Saturday.
7:00 PM.
A villa in a high-end residential area in the city center.
Zhao Yicheng wore a light blue checkered long-sleeved shirt, black jeans, and white casual shoes. Looking at himself in the mirror, he reached out to tousle his neat, short hair until it was slightly messy. Only after he revealed a handsome face that still carried a sunny aura did he smile with satisfaction.
He had only been in this neighborhood for three or five days, but he had already roughly figured out Xu Yinsheng’s daily routine. She accompanied friends to cut stones, stayed home to play video games, took walks in the green park, and, most importantly, attended the weekend party gatherings.
Even though she was nearly thirty years old, Xu Yinsheng remained like a child. She loved excitement, crowds, happiness, freedom, and a carefree life.
After finishing his grooming, Zhao Yicheng picked up a piece of chalk and wrote a few large characters on the small blackboard on the left side of the living room.
Step one to repairing the relationship with Xu Yinsheng: Get closer and play to her interests.
Next, he put down the chalk and picked up the mirror on the coffee table. His dark eyes were bright and piercing, seemingly able to see through everything. They were as deep as an endless universe, yet they were filled with absolute confidence as he gazed at his reflection.
“My illness is cured. I am a normal person now. I will pursue her again, but this time, I’ll do it as if I’m chasing a girlfriend,” Zhao Yicheng said with a smile. “I think I will succeed.”
Given the slight rift between him and Xu Yinsheng, Zhao Yicheng had originally worried whether the security personnel outside the party would stop him at the door. As it turned out, such worries were entirely unfounded.
The villa gates were completely unguarded. Forget people—there wasn’t even a dog in sight. Both sides of the iron gates were wide open, and they might as well have hung a sign saying “Welcome.”
A truck labeled Meixing Nightclub was parked outside the gates. Staff members were constantly carrying cocktails, snacks, and drinks into the villa. Zhao Yicheng followed the staff and stepped into the first-floor living room.
Although it was called a living room, with the equipment provided by the nightclub staff, it looked no different from the luxury KTV private rooms outside. Temporary steel poles had been erected, and glamorous dancers in sexy outfits were putting on makeup and warming up below the stage. Various cocktails were wheeled in, and a steady stream of gourmet food, wine, and water was served in the center of the makeshift dance floor.
Several large speakers were also wheeled to the center of the stage. Wide sofas were placed against the walls, surrounding a large rectangular coffee table in the middle, which was covered in various drinks and small snacks.
The entire first-floor living room had seemingly become a miniature version of a nightclub. All the lights were turned on, casting a multicolored and vibrant glow that made the entire villa bright and dazzling.
“Excuse me.” A low, cool voice came from nearby.
Zhao Yicheng turned his head. It was a young man in his twenties with a wild, unrestrained smile. He wore sunglasses, a patterned checkered shirt, blue casual shorts, and a pair of loose flip-flops. He looked… rather bohemian.
Seeing Zhao Yicheng take a step back, the man easily slipped past him to the rectangular coffee table, picked up a bottle of cocktail, and tilted his head back to take a swig.
Inside the living room, the intensely flashing lights made everything look “choppy,” as if the world were dropping frames.
Three dancers in sexy clothing stepped onto the temporary stage amidst the teasing whistles of the audio mixer. They raised their hands high above their heads, grabbed the steel poles behind them, and suddenly tossed their black hair. They swayed their waists to the music, posing provocatively.
The brilliant, colorful lights, the hot and sexy dancing, the deafening heavy metal music, and those enchanting figures twisting their waists and shaking their hips… it was enough to make anyone’s blood boil and instinctively move to the beat.
However, Zhao Yicheng rubbed his temples. He had just recovered from a serious illness, and he had disliked bright lights and heavy metal music since he was a child. Suddenly being exposed to this was like Tang Seng from Journey to the West being captured by minor demons and taken to Lion Camel Ridge; the monsters, ghosts, and mountains of corpses stimulated his already exhausted nerves.
Yet, he did not choose to leave. Instead, he stood tall and looked toward the stage, planted in place like a straight spear.
“Are you new?”
The voice sounded in his ear again. Zhao Yicheng turned to look; it was the man in sunglasses from earlier.
“Zhao Yicheng.” Zhao Yicheng politely extended his right hand.
“Lu Renjia. My family is in the real estate business.” The man in sunglasses reached out. “Are you also here for the villa owner’s party?”
“Yes, I just arrived. My family is in finance. I came here to expand my network,” Zhao Yicheng said, using the lines he had prepared in advance.
“Come off it, stop pretending.” Lu Renjia poked him with his elbow, looking as if he had already seen through Zhao Yicheng’s true thoughts. “Everyone’s purpose is about the same. I won’t say much else, but we’re all here to play to her interests and then take the opportunity to get close to the mistress of the villa, right?”
Seeing that Zhao Yicheng didn’t refute him, he continued, “Those who know, know. Most of the men here, including a few women, have similar thoughts. The mistress of the villa is rich, beautiful, and has a powerful background. From the looks of it, she’s even bisexual. Who wouldn’t want her?”
“Otherwise, who could stand this heavy metal music and bright lights? I can only say Sister Xu’s taste is truly unusual.” As he spoke, he pulled a cotton ball out of his left ear, gestured with it, and then stuffed it back in.
Zhao Yicheng remained silent. He looked at the audio mixer above the stage who had just blown the whistle—it was Xu Yinsheng.
She wore earplugs and had a cigarette dangling from her mouth. She wore a black jacket that exposed her navel and long-tube fishnet stockings. She was plucking the strings with abandon, looking as if she had completely immersed herself in this grand party!
—
Late at night.
The music ended, and the people dispersed. As the party concluded, everyone headed home to their respective families amidst Xu Yinsheng’s goodbyes. The equipment was dismantled and taken away by the nightclub staff.
The bathroom.
Mist swirled, and the water vapor was hazy.
Her fair skin had a faint pink tint, like a freshly peeled egg, smooth and delicate enough to incite jealousy. Her graceful figure was fully exposed at this moment, a glimpse of spring scenery revealed. Her long hair draped down to her waist, partially obscuring certain private areas.
Xu Yinsheng closed her eyes and lay comfortably in the bathtub filled with warm water. A small yellow duck drifted on the surface. The water temperature of over forty degrees did a great job of soothing the physical and mental fatigue following the party. Xu Yinsheng lay lazily in the tub, so comfortable she almost wanted to fall asleep.
The treatment method given by Mo Jiaqi: Proper exercise plus a hot bath helps with physical and mental relaxation, blood circulation, and mental stability.
Just then, a notification ringtone for a “Special Concern” suddenly sounded. Xu Yinsheng opened her eyes slightly, grabbed her phone from its waterproof bag, opened the message, and scanned it.
After a moment, she put down her phone and spoke with a sigh.
‘As expected, what must be faced cannot be dodged, and what must be encountered cannot be escaped.’