Yan Liuzhuan’s residence was in a high-rise apartment next to Pingcheng New Street.

Standing beneath the towering building, I looked up but couldn’t see the top, and under the scorching sun, my vision blurred slightly.

“So tall!” I couldn’t help but exclaim.

“Kai-chan, you’re overreacting~ It’s only eighteen floors! There are way taller buildings out there~”

Sorry! I’m just a clueless bumpkin from an urban village…

Turns out, Yan Liuzhuan really lived on the eighteenth floor. Taking the slow-moving scenic elevator, I watched as the ground drifted farther away, my legs growing weak.

When the elevator doors opened, I was surprised to find him already waiting at the door.

That elite-looking guy with his neatly parted hair and thin gold-rimmed glasses stood at the entrance, face stiff, completely motionless—like a guardian statue.

I wasn’t sure if he had come out knowing we were arriving or if he had been standing there all along, waiting.

“Liuliu~ I brought your guest~”

“…Liuliu?” I was taken aback by the odd nickname.

“Ah, he won’t let me call him that at school, but in private, he doesn’t mind. Cute, right?”

How is that even remotely related to cute?

“Ah~ Per-fect Aphro-dite…”

Liuliu—no, Yan Liuzhuan—spoke in an odd, stilted rhythm, and as he reached out to touch my cheek, I instinctively took a step back.

This guy… something’s off about him.

“…Don’t be afraid I will not harm you.”

Why the hell are you talking in dramatic pauses?!

“Liuliu, don’t scare her off! I’m not inviting her again if she runs!”

Rinka stepped between us, blocking his hand. Yan Liuzhuan shook his head, finally snapping back to normal.

“Apologies. I got carried away for a moment. Please, come in.”

Well, considering how he completely crashed the first time he saw my face, this was actually an improvement.

As I stepped inside, I finally noticed something. “Why are you still wearing your school uniform at home?”

“Oh, I don’t like wasting energy picking out clothes. The uniform is perfect, both convenient and functional.”

At the entrance, I took off my shoes, and Yan Liuzhuan carefully picked them up, placing them neatly onto the shoe rack. Even shoes in a mall display weren’t arranged this precisely. Then, he handed us two pairs of slippers.

I vaguely remembered Rinka mentioning that this apartment used to belong to Yan Liuzhuan’s grandfather. No wonder the interior decor felt so traditional.

Solid mahogany sofas. Mahogany coffee tables. Mahogany cabinets.

Everything was mahogany.

Holy crap. Just this furniture alone must’ve cost a fortune.

After some brief introductions—using my Chang Lingmeng identity, of course, Yan Liuzhuan said, “Make yourselves comfortable. I need to go prepare. You can explore any room except the study on the right—it’s off-limits. If you have questions, ask Rinka. He’s familiar with everything.”

With that, he ascended the staircase, leaving me and Rinka sitting awkwardly in the living room.

Wait. Stairs? So this was a duplex apartment?

The moment Yan Liuzhuan disappeared upstairs, Rinka switched into tour guide mode.

Following my gaze, she began introducing the place. “The nineteenth floor is a loft. Only residents on the eighteenth floor get access. That’s where his personal art studio is.”

“That study he doesn’t want you in? It’s his grandfather’s collection room. The cheapest antique in there is worth at least six figures, so really, not going in is for your own good.”

No worries. Even if you beat me to death, I wouldn’t set foot in there.

Sitting cautiously on the mahogany sofa, I had no idea where to put my hands, afraid that even shifting my weight might somehow damage the furniture—though that was obviously impossible.

“Kai-chan, relax~ Want to read a novel?”

Rinka waved that Dreamlike Fragrance in front of me. Figuring a distraction might help, I took it and flipped through a few pages.

The story was about an average-looking high school girl with zero presence—except she had a special condition. Whenever she got excited or flustered, her body would release a fragrance that attracted men.

Thus, she got entangled in romantic chaos with multiple guys:

The athletic basketball captain
The cold, disciplined student council president
The “best friend” who’s actually a crossdresser
The arrogant idol
Even a kung fu master who killed a bear with his bare hands

…Why does this feel so familiar?

This girl is literally just a bi—

Ahem. A very socially engaged young woman.

Also, "average-looking" my a̲s̲s̲! The illustrations clearly depicted a standard beauty.

What the hell?! How is this book even popular?!

Feeling mentally exhausted, I threw the book back onto the table.

“Kai-chan, you totally don’t understand a girl’s heart~”

“I’d be more concerned if I did.”

Just then, footsteps came from the staircase above.

“I’m ready. Lingmeng, please come up.”

“Liuliu~ Do I not get to come?”

“Rinka, you stay downstairs for a bit, I don’t want to be distracted.”

“Eh~ that sounds so boring!”

Despite complaining, Rinka settled back onto the sofa, flipping open Dreamlike Fragrance again.

So now I had to be alone with Yan Liuzhuan? I had zero sense of security about this.

Cautiously climbing the stairs, I activated full vigilance mode—ready to bolt at the first sign of weirdness.

From the moment I entered this place, I’d already sensed his obsessive tendencies.

The cabinet’s teacups? Handles perfectly aligned.
The balcony’s drying rack? Sorted by color.
The TV wall’s paintings? Perfectly symmetrical.

And here, in the art studio, his OCD was in full force.

Easels arranged from largest to smallest.
Paintbrushes sorted from thickest to thinnest.
Paints organized by color gradient.
Various art tools neatly classified in labeled cabinets.

Even though I don’t know much about art myself, for someone this obsessively meticulous, he didn’t feel like a typical artist at all.

As I observed the room, Yan Liuzhuan simply stared at me, eyes scanning my face like he was mentally dissecting its structure. It was weirdly uncomfortable having him look at me like I’m some sculpture on display.

Feeling uncomfortable under his scrutiny, I instinctively tried to start a conversation.

“In your free time, do you only work on sketches and oil paintings? No other interests?”

Interrupted from his thoughts, he frowned slightly in displeasure before quickly regaining his composure.

“I do.”

Oh? Unexpected.

“I’m also interested in digital art and traditional Chinese painting,” he replied matter-of-factly.

It was only then that I noticed the drawing tablet and monitor against the wall, as well as the brushes and inkstones neatly arranged in the cabinet.

I see.

My apologies, sir—you are truly the future of the art world.

“So, as a model, what exactly do I need to do?”

He first placed a chair in front of the sunlit floor-to-ceiling window, but before I could sit down, he shook his head, moved it away, and reconsidered.

Then, he pulled out a roll of soft white fabric from the cabinet and spread it out in the direct sunlight from the window.

“Step on it.”

He gestured toward the starkly bright cloth.

I slipped off my slippers and stepped onto the fabric, immediately feeling the heat from the sunlight. Even with air conditioning, standing directly in the sun wasn’t exactly comfortable.

But for the right to use Rinka’s secret base, this much was nothing.

“And now?” I asked.

“Strip.”

“…What?”

I must have misheard.