Emory laughed. “Mr. Xie, have you never been to a place like this before?”
As he walked through the resplendent corridor, he picked up a slender flute of champagne from a tray held by a waiting attendant and gently placed it in Xun Jia’s hand. Considerately, he said, “This establishment has top-tier security measures. Everyone who comes here is someone of status and standing—no one of unclear origins can sneak in. No need to worry.”
Xun Jia took the champagne and took a small sip. What’s with this taste? A Coke would be way more refreshing.
“What are we playing?”
He racked his brain for a while before squeezing out three words that fit his current persona.
Emory winked his gray-blue eyes at him. “I was afraid Mr. Xie might not be used to it, so tonight we’re keeping things light—just some drinks and chatting.”
That didn’t sound too hard.
Xun Jia fiddled with the Light Brain on his wrist, occasionally opening it as if he still had some unfinished business. In reality, he was remotely communicating with Xie Jianxun.
Xun Jia: Aaaah! Fuck! Drinking! Chatting!
Xie Jianxun: Don’t panic. Stay steady.
Xun Jia: How am I supposed to stay steady?! I’ve never had a drop of alcohol from the day I was born!
Xie Jianxun: Hurry up and make up an excuse to brush them off. If you get drunk and spill everything, you’ll wake up tomorrow in a jail cell.
Xun Jia: ……
He exclaimed in shock, “You’re so right…… I won’t touch a single drop from now on!”
Xie Jianxun encouraged him. “Be bold! Be assertive! Think about it—you’re a prince right now. How can you get by without a bit of temper?”
Xun Jia was torn between laughter and tears. What prince? I’m just a con artist.
He turned off the light screen and placed the champagne back on the attendant’s tray.
Emory glanced back and noticed his action, somewhat surprised. “Is there something wrong with the champagne?”
What could be wrong with it? The problem’s with me…… Xun Jia shook his head, turned his face away, and said in a tone of distaste, “I don’t like the taste.”
Emory apologized. “That was my oversight. There’s a dedicated bartender in the private room later. Mr. Xie, just tell him whatever flavor you prefer.”
Xun Jia nearly blurted out: Can your bartender make me a Coke?
By the time he spoke, they had arrived at the private room.
Emory walked ahead, stepping a bit faster to push open the door. With a smile, he said, “Mr. Xie, right this way.”
Xun Jia shot him a glance that seemed calm but was actually filled with trepidation, then brushed past him and slowly entered the room.
The floor gleamed spotlessly, the decor was exquisite, and leather sofas circled a small tea table. Behind the bar cabinet stood the dedicated bartender, shaking a metal cocktail shaker where liquid clinked against ice cubes, producing a faint sound.
The lighting wasn’t overly bright, perfectly leaving half-shadowed privacy for the guests.
Several people were already seated on the sofas, scattered around the tea table, chatting idly.
When Xun Jia first entered, the bar cabinet blocked his view, so he could only see that area.
The dark gray shell caught his eye. The “dedicated bartender” behind the cabinet shook the shaker with precise, nimble movements and quickly prepared a cocktail.
Then, it gripped the long stem of the glass with its fingers, extended its arm without a sound, and placed the glass on the tea table.
Xun Jia paused. He hadn’t expected the bartender to be a machine, not a person.
Hearing their footsteps, the people on the sofas turned their heads, though their postures didn’t change much—as if they weren’t particularly interested in the newcomers.
Upon seeing the unfamiliar Xun Jia, someone raised an eyebrow.
Then, spotting Emory behind him, they seemed to realize something, recalling what Emory had mentioned before, and stood up respectfully.
As the mutual acquaintance, Emory smoothly introduced them. “These gentlemen are the sons of White Sentinel Conglomerate directors—prominent figures around here.”
“And this is the East Border Lord’s third son, Mr. Xie Jia.”
Someone immediately extended a hand to shake Xun Jia’s, laughing. “I’ve only dealt with guests on the City Lord’s level. I never thought I’d get to meet a noble lord’s son in person today.”
Xun Jia numbly shook his hand.
He had never imagined that “going out to play” meant meeting a bunch of White Sentinel princelings!
Each one of them eyed him closely. If he made the slightest slip-up, it would probably be magnified a thousandfold!
His hairs stood on end, but he kept his expression perfectly composed. After the handshake, he withdrew his hand and nodded. “Hello.”
……Jianxun! Save me!
That bastard Emory—what the hell is he up to? Can I still turn around and leave right now?!
He didn’t dare let his eyes wander. Propping up his demeanor, he shook hands with each of them one by one.
Xie Jianxun’s words echoed in his mind, lingering endlessly.
“Be confident and bold. They have no proof of your identity. Do whatever feels natural—the more authentic, the better!”
Yes, that was it. As long as it was authentic enough—nine parts real, one part fake—they wouldn’t spot the phony bit.
Xun Jia took a deep breath and walked to the bar cabinet.
The Bartender Mech swiftly turned around, tilting its narrow head slightly toward him. “Honored guest, what would you like?”
Xun Jia said bluntly, “Get me a Coke.”
By the time he carried the Coke to the tea table, someone had already cleared a spot on the sofa for him, watching him with curious gazes.
Someone remarked, “I never expected a lord’s son to like such a simple, everyday drink. Quite the unique taste.”
Xun Jia replied coolly, “I’ve liked sweet things since I was little. Nothing to laugh at.”
He scanned the room, committing their faces to memory, until his gaze lingered on the sofa opposite.
Another person sat there, in a dark gray suit that blended into the dimly lit room. But he wore a dark red tie, his hands folded neatly on his lap.
