The Hunter and the Bait

With that, Annie saw a sharp, bright gleam flare in President Donna's eyes—a light that belonged only to a hunter. Donna's lips curled into a smile. "Annie, invite him over for a seat." The bevy of beauties around the table exchanged looks of eager anticipation and ravenous interest. Nowadays, Jumang was a famous, illustrious young talent not just in all of New York County, but throughout the entire Free Federation. "Yes!" Fully prepared, Annie immediately rose and left the table. Before long, amid the expectant wait of the beauties from the Association of God of Beauty, the door to the private room opened. Annie returned leading a young man with delicate features and a quiet, refined demeanor. It was none other than Jumang, whom they had crossed paths with once at the banquet. Zhang Yuanqing swept his gaze across the ladies at the table before settling on the face of the most gorgeous and alluring woman among them. With impeccable timing, he let a flustered, lovestruck fascination show on his face, as if his heart were fluttering frantically, and said: "President Donna!" Dimples showed as Donna offered a gentle smile. She waved a hand, gesturing for Jumang to sit beside her. Zhang Yuanqing took the seat naturally. A server brought over a fresh set of tableware, and Donna personally poured Jumang a glass of red wine, her smile warm and gentle: "Back at the banquet, when I saw you defeat Julian Meade, I already admired you greatly. But I never expected you to make such an enormous name for yourself. "It truly makes one envious that the Second District could produce an exceptional young man like you." Her voice was soft, her breath sweet as orchids, every frown and smile brimming with charm. Tonight, Donna Caroline wore an off-the-shoulder white T-shirt paired with a flowing blue tulle skirt, her golden-brown hair pinned up gracefully. The casual, everyday outfit exuded an air of dignity and elegance. When Zhang Yuanqing had first laid eyes on her, she had worn an all-black evening gown, appearing like an enchantress of the night, incomparably bewitching. Now, with this change of attire, she felt like an elder brother's wife who nurtured like a mother, an intellectual schoolteacher, a gentle and virtuous homemaker, or a mother's glamorous best friend. In short, she fulfilled every male fantasy of an older woman. He knew this was what charm looked like when elevated to the pinnacle. Annie had told him before: ordinary charm merely provoked carnal lust, reducing a man to an animal that thought with his lower half. High-tier charm soothed the soul! Carnal lust was just a momentary shiver; genuine emotion was the true terror. Donna's charm could easily manipulate men who lacked maternal love or fancied virtuous wives, causing them to slowly sink in, fall in love, and become hopelessly ensnared. As someone who had a fondness for older women and had grown up lacking maternal affection, Zhang Yuanqing felt the pressure mounting. He didn't use an Illusionist's ability to suppress his feelings, merely keeping his mind sober so that he wouldn't drown in Donna's allure, while putting on a display of bashfulness, fascination, and starry-eyed admiration. As a seasoned veteran, Donna caught every micro-expression of this innocent young boy, growing all the more delighted. Jumang's quiet purity hit her exact tastes, yet in truth, he was one of the premier figures of the Saint stage. The extreme contrast sparked a long-lost excitement within her. *She's excited. She has a strong possessiveness toward me and an urge to tease, but also a hint of restraint—she doesn't want to make her move right away. Mm, Donna is the romantic type when it comes to lust... She completely regards me as prey. Doesn't she know that the real hunter often appears in the guise of the prey?* Zhang Yuanqing clearly read every ripple of Donna's emotions. He had no need to deliberately flaunt talent or wit in conversation; simply sitting here looking shy was enough to pique Donna's sexual appetite. It was Donna who had taken a fancy to Jumang, not Jumang chasing after Donna. Much like an eighteen-year-old girl who needed to do nothing at all—a bashful smile was enough to make greasy middle-aged men stand at full salute. Still, Zhang Yuanqing didn't act entirely like an untouchable ascetic. His gaze lingered now and then over Donna's ample bosom, slender waist, long neck, and exquisite collarbones, revealing the exact kind of longing appropriate for an innocent young man. "Annie said you're having dinner outside with a friend? Why not invite him in to join us?" Donna smiled. She wanted to give him ample face in front of his friend—a standard tactic to win favor. *Better not. Brother Red Chicken barely just pulled his aesthetic standards back onto the right track. If he sees you all, he'll fall back in love with his Night-Shining Jade Lion...* Zhang Yuanqing offered a reserved smile: "He's a subordinate from my team. It's fine letting him eat out there." Donna didn't insist. Smiling and nodding, she changed the subject, chatting about casual domestic trivia and asking about the state of affairs in the Second District. Throughout this, the female Saints around the table chimed in from time to time, all displaying immense interest in Jumang. In the Association of God of Beauty, men could be shared as long as they weren't someone's exclusive, deeply cherished companion. They could tell President Donna was in hunting mode. If the President had no intention of pursuing a long-term relationship, they would get their turn with this quiet, handsome young man. Genius talents with top-tier combat strength were a rare breed. If they could sleep with him, they would; after all, there was nothing to lose. After several rounds of wine, Donna was already naturally wiping a fleck of grease from the corner of Zhang Yuanqing's lips, picking delicacies onto his plate, and whispering intimate, warm words as if murmuring in his ear rather than observing polite formalities. *Fuck, Dominator-level Desire, and she happens to hit my exact kinks—no, aesthetic taste. This is getting pretty hard to withstand...