45. Pingkang

"Think carefully about it. This time, I am not forcing you."

The structure of Chang'an City during the Tang Dynasty was orderly. Aside from the Imperial City and the East and West Markets, the city was neatly divided into one hundred and nine residential districts known as "lifang". Among them, Pingkang Ward was located in the northern part of Chang'an, adjacent to the Imperial City. Within the ward were even smaller residential clusters called "qu", and the world-famous, endlessly captivating courtesans resided in the central, southern, and northern qu of the ward's eastern section.

At this very moment, in a courtyard within the southern qu, Shi Nian was adjusting her makeup in front of a mirror. After fastening the final decorative hairpin into her elaborate hair bun, the girl turned around and said, "Wasn't it you who said we must infiltrate Pingkang Ward in order to get close to Dugu Ying?"

The girl was dressed in a crimson, chest-high ruqun gown, with a translucent white sheer scarf draped over her arms. Her dark hair was styled into a double-looped immortal-welcoming bun. As she turned her head, the cat-eye pearl earrings dangling beside her cheeks swayed gently. With the evening lanterns just beginning to flicker, amidst the hazy, glowing light, she cut the perfect figure of a high-born Tang Dynasty court lady.

Yet Nie Cheng knew that she was not disguised as a court lady at this moment, but rather as... a courtesan.

Remaining outwardly calm, he said, "I did say we need to infiltrate Pingkang Ward, but I never said you had to disguise yourself as a courtesan."

This was also what surprised him the most. After listening to his plan, Shi Nian had taken the initiative to shoulder this mission—completely different from the past, when it always required coercion and temptation on his part.

"If I don't disguise myself as a courtesan, what should I be? Am I supposed to be like the two of you and dress as a patron?"

"You could have stayed behind at the lodging house and awaited our good news."

He was being quite humane this time. Recalling how he had previously forced her to seduce Liu Cheng first and then Zhu Houzhao, Shi Nian let out a soft huff.

"What is it?" Nie Cheng asked.

"I was just thinking, how is it that you clearly know what people will appreciate, yet you always choose the most obnoxious approach?"

Nie Cheng raised an eyebrow. Shi Nian continued, "The other day, why did you pretend to doubt Zhang Ke and Meng Xia? Or rather, why did you tell us from the very beginning that you suspected everyone?"

"Wasn't it you who told me to speak my mind?"

He was referring to that night at the barbecue restaurant when she had confronted him in the corridor, demanding that he stop being so mysterious and keep everyone in the dark.

"Don't give me that! I've thought about it over the past few days—you would never make such a decision just because of a single remark from me. Even without my pressing, you had already intended to show your hand to us that night, didn't you?"

Nie Cheng was silent for a brief moment before letting out a soft laugh. "You guessed correctly."

As expected.

Shi Nian's brow furrowed tightly. Certain words had been pent up in her heart for too long. After turning them over in her mind repeatedly, she concluded that if she didn't clear the air, forget about future operations—she wouldn't even be able to sleep peacefully.

She took a deep breath. "I know you suspect everyone, and I acknowledge that your suspicions are reasonable. But I do not agree with your methods."

"Meng Xia said that sharing your suspicions with us was meant to make us guard against each other, preventing us from being harmed by a hidden traitor. That might be necessary, but have you ever considered the other severe consequence this brings—destroying the team's trust?

"The work we do together is a matter of life and death. Even in the military, they say you must trust your comrades on the battlefield. Therefore, even if you felt compelled to share your suspicions, you could have done so in a more humane manner that didn't trample on everyone's feelings. Let's not forget, none of us has been convicted; at least for now, we are all innocent.

"As the team leader, you should be safeguarding the team's cohesion instead of destroying everyone's trust with your own hands, the way you're doing now."

Ever since the two of them had met, this was the first time she had ever spoken such a long and serious passage.

Shi Nian's heart pounded heavily against her ribs. She couldn't help but look at Nie Cheng, eager to see his response.

She had bared her heart and soul to him like this; surely he would... listen, right?

Under her expectant gaze, Nie Cheng remained silent for a long while before saying, "So, is this why you defended Meng Xia and Zhang Ke earlier? Even though you've only known each other for a month and aren't familiar with one another at all."

"……What?"

"I've known all of them for over a year, and we've been through numerous missions together. I am their leader. Yet you somehow believe that you understand how to get along with my team members better than I do."

