The Aloof CEO’s Hidden Temptation - Chapter 1

The weather forecast predicted a cloudless, sunny day, but as the sun prepared to set, a thin breeze rose abruptly and the clouds grew dense.

The air was thick with the distinct, damp chill that precedes a storm.

Fu Chaoying caught the scent of a familiar jasmine fragrance drifting on the wind. “It’s going to rain soon.”

Her voice was slow and calm, as if she were merely stating an inconsequential fact.

“Didn’t get enough sun during the day?” Ye Yi’an leaned in, her tone lighthearted as she pulled Fu Chaoying close. “Quick, make a wish!”

It was the third anniversary of Fu Chaoying and Ye Yi’an’s relationship, and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement.

As always, Ye Yi’an gave the wish-making honors to her, acting as if everything was just as it had always been.

“If Teacher Fu doesn’t make a wish soon, the candles are going to go out,” someone teased, prompting a round of laughter from the others.

Fu Chaoying’s gaze landed precisely on a woman dressed in a red dress before she closed her eyes as if nothing were wrong.

When vision is blocked, hearing and smell become acute. The wind whispered in her ears, the candlelight flickered unsteadily before her, and that complex jasmine scent wafted past her nose once more.

Fu Chaoying’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly regained her composure. Until things were certain, anxiety and unease were useless emotions.

“I hope Ye Yi’an… still loves me,” she whispered in her heart. She opened her eyes and gave a gentle blow.

To her surprise, the candle didn’t go out, instead, it reignited.

Startled, Fu Chaoying blew harder a second time, but the flame flared up again. Her heart stopped for a beat as she looked up, her eyes briefly meeting Ye Yi’an’s.

After a second of eye contact, Ye Yi’an flashed her trademark smile and comforted her, “Let’s blow it out together.”

However, even with both of them blowing, the candle remained lit. The room fell into a brief, heavy silence.

Fu Chaoying stared into Ye Yi’an’s slightly stunned eyes, a smile touching her lips. “Yi’an, you’re playing tricks on me again…”

Before she could finish, the assistant chimed in to smooth things over: “Teacher Fu is too smart! It’s a prank candle, it can’t be blown out, hahaha!”

The room grew lively again.

Ye Yi’an turned and jokingly scolded the assistant, pointing a finger: “You’re getting bold, taking initiative like that? Watch out, or your bonus is gone this month!”

After some laughing and joking, Ye Yi’an pressed her hands together and made a wish to the candle: “A-Ying and I will be together forever, never to be parted.”

She then took a pair of scissors and decisively snipped the wick. The flame finally died.

Together forever.

Fu Chaoying looked sideways at Ye Yi’an. The smile on Ye Yi’an’s face was relaxed and natural, as if this vow was nothing more than a routine performance.

Fu Chaoying lowered her lashes, her fingertips tightening. Did she truly know this Ye Yi’an?

After finishing the cake, the heavy rain looked ready to pour. The assistant spoke up at the right time: “Alright, we’ll take one group photo and then head out.”

Someone joked along, “Ahem, we won’t stay and disturb your world for two…”

A world for two… Fu Chaoying was momentarily stunned. She instinctively looked at Ye Yi’an, only to have Ye Yi’an pull her by the waist and signal her to look at the camera.

Though she wasn’t entirely willing, Fu Chaoying found it hard to publicly embarrass Ye Yi’an in front of so many people. She put on a perfectly practiced smile, only to be caught off guard when Ye Yi’an suddenly kissed her on the cheek.

The camera captured the moment perfectly, material for Ye Yi’an’s secondary Instagram account.

But a sudden, nameless chill rose in Fu Chaoying’s heart.

She thought of the comments from Ye Yi’an’s fans, then thought of that specific perfume scent etched into her mind. Her breath hitched for an instant, she subconsciously clenched her fists but said nothing.

After the guests were seen off, the doorbell rang again. Standing outside was Yu Qingqi, dressed in a red gown with exquisite makeup. She was an artist under Ye Yi’an’s studio.

Yu Qingqi shrugged and winked at Fu Chaoying. “Sorry, Sister A-Ying, I left my phone behind.”

Ye Yi’an said nothing, standing quietly to the side with a slight frown.

Fu Chaoying nodded slightly and exchanged a few pleasantries. As Yu Qingqi passed her, that familiar jasmine scent hit her full force, causing her heart to tighten.

Two months ago, Fu Chaoying began suspecting Ye Yi’an was cheating, it started when she caught her smiling foolishly at a chat screen.

Fu Chaoying had been waiting, and it wasn’t until she smelled that jasmine scent tonight that she confirmed the suspect: Yu Qingqi.

Once the visitor left, Fu Chaoying made an excuse to go upstairs to remove her makeup.

Back in the dressing room, she stood before Ye Yi’an’s perfume cabinet, staring at the bottle on the top shelf: [Night’s Goodnight].

This was a custom birthday gift she had commissioned specifically for Ye Yi’an last year. It was the only bottle in the world.

And yet, the scent on Yu Qingqi tonight was so similar. Was it really such a coincidence?

Fu Chaoying stood on her tiptoes, opened the small glass door, and took out the bottle.

But the bottle was still heavy, as if no one had ever sprayed it. Was it truly a coincidence?

The vibration of her phone interrupted her thoughts. Fu Chaoying opened a message and looked at the photos sent by the photographer. A chill spread from her heart, and she couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.

She put the phone down, and another possibility flashed through her mind. Decisively, she took a scent strip and gently pressed the nozzle.

The moment the tuberose fragrance poured out, she realized with absolute clarity, this was not the scent of [Night’s Goodnight].

The truth was glaring: Ye Yi’an had secretly swapped the perfume and gifted the original to Yu Qingqi, who was now using it as a tool for provocation.