Xun Jia looked at him twice because the man seemed somewhat familiar.
Noticing his attention, Emory placed a hand on the backrest of his sofa and considerately introduced, “This is the eldest son of Surging Group’s chairman, Mr. Beaufort.”
Xun Jia was certain—he had definitely seen this man before!
He was just too familiar: that nose, those eyes…… It wasn’t that he was strikingly handsome or anything, but there was this inexplicably strong sense of recognition.
A déjà vu feeling that spelled trouble if they crossed paths……
Xun Jia thought.
Beaufort responded lightly, hands still crossed. “Mr. Xie.”
Xun Jia subconsciously echoed, “I feel like I’ve seen Mr. Beaufort somewhere before.”
Emory shrugged it off casually. “Mr. Beaufort has been managing the family business for a while now. Mr. Xie might have seen his photo on Star Net.”
No, impossible.
He hadn’t used Star Net much lately and clearly remembered not browsing any corporate executives’ photos. Damn it, where had he seen him……
Fortunately, the subsequent conversation was relaxed and leisurely, nothing Xun Jia couldn’t follow.
Perhaps out of consideration for his newcomer status, the young masters avoided deep topics, instead discussing suitable investments in Silver Watchtower’s golf courses and stables, then sharing amusing stories about raising horses themselves.
Clearly, no one intended to discuss distasteful business at such a private gathering.
Xun Jia listened while tapping away on his Light Brain.
Xun Jia: Luckily they’re not talking about anything I wouldn’t understand, or I’d be stuck on the spot.
Xie Jianxun: What about Emory?
Xun Jia sneaked a glance in another direction. Unlike them, Emory hadn’t sat on the sofa. Instead, he’d gone to the bar cabinet, waiting for the Bartender Mech to mix him a drink. His posture was relaxed and at ease, as if he knew the rules of this little circle intimately.
Xun Jia: No movement for now.
“……Mr. Xie? Mr. Xie?”
Xun Jia snapped back to attention and looked up. The group opposite was all staring at him, waiting for him to chime in.
His palms grew slightly sweaty. He quickly recalled what he’d just heard. “You’re talking about the East Territory?”
“Yeah, yeah! Why doesn’t Mr. Xie tell us—what’s fun there?”
The speaker sat to his left front, holding a glass of clear amber liquor, grinning as he asked, “I’ve never left the Western Border. Give us the rundown, Mr. Xie?”
If Xun Jia hadn’t done his homework beforehand, this seemingly innocuous topic might have tripped him up and exposed him.
But after being drilled by his two “teachers,” he actually breathed a sigh of relief and picked a safe angle.
“Don’t ask me. I rarely leave the manor—my family doesn’t allow me to go out…… I haven’t been to many other planets, but the ancient palace complex on Capital Star? The innermost part isn’t open to the public—that’s the lord’s garden……”
As the back-and-forth continued, time gradually passed, and Xun Jia relaxed.
He sneaked a peek at Beaufort opposite, who had mostly been drinking and barely participated, so he stopped paying him much attention.
For the most part, he listened to the others chat and laugh. When it was his turn, he mumbled a vague response and got by.
In the midst of the chatter, from the corner of his eye, he saw Emory quietly stand up, slip around the shadows behind the lights, and exit through another door.
It seemed his status in this circle wasn’t that high.
He could introduce newcomers, but during conversations, the gentlemen didn’t really include him, leaving Emory to drink alone.
Probably bored out of his mind, his departure went largely unnoticed.
An idea formed in Xun Jia’s mind. He stood up, politely excusing himself to use the restroom, and followed Emory’s retreating figure out the door.
As he closed the door, he missed a probing gaze from the sofa inside.
“Emory’s gone out.”
Xun Jia quickly sent the message to their three-person group chat, then turned off his Light Brain screen and lightened his footsteps, trailing Emory at a careful distance.
He’d set his Light Brain to silent mode, so there was no worry about noise giving him away.
Seles: I’m still in the resting lounge at the entrance. If things go south, head straight for the door.
Xie Jianxun: Stay safe! Seles sent me the address. I’m coming to back you up.
Xun Jia’s heart warmed.
Even though he was alone in the club right now, his partners were waiting for him behind the scenes.
Xun Jia gripped his Light Brain tightly and kept pace with Emory. Luckily, the other man walked hurriedly and overly trusted the venue’s security—he didn’t even glance back.
The two descended the stairs one after the other, entering the second-floor lobby.
Crossing the lobby threshold, Xun Jia realized the layout here was completely different from upstairs: a vast open space without private rooms, divided only by booths and tall potted plants. At the far end stretched a long row of bar counters.
A lady already sat in the corner of the bar, her back to the others.
The obstructions made it hard to see clearly.
Emory, however, headed straight for her without hesitation.
Just before sitting, he suddenly turned back, his gaze vigilantly sweeping behind him.
Xun Jia yelped inwardly and slipped, his head ducking behind the booth’s backrest.
Seeing only himself and the woman in the entire lobby, Emory then leisurely took the seat beside her and ordered a mixed drink from the bartender.
Xun Jia’s heart nearly pounded out of his chest, banging so hard it hurt his throat.
Blood rushed to his brain, and his stomach had bumped into the booth’s glass table…… Luckily, his belly was soft; otherwise, the noise would’ve been too loud. He thought wryly, finding humor in the misery.
Casually turning his head, he spotted a server standing right behind him, its dark eyes fixed on him.
Xun Jia: “……” Holy shit!
