The day of the New Year celebration at Lune d'Or, Ji Yuxuan's restaurant, had finally arrived.
The French-inspired building stood gracefully along the main avenue, its façade illuminated by warm golden lights reflecting against tall black-framed windows. Above the entrance, the classic signboard gleamed softly, welcoming arriving guests with the distant swell of music and the intoxicating aroma of fine cuisine drifting from within. Everything unfolded exactly as planned, arranged down to the smallest detail, as though the entire evening had been orchestrated by the precise hand of a symphony conductor.
Invited guests arrived in steady waves, along with loyal patrons specially included in the celebration. Luxurious gowns and tailored suits filled the hall. Refined conversations blended seamlessly with the delicate clink of crystal glasses raised in elegant toasts. Prominent businessmen and influential figures gathered in polished clusters, their laughter light, their composure practiced.
A pale blush satin gown embraced Ji Yuxuan with almost silent softness. Its asymmetrical cut revealed the elegant line of her shoulders, while a grand bow at her waist sculpted a feminine silhouette that was both defined and graceful. The fabric caught the chandelier light in muted glimmers, radiating quiet sophistication. With every step, the gown moved fluidly, like gentle waves following the rhythm of the night.
Her luminous skin, minimal yet refined makeup, and naturally composed features made her the undisputed focal point of the evening. Without seeking attention, she commanded it. Eyes followed her not only for her beauty, but for the authority that rested effortlessly upon her.
Ji Yuxuan approached the table where her staff had gathered in animated conversation. They rose at once, backs straightening instinctively, expressions turning formal in her presence.
"Sit. Don't be so stiff," she said calmly, her tone steady yet approachable.
Lu Yichen resumed speaking enthusiastically, topics changing by the second as he gestured animatedly beside Mo Siyue. She laughed softly, attempting to keep pace with his restless storytelling.
Nearby, Qin Wanqing and Mo Yuxing studied their phones with serious expressions. The glow of the screens reflected in their focused eyes as they whispered quietly, brows furrowed as though discussing an important strategy.
Ji Yuxuan simply stood there, observing the four of them immersed in their own worlds. A faint smile touched her lips. There was a quiet pride in her gaze as she watched the team who had grown alongside the restaurant she had built from nothing.
"Where is Gu Jinhai?" she asked, scanning the grand hall filled with light and people.
Lu Yichen glanced toward the corner. "Over there, Boss."
Gu Jinhai stood among a group of businessmen, posture straight, suit immaculate, his expression professional yet relaxed.
Ji Yuxuan rose and made her way toward them, a glass in hand. Her heels clicked softly against the polished marble floor.
"Boss Ji, congratulations on your restaurant's success."
"Indeed. Only five months, and it's already become this famous. Truly impressive."
Their voices carried genuine admiration along with the acknowledgment of her achievement.
"Thank you," she replied, her smile measured and composed.
They exchanged light conversation about business growth, expansion plans, and potential collaborations. From time to time, Gu Jinhai subtly redirected the discussion to keep it from becoming too technical, ensuring she would not grow weary.
At that moment, the glass doors at the entrance opened.
A man stepped inside.
He was dressed simply. A dark gray jacket layered over a white shirt, loose black trousers falling casually, and classic black and white sneakers. His attire contrasted sharply with the evening's luxury, yet that contrast made him all the more noticeable.
Tall, broad-shouldered, he stood like a solitary tree rising above the surrounding crowd. His height surpassed most in the room, his stride long and unhurried. But it was not only his physique that drew attention. His face was strikingly handsome, though his expression carried a faint arrogance and a reluctance to smile.
"Yan Yan Ze Ze Yu! Yo! Which god resurrected you from the grave?"
A well-dressed friend looped an arm around him, teasing his name loudly enough to attract curious glances.
Yan Zeyu.
He barely reacted. He shot Xiao Haoyu a brief look before grabbing a drink from a passing tray and downing it swiftly, as though attempting to steady a heartbeat that had begun to misbehave.
"Hey, I've got something to tell you. Guess who I ran into earlier? I met…"
Xiao Haoyu's voice gradually faded from Yan Zeyu's awareness.
The world dimmed, as though the lights had been lowered.
His gaze had locked onto a single figure across the room.
The woman he had missed for years.
His hearing dulled. The noise around him blurred into nothing.
Ji Yuxuan stood beneath the chandelier light, her silhouette wrapped in soft radiance.
She was even more beautiful than before.
Beautiful.
Exquisite.
Radiant beyond reason.
More breathtaking than any goddess ever captured in paint.
Noticing that Yan Zeyu was no longer listening, Xiao Haoyu shook him.
"Hey. Are you even hearing me?"
There was no response.
