Lin Ran knew telling Su Nisheng to drive slower was pointless.

In many ways, Su Nisheng was fiercely justice-driven. She joined The Alliance not for hollow hero titles, but to help ordinary people using its resources.

Yet she was also impulsive—a girl with a fiery temper that flared quickly but faded just as fast. Riding with her always made Lin Ran nervous. Her telekinetic powers could lift the car mid-crash, but the sheer speed still left him dizzy. Wind roared past. The empty southern streets blurred under flickering streetlights. He watched Su Nisheng’s profile—her shoulder-length pink hair whipping wildly in the wind, her sharp features still strikingly beautiful.

Not to mention those smooth, pale legs beneath her strapless dress. Lin Ran stared, distracted, until the car screeched to a halt outside a downtown high-rise.

His workplace.

"Why here?" Lin Ran asked, surprised.

The nightclub was fun but chaotic. No one dared cause trouble inside the boss’s territory, but outside? All bets were off. Su Nisheng smoothed her hair and stepped out of the driver’s seat. "I owe the boss a favor. Time to repay part of it."

"Fine."

A host greeted them at the entrance. Though Su Nisheng wasn’t a regular, he recognized her instantly, fawning over her. Beside her bold aura, Lin Ran looked like a quiet pretty boy.

They climbed to the third floor. Music pulsed through the corridor like a heartbeat. Bodies writhed in the dance pit. Lin Ran disliked such scenes. Su Nisheng pointed to a VIP booth dead center. "There’s our spot."

Minimum spend: 88,888 credits.

Lin Ran frowned slightly—not over the cost (Su Nisheng clearly had money), but the noise. He gently tugged her shoulder. "Somewhere quieter?"

Su Nisheng paused, looking up at him. A smirk played on her lips. "Your call."

They settled at a secluded booth near the restrooms. Peaceful, with a wide view of the crowd. Nightclubs never lacked beautiful girls—not all cookie-cutter types, but competition ran fierce. If she wore less, you wore even less. If she got double eyelids, you got a rib-nose job. No losing allowed.

Men faced worse pressure. He sends 520 credits? You send 1,314. Someone sends 1,314? You send 5,200. Costs soared; joy dwindled.

Su Nisheng pulled a card from her tiny purse and handed it to the host, her voice commanding legions.

"Open one hundred bottles of Armand de Brignac. One bottle per booth. Hold up signs with ‘Lin Ran’ written on them."

Lin Ran’s eye twitched. He tugged her sleeve. "That’s so embarrassing."

"Hahahaha!" Su Nisheng laughed freely. The host had already vanished with the card. Lin Ran could only sigh, clinking glasses with her.

No love confessions. No life complaints. Just easy drinking. The music wasn’t deafening here—their voices carried just fine.

Soon, Su Nisheng’s order arrived. After distributing bottles to every booth, a pile remained. Lin Ran noted this bar’s honesty—at least their Armand de Brignac was real.

But it wouldn’t get anyone drunk.

He finally asked the host for tequila, lime slices, and coffee beans. Complimentary, of course. Su Nisheng was a million-credit client tonight—no discounts asked. Lin Ran spotted several sharply dressed young men eyeing their booth. Player-hunters, all. They hesitated, seeing him seated there.

Lin Ran was rather well-known here.

They drank for half an hour. Su Nisheng hated club dancing, though Lin Ran remembered she was actually skilled. Good—he felt too tired to move.

"Oh right," Su Nisheng slung an arm over his shoulders, whispering in his ear, "I invited Xu Weiyu. Should you call Xu Zhi?"

"No. She’d misunderstand."

"Misunderstand what?" Su Nisheng’s smile turned sly. "Still have feelings for her?"

"No. I just don’t want to upset her."

Lin Ran rolled his eyes. He wouldn’t call Xu Zhi. She’d see this mess anyway—Su Nisheng’s grand gesture would make headlines by tomorrow. *Better explain later*, he thought.

Su Nisheng’s phone buzzed. She glanced at Lin Ran. "Xu Weiyu wants to bring a friend. Any objections?"

"Who?"

"Xu Mo. Xu Zhi’s sister."

"...Why’s she bringing her?"

"Says she’s a new friend curious about nightclubs. Don’t worry—we won’t let her drink."

"Fine."

*Xu Mo can explain things to Xu Zhi too*, Lin Ran decided. He dropped the subject, resuming their dice game.

Minutes later, the host led Xu Weiyu and Xu Mo to their booth. Lin Ran looked up—and froze.

Xu Mo had changed completely.

A simple white dress draped her frame. Jet-black hair fell loose behind her. The modest neckline revealed just a hint of collarbone; the hem brushed her knees. She looked quiet, obedient. A pink hair tie circled her wrist. No glasses. Her eyes held shyness—and wide curiosity about this alien world.

Lin Ran waved.

Xu Mo startled, spotting him. She approached cautiously. He patted the seat beside him. She hesitated, then sat, knees pressed together. The music overwhelmed her. Lin Ran slid a can toward her—Wangzai Milk.

He leaned close, voice low. "Why come here suddenly?"

"Xu Weiyu... invited me to look around."

"Don’t drink tonight. I’ll watch over you." No scolding—just gentle words as he popped the can open. Xu Mo cradled it, sipping carefully.

Xu Weiyu bounced over to Su Nisheng. Both lively girls whispered secrets, then dissolved into playful groping. Su Nisheng caught Xu Weiyu’s hands, pinching her cheeks until they flushed crimson. Xu Weiyu shot her a mock-glare.

Lin Ran chatted softly with Xu Mo—school, her sister, simple things. She rarely spoke, just listened intently, her expression warm and docile.

Like a pure white jasmine bloom.

Xu Weiyu soon plopped down beside Lin Ran. She’d heard Su Nisheng brag about him constantly—this ordinary high-school dropout with only decent looks to offer. Yet Su Nisheng treated him like gold, ignoring suitors across The Alliance.

"Hey! We meet again!" Xu Weiyu slapped his shoulder.

"Again," Lin Ran turned, eyes accidentally snagging on her ample chest. *Damn it.*

"I’m Xu Mo’s new bestie! Planning to move her into my place soon. Cool?"

"If she agrees. I trust you."

"*Trust*? I’m totally reliable!" She thumped her chest—her breasts jiggling slightly.

"How old are you, really?"

"Rude to ask a girl’s age."

"Su Nisheng—how old is she?"

"34D."

"Her *age*."

"Seventeen."

Lin Ran nearly spat out his drink. "Seriously? Seventeen?"

Xu Weiyu shot Su Nisheng a betrayed look. *Why spill everything?*

"So you’re still a minor," Lin Ran grinned.

Xu Weiyu slammed the table, pouring wine into both their glasses with a saccharine smile. "Drink up, big brother."

They clinked glasses. She grilled him about his and Su Nisheng’s high school days, but he dodged most questions. They chatted idly, then played dice together. Xu Mo learned quickly. When she lost, she sipped her Wangzai Milk. A pleasant night unfolded.

At 11:30 PM, Lin Ran stood. Time to send Xu Mo home—deep night wasn’t for young girls.

"I’ll take her now." He looked at the tipsy Su Nisheng and Xu Weiyu. First, he wiped milk from Xu Mo’s lips with a tissue—she sat perfectly still. Then he stood, offering his hand through the crowded aisle.

Xu Mo took his warm hand. As she turned, her cheeks burned. Her heart pounded, inexplicably fast.