The Auction Gavel Opened the Door to Another Circle

At 6:45 in the morning, in the master bedroom of a top-floor apartment in Beijing's China World Trade Center Phase III, the blackout curtains were still drawn tight. Only a thin line of pale gray daylight slipped through at the edges.

Su Jin opened her eyes right on time, in the last ten seconds of the system countdown. Three weeks ago, she had finally given up fighting this arrangement, and her body had developed a clock more precise than any alarm.

[Ten, nine, eight, seven...]

She lay still, her gaze resting on the Baccarat crystal chandelier on the ceiling. In the dim light, the tiny glimmers refracted by its crystals looked like a scattering of stars.

The Hästens mattress beneath her was neither too soft nor too firm, the Pratesi silk bedding was smooth and cool against her skin, and the covers still held her body heat.

[Three, two, one-ding!]

[Congratulations, host, on completing your forty-second daily check-in!]

[Today's check-in reward: 35% equity in Beijing Poly Auction Co., Ltd. (equity transfer completed; valued at 870 million; second-largest shareholder, with a board seat)]

[Today's check-in reward: exclusive agency rights in China for The Star, a private Paris buyer boutique (includes three years of operating capital; first store located in Beijing's Wangfujing; valued at 230 million)]

[Today's check-in reward: a full year of premium Switzerland Cellcosmet skincare services (includes one in-home treatment per month; valued at 1.2 million)]

[Today's additional "industry synergy" easter egg triggered: Poly Auction and The Star boutique can jointly hold quarterly art and fashion salons, and can also share customer resources with the guesthouses and hotels under the host's name. Synergy benefits are estimated to increase by 35%]

Su Jin lay in bed for three seconds after listening, then slowly sat up.

Her long hair slipped over her shoulders and spilled down her back to her waist. Morning light filtered through a gap in the curtains, gilding the strands with a pale golden halo.

She raised a hand and rubbed between her brows. The lazy motion gave her whole face the texture of an oil painting in the hazy light. The drowsiness lingering in her eyes softened much of her usual aloofness, replacing it with a gentle warmth that made people want to draw close.

"Poly Auction," she said, her voice a little husky with sleep. "That's interesting."

"[Right? Right?]" Little Golden Egg squeezed out of the air, spinning excitedly. "[I think this is the best one too! Poly is one of the top auction houses in China. The lots in its spring and autumn auctions are worth hundreds of millions, and now that you're its second-largest shareholder, you'll naturally get into those top collectors' circles.

"And in the auction business, connections and resources matter most. With your new status, it won't be hard to meet anyone you want.]"

Su Jin threw back the covers and got out of bed, stepping barefoot onto the carpet.

She had bought it at an auction before: an early twentieth-century handmade Persian rug, deep burgundy, with gold threads hidden among its intricate patterns. Walking on it felt like stepping on clouds.

She went into the bathroom and turned on the light.

The mirror reflected her newly awakened face-no makeup, no embellishment, only her natural skin and features. Her skin was as translucent as fine mutton-fat jade, without a single visible pore or blemish, and glowed softly in the morning light.

Her eyebrows were naturally neither too thick nor too thin, her lashes were long and dense, there were no dark circles under her eyes, and her lips were a pale rose pink, full and soft.

She had looked at this face for more than twenty years, but over the past month, every time she looked in the mirror, it felt a little unfamiliar. Her features hadn't changed; it was something that came from deep within her bones.

There had always been a little tension on that face before, a little anxiety, a little uncertainty that said, "I don't know what tomorrow will bring."

Now there was nothing on it but calm and certainty, and a faint smile she hadn't even noticed herself.

She opened the shower door and adjusted the water temperature. The shower had been installed during last year's renovation, with Italian marble on all four walls and a Hansgrohe Raindance shower system, an overhead shower and a handheld one. The water fell as finely as spring rain.

Hot water poured down over her head. She closed her eyes and tilted her face up, letting the water slide over her forehead and cheeks and run down her neck.

Today's shower gel was Jo Malone's Peony & Blush Suede-a rose base blended with the richness of peony and the warmth of suede. It had been her favorite lately.

She squeezed a little onto a bath pouf, worked it into a thick lather, and slowly spread it over her body.