Shi Nian never imagined this would be his reaction. A surge of anger rushed straight to her head. "Yes, I am a newcomer, but aren't newcomers allowed to offer suggestions to their superiors? Or is it that in Sector 7, we must blindly obey the team leader, and the rest of us don't even have the right to speak?!"

Nie Cheng nodded. "Yes, Sector 7 operates on absolute obedience to the team leader."

Furious, Shi Nian lunged forward and grabbed him by the collar. Nie Cheng lowered his gaze. "What is it? Going to hit me?"

Shi Nian closed her eyes, calmed herself for a moment, released her grip, and smoothed down his collar with a fake, tight smile. "I won't hit you. How could I dare hit the team leader? I just wanted to ask—if ordinary people aren't allowed to offer suggestions to their superiors, what about star employees?"

Nie Cheng raised an eyebrow. Shi Nian asked, "You said it yourself, my performance is the best in the team. If this time I'm also the first to figure out the identity of that person and complete the mission, would our esteemed team leader condescend to listen to my advice?"

A flicker crossed Nie Cheng's eyes as he understood. "So, this is why you're so enthusiastic about this mission?"

Shi Nian rolled her eyes. She had known it wouldn't be that easy; expecting anything from Nie Cheng was indeed a mistake.

"Just answer my question—yes or no?"

In the quiet room, the two of them stood extremely close. Locked in mutual gazes, the palpable tension between them was unmistakable even in silence.

Nie Cheng stared at her for a long time before offering a faint, mocking smile. "Very well, then I shall wait for Miss Shi to guide my work."

I cannot lose! No matter what, I cannot lose this time!

Shi Nian felt that she had reached a crucial turning point. Having endured Nie Cheng's authoritarianism for so long, she had finally risen up in rebellion. Now that the first shot of the revolution had been fired, she had to see it through to the end. If she lost this time, she might never have the courage to say no to Nie Cheng's decisions ever again!

The guiding maid turned back and whispered softly, "My lady, we have arrived."

Shi Nian snapped out of her thoughts and noticed that although the maid was keeping her head down, she was stealing glances at her from the corner of her eye. Nie Cheng's administrative efficiency was as astonishing as ever. From the moment she decided to disguise herself as a courtesan until tonight, a mere three days had passed, yet he had managed to sort everything out. Not only had he managed to insert her into this renowned brothel in Pingkang Ward, but judging by the madam's previous attitude toward her, the madam was well aware that Shi Nian wasn't here to sell her body, but rather to "gain life experience"...

The maid probably wasn't entirely in on the secret, but she couldn't help feeling curious about this fresh face.

Feigning ignorance, Shi Nian walked to the end of the corridor, where the main hall lay directly ahead. Every evening, the establishment hosted a banquet here; all the young gentlemen visiting the premises were expected to drink and socialize in this hall first before retiring to their respective private rooms.

Consequently, this was also the time when the brothel was at its most crowded.

The wooden doors were pulled open from both sides, unfolding like a painted scroll. The previously muffled and indistinct music behind the closed doors instantly rushed forward in a clear, surging tide. Shi Nian blinked. When she opened her eyes again, she saw that the main hall was brilliantly lit like daylight, with patrons seated all around. Musicians lined both sides, playing their respective instruments. Right in the center of the hall, atop a carpet bursting with floral patterns, a woman in a red dress was spinning gracefully in a dance. With her dark hair, red lips, and lithe figure, her facial features suggested she was of foreign descent, and golden bells jingled against her bare feet. The pipa strings plucked a rapid, urgent rhythm, growing faster and faster with every note. Her dance steps matched the tempo, her skirt blooming like a flower. Finally, the pipa struck its final, heavy chord, and she collapsed gracefully onto the floor, her long skirt spreading around her like a giant blossom. With her eyes closed, she lay atop it like an elf resting in the heart of a flower.

Cheers immediately erupted throughout the hall. Shi Nian hadn't expected to witness such a high-caliber performance the moment she stepped inside, but she had no time to appreciate it as her gaze swept rapidly across the room. The social atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty was open-minded, and literati scholars considered socializing with courtesans to be a mark of refinement. It was even customary for newly minted imperial graduates to visit Pingkang Ward together to celebrate, so Shi Nian was hardly surprised when she saw that the majority of the men present were young, handsome scholars. Her gaze continued forward until it finally landed on a familiar face.

