Nighttime, at the Maze Bar.
Pushing open the soundproof door, deafening music mixed with the scent of alcohol and perfume rushed over them.
"Wow!" Qin Yuwei exclaimed excitedly, grabbing Su Qianqian's wrist as she pulled her inside.
The interior of the bar was vast, bathed in shifting, hypnotic lights.
The central dance floor was packed with people swaying wildly to the pounding electronic beats.
Surrounding the dance floor, the VIP booths were filled with patrons clinking glasses and laughing boisterously.
At the bar, the mixologists dazzled with flashy bottle-flipping tricks, drawing cheers from the crowd.
The air was thick with reckless excitement and the scent of pheromones.
Aside from that brief glimpse at Yun Que, this was Su Qianqian's first time in a place like this. Instinctively, she tightened her grip on Qin Yuwei's hand.
Her clear, almond-shaped eyes widened slightly with a mix of curiosity and unease as she took in the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Don't be scared! Just follow me!"
Qin Yuwei was clearly a seasoned pro, expertly guiding Su Qianqian through the crowd to their reserved booth.
The moment they sat down, a server appeared with drink menus and snacks.
"Two signature Nebula cocktails first, make them light on the alcohol!"
Qin Yuwei rattled off the order smoothly, then immediately tugged Su Qianqian to her feet. "Come on, let’s get you into the vibe!"
Without waiting for a response, she dragged Su Qianqian to the edge of the dance floor where it was slightly less crowded.
Qin Yuwei moved effortlessly to the rhythm, her bright smile infectious.
At first, Su Qianqian was stiff and self-conscious.
But under Qin Yuwei’s enthusiastic encouragement and the pulsing energy around her, she tentatively began swaying—clumsy yet endearingly innocent.
Almost the moment they stepped onto the dance floor, eyes—both overt and covert—turned toward them.
Su Qianqian’s delicate beauty stood out like an ethereal fairy lost among mortals, her purity a stark contrast to the heavy makeup and neon-lit crowd.
Gazes filled with admiration, curiosity, and even undisguised desire lingered on her.
Qin Yuwei noticed the attention and winked triumphantly at Su Qianqian, mouthing, "See? Our Qianqian’s the star!"
——
Top floor of the Gu Corporation.
The meeting finally ended, and the executives filed out like prisoners granted amnesty.
Gu Chengyu massaged his temples, his sharp features still etched with cold intensity as he strode out of the conference room.
His assistant, Zhao Cheng, only then noticed the message and hurried after him, lowering his voice to report, "Sir, Little Chen just sent word that Miss Su went out with a friend to see a band and will be back late."
Gu Chengyu’s steps halted. His phoenix eyes flicked toward Zhao Cheng. "A band? Which one? Where?"
Zhao Cheng stiffened under that gaze. "Little Chen only mentioned a band—no details about the venue or name."
Gu Chengyu’s brow furrowed instantly.
He pulled out his phone and dialed Su Qianqian’s number directly.
The line rang endlessly. No answer.
He tried again. Still nothing.
The man’s already icy expression darkened completely.
A flash of irritation and displeasure crossed his eyes.
His fingers moved swiftly across the screen, pulling up the tracking app linked to Su Qianqian’s phone—the new couple-model device he’d bought her, synced to his own system.
On the screen, a small blinking dot marked her location at a name he faintly recognized: the Maze Bar.
Gu Chengyu stared at the address, a vein twitching at his temple.
A bar?
And not just any bar—the Maze, infamous for its male entertainment?
A surge of anger flared within him.
That little brat had some nerve!
Sneaking off to a bar behind his back? Lying to his assistant about a band?
He could practically picture her in that den of chaos, surrounded by lecherous stares.
"Get the car ready."
Gu Chengyu strode toward the private elevator without slowing.
"Yes, sir!" Zhao Cheng scrambled to follow, silently sweating for Su Qianqian.
The elevator descended straight to the underground garage.
The ostentatious black Bugatti sat parked prominently, but Gu Chengyu walked past it without a glance, heading instead for an understated black Maybach.
"Take this one," he ordered coldly.
He wasn’t about to roll up in his flashy Bugatti to retrieve her—too much spectacle, and frankly, beneath him.
He slid into the back seat, his entire aura radiating a "stay away" chill.
Oh, Su Qianqian.
You’re in for it now.
——
Back at the bar booth.
The two returned from dancing to find their two dreamily colored Nebula cocktails already waiting.
Su Qianqian took a small sip—sweet, fruity, with only a faint hint of alcohol.
Qin Yuwei leaned in conspiratorially. "Qianqian, do you know why this bar is so popular with us ladies?"
"Why?" Su Qianqian asked, raising her voice slightly over the music.
Qin Yuwei grinned like a cat that got the cream. "Because their specialty service is eight-pack abs male models!"
"Top-tier quality! Gorgeous faces, killer bodies, and they know exactly how to flirt!"
"Male models?" Su Qianqian’s cheeks instantly pinked, her almond eyes wide with shock and intrigue.
"Yep!" Qin Yuwei, delighted by her reaction, pressed on.
"Hey, don’t say I didn’t warn you—if you’ve got a boyfriend, you’ve gotta be careful in places like this."
"Do you have one?"
At the mention of a boyfriend, Su Qianqian’s gaze wavered.
She thought of Gu Chengyu’s performative charm at Yun Que, of Lin Shu’s words, and a small swell of resentment bubbled up inside her.
She lowered her head, stirring the straw in her drink, her voice muffled. "Well... yes."
"But last time, he went behind my back to look at other women."
"What?!" Qin Yuwei exploded, her doll-like face twisting in outrage. "The audacity!"
"What’s good for the goose is good for the gander!"
"If he gets to ogle women, why can’t we enjoy some eye candy too?"
She grabbed her phone, swiped open the bar’s ordering app, and tapped into a special service section.
The screen instantly populated with dozens of high-definition photos—young men in crisp white shirts flashing charming smiles, each accompanied by stats like height, measurements, and... special skills.
"Here! Pick!"
"My treat today. Let’s order a few and give that heartless jerk a taste of his own medicine!"
Qin Yuwei shoved the phone into Su Qianqian’s hands with dramatic flair.
Su Qianqian stared at the screen—at the smoldering or boyishly handsome faces, the sculpted muscles—and felt her pulse quicken.
She stole a glance around, then thought of Gu Chengyu lounging with women at Yun Que. A rebellious thrill mixed with nervous anticipation surged through her.
Her fingertip hovered over the screen before she bit her lip and whispered into Qin Yuwei’s ear, "Then... how about eight?"
"Pfft—!"
Qin Yuwei nearly spat out her drink, gaping at Su Qianqian before bursting into uproarious laughter. She slapped Su Qianqian’s shoulder.
"Hell yeah, Qianqian!"
"Didn’t know you had it in you!"
"Eight it is!"
"My treat—I keep my promises!"
Su Qianqian grew even more flustered under his gaze, her cheeks flushing crimson like a ripe apple, her long lashes fluttering nervously—a mix of panic and secret excitement.
She kept reassuring herself:
It’s fine, no one will find out.
She’s just looking, not doing anything.
Besides, doesn’t he go to Yun Que all the time?
She never bothered him about it.
After what happened last time—her checking out male models—she figured they were even now!
Taking a deep breath, her fingers tingling with guilty mischief, she quickly tapped on eight men of varying styles on the screen and hit confirm.
The page flashed with a successful order notification, sending a thrilling rush of nerves through her.
