Lin Xujia sat at the bar, surrounded by the dazzling lights and the clamor of the city's nightlife. This place was filled with people who came to revel under the guise of loneliness and solitude. The deafening music seemed to pierce the sky, and in the crowd, everyone swayed their bodies to the thrilling, euphoric beats. The dancers seemed to lose all sense of gender, their bodies pressed tightly against whoever was closest.
She swirled her glass as countless beams of colorful light swept over her, illuminating her figure. Lin Xujia had been considered one of the top beauties in her department at school, with a seductive figure that seemed to exude an innate, elusive femininity. Compared to Xia Yan, she lacked a touch of innocence.
"Miss, feeling lonely? Want some company?" "Don't bother me." "A heartbroken woman needs a man like me to cherish her." "Get lost."
Lin Xujia lifted her eyes to glance at the man approaching her. He wasn't ugly, but compared to Ye Yunchen, he was utterly unbearable. Clutching her glass, she felt dizzy as she stared at the stranger. When she felt his hand slide to her waist, she instinctively struggled.
"Get lost, don't touch me." "Me taking a liking to you is your blessing. Stop being so pretentious!" "You—" "Slap—" "Bitch, how dare you hit me!"
Lin Xujia's nerves were taut. The man's hand, raised to strike, never landed on her. She forced herself to stay alert, glaring at him, only to see the once-arrogant man now cowering before another man who had suddenly appeared beside him.
"President Yang, this, this, what's going on?" "Xiao Li, I want this woman." "Alright, alright, I won't disturb you, President Yang."
Before leaving, the man sneaked a glance at Lin Xujia, fuming inwardly at losing his prize.
Yang Jinkuan squinted as he appraised Lin Xujia. "The eldest Miss Lin isn't bad-looking."
After what had just happened, Lin Xujia had sobered up considerably. To her, facing Yang Jinkuan now was more terrifying than dealing with the stranger earlier, because she had recently learned that the Lin family intended to hand her over to him.
"President Yang, I... thank you for tonight's help..." Lin Xujia suppressed her fear. She saw in Yang Jinkuan's face the same expression he had once shown Xia Yan—a lecherous, naked gaze that made her feel as though she were stripped bare despite her clothes.
She was terrified of catching Yang Jinkuan's interest.
Her fear was plain to see, and Yang Jinkuan loved seeing women look so scared yet forced to stand before him.
"Men, take her upstairs." Yang Jinkuan waved his hand, and several tall men emerged from behind, advancing toward Lin Xujia with grim expressions, freezing her in place with terror.
"President Yang, President Yang, I know you like Xia Yan. I can help you get her."
At this, Yang Jinkuan's gaze turned venomous as he stared at her, smirking. "Are you telling me to go after Lu Zhengting's woman?"
"No, that's not it. President Yang, Xia Yan and President Lu aren't really together. Trust me, I'm her best friend. I know everything about her." "Oh? Then if you bring Xia Yan to me right now, I'll let you go." "Okay, okay, I'll call her." Lin Xujia, desperate to escape Yang Jinkuan's grasp, quickly pulled out her phone and dialed Xia Yan's number without a second thought.
Meanwhile, Xia Yan was lying in bed scrolling through Weibo on her phone. Tonight, she had not only attended Xi Xi's concert in person but also spoken with him up close. In her eyes, though Xi Xi was younger, he had all the gentlemanly qualities a man should possess.
As she browsed Xi Xi's Weibo, Lin Xujia's name flashed on the screen. She glanced at the time, rolled over in bed, and answered the call.
"Xiaojia, how did it go with Brother Ye tonight?" "..."
The chaotic music from the other end made Xia Yan frown. Lin Xujia had answered but stayed silent, prompting Xia Yan to raise her voice in frustration. "Xiaojia, where are you now?"
"Xia Yan, I'm so heartbroken. In Brother Ye's eyes, he's never seen me, no matter what I do, no matter—" "Xiaojia, where are you?" "mS Bar." "Wait there. I'll call Brother Ye right away." "No, Xia Yan, please don't. I don't want him to see me like this. Don't call him." "Then I'll come to you now. Don't move." Xia Yan quickly sat up, grabbed a random outfit from the closet, and rushed out of the Xia residence. Luckily, it was past midnight, and the old Madam Xia was already asleep, or there would have been more trouble.
Xia Yan took a cab to mS Bar. As soon as she entered, the thick smell of smoke mixed with sweat and perfume hit her. The stares from everyone passing by made her uneasy. She shook her head; bars were her least favorite places, always so murky and chaotic.
