"Today's Vil Game: Rank Your Emotional Connection."

  The rules were simple.

  Each contestant would receive an anonymous form.

  Rank all members of the opposite sex. 1 being the strongest emotional pull, 6 being the weakest.

  No names. No expnations.

  Just cold, clean numbers.

  And the twist?

  The results would be revealed publicly.

  Ruoxi arched a brow as the host expined. "Brutal," she murmured, sipping her iced tea.

  Zeyan said nothing, seated a few chairs down, arms folded. Yuren gave a quiet gnce her way but looked away just as fast.

  Shixun was still too soft-eyed.

  She knew how this worked.

  People thought they liked her. But when it came to genuine emotional connection?

  They'd hesitate.

  She was fun. Sexy. A walking storm.

  But no one marries a thunderstorm.

  ***

  The rankings came back that evening.

  The results unfolded in front of everyone, one card at a time.

  #1: Shen Ruoxi — 3 votes.

  A hush fell over the vil.

  Ruoxi blinked once.

  Three?

  Three men, in this house of guarded bachelors, had listed her as their strongest emotional pull?

  Yuren? Maybe.

  Shixun? Probably.

  But the third…?

  The host smiled. "Would the men who ranked Ruoxi as number one, raise your hand."

  Shixun lifted his hand, shy but steady.

  Yuren followed. Calm. Certain.

  Then—

  Gu Zeyan.

  Ruoxi froze.

  He didn't hesitate. Didn't smirk. Just lifted his hand like it was fact. Like it had never been a question.

  The room shifted.

  So did her heartbeat.

  ***

  Later that night, Ruoxi sat by the firepit alone, a gss of red wine swirling in her hand.

  Zeyan found her, as he always did.

  "Three votes," she said without looking at him. "Impressive for a woman who supposedly pys too much."

  "You're not a pyer," he said quietly.

  "Oh?"

  "You just know your worth," he murmured, sitting beside her. "And you don't wait for someone else to name the price."

  Ruoxi turned to face him, wine-stained lips curving. "So what's my price, Gu Zeyan?"

  He didn't smile.

  "Everything I've got."

  Her breath caught.

  She hated that he could do this.. disarm her without a single flirt, a single wink. Just that quiet, grounding certainty.

  Ruoxi ughed softly, leaning her head against his shoulder.

  "I'll still flirt with the others."

  "I know."

  "I'll still tease you."

  He nodded. "I like it when you do."

  "And I might still walk away."

  He looked at her then. Steady. Calm.

  "Then I'll walk after you."

  ***

  *Confessional Booth – Shen Ruoxi*

  "He ranked me first. Not because I charmed him. But because he sees me."

  A rare silence.

  "And now I'm starting to see him too."