Riding in Meng Xiaoxiao’s red sports car, Tang Coco spent the ride with her heart in her throat, like a sparrow chased by wind. They pulled up to the Junlin Tianxia Hotel, the red Ferrari burning like a chili in dusk. It drew a field of eyes like sunflowers turning. No one swarmed in with phones, though. The hotel’s front was a pond that often saw swans; sleek cars were just ripples.

The two women stepped out, heels tapping like small drums on stone. Meng Xiaoxiao handed the keys to the valet, her wrist flicking like a reed in wind. At the door stood the same two security guards as before, planted like willows. Seeing the women climb out of the Ferrari, their attitude toward Tang Coco flipped like a coin.

“Welcome to our hotel.”

One wore a pasted-on smile like lacquer. The other’s eyes kept sweeping over Meng Xiaoxiao’s petite frame, like a ruler sliding. Disgust rose in Tang Coco like cold smoke, but she held it in. In this world, snobs crowd like crows; she saw no use fighting them. They let the guards blur into the background and walked in, where the front-desk hostess glided over like a swan.

“Hello, do you have a reservation?” the hostess asked, her voice soft like warm tea.

“Mm. Someone named Lu Kai booked a table,” Meng Xiaoxiao said, her tone light as a leaf.

“Lu Kai? Alright, I’ll check,” she replied, turning back like a swift fish to the counter.

“Your private room is on the second floor, East Rhyme Pavilion. I’ll take you up,” she returned, smile bright as a lantern.

“Okay.”

The two followed her, steps rising like a gentle tide toward the stairs.

Junlin Tianxia was the largest hotel in Ninghai City, a layered hive glittering like stacked jade. The first floor held the common dining area, warm as a market in spring. The second floor was all private rooms, doors thick as screens in a garden. Floors three to eight rose as grand halls, made for banquets and gatherings, like terraces for migrating cranes. From the ninth floor upward were guest rooms, windows glowing like constellations. As they walked, the hotel unfurled: couples leaning close like twin vines, business groups clinking glasses like pebbles in a stream. Joy hung in the air like festival ribbons. It was a world far from Tang Coco’s days steeped in blood and storm.

“Coco-jie, what are you thinking?” Meng asked, looping her arm through Coco’s, like a small bird finding a perch.

“Just taking it all in,” Tang Coco joked, a smile like a blade sheathed. “I’m a country girl. I don’t see this often.”

“Yeah, right. Country girl, my foot,” Meng laughed, eyes bright as beads. “Want me to keep you as your sugar mama?”

“Keep me? You little rich woman, got money burning holes like sparks?”

“Tch, I’m happy to spoil you,” Meng pouted, lips puffed like a cherry.

Tang Coco flicked her forehead, a tap like a pebble skipping water. “Enough. I don’t need you to keep me. Take care of yourself first.”

Right then, the attendant stopped, hand lifted like a flag.

“Here we are.”

“Mm, thanks, you can go,” Meng said, voice calm as moonlight.

She knocked on the door, knuckles tapping like rain.

“You finally made it!” came Lu Kai’s voice, popping like firecrackers.

The door slid open, and there stood Lu Kai in a black suit, glossy as a crow’s wing. Inwardly, Tang Coco’s eyes rolled like a tide she kept hidden.

“Xiaoxiao, come in,” Lu Kai beamed, his smile stretched like a banner.

“I told you, call me Meng Xiaoxiao,” she shot back, glare sharp as a needle.

She pulled Tang Coco into the private room, the air scented like hot broth. Another young man sat inside in sportswear, casual as grass.

“Mm? Who’s he?” Meng asked, curiosity fluttering like a moth.

“Hello, I’m Li Mao. I’m Brother Kai’s friend,” the youth said, voice neat as folded paper.

“‘Polite?’ You do seem polite,” Meng chuckled, lips curved like a crescent.

“Uh, no—you misunderstood,” he stammered, ears pink like peach petals. “Li, the common surname; Mao, as in lush growth.”

“Oh, I see,” she said, feigning enlightenment like a lantern suddenly lit, though she’d only teased him for fun.

“Alright, everyone sit,” Lu Kai said, palms spread like fans.

They sat, chairs whispering like reeds. Lu Kai handed Meng Xiaoxiao the menu, pages crisp as leaves.

“Xiaoxiao, pick what you want. Order freely.”

“I said call me Meng Xiaoxiao. How many times?” Her eyes flashed like flint. “Give me the menu.”

Lu Kai, awkward, passed it over, smile wobbling like jelly.

“Mm… let me see,” Meng murmured, lashes drifting like dragonfly wings. “Start with the signature dishes, and… these few. Hmm… right! Get a few bottles of good wine. I heard they’ve got plenty.”

Hearing her choose the signature dishes, Lu Kai felt fine, his face smooth as calm water. The moment she mentioned several bottles of good wine, his heart pinched like a crab’s claw. He knew those bottles were priced like rare snow. He could drink them, sure, but his allowance wasn’t meant to burn like straw.

“Wine? Several bottles? What’s this girl plotting?” Tang Coco thought, surprise lifting her brows like sails.

“Alright, that’s my list,” Meng said, closing the menu like a folding fan. “Coco-jie, see if you want anything.”

“Uh… I’m good. I’ll eat what you picked.”

“Okay, then you two add your picks,” she said, sliding the menu to Lu Kai, her hand gliding like a fish.

“Uh, let’s just add a few desserts,” Lu Kai muttered, mind already counting coins like beads. Those top bottles would bleed enough.

Beside him, Li Mao read the room, staying quiet like a stone in moss.

While they waited, Lu Kai thawed from the shock, breath smoothing like a lake at dusk. Time to handle business.

“Uh… Meng Xiaoxiao, your family’s in Yanjing, right? Why come to Ninghai for college?” His words tiptoed out like cats.

“Oh, just came to play,” she answered, foggy as a morning mist. “Coco-jie, look at this meme. It’s hilarious.”

Lu Kai didn’t give up; questions trickled on like a leaky faucet—family business, parents, what she liked, and more. Her replies stayed short, light as dandelion fluff, while the two women bent over their phones, thumbs skimming like swallows. The room grew awkward, silence stretching like stale air. A knock sounded, and the server entered, plates steaming like small clouds.

“Alright, let’s eat,” Meng brightened, laying her phone down like a sleeping bird. Tang Coco watched, more and more unsure of this impish girl—was she truly a foodie, or just playing a part? Across the table, Lu Kai’s intentions stood out like a red flag. Meng relaxed and savored each dish like sunlight on rice.

“Come on, let’s have some wine,” Lu Kai urged after a few bites, tossing the idea like a hook.

“No, we can’t. We’ve got class this afternoon,” Meng said, firm as a closed gate.

“Ah? Then… these bottles of good wine?” Lu Kai stared at the labels, numbers glittering like ice. The set ran over two hundred grand. His mind went blank as chalk.

“Oh, those?” Meng said, gnawing a bone like a small wolf. “I’m taking them with me later. You can’t drink them.”

“Pfft!” Tang Coco burst mid-sip, a spray of water like sudden rain.

“Cough, cough—sorry. Drank too fast. I’ll hit the restroom,” she said, cheeks flushing like apples.

“Oh? I need to go too. Coco-jie, let’s go together,” Meng chirped, hopping up like a sparrow. The two slipped out of the private room, the door closing behind them like a soft wave.