has taken the city by storm. And that 'Shadow'—it looks an awful lot like my silhouette to me."

"You—!" Hang Yunruo inhaled sharply, her chest rising and falling, unable to hide her agitation. Still, she tried to maintain her composure. "So what if I did? You agreed to it back then."

The grip on her wrist tightened abruptly, and Mu Jingyang yanked her closer, her body now pressed against his chest. His sharp eyebrows lifted slightly, his eyes filled with a mischievous glint. His tone was both domineering and suggestive as he leaned in, his lips brushing her ear, each word deliberate and teasing. "Did I? I don’t recall."

"..."

"Who would’ve thought that after a year apart, the great CEO Mu has learned to lie with a straight face? Your audacity is truly astounding!" Hang Yunruo was so infuriated by Mu Jingyang’s response that it took her a moment to spit out the words through gritted teeth.

"Whether I’m audacious or not, didn’t you feel it for yourself many times back then? You should know better than anyone." Mu Jingyang seemed entirely unfazed by her anger and sarcasm. Instead, he chuckled lightly, then leaned down to plant a kiss on her earlobe.

"You scoundrel!!" Hang Yunruo pushed him away, struggling to free herself from his grasp, but her wrist remained firmly in his hold. No matter how she twisted and turned, she couldn’t break free. At that moment, she was like a kite in his hands, flailing but unable to escape his control.

Mu Jingyang held her wrist firmly, his sharp eyebrows lifting slightly as he smirked coldly. "Hang Yunruo, you painted me without permission, violating my right to my own image. I’m ordering you to compensate me ten million, or I’ll sue you!"

"I don’t have the money." Hang Yunruo’s eyes widened in disbelief as she struggled against his grip. "Mu Jingyang, have you gone bankrupt? Even a scam artist wouldn’t stoop this low!"

Mu Jingyang's thin lips curved into a charming smile as he abruptly pulled Hang Yunruo back into his arms. He leaned in close, his breath brushing against her earlobe, and let out a soft, low chuckle. His voice, deep and laced with a seductive undertone, whispered, "I have no interest in scams, but I’m quite familiar with you. I’d love to relive old memories. If you don’t want to pay, it’s simple—just spend the night with me. Hang Yunruo, if you remarry me, that ten million will be wiped clean, and I’ll drop all the infringement claims."

"Remarry?!! Over my dead body!!!" Hang Yunruo struggled fiercely, trying to break free from his grasp, but Mu Jingyang only tightened his hold.

He nipped at her earlobe, his voice husky and warning, "You’d better stop squirming. I have little self-control when it comes to you. I wouldn’t mind doing something reckless right here in broad daylight."

"You!!!" Hang Yunruo’s lips pressed into a thin line, her teeth clenched in anger. Suddenly, she let out a cold laugh, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Mu Jingyang, not long after our divorce, you got engaged to someone else. If you remarry me, what happens to your fiancée? Since you’re already committed, you should stay loyal to her and your so-called love. Let me make this clear—I have no interest in going from your ex-wife to your mistress."

Mu Jingyang abruptly released her, his sharp brows lifting slightly. He cupped her chin with his large hand, his lips pressed together as he spoke, "So that’s what’s bothering you. Don’t worry, if you’re willing, I can call off the engagement with her immediately."

"You’re despicable!!" Hang Yunruo slapped his hand away, her eyes wide with disbelief as she glared at him, her voice trembling with fury. "What do you think women are? Toys you can swap out whenever you feel like it? You were like this before, and you’re still the same now?!" Memories of how he had heartlessly cast her aside in the past flooded her mind, making her blood boil. Her delicate brows furrowed tightly as she turned on her heel and walked away.

Behind her, Mu Jingyang didn’t follow. Her words seemed to have struck a chord within him. His cold eyes narrowed, his expression darkening as he stood there, lost in thought.