It's a bustling Friday evening in Shanghai as people rush home to spend their weekend with their family. The road is packed with cars, their honks reflecting the people's frustration inside. As the cars moved slowly like ants, a few groups of men and women crowded the food stalls and restaurants at the roadside to enjoy dinner and have a late night stay over with their friends. Their laughter and gossip drowned out by the frustrated honks of the cars. The birds returning to the nest chirped sweetly mid air as if mocking the mundane human life. The sun slowly sets down the horizon covering everything under it in a golden orange hue except a particular place away from the bustling mundane city.
A sleek black Bugatti drives away from the bustling city into a quite deserted road. The golden orange hue of the sun slowly started to vanish as the car drove further in. The path is not among a dense forest but filled with backwaters on both sides yet the darkness is so intense that the car looks like a black panther moving toward its prey.
Soft music plays inside the sleek Bugatti as a warm sweet saffron scent fills the car, contrasting the cold dark way it's travelling. The surrounding shifts as the darkness gives way to a place which looks surreal as if an ancient heaven descended. Ancient architecture, lanterns and incense fill the area. A smirk appears on the red tinted full lips as mischievousness plays in the amber eyes as if spotting its target, reflected in the rear mirror inside the Bugatti as it drives towards a black stoned two storey building which looks like an inn.
The Bugatti stops in front of the grand lion carved doors of the inn revealing the person inside as the car door opens. Red heels touched the ground as the person inside got out of the car in a glittering wine-red ombre with matching golden ombre earrings, a sleek clutch bag and gold framed spectacles, hair swayed in the breeze as the car's door closed. Seeing the guest's arrival, the guards escorted them inside respectfully. The guards left shortly after giving her the directions. Slowly walking among the garden of the inn, they arrived at a small pond which reflected the silvery moon in the cold night making them halt and appreciate its beauty.
Suddenly footsteps rushed towards the pond as a young boy around 25 with unnaturally bright red eyes stopped behind the wine red dressed person, catching up their breath.
"He…" the young man said between heavy breathing.
That person turned around revealing an angelic face with thin brows paired with an almond shaped amber eyes, high nose bridge, red tinted full lips and a delicate thin jaw line. A frown appeared as soon as a young boy uttered a syllable. The young boy straightened, smiling awkwardly as he moved closer to them warning in a whisper, "Bai jie jie, don't play this dangerous game. It's not safe if you get caught. It's impossible to deceive someone like him and get away easily." As he spoke, a sweat rolled down his head. The person addressed as Bai jie jie chuckled which sounded so sweet and dreamy as eyes curled with a mischievous glint in the amber eyes.
"Zhong, don't worry too much. Let me play my game. I never faced failure in this. You know me, right?" She reassured him by patting his head.
Zhong nodded yet he couldn't hide the worry in his eyes, saying "Fine. Let me escort you inside". He started walking away without waiting for a response but stopped when he didn't hear the footsteps following him. He turned back with a confused expression asking "Bai jie jie, not coming inside?" Bai jie jie gestured to him to stay quiet, pointing to the opposite end of the garden whispering "Don't wait for me anymore. You can go back home now." Zhong wanted to protest but she didn't allow it, giving him the clutch bag in her hand saying "Take it and go back. It has been a long time since I played this game so don't stop me tonight." Zhong's worry increased, yet he couldn't say anything to convince her when she was determined about something. He sighed before taking the clutch bag from her, giving a final warning "Be careful!" as he walked towards the exit of the garden.
Bai jie jie shook her head as she looked at the retreating figure of the young man. She lingered beside the pond for a while looking at the lonely figure walking at the opposite end of the garden as if a predator was plotting to hunt its prey . With a final calculative smirk, she walked past the pond towards where the lonely figure was walking. As she crossed the pond, her figure reflected in it for a mere second as a furry thing appeared in the pond before it disappeared as if the cold moonlight was playing tricks upon the world.
