In the dimly lit room, the air was thick with lingering warmth. Suddenly, the man slid out from under the sheets and scooped the woman up into his arms.
“What are you doing?” The woman asked, letting out a soft, melodic laugh.
“Taking you to wash up.” Xue Yang murmured, stepping toward the en-suite bathroom.
It was another hour before Xue Yang finally carried Qin Yu back into the bedroom. Her cheeks were flushed a deep rose, her entire countenance dripping with a seductive charm as she nestled lazily against his chest.
Though cultivation is impossible in this world, the fact that a woman can effortlessly manipulate and drift between numerous men without consequence is a different kind of power, Qin Yu thought contentedly to herself, sinking into the plush mattress.
Xue Yang lit a cigarette, leaning back against the pillows. He picked up his phone from the bedside table, unlocked it, and casually scrolled through Weibo. The trending topics were heavily dominated by his and Yan Ji’s names. He continued scrolling down until a high-definition photo abruptly halted his movements.
After delivering the news of the breakup to Yan Ji, Xue Yang hadn’t given her a second thought. In his mind, she should have been completely shattered, weeping in some dark corner. Yet, the woman in the photo was radiant, her smile brilliant, and her energy completely refreshed. There wasn’t a single trace of heartbreak on her face.
Did she really feel absolutely nothing for me?
For some reason, a sudden, inexplicable wave of irritation flared in Xue Yang’s chest.
“What, still can’t let go of your precious ex?” Qin Yu murmured. She lay on her side, propping her head up with one hand while lazily twirling a strand of dark hair around her finger, a knowing smirk playing on her lips.
Hearing the underlying edge in her voice, Xue Yang immediately turned off his phone and tossed it aside. He pinched Qin Yu’s cheek, his expression instantly shifting into one of doting affection. “What nonsense are you spinning? She and I are ancient history. Right now, every piece of me belongs entirely to you……”
The rest of his vow was swallowed as he leaned down. Qin Yu tilted her chin up to accept his kiss, but in the blind spot where he couldn’t see, a flash of icy, lethal intent darted through her eyes.
────ρя
This translation is by Pocketrobbin at S h a n g h a i f a n t a s y . c o m
Zhang Tong had barely gotten off the phone with Yan Ji before she dropped that selfie bomb. He was practically in tears as he frantically redialed her number.
Yan Ji was currently rifling through her wardrobe, picking out an outfit. Hearing his panicked voice, she gave a perfunctory reply, “Alright, alright, I won’t touch Weibo again. I have things to do, hanging up now.”
“What things could you possibly have—”
Zhang Tong stared in utter disbelief at the line, which had already gone dead. Rubbing his throbbing temples, he could only pray that his little ancestor wouldn’t court any more disaster today.
Of course, expecting Yan Ji not to stir up trouble was entirely wishful thinking.
She changed into an oversized white hoodie paired with ultra-short shorts, a combination that perfectly accentuated her long, impossibly straight, snow-white legs. She tucked her cascading hair into the hood, slid on a pair of oversized sunglasses, grabbed a handbag from the table, and sauntered out the door.
Stepping into the city, Yan Ji found everything utterly fascinating. Towering skyscrapers pierced the clouds, sleek metal cars zipped across asphalt roads, and when she glanced upward, a commercial airplane was cutting through the sky, leaving a white trail in its wake.
Amused by this new world, Yan Ji dug into her bag and pulled out a sleek business card— one the original owner had apparently acquired at some point. Slipping her phone out, she dialed the number embossed on the front.
The call was quickly answered, and a sweet female voice echoed through the line, “Hello, who are you looking for?”
“He Gu Private Detective Agency? I have a job for you. Interested?” Yan Ji lowered her voice, navigating her way toward the heart of the bustling commercial district.
The other end fell silent for two beats before a deep, masculine voice replaced the woman’s, “Hello. This is He Gu.”
“I’ll be waiting for you at Yihuang Milk Tea Shop on Fengqi Road.” Without waiting for the man’s reply, Yan Ji hung up and strode effortlessly into the café.
The shop wasn’t crowded, occupied mostly by whispering young couples. Even so, Yan Ji’s entrance drew a wave of wandering eyes. Most of her face was concealed behind her oversized sunglasses, leaving only her crimson lips and sharp, porcelain jawline exposed.
Yet, those killer legs alone were enough to make heads turn.
Yan Ji ordered the shop’s bestselling milk tea, specifically asking for extra sugar, before tucking herself away at a small table in the far corner.
“Your two milk teas, miss.”
The drinks arrived in no time. Yan Ji punctured the lid with her straw and took an expectant sip. The rich, velvety sweetness burst across her tongue, causing her eyes to narrow in pure bliss.
Honestly, it tastes infinitely better than any of those spiritual springs and celestial dews back home.
She was halfway through her drink when a plainly dressed man slipped into the shop. His sharp gaze swept across the room before locking onto Yan Ji. After a brief moment of calculating observation, he walked over.
“Hello. I’m He Gu.”
