At the vanity table in the dead of night, Lin Wei untied the sash of her silk robe. The mirror reflected her slender waist, her skin glowing like pearls under the warm yellow light. Deep inside the drawer, the newly arrived lace lingerie  from "Changwang" lay waiting—black mesh adorned with deep red roses, the waist ties like ribbons on a gift waiting to be unwrapped.  

Three months ago, she had first seen this collection at the brand's launch event. The designer said the inspiration came from "forbidden flowers blooming at midnight." Her best friend, who had accompanied her, nudged her elbow playfully and whispered, "Mr. Cheng would  love  this." Blushing, she made the purchase—yet the package had stayed hidden in the depths of her closet for two whole weeks.  

 

The steam from the shower still fogged the bathroom mirror as Lin Wei bit her lip and slipped into the semi-transparent bustier. The cool lace pressed against her skin, and she gasped—the cut-out design at her waist left just enough to the imagination, while the crisscross straps at her back accentuated every curve. In the full-length mirror, a flash of memory surfaced: their honeymoon in Venice five years ago, when Cheng Yuan had traced the lines of her silk nightgown with the same slow, possessive gaze.  

Her phone lit up. Beneath the "Flight Landed" notification was a voice message from Cheng Yuan ten minutes ago: "I brought you a gift." The low timbre of his voice carried a smile, reminding her of what he had murmured in the dark the night before his business trip, fingers skimming the hem of her nightgown—"Wait for me to unwrap you when I get back."  

A candlewick popped, sending a flicker of light across the room. Lin Wei swapped her pearl necklace for a delicate chain, the pendant resting just above the rose embroidery at the edge of the lace. As the keypad at the front door beeped, she stepped barefoot onto the wool rug and heard the thud of a suitcase hitting the floor—followed by a sudden, arrested breath.  

 

"Is this... new?" Cheng Yuan's tie hung loose, but his gaze was far hotter. His fingers hooked around the ribbon at her waist, and he chuckled low in his throat. "Turns out my gift is the one unwrapping me."  

The silk robe pooled at her feet like a rose finally blooming in the dark.