Lixing

"This is the list of personnel who joined at the same time as Bai Jingqing," Jue couldn't see inside the changing room and said, "There are a lot of people."

The changing room was filled with messy clothes. Yan Junxun squatted down, facing a corner. He used the mountain of clothes for cover, swiping on his light screen and browsing through the names.

"You should memorize the photos," Su Heting switched the files. "The key targets for investigation have been marked for you. Please memorize them within five minutes."

Yan Junxun scrolled to the bottom and said, "I've memorized them."

"Lixing's boss is named Li Hu," Piao Lin reviewed the information in his head. "We investigated him during the Mite operation, but he covered his tracks very well. You must be extremely careful during this infiltration. It's best not to have any direct contact with him. I'm worried that if he finds out, he'll treat this infiltration as an in-depth investigation by the Supervisory Bureau."

"You have to trust 7-001's acting skills," Su Heting said, refilling his own coke. "One of the requirements for infiltration is disguise. This mission isn't difficult at all."

"Are you ready?" Yulan urged from outside. "Hurry up, dear. Time's almost up. If we're late, we'll only be able to serve plates outside."

Yan Junxun took off his Communicator and started changing his clothes.

"Do you guys really do missions like this during wartime?" Jue asked Su Heting curiously.

"It happens often," Su Heting said, watching the people coming and going in Lixing's foyer. "Going undercover is sometimes a lot like being a sniper. You have to endure immense psychological pressure, stay calm at all times, and maintain a high level of concentration. But when you're undercover, not only do you have to stay calm, you also have to constantly be in the role required by the mission. This switching between real and fake is pretty annoying... you never know, one day the undercover agent might not even know who they are anymore."

The changing room door opened.

Yulan's eyes lit up. He wished he could pull Yan Junxun right in front of him. "So gorgeous! I'm so jealous of you! You don't even need to shave your leg hair, do you?" He put his hands over his heart. "I want to be your mom! I've always wanted to have a child just like you."

Yan Junxun picked up his clothes, folded them neatly, and put them where they belonged. His height was not an advantage in the Black Panther or the Supervisory Bureau, but right now, it was just right. He faced the makeup mirror, put on a pair of bunny ears, and adjusted them with an obsessive-compulsive-like precision, pushing his hair up.

Su Heting recalled the Special Operations mission review. The reason Black Panther had expelled Yan Junxun was his inability to adapt to hazardous missions. So, Su Heting said, "Compared to having you straddle some rich guy, this mission is at a kindergarten level. Don't let your new colleagues question Black Panther's professionalism. Show them your..."

You're so fucking noisy!

"Just like that, no makeup needed," Yulan really wanted to touch Yan Junxun's ears again. "I suggest you go for a feisty little pepper style. It'll create a contrast with your appearance." He lightly patted his own chest. "Like me, I'm a muscle sweetheart, very popular in the hall."

"Is that so?" Yan Junxun looked at Yulan. "Let's fucking get in there—is this the style I should be going for?"

"Yes, just like that, it's perfect! Just be yourself!" Yulan said, turning around. He walked with his hands on his hips, his large high heels clacking loudly. "Follow me into the hall, cutie!"

"He's so confident," Jue said loudly. "I like him!"

"Him?" Piao Lin said in surprise. "Are you serious?"

......

Lixing was enthusiastic about hosting these kinds of events. When Bai Jingqing was still here, every performance was for an event like this. The boss, Li Hu, insisted on treating people as commodities, but opinions about him were mixed. The ladies and thugs inside Lixing all thought he was loyal and righteous, and one of his good points was that he always kept his word.

Yulan turned back in the hallway. His movements and gaze were very charming. "Lixing's main attraction is the boss. Too many people come here to him looking to make a living off their youth, especially kids like you."

"Have you seen him?" Yan Junxun followed behind. His hand spike was pressed against the outside of his thigh, giving off a cold sensation as he walked.

Yulan said ambiguously, "We're very familiar. If you want to get to know him, I can introduce you. He's quite fond of fresh blood."

"I thought people who snuck in weren't welcome."

Yan Junxun didn't ignore the strangers sizing him up. Everyone was a competitor, and their gazes were comparing and measuring him. Before he even reached the banquet hall, Yan Junxun had already received quite a few scornful looks.

"That depends on what kind of person snuck in. With so many people glaring at you," Yulan pulled open the curtain for Yan Junxun, "it means you're a rare treasure. Do you know how to negotiate prices with them? Don't get hooked for just a few tens of thousands. By the way, is your target client a 'sister' or a 'brother'?"

