Wang Gu yawned as he glanced at his phone—it was already half-past nine in the evening. Deciding to find a hotel for the night, he stepped out of the airport, where a taxi immediately pulled up in front of him.

 “Need a ride?” the driver called out.　

 “To Baiyun Mountain Scenic Area,” Wang Gu replied, preparing to step into the car.

 Before he could settle in, the driver demanded, “One hundred and ten. Pay up front!”

     A five-kilometer trip for 110 yuan? This was clearly a scam.

    Wang Gu pulled his leg back out of the car, his lips curling into a faint, humorless smile. “Thanks, but no thanks.”

    As the disgruntled driver sped off while cursing under his breath, Wang Gu calmly dialed the hotline to file a complaint.

    The Imperial Palace nightclub, nestled in the bustling heart of Han City’s most vibrant district, was one of its most famous nightspots. Though not far from Baiyun Mountain, the journey still took an hour by car.

    The frigid night wind bit harshly as Si Shen hurried along, the cold air searing his lungs and causing him to cough uncontrollably. Even after stepping into the Imperial Palace, his coughing didn’t subside. His chest felt like a bellows being pulled painfully with every breath.

    He had no idea which room Qi Xiao was in, and his calls went unanswered. Left with no choice, he started knocking on doors, one by one, despite the strong scent of alcohol and smoke permeating the corridor.

 “Who the hell is it? Stop banging!”

    The irritated voice from behind a door suggested he had interrupted someone’s private moment.

    Before the occupant could open the door, Si Shen staggered away and turned just in time to see Qi Xiao step out of a nearby room, unharmed and looking smug.

    Qi Xiao’s face flashed with a fleeting sneer, followed by a look of feigned innocence as though he had been expecting Si Shen all along. 　

    Holding up his phone, Qi Xiao said, “I didn’t hear it earlier. Come in.”　

    Si Shen pressed his lips together but said nothing.　

    Yetagain, he had been dragged here under the pretext of an emergency, only to serve Qi Xiao’s selfish agenda.

    Following Qi Xiao into the private room, Si Shen was hit by an even heavier wave of smoke and alcohol fumes, which made him cough uncontrollably once more.

 “Cough… cough, cough, cough…”

    Bending over in discomfort, Si Shen tried to regain his composure. When he finally straightened, a glass filled with crimson liquid appeared before him.

 “Si Shen, why are you so late? Everyone’s been waiting impatiently. Drink this as an apology,” someone said mockingly.

    Hesitant, Si Shen took the glass, his gaze flickering uncertainly.

　Qi Xiao leaned in close, his voice low and menacing by Si Shen’s ear. “You see that man over there? That’s Mr. Liu from Jiang’ao Group, also known as Sixth Master. He’s a big shot who plays both sides of the law. A mere crumb from him could keep Dongyu Media afloat for a year. Don’t screw this up for me.”

    Dongyu Media was Qi Xiao’s family business, and Si Shen, a university dropout, was barely considered one of its affiliates.

 “You’ll help me, won’t you, Si Shen?”

    The alcohol burned like fire as it slid down Si Shen’s throat, its pungent spiciness tearing at his insides. She winced, clutching his neck against the stinging pain.

    This liquor was far stronger than he had anticipated.

    A middle-aged voice broke through the tension.

 “Come on, Qi Xiao, don’t blame him. Traffic around Baiyun Mountain is terrible these days. You can’t expect him to arrive any faster.”

    Relieved to hear Sixth Master speak up, Qi Xiao shoved the bottle into Si Shen’s hands. “Si Shen, pour the man a drink. Mr. Six is already defending you—don’t keep him waiting.”

    By Mr. Six’s side sat two stunning women. Yet, the moment Si Shen approached, Mr. Six’s gaze fixated on him,  completely ignoring the beauties beside him. With a grin that revealed his yellowed teeth, he shoved the women away and said:“ Qi Xiao, this must be Si Shen, right? What an alluring sight.”

    As Si Shen quietly poured him a drink, his strikingly handsome and delicate features seemed almost otherworldly. The elegant curve of his fair, slender neck ensnared Mr. Six’s gaze, leaving him entranced as if his very soul were being stolen. A powerful surge of desire stirred within him, his body responding uncontrollably.

    The man before him, flushed from violent coughing, had a hint of pink at the corners of his eyes and nose, further fueling Mr. Six’s depraved cravings. Such fragile beauty—if only it were beneath him…

    Unable to restrain himself any longer, Mr. Six extended a hand toward Si Shen’s face.

    Si Shen paused mid-pour, instinctively tilting his head away, leaving Mr. Six grasping at empty air.

    The atmosphere froze instantly.

    Without a hint of emotion, Si Shen finished pouring the drink and placed the glass in front of Mr. Six, saying nothing.

    Mr. Six, caught off guard by the rejection and the absence of even an apology, angrily knocked over the glass.

 “Playing hard to get, huh? Aren’t you just a lowly plaything? Stop pretending to be so high and mighty!”

    After cursing Si Shen, Mr. Six turned his ire on Qi Xiao.

 “Ha! Your Dongyu Media has no sincerity whatsoever. Don’t even think about working with Jiang’ao in the future. What an utter disgrace!”

    With that, Mr. Six rose abruptly, ready to leave. Qi Xiao, desperate to salvage the deal slipping through his fingers, grabbed Si Shen and, ignoring his violent coughing, forced a glass of strong liquor down his throat.

 “Mr. Six, our staff was out of line, but the matter has been handled. Please, grant us another chance.”

    Si Shen, held in an excruciatingly uncomfortable position, choked down the fiery alcohol. A wave of nausea surged from his throat to his stomach, overwhelming him.　

    Unable to endure the sensation any longer, he shoved Qi Xiao away and rushed toward the restroom.

    Wang Gu had never been one to bother with minor details. Embarking on an impromptu trip, he hadn’t even considered booking a hotel in advance.

    As a result, three consecutive hotels turned him away.

 “I’m sorry, sir. All rooms are fully booked through next week. You may want to try elsewhere,” said the receptionist.

    Unperturbed, Wang Gu waved his wallet casually.

 “I’ll pay extra.”　

 “Apologies, sir, but even with additional payment, we truly have no rooms available. We can’t very well offer you a sofa, and it wouldn’t be proper. Please don’t make things difficult for a mere employee.”

 “You’re too kind to let a poor, charming, sunny gentleman like me sleep on the streets, aren’t you, lovely sister?”

    He leaned in suddenly, his strikingly handsome face coming close. The receptionist blushed furiously.

 “Th-there really are no rooms, sir,” she stammered.

 “Well, alright then.”

    Seeing his charm had failed, Wang Gu chose not to trouble the staff further and turned to leave the hotel lobby.

    He glanced at his watch—it was already past midnight. Stifling a yawn, he muttered to himself,

 “Unbelievable. How can a place as big as Baiyun Mountain not have a single room to spare?”