Scent of a Forgotten Night
I Am the Woman from Room 8808
A single night in Room 8808 leaves Zhenting Lu obsessed with a woman he never saw—leaving only the lingering scent of jasmine and a stolen jade pendant as clues to her identity. When the conniving Belle claims the night as her own, the real woman, Xia, is forced into a life of quiet sacrifice as a lowly assistant to the man she can never claim. Caught between a powerful CEO's obsession and a stepsister's ruthless ambition, Xia must navigate a web of corporate deceit and heartbreak. As the familiar fragrance of jasmine haunts Zhenting's every move, the truth threatens to shatter the Lu empire, proving that some secrets are too potent to remain buried in the dark.
Topics
Chapter 1: The 88th Floor
A cruel trap set by her stepsister backfires when Lin Xia accidentally uses a family master key to enter the forbidden Presidential Suite. There, in the darkness of Room 8808, she encounters the "Ice King" Lu Zhenting, sparking a night of passion that leaves behind a single, broken clue: a jade pendant.
Chapter 2: The Lost Heirloom
Xia flees in shame while Belle discovers her mistake and decides to claim Zhenting for herself. However, the 'Ice King' is suspicious and keeps the jade pendant as collateral.
Chapter 3: The Cold Streets
Trapped by a storm, Xia is rescued by a mysterious stranger who gives her his coat, umbrella, and jasmine flowers.
Chapter 4: The CEO's Coat
Marked by Zhenting’s umbrella in the sudden sun, Xia is forced to accept a high-stakes secretary position on the 88th floor to save her mother.
Chapter 5: The Lion’s Den
Xia faces Zhenting on the 88th floor, where his physical proximity and questioning cause her heart to race in a terrifying test of her composure.
Chapter 6: The Ice King’s Shield
Belle attempts to humiliate and fire Xia by exposing their family connection, but Zhenting unexpectedly shields Xia, asserting his authority over his fiancée. While he pointedly references the hotel incident from two weeks ago to keep Belle in check, Xia is moved by his protection, finding herself developing a secret, profound loyalty to the first man who has ever stood by her side.
Chapter 7: The Heirloom Silence
Zhenting probes Xia's feelings about the Imperial Jade he intends to give Belle as an engagement gift. Xia recognizes the pendant but conceals her knowledge, not wanting to force Zhenting into a relationship out of pity. Zhenting, confused by her lack of reaction, secretly orders a background check on Xia's whereabouts on the night of the Hyatt incident.
Chapter 8: The Hidden Life
Zhenting, concerned about Xia's safety, moves her desk into his private office. Xia grapples with her pregnancy symptoms while working in close proximity to him. Belle, enraged by Xia's presence, confronts Zhenting, leading to a tense standoff where Zhenting fiercely protects Xia.
Chapter 9: The First Touch
Zhenting announces a couples' retreat to quell rumors, pairing himself with Xia to Belle’s fury. Belle attacks Xia, but Zhenting intervenes, warning Belle against touching her again. As Xia leaves, Zhenting glances at a simple and elegant ring placed on his desk, while Belle makes a decision to tie herself to Zhenting.
Chapter 10: Under the Desk
Desperate to avoid Belle, Xia hides under Zhenting’s desk during Belle’s surprise visit. Zhenting is aware of her presence and uses the opportunity to create a tense, intimate moment while keeping Belle in the dark.
Chapter 11: The Fever's Truth
Stricken with a fever, Zhenting is nursed through the night by Xia. As she cares for him, Zhenting murmurs about 'jasmine' and begs her not to leave. Xia, torn between her love and the secrets she holds, stays by his side. He wakes to her gentle care, thanking her with a rare moment of vulnerability, unaware of her true identity or that she is the girl he loves and longs for. Xia flees, afraid of his touch and Belle.
Chapter 12: The Stolen Design
Belle presents Xia’s stolen marketing campaign to the board, but Zhenting notices Xia’s signature jasmine doodle. He publicly credits Xia for her 'inspiration,' humiliating Belle and sparking a dangerous swell of gratitude and admiration within Xia.
Chapter 13: The Charity Gala Trap
Belle sabotages Xia's gala appearance by spilling wine on her dress. Zhenting witnesses the cruelty and orders Xia to be taken to his private suite, leaving Belle humiliated and furious. Xia is left unsure of what awaits her in the suite.
