Before Su Yan could speak, Nie Qingyao stepped in front of him, looking Lin Tianlei straight in the eye.
"I have already said what needed to be said. It is time for us to leave. Goodbye."
With that, she took Su Yan by the arm and started toward the exit. She had only taken two steps, however, before a group of suit-clad bodyguards blocked their path.
The people around them watched the pair, mocking smiles curling the corners of their mouths.
"Yaoyao, aren't you being a bit too bold? To provoke Young Master Lin?"
"Have you forgotten why the Nie family has what it has today? Do you still want to survive in Yunhai?"
"While Young Master Lin still has some affection for you, hurry up and apologize. This might all just blow over."
Su Yan looked up at Lin Tianlei, a flash of sharpness in his eyes.
Lin Tianlei walked up to Nie Qingyao and Su Yan, a scornful smile on his lips. "Yaoyao, I'll give you one last chance. Get rid of this guy and have a couple of drinks with me, and I'll let you leave."
Du Jieya hurried to Nie Qingyao’s side, urging, "Yaoyao, you know how Young Master Lin’s temper is. He has already been gentle enough with you. How many women could make Young Master Lin go to these lengths? You should cherish his feelings for you."
Nie Qingyao frowned, asking defiantly, "I’ve already made myself perfectly clear. Surely Young Master Lin wouldn't force someone against their will?"
Du Jieya glanced at Su Yan beside her, her eyes full of disdain. "If you won't think of yourself, at least consider your boyfriend. Do you really think Young Master Lin will let him off after being made this unhappy?"
Nie Qingyao had hoped that by having Su Yan pose as her boyfriend and explaining the situation clearly to Lin Tianlei, he would realize it was hopeless and back off. She had never expected Lin Tianlei to be so persistent—not only was he giving her trouble, but he was dragging Su Yan into it as well.
She looked at Lin Tianlei, hesitating as she asked, "Is it true that if I drink two glasses, you will let us leave?"
Lin Tianlei raised an eyebrow, a meaningful look in his eyes. "That's right. Just have two drinks with us, and I’ll let you go."
Someone received a nod and immediately helped pour the drinks, secretly slipping a drug into the glass.
Lin Tianlei smiled as he stared at Nie Qingyao. Nineteen was an age where a girl was like a flower just beginning to bloom; her skin was rosy, and her eyes were so bright and fluid they seemed to speak. Her combination of pure looks and wild spirit stirred his desire for conquest, making him itch to pin her down and have his way with her.
"Fine!" Nie Qingyao agreed. "I'll drink!"
She stepped forward, picked up the glass that had just been filled, and downed the contents in one go.
A smug smile flickered in the eyes of those present. That was a special concoction, after all. No matter how pure a woman was, once she drank that, she would instantly become a nymphomaniac.
Su Yan had watched their every move. He had intended to take Nie Qingyao and leave immediately, but he hadn't expected her to be so decisive, picking up the glass and finishing it before he could intervene. It was too late to stop her.
Sure enough, just two minutes after drinking, Nie Qingyao began to feel dizzy and light-headed, her body growing weak and limp.
"I... what is wrong with me? I feel so dizzy," Nie Qingyao murmured, rubbing her head, feeling miserable.
"Yaoyao, your alcohol tolerance isn't very high, is it? How are you drunk already?"
"Young Master Lin has a room here. Why don't you let him take you there to rest for a while?"
"With Young Master Lin there, no one will dare bully you. You can rest easy."
Laughter erupted from the surrounding crowd, their gazes toward Nie Qingyao filled with amusement.One of them even chimed in, "Young Master Lin, once you're done playing with her, can you let us have a turn?"
Lin Tianlei smiled faintly. "No problem. Such a spirited little wildcat—let me break her in first, and then I'll let you ride her."
Nie Qingyao already sensed the danger and desperately wanted to flee the place.
Yet her body had lost all strength, and she was swaying on her feet.
Lin Tianlei stepped forward smugly, spreading his hands with a wicked grin. "Yaoyao, just relax and come with me. I'll take good care of you."
Du Jieya stood off to the side, looking at Nie Qingyao with a mixture of envy and jealousy.
She envied her for having such good fortune, being able to become Young Master Lin's woman.
Just as Lin Tianlei made a move to pull Nie Qingyao into his arms, a hand came down on his shoulder.
That single, simple gesture instantly drew everyone's gaze to the culprit.
They looked at Su Yan, who had made the move, their eyes filled with mockery and cold disdain.
"Kid, are you some actor Yaoyao hired? You're quite handsome, all right, but you clearly don't know your place!"
"Here's a hundred thousand yuan. Take the money, pretend nothing ever happened, and get the hell out of here."
"Young Master Lin is showing Yaoyao mercy. If you anger him, bear the consequences yourself!"
This group of people were all wealthy second-generation heirs from Yunhai, hanging around Lin Tianlei to enjoy the good life.
From start to finish, they hadn't taken Su Yan seriously at all.
Not wanting him to cause a scene here and ruin Lin Tianlei's mood, they had planned to brush him off with money.
Su Yan chuckled. "You think you can buy me off with a hundred thousand? Are you trying to toss crumbs to a beggar?"
Lin Tianlei angrily brushed Su Yan's hand aside and sneered, "Kid, you're not satisfied with a hundred thousand and want to squeeze me for more? Do you even think you're worthy?"
Slap!
Su Yan raised his hand and struck Lin Tianlei right across the face, the blow sending Lin Tianlei staggering sideways with a clear red handprint burning on his cheek.
"..."
Everyone present froze, stopping whatever they were doing as they stared at the scene in utter astonishment.
They blinked, and some even rubbed their eyes in disbelief, wondering if they were seeing things.
Otherwise, how could they possibly witness such a shocking sight?
Lin Tianlei, the young master of Tiansheng Group, had just been slapped by some punk who came out of nowhere?
The atmosphere remained frozen for ten full seconds before the people around immediately sprang to their feet, glaring at Su Yan with fury.
Su Yan hitting Lin Tianlei wasn't just a blow to Lin Tianlei—it was a slap in the face to all of them.
In an instant, the noisy bar fell dead silent.
They stared at the scene in shock, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
Other bystanders also sensed that something was wrong and, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire, quickly fled the scene, leaving behind only the boldest few.
Du Jieya covered her mouth in shock, staring at Su Yan in disbelief, never expecting him to be so daring.
She had thought this man was handsome—a rare find indeed.
Little did she know he was all looks and no brains.
Knowing full well that Lin Tianlei was someone who could not be offended, how on earth did he dare raise a hand against him?
Wasn't he just asking to die?
Holding his face, Lin Tianlei took a good long while to process what had happened. He gritted his teeth in fury, his eyes brimming with murderous intent.
"Good, very good, you little bastard! How dare you lay a hand on me! I see you've grown tired of living!"
"Someone come here! Grab him and break his limbs!"