Gathering

The gathering was held at a large riverside villa on Manhattan.

The pitch-black river reflected the dazzling neon lights of the metropolis. In the night breeze, ripples shimmered across the water as pleasure boats and cargo ships, their lights aglow, slowly passed by.

Four Heaven's Punishment minivans pulled up slowly at the parking area outside the villa. The door of the lead vehicle opened, and Zhang Yuanqing, dressed in a black formal suit, stepped out first. He turned around and gallantly helped Guan Ya out behind him.

Sun Miaomiao and the others got out one after another and gathered around the pair.

The men all wore much the same black formal attire, while the women's gowns were far more varied and vibrant.

Guan Ya wore a sky-blue off-the-shoulder gown. Its pleated skirt trailed across the ground, slit at the front; as she walked, her two long, fair legs appeared and disappeared from view. Simple, elegant, and refined, it suited her age of twenty-seven perfectly.

Asano Ryo wore a white gown resembling a princess dress, with two lace flowers on her shoulders. It emphasized the gentle, obedient air of a little princess.

Sun Miaomiao wore a black short-sleeved gauze dress with a knee-length tulle skirt, paired with low-heeled sandals. It was mature yet elegant, elegant yet adorably natural.

Led by the greeters, the group crossed a courtyard with a fountain and arrived in a brightly lit hall.

This villa seemed to have been built specifically for hosting banquets. There were no walls in the hall; nine pillars supported the ceiling, and magnificent crystal chandeliers cast down brilliant light.

Tables draped in white cloth were laid out with food, fruit, and drinks. Waiters in burgundy V-neck uniforms moved back and forth carrying trays, serving glass after glass of champagne and plate after