Chapter 26: Autumn Clearing

The low rumble of the Lamborghini’s V12 engine echoed along the mountain road, making the windows tremble faintly.

The inside of the car was dark, lit only by the cold, pale blue glow of the dashboard spilling across Mateo’s tense face.

He kept both hands clamped on the steering wheel, his knuckles white from effort, his gaze flicking now and then toward the passenger seat.

Xu Zhou was sitting back with his eyes closed. The crisp, high-end black suit he wore made his lean body carry a sharp edge that was rare for him.

“Ahem.”

Mateo cleared his throat hard, trying to break the heavy silence inside the car.

Xu Zhou did not even lift an eyelid.

“Xu Zhou, I’m talking to you. What are you playing dead for?”

Mateo slapped the steering wheel in annoyance, and the supercar let out a brief tire squeal as it took the corner.

“Those old-money family parties are full of endless, suffocating rules. Theodore is all smiles on the surface, but in his bones he looks down on everyone. If he treats you badly, slap him right across the face. The Reyes family can handle it.”

“Senior, you’re driving too fast. I’m feeling carsick.”

Xu Zhou opened his eyes and rubbed his temples helplessly.

“Besides, I don’t like slapping people. It hurts my hands.”

Mateo choked on that for a second. Without thinking, he eased his foot off the gas, and the Lamborghini slowed.

He deliberately turned his face toward the window and muttered in a low voice:

“Whatever. Just don’t talk too much with that fox Theodore. And Gu Yanli, if the Discipline Office people try anything tonight, call me directly. Hear me?”

“I hear you.”

Xu Zhou looked ahead at the Golden Terrace Manor, its lights already faintly visible, and sighed.

The supercar stopped steadily before the white marble steps of the manor, and the doors rose upward like scissors.

“Nine thirty. I’ll be guarding the back door. If you’re a second late, you’ll walk home by yourself.”

Mateo put his hands into his pockets, turned his face away, and shooed him off in a gruff voice.

Xu Zhou got out and shut the door. The supercar shot a violent streak of red light through the darkness and drove toward the parking area with unapologetic arrogance.

At the Golden Terrace Manor, the autumn wind had thinned the scent of the roses on the lawn until it was barely there.

Tonight was the Black Rose Society’s annual autumn Clearing.

White porcelain vases and silver wine trays dotted the grass in elegant disorder. Dozens of noble students in expensive formal wear were murmuring to one another, the air heavy with the cloying scents of expensive perfume and champagne.

Bai Qi stood alone by a stone pillar at the edge of the terrace. His dark blue suit was ironed to perfection, not a single wrinkle anywhere.

His hand was clenched tightly around the ivory roster card.

At this time last year, he had been the only special-admit student permitted inside the greenhouse. That was the standing he had bought with straight A’s for three consecutive semesters.

Tonight, however, the noble students walking by him all had a flicker of bare coldness and scrutiny in their eyes.

“Bai Qi, you haven’t gone in yet?”

A sponsored student he knew came over, speaking in a low voice, and gave him a sympathetic look.

“I heard the first-tier list this season has changed.”

Bai Qi forced a smile, though a layer of cold sweat had already formed on his palms.

“Senior Theodore is probably still busy. I’ll wait for a while.”

At that moment, a murmur of commotion rose from the steps.

Bai Qi looked up instinctively, and his breath tightened.

Xu Zhou was climbing the steps.

He was wearing that black suit. Under the cold light of the street lamps, the inner side of the lapel shimmered faintly with the Reyes family’s exclusive dark-gold royal crest.

The students around him began to whisper.

“Isn’t that Mateo’s personal crest? He actually lends clothes of that grade to a special-admit student?”

“So the GIFs on the forum last night were real…”

Bai Qi stared at the dark-gold crest flickering in the light and shadow. His fingertips nearly squeezed the roster card until it deformed.

No one knew better than he did what the Reyes personal crest really signified.

Last year on Mateo’s birthday, he had sent an exquisite card. One of Mateo’s attendants had thrown it into the trash.

Yet now Xu Zhou swaggered around in Mateo’s clothes, his expression carrying a lazy sort of impatience.

The moment Xu Zhou set foot on the last step, the old butler who had been waiting at the greenhouse door hurried up to greet him, followed by two male servants.

“Mr. Xu, the young master has been waiting for you in the inner greenhouse. Please come this way.”

The old butler gave a small bow. The respect in his voice made the surrounding noble students turn their heads.

Xu Zhou walked in holding his washed-out canvas bag. Under the eyes of the crowd, he did not even show his roster card. He simply followed the old butler through the glass door into the greenhouse.

Bai Qi watched the carved glass door close slowly behind Xu Zhou. Then he took a deep breath and walked toward the greenhouse entrance.

“Mr. Bai, please wait.”

Two attendants in black vests raised their hands to block him, looking at the ivory card in his hand with expressionless faces.

“Tonight, during Clearing, the inner greenhouse is open only to first-tier members. Your special-admit report can be handed in at the liaison office outside.”

Bai Qi stood frozen. Cold wind from the terrace blew against his face, stinging his cheeks.

He looked at the two attendants’ indifferent eyes, then through the glass door at the faint halo of warm light and the scent of pinewood inside. The blood in his whole body seemed to surge straight to his head.

Inside the greenhouse, the heat was turned up high.

Theodore sat in a rattan chair, his pale golden hair looking languid in the light.

In front of him was the heavy golden roster, and in his hand was a slim black quill pen.

Hearing the door open, Theodore lifted his head, the perfect social smile already in place, and pointed to the seat beside him.

“Sit. Did Reyes bring you here?”

“Mm.”

Xu Zhou tossed his canvas bag onto the expensive rug and sat down in a breezy, unapologetic manner.

The trousers were cut so well that when he sat, the hems drew up five centimeters, revealing a length of pale, cool white ankle.

Theodore’s gaze had been resting gently on Xu Zhou’s face. As it slid lower, the quill in his hand paused for a fraction of a second.

Under the warm lamplight, that pale ankle bone was wrapped in a shining silver chain. Its sheepskin lining clung tightly to the skin, and carved on it were the initials “D.Gu”, standing for Gu Yanli.

The smile on Theodore’s face slowly faded the moment he saw the silver chain.

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