These past few days had been very calm for Yun Zhiyi.
Ever since she returned that night, she had been acting obedient and slightly dull, causing An Yirou and Su Shen to gradually let their guard down around her.
It had been nearly a week since she got back.
It seemed like her life was finally getting back on track.
However, little did she know that this tranquility was nothing but the calm before the storm.
At eight o'clock in the evening, Yun Zhiyi, dressed in a black strapless dress, took the passenger seat of Su Shen's Lamborghini, with his help.
Su Shen, clad in a white designer suit, leaned over to buckle her seatbelt.
"Slap!"
Yun Zhiyi suddenly raised her hand and slapped Su Shen across the face with considerable force.
Su Shen flinched, shocked, as it was the first time a woman had slapped him.
"Ah Shen, there was a mosquito… Look!" Yun Zhiyi showed him the mosquito she had placed on her hand in advance.
"Nasty little bug. It took so much of your blood. Did I hurt you?"
Her voice was soft and sweet, and her large, sparkling eyes seemed full of genuine concern.
For a moment, Su Shen was mesmerized, touching his face. "It's nothing. It didn't hurt at all. With hands as soft as yours, even a harder slap wouldn't hurt."
"Buckle up; let's get going."
"Alright."
Yun Zhiyi fastened her seatbelt and leaned back in her seat, her gaze fixed outside the window.
The bustling streets of Jin City were aglow with neon lights, a spectacle of endless traffic and activity.
Yet now, nightfall brought Yun Zhiyi an uneasy feeling, and she could never forget the terrifying night when she had fled for her life.
"What are you thinking about, Zhiyi?" Su Shen glanced at her.
Yun Zhiyi met his gaze, wondering if he ever felt even a hint of regret.
A heartless, hypocritical person like him likely never did.
One moment he'd be in bed with An Yirou, the next he'd be whispering sweet nothings to her. It was disgusting.
Feigning ignorance of the love bites on his neck, Yun Zhiyi forced a small smile. "I was just admiring how beautiful Jin City is at night."
"Yes… but not as beautiful as you."
How had he never noticed before how stunning Yun Zhiyi was? Dressed up, her delicate features were absolutely alluring.
The black strapless dress highlighted her fair skin, with a sheer overlay that revealed just enough to be tantalizing.
After indulging in An Yirou's bold, flirtatious ways, he suddenly felt an urge to try something different tonight.
The tension in the car made Yun Zhiyi uneasy. She leaned against her seat, pretending to feel weak, while maintaining her vigilance.
Upon arriving at Jin City's renowned underground auction house, Yun Zhiyi kept her guard up. Even the drink that Su Shen handed her—she only pretended to sip before discreetly disposing of it.
After what had happened before, she wasn't going to risk him spiking her drink again.
Fearing she hadn't entirely gotten rid of the contents, Yun Zhiyi excused herself to the restroom.
She leaned over the sink, rinsing her mouth thoroughly before quickly reapplying her makeup and lipstick.
When she stepped out, Su Shen, dressed in his white suit, was anxiously waiting by the door.
"Zhiyi, are you alright? Feeling unwell?"
"I'm fine." Yun Zhiyi smoothly slipped her arm through his. "I just felt a bit dizzy from the long drive."
"Good to hear. The auction won't start for another half hour. This place is pretty big; why don't I show you around a bit?"
"Sure."
It was Yun Zhiyi's first time at this auction venue.
Located in a prime area of Jin City, the exterior was a high-rise building, a bustling hotel, nothing out of the ordinary.
But once you descended underground, it was like stepping into another world—a place of unparalleled luxury, reminiscent of a palace.
The handrails were crafted with pure 24K gold, panoramic glass elevators moved up and down, and display cases in the distance glittered with rare jewels.
This place had everything—food, entertainment, and more. It wasn't just a grand casino, but an auction house that offered treasures unavailable elsewhere, featuring rare gems, beauties from all continents, and even animals like lions, tigers, wolves, snakes…
Here, there was no limit to what could be traded.
It was a place for those navigating both the light and dark sides of society, operating in a gray area.
In such a place, the atmosphere was bound to be a mix of danger and allure.