Yan Junxun looked at Yulan. After a moment, he lifted his clean, beautiful face. His eyes held the greed of someone falling into a den of vice, along with the pride of one who wields their beauty like a weapon. "I want the richest one."

That word "richest" struck a chord right in Yulan's heart. He laughed out loud. "I like you! You bad kid, go on, make them kneel at your high heels and empty their pockets."

Yan Junxun walked into the banquet hall. The noisy music was deafening.

From behind, Yulan blew him a coquettish kiss and shouted, "Don't forget your big sister after tonight! I'm the one who showed you the ropes."

Yan Junxun was immediately swallowed by the crowd. The banquet hall was a scene of wild debauchery.

Lixing's purpose was clear. They were in the flesh trade; there was no need to pretend to be dignified. Could the Aphrodite system give people such a crazed, degenerate experience? Don't be silly, only Lixing could. They had every type a rich man could want. As long as you paid Lixing enough, the top floor of the building would be open to you. You could pick any boy or girl present, with no limit on the number.

"Are you the new kid?!" a young man in a feather mask leaned down towards Yan Junxun and shouted over the music. "How much are you?"

The bunny ears on Yan Junxun's head twitched. With a cold expression, he made a cross with two fingers.

The man howled in disappointment, "A hundred thousand is way too expensive!"

Yan Junxun then made two circles with his fingers.

"How much—" The man's voice cracked. "One million?! Are you crazy!"

Yan Junxun let out a small smile, like an arrogant child, with the words "get lost" written all over his face.

"You just wait," the man pointed at Yan Junxun. He was drunk, hiccupping, and grabbed his companion, shouting into their ear, "Do I still have a million?"

The other person replied with something, but when he turned back, he couldn't find Yan Junxun anymore.

"Ah..." The man cupped the air in front of his face with both hands, explaining to his companion, "The bunny disappeared!"

......

"Target number one is named Lihua. She's the one who provided the Supervisory Bureau with the clue about the steel boss, but she later went back on her word," Jue said, looking at the program list. "She had a joint performance with Bai Jingqing. Now she performs striptease here."

Yan Junxun didn't hear clearly. "Performs what?"

"Striptease," Piao Lin hadn't expected Yan Junxun to be so dedicated; he was shocked by the high heels. After a brief silence, he obediently added, "Brother Xun."

Yan Junxun pushed away the men and women who jumped in front of him. He was constantly on alert, but people kept trying to slap his ass or pull his tail.

"Lihua is Lixing's star performer. Rumor has it she's the boss Li Hu's mistress. We tried to contact her before, but were rejected by Li Hu every time." Jue also wanted to touch Yan Junxun's ears, but it didn't dare say so. "The only thing we know is that she always has a few drinks in the banquet hall after her performance. Her show hasn't started yet, so you need to find a place to wait. Mr. Shi will strike up a conversation with her then."

Yan Junxun was getting angrier and angrier. He understood his role now: Shi Shanyan would approach the target, and he was responsible for fending off any interference.

"Li Hu rarely shows up, but Lihua is extremely popular, and our funds are limited. We can only afford to buy her two drinks, so these two drinks are crucial."

"Are you fucking expecting Lihua to open her heart to Shi Shanyan after just two drinks?"

"Exchanging contact information would also be fine," Su Heting thought for a moment. "Shi Shanyan should understand."

"Target number two is Qi Shi. He dated Bai Jingqing at Lixing. This is Mr. Yan's target for tonight," Jue said. "The man is bisexual, and he has a reputation here for being 'happy to help others'. He often helps out some of the boys who come here to do business. He's Lihua's bodyguard now. Mr. Yan, you have to find him while Lihua is here and talk to him about Bai Jingqing."

"There are also some ladies who only appear in the banquet hall," Piao Lin added. "You can find them before it's over."

The music was too loud. Yan Junxun scanned the banquet hall. Everyone seemed to be wearing a mask, looking like phantoms. Qi Shi was a bodyguard, so he didn't need to wear a mask or makeup, but he was more cautious than the average person. Even if he were found, it would be difficult to get him to talk about Bai Jingqing with Yan Junxun in such a short amount of time.

There was a ventilation system in the banquet hall, but the air was still bad. Yan Junxun started to sweat. He felt his hand spike slip a little, but he couldn't touch it because someone was staring at him—many people were staring at him.

