A Grand Wish
Sixteen candles flickered silently atop a sixteen-inch cake, their gentle glow blurring with the soft, ethereal light of the sconces on the ornately decorated hall walls. At one side of the long table, three figures sat in solemn stillness, their gazes fixed on the girl before the cake, her hands clasped in a prayer-like gesture. The scene, for all its domesticity, had an uncanny resemblance to a mystical sect's grand master on the precipice of mastering an ancient art, surrounded by her three vigilant guardians.
The wavering candlelight danced across the girl's pure, delicate face. After a moment, she slowly opened her eyes, their gaze as luminous as polished琉璃 (lapis lazuli), before leaning forward and extinguishing all the candles with a single breath. A triumphant smile played on her lips. "Done!" she declared.
Only then did the three guardians stir.
The sole gentleman among them gasped, as if recovering from a strenuous magical exertion. "Yu Xi! What was all that dramatic nonsense? You make a wish and get everyone on edge, as if you're praying to be the next President!"
She cast an upward glance at his youthful, handsome face, a face that mirrored hers in nine out of ten features, and chuckled softly. "Oh, little Chen-chen, this wish is far more captivating than being President. It certainly called for a grand and solemn ceremony. You'll be an adult after midnight, and still you haven't learned composure."
Yu Chen, remembering it was her birthday, merely grunted, choosing not to argue.
Another figure, elegantly clad, regarded her seriously. "Are you truly decided?"
Yu Xi's eyes curved, sweeping over the three of them, her smile widening. "Auntie Xin, I've decided that for this life, I shall follow your example, and with Chu Chu, we shall encourage one another to become the most enviable sisters in the circle!"
Yu Chen pursed his lips. "Chu Chu would never be as unambitious as you. A sixteen-year-old's coming-of-age wish, and you want to be a rotten parasite of society?"
The delicate and gentle Xiao Chu Chu offered a slight smile. "Whatever the profession, it's merely a way of life, after all."
Yu Xi nodded in agreement. "What's most important in life? Happiness! As long as it's not against the law or hurting others, the choice of a happy path is surely mine."
She glanced at Auntie Xin, who seemed lost in thought, then walked over and took her hand, speaking softly. "Auntie Xin, this is the path I've chosen. Don't worry. I'll also finish my studies first; at least I'll have a fallback."
Xin Yue finally brightened, gazing at the graceful young woman she had raised, now standing tall and beautiful. A smile of contentment touched her lips. "It's good to understand this so early. A woman must first learn to cherish herself to truly live well."
Pop! The champagne cork flew, and the crisp aroma of wine, along with gushing foam, diffused into the air.
The four raised their glasses.
"My dearest sisters, to my beautiful sixteenth year, I toast! To my entry into the colourful world of adulthood, I celebrate! To my ambition of becoming a carefree spirit who plays with life, I wish you blessings!"
The cheers lasted but three seconds before an abrupt silence fell.
Then, an enraged shout erupted. "Yu Xi! I'm a boy!"
Yu Xi pinched her twin brother's face, a face more delicate than many girls'. "I've always thought you should have been a dainty little sister, only a fragrant maiden's heart was mistakenly placed in this male body."
Yu Chen roared. "I am a dignified man! In what way am I like a woman?!"
The other two, meanwhile, calmly began to help themselves to cake, ignoring the endlessly replayed squabble between the siblings.
"Every way, save for the parts that should protrude not doing so, and the parts that shouldn't having an extra bit."
"You shameless woman! What foul language! Is this what a sixteen-year-old girl should say?!"
"Which word of mine was foul, then? Point it out."
"You... why must you be the elder sister? By name, I surely must have been born before you!"
"You popped your head out the next morning, didn't you? I'm precisely five hours, twenty-eight minutes, and seven seconds older than you!"
Yu Chen was speechless. What could he say, when this had been ingrained in him since his earliest memories? The other three women had already begun discussing whether the cake's cream had been out for four hours or longer. He took a furious gulp of wine, only to choke on its sting. He felt his life's defeat stemmed from those tardy five-plus hours, ensuring he would forever be suppressed by his so-called sister. It was truly tragic...
Time skipped over eight units measured in years.
The same location, but with a more elegant table, a grander hall, more delicious cake and champagne... and four slightly 'older' people.
Yu Xi was already somewhat tipsy, her brow arched as she looked at Yu Chen's face, which lacked two parts of her own charming delicacy but gained several parts of masculine handsomeness. She wiggled a slender finger. "Little Chen-chen, tomorrow, when you go back to Australia, could you take my leave of absence application to the academic office for me?"
