The Epoch of Miyu

At ten o'clock the next morning, Jiang Zhichun arrived at the Sway Hotel.

Upon entering the lobby, she immediately asked the receptionist: "Where is your lobby manager?"

The receptionist observed her impeccable attire—from head to toe, accessories to clothing, shoes, and handbag, everything was Chanel. Sensing she was a guest not to be offended, the receptionist thought for a moment before replying: "Our manager is in a meeting. Please wait a moment, I'll fetch the supervisor for you."

The receptionist summoned Xu Miyu.

Xu Miyu assessed the young woman before her. Dressed head-to-toe in Chanel, she was youthful and beautiful with long flowing hair. Her demeanor and speech reflected the noble elegance cultivated through a privileged upbringing.

With a smile, Xu Miyu greeted her and asked how she could be of assistance.

Jiang Zhichun looked Xu Miyu over and stated: "I'm here to see your hotel owner Ji Feng. Please take me to the top floor." After a brief pause, she added hesitantly: "But if you're just a supervisor, do you have access to the hotel's top floor?" She chuckled lightly as she continued, "That's why I said I wanted to speak directly with your manager."

The nearby receptionist chimed in cheerfully: "You might not be aware, but actually even our manager doesn't have top-floor access. However, our Supervisor Xu does."

Jiang Zhichun immediately gave Xu Miyu another look, raising her tone in a questioning "Oh?" before saying: "Then please take me up."

Xu Miyu responded apologetically: "Would you mind if I contact the top floor first?"

Though slightly displeased, Jiang Zhichun's good manners made her quickly conceal her irritation. She smiled at Xu Miyu and said: "Of course, we can't just let anyone who claims to be visiting Ji Feng go upstairs. Please verify with them first."

Xu Miyu thought this girl was truly remarkable—her words were impeccably proper yet seemed to carry underlying meaning, almost as if subtly suggesting Xu Miyu had failed to recognize her importance.

Xu Miyu immediately contacted Xue Rui, informing him that a Miss Jiang had come to visit.

Before she could finish, Xue Rui quickly responded: "Oh yes, Miss Jiang was supposed to visit Boss Ji today. I got busy with other matters yesterday and forgot to inform your front desk. Mi Yu, could you please bring her up now? I'm currently assisting Boss Ji with a video conference and can't come down."

Xu Miyu acknowledged the request. In that moment, she caught an important detail—according to Xue Rui, if Ji Feng weren't in a video conference, they might have personally come down to receive this Miss Jiang.

She silently observed Miss Jiang once more, confirming that she was no ordinary person. Suddenly it occurred to her—perhaps this woman might become Ji Feng's wife in the future.

She immediately adjusted her attitude to be more respectful, striving to provide excellent service to her potential future boss's wife.

She escorted Miss Jiang into the VIP elevator and swiped for the top floor.

Standing behind Jiang Zhichun in the elevator, Xu Miyu continued silently observing the young woman.

Watching the figure before her, she clearly perceived they belonged to different worlds. She had grown up and lived with her feet firmly planted in the soil, connected to the earth. Meanwhile, this Miss Jiang was delicate, beautiful, and immaculate—carrying an ethereal nobility untouched by worldly hardships.The elevator reached the top floor, its doors sliding open. Xu Miyu led Jiang Zhichun out and toward the door of Ji Feng's suite.

This Miss Jiang and Ji Feng truly belonged to the same world.

She herself was not part of their world—neither hers nor his.

Once again recognizing the gap between herself and these people, Xu Miyu silently admonished herself in the depths of her heart: not even the slightest inappropriate thoughts should be entertained about these people. She shouldn't assume anyone would treat her with special regard. She just needed to keep her feet firmly on the ground and live her own life well.

By the time these thoughts crossed her mind, she had already stopped in front of the suite door. She knocked, pushed the door open, and with a bright smile informed Ji Feng and Xue Rui inside: "Miss Jiang has been brought up."

Then she stepped aside, allowing Miss Jiang to glide into the room as gracefully and beautifully as a swan.

She watched as Ji Feng ended his video call.

She observed how Miss Jiang's demeanor subtly shifted after entering the room, transforming from her previous aloof pride into something soft and delicate.

Once inside the suite, Miss Jiang looked around everywhere, peering curiously in all directions: "Wow! This suite is absolutely amazing! You can see almost the entire cityscape from this window! My goodness, I've performed in many countries and stayed in numerous hotels, but I've never stayed in such a wonderful room. The view is incredible!" She turned to look at Ji Feng, her beautiful face flushed with excitement. "Could I come here often in the future?"

