---
Gui Nan strode unhurriedly across the ballroom floor, his polished shoes clicking against the marble as he closed the distance to Scarlett. His confident smile was firmly in place, though his dark eyes betrayed the faintest flicker of irritation as he glanced toward Max before focusing back on her.
"You look absolutely stunning tonight," Gui Nan said smoothly, his voice low, honeyed, and just loud enough for Max to hear.
Scarlett offered a polite, faint smile, her tone crisp and detached.
"Thanks for the compliment. And… happy birthday."
But Gui Nan didn't miss a beat. He took another step closer, lowering his voice further as his gaze bored into hers.
"Scarlett… are you really sure you don't want to be with me? I'm the best man you'll ever find in this city — and you know it. I really… love you."
Scarlett's smile sharpened ever so slightly, her answer calm but firm.
"I'm not ready to love anyone, Gui Nan. We'll meet again at the academy in the capital."
She made to leave, turning her head to call out, her voice carrying over the music.
"Max. Alex. Let's go."
Max, who had been standing nearby in his crimson suit and golden mask, didn't even glance their way at first — his mind was elsewhere, quietly conversing with the system in his thoughts. But then, Scarlett paused mid-step, as if struck by a sudden idea.
She turned back to Gui Nan with a sly, challenging smile that made his breath catch.
"If you want me to love you, Gui Nan… you'll have to beat him in combat."
She raised her delicate hand and pointed straight at Max.
That finally snapped Max out of his quiet thoughts. He froze, his eyes narrowing slightly behind his mask. Then he let out a faint sigh and muttered under his breath:
"Why am I suddenly part of your love life…?"
Scarlett turned to him then, her smile deepening — this time, warmer, more personal. Her next words made the entire room seem to stop for a heartbeat.
"Because…" she said softly. "I'm yours."
Max blinked, stunned for the briefest moment. Inside, he thought wryly:
' That easy? I haven't even used half of my immortal techniques for wooing women and she's already fallen? Tch… seems like being this handsome really does make things easier.'
Gui Nan, meanwhile, was livid. His fingers clenched into fists at his sides, his carefully composed smile finally cracking. His voice dropped, venom dripping from every word.
"Very well. So you choose this… masked lowlife over me? Do you even know who you're standing next to? I'm already at the eight-star copper rank. And him? Wearing a mask? Hiding his flaws, no doubt. Pathetic."
His eyes flashed with fury.
"I'll show you what real power looks like."
Without warning, Gui Nan lunged forward and hurled his fist straight at Max's face.
Scarlett gasped, stunned he'd dare resort to violence in the middle of his own birthday. But before she could even react—
BOOM!
CRACK! CRACK!
The sound of splintering bone rang out. Gui Nan staggered back, clutching his shattered knuckles, a guttural, miserable scream tearing from his throat.
Max stood where he was, utterly calm, his hand still raised from blocking the punch — his expression hidden behind his mask, but his tone dripping with mocking apology.
"Ah. My bad. Guess I don't know my own strength."
Scarlett stared at him, wide-eyed, genuinely shocked at his speed and power. She turned to Alex, who only grinned from ear to ear, clearly enjoying every second of Gui Nan's humiliation.
Gui Nan gritted his teeth, fighting through the pain, but when his eyes finally rose to meet Max's… he froze.
Because Max was removing his mask. Slowly, deliberately, the golden facade slipped away — revealing that devilishly handsome face beneath.
The dull, red glow of his golden-red eyes caught the light like smoldering embers, and the quiet, predatory curve of his lips sent a shiver of instinctive fear through Gui Nan.
In spite of himself, Gui Nan stumbled back a step. And that single step back filled him with rage.
'Why? Why can't I look like that? If I had his face… that bitch would already be mine! Damn it! He dared to shame me in front of everyone…!
Gui Nan's chest heaved as envy and hatred roiled in his gut. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't tear his eyes away from the man who'd just humiliated him so thoroughly.
---
Meanwhile, the women in the room couldn't stop staring. Even the most composed among them let out faint, involuntary gasps as Max's face was revealed. His dark, wild charm was magnetic — impossible to ignore.
Gui Shu, standing near the staircase, felt her heart skip a beat. Her sharp nails dug into the fabric of her gown as she watched him, her lips parting in quiet awe.
He's mine, she thought fiercely, possessively, her dark eyes blazing. That man… belongs to me.
---
Then, without a care in the world, Max strode casually over to Scarlett.
The crowd watched, breathless, as he slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close — his lips brushing against hers in a soft, deliberate kiss.
Scarlett's eyes widened slightly, her cheeks flushing in shock, her entire body betraying a faint shiver as he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear.
"Don't forget…" he murmured low enough that only she could hear. "You're the one who said you're mine. Don't regret it."
Then he playfully nipped at her ear, sending another involuntary shiver down her spine.
Scarlett was left speechless, staring up at him in stunned silence as he finally stepped back — that faint, knowing smirk still playing on his lips.
And with nothing more to say, Max turned, his arm still lightly resting around Scarlett's waist, and walked out of the venue with her and Alex at his side.
The room buzzed with whispers and stunned silence in their wake.
---
` Meanwhile, after Max broke Gui Nan's knuckles, the seeds of vengeance were already taking root in Gui Nan's heart… and Gui Shu's obsession was only just beginning.