Chapter 14: The Poisoned Coffee
Belle's attempt to make Xia sick backfires when Zhenting halts a critical business meeting to rush Xia to the hospital. He learns she suffered an allergic reaction due to tampered food and orders a full investigation, terrifying those responsible. Zhenting's fierce protectiveness deepens Xia's inner turmoil.
Chapter 15: The Preggo Plot Begins
Belle produces faked DNA 'proof' from the hotel night, claiming she is pregnant with the Lu heir. Zhenting is paralyzed by the 'proof', he knows he hasn't touched Belle, but the DNA from 8808 matches his own. Zhenting refuses Xia's resignation, revealing that he is willing to discard his responsibility: 'I don't care about the child. I only care about you.'
Chapter 16: The Office Arrest
Zhenting moves Xia’s desk into his private office, citing her safety as the reason and effectively placing her under his constant observation. Belle arrives and confronts them, enraged to find Xia working so closely with Zhenting, leading to a tense confrontation and a veiled threat from Belle.
Chapter 17: The Broken Pendant
Zhenting asks Xia to polish the jade pendant, triggering a flood of emotions and memories. Xia almost confesses her identity, but Belle interrupts with a fake emergency, pulling Zhenting away and leaving Xia heartbroken and conflicted.
Chapter 18: The Business Trip
While on a 'business trip', Xia grows closer to Zhenting as he investigates the Hyatt incident. Fearing exposure, Xia sabotages the security footage timestamps to protect herself, leading to a tense confrontation with Zhenting, who suspects she is either protecting Belle or herself.
Chapter 19: The Rumor Mill
After tabloids leak photos of Xia and Zhenting at the villa, the public brands Xia as a 'temptress.' Zhenting holds a press conference to publicly declare Xia as his 'most precious person,' threatening to bankrupt any publication that slanders her. He also fires employees caught gossiping, shocking Belle and the media.
Chapter 20: The Hospital Transfer
Belle's actions leads to Xia's mother health being jeopardized, Xia is taken by Zhenting to the hospital; he demonstrates the depth of his feelings when he buys the entire hospital for her mother’s care and makes Xia the honorary director. Xia realizes she carries the twins of a man who would burn the world for her.
Chapter 21: The Forensic Gaslight
Belle presents doctored video footage to Zhenting depicting Xia entering the wrong room at the hotel, leading him to believe she's been deceiving him. Devastated, Zhenting withdraws emotionally from Xia, leaving her heartbroken and sensing an ominous end to their connection. He doesn’t blame her, but he feels betrayed.
Chapter 22: The Weight of Honor
Zhenting, believing the deepfake, distances himself from Xia and recommits to Belle out of a misguided sense of honor. Xia feels the emotional shift and assumes she's being dismissed due to her social status. Despite his distance, Zhenting continues to protect Xia's mother's care, but only from afar, creating a 'noble distance' that hurts Xia deeply.
Chapter 23: The Silent Guardian
Five years after her disappearance, Xia, now Jasmine Han, lives under the protection of Han Dong. As she prepares for a business summit in Singapore, where Lu Zhenting will also be present, she tries to find a way of avoiding him, while at the same time being tasked by Han Dong to destroy him.
Chapter 24: The Gilded Prison
Confined to the Lu Mansion, Xia struggles with her pregnancy. During a stormy blackout, she encounters Zhenting in the library. He confesses his willingness to sacrifice everything for her, leaving Xia torn between her heart and the impossible reality of their situation. He also nearly says something about the incident at the hotel.
Chapter 25: Belle’s Desperation
Belle, desperate as her 'pregnancy' timeline nears its end, becomes increasingly aggressive toward Xia. Zhenting witnesses Belle's cruel behavior and intervenes, confirming his true feelings are with Xia and further fueling Belle’s rage. He protects Xia in the hallway, leading Belle away to a discussion, which may lead to the cancellation of the engagement.
Chapter 26: The Final Pressure
Under the watchful eyes of the Lu elders, Zhenting is forced to officially announce the engagement gala, setting an unavoidable deadline. Meanwhile, Xia is tasked with choosing jasmine arrangements for the gala, a painful reminder of their shared night. Zhenting finalizes his plans to sever ties with Belle, but the looming gala and the scent of jasmine push Xia deeper into despair, even with Zhenting's action to break-off.
