A sleek black car turned the corner just as Xuelan stepped out of the gate, her heels clicking lightly on the stone path.
The vehicle slowed to a smooth stop in front of her, the tinted windows gleaming under the early morning light.
She glanced back once, only briefly, the way someone might glance at an old chapter before flipping to the next page.
Bai Shi was still at the table, likely stewing in her own poison, but Xuelan didn't have time for that today.
Today, she was playing a bigger game.
The rear door opened without a word from her.
A driver in a black uniform stepped out and gave her a respectful nod.
"Miss Gu."
Xuelan returned the nod with a small, pleasant smile, slipping into the backseat like she belonged there. Her perfume lingered in the air, faint jasmine and powdery peach, just the right balance of allure and sophistication.
As the door closed, the interior was silent but she wasn't alone.
The man beside her didn't greet her right away.