* Zhang Yuanqing grumbled silently. Fortunately, he was a worldly man who had weathered Catherine's seduction and had ridden the gray-haired beauty till dawn, so he managed to maintain a facade of composure. "President Donna, with the current turbulent situation in New York County, aren't you afraid of being targeted by the evil faction?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. Before Donna could answer, a brunette beauty gave a smile. "Forget New York County—in the entire Free Federation, there aren't many who can resist President Donna's charm. What do we have to fear?" *The evil faction certainly wouldn't bear to kill you, but they can drag you back to the wolves' den as communal sex toys, or manipulate you to seduce orthodox faction leaders—there are plenty of nasty tricks they could pull...* Sensing their fearless confidence, Zhang Yuanqing frowned inward. Was it habitual thinking and complacency clouding their judgment, or was the Association of God of Beauty baiting a trap? However, Zhang Yuanqing wasn't worried. Even if the Association of God of Beauty was fishing, they would only catch the real Jumang, so it hardly mattered. Dinner didn't wrap up until nine in the evening. Donna stood gracefully, saying in a gentle voice: "I still have to report the situation in New York County to headquarters tonight, so let's call it an evening here. Jumang, come visit our branch some other day." She adopted an attitude of "that's all for tonight," without specifying which day "some other day" would be. Looking somewhat disappointed, Zhang Yuanqing stood up. "Stay safe, President Donna." The two parties left the restaurant together. Brother Red Chicken had already received a text message and returned home early; as a tool, his mission was complete. At the foot of the Financial Building, Zhang Yuanqing waved goodbye to Donna and climbed into his car to depart. Donna got into an extended luxury van with her subordinates. Looking out at the brilliantly lit streets, Annie felt both relieved and puzzled: "President, you don't actually need to report to headquarters tonight. Why didn't you just take him down?" Donna smiled demurely. "Because I'm very satisfied with him. Besides, a hunter needs ample patience. Keeping our distance right now will only make him lose sleep over me. In less than two days, he'll take the initiative to reach out to me." The lady who had previously gone on a business trip to China and rolled between the sheets with Young Master laughed and said, "As the saying goes, hasty men can't eat hot tofu! Jumang is already completely infatuated with our President." "Yeah, yeah, who could resist the President's charm!" "Playing hard to get? This Donna really is a seasoned veteran. If I were the Demon Lord, you wouldn't even have a chance to play mind games with me—you'd already be in a hotel room biting your lip and gripping the headboard for dear life." Inside the business vehicle, Zhang Yuanqing muttered under his breath. He had completely calmed his desires, shaking off the influence of the charm. The vehicle drove for a while before stopping at a red light. Zhang Yuanqing said, "Head to No. 69 Hamburg Street." Half an hour later, he arrived at Catherine's wellness spa. Without waiting for a receptionist to announce him, he walked straight in, strode down the corridor, and pushed open the door to Catherine's private lounge. Inside the luxurious room, Catherine wore a black nightgown that revealed two fair, long legs. She sat lazily in an armchair, watching the uninvited Jumang with a smile: "Knocking before entering is basic courtesy." Zhang Yuanqing was a bit disappointed. He hadn't notified Catherine before coming here precisely to catch her off guard. If Catherine were one of the Saints lurking around Donna, she certainly wouldn't be at the club right now. Conversely, it showed that Catherine held a lower status within the Association of God of Beauty. *At least that gives me a clear assessment,* Zhang Yuanqing consoled himself. At the same time, he noticed two cups on the coffee table before Catherine, still steaming hot. *Someone was in the room just now?* *They heard my footsteps in advance and left? Someone who dared not be seen must be a higher-up in the Hunter Guild, or perhaps an executive from the orthodox organizations...* Zhang Yuanqing shifted his gaze, pretending not to notice this detail, and said: "I've met Donna. She's very pleased with me. Within two or three days, I'll be able to pay a visit to the Association of God of Beauty." Catherine looked delighted. "Very good!" *Very good indeed. Your doom draws near...* Zhang Yuanqing said: "But I have a question. Even if I successfully gain Donna's trust and become her lover, how am I supposed to lure her to the gathering? Donna is no fool, and with tensions running high in New York County, she won't take the bait easily. "Even if she does follow me to the gathering, if she senses something amiss, she'll retreat immediately. She definitely won't meekly submit to your manipulation and listen to the revelation of God. And against a Dominator-level Desire practitioner, who would have the heart to subdue her by force?"