“Just letting him walk away like that?” Xu Weiyu sidled up to Su Nisheng, eyes gleaming with gossip.

“What else?”

“Sister Su, splurging a million in one night? I thought you’d be sleeping with him.”

“He’s… complicated. Besides, I just owed the boss a favor.” Su Nisheng’s voice slurred slightly with wine. Xu Weiyu looped an arm around her neck. “What’s so special about him? Seems ordinary to me.”

“None of your business.” Su Nisheng rolled her eyes, poured another glass, hesitated for a moment, then drained it. Xu Weiyu didn’t clink glasses—just watched silently.

She could sense Su Nisheng’s faint sorrow.

“Ugh, hopelessly stubborn.” Xu Weiyu raised her own glass, gently tapping it against Su Nisheng’s empty one—a belated toast.

As they drank, the crowd ahead suddenly parted, clearing a path.

Both women froze, eyes sharpening with caution. Xu Weiyu’s hand settled on Su Nisheng’s shoulder, her ability dispersing the alcohol haze. At the path’s end stood a woman.

Silver bodycon dress. Silver stilettos. Silver wavy hair tied in twin tails. Early twenties, maybe older than Su Nisheng. An aura… intensely powerful.

“Su Nisheng?”

The woman’s smile was elegant, regal. She approached their table, her presence alone dwarfing them. Su Nisheng looked up—and for a split second, one word surfaced in her mind:

*Grace.*

An inexplicable, polished grace. The energy radiating from the woman was deliberate—a display of sincerity… and status.

This was the boss.

“Call me Silver Lady.”

Silver Lady—the alias she wielded in the underworld. The most low-profile of them all. In six years, she’d built an empire. The Alliance had tried recruiting her; they’d failed to break her. Her holdings spanned this skyscraper, shopping plazas, nightclubs, bars, high-end restaurant chains…

Casinos and flesh trade dominated her portfolio, yet she avoided contraband. No scandals in her brothels—only consensual arrangements. Among ability users today, she commanded the most resources.

Su Nisheng, merely an A-rank squad captain, should’ve bowed in reverence.

Yet Silver Lady surprised her. She took a fresh champagne flute, filled it to the brim, and lifted it with a soft laugh.

“Thank you for gracing my establishment tonight, Miss Su. Enjoy yourself.”

Flustered, Su Nisheng clinked glasses. Silver Lady murmured, “Drink at your leisure.”

Su Nisheng finished hers anyway, still feeling dreamlike.

*This* wasn’t the ruthless Silver Lady she’d heard about.

Silver Lady drained her glass in silence. Two drops trailed down her chin, over her collarbone, vanishing into the snow-white valley of her cleavage. She dabbed her lips. Under the lights, her face glowed as she spoke calmly:

“Consider it making a friend. If you ever need help, contact me. I have matters to attend to—excuse me.”

She turned. Su Nisheng watched her retreating figure, frowning faintly.

*Is she after my family connections?* But their worlds never overlapped. Silver Lady needed no extra power—her name alone echoed loudly enough in the shadows.

Su Nisheng gave up puzzling over it. She and Xu Weiyu resumed drinking.

…………………………

Under the streetlights, their shadows swayed unsteadily.

Lin Ran glanced back at Xu Mo trailing him. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright and intoxicating. He paused. “You drank?”

He’d slipped to the restroom mid-party.

Xu Mo tensed instantly, looking up earnestly. “Just a taste! A tiny sip of champagne. Really tiny.”

“Alright,” Lin Ran sighed in relief.

“Fun?”

“Not really.” Xu Mo answered obediently.

“It’s an escape. People’s emotions run raw at night, clinging to meaningless socializing… mostly chasing cheap thrills.” Lin Ran shrugged. “Xu Weiyu’s young—probably harmless. But don’t pick up her habits.”

“Mhm, I know!” Xu Mo nodded.

“Focus on school. Trouble comes, tell me.”

She nodded again, keeping half a step behind him in the hazy night. Suddenly, she whispered, “Brother Lin Ran?”

