The faint fragrance still lingered in the air, but the dizziness had faded.
The floral scent, intoxicating enough to weaken one's limbs, held no effect on Li Mo—his body was impervious to all poisons.
This was likely Luo Ji's natural fragrance rather than an active technique.
It seemed her first test had passed.
Luo Ji studied the young man before her and donned another charming smile:
"Truly, I can't fathom what in this Wanchun Pavilion could possibly catch Young Master Li Mo's eye. Surely it can't be... this lonely widow, can it?"
She leaned forward slightly, her ample bosom faintly visible.
"If that were the case, you could've just sent word, dear. Why trouble the higher-ups with such formalities?"
Li Mo didn't believe a single word from this scheming woman—it was all just probing for his true intentions.
Yet, he hadn’t even known this was the Imperial Capital branch of the Misty Rain Pavilion. He couldn’t very well tell Luo Ji it was all a happy coincidence—she’d never buy it.
But who said Li Mo wasn’t a genius?
A thought flashed through his mind, and he had his excuse ready.
Keeping his expression as cold as ice, he replied flatly:
"What’s most frustrating about the Misty Rain Pavilion is that they only care about money, not people. But that’s also what’s most appealing."
"You wish to hire my services?" Luo Ji narrowed her eyes, slowly rising to sit beside him.
She began brewing flower tea, crossing her legs while keeping her gaze lowered—yet her peripheral vision never left Li Mo’s face.
As if trying to catch even the slightest flicker of unease.
"Every renowned beauty on the Hundred Flowers Ranking is a target. If they’re staying here, I’d feel more at ease."
"My services don’t come cheap, little brother. Are you really willing to pay such a price just for this?"
"If it’s worth it, then yes."
Li Mo remained unreadable. "You must know I’m acquainted with many of the women on that list."
"Now you’ve added one more to that number. But this place is my pride and joy. They say a gentleman doesn’t take what others cherish..."
Luo Ji poured tea into his cup and handed it to him with practiced grace.
"Wanchun Pavilion’s value isn’t in its location or decor—it’s in you and your people. Move elsewhere, and as long as you’re there, a second Wanchun Pavilion will rise in no time."
Li Mo took a sip, glancing at the 'unremarkable' but treacherous woman before him, ignoring her subtle gestures:
"I don’t like using other people’s things. This place will be mine. Take your payment and find somewhere else."
Li Mo, ruthless and unfeeling.
Since this was business, spending extra was no issue.
Trading useless gold and silver for something useful? Why not?
"?"
Luo Ji narrowed her eyes.
Had she just wasted her charms on a blind man?
A young man like Li Mo, full of vigor—her usual tricks had never failed before. Yet he hadn’t even glanced at her, showing more interest in his tea than her.
What was even more infuriating—
This kid’s yang energy was practically blazing, his physique surpassing even untempered Outer Realm experts.
Mature women might not be as fresh-faced as young girls, but their allure was undeniably more potent for youths like him...
Of course, she didn’t know—
Li Mo had already tasted finer delicacies. In his dreams, he’d even dared to make his Empress teacher call him "husband"!
"Everything in the Misty Rain Pavilion has a price. Name yours."
"I have a counteroffer."
Luo Ji’s crossed leg brushed lightly against his calf as she smiled.
"How about free?"
"?"
"A prodigy like you? Consider it an investment on my part. Let’s be friends..."
She leaned closer with every word.
But Li Mo knew one thing for certain—free things always came at the highest cost.
Not only would he fail to spend his resources, but he’d also owe her a favor. Did that sound like a deal he’d take?
So he pulled out two deposit slips and pressed them against Luo Ji’s face.
Her smile froze, replaced by bewilderment.
She recognized the Hengtong Trading House slips, but the withdrawal amount was left blank.
"Write any number you want."
"......"
Back in Yunzhou, Li Mo had once hired the entire Misty Rain Pavilion branch as his bodyguards.
At first, she’d doubted the reports.
Now, she didn’t.
"The tea’s decent. I’ll take some back."
Li Mo knew the negotiation was over—the deal was sealed.
He grabbed a handful of flower tea, rubbed it against his neck, then stuffed two more packets into his sleeves.
As a crisp chime sounded in his ears, he pushed the door open and left.
Watching his retreating figure down the stairs, Luo Ji finally spoke after a long pause:
"Come out."
The moment she spoke, the music behind the screen stopped. A woman set down her instrument and stepped forward gracefully.
Dressed as a maid, her features blurred slightly before revealing her true face.
"Mian Mian, your eye for talent might be a little too sharp."
"Recruiting for the Pavilion is my duty."
Yin Mianmian’s eyes flickered.
