Chapter 1: The Prey  

As Shen Simo stretched out on the floor, her mind kept drifting back to the person she had just encountered on the street.  

He sat weakly in a wheelchair, anxiously struggling to free the wheels stuck between two curb stones. A layer of fine sweat had even broken out on his forehead.  

The more he panicked, the more stuck he became, drawing the attention of passersby—yet no one stepped forward to help him.  

As if compelled by some unseen force, Shen Simo walked up behind him, gently pressed down on the handles, and lifted the man smoothly onto the sidewalk. Glancing at his grateful and expectant gaze, she casually remarked, “This stretch of road isn’t very even. Take it slow when going down steps. Be careful.”  

In a hurry to get home and relax her muscles, she left before the man could even thank her.  

The man was undeniably handsome—fair-skinned, with smiling upturned eyes and a pair of pitifully downturned brows that made people instinctively want to care for him. But his washed-out collar had turned wavy, and faint stains dotted the hem of his short sleeves, making it impossible to spare him another glance.  

No money, leg problems, and probably impotent too—what was the point of just a pretty face? If even one of those flaws had been missing, she might have found an excuse to exchange contact information, get to know him, maybe even befriend him.  

The sound of the keypad unlocking at the front door snapped Shen Simo out of her thoughts. She looked up to see her roommate, Li Xue, arriving home.  

“How did the audition go?” Li Xue asked.  

“I got it.”  

“To celebrate your new job, let’s hit the bar tonight—my treat.”  

“Can’t. I’ve got a stream at eight.”  

“How much can a no-cam voice chat streamer even make? Tonight’s a whale stream.” Li Xue walked over and loomed above her, holding up five fingers. “Even the poorest one there has a net worth of fifty million. Your ex gave you two hundred grand—just get another two, and you can retire comfortably.”  

“How did gaming streaming turn into *this* in your mouth?” Shen Simo pursed her lips, too lazy to argue, then curled them into a mocking smirk. “Besides, the poorest ones there would still be us. And even if he’s rich, that doesn’t mean he’ll spend it on me.”  

“But I already promised I’d bring a top model. If I back out now, how am I supposed to keep my reputation?” Li Xue crouched down, gripping her shoulders with an almost pleading look. “Simo, just do me this favor, please? Pretty please?”  

With a long sigh, Shen Simo knew she couldn’t win against this woman. Reluctantly, she gave in.  

She had zero interest in the gathering, so she set out in a T-shirt and baggy shorts while her roommate strutted in a tight, sultry dress.  

The bar, booked out for the night, buzzed with noise as men and women mingled. Li Xue considerately smoothed out Shen Simo’s messy strands before linking arms with her and steering her toward the center of the crowd.  

After all, Shen Simo was a print model—her face and figure were beyond reproach. Even in the plainest casual wear, she still drew plenty of attention.  

She scrutinized the lecherous older men, then mimicked their gaze as she scanned the bar. In a dimly lit corner by the counter, a familiar wheelchair—and the familiar man in it—caught her eye.

The man she had encountered in the afternoon was sitting alone at the bar, his face devoid of any expression. He quietly fiddled with a napkin on the table, his slender fingers deftly weaving through its folds. In the next moment, a white rose appeared in his palm, only for him to coldly crumple it into a ball and toss it into the trash bin.

His aura was truly unique, and Shen Simo found herself inadvertently drawn to him.

He looked up, meeting Shen Simo’s intense gaze. A faint smile finally broke through his indifferent expression, and the two nodded at each other across the crowd, sharing a silent smile.

If what Li Xue had said was true… fifty million… She suddenly felt a keen interest in this man. Perhaps he could become one of the stepping stones on her path to becoming a great model.

After briefly dismissing the people surrounding her, Shen Simo strode straight toward the bar.

Li Xue never expected Shen Simo to immediately set her sights on the wealthiest and most unapproachable man in the place. She tried to pull Shen Simo back but was deftly dodged, leaving her no choice but to whisper a warning, “Simo, don’t go! He doesn’t like being—”

Before she could finish, Shen Simo had already taken a seat beside him. The two sat side by side at the bar as she greeted him with a smile. “What a coincidence, running into you again here.”

He gazed at her with a smile, nodding slowly. “I didn’t get the chance to thank you this afternoon before you left. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have known what to do.”

His voice was as smooth as jade, unhurried and gentle. Combined with his gaunt cheeks and almost frail physique, it made one instinctively want to draw closer—even to protect him.

“No need to thank me, it was nothing. Did you have a smooth trip back? That stretch of road is full of loose gravel.”

“Very smooth. I followed your advice and was extra careful to avoid the uneven pavement.”

“That’s good.” Shen Simo glanced at the half-finished martini by his hand. “I’m Shen Simo, a print model. You can call me Simo.”

Lu Huaichuan’s narrow eyes swept over her outfit before he signaled the bartender. “A glass of hot milk, please. I’m Lu Huaichuan, working in the arts.”

Arts-related…

Shen Simo immediately pulled out her phone and showed him the ticket she had bought for a charity art exhibition the day before.

In a city like Shanghai, it was tough for an unsigned, unknown print model like her to survive. She had to seize every opportunity to find work, and someone like Lu Huaichuan, involved in the arts, might just be able to help. She couldn’t afford to miss such a connection.

“I love visiting art exhibitions in my free time. Being in the fashion industry, you need a keen sense for art.”

Lu Huaichuan leaned slightly toward her, tilting his head past her phone screen to meet her eyes. “This painter… I know him quite well. I could introduce you sometime… We—”

Near the dance floor, the pounding beat of a DJ track suddenly erupted. The strobe lights shifted colors in sync with the rhythm, instantly filling the space with an ambiguous atmosphere. Cheers and whistles rose in waves.

Midnight had arrived.

Shen Simo didn’t catch Lu Huaichuan’s last words, only seeing his moist lips part and close again. Then, he looked at her with the same expectant gaze he had given her that afternoon.

She frowned, just about to open her mouth to ask. The man unexpectedly crooked his finger at her, signaling her to come closer. Shen Simo tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and, without a second thought, leaned in, turning her ear toward Lu Huaichuan.

In an instant, a fresh scent of soap drifted into her nostrils. Before she could react, warm breath brushed against the edge of her ear, followed by that gentle voice and an unexpected proposal that brought Shen Simo to the brink of surrender—almost tipping her over the edge.  

With a playful lilt, he said that next time there was an exhibition she wanted to visit, they could go together.  

The restless hormones between them tightened Shen Simo’s throat, rendering her unable to utter a single syllable. Yet, she calmly turned her face slightly, curling her lips into a knowing smile as she met his eyes.  

The man straightened up in satisfaction, sitting properly in his wheelchair, then gestured with his chin toward her back. “Your friend’s here. You should head back and rest early.”  

No sooner had he spoken than Li Xue, thoroughly drunk, slumped onto her shoulder. Strangely, Shen Simo didn’t catch even a whiff of alcohol. She had no choice but to stand and prop up the woman who was still slurring about not being drunk.  

Lu Huaichuan picked up her phone from the bar counter, lightly tapping it against his. A friend request notification popped up on her screen. “See you next time.”  

“Sorry, we’ll be going now.”  

Supporting Li Xue, Shen Simo made an awkward exit toward the bar’s entrance, secretly savoring the lingering warmth of Lu Huaichuan’s fingertips. That fleeting chill imprinted on her skin had already taken root in her heart like a seed of recklessness.  

“Simo, don’t say I didn’t warn you… He’s surrounded by women, and none who get close to Lu Huaichuan end up well… *Hurk*… Without exception…”