This place was like a lonely island in a noisy ocean; the raised platform and semi-enclosed velvet curtains separated the interior and exterior into two different worlds.
The velvet curtains were respectfully pulled open by a waiter, and the sight inside made Fang Yuan's footsteps falter almost imperceptibly.
The booth was ridiculously spacious, with a circular leather sofa large enough to comfortably seat over a dozen people.
Facing the dance floor was a full wall of one-way glass, allowing one to take in the entire frenzy outside while remaining completely hidden from view.
Overhead was a shifting starry sky ceiling with soft, ambiguous lighting; the table was already set with exquisite fruit platters and ice buckets, and even the tissue box had a cold, metallic texture.
A faint fragrance filled the air, completely masking the smell of smoke and alcohol from the outside.
But none of these were the reason Fang Yuan paused.
The reason was that the booth was not empty.
Seven or eight young girls were already sitting or standing on the sofa.
Their makeup was exquisite, and they were dressed even more scantily than she was.
Two were wearing hottie outfits, with only a small piece of cloth in the front and a few thin straps tied in the back.
The girls had different styles; some were pure, some charming, and some cool and edgy.
Hearing the movement, they all looked up, their faces filled with carefully prepared smiles and anticipation.
The group's gaze naturally fell first on Jiang Cheng's face as he led the way.
However, their excitement lasted only a few seconds; when they saw Fang Yuan, the smiles on those women's faces instantly showed subtle cracks.
There was disappointment, as well as an irrepressible envy and scrutiny.
The last time Jiang Cheng came to Mr. Thirteen, he had caused quite a stir.
According to the rumors, it was because Qiu Yihe had been bullied by a few guys.
To vent her anger, Jiang Cheng had the entire bar shut down that night for a thorough investigation.
After many people arrived, they searched everyone one by one and eventually took several people away.
Because of this incident, Jiang Cheng had become a legendary existence at Mr. Thirteen.
Young, incredibly handsome, and ridiculously wealthy and powerful.
Moreover, he didn't seem as lecherous as some of those greasy second-generation heirs.
So, when they heard tonight that Jiang Cheng might be coming...
The girls who had been called in early to warm up the atmosphere all tacitly went all out, hoping for a chance to make an impression on this top-tier patron.
Even if it was just to say a few words.
Especially those girls who had joked around with Jiang Cheng in this booth last time; all of them had applied their most expensive lipstick.
Although Jiang Cheng had been taken away by Qiu Yihe halfway through last time, maybe they could seize the 'chance' tonight.
But now... Jiang Cheng had actually brought his own female companion...
And looking at the intimate way he held her, and how the woman—despite wearing a common bar hottie outfit—exuded an indescribable 'pure desire' aura, their relationship was clearly not ordinary.
Annoyed as they were, a few quick-witted girls rapidly adjusted their expressions.
Their smiles became sweet and natural once again.
Today's gathering was organized by Shen An; she was the first to smile and raise an eyebrow at Amy, the girl who seemed most extroverted and had chatted well with Jiang Cheng last time, speaking in a familiar tone: "Oh, everyone's here? Quite well-behaved, I see."
Amy immediately flashed a professional, bright smile and replied in a sweet voice: "Young Master Shen gave the order, how could we dare be late~ Young Master Jiang, good evening."
She directed the second half of her sentence to Jiang Cheng, her gaze carrying just the right amount of respect and a hint of imperceptible testing.
The other girls followed suit with greetings, their voices like a chorus of birds, while their gazes drifted more or less toward Jiang Cheng and Fang Yuan beside him.
Having seen many such scenes, Jiang Cheng had become very calm; with no particular expression on his face, he simply let out an 'mm' from his throat before releasing Fang Yuan's shoulder and sitting down in the center.
While the girls were secretly scrutinizing and envying Fang Yuan, Fang Yuan was naturally evaluating them as well.
Although she wasn't Jiang Cheng's girlfriend, seeing this cluster of beauties, a sense of crisis still rose in her heart.
Of course, this sense of crisis wasn't for herself, but rather she felt uneasy on behalf of Zhou Ying.
This kind of unease had appeared before when she met An Xin.
But the feeling between An Xin and Jiang Cheng was clearly more about ambiguity.
Whereas the expressions on the faces of these young Little Girls in front of her were pure, blatant temptation.
Seeing Jiang Cheng beckon to her, she immediately followed.
And when she sat down, she deliberately pressed close to Jiang Cheng.
She was representing Zhou Ying now, not herself, right?
With her pressing so close, Jiang Cheng looked at Fang Yuan with some surprise.
What does she mean?
Wasn't she still a bit stiff when he was holding her just now?
Why did she suddenly lean in on her own?
But as the saying goes, Jiang Cheng wouldn't take the bait for things he couldn't see through.
After all, there was still a Zhou Ying between the two of them.
He was a good man, and there were many good women around him.
If he wanted to mess around, he could do it anytime.
He wouldn't do something so counterproductive as to make Zhou Ying sad and hurt just because he was in a hurry.
Jiang Cheng pretended not to notice Fang Yuan's abnormality.
He just assumed she was cold and was leaning in for warmth.
"Are you a bit cold? Do you want a jacket?"
As he spoke, his gaze inevitably fell on Fang Yuan, who was right beside him.
The hallucinogenic lights of the bar slid across her exposed neck and shoulders, where her skin appeared as a warm, porcelain white in the dim light.
Because of her leaning posture, the lines of her slender but not thin shoulders were fully revealed, and her collarbones were sharp and clear.
Further down, the seemingly ordinary butt-skimming mini-skirt wrapped around her full and firm curves; the legs in black silk stockings extending from beneath the hem exuded a subtle yet direct temptation in the shifting light of the booth.
Holy cow, hips wider than shoulders, breasts bigger than her head.
A peerless beauty... damn!!
There are always vixens taking the initiative to get close!
After a few glances, Jiang Cheng casually picked up a cushion and tucked it behind her waist, forming an intimate protective circle and also blocking any potential contact from the side.
Such a considerate gesture made Fang Yuan's heart skip a beat.
While satisfied, she couldn't help but feel a bit envious of Zhou Ying.
Yes, her heart was just that complicated; on one hand, she was worried for Zhou Ying, but the more Jiang Cheng conducted himself with integrity and excellence, the more she couldn't help but envy Zhou Ying...
Shortly after they sat down, a middle-aged man wearing a well-tailored suit with a manager's nameplate on his chest walked over quickly, a well-trained and respectful smile on his face.
He bowed slightly: "Young Master Jiang, long time no see. Young Master Wang, Young Master Shen, Young Master Qin, Young Master Wang, good evening. Welcome, everyone. Here is the wine list, please take a look."
Jiang Cheng teased Chen Chao: "Xiao Chen, long time no see!"
Seeing that Jiang Cheng remembered his name after only visiting once, Chen Chao's face flushed slightly with excitement.
He had thought Jiang Cheng wouldn't return to Mr. Thirteen after that incident.
Although business here was still booming every day and he didn't have to worry about commissions, small figures like them didn't just stay in this chaotic place for a meager salary.
If they could become a familiar face to these powerful second-generation heirs, any small opportunity in the future would be better than ten years of hard work.
Chen Chao's fingers gripping the wine list were tense, but the smile on his face grew even more respectful as he bowed a bit lower: "It's truly my honor that Young Master Jiang remembers me."
"How is it? Did you cry last time? Did Shen An, this fellow, comfort you~"
At Jiang Cheng's mention, Shen An immediately scoffed: "Cheng-ge, you're really toxic. If a big man like Xiao Chen cried in front of me, I think I'd puke~~"