Yan Zeyu remained frozen, staring at Ji Yuxuan as though afraid she might vanish if he blinked.
Suddenly, his vision darkened at the edges. The chandelier lights fractured into spinning blurs. His breath grew heavy. The floor seemed to tilt.
Before he could collapse fully, Xiao Haoyu caught him.
"Hey. Brother. Damn it. Why did this brick wall suddenly faint?"
A small crowd quickly gathered. Curious whispers filled the air. Some guests stepped back to make space. Others stared in concern as Yan Zeyu lay unconscious in the middle of what was meant to be a joyful celebration.
Just as Ji Yuxuan began to turn toward the commotion, Gu Jinhai called her name. His voice was firm enough to halt her movement.
She paused.
Then she turned toward him instead, walking away from the disturbance.
Unaware that, in another corner of the glittering hall, her past had just collapsed for the second time that night.
The moment he regained consciousness, Yan Zeyu shot upright, shock blazing across his face. His body lifted almost reflexively from the plush lounge sofa, breath ragged as though he had just been pulled back from the edge of some dark abyss. The abrupt movement startled those around him; a few even stepped back instinctively.
The wall lamps cast a soft amber glow, illuminating his still-pale features. His black hair was slightly disheveled, but the sharp wideness of his eyes made him look almost theatrical.
"He's awake. Thank you for your help," Xiao Haoyu said quickly, nodding to Mo Yuxing and Lu Yichen, who had struggled to carry Yan Zeyu into the lounge earlier.
The two men confirmed that he was conscious before returning to the banquet hall, where laughter and music drifted faintly through the closed doors.
When Xiao Haoyu turned back, he frowned.
Yan Zeyu's expression had grown even more ridiculous.
His eyes were stretched wide, as if he had just witnessed something monumental, like a revelation descending from the heavens.
"Oi. Did you see a ghost? Or… your mother?"
"Actually, both are equally terrifying," Xiao Haoyu added dramatically, waving a hand in front of his friend's face to ensure he had truly returned to reality.
"I saw her…" Yan Zeyu murmured, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his own heart.
"What? Who? Did you really see a ghost or your mother?"
"I saw Ji Yuxuan," Yan Zeyu said quietly, staring at the floor, his jaw tightening.
In truth, his entire mind was consumed by the image of her. The pale blush gown. The elegant line of her shoulders. The faint curve of her smile. The scene replayed in relentless loops, as if etched into his vision.
Xiao Haoyu snorted and smacked his shoulder. "So you finally saw her. Well? She's even more beautiful now, isn't she?" He waggled his brows mischievously.
Yan Zeyu shot him a sharp look. "You knew she was here?"
"I just ran into her earlier. Turns out she's the owner of this restaurant," Xiao Haoyu replied casually, as though it were trivial information.
"Hey, I told you that before you fainted. You didn't listen to a single word I said, you idiot," he added irritably.
Yan Zeyu ignored him again. He sank back onto the sofa and stared at his reflection in the mirror across the room. He looked far too casual for a night that suddenly felt monumental.
"Damn it. If I had known I would see her, I would have dressed better," he muttered, fingers adjusting the collar of his gray jacket, which now felt entirely wrong.
He regretted wearing something so simple. He had assumed Xiao Haoyu was dragging him to an ordinary dinner. Who would have thought it was a grand event, and that Ji Yuxuan would be there?
How was he supposed to stand before her looking like this?
He needed to look impeccable. Commanding. Unforgettable.
Without another word, Yan Zeyu tossed a black card onto the small table between them. It landed with a soft but deliberate sound.
Xiao Haoyu stared at it in confusion. "What now? Trying to bribe me again?"
"Hah. Do I look like some bankrupt young master who needs your money?" Xiao Haoyu shot back, flicking the card toward him with two fingers.
Damn.
Yan Zeyu had momentarily forgotten that Xiao Haoyu was absurdly wealthy himself. He clicked his tongue and calmly slipped the card back into his wallet. Then he looked at Xiao Haoyu, who now regarded him with narrowed eyes.
"Brother. Tell me. What do you want?" Xiao Haoyu crossed his arms over his chest, standing like a judge awaiting a confession.
Yan Zeyu leaned back in his chair and mirrored the gesture, confidence slowly returning to his posture.
"I want the suit you bought this afternoon. I'll pay you triple."
"What? You're not joking, right? You already look fine," Xiao Haoyu protested, genuinely baffled.
"I am extremely handsome," Yan Zeyu said with absolute seriousness. "But to complete my perfection, I require something more dazzling."
Xiao Haoyu stared at him, speechless. His mouth opened, but no words came out.
Once again, he found himself confronting the monumental arrogance of this human brick wall, wondering how one man could possess self-esteem as thick as reinforced concrete and still genuinely believe the world revolved around him.