On a summer night, as dusk enveloped the surroundings and the city lights just lit up.
In an open booth on the first floor of the "Lost Ferry" club, Jiang Wansheng, holding a fruit wine in her hand, sat and watched the members of her reading club drink and jest in high spirits.
The Reading Club was a self-organized interest group for book exchange among Fuhua University students, which she joined in her freshman year and remained a member till her junior year.
Today was a celebration following the successful hosting of an on-campus reading salon. Initially, the venue was decided to be a private restaurant near the school, but due to one club member, Zheng Wen, being a rich second generation who had specifically reserved a booth at the "Lost Ferry" club, they had come to this exclusive membership-based high-end club.
However, she herself was not socially adept and rarely partook in such social drinking games. If it wasn't for the encouragement of the club president, she wouldn't have attended this party.
After silently observing for a while and finding it uninteresting, she excused herself and walked towards the bar.
The others continued playing the Kings’ Game, which was in full swing.
As Jiang Wansheng left, some of the more audacious members jokingly said to Zheng Wen, "Senior, Sister has gone over there. This is a great opportunity, be sure to seize it."
Everyone knew that Zheng Wen had taken a liking to Jiang Wansheng, and the real purpose of organizing this gathering was to confess his feelings to her.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone started to pester him.
Zheng Wen took a swig of his drink and responded, "You guys need to chill, you know how difficult it is to pursue your sister. She might not necessarily agree."
Despite saying these words, his eyes sparkled with arrogant determination.
The reading club's president, Wen Qing, nudged his arm, "I've managed to get her here, don't chicken out, go for it."
Laughing, Zheng Wen stood up and headed towards the bar.
Jiang Wansheng wore a squared-collared, narrow bubble sleeved light green floral dress today. Her glossy and dark cascading hair fell freely, as she sat quietly at the bar stool. With the overhead lights shining upon her, her skin appeared so pale it seemed to glow.
The room lit with a sea of lights and filled with the deafening chaos of the crowd, yet she retained an untouched purity amidst all of it, a beauty that could infuriate with desire to the extreme.
Zheng Wen's throat tightened, and he directly found himself a seat next to her. Gazing at the glass of wine in her hand, he inquired, "Do you like fruit wines? I know a few good ones. Would you like to try?"
Caught in a daze, Jiang Wansheng returned to reality as someone sat down beside her. At his words, she politely declined, "No need, this one glass is good enough for me."
Unfazed by her rejection, Zheng Wen continued, "So, this one is really good? I have never tried it."
Putting on an interested face, he leaned towards her and said, "Let me have a look, I might order the same next time."
Defensively, Jiang Wansheng backed away, "I just picked it randomly."
Zheng Wen stiffened slightly, his smile hanging on as he straightened up, "Jiang Wansheng, we all belong to the same society, there's no need to be so cold."
Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, not understanding why her reply was regarded as cold, "I indeed picked it randomly. I don't know what kind of wine it is."
"You know that's not what I was asking." Zheng Wen's voice rose, and he directly grabbed her wrist, holding onto it tightly.
Taking a deep breath, he exclaimed, "Can't you see that I like you?!"
"I joined this book club to get close to you. I spent so much money hosting salons and reading sessions, even dragged everyone to 'Lost Crossing' just to make you happy. Can't you see all this?"
Jiang Wansheng found her right hand being held. She tried to shake it off, but couldn't. Her tone had already cooled down, "Let go of my hand."
"As soon as I let go, you'll run, won't you?” Moreover, the soft touch in his hand made Zheng Wen not want to let go at all.
He had had a fair amount to drink just now, which gave him quite the courage.
"Why are you so hard to approach, Jiang Wansheng? Why do you pretend to be so noble when things go well! I investigated you. You come from a poor family, your parents don't care much about you. Why won't you accept me? I don't believe you can't feel my affection for you."
Jiang Wan Sheng glanced at him sharply, the coolness sparkling in her beautiful watery eyes, "You investigated me?"
Zheng Wen felt guilty and, with a stiff neck, retorted, “What’s wrong with that? Isn't it right for me to check out my future girlfriend?”
She repeated coldly, "Zheng Wen, let go of your hands. I don't like you, and I won't agree to your proposal either. Please learn to respect others!"
After Jiang Wan Sheng spoke, her other hand tried to prise off the big hand holding her right wrist.
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness struck, and her head became increasingly foggy.
She stiffened, and her gaze shifted to the fruit cocktail, then to Wen Qing, who was the only other person to have touched the glass of drink.
Wen Qing had been keeping a close eye on the situation. Seeing Jiang Wan Sheng’s gaze sweep over, he guiltily looked away.
Seeing this, Jiang Wan Sheng knew she was being set up today. She could not afford to get tangled up with Zheng Wen any longer. If she didn't leave now, she probably wouldn't be able to escape.
However, the grip on her hand was not getting any lighter but stronger, as it was pulling her towards him.
She watched as a predatory look gradually creep up into Zheng Wen's eyes. With determination flashing in her own eyes, she picked up the glass of drink and threw it at Zheng Wen. As he closed his eyes for a moment, she fiercely smashed the empty glass onto his wrist.
Zheng Wen winced in pain and let go subconsciously. Jiang Wan Sheng seized the opportunity and turned to run.
Her head was getting heavier and heavier, her vision gradually blurring. She pinched her thigh hard, using the pain to momentarily regain clarity.
Not wasting any more time, she ran out of the club.
The panic in her heart gradually spread and grew as she unsuccessfully tried to hail a taxi.
Her head was sinking further and further. An irresistible sense of drowsiness made her limbs weak.
In a state of anxiety, a towering figure caught her eye under the street lamp—
The man’s slender, tall figure stood under the light, exuding both elegance and deviations. With a cigarette in his left hand, the rising smoke blurred his cold visage. In her unfocused sight, he carried an inexplicable allure.
Oddly enough, there was also a faint familiarity.
Instinctively, she walked towards him, her steps faltering.
“Jiang Wansheng!” a disgruntled voice suddenly rang out from behind, prompting Jiang Wansheng to quicken her pace.
The man standing quietly under the streetlamp turned his head at the sound, his dark eyes capturing her figure.
As the man’s figure grew closer, she could feel her energy rapidly slipping away.
“Help…”
She only managed to utter a single syllable before losing all her strength.
…It’s over.
Suddenly, a powerful force gripped her waist. The warm touch penetrated the thin fabric, and in an instant, she felt weightless, before landing safely in a broad embrace.
In the instant before losing consciousness, the only thing she sensed was a faint, cool wood scent.
Qin Mo frowned at the woman he’d just lifted single-handedly and cradled in his arms. His icy gaze swept over the surrounding, wet men.
The assistant drove the car over and as he circled to open the passenger side door, noticed the woman in his master's arms. His pupils contracted slightly and he quickly swung the car door open.
Qin Mo bent down to place the woman on the car seat, then closed the door.
As he strode to the other side, he took the cigarette he'd been smoking from his lips, held between his slender, alabaster fingers.
His inexpressive dark eyes took a last look at the men who’d been there moments ago, then, without hurrying, he gestured in their direction.
In an instant, several figures emerged from the once tranquil shadows, skillfully restraining one of the men, Zheng Wen, before vanishing once again into the darkness.
Save for the gentle night breeze, no one noticed anything that had transpired.