Yu Chen, with heavy eyelids, nodded weakly, gazing at the nearly empty bottle of red wine before her. He truly wondered how her alcohol tolerance had been cultivated; thankfully, he hadn't foolishly challenged her to a drinking contest.
"Are you truly taking a temporary leave?" Xin Yue, still perfectly sober, held a 520 cigarette, the red heart on its pristine filter notably striking.
Yu Xi sighed wistfully. "Auntie Xin asked me in that exact tone eight years ago, it's quite nostalgic. To think the wish I made back then, after eight years, still hasn't come true."
A sudden whim in her fourth year of university had led her to study abroad. She ended up staying in Australia for another year. Studying abroad wasn't entirely boring; simply sitting with a beer at the university's weekend dances offered a view of all sorts of handsome men. But this time, she felt Chu Chu's problem couldn't wait. It had to be resolved before she could continue enjoying herself.
What sort of person dared to cling to Chu Chu, not even giving Auntie Xin face, knowing Chu Chu was 'Xinyue's' person? If Auntie Xin hadn't inadvertently revealed it, Yu Xi wouldn't have known Chu Chu's current predicament. In the two days since her return, seeing her already quiet friend become even more withdrawn, she decided it was time to meet this scoundrel.
Xiao Chu Chu had only drunk a little, and seeing the scattered cups on the table, she knew that Yu Xi, though ostensibly celebrating her birthday, had traveled all this way out of concern for Chu Chu's current entanglement.
She sighed softly. "Xi Xi, you don't have to provoke those people for my sake."
Yu Xi smiled charmingly. "I believe it's time for me to see the world too. I've learned a lot of theory; without practice, I'll never grasp the true essence, will I?"
Chu Chu looked at Yu Xi's seemingly innocent large eyes, where a calm and playful glint now flickered. She knew Yu Xi had made up her mind. In her heart, she was grateful for the concern but also a little worried. The elite socialite circles were not as simple as they had once imagined. Open and hidden strife, jealous rivalries, one careless mistake could lead to ruin. Just like her; if she hadn't misunderstood the unspoken rules at first, how would she have become trapped in such a deep mire, unable to escape?
As she mused, a crisp ringtone sounded.
Xiao Chu Chu finished her call, then looked up with a strained smile. "He wants me to attend a dinner party in an hour, or he'll bring people over."
Yu Xi's eyes narrowed in a smile. Heaven truly favored her; it had granted her an opportunity to observe high society so quickly. She truly was today's birthday girl, with every wish granted.
She raised her glass to Xin Yue. "Auntie Xin, see how much I've learned from a master like you all these years."
Then, looking at Chu Chu: "Congratulate me, I'm officially making my debut tonight."
As she pulled Xiao Chu Chu quickly towards the door, she heard Yu Chen's slurred voice. "Where are you going so late?"
She turned back, a smile blooming, charming a hundred ways. "To find myself a birthday gift – to hunt a man for a taste of something new."
Yu Xi peered up at the lavish club before her, its neon lights, a riot of shifting colours, coalescing into three towering characters: "The Tycoon's Den."
"A truly fittingly vulgar name," she murmured with a low chuckle, turning to behold Xiao Chu Chu, who had changed into a pristine white gown, appearing like a pure lily fresh with morning dew. Yu Xi couldn't help but let out a sigh of admiration. "No wonder that Third Young Master Zhao is so utterly besotted with you." Zhao Qian Fei, she mused, Zhao Money-Flies, a name that reeked of profligate spending.
Xiao Chu Chu lowered her gaze, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Which is why I cannot escape now. His wife causes a scene every other day, and even Auntie Xin is almost at her wit's end." She then looked at Yu Xi, almost with an alien gaze, appraising her. Yu Xi was clad in a fiery-red, low-cut gown that accentuated her flawless, tall figure. Her dark hair, however, was stiff with mousse, fashioned into an extravagant cockscomb, while her exquisitely delicate face was now painted with exaggerated eyeshadow and thick foundation, complemented by seemingly luscious, vibrant red lips. She looked, to put it mildly, like a sizzling, glamorous enchantress.
"Xi Xi, why are you dressed like this...?" Chu Chu's unspoken words hung in the air: You're practically defiling your ethereal, spirited beauty.
