Knox leaned one hand on the pool table, smiling meaningfully:
"It's only 9:30... let's play another game, Aurora?"
Aurora was sitting on the chair, her hand swirling a glass of water, looking up at him. Her lips curved into a thin smile:
"Why not?"
The answer was light but made the whole F4 startled. Blacke raised his eyebrows, Zane looked at Easton with a puzzled look, and Knox curled his lips as if he had just found an interesting toy.
The sound of the pool table being wiped clean rang out. The other young tycoons, who were gathered at the bar area, began to back away, making room around Aurora and F4's pool table. From afar, F3 also approached.
Lin Xia pulled Tiffany Wei's hand, muttering in frustration:
"Why do they keep paying attention to that girl..."
Tiffany Wei coldly snorted:
"She's probably just good for her looks, you'll see if she loses later."
Aurora walked to the table, holding the stick, her cold green eyes scanning over each marble on the table as if calculating the entire game. Without any hesitation, she bent down, her body curves forming a perfect posture that made several young masters unconsciously swallow their saliva.
A "clack" sound rang out, the white marble flew out, hitting the right angle, sending the number 7 marble falling neatly into the hole. A loud "oh" sounded from the surrounding young masters.
The game continued. After just over ten minutes, Aurora put the stick down on the table, winning in the surprised silence of F4.
Zane sighed:
"Unbelievable…"
Blacke crossed his arms, stepped closer to her, his voice low but filled with amusement:
"The first time you fought with us, you paid attention to the path of each punch we threw?"
Aurora only replied with a smirk, not bothering to say anything.
Unexpectedly, Jenden of F3 spoke up, his voice full of challenge:
"Then play a game with us."
The atmosphere around immediately changed. Aurora tilted her head, raised her eyebrows:
"Again a bet?"
Jenden curled his lips:
"If you win, you get to control us for today and tomorrow. But… if you lose…"
He paused for a moment, deliberately glanced down at her, then smiled provocatively:
"… then you will go back to F3's villa and sleep with us."
Some people in the bar laughed heartily, others just shook their heads because they were too familiar with this type of bet.
Blacke immediately stepped forward, his voice stern:
"Don't agree, Aurora."
Zane and Knox also objected at the same time, while Easton remained silent, his eyes fixed on her, waiting for a reaction.
But Aurora narrowed her eyes, twirling the cue, her voice as light as air:
"Okay."
Cheers erupted in the bar. Some people whistled, others took out their phones to record.
Easton frowned, lowering his voice to her:
"You have to win, understand?"
Aurora just glanced at him, not answering, her lips still holding the thin smile like a knife.
Aurora stood by the pool table, gently twirling the cue as if warming up, her green eyes still bright and calm, without any pressure.
On the other side, Jenden of F3 revealed a half-smile full of challenge.
"Be careful, princess. At this table, we have never lost to anyone." he said, his voice trailing off as if to provoke.
Knox stood beside him, arms crossed:
"Aurora… are you sure?"
She just glanced over, smiling faintly:
"More sure than ever."
The entire bar seemed to slow down. The background music gradually faded, leaving only the sound of laughter and the clattering of marbles. The young ladies from Shanghai gathered in a corner, their eyes filled with envy and glee, cheering continuously:
"Jenden oppa! Don't let her win!"
"That's right! Let's finish this game!"
Jenden bent down to the table, hit a neat opening shot, the ball rolled lightly into the pocket, he glanced at Aurora:
"See? This is called a perfect opening."
Aurora didn't reply, just stepped forward, bending her body along the line of sight. Her slender hands gently adjusted the angle of the shot, each movement slow and purposeful. She tapped lightly, the ball rolled straight, accurately, and went into the pocket as if it had been calculated in advance.
Zane of F4 curled his lips:
"Wow... she's no pushover."
Blacke was silent, but his eyes were still glued to the path of each marble.
The game continued. Jenden talked while playing, as if to distract Aurora:
"I guess, if I lose… you'll wear a red dress, right? It matches our villa."
"You're imagining too much." – Aurora replied, her voice light but carrying a thin knife that cut through his confidence.
The whole bar fell silent for a few seconds when Aurora hit an extremely difficult double shot, the white ball hitting the right angle, causing both other balls to roll into the hole. Some of the young tycoons standing nearby gasped:
"She's… really playing for the first time?"
"No, she's a pro."
Knox leaned over, whispering to Blacke:
"If she wins, Jenden will really lose face."
"And F3 won't let it go." Blacke replied, his voice low as if warning.
F3 still tried to act comfortable, but the sharpness in Jenden's eyes was obvious. He started hitting faster, harder, trying to create pressure. But Aurora was still… calm. Occasionally, she would look up at him, her lips curving into a small smile as if she had seen through the entire strategy.
Xiao-Yu called out from the corner of the bar:
"Jenden is an opportunist, Aurora. Be careful!"
She only responded with her eyes, not a single word.
There were only three marbles left on the table. The air was thick. F4 was silent, her eyes focused on each shot. F3 began to laugh harshly, imagining the moment Aurora would lose and have to follow them back to the villa.