"Lihua has a separate dressing room. Let me take a look," Su Heting said, panning the camera and checking each one. "There's a high probability Qi Shi is with her, but you can't go over there. You still have to wait."

Yan Junxun felt that every breath he took was hot.

He wasn't good at hazardous missions, nor was he good at dealing with people. Yet, standing here to be gawked at, he didn't feel awkward, because he knew what this felt like.

Fuck it, what's the big deal?

Yan Junxun thought of Artemis's glass. He had once stood there, just like a commodity with a price tag. He knew how to manage his emotions, to make himself more like a product. He followed a waiter, took their tray, and picked up the last cigarette on it.

Yan Junxun walked to the corner of the hallway. Someone next to him lit his cigarette.

"New here?" the person repeated the line Yan Junxun was sick of hearing. "How much..."

"One million," Yan Junxun looked at the person, holding the cigarette between his teeth. His eyes were in shadow, and his gaze held a hint of mockery. "Per touch."

But he was indeed special. His exposed forehead was smooth and beautiful, and his teardrop mole was faintly visible in the smoke. Amidst the person's exaggerated voice, he flicked his cigarette ash onto their chest.

"If you can't afford it, then get lost. Don't waste my time."

The music was about to explode in his ears. After the person left, Yan Junxun said into his Communicator, "Find him, quickly."

His gaze swept across the banquet hall, and he suddenly saw a familiar face.

In the darkness, Shi Shanyan locked onto his target with a single glance. He watched the trash with their forgettable faces swarm around Yan Junxun, a smile gradually forming on his face, though it was unclear if it was one of happiness or displeasure. He watched Yan Junxun move through the crowd, waiting for him to look over. As their eyes met, he raised his finger and fired a shot at his target from across the room.

Bang.

Amidst the noise and chaos, Shi Shanyan cheerfully provided a sound effect for his finger's action, mouthing the words to Yan Junxun as if blaming him for not looking his way sooner.

The "shot" Yan Junxun turned his head, stubbed out his cigarette, and the teardrop mole by the corner of his eye was exposed in the faint light. He was annoyed, but strangely, this annoyance only made him want to bite Shi Shanyan, not anyone else. He gave Shi Shanyan an encouraging smile, as if mocking him for his repeated misses.

Bunny girl.

Shi Shanyan's expression was serious, but his eyes were flirtatious.

Such long legs.

Under Shi Shanyan's gaze, Yan Junxun threw away the cigarette butt. He muted the sound on his Communicator, picked up a tray, and walked towards Shi Shanyan.

This was a kind of pleasure. Shi Shanyan's unbuttoned suit jacket revealed the vest underneath; he had dressed neatly and seriously today. He greeted Yan Junxun like this, as if his open legs were welcoming Yan Junxun to take a seat at any moment.

As Yan Junxun bent down, the bunny ears on his head drooped slightly. He said politely to Shi Shanyan, "I'll kill you if you keep staring. I'm serious this time."

"Get me a glass of milk," Shi Shanyan tilted his head slightly, smelling the scent on Yan Junxun's neck. His tone was ambiguous. "Or just kill me now."

"Wait a minute," Su Heting repeatedly checked the surveillance feed and asked Jue, "Are you sure Lihua has a performance tonight?"

"That's what the files from the Supervisory Bureau said. We have an informant here," Jue sensed something was wrong and asked Su Heting back, "What's the matter?"

On Su Heting's end, there was only the sound of keyboard clicks. After a long moment, he said, "Congratulations, you've won the lottery. The prize is awarded by 'the madman'. There is no performance by Lihua at all tonight, nor is it some kind of masquerade ball. Lixing's system filing says it's an auction."

Jue immediately said, "Impossible."

"Who sent you the Lixing files? Jiang Lian? Then congratulations to Jiang Lian too, his Communicator has been hacked as well. This is a fucking setup. Hey? Yan Junxun, can you hear me? Go swindle that million from the drunkard from earlier, otherwise tonight will be a total loss!"

Su Heting hadn't finished speaking when the music in the banquet hall stopped. Then, the lights in the center of the hall lit up with a snap.

"Tonight is a long-awaited auction," The Clown's projection stood in the center, revealing a grin that stretched to his gums. "There's a high-priced bunny whose head is worth a few hundred million."

Fuck!

Before Yan Junxun could turn around, he was pulled into Shi Shanyan's arms.

"Shh—" Shi Shanyan asked seriously in Yan Junxun's ear, "First, answer me, is your tail real?"