The young officer’s gaze was cold and indifferent. Following his line of sight, it was clear that his target was the Gannan warlord, John Robinson. The scene was filled with thunderous cheers, but it was Grace Young who took the stage, surrounded by a group of beautiful backup dancers. Twelve dancers, dressed in white sailor uniforms, came onto the stage to the lively and upbeat rhythm of the music. A beautiful woman in a fiery red dress stepped lightly onto the stage, appearing like a flame. Even among the beautiful dancers, she stood out, unique and striking. She was performing the newly popular American tap dance, her movements wild and the rhythm brisk.

Grace Young’s skin was as white as snow. Her features differed from traditional Eastern beauty: her eye sockets were slightly deep-set, her nose was straight, and her mouth was not the classic small cherry lips. Her facial contours lacked the softness typical of Eastern women, instead possessing the distinctive definition of Western women. Her eyebrows were perfect, untrimmed, sharp as blades, and her eyes were not purely black—if you looked closely, there was a hint of blue. This was not surprising, as Grace Young was of mixed heritage; her mother was French.

Her figure also set her apart. She stood at 1.75 meters tall, with a slender waist and long legs. Grace Young’s beauty was unconventional—bold, flamboyant, wild, and untamed. Had it been before the fall of the Qing dynasty, a girl like her would almost certainly have been regarded as a freak. She had none of the traditional traits: delicate features, petite frame, or demure charm. Especially her feet, which tapped to the lively beat—by traditional standards, they were a bit large. Although foot-binding had been banned after the fall of the Qing, societal aesthetics could not be changed overnight.

However, this was Huangpu, and moreover, the French Concession, where people from all over Europe and America constantly arrived, bringing with them international trends in fashion and aesthetics. This was one of the reasons why Grace Young was able to become popular in Huangpu in such a short time.

Logan Reed’s attention remained fixed on the officer named William Clark. It wasn’t that Grace Young wasn’t beautiful enough, or that the performance on stage wasn’t exciting—on the contrary, ever since Grace Young took the stage, the brilliant performance had drawn continuous cheers and applause, and the atmosphere was reaching a fever pitch. Yet William Clark’s expression showed no change at all, because his attention was not on the stage.

He hadn’t come to the Blue Moulin to watch the show. Even after the star performer Grace Young appeared, he didn’t spare her a single glance. His eyes were either fixed on his drink or scanning the surroundings. Logan Reed followed his gaze; ever since William Clark entered, he had been observing the environment. After Simon Moore and John Robinson arrived, his gaze repeatedly landed on John Robinson. Remembering how Blind Jack had mentioned that William Clark was carrying two guns, a sense of foreboding suddenly arose deep in Logan Reed’s heart.

Blind Jack had already taken off his sunglasses, his small eyes shining as he stared at the stage. At this moment, after the passionate and energetic opening dance, Grace Young changed into a form-fitting sapphire blue silk embroidered qipao, her graceful curves accentuated. Under the spotlight, she began to sing a song that was all the rage on the Bund, her voice gentle and tender.

Night Shanghai, night Shanghai, you are a city that never sleeps

The lights come on, the cars sound, song and dance fill the air

She greets with a smile, but who knows her inner sorrow

Nightlife is all for food, clothing, shelter, and travel

Wine doesn’t intoxicate, but people get drunk on their own

Wasting youth in wild abandon

Dawn breaks, everyone wakes and goes home

Hearts follow the turning wheels

Change to a new world, a new environment

Recalling nightlife, as if waking from a dream

Wine doesn’t intoxicate, but people get drunk on their own

Wasting youth in wild abandon

Dawn breaks, everyone wakes and goes home

Hearts follow the turning wheels

Change to a new world, a new environment

Recalling nightlife, as if waking from a dream...

Blind Jack stared at the dazzling Grace Young on stage, his mouth wide open—big enough to fit a fist. He was practically drooling as he watched Grace Young, but Logan Reed interrupted him at that moment, kicking him under the table and whispering, “Let’s go!”

“What?” Blind Jack asked in confusion.

Logan Reed leaned forward slightly. “Something might happen here. We’d better leave this place of trouble as soon as possible.”

Blind Jack was clearly reluctant to leave, muttering, “Let me finish watching... just a bit longer…”

Logan Reed had already stood up. He knew Blind Jack’s temperament very well—when this guy saw a beautiful woman, it was like a cat smelling fish; nothing else mattered. At times like this, Logan Reed would usually take decisive action—once he left, Blind Jack would definitely follow to find out what was going on.

But just as he stood up, the lights in the venue suddenly went out. The room was plunged into silence, though the music hadn’t stopped, and in the darkness, Grace Young’s gentle and moving singing could still be heard.

Bang! Bang! Crisp gunshots rang out, and the scene instantly descended into chaos.

In the darkness, people panicked, not knowing what had happened. Some fled from their tables in a hurry, but most instinctively ducked down to hide where they sat.