Chapter 27: The Blackout Truth
During a blackout, Zhenting confesses his love to Xia, promising to end his engagement with Belle. He asks her to meet him after the announcement. Belle overhears everything, consumed by rage and plotting a sinister plan.
Chapter 28: Belle’s Last Stand
Consumed by jealousy, Belle bribes a Lu family security guard to sabotage Xia's mother's life support system. The guard successfully tampers with the equipment. Back at the mansion, Belle anticipates Xia's despair and Zhenting's return to her, believing she has secured her place in the Lu empire by erasing the scent of jasmine.
Chapter 30: The Engagement Scandal
As Belle enacts her plot to kill Xia’s mother, Xia prepares jasmine arrangements oblivious to the danger. Zhenting finalizes his decision to break the engagement and save Xia before receiving a distress signal from the hospital. Assistant Qin is dispatched.
Chapter 31: The Drugged Dagger
At the engagement party, Zhenting publicly ends his engagement with Belle. He texts Xia to meet him, ready to declare his love. However, Xia receives an emergency alert that her mother is dying and rushes to the hospital. Belle watches her leave with a triumphant smile, her dark plan set in motion.
Chapter 32: The Deathbed Revelation
Belle intercepts Zhenting, preventing him from following Xia after the engagement party’s cancellation. She lures him into a private suite and drugs him. Zhenting, realizing her deception and desperate to reach Xia, smashes a glass and uses a shard to stay awake and crawl towards the door, determined to resist her control even as he loses consciousness.
Chapter 33: The Intercepted Goodbye
In her mother's final moments, Xia learns the earth-shattering truth of her parentage: Han Dong is her real father. The mother reveals the past and the jade pendant's significance before passing away, leaving Xia with the burden of a new identity and the knowledge that her life as a 'Lin' was a lie.
Chapter 34: The Father’s Arrival
Belle answers Zhenting's phone and tells Xia that she and Zhenting were intimate. Xia hears Zhenting's ragged breathing on the line and assumes he and Belle have consummated their engagement. Heartbroken and believing she has lost Zhenting forever, Xia hangs up and leaves the hospital, abandoning his coat as a symbol of her farewell.
Chapter 35: The Tyrant’s Awakening
Collapsed in the rain after learning of her mother's death, Xia is found by Han Dong, her true father. He reveals his identity and vows to protect her, promising to erase her past as Lin Xia and usher in her new life as Jasmine Han. He pledges to make those who wronged her pay for their actions.
Chapter 36: The Ghost of the 88th Floor
After waking up drugged and injured, Zhenting discovers Belle’s treachery and Xia’s disappearance. He unleashes his fury on the Lin family, bankrupting them. Han Dong recovers Xia's body and scrubs all traces from the hospital. Devastated, Zhenting vows vengeance and begins his transformation into the ruthless 'Ghost CEO'.
Chapter 37: The Tyrant’s Purge
Zhenting awakens to discover Xia and her mother have vanished, their existence seemingly erased. The official report claims they were lost in the storm, but Zhenting refuses to believe it until he finds his blood-stained coat by the river, confirming his worst fears. He retreats into a catatonic grief, filling his penthouse with jasmine as a painful reminder of his loss.
Chapter 38: The Singapore Summit (5 Years Later)
Consumed by grief and vengeance, Zhenting dismantles the Lin family and exiles Belle, before retreating to his jasmine-filled suite. Refusing to accept Xia's death, he launches a global search for 'the woman with the jasmine scent.'
Chapter 39: The Shadow at the Fountain
Five years after the devastating storm, Zhenting attends a summit in Singapore. Belle attempts to reclaim his attention with a fake heir. However, the unmistakable scent of jasmine pierces through the crowd, drawing Zhenting towards a terrace, hinting at a possible reunion with Xia.
Chapter 40: The Stranger’s Eyes
Five years later in Singapore, Zhenting follows the scent of jasmine to a terrace and discovers Xia, now Jasmine Han, a powerful businesswoman, with her twins. The children evoke striking resemblances to both Xia and Zhenting, and Xia carries a jade pendant identical to the one he kept. He realizes she is no longer the woman he knew.