Chapter 1: Su Ping.
Under the shimmering glass facade of the opulent Grand Elysium Hotel, where the city's elite converged in a parade of wealth and glamour, 21-year-old Su Ping stood at his post by the revolving doors, his valet uniform crisp yet slightly worn at the cuffs, a sign of his long hours under the sun.
" Another day on the job..."
" Nothing noteworthy besides fancy car's and gold platted people [1] "
His dark eyes, framed by lashes that seemed too delicate for his angular face, tilted upward, lost in the vast expanse of the sky the next moment.
" Huh? Is that shaped like what I think it is?"
A single cloud, fluffy yet strangely shaped like a perfect pair of ample butt cheeks, floated in place against the azure canvas, and Su Ping's gaze lingered on it, his mind adrift in a quiet reverie that was equal parts longing and dumbfounded.
" Even the heavens are taunting me." He smiled helplessly, at the ripe age of 21, the poor guy was still single and pure, never once given the chance to taste the forbidden fruit.
His lean frame, slouched ever so slightly, betrayed a brimming desire beneath his composed exterior, a young man caught between the monotony of his role and the faint flicker of dreams he scarcely allowed himself to entertain.
The guttural roar of a V8 engine shattered his trance, bringing him back to reality, a sound so visceral it seemed to vibrate through the polished marble of the hotel's entrance.
" He's back already? "
Su Ping's head snapped toward the driveway, where a sleek Bugatti Veyron, its obsidian curves glinting like a predator in the sunlight, executed a flawless drift before coming to a precise stop mere feet from where he stood.
The car's presence was a spectacle to the onlookers who stopped to admire its grandeur.
Su Ping's helpless heart ached even more at the sight of passing pretty girls across the street, stopping to take selfies of the magnificent beauty.
Before Su Ping could further sink into his depression, the driver's door swung open, and out stepped a figure who seemed to have leapt from the pages of a fashion magazine.
Blonde hair, tousled just enough to suggest effortless charm, caught the light as the man adjusted his tailored jacket, emblazoned with a logo that screamed exclusivity.
His grin was wide, disarming, and carried a warmth that felt oddly out of place in the sterile grandeur of the hotel's entrance.
"Su Ping, you old dreamer! What's with the long face? Did you miss me that much" the blonde man called, his voice bright with a familiarity that made Su Ping smile lightly.
Without warning, the man closed the distance between them in a few strides and enveloped Su Ping in a bear hug, his arms strong and enthusiastic, as if reuniting with a long-lost brother.
The scent of expensive cologne, sandalwood and citrus, clung to the air, mingling with the faint metallic tang of the Bugatti's exhaust.
Passersby froze, their expressions a mix of curiosity and amusement, their designer bags and polished shoes momentarily forgotten as they gawked at the scene.
Su Ping, caught off guard, felt his cheeks warm as he returned an awkward smile, his hands hesitating before patting the blonde man's back, the gesture stiff but genuine.
" It's been too long brother Wang, I thought you were returning tomorrow. I hope nothing unfortunate hindered your plans."
Su Ping said, He wasn't too shocked by the man's actions, after all, they technically were close in a sense.
The man was a regular at the hotel whose exuberance was as legendary as his family's fortune, that made it impossible to stay guarded for long.
Wang Bai pulled back, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief as he followed Su Ping's earlier gaze to the sky.
"What's got you so entranced up there? I was surprised when I saw you in a daze while driving over." he asked, avoiding the question, his tone teasing but kind.
" Hehehe forgive me brother Wang. I just couldn't help it. That cloud up there was just too strange to miss."
Su Ping pointed at the lone cloud, now slightly larger, its edges tinged with gold from the afternoon sun.
" Is that a perfectly shaped...."
Julian squinted, then let out a laugh that was both infectious and unselfconscious, the kind that echoed with a life unburdened by the weight of routine.
" No wonder you were so clueless" Wang Bai chuckled, even he was stunned by how similar the cloud looked.
If he didn't know any better, he would've thought that a titan was mooning them from the heavens.
"Your lucky manager Gu wasn't the one to catch you. Brother Su, if you really can't hold yourself back then come meet me anytime, I'm sure I can help you find some adequate Human cauldrons [2] to help dispell your worries" he said, clapping Su Ping on the shoulder with a camaraderie that felt both foreign and comforting.
" You really mean it brother Wang?" Su Ping's eyes gleamed with enthusiasm.
" Of course, what are brothers for." Wang Bai beamed him a mischievous smile.
With a flourish, Wang Bai tossed him the Bugatti's key, the metal cool and heavy in Su Ping's palm as he easily caught it with both hand's on reflex, before Wang Bai walked toward the hotel's entrance, his silhouette retreating behind the revolving glass doors.
As Wang Bai disappeared into the lobby, Su Ping's hand slipped into his pocket, his fingers brushing against a small packet, no larger than an ounce, its contents powdery and illicit.
" It's much bigger than before. Looks like brother Wang must've experienced a boom in his business." Su Ping chuckled.
The packet of powder had a note attached to it which Su ping knew was the room number of the person Wang Bai wanted him to deliver the packet to.
His lips curved into a wry smile, tinged with a helplessness that spoke of choices made in shadows, of a life where dreams were bartered for survival.
(AN: [1] Rich people. [2] Women.)