Aurora watched the last shot. Her grip on the cue was firm, her body tilted slightly, her green eyes locked onto the cue ball's path…
"Clack…Clack…"
The two marbles slid smoothly into the pocket. Only the last one remained, the decisive one.
She turned the cue gently, whispering as if talking to herself:
"It's over."
Aurora still kept a calm expression, her green eyes like a calm lake, without a ripple. Her fingers gently rotated the cue, feeling as if the noisy world around her had been pushed aside.
On the other side, Jenden of F3 smiled confidently, his eyes like a predator seeing his prey trapped. He chatted while playing, his voice drawn out provocatively:
Jenden (watching the shot): "I was imagining… if you lose later, tonight at the villa will be very interesting."
Marcus laughed: "Not only interesting, but memorable for life."
Liam raised his eyebrows and looked at Aurora: "But… you don't look scared, do you?"
Aurora just smiled lightly, not answering, her hand lifted the cue and carefully watched the path of the ball.
The whole bar suddenly fell silent as if holding its breath. Only the faint sound of the ball rolling on the green table remained. F4 stood nearby, their cold eyes fixed on Jenden.
Knox whispered to Blacke: "This guy is playing dirty, but Aurora… definitely knows what he's planning."
Blacke replied simply: "As long as she wins."
In another corner, Xiao-Yu crossed his arms, his eyes seeming to see through all of F3's tricks:
Xiao-Yu: "Jenden is very opportunistic… he'll take advantage of any opening, even a distracted glance."
The young ladies from Shanghai were the complete opposite, drinking and cheering for F3, their voices shrill:
"Jenden oppa, do your best!"
"Don't let that girl win!"
Aurora still leisurely walked around the table, her eyes scanning every corner, her lips slightly curled as if she knew everything.
Aurora (in a low voice, loud enough for F3 to hear): "Let's continue playing. Who will go back to the villa tonight… isn't certain."
Jenden paused for a moment, but then burst out laughing, thinking she was just being bold.
The next shot began. A light touch, the white ball rolled slowly… then suddenly changed direction in an extremely difficult curve, pushing the target ball into the pocket. The "clack" sound rang out, waking up the entire bar.
Knox and Easton glanced at each other, and Blacke clenched his fists slightly.
Blacke (in a low voice): "She just hit a curve shot…"
Knox: "And perfect."
Jenden bit his lip, his smile fading. He never thought Aurora could play with such high technique even under the pressure of hundreds of eyes.
Aurora raised her head, her green eyes piercing straight into Jenden:
Aurora: "Next shot, you lose. And… you know what will happen, right?"
The atmosphere in the bar became thick. Everyone knew the next shot would decide everything.
Aurora gently bent down, one hand supporting the table, the other hand lightly gripping the cue. No one knew what she was thinking, but her slender figure looked… too confident.
Jenden smiled again, but his smile was no longer as carefree as before. Marcus and Liam still tried to act cheerful, but their eyes were filled with worry.
Marcus (whispering to Jenden): "Don't be fooled, he's stalling for time."
Jenden: "Don't worry, I'll finish this."
The young ladies from Shanghai kept shouting:
"Jenden oppa, do your best!"
"You can't lose to her!"
At the corner of the bar, Xiao-Yu squinted his eyes and observed, the corners of his lips curling up meaningfully:
Xiao-Yu: "If she's going to do what I think… then F3 is over."
Aurora took a breath, put the cue down… Clink!
The shot wasn't too strong, but the trajectory of the white ball was completely unusual. It slid along the table, lightly touched the edge, changed angle… then as if pulled by an invisible force, hit the target ball. The clink sounded again and the target ball slid straight into the pocket.
The room was dead silent.
Knox curled his lips, and Blacke muttered:
Blacke: "Double bank shot… accurate to the millimeter."
The last ball was in the pocket without touching another one. Aurora stood up straight, turning the cue in her hand as if she had just finished a simple warm-up game.
Aurora (looking straight at Jenden): "This game… I win."
Jenden gripped the cue, his jaw clenched. Marcus and Liam grimaced in unison. The entire bar erupted, half cheering for Aurora, the other half still frozen in disbelief that F3 had lost to a girl… and someone they thought would be timid and fearful.
Aurora turned and walked away, not forgetting to leave a sentence:
Aurora: "See you at the mansion… but I'm here to get what I want."
F4 looked at each other, their eyes filled with pride mixed with a bit of curiosity about this girl's next plan.
And F3? They had just realized… this "prey" was not easy to swallow.
---
The sound of the sports car engine stopped in front of the big gate. Aurora stepped down, her black dress hugging her, the yellow light reflecting off her skin making her skin even brighter. She still held the pool cue from earlier, like a trophy.
Jenden stood on the steps, hands in his pockets, eyes half mocking and half… puzzled.
Marcus and Liam sat on the sofa in the lobby, red wine in hand, as if waiting to see an interesting pastime.
Jenden: "Really coming? I thought you were just talking for show."
Aurora (smiling faintly): "I mean it."
She walked past them, her high heels clicking on the marble floor. Each step made the atmosphere seem thicker.
Marcus raised his eyebrows, smiling:
Marcus: "Do you think you can win a second time here?"