The foam slid from her shoulders over her collarbones and spread down her arms, then washed away, revealing skin faintly flushed by the steam.

She carefully washed every inch of skin-around her shoulder blades, the sides of her waist, her knees, her ankles-moving at an unhurried pace, as if performing some daily ritual.

After fifteen minutes in the shower, she turned off the water and picked up a bath towel to dry herself.

The towel was Frette, pure cotton, thick and soft, and highly absorbent.

She started with her face, gently pressing away the droplets, then dried her neck, shoulders, arms, waist and stomach, and legs, working her way down.

Once dry, she stood before the mirror and looked at herself, fresh from the bath.

Her body was far more toned than it had been three months ago-not with the hard muscles that came from excessive training, but with every inch proportioned just right.

Her collarbones were clearly defined, her shoulders had smooth lines, her waist was slender, and the definition of her abs was faintly visible. Her legs were straight and long, and her skin was as smooth and spotless as if it had never seen the sun.

She turned to look at her back. Her shoulder blades had a lovely shape, the dimples at her lower back were just where they should be, and her buttocks were considerably more lifted than before.

Three personal-training sessions a week over the past three months, plus her unfailing daily stretching and care, had indeed produced astonishing results.

"[Host,]" Little Golden Egg's voice drifted in from outside the bathroom. "[I've detected that your physical condition score today is 98, another 0.5 points higher than yesterday. At this rate, in another month you'll reach the upper limit for a human being.]"

Su Jin ignored it and picked up the skincare products on her dressing table.

First came Valmont's Vital Falls toner, poured onto a cotton pad and gently patted over her face.

Then La Mer's concentrated repairing serum, a soybean-sized amount spread evenly and gently massaged in with her fingertips until absorbed.

Next was Cellcosmet's Cellular Vitalizing Serum, which required a special massage technique: from the chin to behind the ears, from the sides of the nose to the temples, and from between the brows to the hairline, each motion repeated three times.

Her eye cream was CPB's La Crème Yeux. Its accompanying massage wand was platinum, cool and smooth, and gliding it gently from the inner to the outer corners of her eyes could effectively reduce morning puffiness.

Her face cream was Cellcosmet's Cellular Vital Cream, rich in texture, which had to be emulsified in her palms before being pressed onto her face.

The final step was sunscreen: La Prairie's lightweight sunscreen, SPF50, PA++++, light and nongreasy, and able to brighten her complexion.

The whole routine took a full twenty minutes.

The face in the mirror was now fully awake. Her skin had drunk its fill and shone with a healthy glow, the drowsiness around her eyes had given way to sharpness, and she looked like a freshly honed sword, ready to leave its sheath at any moment.

Two

At ten that morning, Su Jin arrived at 18 Wangfujing Street.

It was an old five-story building with gray stone exterior walls. Its storefront was small, but its location was excellent, right in the heart of Wangfujing, opposite APM and diagonally across from Oriental Plaza.

A new sign had already been hung by the entrance, with gold lettering on a black background spelling out "The Star" in French. Beside it was a line of smaller text: Paris · Beijing.

She pushed the door open and went inside, where renovations were still underway. Workers came and went, and materials and tools were piled everywhere, but the general layout was already visible. The first floor was the retail area, with shelves installed and waiting for merchandise; the second held VIP rooms and a private customization area, decorated more elegantly; the third housed offices and storage rooms; and the fourth and fifth were still empty, reportedly intended as an art gallery and event space.

A middle-aged man in a gray suit came forward to greet her. He was the store manager Shen Mingwei had helped her find, surnamed Chen. He had worked at Lane Crawford for eight years and was highly experienced.

He showed Su Jin around floor by floor, updating her as they went. The merchandise would arrive at port next week, renovations would be finished by the end of the month, the staff had all been hired and were in training, and the opening was set for the eighteenth of next month.

Su Jin nodded without asking much. She trusted the person Shen Mingwei had recommended.

After leaving the store, she walked slowly along Wangfujing Street. The sunlight was just right, and people came and went, tourists mingling with locals, carrying all kinds of shopping bags and wearing expressions of satisfaction or fatigue.