Luo Ji teased, "If you’re not interested, this widow wouldn’t mind—"
"Don’t joke like that!" Yin Mianmian tensed instantly.
Luo Ji grinned wider, feigning hurt. "Look at you, getting all worked up. Weren’t you just talking about duty?"
"I’m doing you a favor." Yin Mianmian shook her head.
"How so?"
"If you want to die by Ying Bing’s hand, don’t drag me into it."
......
Downstairs, Li Mo glanced at the sky—it was nearly noon.
After finalizing the deal with Wanchun Pavilion, Luo Ji had indeed gotten to work. A list of the ranking’s current attendees was in his hands by the end of the day.
Not just names—every detail imaginable, more thorough than even the Eye of Providence.
Some hadn’t arrived yet.
A few were unlikely to come, while others were still en route.
"Arriving in two days... Mao Zhen, Lu Yunyi..."
"Uncertain... Shang..."
Li Mo flipped past that name as if he hadn’t seen it.
With time to spare, he decided to gather the Hundred Flowers first—at least to coordinate their performances.
"Please inform them for me."
"Of course, of course."
"Oh, do you have a grill here?"
As the attendant went to relay his requests room by room, Li Mo mused.
Sure, he’d prepared props and such for their acts—but truthfully, he had no idea what they’d need.
No matter. He’d ask them later.
Right now? Time for barbecue.
"I’m starving today."
Li Mo slathered sauce onto the skewers as he spoke.
Yes, he was genuinely hungry.
Absolutely not trying to mask the overwhelming feminine scents he’d inevitably carry home later...
reezy rom-com) Good news: Jiang Liu is quite the ladies' man. Bad news: He’s lost his memory. Lying in a hospital bed, Jiang Liu listens to a parade of goddesses spouting "absurd claims," feeling like the world is one giant game of Werewolf. "Jiang Liu, I’m your first love." "Jiang Liu, you’re my boyfriend—she’s your ex." "Jiang Liu, we’re close friends who’ve shared a bed, remember?" "Jiang Liu, I want to have your baby." The now-lucid Jiang Liu is convinced this must be some elaborate scam... until someone drops the bombshell: "The day before you lost your memory, you confessed your feelings—and got into a relationship." Jiang Liu is utterly baffled. So... who the hell is his actual girlfriend?! ... Before recovering his memories, Jiang Liu must navigate this minefield of lies and sincerity, fighting to protect himself from these women’s schemes. But things spiral even further out of control as more people show up at his doorstep—each with increasingly unhinged antics. On the bright side, the memories he lost due to overwhelming trauma seem to be resurfacing. Great news, right? So why are they all panicking now?
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
] This is a dark fantasy-themed dating simulation game. The main gameplay involves containing various monster girls and investigating the truth of a world shrouded in mist alongside your companions. However, due to his love for the dark and bizarre atmosphere, Luo Wei ended up turning a dating game into a detective mystery game. Women? Women only slow down his quickdraw! To Luo Wei, the female leads in the game are more like tools to perfectly clear levels and squeeze out rewards. For Luo Wei, flirting with every girl he meets and then discarding them is standard procedure. Worried about characters losing affection points? No need. With his maxed-out charm stat, Luo Wei is practically a "human incubus." A little psychological manipulation and those points come right back. It's a bit scummy, but the paper cutout heroines in the game won't actually come at him with real cleavers. However... Luo Wei has transmigrated. He's accidentally entered the second playthrough of this game. His past actions have caused all the girls to transform into terrifying yanderes. Due to the game's setting, most of the heroines he once contained are "troubled girls." Obsessive, twisted, mentally unstable, all aggressive yanderes... The type who will kill you if they can't have you... Luo Wei wants to cry but has no tears left. "I really just want to survive..." In short, this is a story of battling wits and engaging in a love-hate relationship with yanderes.
Heart] Chen Yi traversed the cultivation world for eight hundred years, charging his way to the Tribulation Transcendence stage. Just as he was outwitting his 81st Heavenly Tribulation to ascend to immortality, he was suddenly pulled into a chat group called the "Multiverse Transmigrators Support Group." To his surprise, the group was filled with nothing but fresh-faced newbies who had just transmigrated. [Help! I transmigrated into a disgraced concubine in the cold palace, and the tyrant emperor is about to execute me!] [I ended up as a cannon-fodder villain, and the protagonist is still chasing me—WTF!] [I woke up as the protagonist’s father, but I’m about to be sacrificed in a ritual! What do I do? Urgent!!!] Chen Yi stared at the chaotic flood of desperate pleas in the group and fell into deep thought. "Seriously? You drag me into a newbie transmigrator chat group… only after I’m one step away from becoming an immortal?"
