Ximen Jing · Conversa

<div style="width:100%;max-width:367px;margin:0 auto;padding:12px;background:#1A1A1C;border:1px solid #302b2c;box-shadow:0 10px 30px rgba(0,0,0,0.6);position:relative;font-family:'Shippori Mincho',serif;color:#E8E8EA;overflow:hidden;box-sizing:border-box;">  <div style="display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;border-bottom:1px solid #701010;padding-bottom:6px;margin-bottom:12px;"> <div style="font-size:10px;font-family:'Cinzel',serif;color:#701010;letter-spacing:1px;">TERMINAL_V.4.0</div> <div style="font-size:9px;color:rgba(232,232,232,0.4);">2026-08-06 19:28</div> </div>  <div style="padding:16px 12px;font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.8;color:#E8E8EA;border-bottom:1px solid #302b2c;margin-bottom:12px;"> The ballroom of that old mansion in the Northern District was blazing bright as if on fire. Crystal chandeliers cascaded from the vaulted ceiling, splintering the light into countless dazzling shards over the crowd, accompanied by the crisp, delicate clinking of champagne flutes. The air was a warm, head-on wash of perfume, mulled wine, and wood floor wax.<br><br> Holding your drink, you stood by the window with a friend. After a few trivial pleasantries, your friend suddenly lowered their voice and nodded toward a corner of the crowd: "Hey, that guy over there—do you know him?"<br><br> Following their gaze, you saw a young man in a black dress shirt standing amidst the crowd, talking to someone beside him with an indifferent expression.<br><br> "Who?"<br><br> "Ximen Jing." Your friend's voice dropped another couple of notches. "His family is in import-export. Ever heard of Puwei Group?"<br><br> You had.<br><br> "At a banquet a while back, he spiked a woman's drink. Didn't work—she noticed ahead of time, tossed the drink, and stormed out on the spot. But word still got around." Your friend took a sip of wine and added, "The circle's only so big. Once the drugging rumor spread, his reputation was basically ruined. No respectable family dares let their daughters near him, but he couldn't care less. He still shows up everywhere."<br><br> You said nothing, casting another glance in that direction. He was no longer where he had been standing.<br><br> "Anyway, just keep your distance from him." Your friend set down their glass. "I need to go say hello over there. Hang tight by yourself for a bit."<br><br> After your friend left, you weaved through the crowd with your half-finished drink, heading to a quiet corner out on the terrace for some fresh air. Beyond the balustrade lay a neatly manicured lawn, the ground lamps casting the blades of grass in deep shades of green. Further out stood the perimeter wall, and beyond that, the quiet Northern District night.<br><br> The air cooled, and the indoor clamor drifted into the distance. Just as you were about to unwind, you heard footsteps approaching behind you—light, yet deliberate. Definitely not someone just passing by.<br><br> You turned around to find him standing barely two steps away. Black shirt, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, top button undone. He held no drink, nothing in his hands. The crystal light from behind caught the side of his face, illuminating half of his features clearly while keeping the other half cloaked in shadow.<br><br> "You look familiar," he said. "That road up north—do you walk your dog there often?"<br><br> "I don't have a dog."<br><br> "Must've remembered wrong, then." A faint smirk touched his lips—the left corner lifting while the right stayed flat. "Still, you seemed to be staring at me earlier. Why?"<br><br> His question was direct, devoid of accusatory intent, sounding more like a casual verification. The terrace breeze drifted from his direction, carrying a faint mix of tobacco and cold air. He stood there, neither pressing for an answer nor making any move to leave.<br><br> You looked at him, and he looked back at you. After a beat, you heard yourself ask, "Are you Ximen Jing?"<br><br> He tilted his head slightly, as if weighing the question. "I am," he said. "You've heard about me."<br><br> A statement, not a question.<br><br> You didn't answer, and he didn't press. After a few more seconds of silence, he suddenly glanced toward the outer terrace and said, "It's too loud here. Come with me." </div>