That evening, Xia Shuran took a taxi to the western suburbs, drove for a while longer, and finally arrived at the foot of the mountain.
But the driver said he couldn’t go any further.
Xia Shuran rolled down the window and looked up at the entire mountain.
The winding, spiraling mountain road was the most conspicuous feature.
And at the top of the mountain, she could faintly make out dazzling lights.
It was so high—was she supposed to hike up on foot?
“Little miss, I really can’t do anything about it. They don’t let unfamiliar license plates in here.”
The driver muttered inwardly: And especially not a taxi. There were two convertible sports cars in front of me just now—I was terrified I’d bump into them.
Coming to a place where rich people gather in the middle of the night.
Sigh. It seemed Jing University students weren’t any different after all. Pretty girls just had a way of going down the wrong path.
“Driver, just park here and wait. I’ll go talk to the security booth—they’ll let us through.”
Xia Shuran said this as she prepared to get out.
But the driver’s voice stopped her. “Little miss, pay me first.”
“I’ll go—”
“How do I know you’re not going to run off?”
The driver’s attitude had changed the moment they reached the western suburbs.
There were too many sports cars around here—clearly the territory of the wealthy.
He’d initially thought Xia Shuran looked sweet and well-behaved, and being a Jing University student, he’d had a great impression of her.
But now, no matter how pure or beautiful she was, she was just another woman clinging to the powerful.
Xia Shuran sighed and transferred the money.
The moment she stepped out of the car and started walking toward the security booth,
the sound of the engine starting up echoed behind her.
She turned around abruptly—the taxi had already sped off.
“…”
Xia Shuran suppressed all her negative emotions.
Anger, grievance, unease… all forcibly contained beneath her calm gaze.
When they finally erupted, they would come out a hundredfold.
She walked to the glass window of the security booth and knocked, but the guard inside ignored her.
He was lazily staring at the monitor screen, which showed footage from the road cameras.
His profile was sharp and rugged, with a scar at the corner of his brow. His skin was dark, his build imposing—in his youth, he must have been a formidable character.
But right now, his posture was relaxed. Clearly, nothing seemed dangerous, so he’d let his guard down.
Xia Shuran pressed her lips together. “Uncle, could you let me through?”
Without even looking at her, he yawned. “Everyone in the club’s system gets the barrier lifted automatically. If you can’t get in, that means you’re crashing. Scram. You’re like the fifth one today. Annoying.”
Xia Shuran: “…”
“Little girl, I’d advise you to stay away from those second-generation rich kids. They’ll eat you alive, bones and all. And you haven’t even managed to latch on—they didn’t even send a car for you.”
Xia Shuran clenched her hands into fists, her voice flat. “Chi Yu asked me to come.”
Uncle He froze. His expression changed instantly, all drowsiness vanishing without a trace.
Only then did he turn his head to look at her—the first time he’d actually seen her.
He slowly stood up, scanning her from head to toe.
This girl was beautiful. Not in a cheap way—genuinely striking.
But her figure was unexpectedly mismatched with her face—so alluring it made the blood run hot.
He wasn’t quite sure now. He hadn’t heard that Chi Yu had a little sweetheart.
And even if he did, how could Chi Yu possibly make her walk up on foot?
But this girl did have looks—the kind that stood out even in a crowd of beauties.
What if Chi Yu happened to like the innocent type…
“You’re… Mr. Chi’s?”
He asked tentatively, his tone having lost all its earlier dismissiveness, now carrying a hint of deference.
A true operator, skilled at working under wealthy men.
Uncle He mused to himself: he’d overseen the construction of this mountain. His older brother had once been Chairman Chi’s personal bodyguard. The two brothers were deeply trusted by the Chi family.
Their personal safety and career prospects were already inextricably bound to the Chi family.
The entire mountain development and the sports car club were all a front.
The construction company just needed some money to “bridge” through.
And Chi Yu was the overall person in charge of this project. That meant Chairman Chi had fully handed the construction company over to him.
The construction company was the core asset of the Chi family’s holdings—arguably the most important source.
It was only a matter of time before Chi Yu took over the entire Chi family fortune. If she really was his lover, she absolutely could not be offended.
Xia Shuran didn’t know how to answer. She and Chi Yu were strangers who’d met only once.
Seeing her stay silent, Uncle He said, “You can contact Mr. Chi. One word from him and I’ll open the gate immediately.”
Xia Shuran opened her phone and saw Chi Yu’s chat window.
She instinctively touched the knife in her bag, as if finding some sense of security.
Forcing herself to stay calm, she typed and sent:
【I’ve arrived at the foot of the mountain, but they won’t let me in】
One second, two seconds, a minute… No reply.
Under Uncle He’s gaze, Xia Shuran felt embarrassed. After hesitating for a moment, she tapped the voice call button.
The wait was agonizing. The beeping sound from the phone merged with her gradually quickening heartbeat.
A large hand dotted with water droplets picked up the phone. The white glow of the screen illuminated his refined, sharply defined features.
He lowered his eyes, the corners of his gaze lifting slightly.
Xia Shuran heard the call connect and held her breath for an instant.
Then she heard his voice on the other end—a careless, languid tone. “Hello?”
Languid and low, husky. Even through the phone, she could make out the gravelly texture in his voice.
Xia Shuran was silent for a long moment.
He seemed to let out a soft chuckle. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
It wasn’t a question.
It was a low, unhurried tone, leisurely and effortless—the posture of someone completely in control.
Xia Shuran’s heart trembled. She snapped back to her senses in an instant and forced her voice to stay flat. “I’m here, but I can’t get in.”
He drawled slowly, “Is that so.”
Almost the exact same tone as before.
Xia Shuran hated it. It made her feel like she was being manipulated.
She could no longer control her volume, teetering on the edge of a breakdown. “What exactly do you want?!”
Even Uncle He was stunned for a moment. To dare speak to Chi Yu like that—she really must be his little lover.
They must have had a fight. Chi Yu was harsh with women, though. Was he really making her walk up on her own?