“Hello, sir, may I ask what you would like to order?” A uniformed male waiter, standing within the neon-lit room, politely addressed Luo Tianchen, who was seated on a sofa.
Luo Tianchen casually replied, “I’ll have a fruit… no, a Rainbow Bar.” He feigned a nonchalant glance around the venue’s interior.
‘To think I actually got in like this…’
An hour earlier, the burly man who had led them here bowed before a manager-like figure before returning to the slums. Luo Tianchen and Bingying were then scrutinized by a man holding a guest list.
‘Honestly, I hadn’t anticipated a name check,’ Luo Tianchen thought, already debating whether to flee or simply rush into the club and hide. Unexpectedly, the man nodded. “So, you are Mr. Wu and Miss Xu? You are the last guests to arrive. Please, follow me.”
Luo Tianchen and Bingying exchanged bewildered glances, utterly confused by the turn of events.
‘It seems we’ve inexplicably taken someone else’s place,’ Luo Tianchen mused, ‘but who cares?’ They exchanged a look, nodded, and hand-in-hand, walked into the venue.
“Ah, one moment, please.” The Manager raised a hand, blocking their path. Seemingly discerning their confusion, he patiently explained, “This is your first time attending Mr. Wei’s banquet, isn’t it? To add a touch of novelty, all arriving couples are required to temporarily separate for makeup and costume changes.”
“Furthermore, for confidentiality, your electronic devices will be held by us and returned at the end of the event.”
‘Oh dear, it seems we’ve stumbled into quite the extraordinary place.’
Bingying gazed at Luo Tianchen with a hint of unease, her grip on his hand tightening.
“It’s alright,” Luo Tianchen whispered, reassuring her. “I’ll find you.”
After handing over their phones, two female waitresses led them separately to the men’s and women’s changing rooms. It was both surprising and expected: the changing rooms featured rows upon rows of clothing racks, laden with high-end formal wear provided by the host, while professional makeup artists stood by, ready.
The moment Luo Tianchen entered, the accompanying staff swarmed him, holding up various outfits against his body. A makeup artist began dabbing foundation haphazardly on his face. Unfamiliar with the protocol, he simply endured it in silence.
Approximately thirty minutes later, when he opened his eyes, the person staring back from the mirror was utterly transformed.
‘…Who is this handsome stranger?’
While his sister and parents clearly possessed good genes, and he typically paid little attention to his appearance, this level of transformation was simply outrageous. It was as if a random passerby had suddenly turned into a movie star. Indeed, makeup truly deserved its reputation as one of the world’s three great evil arts.
“Here, we also have several masks for you to choose from. Please select one you like.”
‘So, makeup and new clothes aren’t enough; I need a mask too?’ Luo Tianchen mused. ‘This makes finding Bingying and Yao Xinchang even less likely.’
After a moment’s thought, he reached for one of the masks.
“This one… are you certain you wish to choose this, sir?” the staff member asked, a peculiar expression on their face.
“I quite like it, is there a problem?” Luo Tianchen casually toyed with the mask in his hand before putting it on.
“No, not at all. Please, suit yourself…”
The recollection ended.
****
Afterward, Luo Tianchen remained seated alone on the sofa. No one approached him for conversation, and he was perfectly content to entertain himself. He raised his glass, sampling every type of cocktail available.
These were truly high-end spirits, found only in such exclusive venues, their taste vastly superior to anything outside. Given his sister’s strict oversight regarding alcohol, it was a rare and delightful surprise for him to indulge even once.
‘What? You say I’m underage? Oh, come on, only a fool would care about that here. In a place like this, you have to at least pretend to drink.’
After about half an hour of observation, Luo Tianchen had gathered some clues. First, the gathering was hosted by Wei Feihong, President of the Weilong Gang, who had invited various people in power or their children. This wasn’t the first time such a party had been held.
Guests were required to bring their partners to gain entry, and then they were separated for makeup, costume changes, and mask-wearing. Luo Tianchen admitted he had a sneaking suspicion about the true nature of this event.
‘But what in the world is the Weilong Gang? Do they sell spicy strips? Can selling spicy strips really be *that* profitable?’
Just as Luo Tianchen finished his thirteenth glass of ‘Scorpion,’ a specially concocted cocktail, a Seductive Woman in a cheongsam sauntered through the crowd and settled beside him. Her body naturally leaned into his. “Oh, little brother, you seem quite lonely. Does big sister need to keep you company?”
“Is there something you need?” Luo Tianchen turned his head. The woman, who was wearing a cat-faced mask, paused for a moment, then burst into laughter.
“Haha… I never expected anyone would actually wear *that* mask… Pffft, ha ha!” The woman seemed unable to contain herself, laughing heartily and stamping her foot.
“I like it, is there a problem?” Luo Tianchen adjusted the Ultraman Egg mask on his face to the most comfortable position, speaking with a cool indifference.
This was, of course, no mere two-yuan child’s mask from a street stall. It was a high-end Ultraman Egg mask, crafted from advanced composite materials, perfectly molded to the human face for maximum comfort, and designed not to impede eating.
“Haha… suit yourself, then… Well, who knows, maybe it’ll bring you good luck.” The woman, realizing her impropriety, pulled out a tissue and gently dabbed the corner of her mouth.
“Hm? What do you mean?” Luo Tianchen caught the hidden implication in her words.
“Little brother, this is your first time here, isn’t it?”
“What if it is?”
“Because most people don’t arrive this late. Those who are familiar with it know that the earlier you come, the greater your advantage in the game.”
“Game?”
“Indeed. A thrilling game where you can indulge your desires.” The woman’s body drew even closer, her alcohol-tinged breath brushing against his neck. Her left hand provocatively stroked his thigh. “So, little brother, would you like big sister to teach you how to play?”
“My apologies, but I’m not particularly fond of people taller than me,” Luo Tianchen said indifferently, raising his glass. “And a high school girl shouldn’t try to act like an adult.”
“Waiter, another Bloody Mary, please.”
“You!” The woman was visibly startled. She lowered her voice, demanding, “How did you know?”
“Scent.” Luo Tianchen pointed to his nose. “Women of different ages emit different scents.”
“Scent? Are you saying that in a place reeking of alcohol and decadence, you can actually smell something specific?” The woman was clearly unconvinced.
“Well, alright, I admit I was teasing you,” Luo Tianchen shrugged. “The correct method is to calculate your weight from the pressure when you leaned against me, then combine that with your estimated height and build to deduce your bone density, which helps determine age. Oh, and just a friendly tip, at your age, it’s best not to wear fake breasts; it could hinder your natural development.”
“You!” The woman—no, the young woman—was startled, springing away from Luo Tianchen as if released from a coiled spring. After glaring at him fiercely for a few moments, a sudden smile bloomed on her face. “It seems I wasn’t mistaken after all. You really are an interesting person.”
“So, will you tell me about this ‘game’ now?” Luo Tianchen gently swirled the wine in his glass, observing the crowd through the clear liquid. Amidst the vibrant lights, some laughed, some sang, some danced. Even the legendary revelries of Babylon could hardly compare.
“Of course… it’s a chance to choose a partner.”