Fu Chaoying’s fingers trembled as she held the bottle.

“A-Ying,” Ye Yi’an called out to her.

Fu Chaoying put the perfume back and went straight to the makeup removal area.

Ye Yi’an appeared at the door. “A-Ying, something came up at the film set. I have to head over there now.”

Her tone was gentle yet slightly grave, seemingly flawless.

Fu Chaoying put down the cleansing balm and looked up. The warm light cast a soft veil over her exquisite features.

Ye Yi’an was stunned by her beauty for a moment, but in the next second, she felt a pang of guilt under those deep, searching eyes. Had she found out? No, how could she?

The corners of Fu Chaoying’s lips curled up slightly, her tone flat. “It’s our anniversary today. Is it absolutely necessary to go?”

Ye Yi’an hesitated for a moment before feigning a relaxed air. “You know our studio invested in it.”

A crack of thunder echoed. Fu Chaoying stared at her face, offering no plea for her to stay, only a faint reply: “Fine. Be careful on the road.”

Ye Yi’an stepped forward to hug her, but Fu Chaoying lightly raised her hand to stop her. “I just started removing my makeup. Don’t let it rub off on you.”

Ye Yi’an froze, assuming she was just throwing a small tantrum, and smiled again. “Alright then. I’ll bring you crab roe buns tomorrow morning.”

A-Ying is easy to appease, she thought.

The sound of the door closing echoed. Fu Chaoying picked up her phone and scrolled through their old photos.

In every photo where both of them appeared, Yu Qingqi was always standing next to Ye Yi’an. Their body language was telling. Tonight’s group photo was no exception.

So, Ye Yi’an’s cheating partner was most likely Yu Qingqi.

And tonight? Was Ye Yi’an really going to the film set, or was she going to find Yu Qingqi?

Fu Chaoying stood up almost immediately, grabbed her car keys, and went out.

The direction of the city center was opposite to the film base. Fu Chaoying drove toward the city and spotted Ye Yi’an’s car at the fifth intersection.

As expected, Ye Yi’an hadn’t gone to the film set. What was she doing in the city?

Fu Chaoying’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. Countless possibilities flashed through her mind.

How many childhood sweethearts actually make it to old age? Especially with Ye Yi’an in the complex, ever-changing entertainment industry.

She shouldn’t be surprised.

Twenty minutes later, the gates of Nan Yan Club were within sight. Fu Chaoying watched with her own eyes as Ye Yi’an parked, walked into the lobby, and disappeared into the elevator.

Memories flooded back at eighteen, they had entered this very hotel together.

Now, Fu Chaoying stared at the empty lobby, her mind unnervingly calm.

Impulse would only put her at a disadvantage.

Fu Chaoying rolled down the window, letting the cold wind fill the car. she adjusted her breathing and thought coldly.

Ye Yi’an wouldn’t be stupid enough to let the hotel staff catch her cheating, she must have used the excuse of “work” to enter the other woman’s room.

Once she had a plan, Fu Chaoying took her umbrella and got out of the car.

The hotel receptionist recognized her and greeted her warmly, “Miss Fu, you’re here too.”

Fu Chaoying returned the smile. “Hello. Yi’an forgot a document, so I’m bringing it over to her.”

She nonchalantly asked for the room number.

The receptionist looked a bit hesitant. “I’m sorry, Miss Fu, but Young Manager Ye went straight up. We don’t know exactly which room she entered.”

Fu Chaoying added, “She said she was meeting Yu Qingqi to discuss some matters.”

The receptionist realized. “Oh, that would be Room 520.”

520… what a cynical number. (Translator’s note: 520 sounds like “I love you” in Chinese).

Ye Yi’an had said “I love you” to her countless times, yet here she was, staying in a hotel with another woman.

What do people do at a hotel? Hadn’t Ye Yi’an claimed she was “frigid”?

Fu Chaoying took a deep breath, suppressed her surging emotions, and turned to leave.

The rain suddenly poured down, large droplets hitting her cheeks like ice. Her steps were heavy, but she didn’t stop.

She knew clearly that the end was set. These things had to be faced in person.

Back at the car, the seat was slightly wet from the rain.

Fu Chaoying wiped it dry and sat down slowly, watching the world outside through the blurred window.

The lights were as bright as day, and the pink magnolias swayed violently in the torrential rain.

A thousand thoughts swirled in her mind as memories continued to surface.

In the past, when they passed these magnolias, Ye Yi’an would joke that she’d plant a few in their yard so Fu Chaoying wouldn’t always be longing for other people’s flowers.

But looking at it now, the one truly “longing for wild flowers” was Ye Yi’an herself.

No wonder Ye Yi’an’s wish tonight was for them to be “together forever,” rather than to “love each other forever.”

Fu Chaoying gave a self-mocking laugh and drove out into the downpour.

The rain grew heavier and driving became difficult. Fu Chaoying’s mind was focused entirely on getting home safely.

The moment she saw the warm glow in her courtyard, her heart settled. She had even worked out the details of her subsequent plan.

But before she could put it into practice, the doorbell rang.

The visitor was the assistant of Ye Jiayuan, Ye Yi’an’s older sister. “Hello, Miss Fu. Sorry to disturb you so late.”

The assistant handed over a brocade box. “Director Ye just arrived at Nan-Yan and asked me to deliver this.”

Ye Jiayuan had been busy these past few years and didn’t see them often, but Ye Yi’an always mentioned her sister with rare admiration and respect.

Fu Chaoying accepted the box politely, but her suspicion deepened.

Ye Jiayuan was notoriously busy, sometimes even forgetting her own birthday. How could she possibly remember their anniversary?

And she had never sent a gift in previous years. Why send one now, exactly when they were about to break up?