The night deepened at "Mist," an elegant, low-key bar in S City.
The lighting was hazy, the music languid with a subtly seductive rhythm.
Several opened bottles of whiskey and an ice bucket sat on the table.
By the time Gu Chengyu arrived, Shen Que, Qin Yu, and Zhou Yu'an had already gone through a round of drinks.
"Well, well, a rare sight. We actually managed to get you out, Chengyu," Shen Que spoke first. Dressed in a silk shirt with the top two buttons undone, his peach-blossom eyes held a teasing glint. "Thought you were a full-time homebody now, retired from the scene."
Gu Chengyu ignored him. He took off his suit jacket and casually draped it over a chair, settling into the empty seat and loosening his collar. "Qianqian has a class tonight. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here."
Qin Yu grinned, pouring him a drink. "Understood, understood. Chengyu's a man who checks in now."
Zhou Yu'an offered a gentle smile, pushing a glass of whiskey on the rocks toward Gu Chengyu. "It's good to relax once in a while, have a little drink."
They clinked glasses, chatting about recent happenings and business matters.
The band on stage switched to a more intimate jazz number. A dancer in a sequined slip dress took the stage, her movements sexy and fiery.
The lights were deliberately dimmed. A few spotlights swayed with the music's rhythm, sweeping across the booths and casting shifting shadows on the faces there.
During a lull in the conversation, Gu Chengyu's gaze inadvertently drifted toward the stage.
The woman was swaying her hips subtly to the music. Her movements weren't intense, but they were full of a mature woman's allure.
The light glided over her shoulders, neck, and alluring curves.
Shen Que followed his gaze and chuckled meaningfully. "What, interested? The dance is nice, quite flavorful."
Gu Chengyu looked away, scoffed, and took a swig of his drink. The cool liquid slid down his throat. "Not interested. But the choreography is good."
Yet, his mind uncontrollably wandered to the thought of Su Qianqian standing under those lights, performing those enticing moves.
Wearing a little crop top, short shorts... dancing for him alone.
She wouldn't need the practiced seduction techniques of the woman on stage. With her natural, delicate, and charming looks, just a glance from her, a twist of her slender waist, would be enough to make his body tense.
Qin Yu chimed in, oblivious. "Who else could Chengyu see now besides his little fairy at home?"
"But seriously, Chengyu, why not have Qianqian come learn a thing or two? Do a public performance for you? How thrilling would that be? Let us appreciate it too."
Zhou Yu'an cleared his throat softly in warning. "Qin Yu."
Gu Chengyu's eyes turned cold instantly, sweeping toward Qin Yu with a clear warning. "If you don't know how to talk, then shut up. She's not for your entertainment."
Qin Yu shrank under his gaze, quickly raising his hands in surrender. "My bad, my bad! I'll punish myself with a drink!" He hurriedly downed a gulp.
Shen Que smoothed things over, laughing as he changed the subject. "Alright, alright. Let's just drink."
The topic was diverted, but the titillating thoughts stirred in Gu Chengyu's mind didn't immediately fade.
Of course, Qianqian wasn't some plaything for their amusement, as they implied. But he could coax her, indulge in a little private fun. That was permissible.
He leaned back against the sofa, drained the remaining liquor in his glass in one go, and let the burning sensation rush down his throat, allowing the restless heat to churn within him.
"That's enough for me," Gu Chengyu said, setting down his glass and standing up. "I'm heading out."
"It's still early," Shen Que raised an eyebrow.
"Going to pick up Qianqian after her class," he stated tersely, picking up his jacket. His face was expressionless, but his eyes already betrayed a hint of distraction.
He left the three men in the booth exchanging glances.