She walked towards that lonely figure, her footsteps so light on the grass making her look like floating instead of walking, her dress dancing to the tune of the breeze. Just as she neared the lonely figure, a twig made her stumble, startling her. Her eyes closed reflexively expecting a heavy fall which never hit her. Slowly her almond eyes opened to reveal the amber inside which reflects a face with sharp features and honey colored eyes. Her eyes widened as she felt a strong arms hugging her waist, preventing her heavy fall. Her face flushed red looking at the sharp honey colored eyes which reflected the worry and the strong arms which felt quite gentle against her waist. She soon came back to her senses, steadying and distancing herself from the person who saved her.
Bai jie jie couldn't hide her flush as she thanked in a honey drip voice "Thank you for saving me, Mr?"
The person next to her chuckled, his voice deep saying, "Long, Long Yuzhou".
Bai jie jie corrected herself, "Thank you Mr. Long".
Long Yuzhou waved at her, dismissing her gratitude casually as his eyes swept over her asking "What is the pretty prey doing at the predator's den?"
Bai moved closer to him deliberately, her voice dropping a note low as she questioned him back not answering him "What do you think a prey like me doing here in the predator's place?"
Long Yuzhou was amused by her boldness as he didn't prevent her from the deliberate closeness. "Such a bold pretty…." his words trailed as he moved closer to her neck to sniff her sweet saffron scent "bunny?" he asked, looking at her confused.
Bai looked at him, letting him sniff her scent making her skin tingle with sudden closeness saying "Yes, a bold little bunny. Don't you like it?".
She closed the distance between them, almost letting herself press against him, sniffing his sandalwood scent "Dragon?"
Her eyes widened as she quickly moved away from him. But Long didn't let her as he pulled her into his arms tightly, his honey eyes darkening while looking at her intensely "Where are you trying to escape when you started a fire which was extinct for so long?"
Bai puts her hands around his neck leaning closer to his ears whispering, "I'm not escaping. I just wanted to take a good look at the rumoured CEO who's literally ruling the country now. I didn't expect the great CEO would have such a majestic hidden identity". She pulled back to look at him with a mischievous excited face "Looks like I discovered a well covered secret".
Long Yuzhou's face darkened as his grip on her tightened dangerously, asking in a low voice "Now that you discovered my secret you think I'll let you go out of here alive?"
Bai didn't shiver but pulled him closer as her breath lingered on his lips, still not answering his question "Your gestures betrayed your words", her eyes lowered to his hands which were fondling her bareback visible in her wine red ombre.
Long Yuzhou hissed before his thin lips met the soft red tinted full lips. Bai smiled between the kiss before letting herself melt in the dominant kiss of the century old dragon.
When they pulled away from each other, their breathing came in short heavy breaths as their forehead rested against each other. Long Yuzhou recovered first as he pinched her chin pulling her teary flushed face closer, whispering "you taste so good almost forbidden." He let himself drown in that intoxicating sweet saffron scent of her, asking "What's this beauty's name?"
Bai shivered from the excitement running down her spine as her words sounded more dream like "Bai Youmeng"
Long Yuzhou repeated her name, letting it roll on his tongue as if tasting honey "Bai Youmeng.... Youmeng...You….meng" he paused before continuing his voice a bit serious now "Be a little good prey as you are and do what I demand, I can let you live longer but if you" his eyes turned golden as his skin started to shimmer with scales "If you try play smart and let my secret out, Youmeng, you will get swallowed whole without any trace"
Bai Youmeng nodded hugging him close vowing "You're promise dies within me while my body and beauty belongs to you"
Long Yuzhou smirked, lifting her bridal style, heading towards his room in the inn, completely ignoring the prying eyes of others present in the inn enjoying themselves.
Bai Youmeng hid her face against his broad muscular chest but no one noticed her victorious smirk and dark playful amber eyes as if her prey had been fallen for her bait. She knows this is just a beginning to a more dangerous game where the smarter ones survive and the emotional ones get destroyed.