Yong Li stirred awake, feeling a dull ache at the back of his head. His vision was hazy at first, but when he blinked a few times, it got clear enough for him to notice the unfamiliar room he was in.
His brows furrowed. Where the hell was he?
He shifted slightly and then froze, when he realized that there was someone beside him.
He turned his head slowly and muttered her name, "Zhi Hui?"
His heart dropped.
She was sleeping peacefully, her bare back partially exposed as the covers clung around her waist. A sharp gasp escaped him, and he jerked away, realizing with horror that he, too, was completely naked.
"What the—" His voice cracked in disbelief. "What is this?!"
Zhi Hui jolted up that moment, rubbing sleep off her eyes. "Yong Li?" she mumbled, stretching lazily like they were lovers who'd shared a perfect night. "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong?" he snapped. "Why the hell am I in bed with you?! And why are we both naked?!"
She blinked, looking confused. "You don't remember?"
His heart thudded harder. "Remember what?"
"I- I al- also do- do," she stammered, his cold eyes intimidating her.
She immediately swallowed hard, summoning courage to speak. "I don't remember it all but after you dropped me off and said that you didn't want to leave me alone. You came inside. We were talking and we just started kissing each other. One thing led to another and I don't know. I thought you wanted it."
"I wanted what—?!" Yong Li sat upright, his voice raw with rage. "You think I'd want to get in bed with you? Are you out of your goddamn mind?"
Zhi Hui looked hurt. "I didn't force you, Yong Li. I wouldn't do that. We kissed each other and you undressed me."
"I don't believe this," he muttered, running a hand over his face. "You planned this, didn't you? You've been trying to get me for years but I always kept my distance. Now you resort to taking advantage of me. I should have known!"
"Don't say that," she whispered. "Please don't talk to me like that. You can't just pin this on me to save yourself."
"Shut your mouth! Don't try to gaslight me," he spat. "You're a manipulative liar, and I'm done with this nonsense."
He screamed, yanking the duvet off his body. He grabbed his clothes, and began dressing in angry jerks. Zhi Hui sat still, watching him like she didn't understand why he was reacting so violently.
"Don't bother reach out to me. I don't want to hear from you or have you near me. And no matter how much you try, there will never be a romantic relationship between you and I!"
As he stormed toward the door, Ming Zhu appeared in the hallway.
"Oh, Yong Li, you are here. I had no idea that you slept over—"
"Don't touch me!" he barked, brushing past her. "Go and talk to that sick daughter of yours. I have no idea what game she is playing but she had better stay away from me."
She tried to call after him, but he was already close to the exit. He got in his car, slammed the door shut, and drove off without looking back.
His head was still spinning, but it wasn't from alcohol, it was the anger, from the shock that he woke up to. He felt violated, used, trapped in something he didn't fully understand.
When he pulled into the mansion's driveway, he saw his mother waiting by the entrance. Her arms were crossed, her face tight with concern.
"Yong Li," Li Na called. "Ming Zhu called me."
He didn't stop walking.
"Stop ignoring me and tell me what happened between you and Zhi Hui."
He pushed past her.
"Yong Li!"
"Not now, Mother!"
She followed him into the house. "Don't dismiss me. I know you stayed at Zhi Hui's. They are worried."
He turned sharply. "Then I guess you already know what a mess this is."
"What are you talking about?"
"She tried to make it seem like something happened between us. I woke up naked beside her. I don't remember a damn thing. I didn't touch her, I didn't agree to this, and now she's pretending like it was all mutual."
Li Na's eyes widened. "What…?"
"She's a fucking liar, Mother. And I'm done. I don't want to ever see her again."
Li Na opened her mouth, but Yong Li was already heading for the stairs.
"You better not be plotting something behind my back with them," he warned.
She shook her head. "Yong Li, I would never—"
"Good. Then let me handle this the way I want to."
He reached his room, slammed the door, and locked it behind him.
~
Two weeks passed, and Yong Li kept his distance. He refused calls from Zhi Hui, blocked her on all social media platforms and spent most of his time in his office.
He was coming down the stairs, when his eyes caught on Zhi Hui, Ming Zhu and his mother. They were all seated in the living room waiting for him.
The moment he appeared, their eyes turned to him like predators watching prey.
He stormed down. "What is this?"
Li Na stood. "Please take a seat, son."
"I'm not sitting anywhere until someone explains why these women are in my house."
"Just sit," she said again, with a sterner tone now.
Jaw tight, he reluctantly sat on the couch, folding his arms.
Li Na handed him an envelope.
"What is this?"
"Open it."
He tore it open and pulled out a few sheets, scanning the top line.
It was a pregnancy result and it showed that Zhi Hui was two weeks pregnant.
His hands dropped. "You've got to be kidding me."
Zhi Hui looked at him with a soft, frightened expression. "I didn't want you to find out like this but.."
"But what? I'm not the father," he said coldly. "I'm not responsible for this."
"You were the only one I've been with," she said. "That night—"
"There was no night! There was no consent! You drugged me, Zhi Hui!"
"Yong Li!" Ming Zhu shot up, raising her voice. "Watch your tone! You should be glad that we are not sueing you for assault."
"Don't tell me how to speak," he growled. "You're just as guilty."
Li Na raised her voice. "Enough! Everyone be quiet. No one is guilty and no one is sueing anyone. This is just a case of two young adults losing themselves while they were drunk."
The room fell into a tense silence.
"We will do a DNA test," she said firmly. "But it cannot be done until the child is born. Until then, we must handle this like adults."
"I'm not living with her under this roof," Yong Li objected before Li Na even made mention of anything like that.
"No one said she will. Zhi Hui will not live here until the child's identity is confirmed but I will assign two maids to care for her and cover all financial needs during her pregnancy."
Zhi Hui's face flickered with panic, but she quickly masked it. "That's fine. I understand."
Of course, she had to be afraid, knowing fully well that Yong Li is truly not responsible.
"I am not okay with this," Yong Li snapped. "Why are you enabling her by paying for something we have no relation to?"
"I'm not enabling anyone," Li Na said. "I'm trying to manage a scandal before it explodes."
"There won't be any scandal," he shot back. "Because I'm not the father."
"Yong Li," she rested her forehead on her palm, "until the DNA proves otherwise, you have no right to say that."
He stared at her, then turned to Zhi Hui, breathing hard. "Enjoy this while it lasts. The truth will always find its way out."
He stormed off, refusing to hear anything from any of them anymore.
As the door slammed shut, Zhi Hui burst into tears and Ming Zhu wrapped an arm around her.
Li Na watched them both in silence before leaning forward.
"Once we prove that child is his, he'll come around," she said softly and it only made Zhi Hui cry more.