I had to compete

"Not interested." Gu Hansheng drawled the words, then impatiently hung up.

Watching from beside him, I couldn't help cautiously probing, "Um... didn't they say 'Goddess Night' brings together all the beauties in Beijing's elite circles? You really don't want to take a look?"

He looked up, his gaze indifferent. "Do you want me to go?"

I quickly shook my head. "Of course not!"

Gu Hansheng leaned against the sofa and bent forward slightly. "If you want to go, I can take you."

I hurriedly waved my hands. "I don't! That kind of occasion isn't for me."

"Really?" His voice was very soft.

"Gu Hansheng, if you don't even like beautiful women, what do you like?"

I regretted it the moment I asked.

He slowly leaned closer, tipped up my chin with a finger, and said with a low chuckle, "What do you think...?"

The way Gu Hansheng looked at me gradually changed.

His gaze burned with desire, thick as fire.

His breathing quickened too, his body inching closer to mine.

I could even feel his breath brushing my skin.

I couldn't help muttering inwardly-How did this man have so much energy?

He had clearly put me through an entire night of it, yet now he was as full of vigor as a wild beast, utterly tireless.

"Gu Hansheng..." I instinctively backed away.

But he kept advancing, bracing his palm against the back of the sofa, almost completely trapping me in his embrace.

His thin lips were mere inches away. He chuckled, his smile full of danger and temptation. "Why are you running?"

Just as I thought something was about to happen, his phone suddenly rang.

The abrupt ringing shattered every trace of intimacy in the air.

Gu Hansheng frowned slightly and glanced at his phone screen.

In that instant, the pressure of his fingertips noticeably eased.

I followed his gaze, and my heart lurched when I saw the caller ID.

It was that "white moonlight" of his, so gentle she could drip water.

With almost no hesitation, Gu Hansheng let me go and turned away to answer.

"Hello."

A woman's voice came through the receiver, soft as sugar. "Brother Hansheng, I have to go to Haicheng on a business trip tomorrow. Could you come with me? I don't really know my way around there on my own... I might have to stay overnight too, and I'm a little scared."

Every word she spoke was soft and gentle, yet each pierced my heart like a fine needle.

Gu Hansheng gave a quiet acknowledgment, his tone calm and gentle. "All right. I'll go with you tomorrow."

He said it as though it were only natural, without even keeping it from me.

Of course. I was nothing more than his secret lover now. What right did I have to question his life, or to make him consider my feelings?

I sat on the sofa, my fingers tightly clutching the hem of my clothes.

An inexplicable sense of self-pity and hurt actually welled up in me.

But I quickly pulled my emotions together. This wasn't the time to let my feelings rule me.

Gu Hansheng was going away on business tomorrow. That was just as well.

That way, he wouldn't discover I was going to compete in "Goddess Night."

He had his white moonlight.

And I should have a stage of my own too.

That afternoon, I sent Shen Yanchuan a message asking what I needed to prepare.

He replied quickly. "Nothing. We've arranged the styling and outfits. Just show up."

Before long, the sky darkened.

Check-in for "Goddess Night" was at seven, but contestants had to arrive two hours early.

By the time I reached the venue, backstage was already packed.

Rows of lights shone dazzlingly bright, and the mirrors were crowded with girls having their makeup done.

They were all impeccably dressed socialites, their gowns, perfume, and laughter mingling together.

I had barely stopped when I heard someone call my name.

"Yu Han, over here."

I looked up. Shen Yanchuan was leaning against a dressing table, his shirt sleeves rolled up, his posture casual.

He smiled at me, a hint of appraisal in his eyes.

I walked over, and he said quietly, "I really didn't think you'd actually come."

"Since I signed up, of course I had to come," I replied evenly.

"Does Gu Hansheng know?" His tone was languid.

I looked at him. "He doesn't need to know about this."

Shen Yanchuan raised an eyebrow, his smile a little teasing. "Tsk, you really are different."

I didn't respond.

He lit another cigarette and leaned lazily against the wall, smiling as he looked me over. "Just for the prize money?"

"What else?" My tone was calm.

He blew a smoke ring. "You don't actually need to put yourself through all this. One word from Gu Hansheng, and he could give you more."

I raised my eyes to him, my voice turning a little colder. "That's different. This time, I want to rely on myself."

He paused, then chuckled softly. "You... really have changed."

I ignored him and simply reached for the gown box on the table.

I unfolded a dark red gown, its fabric light and sheer, its skirt shimmering like flowing water.

As Shen Yanchuan watched, his gaze paused slightly. He chuckled. "It suits you."

"Thank you." I gave only a mild reply, then turned and entered the changing room.

The door closed, shutting out the lights and noise outside.

I took a deep breath in front of the mirror and slowly changed into the gown.