Handsome yet brooding, with deep-set, Western-styled facial features, a man dressed in a white round-collared robe was seated behind a low desk on the eastern side, holding a cup of wine.

Dugu Ying.

According to Nie Cheng's intelligence, ever since Dugu Ying had arrived in Pingkang Ward, he had grown close to the famous courtesan Wang Susu, residing long-term at the brothel bearing her name—which was why they had chosen to infiltrate this very place.

And indeed, she had found him.

Dugu Ying still wore the same gloomy expression beneath his striking good looks as he had that night. Remembering their brief encounter, Shi Nian suddenly felt a twinge of nervousness. Strictly speaking, she had ambushed him! It would be disastrous if he recognized her!

The next instant, sensing someone entering, Dugu Ying's gaze shifted to the right, landing squarely on her.

Shi Nian's heart leaped into her throat.

The man's gaze swept over her figure, lingering on her face for a few seconds. Finding nothing particularly interesting, he calmly looked away.

Only then did Shi Nian let out a silent sigh of relief.

Phew, close call. It seemed her guess was correct: he had been far too drunk that night and had long since forgotten that encounter. Besides, even if he did remember, she had set off in a rush that day with her hair disheveled and no makeup on, whereas tonight she was fully dolled up—how could he possibly recognize her?

Did he not know that a woman's makeup is basically a form of disguise?

Dugu Ying wasn't the only one who noticed Shi Nian; others in the hall had also spotted the newcomer. A young man laughed out to ask, "San Niang, did you take in a new girl?"

"She's quite pretty. How about letting her sit with me?"

The madam, addressed as "San Niang," smiled and replied, "Lord Pei is a bit late. This young lady already has her pick."

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Shi Nian calmly walked toward the front left. Nie Cheng and Bruce were seated there, both disguised as patrons for the night. To avoid this exact scenario, they had previously agreed that Shi Nian would sit by their side. An empty seat remained right beside Nie Cheng. Shi Nian saw it clearly, yet she abruptly changed direction and sat down next to Bruce instead.

Bruce: "..."

Nie Cheng held his wine cup without drinking, merely glancing at her from the corner of his eye. Shi Nian calmly poured a cup of wine for Bruce and smiled, "Shall I accompany you tonight, my lord?"

Bruce looked at her, then glanced at Nie Cheng, and couldn't help laughing. "I am honored by a beauty's favor, of course." Yet, he wondered, what had these two been bickering about this time?

The man who had previously shown interest already had a companion by his side and had only made a casual remark. Seeing the situation, he let the matter drop and resumed drinking and chatting with the others. Meanwhile, having calmed down a little, Shi Nian felt a slight pang of regret. She had only done it to spite Nie Cheng, but Bruce's easygoing cooperation made her feel somewhat embarrassed.

Though they had known each other for a few months, the two of them hadn't interacted much; strictly speaking, they weren't particularly close. Looking at the man beside her—with his golden hair, high nose bridge, and deep-set eyes, who looked so thoroughly foreign that he had simply dressed up as a foreign merchant—Shi Nian couldn't help saying, "Your Mandarin is really good. It's the best I've ever heard from any foreigner."

Bruce replied, "If those other foreigners traveled through ancient China's various dynasties every few days like I do, they would speak it just as well."

Shi Nian burst into laughter.

As they murmured quietly to one another, Nie Cheng watched from the side with a blank expression and drained his cup of wine in one gulp.

At that moment, the music in the hall shifted, and a maid called out loudly, "The Chief Courtesan is here."

"The Chief Courtesan?" Shi Nian asked, puzzled.

"That would be Wang Susu. During the Tang Dynasty, the absolute top tier of courtesans were called 'Chief Courtesans'. Whenever they made an appearance, they were adored by the masses," Bruce explained.

Shi Nian's eyes lit up. Since this Wang Susu had managed to capture Dugu Ying's eye and was a renowned "Chief Courtesan," she must be exceptionally gorgeous!

Yet when the wooden doors opened and a woman dressed in white stepped out, Shi Nian blinked in surprise. In the candlelight, the woman possessed delicate, fair skin and a refined, graceful air. While she couldn't be called unattractive, she certainly wasn't jaw-droppingly stunning—even the foreign dancer from earlier was far more striking than her.