Yu Xi executed a foxy, hip-swaying movement, then took Chu Chu's hand. "A woman cannot be loved if she's not a little bit wicked, can she? I'm going to find out whether that Young Master Zhao truly prefers a pure little lily like you, or if he's more partial to a fiery red rose like me. If I'm going to seduce a man, I much prefer playing the part of a vulgar siren. Just cooperate with me, won't you?"
This was her first foray into the upper echelons of society's social circles, and a nascent thrill simmered within her. Not only could she scout out some eligible bachelors from wealthy, aristocratic families, but she could also, as a bonus, investigate that Young Master Zhao, who was said to be lawless, owing to his father's modest reputation in both the legal and underworlds. He had been harassing Chu Chu for over half a month, using threats and enticements to make her his nth mistress. If tonight she could ensnare someone more powerful, helping Chu Chu would be no problem. At the very least, she herself would don her armour and confront Young Master Zhao. Since Chu Chu called him vulgar, then her own vulgar attire should suit his taste, shouldn't it?... And even if her grand plan didn't quite pan out, at least she could reel in a handsome man to flirt with.
The two women entered, finding a vast, luxurious hall spanning hundreds of square meters, where well-dressed men and women moved among each other like guests at a royal ball from a fairy tale.
"Beauty Xiao!"
Before Yu Xi could fully recover her wits, she saw Chu Chu, who had been by her side, suddenly ensnared in the embrace of a man who had sprung out of nowhere. Chu Chu struggled faintly, but his grip on her waist was too tight to escape.
"Mr. Zhao, please release me first." She turned her head, deflecting Zhao Qian Fei's face as he leaned closer.
"I've been waiting for your reply for half a month," Zhao Qian Fei leered, his predatory gaze fixed on the fair skin of the beauty's neck, as if he yearned to bite it immediately.
A cold glint flickered in Yu Xi's eyes. With a delicate flick, she draped the silk shawl in her hand between the two, purring sweetly, "Oh, Chu Chu, is this handsome, dashing, noble-looking gentleman Young Master Zhao? You didn't even introduce us first, how rude of you."
Her voice caught Zhao Qian Fei's attention. He turned to appraise Yu Xi, clad in her fiery red, his eyes openly displaying his astonishment. He slightly loosened his grip on Xiao Chu Chu, asking with a smile, "I haven't seen this young lady before?"
Before Chu Chu could answer, Yu Xi smiled enchantingly. "I'm just little Xi Xi, a newcomer. Today, I heard Chu Chu had an appointment and insisted on tagging along to see the world. I've long heard that Mr. Zhao is young and promising, and quite the ladies' man; I've been dying to meet you." Upon seeing you today, you're indeed shifty-eyed and utterly repulsive, she thought.
Zhao Qian Fei, flattered, grinned widely. "Xin Yue has brought in so many beauties recently, and Auntie Xin didn't even notify me. Miss Xi Xi, why don't you leave me your contact information? I'll come visit you tomorrow, heh heh."
Yu Xi suppressed a grimace, subtly inching closer, pulling at Zhao Qian Fei's tie. "Then you must remember the number I tell you with great care." Ugh, what a waste of such fine cologne on a man like this, she thought. Little by little, she pried his hand from Xiao Chu Chu's waist, then feigned losing her balance, tumbling into Zhao Qian Fei's arms, using the opportunity to push Chu Chu away.
Zhao Qian Fei, finding the beauty in his arms suddenly gone, was about to push Yu Xi away and reach for Chu Chu. After all, he had pursued Chu Chu for over half a month without success, while this fiery beauty seemed readily available. It was paramount to seize this rare opportunity tonight to secure the innocent and charming girl he originally desired. Half a month ago, at Xin Yue's bi-weekly masquerade ball, he had caught a fleeting glimpse of Xiao Chu Chu and vowed to possess her. Though Auntie Xin, the boss, merely said she was a singer in the dance hall, how many respectable women could be found in such a place? His repeated failures to see her only fueled his desire for conquest. Today, he had declared that if she didn't come, he would cause a scene at Xin Yue, and indeed, she had been compelled to appear. He certainly intended to make the most of this chance.
Yu Xi saw her "steal the beam and replace the pillar" trick wasn't working, cursing under her breath that Zhao Qian Fei was truly smitten. She needed another plan, just as she heard a cry of surprise from Chu Chu. She immediately sprang away from the disgusting man, discovering that Chu Chu, whom she had pushed, had stumbled into the arms of a man opposite them.
