The sun had dipped low, casting a soft orange hue across the Ji family penthouse. The living room was warm, scented faintly with jasmine from the diffuser Xiao Lin had set earlier that day. She had just returned from Lingfeng Media and was folding up her jacket when the front door opened with a dramatic flourish.
Han Su stepped in like he owned the place, a smug look plastered on his face and a small brown paper bag swinging from his fingers.
"You're late," Xiao Lin muttered, not even sparing him a full glance as she adjusted the vase on the table.
"You're welcome," Han Su replied smugly, flopping down on the couch like a king returning from war. He held the bag toward her. "For you."
She turned, warily eyeing the bag. "If it's not a resignation letter or snacks, I don't want it."
Han Su grinned. "It's a favor, not a threat. I need you to hold this."
He placed the bag in her hands before she could protest. Xiao Lin frowned and peeked inside, only to freeze. "Wait—what the hell is this?"
Inside were two tiny prescription bottles, identical in shape and size. Her gaze snapped to the faint label: *Herbal Male Enhancer – For Vitality & Performance.*
Her eyes widened. "You brought aphrodisiacs into this house?!"
Han Su leaned back with a proud smirk. "Not for me. For a friend."
"A friend?" she deadpanned.
"Yes. And since I know you're heading back into the kitchen—where Boss keeps his boring vitamins—I figured you could temporarily keep it there. Safe spot. Out of sight. My friend will pick it up tomorrow."
She stared at him in disbelief. "So let me get this straight. You want me to keep your creepy little potion next to Ji Yanluo's supplements?"
"Just for tonight," he said innocently. "Come on, live a little."
Xiao Lin groaned. "If Ji Yanluo finds out, I'm blaming you."
"As always," Han Su beamed.
***
Muttering under her breath, Xiao Lin headed into the sleek, spotless kitchen. The cabinet above the sink was filled with neatly arranged bottles: sleep aids, herbal tea infusions, immunity boosters—all Ji Yanluo's doing.
She hesitated for a second, then pulled open the door.
Same bottle type," she muttered, placing Han Su's herbal enhancers on the far end of the shelf, next to the sleeping pills Ji Yanluo took occasionally when work stress kept him up. "He won't even notice."
She closed the cabinet and dusted her hands with a sigh.
"Men and their idiocy…"
***
*Meanwhile – Study Room*
Ji Yanluo sat in his study, flipping through reports. His tie was loose, and the sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up. A long day of meetings had left him drained, and he was beginning to feel that familiar tension in his temple.
His gaze flickered to the time. Past nine.
He stood, stretching slightly. "Time to sleep before someone decides to drop chaos on me again."
***
*Kitchen Moments Later*
He poured himself a glass of water and opened the cabinet, grabbing the familiar bottle from its usual spot. The label blurred slightly in the dim light, but he didn't look too closely. He shook out two pills and downed them.
Then he frowned.
The taste was… odd.
But he shrugged. Probably the coating.
He left the kitchen quietly, heading to his room.
***
*Back in the Living Room*
Xiao Lin had settled on the couch with a drama playing softly on her tablet when the realization hit her.
Her head turned slowly toward the kitchen.
She had… put the bottles too close together.
Her eyes widened.
"Wait… did I—?"
She bolted upright, nearly knocking over the tablet, and dashed toward the kitchen, flinging the cabinet open.
One bottle remained.
She picked it up.
*Sleeping pills. Unopened.*
Her breath caught.
"Oh no."
***
*Han Su, back in his car outside, checked his phone.*
A text from Xiao Lin:
*"You better pray. I think I gave your stupid love potion to Ji Yanluo by accident."*
Han Su's laughter echoed in the car.
"Best. Night. Ever."