This was the number one courtesan?

"A Chief Courtesan isn't judged solely by her face," Nie Cheng said, seemingly guessing her thoughts. "To become a Chief Courtesan in the Tang Dynasty, talent is far more important than appearance."

Is that so?

Shi Nian stared at Wang Susu. True to form, the atmosphere in the room grew livelier the moment she appeared. The men scrambled to converse with her. Wang Susu responded with a light smile, though her pace never faltered as she walked naturally to take a seat beside Dugu Ying.

This action immediately provoked dissatisfaction from some quarters. A slightly intoxicated man shouted loudly, "Why is the Chief Courtesan showing such bias? That Dugu Yilang needs your company, but the rest of us do too! Don't play favorites and break our hearts, Chief Courtesan!"

Half-drunk, his eyes stared fixedly at Wang Susu. Despite being a pleasure house, the patrons present usually maintained a certain dignity; he was practically the only one making a public spectacle of himself. Wang Susu's expression remained unchanged. "At the poetry competition the other day, all of you were present, and the bets were placed accordingly. Since Yilang won first place, I must naturally honor my promise; these three months belong entirely to him. Though Suus is a woman, I understand that a promise is worth a thousand ounces of gold. How is it that Lord Li, a grown man, fails to understand this?"

Peals of laughter erupted from the crowd. Lord Li's face flushed red under her rebuke. Wanting to vent his anger but unsure how to do so, he sullenly gulped down another large cup of wine.

Fortunately, Wang Susu smoothed things over immediately. "Drinking alone is rather dull. Since we've mentioned the poetry contest and everyone is gathered here tonight, why don't we play a drinking game?"

Naturally, everyone agreed. Shi Nian grew slightly nervous. "A drinking game? How do we play?"

Drinking games in ancient times weren't as simple as modern people might think, especially with a room full of scholars present. For a moment, even Bruce didn't know how to explain it. But then Wang Susu spoke up, "We have a guest from afar who might not be familiar with Chang'an drinking games, so let's keep it simple and play 'Passing the Flower to the Beat of the Drum'."

As she spoke, her smiling eyes fell upon Bruce. This was Bruce's first time visiting, and he was a foreigner of a type often looked down upon in the Tang Dynasty, yet Wang Susu hadn't overlooked him. One could say she was remarkably considerate.

A wave of joy washed over Shi Nian. Passing the flower to the drumbeat—she knew that one! She used to play it all the time as a child!

However, Wang Susu's next sentence shattered her illusions. "Of course, we still need to compose poetry. Whoever is holding the flower when the drum stops must compose a poem. If they cannot, they must accept a penalty."

Compose poetry... Compose poetry?!

Shi Nian had never participated in such a terrifying game. The teachers back in school were right when they said the Tang Dynasty was a land of poetry! Who would have thought that merely posing as a courtesan would force her to write poetry?!

Her mind raced. Wait, how did other transmigration heroines handle this—

"Sector 7 rules: You are strictly prohibited from plagiarizing poems by historical figures from future eras to prevent premature leaks of famous verses. If you attempt plagiarism, it constitutes a violation of protocol."

Shi Nian: "..."

Glaring at Nie Cheng, who had casually blocked her only lifeline with a single sentence, she silently swallowed a mouthful of blood.

Damn it! You guys might as well just sell me into bondage!

Over on the other side, Wang Susu removed the silk flower from her hair to serve as the "flower" in the passing game. As for the person to beat the drum, someone from the patron's side proactively stood up. "I'll do it."

Wang Susu blinked. "Yilang?"

Dugu Ying retorted, "Did you really expect me to compose poetry instead?"

Everyone instantly recalled the painful memory of being utterly crushed by him at the poetry competition months ago and chorused, "Yilang, beat the drum! Let Yilang beat the drum!"

Standing before the Jiangu drum, Dugu Ying accepted the mallets handed to him by a servant. With two sharp drumbeats, the game began.

The silk flower was passed from guest to guest. The drumbeat shifted between fast and slow, loud and muffled, making everyone's heart race along with its rhythm. Terrified of drawing the short straw, Shi Nian remained on high alert the entire time. The moment the silk flower was handed to her, she practically hurled it at Nie Cheng beside her. He narrowly avoided being hit square in the face and shot her a glare before passing it to the next person.