“Please, have a seat, Mr. He.” Yan Ji set her milk tea aside and offered a slight nod, cutting straight to the chase, “I have a business proposition for you.”
Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a glossy photo of Qin Yu and slid it across the table.
“I want to hire you to trail the woman in this photo. Every single man she comes into close contact with— I want high-resolution pictures of them. I trust you understand exactly what kind of ‘contact’ I mean.”
Yan Ji’s tone was entirely casual, almost lazy. He Gu picked up the photograph and studied it. The face looked familiar, likely a rising actress who had been generating a lot of buzz lately.
“Regarding the compensation……” He Gu hesitated, testing the waters.
Yan Ji let out a faint, amused smile, swirling the ice in her milk tea. “Don’t worry, budget is not an issue. I’ll wire you an upfront payment of fifty thousand yuan right now. After that, you’ll receive five thousand for every unique photo you deliver. How much you make out of this depends entirely on your own competence.”
“Deal.” A sharp, satisfied smile broke across He Gu’s face as he tucked the photograph safely into his breast pocket.
It looked like he had just landed a major client. He briefly wondered what the woman in the photo had done to draw this kind of heat, but the thought evaporated as quickly as it came. Professional discretion was his trade, after all.
“Then I’ll head back and get the necessary surveillance gear prepped.” He Gu said, rising from his chair.
“Mhm.” Yan Ji murmured softly, her eyes tracking his retreating figure.
Once he vanished into the crowd, she picked up her handbag and stepped out into the afternoon air. A cold, dangerous amusement danced behind her sunglasses.
Didn’t Qin Yu just love drowning the original owner in filthy rumors? Let’s see how she likes a taste of her own medicine.
────ρя
In the blink of an eye, the night of the Golden Osmanthus Awards ceremony had arrived. Early that morning, Zhang Tong had already called to urge Yan Ji to hurry, warning her that the company’s nanny van would be arriving shortly to pick her up.
Yan Ji opened the garment box Zhang Tong had sent over. Inside lay a pure white evening gown— demure, safe, and entirely uninspired. After a single, unimpressed glance, she tossed it aside and pulled a striking crimson dress from her own wardrobe instead.
The design was deceptively simple, devoid of any gaudy embellishments. Yet, its cinched waist perfectly contoured Yan Ji’s hourglass silhouette, while the asymmetrical hemline— cut shorter in the front and cascading low in the back— made her fair, endless legs pop brilliantly against the rich red fabric.
Next came her makeup. Yan Ji put on a flawless, dramatic look, extending her eyeliner into a sharp, feline wing and painting her lips a bold, defiant scarlet. She let her voluminous, softly curled hair drape casually over her shoulders, exuding an effortless, lazy allure.
The woman in the mirror possessed intoxicating proportions— full breasts, a narrow waist, and captivating legs. Even her face could only be described as a masterpiece of nature.
Yan Ji raised an eyebrow, and her reflection mirrored the gesture, the slight curve of her brow dripping with a danger that could bring kingdoms to their knees.
At tonight’s ceremony, Qin Yu— bolstered by the powerful men she had ensnared— was slated to walk the red carpet with maximum visibility. In the altered timeline, she would arrive in a glamorous, custom gown and stun the crowd, effortlessly eclipsing every other female celebrity in attendance.
The original owner, meanwhile, had been trapped in a spiral of heartbreak. Racked by chronic insomnia, she had arrived at the ceremony looking utterly hollow and haggard, her dark circles defying even the heaviest concealer. Qin Yu had seized that exact moment to deploy an army of paid internet trolls to relentlessly compare their photos, thoroughly trampling Yan Ji’s reputation while crowning herself the new goddess of the industry.
Finishing her final touches, Yan Ji slipped into a pair of silver-black stilettos, grabbed a limited-edition clutch by the door, and sauntered out.
Downstairs, Zhang Tong had just pulled up and was reaching for his phone to call her when the villa doors swung open. A woman in a crimson gown slowly stepped out. The cool moonlight washed over her, softening her sharp features while amplifying her breathtaking, lethal charm.
Zhang Tong stared, completely paralyzed. It took him a long, agonizing moment to find his tongue, stammering, “Y-you…… you’re Yan Ji?!”
“I’m your ancestor.” Yan Ji replied with a half-smile, brushing a stray curl over her shoulder as she swept a lazy, sidelong glance over him. “Isn’t the ceremony about to start? What are you standing there gaping for?”
Zhang Tong felt a sudden, involuntary shiver run down his spine from that single look. He scrambled to hold the car door open for her.
Climbing into the front passenger seat while the van pulled away, he frantically patted his chest, his mind racing. Good heavens, it’s only been a few days. How did this little ancestor become so terrifyingly enchanting? She doesn’t look a single bit bothered by the breakup.
Could it be…… she really was the one who dumped Xue Yang?
Teeming with unanswered questions, Zhang Tong took a deep breath and instructed the assistant to step on the gas, heading straight toward the venue.