“Hmm?”

“Is Su Nisheng your girlfriend?”

“No. Ex.”

“Did… did she spend a lot tonight?”

“A million or so. Peanuts to her.” Lin Ran replied casually. Xu Mo hummed softly. After a few seconds, she bit her lip. “What kind of girl do you like?”

“Why ask?”

“Just… a little curious! D-don’t misunderstand!” Xu Mo waved her hands frantically.

“I don’t.” Lin Ran’s tone stayed light. “Me? Probably someone older. Who can take care of me.”

“Have you met her?”

“Not yet. No rush. If no one takes care of me, I’ll take care of myself.” His voice was gentle. Their shadows danced under the streetlights.

Summer wind lifted Xu Mo’s skirt hem, revealing slender calves.

Her small hands clasped behind her back as they walked on, the breeze in their hair. Her eyes crinkled slightly. “Can we walk back like this?”

“Fine by me. The air’s nice.”

They wove through neon-lit streets. Taxis blurred past. Planes blinked like stars across the sky.

Lin Ran spoke occasionally; Xu Mo answered softly.

The talk drifted to the past.

“Brother Lin Ran… are your parents in this city?”

“I grew up in Orphanage Haven.” His voice held no weight—no longing, no regret.

He’d never known family. Xu Mo flinched. “I’m sorry…”

“No need. Xu Zhi mentioned you and your sister were raised by your mom?”

“Mhm. Back then… Dad gambled every day. Sometimes he’d win and buy us clothes, toys. But mostly he lost. He’d kneel, promise Mom he’d quit… then come home owing debts. They cut off one of his fingers once.”

Xu Mo paled, remembering the blood.

“Later, he pressured Mom for Grandma’s savings. When she refused, he hit her. She held firm. Then he threatened to jump off a building… Mom gave him everything—her savings, even the dowry she’d saved for me and Jie. He gambled it all away. And never came back.”

“Do you want to see him now?”

“No. Not at all.” Xu Mo shook her head firmly.

“Mom’s always been good to me. Jie too… When Mom got sick during Jie’s third year of middle school, Jie hid it from me. I only found out later. Those days were… hard.” Her lashes lowered.

“But Mom’s better now. Resting in the hospital. She’ll be home in a few days.” Her voice brightened again.

“I’ll pick her up when she’s discharged.”

“Okay.” Xu Mo nodded softly. “Thank you.”

Lin Ran pulled out his phone, adding her on WeChat. He started a transfer for pocket money. Xu Mo caught his wrist firmly.

“I can’t take your money.”

“Why?”

“You… work so hard boxing every day.” She whispered.

Lin Ran chuckled. “Such a thoughtful little girl.”

“I’m not a little girl!” Xu Mo insisted, cheeks puffing slightly. Lin Ran ruffled her hair.

This time, she didn’t pull away.

“You always have to give something… to get what you want.” Xu Mo murmured under her breath.

Lin Ran heard. Pretended not to.

“Just study well. Call me if trouble comes. I might be a bit richer than you think.”

This time, Xu Mo didn’t hesitate. She looked up. “Okay.”

They walked on as traffic faded. Streetlights carved bright islands in the dark.

Tree shadows swayed. Moonlight pooled over their stretched silhouettes.

Lin Ran lost track of time. Almost there—he turned, noticing sweat beading on Xu Mo’s forehead. *Seventeen-year-old stamina. My bad.*

“Rest a while?” he asked gently.

Xu Mo bit her lip stubbornly. “So sleepy… If I rest, I’ll fall asleep.”

“I’ll carry you.”

Lin Ran bent slightly. Xu Mo froze for seconds, then leapt up, arms looping around his chest. He gripped her calves, adjusted her weight, and walked on slowly.

*…Guess she’s not so little anymore. Got some curves.*

Xu Mo buried her face in his shoulder. Her heart hammered—would he hear it over the wind?

She closed her eyes. Moonlight trembled on her lashes.