She pushed through the crowd to the bar and saw Lin Xujia slumped over it. Annoyed, she quickened her pace. "Xiaojia, Xiaojia? Xiaojia?"
"Hmm? Xia Yan, you're here? Is Brother Ye here?" "Didn't you tell me not to call him?" At that, Lin Xujia let out a strange laugh. "Right, Brother Ye doesn't care if I live or die. He only listens to you. If you say don't come, he won't..." "You're drunk!" "No! I'm perfectly sober. Sober enough to know he likes you, not me! Xia Yan, tell me, what's wrong with me? What's wrong? I can change, can't I?"
Xia Yan was helping Lin Xujia when she looked up and saw Yang Jinkuan standing before her, flanked by a group of bodyguards, as if trapping them there. She had to manage Lin Xujia, who was alternating between crying and laughing, while keeping an eye on Yang Jinkuan.
Yang Jinkuan gave Lin Xujia in Xia Yan's arms a meaningful glance, then smiled slyly at Xia Yan. "Take them upstairs."
"Stay back! What do you want? Don't come near me!" Xia Yan said urgently, her hands trembling as she held Lin Xujia.
"Don't be afraid. I'll be gentle with you, Xia Yan. I've wanted you for a long time." "No, don't come closer. You can't do this in public." "Don't you know this is my turf, Xia Yan?" "..." Xia Yan stumbled back, staring at Yang Jinkuan in disbelief. Her nerves were frayed as she blurted out, "If you touch me, Lu Zhengting won't let you get away with it." "Haha, you think I'm afraid of him? I'll enjoy taking what's his even more." Yang Jinkuan leered at Xia Yan, wasting no more time. He ordered his bodyguards to drag both Xia Yan and Lin Xujia upstairs.
In the crowd, Xia Siyue watched coldly, savoring the scene. If Xia Yan knew this was just a ploy by Lin Xujia to save herself by selling her out, she wondered what expression she'd make.
"Xia Siyue, isn't that your sister?" "Is it? Where?" "Over there, the one being grabbed by those men." "Xiao Ai, your eyes are playing tricks. You know my sister's the famous good girl. A good girl wouldn't be here, right? Want to dance?" "I'm a bit tired. I'll rest before dancing." "Alright then, I'll go first."
Xia Siyue disappeared into the crowd, surrounded by the pounding music, the buzzing crowd, and the rising excitement. She squinted at the two figures fading into the bar, a cold smirk curling on her lips.
Xia Yan was thrown hard onto the floor. This was an upstairs private room, reeking of a decadent, nauseating smell. After tossing her down, the men left. The room was dimly lit, and by the faint light, she saw things that made her want to vomit—a bed as vivid as blood, sheer curtains hanging down, and a rack nearby cluttered with tools.
She had heard about Yang Jinkuan's peculiar tastes, but seeing them firsthand was far more chilling than hearing about them.
The door creaked open slowly.
Hallway light spilled in, and Xia Yan turned her head to see handcuffs on the sofa...
Yang Jinkuan rubbed his hands together, strolling slowly toward Xia Yan. The lust and malice in his eyes made her instinctively recoil. Standing opposite him, she spoke rapidly, "Yang Jinkuan, where's Xiaojia? What did you do with her?" "Her? Don't worry, I'm not interested in her." "Where is she?" "Come here, and I'll tell you." "Don't come closer! If you do—" Xia Yan scanned the room for anything she could use as a weapon. Spotting a fruit knife on the coffee table, she grabbed it without hesitation. "Don't come closer! If you take one more step, I'll kill you!" "Put the knife down." "Don't come near me! Don't!" Every cell in Xia Yan's body was on high alert. Gripping the knife, she fixed her gaze on Yang Jinkuan. Out of the corner of her eye, she calculated that to reach the door, she'd have to get past him.
Yang Jinkuan wasn't in a hurry, looking at Xia Yan like prey.
In another room, Ning Nan lounged on the sofa like a king, an arm around each of two beauties. He frowned at his stern-faced older brother, who had come from Beijing. "Brother, come on, smile." "Ning Nan, you need to rein in your antics. If Grandpa hears about your scandals, your good times are over." "Brother, I can't help it. Too handsome, too many temptations." "You little rascal. Grandpa's birthday is next month. Aren't you going back to pay your respects?" "If I go back, Grandpa's party might not happen."