Ye Lian never noticed the faint flash of light from Su Hao's other hand.
"Brother Su, if the princess finds out about this… won't it cause trouble?" she asked, her tone half-innocent, half-teasing.
Su Hao's gaze was unreadable. Then he spoke with a calm, almost mocking tone.
"It's just one night."
"You said you liked me. And honestly, I've always been tempted by your body. So… why not go all the way?"
"Eh?"
Before Ye Lian could process what he meant, a soft thud echoed in the room—and she was suddenly pinned against the bed.
Su Hao towered above her, eyes dark, unreadable.
Since I've already become the villain... is it really too much to show the heroine a little cruelty?
Ye Lian stared up at him in stunned silence. For once, the Green Tea Queen was completely at a loss for words.
"Ehehehehe..."
Su Hao's hands moved with unhesitating precision, his expression cold. His grip trailed across her waist, traveling like a predator's.
A soft gasp escaped Ye Lian's lips. Her fair cheeks flushed scarlet, messy strands of hair clinging to her skin as she fought to keep her composure.
"W-What are you doing?!"
She pressed her hands against Su Hao's chest, trembling like a fragile flower caught in a storm—her usual passive act perfected to a T.
"Returning your love," Su Hao replied indifferently. "You came to me willingly, didn't you?"
His fingers brushed her shoulder, and the silky palace gown—designed for dramatic effect—slipped a little too easily.
In that moment, Ye Lian realized something had gone wrong.
This was not according to the script.
Still, she grit her teeth and forced herself to stay calm. The time was almost up. She glanced out the window—nearly midnight. The fireworks were beginning to fade.
Just hang on a little longer...
Soon, someone would burst in.
Su Hao would be caught in a compromising position.
He would be branded a monster.
The mighty Zhenguo Mansion would fall with him.
This was the plan.
This was her victory.
So, Ye Lian raised her voice—
"Help! H-He's forcing me!"
"Brother Su, stop! You can't do this—I've only ever seen you as a brother!"
Her cries rang out, dramatic and heart-wrenching, as if she were truly being taken advantage of.
Even Su Hao had to applaud internally. The performance was flawless—worthy of an award.
But then…
Nothing happened.
No one barged in.
There were no gasps, no outraged voices, no guards bursting through the doors.
Just silence.
Ye Lian froze.
What... What's going on?
She turned her wide, glassy eyes toward Su Hao—who was now smiling.
Not with affection. But with chilling amusement.
"It's a long night, Lian'er," he said, his voice low and unhurried. "Are you ready?"
Ye Lian's throat tightened.
No.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
Su Hao had dreamed of this moment for years. A chance to turn the tables. A chance to rewrite the scene that had ruined his life.
And this time, he was prepared.
From the very beginning, he had activated a sound-isolation barrier—no one outside could hear a thing.
And if that wasn't enough, he'd even used a precious time-altering talisman.
Ten minutes here was only a minute outside.
This time, he held all the cards.
But Ye Lian didn't know that. Still clinging to hope, she continued shouting.
"Somebody! H-Help! Why isn't anyone coming!?"
Her voice cracked.
Her earlier confidence was quickly unraveling.
From triumphant actress to cornered prey.
Su Hao watched her with cold interest.
"Expecting someone?"
"Surprised?"
He leaned close, voice brushing against her ear like a serpent.
"Or should I say—'you can scream all you like, but no one will come.' Isn't that how the line goes?"
Ye Lian's whole body trembled.
Not just from fear, but from the brutal pinch he gave her side—a warning.
Su Hao's hand continued its merciless exploration. Her flawless skin was now flushed and marked.
This was humiliation—not lust.
And it was breaking her.
From childhood to now, she had never once been treated this way.
"Brother Su... please, stop..."
"It was just a joke! I was only teasing you!"
Su Hao raised an eyebrow, looking at her like one would look at a clown in a cheap circus.
"A joke?"
"You think I'm still stupid enough to fall for that?"
Ye Lian's eyes widened in shock.
"You—you knew!?"
Su Hao chuckled darkly.
"Knew?"
"My dear Ye Lian, did you really think you were the mastermind?"
He pinched her cheek—her soft, pitiful, doll-like face.
"So cute. So fragile. You'd make a perfect pet. I bet a collar would suit you well."
"What…?!"
Ye Lian stared in disbelief.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
"You think the princess wouldn't rather seduce me herself?" Su Hao said casually. "Why would she trust a powerless socialite like you to get the job done?"
At that name—Princess—Ye Lian's breath caught.
That's right.
She wasn't the true architect of this trap.
It was the princess.
His childhood sweetheart.
The one who smiled the brightest… and stabbed the deepest.
She wanted to become the next emperor.
She wanted to cut ties with the Ye family.
And Su Hao, as the heir of Zhenguo Mansion, stood in her way.
Ye Lian had only been a pawn.
And now, she had been discarded.
"But… why?" she whispered.
Why would the princess go so far?
Ye Lian had played the game flawlessly for years. How had she been outplayed?
Her thoughts spiraled—panic, confusion, betrayal.
System overload.
And Su Hao added the final blow.
"Why so many questions?" he asked lightly. "It's simple. You just weren't valuable enough."
"In this world, people choose the winning side."
"You, dear Lian'er... were betrayed a long time ago."
Something broke.
Ye Lian's body sagged, her spirit drained. Her once sparkling eyes now dulled.
She had given everything—her dignity, her pride—all for a plan that had never really needed her.
It had all been a lie.
And now, the Green Tea Queen had finally tasted despair.
Su Hao watched her quietly, satisfied.
This wasn't about lust.
This was about breaking arrogance.
Crushing pride.
Forcing submission.
The same way he had once been crushed.
Back then, when they framed him, insulted him, threw him into a cage like an animal…
Where was their mercy?
Now that he was no longer a good man—why should he show any?
Ye Lian's pale lips trembled.
"You... You're not the Su Hao I know."
"You're a monster."
Su Hao smiled calmly.
"Thank you."
"So, what's your choice?"
Finally, her pride shattered, Ye Lian lowered her head.
"I was wrong."
"I'm sorry, Brother Su. I shouldn't have tried to frame you. Please... please forgive me..."
Su Hao shook his head slowly.
"Not good enough."
"Then… what do you want me to do?"
Tears welled in her eyes. For the first time, she looked like a proper noble daughter—a girl cornered and humiliated by a villain. Helpless and pitiful.
"If you want to apologize," Su Hao said gently, brushing away her tears, "then act like it."
He leaned close, voice as soft as it was terrifying.
"You've been wagging your tail for others all this time."
"Wouldn't it be better… to just be my dog instead?"
__
Notes:
Green Tea (绿茶婊): A Chinese slang term for a manipulative woman who pretends to be innocent and sweet to gain sympathy or advantage.
"Wagging your tail for others": A metaphor suggesting obedience and servitude, often used to describe someone who flatters or grovels for the powerful.