It was nearly midnight in Yinshi, one of the busiest districts in Yeifeng City. The cold night air curled in thin ribbons of mist along the cracked stone roads. Smoke from street grills and bar chimneys mingled with the faint scent of aged wine and oil. Red lanterns swayed faintly overhead, flickering like distant stars...quietly lighting the way through this chilled urban maze. Most of the people out at this hour were men, bundled in heavy robes lined with wolf or tiger fur, their voices echoing in bursts of laughter from the warm glow of nearby taverns.
From the shadows emerged a solitary figure...tall, poised, and shrouded in elegant stillness. A man, likely in his late twenties, walked with quiet confidence through the smoky streets. His long dark violet hair was half-tied with a silky ribbon, matching the rich color of his flowing hanfu. A silver headband rested on his forehead, centered with the moon emblem of the Yeyan Clan...a mark of silent nobility.
His robe shimmered violet beneath a light silver outer coat, and a white fur-lined sweater layered beneath it for warmth. On his sleeve, the same moon symbol was embroidered again...white on violet, like frost on wine. His fingers idly tapped against the hilt of a sword at his waist...violet-bladed and sheathed with care.
He stopped and gently bowed toward a middle-aged man walking past.
"Excuse me... would you know if there's any good place nearby where I could rest for a while? I've just arrived and... I don't know much about this town."
His voice was low and smooth, refined, yet tinged with weariness. His gaze was sharp but respectful, eyes like ink in moonlight.
The older man bowed in return, scanning the young swordsman briefly from head to toe. After a moment's pause, he responded:
"Ah, I see. Of course, childe...?"
"Lan Han Yujin," he replied softly, a polite smile tugging briefly at his lips.
"Childe Yujin," the man nodded, "There's a well-known bar just up ahead...rather popular with travelers of fine taste. It's called Jiu Se Ge. You'll find it if you keep walking a little further."
Yujin tilted his head slightly at the name, a flicker of unease passing through his calm expression. Jiu Se Ge... "Wine & Colour Pavilion"? The name sounded oddly suggestive.
"Thank you for your kindness. May you return home safely," he offered with another courteous bow, the long sleeve of his robe gliding softly with the motion.
As he continued walking, a soft sigh escaped him.
"That name... it feels too... intimate. Gives me a strange chill down my spine. But what choice do I have? It's freezing out here. I can't exactly step into any random shabby place..."
Finally, he stood before the bar.
Its exterior was luxurious...wine-red with silver accents. Elegant characters in Chinese read "Jiu Se Ge 酒色阁" with an English inscription below: Wine & Colour Pavilion. The design was undeniably aesthetic, but there was something about it... something too polished. Too deliberate.
He hesitated for a second as the sound of male laughter and music drifted out.
"Is it just in my head...? Or is something really... off?"
His heart thudded in his chest...a quiet warning. But he shook it off, forcing himself to step inside.
The interior was just as rich as the outside: gold-tinted lights, plush velvet cushions, the warm scent of sandalwood and wine... and only men. All the patrons were male, ranging from young to elderly, their voices weaving through the low music like soft waves of amusement.
He chose a quiet corner and sat.
A small bell on the table signaled for service. He pressed it.
A waiter arrived promptly.
"Yes, childe. Just a moment," he said, bowing as he quickly cleaned the already tidy table. He set down a fine wine cup and poured a clear golden liquid.
"Enjoy your night . Here is the menu. Call me once you're ready to order."
Yujin gave a soft nod. As the waiter left, he swallowed, discomfort rising in his throat. Something didn't sit right.
He picked up the menu. It opened into two parts...one clearly the food list... and the other, oddly more ornate. Curious, he opened the second.
It didn't list dishes. It listed names.
Male names.
He blinked, brows knitting.
"Top-ranked night courtesans... special experiences... unforgivable borrowed nights?"
His face flushed slightly as confusion flickered to disbelief.
He kept reading.
"Top 5 pleasure hosts in Yuefeng district:
5. Jinling
4. Baiyan
3. Roulan
2. Yuren
Xiao Lianzi"
His hand froze on the menu.
"What the hell is this...?"
"The top one... is me."
A voice spoke beside him...playful, velvety.
Startled, Yujin turned to find a young man...perhaps 20 or 23...grinning at him. The boy had soft, mischievous blue eyes and grayish-black hair tied loosely at the back. He was dressed in a wine-red and silver hanfu...clearly no ordinary waiter.
"Should I explain it to you, childe?" he said with a sly wink.
Yujin's face was unreadable...caught between frozen politeness and disbelief.
The young man leaned closer, voice hushed but teasing.
"That menu lists the pleasure hosts here at our... special house. Those top names? Let's just say they're highly trained in giving other men the best night of their life. And I.." he pointed at himself with a proud smile, "am Xiao. Number one. So... who would you like to spend the night with? Hopefully, me~"
Yujin's eyes widened slightly. His breath hitched.
"Hire... men? For pleasure... with other men?" he whispered, his voice barely steady.
Xiao blinked, slightly tilting his head.
"Well, yes... this is a bar for bisexual men. One of the most famous ones in Yeifeng City. Is that... a problem?"
A silence dropped like ice between them.
Yujin stood up abruptly. Some heads turned.
His hand gripped the hilt of his sheathed sword. He tried to calm his chaotic thoughts.
"Why... why did that man send me here? He was looking at me so strangely... was that why? Do I... do I look like that kind of man to him?"
Xiao looked up in confusion.
"Childe...? What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing," Yujin murmured, voice tight.
"Come on now~ Did you decide? Surely you'll pick me. I'm skilled, charming and handsome," Xiao said with a smug grin, inching closer.
"How old are you?" Yujin asked suddenly.
"Twenty. And you must be... what, 28? Maybe 30? Handsome and mature. My type, honestly." He winked again. "Shall we head to the private chamber?"
Before Yujin could protest, Xiao took his wrist with surprising gentleness and led him away.
The chamber was luxurious, dimly lit, thick with velvet and soft light. The moment Xiao locked the door behind them, Yujin's body tensed.
The boy stepped closer, brushing a hand on Yujin's shoulder, pressing his palm gently to his chest.
He could feel Yujin's heart hammering beneath the layers of robes.
"Ah, nervous... but excited. How adorable," Xiao thought.
His lips neared Yujin's throat, brushing faintly near his Adam's apple...
Yujin flinched and backed away sharply.
"I-I think there's been a misunderstanding," he said quickly, clearing his throat. "I came here by accident. I'm not... bisexual."
Without another word, he turned and left, walking out in long strides.
Xiao stood still, lips parted, blinking in confusion.
"Wait...hey! You can't just leave like that! We didn't even start.."
"No need! Thank you for the... service!"
And with that, Lan Han Yujin disappeared into the night air, heart pounding, breath sharp against the cold wind.
Xiao stood at the doorway, arms crossed and a visible pout on his lips.
"What a strange man... he ran off like I was going to eat him alive. Now what if the others find out I got rejected? That'd definitely ruin my reputation... tch."
But somewhere beneath his pride, Xiao felt a quiet amusement.
"He was kinda cute, though..."
[ End of Chapter 01 ]
Author thoughts : hi everyone..that's my 2nd new book " borrowed nights ".. hope you all will love this book too..but I highly expect to keep " Eyes of broken lilies " on top , a legendary piece among my all books..more books are coming soon..some are roots of " Eyes of broken lilies " yet saturated stories , dome are others..you'll see 5+ book collections soon..slow and bit by bit..I will post in every 1 to 3 days regularly..at my first book and this one for now then you all will find others later . And I hope by your love Kirihito's and Xiao's world will shine really bright☺💗