She blinked her watery eyes, gazing at Ji Feng as she asked.

Xu Miyu silently closed the door for them from the outside and quietly withdrew.

Ji Feng happened to glance toward the doorway. He narrowed his eyes slightly.

He watched as Xu Miyu left without even saying a word, as if she had been muted. Utterly lawless.

He turned his attention back to Jiang Zhichun, meeting her expectant eyes.

What had she asked again?

Oh, whether she could come often.

He nodded to her.

"When I'm not busy, you can."

From that day onward, Xu Miyu noticed that Jiang Zhichun indeed came to the hotel frequently, just as she had said.

Sometimes she stayed for a long time, even having dinner with Ji Feng and Xue Rui before leaving. When Ji Feng had nothing else to do, he would personally see her off, but most of the time he was occupied and would arrange for the driver to take her home.

By now, many people in the hotel knew that there was a beautiful, noble young lady who was Ji Feng's close female friend. They gossiped and speculated about whether this Miss Jiang might eventually become Mrs. Ji.

Every time Jiang Zhichun visited, Xu Miyu was responsible for escorting her to the top floor. After several such occasions, Miss Jiang asked her in the VIP elevator: "How did you get the access card for the top floor?"

Xu Miyu replied: "Assistant Xue gave me one to make it convenient for me to deliver documents and such upstairs."

Jiang Zhichun tilted her head thoughtfully and said: "If that's the case, getting the card doesn't seem too difficult. I'll ask him for one today too, so I won't have to trouble you to escort me up every time I visit."

Xu Miyu responded with a polite smile.

She honestly wished she didn't have to escort Jiang Zhichun upstairs every time.

She didn't know which of Ji Feng's nerves had been struck wrong, but after she escorted Jiang Zhichun upstairs for the second time, he had inexplicably criticized her, saying she was arrogant and didn't even know to greet or request permission when going up and down.

Since then, she had to make sure to specifically address Ji Feng every time after escorting Jiang Zhichun, reporting to him: "Boss, if there's nothing else, I'll go back downstairs to work."Sometimes Ji Feng was in a good mood and would let her go downstairs directly. Other times he would tell her irritably: "Who said there's nothing to do? Can't you see I'm in a meeting? Keep Miss Jiang company and chat with her to pass the time."

She had no choice but to stay and make awkward conversation with Miss Jiang. But she could sense that Miss Jiang didn't actually want her company.

Being caught between these two people made her extremely uncomfortable.

If Jiang Zhichun could get the access card, then she would be freed.

But when Jiang Zhichun came again the next day, she still needed her to lead the way.

In the elevator, Jiang Zhichun looked at her and smiled, her expression carrying a hint of something inscrutable.

"Yesterday I asked your General Manager Ji for the VIP elevator access card to the top floor. Guess what he said?"

Xu Miyu smiled slightly and shook her head.

Jiang Zhichun recalled yesterday's situation when she asked Ji Feng for the access card. She thought that even a front desk supervisor could have one, so surely she, as his potential future girlfriend, should definitely be able to get one.

So she said to Ji Feng: "Could you give me an access card? That way when I come again, I can go upstairs by myself and won't have to trouble Supervisor Xu every time."

But Ji Feng frowned and said: "What, is it such a trouble for her to come up here? She's just a supervisor now, does she dare to put on such airs already?"

Jiang Zhichun was slightly taken aback. Ji Feng seemed to have missed the point.

She brought the focus back: "After all, Supervisor Xu isn't the suite butler for the top floor. She's the front office supervisor. Having her lead me around all the time means she has to frequently leave her post." She acted cute and ingratiating, tentatively reaching to pull Ji Feng's sleeve, gently shaking it as she pleaded, "Why don't you just give me an access card?"

Ji Feng watched her shaking his arm. After a few shakes, he subtly withdrew his hand and told her bluntly: "Zhichun, to be honest, currently I've only given access cards to people I trust the most. But we've just met, we don't really know each other yet, we're still in the getting-to-know-each-other phase. Truthfully, we're far from reaching the level of mutual trust. Besides, I'm actually quite a boring person. Maybe in a few days you'll get tired of me and won't need the card anymore. Or maybe after spending some time together, we'll discover we're truly perfect for each other, and then I'll give it to you. Anyway, for now, we're not at that stage yet."

Jiang Zhichun thought about how Ji Feng had been so straightforward with her yesterday, and a sour, swollen feeling welled up in her heart.

