The crystal chandeliers were as bright as day, and the floor beneath was polished enough to reflect shadows.
The blindfold over her eyes was removed, and Chen Zhuyue squinted instinctively, taking a few seconds to process her situation.
She stood in a magnificent hall that resembled a palace. Beside her, six other girls were lined up in a row.
In front of them, a person sat quietly upon a throne shaped like a crown.
The woman called herself Sister Chu.
Her gaze was sharp, her posture arrogant, and her clothing understated yet elegant. She wasn’t flashy, yet she possessed an aura that commanded the entire room.
In the vast hall, there were only eight people, including Sister Chu.
“Strip.”
Once they had adjusted to the light, Sister Chu gave the cold command. One of the girls beside Chen Zhuyue gasped instinctively, reluctant to undress, and asked in a small voice why it was necessary.
Sister Chu glanced over, her tone indifferent, like a high-and-mighty goddess looking down at tiny ants. “Those who won’t strip can leave now. Those who want to stay, stop acting coy with me. In this place, if you want to climb up, you always have to pay a price.”
Sister Chu’s sharp gaze eventually landed on the silent Chen Zhuyue. She paused for a fraction of a second—brief, but Chen Zhuyue felt it.
In that moment, Chen Zhuyue thought of the matrons in ancient palaces. If one wanted to enter the palace, one’s body had to be inspected.
Now, to enter Chan Gong, one also had to undergo an inspection.
The inspection was only the first step.
Many more steps remained.
Three minutes later, all seven girls were undressed. Following Sister Chu’s requirements, they stood with heads held high, allowing her to inspect them.
Sister Chu walked past them one by one, from number one to number seven.
“Chest too large.”
“Waist is a bit thick.”
“Legs aren’t straight.”
“Body hair… too dense.”
…When it was Chen Zhuyue’s turn, Sister Chu’s sharp gaze swept over her fair, tender face. She lifted her arm to sniff it, then gave her peach-like breasts a squeeze before nodding. “Pass.”
Chen Zhuyue was well aware of her own body. At 1.66 meters tall, her height was an auspicious number, her silhouette was beautiful, her skin was flawless, and her bust was of the most exquisite shape.
Then there was her face—at once pure and sultry, a combination that demanded attention.
Most importantly, she was sensible.
A woman who was sensible and knew when to advance or retreat was the type men loved most.
Out of the seven, four were eliminated, and three remained.
Chen Zhuyue was among them.
“You are lucky to have survived this first step, but this is only the beginning.”
Sister Chu’s voice remained cold and devoid of warmth. “I’ve told you everything before. Once you enter Chan Gong, you are yourself, yet you are not yourself. When necessary, consider yourself deaf and mute. Hear what you should hear, and ignore what you shouldn’t. If anything goes wrong in the middle of this, I won’t be able to protect you even if I wanted to.”
The three girls agreed. Sister Chu called someone in to bring them clothes tailored to their previously taken measurements.
Chen Zhuyue was given a qipao that demanded a perfect figure. It was beautiful and exquisite; a fraction more and it would be too tight, a fraction less and it would be too loose. Sister Chu looked at her. “So this is what a true beauty looks like. However, since you are a beauty, you shouldn’t be a brainless one. Do you understand what I mean?”
Chen Zhuyue pursed her lips. “Sister Chu, I understand.”
She kept Sister Chu’s words firmly in mind: Never say more than what is necessary.
Sister Chu nodded. “There are two hours left before the Chan Gong Auction begins. If you perform well and stand out, you can make those masters of Shengjing look at you with high regard. If you catch the eye of one of them, just the scraps falling from his fingers would be enough for you to live on for a lifetime.”
Chen Zhuyue naturally agreed.
Having entered Chan Gong, she had already discarded her pride.
Her face and body were her only passport.
If she wanted to borrow power to achieve her goals, she could only rely on herself and no one else. She had to cast aside her dignity, leave her past behind, and strive to climb upward without ever looking back.
And those who could attend the Chan Gong Auction were all powerful masters from various factions.
Chen Zhuyue knew perfectly well that once they were here, girls like them were merely auction items to be scrutinized at the whims of those masters.
If someone took a fancy to her, she would have to go with him.
That was the price.
And Chan Gong never lacked for beauties.
Chen Zhuyue came from a small third-tier city under Shengjing. She was here for her family.
Her father, Chen Yutian, ran a small hospital. He possessed a medical formula passed down from the imperial courts, which had caught the attention of people in Shengjing.
If the formula was handed over, the Chen family would surely be ruined.
If the formula wasn’t handed over, the Chen family would face total destruction.
The opposing side was too powerful for the Chen family to resist.
Chen Zhuyue had been a doctor and a nurse at the hospital, being groomed as the next successor.
But now, the hospital could no longer survive. She had to find a way to try the legendary Chan Gong Zhegua to see if it truly could turn the tide and allow one to reach the heavens in a single leap, as the rumors suggested.
“Seven were interviewed, and only the three of you passed. You should understand in your hearts that this is a tremendous blessing,” Sister Chu said finally. “As long as you are obedient, none of the girls who come here will end up poorly. You should also know that this place does not lack clever people, much less those who pretend to be clever. In the eyes of those masters, you’d better hide your little schemes. Don’t be stupid.”
Chan Gong was a place where dreams were fulfilled, but even more so, it was a place where legends were made.
There was a top-tier actress who had achieved Chan Gong Zhegua and won the favor of a master, thereby skyrocketing to superstardom and a brilliant career.
Chen Zhuyue took these matters to heart. When she looked up at Sister Chu again, the light in her eyes gradually took on the scent of ambition.
“Alright, go and prepare. The auction is starting soon. Try not to make any mistakes.”
Sister Chu clapped her hands, and the girls dispersed.
Chen Zhuyue stood up and was led by an assistant to receive a facial treatment.
Clad in the qipao, she was stunning. With every step she took, her hips swayed with a subtle yet captivating and sexy rhythm.
The mix of innocence and seduction was her most attractive trait to men.
In the mirror, her face was very pale. A young girl in the prime of her youth, full of collagen; even without makeup, she possessed the beauty of a lotus rising from clear water.
The proportions of her facial features—her eyes, brows, and lips—were just right, exquisite and breathtakingly radiant.
When Chen Zhuyue emerged with light makeup, Sister Chu knew she had a winner. “Your beauty is truly refreshing. Remember, you are the finale. Be patient and wait. Do not bring shame to Chan Gong; you cannot afford it.”
The woman in the qipao, with her hair swept up in a loose bun, truly looked like a lady who had stepped out of the Republican era—gentle, intellectual, and dignified. The high slit of the qipao revealed skin as white as warm jade, adding a touch of allure, glamour, and fragrance to her gentleness.
She was a femme fatale.
As it was the three girls’ first time on stage, Chen Zhuyue was placed last.
“Yueyue, everyone desires Chan Gong Zhegua. If it cannot be achieved, do not regret it. We can hand over the formula and retreat to the countryside; we can still live our lives.”
This was her father’s advice. He feared she was too rigid and would break, feared she would suffer. A parent’s love for their child is reflected in their long-term plans.
“I will succeed,” Chen Zhuyue replied calmly. “Men are curious by nature, and I am that curiosity.”
The man she intended to hook was Zhao Linye.