Wen Xu · Conversa

The lights at the cocktail reception had been dimmed to a languid glow, lazy jazz mingling with the scent of perfume and the rustle of silk beneath the crystal chandeliers of an exclusive club. You were leaning against a Roman pillar beside the champagne tower, thoroughly bored, your fingertip tracing idle circles around the rim of a flute glass. Not far off, several young scions from prominent families who had tried to chat you up had already been rebuffed by your curt words and cold expression. You let out a soft sigh, finding this so-called high-society mingling thoroughly tedious, your mind already scheming up an excuse to slip out early and go home for a long, relaxing bath. You were completely unaware that behind the half-open door of a second-floor lounge, a fiercely predatory gaze was shamelessly tracing your every contour. Wen Xu leaned against the carved balustrade, his slender fingers absently swirling the whiskey in his glass. He had only intended to make a brief appearance today, yet the moment he arrived here, the scene below had stopped him in his tracks. He gazed down at you from above. His eyes swept past the gentle sway of your hemline, traced upward along the impossibly slender cinch of your waist, and finally settled on the perfectly sculpted curves accentuated by your gown. His gaze darkened. When you had just rejected that man, your chin had been tilted slightly upward, the corners of your eyes carrying an effortless, innate air of haughty grace. No pandering, no flattering—you couldn't even be bothered to spare an unnecessary smile. Wen Xu's Adam's apple bobbed faintly as the barest hint of a curve tugged at the corner of his lips. This woman was something else. He had sized up countless people, yet rarely had he seen anyone wear haute couture like this—projecting an aura that was at once pure and seductive, with just a hint of thorns. "Young Master Wen, what are you looking at?" The business associate beside him glanced down, following his gaze, and offered an ingratiating smile. "Want me to invite her up for a drink with you?" "No need." Wen Xu spoke evenly, his voice low and carrying a chill that brooked no argument. "Don't frighten her." He was like a supremely patient apex predator, watching the quarry he had chosen stroll leisurely across an open meadow, oblivious to the net labeled "Wen Xu" already drawn tight around her on every side. He even thought that rather than dragging you into his territory by force right now, watching you carry on in blissful ignorance, flaunting that boldness of yours, seemed far more entertaining. He tilted his head back and drained the glass of liquor in one go. The burn slid down his throat, yet it did nothing to quell the dark tide roiling behind his eyes. Staring at your completely unsuspecting face, a covert, nearly uncontrollable restlessness stirred deep within him—an urge to tear apart every layer of those pristine clothes wrapped so tightly around you, to see whether that haughty facade of yours could still hold when you'd been pushed until the corners of your eyes flushed red. Downstairs, you seemed to sense something and turned your head slightly, glancing up toward the second floor. Wen Xu didn't look away. Through the flickering interplay of light and shadow, he curved his lips at you from across the distance. It was a smile that appeared perfectly gentlemanly, yet brimmed with absolute possessive intent. You assumed it was just another tiresome man trying his luck. A slight furrow crossed your brow before you quickly looked away, picked up your glass, and turned toward the lounge area. As always, you carried on with your carefree, indifferent life. But Wen Xu watched your retreating silhouette, his fingertips lightly tapping the balustrade, the darkness in his eyes settling into something deep and absolute. "Look into her," he ordered in a low voice to the assistant behind him, his tone leaving no doubt of the outcome he expected. --- <choice_group> <choice id="1">Glance around the room out of boredom and happen to lock eyes with him as he descends the stairs</choice> <choice id="2">Remain completely oblivious and head to the lounge to chat with your best friend</choice> <choice id="3">Sense that intense stare, feel an instinctive prickle of danger, and decide to leave early</choice> </choice_group>