"Brother Zu, I’m sitting here with Lord Quan. You might want to show a little respect. Do you really think you can lay a hand on me right under his nose? Have you even asked him if that’s okay?"
Marilyn knew exactly how to provoke a man.
Quan Ying’s expression remained unchanged, though his bodyguard cast a cold glance at the man. Gu Yanzu was acting like a flea dancing on a lion's head.
Unexpectedly, the man shifted his gaze from the stage to Marilyn’s face and said with an air of complete indifference, "You aren’t my woman. Why ask me?"
His tone made it clear that she could go wherever she pleased.
Marilyn’s face turned deathly pale; even with the swaying lights, it was unmistakable. Although she was a recent arrival, she was one of the hottest draws at Nevernight City. While this man appeared to be a flirt, his heart was made of iron. He might enjoy watching beautiful women dance, but in reality, no woman had ever truly caught his eye.
In a situation like this, any other man would have fought to save face, especially since she was sitting right beside him when someone came over to harass her. But Marilyn knew better: he didn’t care about her in the slightest, and he wouldn’t be jealous or fight for her honor.
Gu Yanzu glanced at the seated Quan Ying and chuckled, thinking the man was nothing more than a coward. He had come right to the doorstep to snatch a woman away, and this was all the resistance he offered?
Gu Yanzu casually poured a glass of wine and pushed it toward Quan Ying. "Fair enough. I’m Gu Yanzu; everyone in the Capital knows who I am. This bottle is on me—let’s be friends. Marilyn is coming with me tonight."
With that, he arched an eyebrow at Quan Ying.
The man didn't even lift his eyelids. He didn't touch the drink. He didn't say a word.
Gu Yanzu was the only son of the Gu Family, the second-most powerful clan in the Capital. He was a notorious, silver-spooned wastrel who spent his nights in the local clubs. Any person of status in these entertainment circles knew exactly who he was.
Quan Ying acted as if he hadn't heard a word. His eyes remained fixed on the seductive dancers on stage, his lips pulling in and puffing out thick clouds of smoke.
Since he didn't care, Gu Yanzu figured he could just grab Marilyn and leave. But the man's attitude infuriated him.
His brows knit together tightly. He twisted his lips and pressed his tongue against his cheek.
The arrogant man sitting before him was named Quan, but no one knew his full name or his background. They only knew he was a VVVVVVIP at Nevernight City who always occupied the most prominent booth. Even someone of Gu Yanzu's stature couldn't reserve that seat no matter how many times he called.
Every time Gu Yanzu saw him, he was just watching the dancers with a single bodyguard by his side. Without needing to be summoned, the beauties of Nevernight City would always flock to him.
Gu Yanzu had despised him for a long time. Right then, he wanted to rush over and punch the man who didn't know his place.
In the Capital, this was the only person who dared to ignore him and treat him with such disdain. He hadn't given him even a shred of face—not even a blink of an eye. It made Gu Yanzu feel as if he had been talking to thin air.
Seeing that Gu Yanzu was being ignored, his band of sycophants swarmed forward. One of them pointed at Quan Ying and barked, "Our Brother Zu offered you a drink out of respect, don't you dare—"
Before the word "respect" could even leave his lips, a loud *bang* echoed through the room.
The bodyguard standing next to Quan Ying had grabbed the bottle of hundred-thousand-dollar cognac and smashed it directly into the man’s head.
How dare a nobody curse his master? He was asking for death!
The sturdy glass bottle shattered instantly, sending shards flying. The man stumbled back several steps, dark red blood mixing with the alcohol as it gushed from his forehead and streamed down his face.
The movement was so fast and the strike so violent that the man lost his footing and crashed into the table behind him, crushing the glasses and bottles upon it with a deafening clatter.
Panic-stricken screams erupted across the venue. The commotion was so intense that the dancers on stage were startled and retreated to the sidelines.
The music stopped. The man finally shifted his gaze.
He took the cigarette from his fingers and flicked the butt directly into the glass of wine Gu Yanzu had poured for him.
The action was subtle, yet deeply insulting.
The casual, pinpoint accuracy of the gesture sent Gu Yanzu’s temper into a tailspin.
"Damn it!" he cursed.
This was the only person in the Capital who dared to be so arrogant in front of the son of one of its wealthiest tycoons.
Just as Gu Yanzu was about to lunge at Quan Ying, the manager of Nevernight City grabbed his arm, laughing nervously. "Brother Zu, all the top beauties in Nevernight City are yours to choose from tonight—I’m worried you won’t even be able to get through them all! Come, I’ve opened the super VIP presidential suite for you. You like Marilyn, right? Then Marilyn can come along, too."
The manager glanced at Quan Ying, who clearly had no objection to this arrangement. The manager knew him all too well; he was a regular. He only enjoyed watching the dancing, but he had no interest in the dancers themselves.
The man who had been struck by the bottle was already being escorted to the hospital, his head covered in blood—a gruesome sight under the lights.
Although Gu Yanzu couldn't swallow this insult, he reasoned that the bodyguard by the man's side was ruthless; even if his entire group attacked at once, they wouldn't stand a chance.
"Come, Brother Zu, follow me. Let’s have a great time tonight." The manager gestured politely, his expression sincere.
Gu Yanzu pulled Marilyn, whose eyes were still fixed on Quan Ying, close to him and hissed through gritted teeth: "Just you wait. I’ll kill you sooner or later!"
The man raised an eyebrow, his expression still full of disdain. The person who could kill him hadn't been born yet.
The venue quickly returned to its lively state. The rhythmic music kicked back in, and the dancers resumed their performance.
Utterly boring!
Quan Ying turned to leave. He no longer felt like watching the dance.
Another customer manager approached to apologize, offering to arrange a luxury presidential suite for him instead. The man felt it was too early to go home, and since he wouldn't be able to sleep anyway, he decided to play for a while longer.
Inside the massive suite, there was an independent stage.
As soon as he entered, everything had been perfectly prepared. Sexy women began to dance, all of them appearing to be new faces; he didn't recognize any of them.
Fine wine and spirits were laid out across the oversized table.
As soon as the man sat down, the door opened and a line of beauties followed the manager inside. It was clear these were meant for his amusement.
They were there to drink, eat, dance, or sleep with him—it was all up to his choice.
The manager smiled broadly, and before leaving, he made sure to emphasize: "You all know Lord Quan’s rules, right? Only do what he allows. Don't do anything to displease him, or you can get out of Nevernight City and never think about working here again!"
"Understood," the women replied in unison.
The man’s eyes were cold. He held an unlit cigarette in his mouth.
Three hours ago, before the sky had fully darkened.
An eighteen-year-old girl walked out of a supermarket in the villa district, carrying a bag of snacks. She walked with a light step, skipping all the way to her mailbox to see if there was any mail.