He clearly didn't like her yet—he hadn't even reached the stage of having a crush. Although she had been coming every day these past few days, he treated her with the same polite rationality as he would a client. If a man liked a woman, he wouldn't be capable of being this polite, rational, and straightforward.

She looked at Xu Miyu, suppressing the sour feeling in her heart, and told her with a smile: "He actually told me straight out that he and I haven't reached the level of trust required for him to give me an access card."

Xu Miyu didn't know how to respond to this. Thinking about it, such a blunt answer was indeed something Ji Feng would say.

Suddenly she saw Jiang Zhichun lean close to her, staring at her face.

"So getting an access card is that difficult. Ji Feng said he only gives them to people he trusts the most. Supervisor Xu, it seems you're really not an ordinary person."

The elevator reached the top floor.

Xu Miyu quickly said with self-awareness: "You flatter me, I'm just an errand runner."Jiang Zhichun looked at her again and smiled once more, saying, "It's fine, I'll get it soon enough."

Xu Miyu escorted Jiang Zhichun to the penthouse suite.

As she was about to head downstairs, she overheard Xue Rui on the phone instructing the kitchen: increase the dinner portions.

She knew Jiang Zhichun would be staying for dinner with Ji Feng and Xue Rui that evening.

Returning to the lobby, she suddenly felt a sense of emptiness.

Everyone else had someone to share dinner with, but she had been alone ever since her divorce.

No family, no man, no friends.

She suddenly realized how isolated she had made her life. Aside from work, she had absolutely no leisure activities or social life.

This realization struck her deeply.

She pondered whether she should find some relaxation and enjoyment for herself after work.

Starting tonight, she thought, she would do something after her shift.

But what could she do after work?

Suddenly, she remembered a long-held wish from before her divorce—to go dancing at a club just once. She had never been before: when single, she lacked both money and courage; after marriage, her ex-husband claimed "good women don't go clubbing" and forbade her.

So she never went. But from pictures and videos online, it looked incredibly lively.

After some thought, she decided to go clubbing tonight. To fulfill that old wish of hers.

To hell with "good women don't go clubbing"—why trust the words of a cheating man?

Having made up her mind, as her shift neared its end, Xu Miyu went to the front desk to ask Lu Xiaoyan and Shi Huanhuan: "Are there any clubs with dancing around here?"

Her question made both Lu Xiaoyan and Shi Huanhuan's eyes light up simultaneously.

"Mi Yu, are you thinking of going dancing?" Lu Xiaoyan asked first. "Haven't been before?"

Xu Miyu felt a slight embarrassment but still smiled and nodded: "Yes, never been. Want to try it to relax a bit."

Shi Huanhuan chimed in: "You really should unwind. It's peak tourist season lately—one tour group after another. You're always supervising the lobby every day. We at least have rotating breaks, but you're constantly on the front lines. It's really exhausting—you definitely deserve to have some drinks and go dancing to relax."

Lu Xiaoyan nodded in agreement: "Absolutely," then proceeded to recommend a club to Xu Miyu. "Right now, the most popular club in our city is 'Night Encounter.' The owner isn't exactly beautiful, but she's very alluring and fiery. And 'Night Encounter' isn't far from here—just a ten-minute cab ride for you, Mi Yu."

Xu Miyu noted down the club's name.

Night Encounter.

Such a name—both realistic and surreal.

Everyone going there is having a night encounter. You never know who you'll meet or what might happen. The unknown makes this night encounter full of anticipation and charm.

Lu Xiaoyan reminded Xu Miyu: "Mi Yu, don't go in your uniform—go home and change first. Remember to wear something hot, or you'll stand out awkwardly there."

Xu Miyu smiled and nodded: "Okay, I'll remember."

Shi Huanhuan added with a hint of regret: "If Lu Xiaoyan and I hadn't booked our hair appointments a week ago, we'd go with you to 'Night Encounter' so you wouldn't feel nervous or anything on your first time."Xu Miyu also felt she might get stage fright, but she told herself that treating this trip to "Night Encounter" as a challenge wouldn't be so bad. If she could confidently walk into "Night Encounter" tonight and relax to her heart's content, she probably wouldn't feel intimidated in other situations going forward.

"It's fine, I can do this on my own," she told Shi Huanhuan, and also herself.

Back in the dormitory, she began rummaging through her suitcases for clothes.

