A Fox with a Pale Face, a Doll with a Dark Mask

Some say that mixed blood produces the most beautiful features, and in the eyes of Westerners, most East Asians lack the contours and three-dimensionality in their faces. Yet, in the western regions of the country, several minority groups possess enviable deep-set eyes and prominent noses.

Take the young woman before them, for instance. Clearly, she was different from most of her people who lived under harsh climatic conditions; she lacked the common highland redness and darker skin. Her face, with its exotic mixed-blood allure, was fair and delicate, untouched by the elements. Her slender fingers revealed she was unaccustomed to heavy labor, and when she spoke, her Mandarin was crisp and flawless: "Welcome, welcome..." glancing casually at Chen Sufen as she spoke, making the usually confident university student involuntarily look down at herself.

Chen Sufen was indeed the kind of tall, slender woman who would turn heads on the street, but her beauty wasn't of the easy, sultry kind. Compared to this minority girl in a flowing robe, even as a newlywed, she seemed somewhat green.

The girl's face alone could captivate any man, but it was her traditional attire that truly stood out. The cobalt blue gown, trimmed with shimmering silk, might appear garish in a typical city, but here, in this tourist town, it was nothing short of spectacular. Bai Haonan couldn't wait to greet her, reaching out for a handshake. "You just participated in the latest talent show, didn't you? I saw you on TV. You're even more beautiful in person!"

He was a bit too eager, grabbing her hand, but the girl was amused by his shameless nonsense, laughing brightly. "Not at all..."

Bai Haonan, never one to linger lecherously, released her hand immediately, but his compliments poured forth like water from a fire hydrant: "There's no need to be shy about your beauty. That's your only flaw—you’re too modest, too lacking in confidence. Face it head-on and work to fix it..."

His earnest tone made the girl laugh so hard she nearly doubled over, the striped belt around her waist adorned with a string of lovely red beads, now swaying wildly with her laughter. She struggled to explain, "I—I meant, I haven't participated in any talent shows, but I’d love to see one..."

The young man who invited Bai Haonan seemed very proud. "My sister is the best singer! The most wonderful!"

Bai Haonan shamelessly asked, "Then can I be your manager?"

The girl was curious. "Are you a manager?"

He boasted without missing a beat. "A manager as good as me is hard to find. I know real directors and excellent coaches. But have you heard? Talent shows and singing competitions are full of scandals."

Minority girls were bold. Just moments ago, she was all smiles, but now, with a quick tug of her belt, she drew a short dagger, over half a foot long! Her voice was clear and determined, ringing like a silver bell: "I know. If anyone dares to deceive me, I'll slice them in half!"

Bai Haonan, who always found joy in chatting with beautiful women, instantly froze, quickly shifting the conversation. "So, what's for lunch today? Any local specialties? Nothing like those legendary aphrodisiac dishes, I hope."

This made Chen Sufen, who had been sulking behind, burst into laughter. The minority girl glanced at her again, and the university student, still fresh from her first intimate experiences, felt a pang of worry. In just a few moments, those two glances had shifted from curiosity to guarded suspicion. If she didn't harbor some feelings for that scoundrel, why would her gaze change like that?

It was uncanny! But she couldn’t deny that Haonan had a knack for wooing women.

Some say there are no secrets to seduction—just throw money around like a father pampering his daughter, or rely on prowess, looks, prospects, or family status. These are superficial. As long as a man isn't unattractive or stingy, the most important thing is to be interesting. You can't just meet a girl and start showering her with cash or stripping to show off your assets.

There was a time when girls admired cold, aloof types, but witty, entertaining men have always been the real favorites, no matter the era or prevailing trends.

Bai Haonan, known for his popularity and banter among his teammates, had perfected this art. In just a few exchanges, he realized that these young people yearned most to see the world beyond their own. While his knowledge of ordinary society was limited, he'd traveled across cities far and wide. So, he boasted about the scenery of various places, especially nightlife... the beautiful night scenes of Shanghai, Beijing, Guangdong—each a famous metropolis. He could speak expertly about them all. Ironically, the closest provincial capital, Chengdu, he visited less often because it lacked a top-tier professional team.

So, for these minority youths, most of whom had only been to Chengdu, his stories were enthralling. Three or four girls crowded around the table, listening intently.

Chen Sufen could see it clearly. The admiration and longing in their eyes were unmistakable. Even though they had met visitors from all over the country in this tourist town, encountering a widely traveled, eloquent, handsome man was rare. When Bai Haonan began performing dialect jokes, the beautiful girl had already leaned on his shoulder with laughter more than once!

Now, he wasn't in a hurry to make a move. Like fishing, you have to wait and reel slowly.

For Haonan, picking up girls was just that simple!

In truth, Bai Haonan enjoyed the pursuit—the inevitable result of intimacy was not the most exhilarating stage. The real thrill lay in the effort and process, far more interesting than Chen Sufen's calculated attempts to win him over.

After sharing the local specialty, sour soup mountain chicken, the townspeople’s laid-back habits took over: brewing tea and basking in the sun. The girls, all conscious of their beauty, bustled about serving tea, then squeezed together in the shade under the eaves, giggling. Bai Haonan had already learned the girl's name—among these minority girls, even he had to admit that a name like Solo Yisha was simply enchanting. Especially when Yisha wrote her name on the small blackboard under the eaves at his earnest request, Chen Sufen wished she could take her own name back to the police station and change it.

Without comparison, there’s no harm.

Other men might feel awkward about the ambiguity between different ethnicities, but Bai Haonan cared not a bit. Whenever he saw a beautiful face, everything else faded. He sat cross-legged under the wall, chatting and basking in the sun, and, when the mood struck, jumped up to play shuttlecock or soccer with everyone. The sunlight here was intense; after noon, the temperature soared, and as they played, sweat poured and shirts came off.

In other cities, men might strip down to reveal either flabby flesh or pale, bean-sprout bodies, but Bai Haonan? He was never afraid of sunburn. His sturdy, bronze physique, nearly flawless save for the scar on his back, exuded masculine allure with every movement.

Even Chen Sufen was left speechless, while the tribal girls, who admired raw beauty, blushed deeply.

So, when evening came and Bai Haonan invited his new friends to join him at the bar, the girls and boys shook their heads, refusing to go to tourist traps. Instead, they enthusiastically invited him to join them in the village near town.

They didn’t invite Chen Sufen at all, simply ignoring her.

The girls probably found her annoying, the boys thought she wasn’t one of them.