Just then, a manager hurried over, looking anxious and about to speak, but the man raised a hand to stop him. With a splash, he stood up, his athletic frame making a striking impression. His perfect waist and hips highlighted his masculine charm. He stepped onto the tiles, took the towel the manager offered, wrapped it around himself, and headed to the VIP lounge.

As Jiang Yi stood there, dazed, a masseuse approached and said, "This pool is reserved for Mr. Ouyang. If you'd like to use it, please make a reservation a week in advance."

"Huh?" Jiang Yi was disdainful of such arbitrary rules. Just because someone had money, they could reserve a pool? Wasn't everyone here rich? It turned out he'd not only trespassed but also interrupted someone's private time. Ridiculous!

Before the masseuse could explain further, Jiang Yi got up and headed for the locker room, thinking, "Everyone here is crazy! For a so-called high-end club, there are always people putting on airs. No matter how good-looking, they're just empty shells."

Once his mood was ruined, Jiang Yi decided to leave. As he finished dressing in the locker room, he saw the same man enter at the other end. Wearing wooden clogs and a robe, he had a different aura. He looked up and saw Jiang Yi. Their eyes met again, but this time, the man pretended not to recognize him and walked past, heading to change.

Maybe it was rude, but if the first encounter was accidental, this one was deliberate. The man was exactly Jiang Yi's type, so he leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching as the man took off his robe and opened his locker, admiring his smooth, graceful movements.

"If you're worried about germs, you shouldn't come to a public bath," Jiang Yi suddenly said.

Closing the locker, the man didn't mind being naked in front of Jiang Yi again. He dressed calmly and, as he fastened his pants, turned to look at Jiang Yi. "I don't plan on coming back."

Jiang Yi didn't know why he smiled, but he did, naturally.

As he left "Arches," he thought, did he want to come back, either? Maybe this fleeting encounter was an ideal kind. Jiang Yi wasn't one for fantasies—he didn't believe everything needed an ending. Sometimes, a momentary feeling was better than the disappointment of getting to know each other too well.

That man had stirred something unusual in him—a long-dormant desire that pulsed beneath his calm exterior.

From the next day on, Jiang Yi returned to his usual self, throwing himself into the project and tapping into his full potential. He was used to fighting his own battles.

"Yifan Studio" was his life's work, and he put in several times more effort than others to expand it. He knew that success never came easily. To make people take you seriously, you needed both financial power and social status. Though Jiang Yi was already well-known in the industry, what set him apart was that he cherished his success and worked even harder to maintain it.

For the party the next night, he chose a low-key Gucci suit. Yuming had already told him that Chinese parties weren't about discussing champagne origins or jewelry appraisals—at most, it was just business small talk. For events he wasn't good at, Jiang Yi usually chose to stay quiet and observe, waiting for the right moment to make his move. It was the safest strategy.

Jiang Yi was good at managing his appearance. A simple pocket square was enough to highlight his refined taste—not flashy, but elegant enough to leave a lasting impression.

Yuming was always satisfied with Jiang Yi's presence. Having such a polished friend at social events made him feel proud. In Yuming's eyes, Jiang Yi's pride and confidence were innate, but they never detracted from his charm. Instead, they gave him a pure, magnetic appeal. He could remain noble in a corrupt world—Jiang Yi was a paradox, like a clear stream with occasional impurities, reflecting others' flaws but never hiding his own, always honest.

At the party, every unmarried woman's eyes were drawn to Jiang Yi, as if by magic. Yuming walked over to greet him, laughing. "You're always right on time, not a minute late."

"Hmm." Jiang Yi scanned the room discreetly. "I hate being cornered for small talk. I'll stay on the sidelines. Don't call me unless it's important."

Knowing Jiang Yi had no patience for gossip, Yuming didn't push. "As soon as the target appears, I'll come get you."

"OK." After a few steps, Jiang Yi turned back. "Where's the brandy?"

"Ask the waiter by the B-section table." Yuming laughed. Jiang Yi always had a logic all his own.

Jiang Yi stayed in a secluded spot for fifteen minutes, but people still came up to hand him business cards. He accepted them politely, made small talk, and then found another spot.

Half an hour later, he spotted someone and thought he was mistaken. As he got closer, he realized he wasn't. Rarely, Jiang Yi's heart beat faster, and he felt the urge to approach a stranger—and, to make matters worse, it was the same man.