She remembered buying a black V-neck knee-length dress once—very fitted and exuding a pure yet sensual style. But after bringing it home, her ex-husband forbade her from wearing it outside, saying it made her curves too prominent. The thought of others staring at her figure made him deeply uncomfortable. He even told her that respectable women wouldn't wear such clothes, and that any woman with a sense of shame ought to feel embarrassed going out in it.

At the time, brainwashed by her ex-husband, she felt so ashamed that she buried the dress at the bottom of a suitcase. Had it not been for the idea that she could later dismantle it to sew a pretty little outfit for a future daughter, she would have thrown it away outright.

Now she thought, to hell with it—screw the notion that "good women" don't wear such clothes. Only now did she realize that all those rules about what a "good woman" should do, wear, or how she should behave were nothing but moral shackles imposed by insecure men, their way of manipulating women.

Confident men never cared if others took an extra glance at how beautiful and sensual their partners were.

Pausing briefly in her search through the luggage, Xu Miyu recalled that after the divorce, she must have bundled this dress with other clothes and packed it in one of the suitcases. She was sure it was still there, not discarded.

So she continued patiently searching and finally found it in the last suitcase.

She ironed the dress and put it on.

Back when she used to wear this dress, she had been a bit too thin. Recently, she had taken good care of her health and gained a little weight. That extra weight perfectly filled out the areas the dress was meant to accentuate—the curves of her chest and hips now rising full and just right. She exercised daily to keep her waist and legs firm and toned. So where it should be slim, her waist was cinched delicately within the dress.

She let down her tied-up hair.

A cascade of long hair fell over her shoulders.

She used a curling iron to create soft waves at the ends, then picked out a tube of bright red lipstick, applying it carefully to her lips.

Then she looked at herself in the mirror.

Pale skin, black dress, wavy long hair, and fiery red lips.

She slipped on her high heels.

She felt like a completely different person.

A thirty-year-old woman with a certain charm and sensuality.

This woman had once lived under various constraints—from her ex-husband, from her own personality flaws, from her patriarchal family that favored sons over daughters. She had lived under their suppression and restrictions. Now she had freed herself, casting aside those pressures to try becoming more unrestrained, transforming into the woman in the mirror.

Xu Miyu smiled at her reflection.

This feeling of freely being herself now was truly wonderful.

Right at the end of the workday, Xue Rui called the front desk looking for Xu Miyu.Later, a Japanese client would be arriving at the hotel to discuss business with Ji Feng. Ji Feng wasn’t fond of the client’s conduct outside of business settings and didn’t want him coming up to the top floor. So, he wanted Xu Miyu, who spoke Japanese, to receive the client when he arrived, take him to the executive lounge, and wait there until Ji Feng finished dinner before going down.

But the front desk staff informed Xue Rui, "Mi Yu has already clocked out."

Xue Rui immediately asked, "If she just left, can we call her back? The boss has a Japanese client coming later and wants her to receive him in the lobby, then take him to the executive lounge."

"Do we really need Mi Yu for that? There are people in the executive lounge who speak Japanese. Can’t we just call one of them down?"

Xue Rui replied, "But the boss isn’t willing to use just anyone. He doesn’t trust others."

Even after invoking the boss to that extent, he didn’t expect the front desk staff to staunchly defend their supervisor: "Come on, Xue Rui, let it go. Our supervisor Xu has been working really hard lately. Today, she finally managed to leave on time and wanted to unwind at a bar. Can’t you do her a favor and let her have a break?"

Xue Rui considered this and felt the front desk staff had a point. Xu Miyu had indeed been very busy and exhausted lately. It would be inhumane to drag her back when she finally had a chance to relax.

"Alright then," he conceded, then asked, "Mi Yu said she’s going to a bar to unwind tonight?"

The front desk staff casually replied, "Yeah, she’s going to 'Night Encounter.'"

As he hung up, Xue Rui thought to himself that Xu Miyu was really arranging her personal life well these days—she was heading to the hottest bar around, "Night Encounter." In Star City, both young people and the wealthy loved spending their evenings there.

Putting away his phone, he turned to report to Ji Feng, "Boss, Mi Yu has already clocked out."

Ji Feng was preparing to have dinner with Jiang Zhichun. Without pausing as he reached for his chopsticks, he asked directly, "She left so early tonight—does she have plans?"

Xue Rui hesitated before saying, "The front desk staff mentioned she’s going to a bar, probably a prearranged thing."

Ji Feng fell silent for a moment upon hearing this.

Jiang Zhichun observed him from the side, carefully studying his micro-expressions.