The man, at such a high-class gathering, wore no formal attire. He was casually clad in a black shirt, its collar open, revealing bronzed, muscular skin beneath. His tall, agile physique was impressive; she'd give him a solid ninety points. Looking further up, Yu Xi unconsciously licked her lips. He was truly a heartthrob! His slightly disheveled long hair defiantly obscured his left eye, while his visible eye gleamed with a cold light as he lowered his head, scrutinizing the beauty who had collided with him. His jaw was firm, his thin lips tightly pressed, and the icy aura surrounding him bespoke a formidable character.
"I'm sorry..." Xiao Chu Chu quickly stood up to apologize.
Two fingers pinched her chin. "Name?"
Yu Xi frowned slightly, not wanting her friend, having just escaped one devil's clutches, to fall into another, even if this one seemed considerably less repulsive. Before she could explain, the Zhao Qian Fei behind her was even more eager, saying obsequiously, "So it's Chief Gong! This is Xiao Chu Chu, a singer who works at Xin Yue. Please forgive her if she has offended you. My father has always hoped for a collaboration with your esteemed gang..."
"I'm taking this woman," the cool man opposite them stated.
Yu Xi sat at one end of the grand hall, sipping a cocktail, her eyes fixed on the white wooden door. Had it not been for the fear of being riddled with machine-gun bullets if she stormed in, she would have long since done so. She had watched, helplessly, as Chu Chu was led away by that man. Recovering her wits, she saw that even Zhao Qian Fei, despite his clear reluctance, hadn't uttered a sound. She murmured to herself, wondering who this Chief Gong was, that even Young Master Zhao dared not offend him. After cleverly extracting some information, she learned that Chief Gong was none other than Gong You Kai, the head of the You Gang, whose power in the underworld was currently on the rise.
Her previous impression of the underworld was of a bunch of hooligans wielding long knives, or elusive assassins dressed in black with sunglasses. Only now did she realize that the modern underworld also engaged in legitimate businesses, though with more aggressive tactics. This 'Tycoon's Den,' for instance, belonged to the You Gang.
Zhao Qian Fei claimed that no one dared to meddle with a woman Chief Gong had set his eyes on, and it seemed he had given up. He then turned his attention back to flirting with Yu Xi. Concerned for Chu Chu, she had no time to dally with him. She fabricated an excuse about seeing him at Xin Yue's masquerade ball next week, finally dispatching the lecherous man.
She had been guarding this door since Chief Gong took Chu Chu inside, wondering if Chu Chu was being mistreated. Bored, she fiddled with her phone – Chu Chu actually answered! She told Yu Xi that Chief Gong had already taken her away and she likely wouldn't be returning tonight. Yu Xi asked where they were going, and Chu Chu paused for a moment, only telling her not to worry and to go back, before abruptly hanging up. When she tried to call again, it was off. Yu Xi was furious; Chu Chu must have been threatened by that cool man and dared not speak. Where else could she look?
The door before her suddenly opened, and a tall man in a black tuxedo emerged. Yu Xi wondered if there was another world inside. Those who entered didn't come out, and the one who came out was a stranger. She craned her neck, trying to peer inside before the door closed, but in the next second, the man in the black tuxedo blocked her view. Her temper flared immediately. Do you think you're so handsome, daring to stand in front of me? she thought, lifting her head to glare... and froze. A face as sculpted as a Greek deity's statue entered her vision. Two red hearts popped out of her thoughts as she stared at him with a dazed, infatuated expression. He truly was an absolute heartthrob!
She was quite pleased with her reaction to seeing the handsome man, as it perfectly conveyed the role she was currently playing. She had already decided: since he came from inside, he must be one of Chief Gong's people. She would first flirt with him and then probe for information.
"Uh, mister, you're blocking my view," she purred, her voice exceptionally alluring.
His ink-black eyes, like polished jade, swept over her, then he moved aside, but the door was already tightly shut.
She pouted coyly. "It's all your fault, I couldn't see inside."
"Do you know the people inside?" a deep, resonant voice asked.
"Of course! That's Chief Gong's private domain, isn't it?" she guessed.
The man glanced at the door, correcting her. "That's Young Master Gong's private lounge."
...Where did this 'Young Master Gong' come from?! She had clearly seen Chief Gong take Chu Chu inside. Was she seeing things? She had certainly had a lot to drink today.
Thankfully, she managed to keep her composure. "Young Master Gong is just Chief Gong's younger brother, isn't he?" Seeing that he didn't object, she seemed to have guessed correctly. She continued her bluff: "Since the entire Tycoon's Den belongs to Chief Gong, it's not wrong for this room to belong to him either, is it?" She looked at the man again, smiling seductively. "Sir, are you Young Master Gong's friend? A bodyguard? I happen to be very close with Young Master Gong myself." Establish a connection to make things easier, she thought.
