At that moment, the car window slid down unnoticed beneath their intimacy.
The cool night air of Sun Jian rushed in, carrying the faint grassy scent of the courtyard, unimpeded.
Along with it came the dim, amber halo cast by the antique palace lantern in the garden.
And without obstruction, it exposed the intensely private, ambiguous space inside the car—the two figures tightly entwined—straight into Xia Li's suddenly turned, razor-sharp gaze.
Feeling the cold, Wang Yuyan even let out a deliberately low, trembling moan.
That highly suggestive sound froze the footsteps that had already turned away.
As a Retired Special-Forces Soldier, her hearing and reflexes far exceeded those of ordinary people.
The faint whir of the window motor and that indistinct yet piercing female moan exploded like thunder inside her hyper-alert senses.
"Mm… ah…"
Although she'd guessed Jiang Cheng might be busy inside with his companion…
…now that the window was down, she assumed they were finished and he'd soon step out.
Almost by reflex, Xia Li spun back around.
Body angled in the standard stance—respectful yet ready for any contingency.
But what met her eyes was neither an open door nor Jiang Cheng's figure, as she'd expected.
Through the slowly descending gap, the first thing she saw was Jiang Cheng's smoothly muscled, naked upper body, gleaming like honey-colored amber in the dim interior light.
Involuntarily, her gaze slid lower.
One of his arms claimed Wang Yuyan's slender waist in absolute possession.
And his other hand—those distinct, powerful knuckles—had already slipped deep inside her disheveled collar.
The fabric lifted in an ambiguous curve, the outline of his moving fingers faintly visible.
Wang Yuyan's face was half-buried in the hollow of Jiang Cheng's neck; only a flushed cheek and tangled hair showed.
The scene struck Xia Li like a carefully posed yet suddenly exposed private oil painting—scorching, unmistakably erotic.
Time seemed to freeze for a second.
The professional composure on Xia Li's face cracked, almost imperceptibly.
Her pupils contracted, then forcibly returned to normal.
Years of training kept her from looking away or showing any lapse.
Yet the flash of shock, understanding, and a secret, unacknowledged sting couldn't be fully hidden.
She lowered her lashes, gaze fixed on the ground three inches in front of her shoes, as if something vital needed study there.
Her spine straighter than before, jawline taut.
"Apologies, Young Master Jiang." Her voice was level, without a ripple, as though she'd seen nothing out of the ordinary. "I'll withdraw at once."
Hearing Xia Li's words, Wang Yuyan gave a perfectly timed, short gasp—
"Ah!"
After the well-measured cry she frantically pretended to hit the switch to raise the window.
Jiang Cheng, however, was quicker; he reached out and pressed the button himself.
The glass rose again, sealing the cabin once more.
Privacy restored in an instant.
Although she had been the one to press it…
…Wang Yuyan's nervousness wasn't entirely feigned.
The exposure had been real.
She remained frozen, face scorching, even her earlobes crimson.
Long lashes quivering.
"I… I really didn't mean to… My elbow must have bumped it…"
Jiang Cheng looked at the woman in his arms—so flustered she seemed about to combust—his earlier irritation fading.
Replacing it was a mix of amusement and fondness.
A man's perspective differs from a woman's by nature.
Though Jiang Cheng possessed the Psychic Perception Skill, a deeper probe might have uncovered Wang Yuyan's little scheme…
…right now his entire attention was on the thrill, and, after all, the outsider was only Xia Li.
Had it been Zhou Ying or Yu Xiaoxiao, he might have thought twice.
So at present he had zero interest in scrutinizing such trivial details.
He slid his hand out of her clothes and instead brushed his fingertips across her burning cheek and moist eyes.
"Startled?" His voice was gentler, soothing.
Wang Yuyan nodded, then shook her head.
Finally she pouted in grievance, leaned back against Jiang Cheng's face, and mumbled, "…So embarrassing… we were seen…"
Yet even as she spoke, her waist gave a subtle, deliberate wriggle—meanwhile, in a hidden top-tier private club in Peng City, the atmosphere was roaring, feverish enough to blow off the roof.
A huge curved screen filled an entire wall.
It displayed pre-market US data, dense news flashes, and the adrenaline-spiking P&L of several trading accounts.
The air blended premium cigar smoke, expensive perfume, and a money-crazed exhilaration pushed to the brink.
Xu Zhi sat on the main sofa, a glass of amber Louis XIII in hand.
Yet the liquor hadn't diminished for quite a while.
Around him sat seven or eight people, men and women of varied ages; their clothes, accessories, and bearing all proclaimed illustrious backgrounds and fortunes.
These were the "allies" he had recently gathered under the banner of "sharing core Jiang Cheng-level intel" and "jointly sniping the big move."
Behind them lay an intricate web of resources—and, at this moment, staggering, high-leverage capital.
"Everyone, quiet!" A young man in a flashy purple shirt stood, eyes glittering, glass raised. "Forty-five minutes to Facebook's damn 'metaverse' launch—and the moment our Harvest Legion, led by Young Master Xu, strikes! I propose we toast now to the coming feast of wealth!"
"Cheers!"
"With Young Master Xu, we feast big!"
"After this score, yacht parties and cover girls—booked!"
The room erupted in cheers, clinking glasses, and excited, profanity-laced chatter.
Every face glowed with anticipation for the coming "slaughter," as if vast riches were already within reach.
After a sip, a sharply dressed, keen-eyed woman leaned against Xu Zhi.
"Brother Xu," she cooed, "I've moved every last cent here and convinced two uncles to co-invest. After tonight, you'll be the golden-touch 'Little Stock God' of our circle. Don't forget to look after your little sis."
Another calmer but equally greedy middle-aged man edged closer and murmured, "Young Master Xu, I had people on Wall Street quietly verify your intel—the wind does seem to be shifting. If this succeeds, not only will we all profit handsomely, your prestige in the circle… will be on a whole new level."