She wore a camel-colored Loro Piana coat over an elephant-gray cashmere sweater and wide-leg trousers in the same shade, with a pair of Tod's driving shoes on her feet. She was understated enough to nearly blend into the crowd,

but passersby still couldn't help taking a second look. Her beauty wasn't showy; it seeped in as quietly as rain nourishing the earth, and by the time you realized it and wanted a closer look, she had already passed.

Her phone vibrated. It was a message from Cheng Yan: I sent the information on Poly's board members to your email. There's a board meeting next Wednesday. Do you need to attend?

She replied: I'll go. Please arrange it.

It vibrated again, this time with a message from Meng Qi: Su Jin! I'm going to Beijing next week. Are you free to meet?

She looked at the message, the corners of her mouth lifting, and replied: Yes. Let me know when you arrive.

The third message came from an unfamiliar number: Hello, Ms. Su. I'm the assistant to the editorial director of Vogue China. Our director saw your photos in Chengdu and would like to invite you to a shoot for next month's "Society Ladies About Town" feature. Would you be available for a phone call?

Su Jin raised an eyebrow at the message but didn't reply immediately.

"[Host,]" Little Golden Egg popped out excitedly. "[Vogue! A top fashion magazine! They came to you! This means the mainstream fashion world has started to notice you! Say yes, say yes, say yes!]"

Su Jin ignored it, put her phone away, and continued walking.

When she reached Wangfujing Church, she stopped on the steps and looked at the outlines of its two spires against the blue sky.

A few tourists were taking photos nearby. Some held selfie sticks, while others struck exaggerated poses, their laughter and chatter rising and falling.

She stood there, as serene as a painting.

Her phone vibrated again, this time with a message from Lu Shen: Have you thought about the reception? Saturday evening. Shall I send someone to pick you up?

She looked at the message and thought for a moment, then finally replied with one word: Okay.

Three

At three that afternoon, Su Jin arrived at SKP.

She had come to shop-not the "just browsing" kind, but with specific things in mind.

Poly's board meeting was next week, and she needed a suitable suit of armor. She also needed a dress that could command the room at Lu Shen's reception the following Saturday.

She went straight up to the third floor and entered a store she often visited.

The saleswoman's eyes lit up when she saw her, and she immediately came over. "Ms. Su, you're here! A new collection just arrived today, and it's perfect for you. Would you like to have a look?"

Su Jin nodded and sat down on the sofa.

The clothes were brought out one by one, and she looked through them, nodding or shaking her head now and then. In the end, she kept three: a dark gray Armani power suit with sharp shoulders and crisp trousers, suitable for formal occasions; a burgundy Gucci velvet gown with a plunging neckline, an open back, and a floor-sweeping hem, suitable for receptions and dinners; and a black Celine cashmere coat, minimalist in design but impeccably tailored, suitable for any occasion.

Trying everything on took a long time. The power-suit trousers needed to be shortened by two centimeters, the straps on the velvet gown tightened a little, and the sleeves of the cashmere coat let out by half a centimeter. The saleswoman noted each alteration and said the clothes would be delivered to her home once they were done.

At checkout, the total came up: 680,000.

Su Jin took out her black card and paid without batting an eye.

After leaving the store, she wandered around the mall and picked up a few more things: a bottle of limited-edition Jo Malone perfume, a La Mer travel skincare set, several Hermès silk scarves to give as gifts, and two pairs of Jimmy Choo heels, one nude and one black.

When she reached the jewelry section on the first floor, she paused.

In Cartier's display window was a brand-new Panthère necklace, shaped like a panther and fully set with diamonds. Its eyes were two tiny emeralds that glittered under the lights.

She stood before the window for three seconds, then pushed the door open and went inside.

Five minutes later, she came out carrying an orange-red bag.

The necklace lay inside, along with a pair of matching earrings.

"[Host,]" Little Golden Egg said quietly, "[are you in an especially good mood today?]"

Su Jin said nothing, but the corners of her mouth curved.

She was in a pretty good mood.

Four

At seven that evening, Su Jin returned to her apartment at China World Trade Center.

After removing her makeup and taking a bath, she sat at her dressing table in a robe and began her evening skincare routine.

Going through the daytime routine wasn't enough; the evening called for greater care.

First came makeup removal. Although she had worn only light makeup today, she still used Shu Uemura's amber cleansing oil, massaging it onto her dry face with dry hands, emulsifying it, and washing it off. Then she worked CPB facial cleanser into a thick lather, gently massaged it in circles, and rinsed.

