Gu Jun sat quietly in the first-class train compartment.
The train hadn't departed yet, and just a few minutes remained before the journey began.
There are not many people on the first-class side of the train.
Suddenly, the screech of tires broke the calm environment. A sleek black SUV pulled up just outside the station entrance. From it stepped two young women, both strikingly beautiful. Their high hills made a toc toc sound as they walked, which is like thunder buzzing in all men's hearts.
Trailing them were two well-built men in black suits—bodyguards, by the look of them.
Gu Jun glanced up casually. In an instant, their cultivation levels appeared in his mind: peak of Bright Strength.
They followed the women into the first-class compartment and took their seats behind them. The two girls, meanwhile, sat directly across from Gu Jun.
Even Gu Jun had to admit—they were stunning. The kind of beauty that turned heads without effort. The girls gave him a brief look before turning away, uninterested.
That, too, was expected. Gu Jun's appearance was average at best, despite his remarkably good-looking parents. There was nothing remarkable to draw their attention.
He didn't care. His indifference, however, made the girls glance at him again, just briefly, with faint curiosity. They were used to admiration, not quiet disregard.
Unbothered, Gu Jun pulled a worn paperback from his bag and began reading. The carriage fell into a comfortable hush.
The warmer, more outgoing of the two girls broke the silence first.
"Cousin, wasn't that vacation great? I told you—this place has the perfect balance of natural scenery and urban life."
Her cousin, colder and more reserved, nodded slightly. "It was nice."
"Come on, cousin, don't be so stingy with your words," she teased. "But you have to admit—it was the perfect break before the new semester."
They kept chatting softly. Gu Jun didn't listen. His focus was on the words on the page.
Just then, three more people entered the compartment.
One was a tall, handsome young man with a practiced smile. The other two are clearly his bodyguards.
The man's gaze swept the room before freezing in surprise as he spotted the two girls.
Even a child could see he was faking it.
He strode over, all confident swagger.
"Bai Yue! What a coincidence," he said with forced enthusiasm. "Didn't expect to see you on this train."
The cold girl—Bai Yue—barely reacted. But her cousin narrowed her eyes.
"Wang Wei, cut the act. We all know you're stalking us. It's creepy."
Wang Wei grinned, undeterred. "You can think that if you like. But I'm not stalking you. I'm here for your cousin. It's rare for someone like me to take time for someone—shouldn't that show you how serious I am?"
"Or how much of a pervert you are," Rong Xi snapped.
"Hey now, don't slander me," he shot back, still smiling. Then, turning to Bai Yue with a softer tone, "Since fate brought us together, why not talk a bit to pass the time?"
"I have no time to kill," Bai Yue said flatly. "Find your seat."
Wang Wei's smile vanished. He turned his attention to Gu Jun.
"You. Get up."
Gu Jun didn't even glance at him.
Wang Wei frowned. "I said, get up."
Finally, Gu Jun looked up, calm and expressionless. "I'm not moving. You should find another seat."
Wang Wei pulled out a stack of bills—500 yuan—and tossed them toward Gu Jun.
"Take this. Go and sit somewhere else. I want to talk with these ladies, we are familiar."
Rong Xi scoffed. "We're not that familiar."
Gu Jun blinked, baffled. Was this actually happening? It felt like a cliché from a bad soap opera, yet here it was, unfolding in real time, and he was also involved.
Then, to his surprise, Rong Xi turned to him and ordered, "Don't move. Stay right there."
Gu Jun let out a faint laugh. He could tell these three all came from prominent families.
"Alright," he said with a small smile. "I'm not going anywhere."
Wang Wei's face darkened. "You're making a mistake."
His bodyguards stepped forward.
Suddenly, Gu Jun felt the air shift. Heavy. Dangerous.
Di Yan was reacting.
Though she sat quietly nearby, masked and restrained, her presence surged. If she attacked, no one in the room—not even the bodyguards—would leave unscathed. They wouldn't die, but they'd regret their decision to take action.
Bai Yue gave Wang Wei a sharp glare. She turned and signaled her own bodyguard.
The man stepped forward, tension in his stance.
"Wang Wei," she said coldly, "don't make a scene. It won't end well for you."
Wang Wei hesitated. Then, as if remembering something, he backed off.
He looked at Gu Jun and said with forced calm, "We'll meet again."
Then he turned and walked into the next compartment, his bodyguards trailing behind.
Gu Jun exhaled softly. Inwardly, he thought, You were one second away from getting destroyed.
Rong Xi grinned and turned to him. "Hey, you were brave. I'm Rong Xi from Tianhai. I am studying at Tianhai Royal University. What's your name? Where are you from?"
"Gu Jun," he replied. "Freshman. Also Tianhai Royal University."
"Ohhh! So you're my junior! Hurry up and call me 'Senior Sister'!"
Gu Jun looked at her with a dry expression. "Senior Sister."
"Haha, good!" she laughed. "Stick with me, little brother. I'll protect you!"
"Okay, Senior Sister."
Bai Yue looked at them with faint surprise, then turned to Gu Jun. "Be careful of Wang Wei. He's not harmless. He's also from Tianhai Royal University."
Gu Jun nodded, his expression unreadable. The lack of emotion in his response made Bai Yue glance at him twice.
Rong Xi snorted. "He won't dare mess with my junior. I'll break his leg."
Bai Yue gave her cousin a side glance and said, "Don't act so aggressively all the time. You're a girl, remember?"
Rong Xi shrugged with a grin. "Being a 'good girl' is boring."
Gu Jun observed them quietly. It was becoming clear—once she let her guard down, Rong Xi was anything but calm.
Just then, the sharp sound of the train's horn comes from the front.
A moment later, the train began to move.