Long Island, East Hampton.
Zhu Momo and her friends arrived at the Guofeng Arts Troupe's residence in the afternoon, accompanying Li Youhu. To their surprise, they discovered that the man behind last year's high-profile Guofeng Arts Troupe recruitment in China was none other than him. Upon entering the estate and seeing a large group of stunningly beautiful and graceful young women, the trio couldn't help but feel a twinge of instinctive unease.
Three girls couldn't possibly compete with a hundred.
Or perhaps more than a hundred.
In addition to the troupe's 100 dancers, there were 24 female musicians recently added to the roster. According to Li Youhu, these girls, proficient in various traditional Chinese instruments, were given names following the "Twelve Beauties of Jinling" from Dream of the Red Chamber, starting with "Daiyu" and "Baochai" from the main list and extending to "Xiangling" and "Ping'er" from the secondary list.
As the residence was already at capacity, the 24 musicians were housed in a separate estate nearby.
The group wasn't there without reason. Their visit came at his summons.
After arriving in the afternoon, the trio spent hours interacting with the other girls. However, the subtle air of exclusion from the troupe members only deepened their sense of crisis. Finally, as dusk fell, a notice arrived summoning them to leave the residence with a selected group of girls. They drove through the streets of East Hampton for about ten minutes before arriving at another estate in the northeast corner of town.
This estate wasn't seaside.
Yet, even in the darkness, the vast private driveway weaving through shaded greenery made it clear that this estate was far larger—likely spanning hundreds of acres. While it lacked the prime beachfront location of the Guofeng Arts Troupe's residence, the fact that such a massive private domain existed in the exclusive Hamptons spoke volumes about its owner.
Reflecting on past experiences, Zhu Momo and her friends couldn't help but wonder just how many properties this man owned in the area.
For Yu Laoshi (Teacher Yu), who had never been to East Hampton before, the day's journey from the coastal residence to this vast inland estate was an overwhelming experience. Even without meeting the man, the sheer opulence associated with the Westeros name left her in awe.
Moreover, Yu Laoshi was becoming increasingly aware of her place within the vast service network surrounding the Westeros family. What she couldn't determine was whether this man even knew of her existence.
Perhaps… maybe…
As someone who had been the center of attention her entire life, Yu Laoshi felt a strange mixture of apprehension and curiosity.
The cars stopped in front of the main villa's parking area, where two female attendants greeted them. Rather than leading the group into the brightly lit main villa, the attendants guided them along a side path.
Under the clear summer night sky of East Hampton, the vastness of the surrounding estate was almost daunting. At the back of the main villa, a large, carpeted area on the lawn was illuminated by temporary lighting structures, and the scene was lively.
The carpet, matching the color of the grass, was so seamlessly laid out that only the difference in texture under the lights made it distinguishable from the natural greenery.
Sitting on the carpet were numerous women, all dressed in exquisite Hanfu attire, their slender figures and graceful postures impossible to hide.
And at the center of it all was him.
The man sat casually among the women, flanked on all sides by beauty. Around him were various traditional Chinese instruments, hinting at an upcoming performance. Unlike a typical stage performance, however, this gathering revolved entirely around the man in the center.
Yu Laoshi instinctively felt a mix of resistance and trepidation at the sight.
This...
Even knowing the power and wealth he commanded, this scene seemed absurdly extravagant. What if something happened tonight? Should she run? Or stay? Could she even run if she wanted to?
Before she could decide, the group of selected girls followed the attendants' instructions, removed their shoes, and stepped onto the large carpet.
Still hesitant but unwilling to make a scene, Yu Laoshi took off her shoes and joined the group, stepping tentatively onto the carpet. She had expected the synthetic grass-like surface to feel hard and rough underfoot, but instead, it was astonishingly soft and comfortable. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of material it was made of.
Whatever it was, it was undoubtedly expensive.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Zhu Momo, who had rushed to Simon Westeros's side with a clear display of possessiveness. Throwing herself into his arms, she even managed to push the man down onto the carpet, subtly edging the other women aside in the process.
By the time Yu Laoshi reached him, the seating arrangement around Simon had shifted. On one side were Zhu Momo and her two friends, while on the other side were a few girls from the Guofeng Arts Troupe. Closest to Simon was a girl named Wei Cenci, whom Yu Laoshi had been introduced to earlier that afternoon.
Simon noticed her approach and smiled.
