The afternoon sunlight was bright but soft, falling across the city in golden streaks. Inside the small hotel, Ji Yu had just set down the old newspaper on the bedside table when the knock on her door came. She hadn't expected visitors so soon, but she didn't look surprised either. Her lips curved faintly, the kind of smile that wasn't warm but suggested she already knew who was coming.
When she opened the door, she was greeted by the sight of two guards. Their uniforms were neat, their posture stiff, but their eyes betrayed the nervousness they tried to hide. Between them stood a man who was clearly their superior.
He was tall, dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit that seemed out of place in this part of town. His shoes were polished, his tie straight, and the gold-rimmed glasses on his face gave him a scholarly, refined look. But Ji Yu could tell from the steadiness in his gaze and the weight of his presence that he was no ordinary man. He was someone used to control.
The guards bowed and reported in unison, "Master Xu, this is her."
Ji Yu's eyes stayed on him, calm and unreadable. "Did Li Mingxuan send you to find me?"
The man inclined his head slightly. His smile was polite, practiced, but it didn't waver. "Yes, Madam Ji. Master Li has urgent matters to attend to and has asked me to bring you to the residence. Please gather your belongings, and we can depart immediately."
Ji Yu gave a small nod. Her voice was steady. "Very well. Wait a moment."
She turned and stepped back into the small room. Her steps were quiet, unhurried. She hadn't unpacked much since arriving—there wasn't much to unpack anyway. Her bag sat by the bed, plain and worn from years of travel. The indigo clothes she wore now were the same from the morning; she had no reason to change.
The system, of course, couldn't keep silent.
"Host, this man seems capable. Polite, but also dangerous," it commented.
Ji Yu picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. "I noticed," she replied silently, her thoughts steady. "He carries himself like someone who serves, but not like a servant. Loyal, but only to one master."
"Ooh, sharp observation. I was going to say the same thing!" the system chirped, sounding almost proud. "He's the kind who looks calm on the surface but could probably strangle someone with those neat little hands if needed. Definitely not a pushover."
Ji Yu gave the room one last look. The bed was still neatly made, the blanket folded, the newspaper left behind. It had been temporary, nothing more. She walked back to the door.
"I'm done packing. Let's go."
Without waiting for them to guide her, Ji Yu walked ahead. The three men fell in line behind her, like attendants trailing after their superior. The guards, who had come with the intention of escorting, now looked more like they were following orders without realizing it. Ji Yu's quiet confidence shifted the balance without effort.
Outside the hotel, a sleek black Ford sedan waited by the roadside. The sunlight glinted off its polished surface, the shine so clean it looked like water. Chrome details caught the light, reflecting pieces of the street back at itself. The car stood out instantly, drawing stares from passersby who whispered among themselves.
The system whistled. "Now that's a ride. Look at it—fresh polish, expensive tires, even the driver's posture screams money. Definitely not your average car in this city."
Ji Yu glanced briefly at it. Her eyes, calm as ever, gave nothing away. "It belongs to someone who wants to be seen," she said softly in her mind.
"Exactly! Flashy but also powerful," the system agreed. "Like a beast waiting for the leash to snap. You could tell the whole world who's in charge just by riding in that thing."
The driver in front sat stiffly, white gloves gripping the wheel. His eyes didn't wander. He looked ahead, posture straight, waiting for orders.
Xu Ming stepped forward quickly and opened the rear door with a courteous bow. "Madam Ji, please."
Ji Yu bent slightly and entered the car without hesitation. Xu Ming followed her in, while the guards remained outside.
The sedan purred to life, the engine smooth and steady. It glided away from the hotel, the noise of the city fading into the background. Inside, the air was thick with silence.
Ji Yu turned her head slightly, looking out the window. The cityscape passed by in a blur: gray buildings with tiled roofs, shops with colorful banners fluttering in the afternoon breeze, children rolling hoops along the sidewalk, women shouting prices as they bargained at stalls, and streams of bicycles rattling past like schools of fish in a river. The city was noisy and alive, but inside the car, the silence was heavy, almost oppressive.
The system, restless, broke the quiet. "So… any guesses what Li Mingxuan wants this time? Probably to put on some kind of performance, right? Rich men always like showing off their houses before talking business."
Ji Yu's gaze didn't shift. "We'll know soon enough."
From the front seat, the guards began to speak quietly, maybe forgetting Ji Yu could hear every word.
"Have you heard?" one whispered. "Master Li has been pursuing the lady of the Su family for over a year now. Ever since that night at the grand ball."
The other gave a low chuckle. "Of course I remember. He asked her to dance, and she turned him down flat. Right there in front of everyone. Most men would've been humiliated, but Master Li… he looked fascinated. He's been chasing her ever since."
"Frantically chasing," the first added with a shake of his head. "Sending gifts, invitations, letters… but she never accepts. Always polite, but distant. They say she's as cold as snow on a mountaintop. Impossible to touch."
The system perked up immediately, its voice eager. "Host, did you hear that? That has to be her! The female lead! Cold as snow, impossible to touch—classic description. That's your Su Mingxu, no doubt."
Ji Yu leaned back into the seat, her face calm, but a faint spark flickered in her eyes. "So this is it," she thought silently.
.
.
.
To be continued.