Aurora: "I don't need to win a second time. Because I've never lost."
The words made Jenden pause a bit. Liam rested his chin on his hand, half-smiling:
Liam: "Speak as if you know all the rules here."
Aurora put the cue down on the table, moving closer to Jenden, enough for him to smell the light scent of her hair.
Aurora (whispering): "The rules are there… I set them."
She suddenly turned to Marcus, took the glass of wine from his hand, but instead of drinking, she put it down and took a bottle of water from her bag. Opening the cap, she drank sip by sip as if she were at home.
Aurora: "Wine isn't what sobers me up. But water… does."
Jenden frowned slightly. This girl was unlike any "prey" they had ever met, not drunk, not confused, and clearly in control.
Marcus looked at Jenden, signaling. Jenden curled his lips:
Jenden: "Okay. Let's see… what are you planning to get here."
Aurora sat down on the chair, crossed her legs, and looked straight at them:
Aurora: "Not 'what'… but 'who'."
That sentence made the whole room fall into silence. Liam put his glass of wine on the table, his eyes full of curiosity.
Liam: "And if we don't give it?"
Aurora: "Then I'll take it another way. Trust me… you'll want it to be a negotiation, not a fight."
In the dark corner, F4 just walked in, Knox and Blacke exchanged glances, they knew Aurora had just thrown the first "tough" punch.
In the dark corner, Knox stood with his arms crossed, Blacke leaned slightly towards him, his eyes still fixed on Aurora.
The music from the living room echoed, but could not drown out the tense atmosphere that was enveloping them.
Blacke (softly): "She didn't come here to play."
Knox (nodding slightly, deep voice): "She's forcing F3 to reveal her true colors."
Aurora was still sitting there, her eyes calm and unreadable. Her fingers tapped slowly on the armrest of the chair, each beat as if counting the time waiting for them to take the bait.
Marcus leaned back, smiling indifferently:
Marcus: "That sounds nice, but you're just a girl who went to the wolf's den alone."
Aurora (smiling): "You're wrong… wolves never hunt alone. And… neither do I."
The lobby door opened. The lights from the courtyard flooded in, and F4 walked in as if they had been there all along. Damian strode up behind Aurora, placing his hand on her chair's shoulder, his eyes scanning the area in warning.
Jenden tilted his head slightly, half surprised, half annoyed:
Jenden: "Oh… it seems I underestimated you."
Aurora: "That's right. And you'll regret it."
Knox stepped forward, tossing a small bag onto the table. The metal inside rang out with the "clink" of the F3 sports car keys.
Knox: "I think these toys… will change hands today."
Marcus frowned slightly, glancing at Liam. Liam was still smiling, but his grip on his wine glass tightened.
Aurora stood up, picked up the bag of keys, and spun it around in her hand as if it had always belonged to her.
Aurora: "I beat you guys in a game of billiards. Now… I'll beat you guys in a game you think you're invincible at."
The atmosphere froze. In that moment, Blacke caught a glimpse of Jenden's eyes flashing with a hint of… not anger, but dangerous interest.
Aurora turned and walked slowly out the door. F4 followed closely behind, each step seeming to be nailed to the floor.
Before leaving, she stopped and turned back to look at F3:
Aurora: "Remember… I am not prey. I am a hunter."
The door closed, leaving behind three faces that were both embarrassed and angry, and a storm that foretold.
In the backyard of F3's villa, the night wind carried the smell of gasoline and leather from the sports cars parked in rows. The yellow light fell on the ground, illuminating the silhouettes of Aurora and F4.
Knox walked to the shiny black SUV and pressed the button to open the trunk. The trunk opened, revealing thick files, the spines printed with the school logo. The papers were neatly tied, clearly classified.
Aurora (raised eyebrows): "All?"
Damian (nodded): "The whole school. As promised."
Aurora walked over, her hand sliding through each file, her fingers stopping at the cover of a red file, the corners of her lips curling up.
Aurora: "Thank you… I won't forget this favor."
Blacke didn't say anything, just picked up each file, moved it to the trunk of the silver sports car parked nearby, the Lamborghini that originally belonged to Marcus, now belonged to Aurora after the "surprise attack" just now.
Blacke closed the trunk, leaned lightly against the car, his eyes half curious, half teasing:
Blacke: "Do you know how to drive?"
Aurora didn't answer, just tilted her head, sneered. She walked around the side of the car, opened the door, and sat in the driver's seat. The sound of the V12 engine starting up was deep and powerful.
F4 stood there, watching as Aurora drove past the gate, the bright red taillights gradually disappearing into the night. No one said a word, but in the eyes of all four, there was the same thought: "This girl... is unlike anyone they have ever met."
Blacke slowly turned to Knox, intending to say something, but suddenly Easton looked up.
Easton: "... Look."
They all looked towards the rooftop of the F3 villa. In the darkness, Marcus, Liam and Jenden were standing there, the light from inside shining on their cold faces. Marcus leaned his hands on the railing, his eyes following the direction Aurora had just left, that look was not only angry... but also a wordless challenge.
The wind blew harder, followed by Liam's very soft laughter echoing down, sounding like a forewarning of a new battle to come.