Goddess Night

He was tall and slender, dressed in an ink-black shirt with the collar slightly open, revealing a stretch of finely sculpted collarbone.

His features were clear and open, and a faint, languid smile played at his lips.

"Yu Han? Isn't this the Yu family's eldest daughter!"

He raised an eyebrow, looking at me with a half smile. "What a coincidence."

I froze, finally digging this man out of my memory.

Shen Yanchuan, Gu Hansheng's friend.

I had met him a few times at gatherings.

In my memory, he was always flippant and slick-tongued.

"I think I'm in the wrong place." I took half a step back.

"You're in the right place."

Shen Yanchuan rose leisurely, straightening his cuffs as he smiled. "'Beijing Elite Socialite Selection · Goddess Night.' A few of us sponsors dropped by at the last minute to help review the applications. This is the place."

I frowned. "You're reviewing them yourselves?"

"Of course."

He leaned against the desk, his tone warm with teasing. "An event like this needs a little eye-pleasing process. Don't be nervous. We're just picking people, not eating them."

I scoffed inwardly:

Not eating people? With that look in your eyes, all you're missing is a magnifying glass to measure our busts, waists, and hips.

But thinking of the five-million prize, I forced down my impatience.

"Then I'll sign up," I said bluntly.

"Easy enough."

He bent down and rummaged through a stack of documents, then pulled out a form and a pen and handed them to me.

"Fill it out. Name, height, talents, contact information... and the biggest reason you want this prize money."

I looked up. "I have to write a reason, too?"

"Of course."

He smiled casually. "If you want five million, you have to let me know just how badly you want it."

I stared at the form for a few seconds, then put pen to paper and wrote, "To stay alive."

Shen Yanchuan glanced at it, paused in surprise, then burst out laughing.

"All right. Straight to the point."

He lowered his voice. "Does Gu Hansheng know you're here?"

"He doesn't need to know."

"Oh?"

His fingers tapped lightly on the desk, a trace of teasing in his voice. "Now that's rare. Usually, the moment your name comes up, that man can never sit still."

I smiled faintly. "That's his problem."

Shen Yanchuan's smile deepened. "So you've got a temper. All right, I like someone with backbone. Tomorrow at seven, Sky Curtain Hall at the Dichen Hotel. Don't be late."

"Thank you." I put away the application form.

Leaning against the desk, Shen Yanchuan suddenly added lazily, "If Gu Hansheng really finds out you're taking part, I reckon the whole selection venue will turn into an Asura battlefield."

"I don't think he'd be interested in this sort of event."

By the time I returned to the villa, the sky outside the windows had sunk into an expanse of ink, and rain had begun to patter down.

The raindrops weren't heavy, but they kept tapping against the windowsill, like someone knocking rhythmically against my heart.

My whole body ached. The moment I stepped through the door, I kicked off my shoes, too weary even to turn on the lights, and collapsed onto the sofa.

Thinking back over everything that had happened today, I felt as though my brain had been scorched until it swelled.

Signing up, the application review... and that five million.

I closed my eyes, thinking I would take a shower first.

But just as I stood up, the light in the study suddenly came on.

The floor lamp cast a cool light, illuminating the man's tall, straight figure.

He sat on the sofa, his shirt undone to the second button, his long fingers turning through documents.

"Why are you home?" I blurted out.

He looked up indifferently, his gaze passing over the documents to settle on my face. "It's my home. Shouldn't I be here?"

I choked on my words, then smiled, trying to make my voice sound natural. "I thought you were still out entertaining."

"It ended early." He closed the documents and reached to unfasten his watch, his movements unhurried, carrying a composure that made me uneasy.

"Where did you go?"

"To meet a friend."

Gu Hansheng raised his eyes. Lamplight reflected in their pitch-black depths, as unfathomable as the deep sea.

"Qin An'an?"

He even knew my best friend's name, which surprised me a little.

"Yes." I smiled. "She just came back to the country."

Gu Hansheng leaned lazily against the sofa, his gaze lingering on my face for two seconds without betraying anything.

"You seem a little different today."

"Do I?" I forced a smile. "I'm probably just too tired."

"You make that face every time you have something to hide."

As he spoke, his phone suddenly rang.

That familiar caller ID lit up the screen.

Shen Yanchuan.

I stiffened almost reflexively.

My heart began to pound erratically.

Gu Hansheng didn't answer right away. He merely raised an eyebrow slightly and glanced at me.

His gaze was so still, as though he could hear my heartbeat.

"What is it? You seem nervous," he asked.

"N-no, it's nothing." I tried hard to appear calm.

"That's not what your face says." He reached for the phone, his fingertip resting over the answer button.

No sooner had he spoken than Shen Yanchuan's flippant laugh came through the phone. "Hey, Hansheng, free tomorrow? 'Goddess Night' kicks off tomorrow. A small preliminary banquet. Everyone in the circle will be there. Want to come have some fun?"

My breath caught.

Gu Hansheng's eyes darkened instantly, his knuckles tapping lightly against the sofa's armrest.

"Goddess Night?"

Shen Yanchuan continued laughing flippantly on the other end. "Yeah. Don't tell me you still haven't heard? This year's going to be lively. Plenty of old acquaintances have signed up... if you don't come, you might miss a good show."

"I'm busy."

Gu Hansheng's tone could not have been more indifferent, and even his voice carried an aloof chill.

On the other end, Shen Yanchuan was still laughing. "You, honestly. Why keep yourself wound so tight all day? Relax a little. Tomorrow night's 'Goddess Night'-I guarantee you'll be in for a feast for the eyes."