He scrutinized her from head to toe, guessing she was merely a gaudy socialite accompanying some rich merchant tonight, yet a flicker of surprise crossed his face at her words. "What is your relationship with Young Master Gong?"
His question meant he wasn't Young Master Gong, did it?
"Oh, my!" she giggled shyly, her gaze drifting to his chest, then she lowered her eyes and pouted playfully, "What else could I be, besides... you know... his... that?" You idiot, look at my outfit. Do you think I'm Young Master Gong's maid, doing his laundry and cooking?
His eyes sharpened, sweeping over her again from head to toe. He crossed his arms, his tone suddenly serious. "You're the woman he sent for?"
Huh? Which 'he'? Young Master Gong? Alright, I'll play along.
"Don't be so direct," she said, extending a delicate finger to caress his collar. "I think 'girlfriend' sounds much nicer." Tsk tsk, let me in to inspect first.
The man stepped back, avoiding her hand, and turned. "Come in with me."
Yu Xi, carefully holding her floor-length gown, entered the door. She scanned the spacious private room, and finding no hidden machine-gunners, she relaxed her steps. Her gaze quickly swept the room, noting one door on the left, two on the right, and another straight ahead. Damn it, which one did Chief Gong take Chu Chu through?
"Come in," the man's voice called from the open door on the left.
Yu Xi walked over with a slight frown. "I'm telling you, I have a private appointment with your brilliant and mighty Young Master Gong. Since he hasn't arrived yet, I'll just wait for him here." You can leave now, don't bother me, so I can open every door and peek inside.
The man paid her no mind, casually settling onto a leather sofa in the room. His eyes gestured to a paper on the table. "Look it over. If there are no issues, sign it."
Her doubts swelled. She picked up the paper from the table and read it from beginning to end, her body stiffening. After a long moment, she looked up at him, her voice strange. "You... are Gong You Qi?"
In her hand was a "mistress contract" she had fantasized about countless times and desperately wished to see with her own eyes! In the bottom-left column, the elegantly signed name "Gong You Qi" was already there.
He raised the corner of his mouth. "I am indeed the brilliant and mighty Young Master Gong with whom you have a private appointment."
...Wait, let her think again. If he was Young Master Gong, why didn't he expose her at the door just now? And why did he ask who "he" sent her? Was he perhaps waiting for a woman he hadn't met, and simply mistook her for that person? A woman coming to sign a mistress contract with him?
"This..."
"What's the problem? Didn't my elder brother already tell you everything beforehand?" He was slightly displeased, disliking women who dragged things out or changed their minds at the last minute.
Alright, she thought, I've been mistaken for the woman Chief Gong arranged to sign a contract with him... She lowered her head and reread the contract. Suddenly, one clause piqued her interest greatly.
—The female party is not required to perform bed duties; all matters are subject to the male party's arrangements.
How interesting! She had imagined mistress contracts would include all sorts of harsh and bizarre clauses, like forbidding one from falling in love with the benefactor, or from prying into the benefactor's private affairs—those were commonplace. But never had a clause required not performing bed duties. If there was no such duty, was it still a mistress?
A thought flashed, and she suddenly became curious about this man. He must have a purpose for wanting to sign such a mistress contract. But all the clauses, oddly enough, appealed to her. She had always wanted to find the right person to play a game of ambiguous flirtation, without having to worry about losing her body or her heart. This contract seemed to be exactly what she wanted.
Today was truly the birthday girl's lucky day!
"I'll sign."
With a flourish, she signed her name and handed it over. Smiling seductively, she sat beside him, a slender finger winding through his dark hair, blowing a light breath towards him as she cautiously asked, "Young Master Gong, you aren't, by any chance, into the popular BL trend, are you? Don't worry, I'll definitely keep your secret."
Gong You Qi seized her pale wrist, turning with a hint of disgust to look at her heavily made-up face. "If you're a smart gold-digger, you'd only care about the money you're paid."
"Alright, alright, I understand," she pouted, feigning hurt, and pulled back her aching wrist, though inwardly, a thrill of excitement bubbled. News about Chu Chu could wait until tomorrow, of course. For now, she still needed to intercept and deal with the woman who was actually supposed to sign the contract.
Such an interesting game-player, it could only be her.
Gong You Qi, she thought, let's play a proper game of ambiguity, one where love has no part.