Chapter 12 : Circles and Shadows

The room hushed for a moment as Chen Yanxing entered, but only briefly—everyone quickly resumed their chatter, games, or drinks.

Chen Yanxing scanned the room: fewer than twenty people.
Some sang or played games, others flirted with partners while talking, a few ate or drank.
Chen Xingxing shot her a cold smirk before turning away.
Chen Yanqing watched her steadily.
Ren Qi’s gaze was on Ren Zhou, frowning as she entered.
Ren Zhou, ignoring her sister, greeted Du Junyi and darted to join a game, living by her motto: Stay away from Ren Qi, stay alive.
Raised by Ren Qi, Ren Zhou feared her sister more than their parents.

Chen Yanxing dodged Chen Yanqing’s stare, focusing on Du Junyi, who was delicately cutting a cake.
Du Junyi wore a fitted teal qipao, her figure accentuated, half-pinned hair revealing a jade-green hairpin glinting under the lights.
The Du family, with royal scholarly roots, had only been in business for three generations but rivaled the Chens’ longstanding commercial empire.
Du Junyi, poised and unhurried, exuded an undeniable presence in negotiations, impossible to overlook.
Once mocked as “Jiangcheng’s noble lady” for her refined demeanor—implying she was all show, no substance—her decisive actions and soaring success turned the title into praise.
The original jab was forgotten; Du Junyi’s name only grew louder.

Chen Yanxing approached, sitting beside Du Junyi, bypassing Chen Yanqing.
She reached for a cake slice.
“Happy birthday, Sister Junyi.”
“Just got back, no heads-up, so no gift.”
Du Junyi smiled, handing her a slice.
“Welcome back.
Last saw you as a kid, right?
Been ages.”
“Hmm…”
The creamy frosting melted instantly, a chill hitting her core.
She frowned.
“Ice cream?”
“Yup.”
Chen Yanxing set it down.
“On a health kick, no cold stuff.”
Chen Xingxing scoffed.
“Health kick now?
What were you doing in that temple—booze and meat, Buddha’s blessing?”
Chen Yanxing didn’t spare her a glance, focusing on the prayer beads on her wrist, slowly removing them.
“Busy cursing you.
Buddha thought I was too vicious.”
Her casual tone made it sound trivial.
Chen Xingxing glared, ready to snap, but Chen Yanqing’s look stopped her.
She slumped back, chugging her drink.

Chen Yanxing handed the beads to Du Junyi.
“Blessed.
For you.”
Du Junyi blinked, smiling, about to thank her when Chen Yanxing added, “Learned a bit of face-reading in the temple.
These suit your vibe.”
Her words didn’t quite connect, but Du Junyi examined the beads, nodding with a smile.
“Nice skill, Yanxing.
Better than just fighting like you did as a kid.”
Chen Yanxing grinned, saying nothing, her gaze catching the liquor-strewn table, frowning.

Among friends, some topics were inescapable.
Chen Yanxing had only fought once, cracking open a boy’s head to defend Du Junyi.
She was sent away after, but Du Junyi never let her forget, teasing her every time.
Chen Yanxing sighed, unsure if Du Junyi saw her as good or bad after years away—especially if Chen Xingxing had been whispering poison.
Glancing at Chen Xingxing, their eyes met, mutual disdain flashing before they turned away.

Chen Yanqing tossed her a water bottle.
“Where’s your brooch?”
Chen Yanxing paused mid-sip, then drank slowly.
“Gave it away.”
“Gave it away?”
Not just Chen Yanqing but Du Junyi and others froze.

Yaozhou’s owner, an outsider with mysterious backing, bowed to no one.
Well, almost—they gave brooches to certain family heirs.
But their rule was ironclad: lose it, no replacement, no exceptions.

Chen Yanxing’s brooch, just given by Chen Yanqing today, was already gone?
She could enter with others, but it wasn’t the same—less freedom.

“Who’d you give it to?” Chen Yanqing asked.
Chen Yanxing paused.
“A fox spirit.”
“…”

Silence rippled outward, Chen Yanxing at its center, Chen Yanqing its radius.
Ren Zhou, mid-game, sensed the shift and ditched her cards to join them.
“Sister Junyi, starving!
Got my cake?”
Du Junyi cut her a slice, then turned to Chen Yanxing.
“Who?”
Chen Yanxing smiled, glancing at Ren Zhou.
“Didn’t Zhou tell you?
I’m demon-hunting now.”
“Cough—cough!”
Ren Zhou choked on the frosting, staring at Chen Yanxing.
Everyone else’s eyes landed on Ren Zhou too.

Chen Yanxing dodged her gaze, smiling, looking out the window.
The moon glowed softly, the night serene.
A perfect evening.

Meanwhile, the “fox spirit” herself was dropped off by Fan Shi at her complex’s gate.

“You sure about getting off here?” Fan Shi asked, scanning the area, worried about paparazzi.
Shen Mengke, visibly drained, nodded.
“I’m starving.
Just ate a tiny bread tonight.”
Inwardly, she cursed Chen Yanxing—heartless client, not offering a ride or asking if she’d eaten!
She turned to Fan Shi.
“I’ll grab something nearby, walk it off, then head home.”
“Don’t need me to stay?”
Shen Mengke laughed.
“I’m not a kid, and this area’s safe enough.
I just need some alone time.
Go home, Sister Fan.”
After her insistence, Fan Shi drove off.
Shen Mengke stood at the gate, watching the car fade, sighing.

Huayuan, her company-assigned residence, housed many stars, mostly idols from boy or girl groups—not many actors needed company lodging.
She rarely stayed here, always filming out of town, and didn’t cross paths with neighbors much.
The company found her tricky—not quite a flop, always trending, but no standout achievements.
Useful, but not that useful.
Last meeting, her boss was frustrated—she’d refused variety shows.
Her boss had brought her into the industry, too valuable to drop, so they kept her, banking on her potential to break out.
They were waiting for her big moment.

Shen Mengke paced under the moonlight, her thoughts drifting.
Her life had been smooth—decent grades, good college, easy entry into the industry.
Her boss, a shrewd businessman, treated her decently, with some heart.
Her dramas got okay traffic, enough to keep her fed.

The only wildcard was Chen Yanxing.
She couldn’t read her.