Though she had seen his face countless times in photos, encountering him in person was a different experience. His warm smile, combined with his strikingly handsome features, made her heart flutter slightly.
If only he weren't surrounded by so many other women.
Feeling compelled to acknowledge him, she greeted nervously, "Hello, Mr. Westeros."
Simon gestured for Wei Cenci to move aside. Though reluctant, the girl shifted behind him without complaint. "Come, have a seat," Simon invited.
Unable to refuse, Yu Laoshi sat down beside him, maintaining a proper posture with her legs tucked to one side. She sat just far enough to avoid brushing against him, but her student, Zhu Momo, casually draped an arm around her shoulder, offering a sense of reassurance—until she began slyly nudging Yu Laoshi closer to Simon.
"Li Youhu's progress over the past few months has been excellent. You've taught her well," Simon remarked without preamble.
The straightforward praise, delivered in his soothing voice and casual tone, struck Yu Laoshi differently. She stammered slightly, "Thank you, Mr. Westeros. I'm just doing my job."
"Now, I hope you'll focus on teaching Momo in the coming months," Simon continued, his tone light yet teasing. "She's not as grounded as Youhu. If she doesn't listen, feel free to be strict—scold her or even punish her if necessary."
Before Yu Laoshi could respond, Zhu Momo protested, shaking Simon's arm, "Simon, that's not true! I'm very well-behaved!"
The playful interaction left Yu Laoshi flustered, especially as Simon's shoulder bumped against hers with Momo's movements.
Her thoughts churned.
This man... he seemed... quite decent.
After some playful banter with Zhu Momo, Simon turned back to Yu Laoshi. His tone softened. "By the way, I knew of you before you became Youhu's teacher."
"Ah?"
Yu Laoshi blinked in surprise, wondering how he could possibly know her.
Simon explained, "The movie The Joy Luck Club by Wang was co-produced by Daniels Entertainment. I personally review every movie our company invests in. It's a wonderful film, and you were stunning in it."
His words brought her back to her role in the film four years ago, during her senior year at Beijing Film Academy. When an American production sought actors for scenes in China, her credentials helped her land a small role. That experience had sparked her dream of studying in the U.S., though the reality she encountered upon arriving had been far less glamorous.
Reflecting on how that single opportunity had shaped her path, she realized that her current position might also be linked to that past.
As he complimented her, she instinctively replied, "Thank you."
Simon smiled at her restrained demeanor and suddenly suggested, "Youhu, why don't you swap seats with Yu?"
Li Youhu quickly agreed, ignoring Wei Cenci's subtle pout as she slid closer to Simon. Resting against him, she gestured to the surroundings. "Simon, what's all this for?"
"A performance," Simon replied, nodding toward a delicate girl nearby. "Baochai, let's begin."
The name "Baochai" struck Yu Laoshi as odd, especially after the afternoon's discussion about the troupe's "Twelve Beauties of Jinling" theme. Silently, she counted the women present—exactly twelve.
As the performance began, the music erupted around her. The blend of guqin, flute, and pipa created an ethereal harmony, evoking ancient landscapes and timeless elegance.
The melody was familiar yet elusive, tugging at her memory. It wasn't until Simon began to sing—his voice resonant and commanding—that she recognized the piece.
The Laugh of the Vast Sea.
She had heard Simon spoke fluent Mandarin, but hearing him sing in perfect Chinese with such emotion was a revelation.
The music was grand, yet Simon's voice carried an undertone of solitude and detachment. Even surrounded by beauty, his song revealed an inner world marked by an inexplicable loneliness.
It was captivating, almost intoxicating.
Yu Laoshi didn't know whether she was drawn to his talent, his charisma, or the sense of melancholy that lingered in his voice.
She only knew that at that moment, Simon Westeros seemed
like the most extraordinary man in the world.
---
The next morning, Yu Laoshi woke early from a restless dream. In the dim light, she realized she wasn't alone. Beside her was Simon, and beyond him, Zhu Momo, with another Guofeng Arts Troupe girl on the other side.
Oddly, nothing felt inappropriate.
Simon Westeros, after all, seemed capable of making anything feel justifiable.
She reached out hesitantly to touch his shoulder, her thoughts swirling. There was no resentment, no misplaced expectations, just a quiet acceptance. This would be a memory she'd treasure—a fleeting brush with a life she could never fully belong to.
As she drifted back to sleep, Simon's arm instinctively pulled her closer. She didn't resist.
When she woke again, the sun was bright, and Simon was gone.
_________________________
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