"Thump, thump, thump—thump—"

The drumbeats stopped for the first time. Everyone looked over and saw that the silk flower had landed squarely in the hands of the disgruntled Lord Li who had earlier complained to Wang Susu. He seemed equally surprised, staring blankly before standing up. Having consumed plenty of alcohol earlier, he was now even more heavily intoxicated, his body swaying unsteadily.

Wang Susu smiled. "Lord Li, please."

Without hesitation, Lord Li let out a hearty laugh. "Compose a poem? What's so hard about that... I'll compose one right now. It's not like only Dugu Yilang knows how to write poetry!"

With that, he picked up a writing brush from the desk and walked straight toward the wall, actually starting to write right then and there!

"Late spring flowers flutter around the doors, the noble scion seeks scenic views and dusts his robes. The fairy in the grotto possesses myriad amorous expressions, detaining Ruan Lang and refusing to let him return."

As he wrote, Shi Nian watched him recite aloud under his breath, and upon reaching the final line, she couldn't help chuckling softly. *The fairy in the grotto possesses myriad amorous expressions, detaining Ruan Lang and refusing to let him return.* This Lord Li was utterly shameless; was he bragging about his irresistible charm, implying that the courtesans—including Wang Susu—were desperate to keep him and refused to let him leave?

Seeing Lord Li's smug, head-shaking expression, the courtesans in the hall all wore looks of displeasure. Shi Nian looked toward Wang Susu and noticed that the woman's previously radiant smile had tightened into a slight frown, replaced the next second by a faint, cool smile. "Let us continue."

The game resumed. This time, barely half a minute later, the drumbeats ceased once more. The silk flower ended up back in Wang Susu's hands. The woman gracefully rose to her feet and smiled slightly. "Since Lord Li has composed a verse, I shall offer one as well."

Picking up a brush dipped in ink, she too walked over to the wall and wrote rapidly.

"Strange that dogs bark and chickens fly in panic, a weary page, lean horse, and threadbare hemp robe. Who on earth led this idle person here, detaining him only for copper coins, rushing to drive him back out."

As soon as she finished writing, roars of laughter erupted through the hall. Shi Nian, who hadn't fully understood the classical phrasing, asked anxiously, "What does that mean? What does it mean?"

Suppressing a laugh, Bruce explained, "She's mocking Lord Li as a poverty-stricken scholar who threw the place into chaos, and telling him to take his petty coins and get lost."

Shi Nian was dumbfounded.

Turning back to the hall, Lord Li's neck had turned beet red from humiliation. His poem and Wang Susu's riposte stood side by side on the wall, serving as the most direct insult possible. Amidst waves of escalating laughter, another man clapped him on the shoulder and chortled, "Rushed-away Lang! Haha, Rushed-away Lang! Chief Courtesan Wang's poem is brilliantly written!"

Unable to bear it any longer, he shoved the people beside him away and fled the room without uttering another word, sending the laughter echoing even louder behind him!

Once the commotion finally subsided, Wang Susu said, "Now that the rushed-away Lang has departed, let us continue our game."

She smoothly resumed her smiling, charming demeanor. Shi Nian couldn't help but truly admire this famous Chang'an courtesan. She was smooth and tactful when playing the amiable hostess, yet merciless when turning hostile, tossing off impromptu poems with absolute ease. Just as Nie Cheng had said, a Chief Courtesan required far more than a pretty face to attain her position!

Wang Susu raised her wine cup, her apricot-shaped eyes lifting slightly to look toward Dugu Ying beside her. The man maintained his usual aloof expression, though the corners of his lips twitched upward slightly. Meeting Wang Susu's gaze, an unspoken understanding passed between them.

Noticing this interaction, Shi Nian suddenly recalled that during the second round, the drumbeats had stopped abruptly—as if intentionally ensuring Wang Susu would get the flower. Could it be that Dugu Ying had sensed Wang Susu's desire to retaliate and deliberately cooperated with her?

Shi Nian suddenly realized she had overlooked a crucial issue.

She had chosen to disguise herself as a courtesan because she believed it was the most effective identity to get close to a patron. Though somewhat perilous, given her experience from her previous two missions and two months of grueling modern training, Shi Nian had assumed she could pull it off and escape unscathed.

Earlier, she had been worried that Dugu Ying might remember that night, and when she realized he showed no interest in her, she had felt relieved. But now she realized: if she, disguised as a courtesan, failed to arouse Dugu Ying's interest, what was the point of this disguise?