She switched to La Prairie's Skin Caviar Essence-in-Lotion for toner, pouring it into her palms and gently pressing it onto her face. Her serum was Guerlain's Orchidée Impériale, rich in texture and requiring five minutes of massage with lifting motions. Her eye cream was La Prairie's Skin Caviar eye cream, which she gently dabbed on with her ring finger, from the inner corners of her eyes to the outer corners, until it was completely absorbed.

Her face cream was HR's Black Bandage, which had powerful restorative properties and worked best at night. She scooped out a large dollop, emulsified it in her palms, and pressed it onto her face. Then she massaged from her chin to behind her ears, from the sides of her nose to her temples, and from between her brows to her hairline, repeating each motion ten times.

Last was lip care: a thick layer of La Mer lip balm, which would leave her lips soft and full when she woke tomorrow.

The full routine took another half hour.

She stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out at the dazzling night view.

Beijing at night was different from Chengdu. Chengdu's nights were gentle, full of the warmth of everyday life;

Beijing's nights were brilliant, with a sense of distance. The lights spread out beneath her feet like countless stars fallen onto black velvet. Behind every light was a story, and she was the person standing high above, looking down.

Her phone vibrated with a message from Cheng Yan: Shen Nian got back to me. She'll be in Beijing next week too and wants to meet you. When are you free?

She replied: Thursday afternoon next week.

It vibrated again, with a message from Zhou Ye: You're meeting the team tomorrow morning at nine. I've sent you the company address.

She replied: Okay.

The third message was from Meng Qi: I'm in Beijing! Are you free tomorrow? I'll take you to an incredibly good hotpot place!

She smiled at the message and replied: I'm busy tomorrow morning, but the afternoon works.

Meng Qi replied instantly: Afternoon it is! I'll send you the address!

The fourth message was from Chen Shen: I heard you're back in Beijing? When are you coming to Chengdu again? The racetrack misses you.

She looked at the message but didn't reply.

The fifth message was from Lu Shen: Seven on Saturday evening. The driver will pick you up.

She replied: Okay.

She put down her phone and continued looking out the window.

"[Host,]" Little Golden Egg said, drifting over. "[You're meeting the security team tomorrow morning, eating with Meng Qi in the afternoon, attending the board meeting on Wednesday, meeting Shen Nian on Thursday, and going to the reception on Saturday. Your schedule is pretty full.]"

Su Jin said nothing.

"[And those men-Lu Shen, Chen Shen, Xu Yanqiu, and Elder Huo, who may or may not show up.]" Little Golden Egg counted them off on its wings. "[How do you plan to handle them?]"

Su Jin turned and walked toward the bedroom.

"I won't," she said. "Things will be whatever they'll be."

"[What does that mean?]"

"It means-" She slipped under the covers and closed her eyes. "Some people pursue me, some wait, some want to see me, some ask me out to eat. It's nice. But that doesn't mean I have to choose anyone, and it doesn't mean I have to make anyone a promise."

"[What if they get serious?]"

"That's their business," she said. "I've never lied to anyone or promised anyone anything. I made it clear from the start: I don't do relationships."

Little Golden Egg fell silent.

After quite a while, it said softly, "[Host, don't you think you're being a little... you know?]"

Su Jin opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling.

"A little what?"

"[Well...]" Little Golden Egg weighed its words. "[A little cold?]"

Su Jin thought for a moment, then smiled.

"It's not cold," she said. "It's clarity. I know what I want and what I don't want. No matter how much of something I don't want is offered to me, I won't take it. What I do want, I'll get for myself."

"[Then what do you want?]"

Su Jin didn't answer immediately.

Outside, the night was deep, and the city lights still shone brilliantly. She looked at the expanse of light, her gaze as calm as a mirror.

"Freedom," she said. "The freedom to do whatever I want and not do whatever I don't want to. The freedom to go wherever I want and see whoever I want. The freedom to answer to no one, to be responsible for no one, and to be responsible only for myself."

Little Golden Egg fell silent.

After a long time, it said softly, "[Host, that's quite an ambitious goal.]"

Su Jin closed her eyes, that faint smile still on her lips.

"That's why I have to take my time."

The light went out.

The room fell into darkness.