All Chapters of VELVET RAIN: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

In the winter of 2025, Seattle was already chilled to the bone.It was Catherine's first time here. She was helping her mentor, Professor Evans, deliver a newly restored antique porcelain piece.The winter night in Seattle was bitingly cold, with moisture seeping into every pore. The wind whipped the rain like countless icy needles, tapping densely against the car window. Soft jazz played inside the car, but it couldn't soothe the anxiety in Catherine's heart.She held the heavy rosewood box tightly in her arms, her knuckles turning white from the grip. This was not only a priceless Song Dynasty porcelain but also her key to the future—her mentor had promised that if this trip went smoothly, he would write her a recommendation letter for Stanford.It got dark very early; it was only five in the afternoon, but the entire city was already shrouded in a hazy twilight.The road to The Highlands was long and quiet. Large trees on both sides of the road flashed by like shadows. Catherine co

Dinner was over, but the rain outside hadn't stopped; instead, it was falling harder, pattering against the window, sounding annoying.William swirled half a glass of red wine in his hand, sinking into the soft sofa, staring at the girl opposite through the dark red liquid.After a few glasses of wine, Catherine's originally pale face finally had some color, like a touch of pale pink spreading on white paper, revealing a fragility that made one want to protect her. Her eyes were a bit glazed, but she sat straight, her hands placed dutifully on her knees, looking exactly like a primary school student accepting a teacher's inspection.Watching her tense appearance, an impulse to tear this layer of disguise to shreds inexplicably rose in William's heart."Where are you staying tonight?" William asked casually. His tone sounded nonchalant, but his mind was clear.Catherine froze for a moment, her heart skipping a beat."Four Seasons Hotel."She blurted it out, answering very quickly, even

Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington was the closest thing to a magical world on this campus, affectionately dubbed "Hogwarts" by the students. On a late autumn afternoon, sunlight streamed through the soaring Gothic stained-glass windows, casting kaleidoscopic shadows onto the ancient oak tables. The air was thick with the distinct aroma of old paper—the scent of centuries of accumulated wisdom—mingled with faint dust and wood wax, creating a sense of profound tranquility. As a top student in Art History, Catherine's favorite hiding spot was the innermost corner of the Special Collections. There was a massive floor-to-ceiling window facing the famous century-old red maple on campus, which was currently ablaze with fiery red leaves. But today, she had no mind to appreciate the scenery outside. The pressure of finals week was crushing her like a mountain. It wasn't just about maintaining the 4.0 GPA required for her full scholarship, but also about that damn thesi

On a Seattle winter night, the rain fell like a gray veil, clinging to the eaves, window frames, and the distant lake, so fine it seemed almost constant. The air was thick with the damp scent of earth, mingled with the faint, resinous aroma of burning pine from the fireplace—a fragrance that whispered of ancient forests. Sterling Manor was eerily quiet, save for the soft crackling of the wood popping in the fireplace, like an echo of a suppressed heartbeat. The study was warm, the heat wrapping around the room like a woolen blanket, yet William Sterling's fingertips remained cold—a chill that seemed to seep into his very bones, a persistent reminder of the weight he carried.He clutched the gold-embossed invitation, his knuckles turning slightly white. The invitation, from Sheng Yin Media, was politely restrained, highlighting only one line: Mr. Morgan's Sixtieth Birthday Banquet. On the surface, it was a birthday celebration, but at its core, it was a dinner for capital exchange."Yo