But he only raised an eyebrow and frowned slightly. There seemed to be a hint of displeasure in his eyes, though she couldn’t tell if it was because a subordinate wasn’t available to work overtime with him or because that subordinate had plans with someone else at a bar.

Seizing the moment, she spoke up, "How about I go down instead!" Seeing Ji Feng turn to look at her, she immediately flashed a charming, slightly innocent smile and added, "I know a bit of Japanese too!" Instinctively, she didn’t want Xu Miyu to have a chance of being called back to work, and for that, she was willing to humble herself just this once.

Ji Feng chuckled and curled his lips into a smile. "You’re a guest here. How could I let you go down and work?" He then turned back to Xue Rui and said, "Hurry up and come eat. After you finish, you can go down and receive the client."

Xue Rui quickly sat down and started shoveling food into his mouth, only then beginning to wonder belatedly.

Right—he could also eat quickly and then go down to receive the client. It didn’t necessarily have to be Xu Miyu.

So, who had created the impression that only Xu Miyu could handle the reception in the first place…Xue Rui quickly finished his dinner in a few bites, just in time to go downstairs and receive the Japanese client. He took the client to the Monsoon Pavilion in the executive lounge and chatted with him for a while.

The client was a middle-aged man around forty years old, with a decent appearance and a dignified demeanor. He was cautious and serious about his work, and contract negotiations with him always resolved issues between both parties swiftly.

However, he had one flaw—he was rather fond of sensual pleasures. Xue Rui had heard from people who had done business with him before that Mr. Jingtian particularly enjoyed frequenting places with many beautiful women.

Ji Feng, on the other hand, absolutely detested such places. Therefore, he only discussed work with Mr. Jingtian and never accompanied him for anything beyond business matters.

After finishing dinner on the top floor, Ji Feng told Jiang Zhichun, "I still have some matters to discuss later. I’ll have the driver take you home."

But Jiang Zhichun blinked her big eyes and tentatively suggested, "I don’t want to go home yet. Can I go with you to the executive lounge? I promise I won’t cause any trouble—you can discuss your business, and I’ll just drink at the bar and enjoy the night view. I swear!"

Ji Feng felt it didn’t really matter whether she stayed or went home, so he agreed.

Unable to contain her excitement, Jiang Zhichun followed him down to the executive level and entered the executive lounge.

Just as she had promised, she stayed in the lounge, drinking and admiring the view outside the window, while Ji Feng went into his private Monsoon Room to discuss matters with Mr. Jingtian.

After a while, Ji Feng, Xue Rui, and Mr. Jingtian emerged from the Monsoon Room. It seemed they had finished their discussion, and it had gone quite well.

Jiang Zhichun set down her cocktail glass and walked over to them. Mr. Jingtian’s eyes lit up at the sight of her and he immediately praised her beauty.

Xue Rui quickly introduced her, saying, "This is a friend of our CEO Ji."

Jiang Zhichun also greeted Mr. Jingtian in Japanese.

Mr. Jingtian asked Ji Feng, "Since we’ve finished our business, why don’t we go somewhere for a drink to unwind? Do you know of any good bars nearby?"

Ji Feng wanted to decline this extra activity, so he offered up Xue Rui instead: "If it’s about bars, you should ask my assistant."

Xue Rui, recalling the "Night Encounter" bar mentioned before dinner, blurted out its name.

Ji Feng glanced sideways at Xue Rui.

Why did he have to recommend the very bar that woman was going to tonight?

Mr. Jingtian was excited and said to Ji Feng, "Then let’s all go together, CEO Ji?"

Ji Feng had intended to refuse—he never liked such noisy places. But somehow, as he was about to speak, an image of that woman flashed through his mind, and he found himself inexplicably replying, "Alright."

Even Xue Rui turned to look at him in surprise when he said this.

Ji Feng thought to himself that perhaps he just wanted to see what this "Night Encounter" bar was like, to make even a conservative, dull divorced woman willing to go there.

He turned to Jiang Zhichun, intending to have the driver take her home first.

But Jiang Zhichun, acting obediently again, tugged gently at his sleeve, blinking her eyes pleadingly as she asked, "Can I come along too?"

Ji Feng frowned slightly. This was the second time she had pulled on his sleeve. This time, he couldn’t hold back as he had the first time—he smoothly slipped his sleeve out of her grasp.

Then he thought, she was an adult. Whether she went to the bar or not was her own decision to make; she didn’t need his permission.

"As you wish," he replied to her.