The grand hall shimmered under chandeliers, light bouncing off gilded walls and polished floors. The chatter of the city's elite filled the room, a soft hum of polite laughter and the clinking of glasses.
Every guest seemed poised and used to the spotlight. They carefully adjusted their dresses and cufflinks, measuring who was worth their attention.
The entrance doors opened, and all movement seemed to slow. Gu Liansheng and Shen Linyi stepped in.
Heads turned instantly. Whispers ran like a thread through the crowd, low but persistent as they murmured.
Shen Linyi's white gown caught the light with subtle elegance, her posture straight and calm, a quiet magnet for attention.
Her eyes scanned the room with a steady, unflinching gaze, and even those who sought to challenge her felt the weight of her presence.
Gu Liansheng, on the other hand, carried quiet authority without effort. Some people commanded rooms simply by existing—he was one of them.
