Volume One, Chapter 10: Number Seventeen Is Absolutely Stunning

“Keep your eyes wide open!” Weiwei Sheng pointed at Gu Xingnian, who was playfully winking at her.

“Today, I’m going to show you what true masculine charisma looks like!”

Gu Xingnian chuckled softly. “Weiwei, I didn’t know you had such… a hobby.”

Weiwei Sheng raised an eyebrow proudly. “It’s called taste! What’s so great about those pretty boys? All soft and effeminate. Give me muscle-bound tough guys any day—that’s the real thrill!”

The two entered VIP Box No. 1, which offered the best view in the venue, the perfect vantage point to watch the muscular clashes unfolding in the ring below.

“Ding ding ding!”

The bell rang, and the crowd erupted in excitement—the match was about to begin.

“Look, look! Number Seventeen is stepping into the ring!”

Weiwei Sheng’s voice rose an octave in excitement as she pointed at a fighter wearing a half-silver mask.

“Number Seventeen, my eternal idol!”

Gu Xingnian followed her gaze. Number Seventeen’s physique was indeed explosive—each muscle sculpted like forged steel, radiating sheer power.

“Weiwei, aren’t you being a little obsessed?” Gu Xingnian teased with a smile.

“So what if I am? I’m enjoying myself!” Weiwei Sheng said, grabbing a tissue, folding it neatly into a heart shape, and pressing a vivid lipstick mark onto it before handing it to a waiter.

“Could you please deliver this to Number Seventeen? Tell him it’s from the lady in Box No. 1, cheering him on!”

The waiter, clearly accustomed to such requests, took the tissue heart without a second thought.

Number Seventeen stood at the edge of the ring, warming up with eyes sharp as a hawk’s.

He took the tissue heart from the waiter, squinted slightly, and glanced toward Box No. 1 with a complex, inscrutable look.

“Clang!”

The bell signaled the official start of the match!

Like a leopard springing into action, Number Seventeen’s muscles tensed and his fists whipped through the air with thunderous force, each punch sending adrenaline surging through the crowd.

“Beautiful! Beautiful! Hit him, hit him!”

Weiwei Sheng was so excited she practically danced in her seat, wishing she could jump in and throw a couple of punches herself.

Gu Xingnian, caught up in the fierce atmosphere, felt her adrenaline spike, eyes glued to the intense battle in the ring.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The heavy thuds of flesh meeting flesh sent shivers down everyone’s spines.

In less than three minutes, the opponent let out a miserable scream and collapsed, unable to rise again.

The arena instantly exploded with cheers and screams, deafening and electric—the atmosphere absolutely erupted!

“Number Seventeen! Number Seventeen!” Weiwei Sheng led the chants, her voice nearly hoarse.

Number Seventeen’s face remained expressionless, eyes cold, as if he had merely done something trivial.

Soon after, the host called him back for an exhibition match, which he dispatched swiftly and cleanly, defeating his opponent in no time.

No one could last more than three minutes against him, earning thunderous applause.

The entire venue went wild over Number Seventeen!

Fans surged to the edge of the ring, throwing money onto the stage like snowflakes.

“Another match! Another match!!”

Only Weiwei Sheng reached into her bag and tossed a velvet towel embroidered with a little cat.

The towel landed right in front of Number Seventeen, who bent down to pick it up and glanced at it before turning and walking off the ring, disappearing into the backstage corridor.

“He took my gift! Hahaha!”

Weiwei Sheng’s eyes sparkled with starry excitement.

“See? That’s a real man—he doesn’t bow to money, only to a lady’s affection. So manly!”

Gu Xingnian smiled wryly. “Weiwei, with that imagination, you’d be wasting your talent if you didn’t write novels.”

After the match, still buzzing with excitement, Weiwei Sheng grabbed Gu Xingnian, eager to find Number Seventeen backstage.

“Come on, come on, we have to get his autograph and a photo! Missing this gem would be a lifetime regret!”

But when they arrived backstage, not a trace of Number Seventeen could be found.

“Damn! He’s quick on his feet!” Weiwei Sheng pouted, a bit disappointed but soon bounced back.

“Never mind. A hero is worth the wait! Let’s head to the club and celebrate Number Seventeen's victory with a drink!”

They moved on to the most luxurious night club in the venue.

As they entered, the lively scene near the billiards area caught their attention.

“Wow, so many people?” Weiwei Sheng leaned in curiously.

A crowd surrounded a pool table, watching intently, breaking into applause and cheers from time to time.

A tall man in a floral shirt held a cue stick, executing smooth, stylish shots, clearing the table in two strokes and earning thunderous applause.

After his game, he looked up and spotted Weiwei Sheng and Gu Xingnian—two stunning beauties. His eyes lit up, a playful smile tugging at his lips as he approached them.

“Ladies, care to join me for a couple of games?”

The man’s smile was dazzling, tinged with confidence and challenge.

Weiwei Sheng sized him up, smirking, “That’s your level? So-so.”

Hearing this, the man perked up. “Oh? A lady with high standards? How about a wager?”

“What kind of wager?” Weiwei Sheng raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

“If I win,” the man pointed to his face with an ambiguous smile, “you give me a kiss. Deal?”

Weiwei Sheng burst out laughing.

“A kiss? Dream on! If we win,” she nodded toward the nearby stage with a mischievous grin, “you get up there and do a striptease! Dare you?”

“Wow!” The crowd erupted, clapping and cheering, the atmosphere instantly ignited.

The man hesitated, then laughed heartily.

“Interesting! Deal! But who’s playing against you, beauty?” His gaze flicked between Weiwei Sheng and Gu Xingnian.

Without hesitation, Weiwei Sheng shoved Gu Xingnian forward.

“Of course it’s her! Our Ningning is a pool pro; she’ll crush you, rookie!”

Gu Xingnian was caught off guard, nearly losing her balance, staring at Weiwei Sheng in confusion. “Weiwei, you…”

Weiwei Sheng winked at her, making playful faces.

“Ningning, don’t chicken out! For your sister’s sake—go knock him out!”

Gu Xingnian could only laugh and cry at the same time but, seeing Weiwei Sheng’s excitement, she steeled herself.

How long had it been since she last played? Five years? Six?

Her skills were rusty.

But now, pushed into the spotlight, all eyes were on her, filled with curiosity, doubt, and the thrill of a good show.

There was no turning back.

She took a deep breath and reached for a slightly chilly cue stick.

Might as well loosen up a bit.

The man in the white shirt saw her slender fingers gripping the cue, her posture surprisingly confident, but his eyes still held a trace of contempt.

He theatrically gestured with his hands.

“Ladies first, please.”

Gu Xingnian said nothing and stepped up to the table.

She bent slightly, steadying her breath.

In that moment, the surrounding noise seemed to fade away.

Her eyes, shimmering under the dim lights, sharpened like a hawk’s, locking onto the neatly arranged nine balls.

Her right hand drew back steadily, then—

“Bang!”

The crisp sound of the cue ball hitting the rack echoed through the room.

The colorful balls scattered.

One, two, three!

She pocketed three balls on the break shot!