Could she really insert herself between them when Wang Susu was so talented, beautiful, and possessed such seamless rapport with him?

"Thump—"

The drumbeat suddenly cut off. Looking down at the silk flower in her hand, Shi Nian realized that she had been so lost in thought she had forgotten to pass it along.

She had been caught!

Noticing her blank expression, the crowd burst into laughter. Lord Pei, who had expressed interest in her earlier, smiled and said, "It's the new lady again. Don't be afraid; if you can't write a poem, you can just drink a forfeit. If you don't wish to drink, Pei can drain the cup on your behalf." The final sentence carried a heavy dose of flirtatious ambiguity.

Shi Nian remained silent.

Seeing this, Nie Cheng let out an inward sigh. He hadn't expected her to compose a poem anyway. Just as he was about to speak up and drink the penalty for her, the girl spoke instead. "I don't know how to write poetry. May I perform something else instead?"

The crowd paused. A moment later, Lord Pei chuckled, "Oh? And what does the lady wish to perform?"

"I know how to play a tune. How about I play a piece for everyone's entertainment?"

"There are plenty of musicians here. If it's just some ordinary tune, I doubt anyone would care to listen."

"What I play is not ordinary. I guarantee none of you lords have ever heard it before."

The crowd exchanged glances. Wang Susu, who had been quietly observing, smiled then. "Is that so? Since you make such a claim, we must certainly give you the opportunity."

With the Chief Courtesan giving her approval, the rest were happy to play along. As Shi Nian stood up, Nie Cheng leaned over and asked in a low voice, "What are you planning to do?"

Ignoring him, Shi Nian kept her eyes fixed on the opposite side. The Jiangu drum stood upright, and Dugu Ying leaned casually against it, his sleeves rolled up and fingers toying with a drum mallet. He was watching her as well, his expression still utterly indifferent—as if she were no different from any person or object in the room.

If she wanted to get close to him, perhaps this moment was her chance.

Taking a deep breath, Shi Nian reached into her bosom and pulled out an object. It was a narrow rectangle with a row of small holes along the side, its polished metal catching the light.

A harmonica.

Since childhood, Shi Nian's parents had adopted a hands-off parenting style, never forcing her into various extracurricular classes like other parents did. Consequently, while Shi Nian had enjoyed a happy childhood, she reached her twenties only to realize she couldn't play a single instrument, nor master chess, calligraphy, or painting.

The sole exception was the harmonica.

Her father had been a music teacher who played the harmonica exceptionally well; back in the day, he had won her mother's heart by serenading her with *Moscow Nights*. He often bragged about this as his greatest lifetime achievement, which eventually piqued Shi Nian's curiosity, prompting her to ask him to teach her.

At this moment, Shi Nian was infinitely grateful for her curiosity regarding her parents' romantic history!

Seeing her pull out an unfamiliar instrument, some in the crowd grew curious while others looked on with disdain. However, the moment Shi Nian blew the very first note, everyone's expressions shifted.

*Moscow Nights* was a classic former Soviet song that later spread to China through translation, boasting dozens of vocal renditions and standing as perhaps the most universally recognized foreign tune among Chinese people. The melody itself was soulful and unforgettable, and paired with the harmonica's unique timbre, its opening notes were instantly breathtaking.

In the packed hall, not a single sound was uttered.

Everyone quietly watched the standing girl, who had closed her eyes and was playing with deep emotion. Within those notes lay a multitude of things—a gentle evening breeze, a cold moon, rustling forests, and endless snowfields.

Along with a lover's lingering longing, flowing like pristine moonlight or a gentle stream, washing over everyone's hearts.

The tune ended.

Shi Nian lowered the harmonica. In the surrounding silence, she raised her head anxiously, her gaze colliding directly with Dugu Ying's across the room.

He was still watching her, but this time, something new flickered in the man's eyes. He gazed at her intently, as if finally letting her truly register in his sight.

Across half the hall, their eyes locked. Slowly, the corners of the man's lips curled upward into a very faint smile.

Shi Nian hadn't expected him to smile at her. For a man who had remained so perpetually gloomy to suddenly display such a smile completely threw her composure into chaos. As if sensing her bewilderment, the man's smile deepened. Arched eyebrows lifting slightly, he asked, "What is your name?"