Whether it was Liang Xiaoke or Ye Jingyu, both of their eyes suddenly gleamed...

"Esteemed guests, this is Miss Qingqing,"gesturing toward a woman in a light blue silk dress with bare shoulders. "She's well-versed in music and calligraphy, but her specialty..." The moment those words left his lips, both men exchanged glances before breaking into identical smirks...

The only difference lay in Liang Xiaoke's still pale complexion versus Ye Jingyu's newly returned bashful smile...

"This is Miss Xiangxiang," Lao B continued, pointing to another woman in a soft yellow silk dress who radiated an alluring fragrance. But he never finished the sentence before Liang Xiaoke interrupted impatiently.

"Enough! Just go away and don't bore me with more details..." The man tossed two gold coins toward Lao B as he spoke.

Lao B's face lit up instantly, bowing his thanks to both men before whispering something in their ears that sent him out the door grinning...

The two women entered one after another. Miss Xiangxiang, noticing Liang Xiaoke's generous gesture, giggled and gracefully settled beside him on the cushion. Miss Qingqing however seemed visibly uneasy, her smile strained as she approached Ye Jingyu step by step before finally seating herself awkwardly...

"Ha ha, Xiangxiang," Liang Xiaoke laughed with a lecherous grin, already pulling the woman onto his lap and letting one hand creep upward from beneath her silk dress. Miss Xiangxiang responded with an alluring giggle, lifting wine to her own lips before slowly pressing it against his...

Ye Jingyu rolled his eyes at the display - could this man really be enjoying himself so thoroughly? He wondered how Xiangxiang would react if she knew a corpse was fondling her. More curiously, shouldn't Liang Xiaoke's body feel cold as ice? Why did these women seem utterly oblivious?

"Sir," Miss Qingqing suddenly spoke up from Ye Jingyu's side after watching the other woman's actions. "Would you like me to feed you wine as well?" Her voice betrayed timid uncertainty...

"Eh..." Ye Jingyu opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words. He could clearly see her shyness, yet couldn't tell whether it was genuine or feigned...

"Better I pour my own," he finally muttered, lifting the cup and draining it in one go. Miss Qingqing's expression darkened momentarily before she forced another smile and began making small talk with hesitant pauses between sentences...

Gradually, the tension melted away under the influence of alcohol and Liang Xiaoke's obvious encouragement. Soon Miss Qingqing found herself straddling Ye Jingyu's hips when something firm beneath her made her cheeks flush crimson once more...

Ye Jingyu's hands trembled as they explored her form hesitantly - his first time touching a woman since Jiufeng vanished months ago...

Meanwhile on the top floor of Mingyan Tower, an entirely different scene unfolded in a dimly lit chamber. A woman wrapped completely in black gauze stood facing the window. Her own face was obscured by veils too thick to see through, but those watching could still glimpse the hypnotic brown eyes peering out from beneath - eyes that swirled with such mesmerizing power they seemed capable of pulling souls into their depths...

No man who met this gaze could help but feel parched and entranced. It wasn't mere sensuality, more like an otherworldly magic that left even women spellbound...

Lao B dared not meet those eyes directly as he respectfully reported the goings-on below at Ye Jingyu's private chamber...

When the woman finished listening, her usually cold demeanor softened into a faint smile - one hidden completely by the veils. But if anyone had seen it, they'd have known that expression could bring down entire cities...

"Go downstairs," she finally whispered. "See to their every need and even offer them some of our secrets..."

"As you wish, Madam..." Lao B bowed respectfully before retreating with a nervous glance backward.

"A Yu," the veiled woman murmured softly after he left, her voice laced with distant sorrow. "Forgive me for not being by your side yet. My master saved my life and I must help fulfill her destiny first. But once that's done, I'll return to you immediately..." Her eyes clouded with longing...

Unbeknownst to Ye Jingyu, his every move was under someone else's watchful gaze - and within these very walls, the woman he'd been searching for waited silently as intoxication loosened his inhibitions. His hands roamed more boldly now, gripping the most forbidden curves while a dazed expression overtook him...

Inside the inner chamber where Liang Xiaoke had dragged Xiangxiang earlier, muffled groans punctuated by rhythmic noises continued to echo through the walls, further fueling Ye Jingyu's desire. Eventually he couldn't contain himself any longer and pulled Qingqing toward the private room...

When she awoke the next morning, golden sunlight filtered through the window onto her peaceful face as consciousness slowly returned. The sight of her completely naked body lying alone on the bed sent blood rushing to her cheeks. She turned over and found no evidence of what had happened - not even a crimson stain on the sheets. Sitting up with trembling limbs, she checked her wrist only to find that crimson mark denoting maidenhood still intact... Her expression shifted again in confusion.