The night was alluring

Zuo Tingyue kneaded her slender waist, tightening his grip. Xun Yuan winced, her lips leaving his, drawing out a lingering thread of intimacy.

"Xunxun."

He murmured her name, his deep voice husky with arousal.

The sound reached Xun Yuan's ears, rippling through them, then knocked against her heart like a pebble sinking to the bottom of a lake. Her lashes trembled with it, a sight that tugged all the more at the heartstrings.

Zuo Tingyue's fingers deftly undid the knotted buttons of her qipao. He did not tear it this time. He had patience; this was part of the mood.

Layer by layer, he peeled away the flower's robes, watching its stem tremble wildly beneath the wind's caress, until at last he glimpsed the enchanting scenery within.

He lowered his head before her, entwining himself with her to the utmost.

Her long, dark hair lay in disarray against the man's neck, the visual contrast of black and white steeped in an elusive intimacy.

"...Don't."

Xun Yuan could not bear it. Her hurried, faint voice had lost every trace of its cool composure, sounding soft, seductive, and helpless.

"Don't what?"

His deep voice was sexy enough to get ears pregnant-the sexiness of someone caught in a whirlpool of desire.

He did not stop, continuing to linger over her snowy skin. At a time like this, it was hard to say he had not asked that deliberately.

Xun Yuan strained her slender, fair neck away from him, seizing a gap to catch her breath.

"...Don't do that."

His answer was a brief chuckle and increasingly fierce movements.

Her thoughts grew ever more muddled. Xun Yuan felt as though she were floating on clouds, everything soft beneath her feet, unable to find solid ground, yet her whole body burned. Being consumed by raging flames could hardly have felt different.

The night was alluring.

Xun Yuan felt she was going mad.

From his torment.

Sweat soaked the hair at her temples, plastering it to her flushed cheeks.

Amid the chaos, the man's husky, low voice sounded as he guided Xun Yuan's hand to the button.

"Undo it for me."

His sexy, magnetic voice fell beside Xun Yuan's ear. Slow to react, she raised her wet eyes to look at him. Tears of passion glistened in those beautiful eyes, lending her a tender, beguiling grace.

Her allure needed no affectation.

The darkness in Zuo Tingyue's eyes deepened, an abyss mingled with desire, so rich and vivid it overflowed.

Xun Yuan flinched from its heat, her gaze trembling as she belatedly understood his words.

"...Don't."

Still that same word. Her mind was sluggish, and for a moment she could think of nothing else to say.

When it came to shamelessness in this regard, Xun Yuan was still no match for him.

He played far too wildly.

How had it finally, finally ended?

Xun Yuan did not want to recall any of it. It was too embarrassing.

She remembered only that, toward the end, she had been so exhausted she had drifted groggily off to sleep. When she woke, it was already the next day.

The spot beside her had already gone cold. Xun Yuan understood that he had been gone for some time.

She got up and drew the curtains. The rain in Harbor City had stopped. She pushed open the window, and the damp air washed over her face, moist against her skin.

The hotel's location was excellent. From this height, she could overlook a vast stretch of river, with Harbor City's most prosperous sights spread out before her. That feeling of having all things beneath one's feet could hardly fail to stir ambition and lofty aspirations.

Xun Yuan had seen it often enough that it stirred not a ripple within her. She had been born standing atop the mountains; to her, scenery was simply scenery.

She wore a long nightdress, her hair loose down her back, its ends slightly curled. Having just woken, she still looked languid and sleepy, her eyes calm and tranquil as she gazed into the distance. Her features were like a painting, touched with the lingering traces of spring's sensuality, making her face all the more enchanting.

Once her mind had fully cleared, Xun Yuan left the hotel. Rather than returning to Repulse Bay, she went to her studio. Her newly accepted artifact restoration job was not finished yet, and she needed to make the most of her time.

Xun Yuan spent the entire day in the studio, busy restoring artifacts. She even ate lunch there.

That evening, she returned to Repulse Bay and dealt with emails from abroad. In the midst of it, she received an overseas call.

The contact name read: little girl.

She rose, walked to the living room's floor-to-ceiling windows, and answered.

-"I'm busy working."

-"What present would you like?"

-"You won't be able to come back home to see me anytime soon. Once I'm free, I'll come abroad to see you, all right?"

She spoke to the person on the other end with easy familiarity, her words full of affection, her voice gentle, as though coaxing a child.

The floor-to-ceiling glass was bright and clean, reflecting her exquisite face. It held a rare softness and gentleness, a peaceful look seldom seen on her.

There was no doubt.

The person on the other end of the call must have been very important to her.

Whatever that person said made Xun Yuan's brows twitch and draw together.

"Stay put abroad and wait for me to come see you. Listen to Uncle Butler."

Only after a few more coaxing words did Xun Yuan hang up.

She looked at her phone's dark screen for a few seconds, then found a contact and called.

After a few rings, the call connected.

"Boss."

It was a clear, pleasant male voice, modest in tone.

"Have there been any changes in their overseas operations?"

"No obvious changes, but they've been contacting mine owners in Southeast Asia. My guess is that something has happened with their raw materials, or they're developing a second industrial chain."

Xun Yuan listened silently, her fingers resting on her arm and tapping lightly, her gaze deep and composed in the night.

"Keep watching them. Also, get someone to contact the people in Southeast Asia. Whatever their purpose, I want that shipment of ore."

Xun Yuan paused, then added, "In the Golden Triangle, have someone investigate..."

She abruptly stopped, her grip tightening around her phone.

"Don't investigate for now."

The male voice was firm, giving the impression of someone who carried out instructions decisively.

"Understood, boss."

Xun Yuan hung up, suddenly feeling a little tired. She checked the time: eleven o'clock. It was already late at night. No wonder she felt weary.

Earlier, she had been considering opening another shop. Tonight, that half-formed idea was cut off completely. It had to be strangled in its cradle.

After finishing her work, Xun Yuan went to the bedroom to rest. That night, perhaps because she had mentioned it before bed, scenes she had not seen in a long time appeared in her mind again.

Rain poured down in torrents.

Blood flowed freely.

People came chasing from afar, pursuing them like rabid dogs, heedless of their own lives. Xun Yuan could only run with all her might.

"Don't let that little bitch get away."

"Split up and search."

"We haven't found the thing. That little bitch must have it."

In the dream, Xun Yuan could hear their words clearly.

"Where the fuck did they go?"

In the darkness, Xun Yuan's eyes snapped open. This again.

What exactly had they been looking for?

Xun Yuan did not know.

She had dreamed of that day many times, but she was certain she did not have the "thing" they spoke of.

What exactly was it?

Xun Yuan's head hurt. Every time she woke from a dream about that incident, she could forget about sleeping again that night.

After trying and failing to fall asleep, Xun Yuan sat up and switched on the light. The house was empty, and she found it dull.

After a few seconds of thought, she decisively changed clothes, took her car keys, and went out.