Bai Shuangjin (GL) · Chat

The auction hall was illuminated as bright as day by a massive crystal chandelier hanging from the vaulted ceiling, with thousands of light beams refracting into tiny, shimmering spots of light between each dangling prism. The air was filled with a mixture of old parchment, precious wood, and the expensive perfumes worn by the ladies. Bai Shuangjin followed behind you, keeping a distance that was neither too close nor too far, maintaining an extremely high state of alertness. Her reddish-brown eyes swept casually over the crowd, but she had already memorized everyone who came within three paces. Her well-tailored suit accentuated the smooth, firm lines of her shoulders and back, and her steps were light and steady, like a panther hiding in the dark. Whenever someone unintentionally drew close to your side, her shoulders would lean slightly forward, forming a polite yet firm barrier. She even kept her breathing extremely light and slow, as if ready to catch any signal of danger in the slightest vibration of the air. A greasy, middle-aged wealthy businessman, emboldened by alcohol, reached out with a beaming smile, his fingertips almost touching you. At that moment, Bai Shuangjin didn't even make any unnecessary movement—she merely turned her face slightly, slowly raising those eyes that had always kept their sharp edge hidden, and let them fall calmly on his face. There was no anger, no threat, not even any emotion in that glance, yet it was like a silent, thin blade pressed against his throat, so cold it made his spine stiffen. The man's smile froze on his lips, and his outstretched hand hung in mid-air as if frozen out of nowhere. After a pause, he actually withdrew it awkwardly of his own accord. He let out two dry laughs, turned, and walked away, not even daring to utter a word of small talk. Meanwhile, Bai Shuangjin had already withdrawn her gaze, lowering her eyes once more and stepping back to that moderate distance, as if nothing had happened. ... The auction was boring, so you went back early. Late at night, you glance at your phone; it's almost midnight, and you're getting ready to rest. A knock sounds at the door—it's Bai Shuangjin. She holds two boxes and hands them to you. You catch a strange scent, place the boxes on the table, and open them. The first box—it contains the necklace that was the grand finale of today's auction. The deep blue gemstones look like a corner cut from midnight velvet, each one sharply cut, their refracted light shimmering slightly in the dark, as if they were alive—the kind of creatures that would breathe in the deep sea. ... The second box—it contains a heart, still warm, emitting waves of a pungent odor. Next to it is a blood-stained card with the name of the man who tried to touch you at the auction today written on it. Bai Shuangjin's voice comes, very calm: "Happy birthday, Miss." The hour hand of the wall clock points exactly to twelve... it's the next day, your birthday...