Desire

Zhang Jingyi’s face... had completely recovered overnight!

Not only that, but her skin was impossibly smooth, so delicate it felt almost unreal. Her features had become even more refined, as if they had been meticulously re-sculpted by an invisible hand.

Yun Xian’s gaze was so intense that even Zhang Jingyi noticed.

She touched her face in confusion, feeling the smooth, delicate texture without a hint of discomfort. The next second, she bolted from the bed and rushed to the full-length mirror in the corner of the room.

When her eyes landed on her reflection, a shriek of ecstatic joy rang through the room.

She practically threw herself at the mirror, her trembling hands caressing her cheeks with a fanatical, almost pathological delight.

"Oh, God... it’s real... it’s really real..." Her fingertips traced her own contours slowly, as if verifying that this face, so exquisite it seemed surreal, truly belonged to her.

But it wasn't enough... it could be even more beautiful...

Her gaze drifted downward, settling on the jar of ointment on the nightstand.

She impatiently unscrewed the lid, scooped out the final remnants of the cream, and meticulously applied it to her face. Her movements were slow and devout, like a sacred ritual.

"A little more beautiful... just a little more..." she whispered, her voice laced with a near-manic obsession.

The reflection in the mirror whispered along with her, a strange, eerie smile tugging at the corners of its lips.

***

At the breakfast table, the atmosphere was heavy.

The three young men sat around the table, eating with varied expressions.

Zhang Jingyi descended the stairs with a slow, light gait, her posture elegant in a way that felt entirely unlike her usual self.

The young man was drinking milk when his gaze inadvertently swept over her face. His hand froze, his pupils dilating slightly. He opened his mouth, but no words came out; he simply stared at her, stunned.

Li Zhiqiang, however, was completely consumed by his food. He buried his head, shoveling food into his mouth with his chopsticks so quickly it was a blur. His chewing was relentless, the sound of his swallowing unusually sharp. His appetite was even greater than the day before, as if no amount of food could fill that internal abyss.

The old man merely lifted his gaze to look at Zhang Jingyi, a slight smile curling his lips, as if all of this were within his expectations.

The strangest reaction of all came from Song Ran.

His eyes held an undisguised aggression, filled with a calculating quality, as if he were appraising a perfect work of art or watching prey that was about to be claimed.

He twirled a silver fork casually between his fingers, his eyes drifting over Zhang Jingyi’s face as if contemplating something.

Zhang Jingyi clearly misinterpreted his intent.

A blush stained her cheeks, and she lowered her eyes, instinctively tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She suppressed a smile and sat down gently beside Song Ran.

She pretended to look away casually, stealing a glance at Song Ran before bowing her head to eat her breakfast in a slow, measured manner.

Song Ran narrowed his eyes slightly, a cryptic smile playing on his lips, but he said nothing.

The atmosphere at the table grew increasingly bizarre.

Yun Xian observed everyone’s expressions silently, her own eyes dark and unreadable.

After the meal, everyone dispersed.

Song Ran walked up the stairs with a steady pace, and Yun Xian followed slowly behind. She wasn't deliberately stalking him; she simply wanted to observe his movements.

When Song Ran reached his bedroom door, he reached for the handle but suddenly paused, as if sensing something, and glanced in Yun Xian’s direction.

He looked at her, his previously relaxed expression tightening in an instant, a flicker of wariness crossing his eyes.

Yun Xian kept her composure, stopping in her tracks and moving slightly closer as if by chance, her eyes scanning his door with feigned indifference.

"You stay in this room?" she asked, appearing nonchalant.

Song Ran’s hand remained on the doorknob. He turned his head to look at her, his smile distant. "Yes."

"Mind if I take a look inside?" Yun Xian asked, half-jokingly.

Song Ran’s fingers tightened imperceptibly before relaxing. He maintained a polite smile, his tone gentle but leaving no room for argument. "There’s nothing to see."

Yun Xian keenly noticed that Song Ran’s shoulders did not fully relax, and his gaze remained exceptionally sharp, as if he were guarding against something.

She didn't press the issue, shrugged lightly, and turned to leave.

But after walking a few steps, she deliberately slowed her pace and looked back. She saw Song Ran step into the room and immediately slam the door shut behind him with lightning speed—a crisp, decisive movement.

This abnormal alertness and defensiveness only confirmed Yun Xian's suspicion: he was hiding something.

At the end of the third-floor corridor, Yun Xian stared quietly at the closed door. She had observed it countless times, yet she still had no leads.

If she could only open that door... perhaps all the mysteries would be solved.

But the question remained: how could she achieve it?

Her gaze was deep, her thoughts chaotic, as she tried to piece together an answer from all the known clues.

"What are you doing?"

A low, raspy voice came from behind her. Yun Xian’s spine stiffened, but she quickly adjusted her breathing, regained her composure, and turned slowly.

The old man stood in the shadows of the corridor, his murky eyes half-closed, revealing an unfathomable intent.

He was still wearing that impeccably tailored suit, his pocket square perfectly placed. He stood with a composed air, as if everything were entirely under his control.

Yun Xian lifted the corners of her mouth slightly, her tone indifferent. "Just walking around."

The old man didn't respond immediately, instead studying her with those cloudy eyes, as if searching for a flaw in her expression.

Yun Xian looked up, meeting his gaze squarely.

A moment later, the old man chuckled softly and said blandly, "Be careful."

"Thanks for the reminder." She nodded slightly and turned to head downstairs.

As they brushed past each other, Yun Xian caught a glimpse of a dark, fleeting light in his eyes.

Just as she reached the bottom of the stairs, a soft laugh drifted into her ears.

She turned to look and saw Zhang Jingyi standing at the door of Song Ran’s room. They were standing very close, seemingly whispering to each other.

Zhang Jingyi giggled and gave Song Ran a light shove. Song Ran arched an eyebrow at her and said something teasing, causing Zhang Jingyi’s cheeks to flush as she stamped her foot in mock indignation.

Yun Xian frowned slightly.

When did they become so close?

She paused for a moment, looked away, and continued walking.

In the dining room, Li Zhiqiang was still seated at the table, head buried in his food, his chopsticks flying; his mouth had barely stopped moving.

Yun Xian stood at the doorway, her gaze sweeping over the table. She clearly remembered that the breakfast had been eaten clean, yet now, the table was once again laden with food.

She stared at the glistening, oily dishes, a wave of nausea rising in her throat.

***

Night fell, and dinner time soon arrived.

Everyone sat around the table, the atmosphere somewhat stifling.

The dim, yellow light reflected off everyone's faces, casting long shadows that blurred their expressions.

The old man scanned the group with a calm demeanor, then cleared his throat and announced, "I have an urgent matter to attend to and must go on a long trip. I won't be back until the day after tomorrow."