"Show mercy when you can, leave room for maneuver so we can still meet as friends later on. Pushing someone into a corner is never a wise move." Ye Shaocheng slightly narrowed his eyes, a dangerous chill flashing within them.
This was a warning to Xiao Yang to quit while he was ahead, or else bear the consequences.
Xiao Yang had always been someone who responded better to soft approaches than hard ones, though sometimes he didn't respond to either. If they had just spoken reasonably, he wouldn't have minded lowering the stakes of the bet—they wouldn't even have had to crawl out of the hotel, crawling out of the private room would have been enough.
Yet since Ye Shaocheng insisted on playing hardball, Pang Zizhu was going to be dragged out even if he refused to crawl.
"All I know is that he has to strip off his clothes and crawl out of the hotel." Xiao Yang pointed at Pang Zizhu, his gaze fixed squarely on Ye Shaocheng.
Ye Shaocheng's patience reached its absolute limit. "Are you saying you won't give me even a shred of face?"
Clatter!
In an instant, all the men present stood up, glaring menacingly at Xiao Yang.
Xi Qiuying could no longer stand by. She stood up and angrily demanded, "Do you people have any integrity left at all? You were the ones who proposed the drinking contest, and you were the ones who set the terms of the bet. Now that you've lost, you're trying to back out!"
"Miss Xi, this is no business of yours," Ye Shaocheng said indifferently.
At that moment, Lin Yufei said in a deep voice, "If you are determined to deal with Xiao Yang, then deal with me along with him!"
"Count me in too!" Xi Qiuying added coldly.
Xiao Yang glanced at the two women. This development was entirely unexpected. He appreciated their kind intentions in standing by his side, but to deal with a bunch of worthless good-for-nothings, he alone was more than enough.
Just as the tension reached its breaking point, a pleasant ringtone shattered the oppressive atmosphere.
Unflustered, Ye Shaocheng took out his phone. "Who is this?"
"It's me, Huang Qingshan."
Upon hearing the caller's name, Ye Shaocheng instantly put on a smiling face. "Ah, Young Master Huang! I didn't check my phone earlier, please forgive me."
"No problem at all. I saw your car in the parking lot of the Duhao Hotel. What's this? You're having a meal and didn't even invite me? That's not very friendly of you," Huang Qingshan chided with a laugh over the phone.
"My oversight, completely my oversight. Look, I was just about to have a fresh spread of dishes ordered. If Young Master Huang doesn't mind, why don't you come over and join us?"
"You certainly have a big appetite, ordering a whole new table of food. Fine, I actually have some things I want to discuss with you anyway."
Ye Shaocheng gave him the private room number, then pressed his hand down slightly. The men who had stood up sat back down, and the tense atmosphere vanished instantly.
Beaming, he said to Xiao Yang, "You can still leave now while you have the chance. Otherwise, once the time comes, you won't even be able to leave if you want to!"
Unfazed, Xiao Yang lit a cigarette for himself and said slowly, "Judging by your tone, it sounds like you've found some incredible savior who's got me cornered, is that it?"
Ye Shaocheng did not answer directly. "I've given you your chance."
With that, the private room fell into a dead silence.
Many of them cast mocking looks at Xiao Yang. They knew very well what kind of person Ye Shaocheng was; once you offended him, could you expect any good days ahead?
Breaking into a cold sweat of anxiety, Lin Yufei leaned close to Xiao Yang's ear and whispered, "Xiao Yang, why don't we just leave?"
Xiao Yang shook his head slightly and chuckled. "Don't rush. I want to see what kind of game he's playing."
Ye Shaocheng didn't reply, offering only a silent, cold smile.
After waiting six or seven minutes, the door to the private room was pushed open by a waiter.
A well-dressed young man radiating an aristocratic aura walked in, flanked by two burly bodyguards.
"Young Master Ye." The young man was none other than Huang Qingshan. He smiled and waved a greeting to Ye Shaocheng.
"Young Master Huang." Ye Shaocheng didn't slack off in the slightest, immediately rising to greet him.
Xiao Yang glanced back. Huang Qingshan noticed him at once. Their eyes locked for two full seconds before both men simultaneously looked away.
A woman's intuition told Lin Yufei that the two men seemed to know each other. She couldn't help asking, "Xiao Yang, do you know him?"
Without answering directly, Xiao Yang countered with a question of his own, "Do you know who he is?"
Lin Yufei nodded. "Huang Qingshan, the young master of the Capital's wealthy Huang family. He's come to Jing City wanting to develop a resort project."
Huang Qingshan took a seat beside Ye Shaocheng and asked, "What kind of grand meeting are you holding here?"
Ye Shaocheng tossed his head toward Xiao Yang. "Some bumpkin doesn't know manners, so I was just planning to teach him a lesson."
Huang Qingshan glanced at Xiao Yang. "Mind telling me about it?"
Ye Shaocheng immediately recounted the earlier bet, spreading his hands at the end. "Young Master Huang, you be the judge. I've already made massive concessions, but he still doesn't know when to advance or retreat. Shouldn't he be taught a lesson?"
Huang Qingshan nodded slightly. "He probably does need a lesson."
For no apparent reason, Lin Yufei felt a surge of tension. Subconsciously, she tightened her grip on Xiao Yang's hand and whispered, "If Huang Qingshan insists on meddling, this won't be a small matter anymore. The Capital's wealthy Huang family is not someone we can afford to offend."
"It's fine." Xiao Yang patted the back of her hand.
"So cozy, are the two of you an item?" Seeing them whispering together, Huang Qingshan couldn't help chiming in.
Unbothered, Xiao Yang dug into his ear with a finger. "Watch your mouth, or I'll string you up and beat you."
Bang!
One of the young men slammed his palm on the table and sprang to his feet, pointing at Xiao Yang and roaring, "Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you speak to Young Master Huang like that? Do you want to be thrown into the river?!"
Xiao Yang wasn't angry in the least. Instead, he looked at Huang Qingshan with a half-smile. "Look at you, getting ambitious. You've even got dogs starting to kiss your boots."
The others gloated, eagerly anticipating Huang Qingshan delivering a crushing blow to Xiao Yang.
Lin Yufei's palms were slick with nervous sweat as she repeatedly gestured for him to stop talking nonsense.
Xi Qiuying pressed a hand to her forehead. There was no saving him; he was truly beyond help.
Just when everyone assumed Huang Qingshan was about to pick a fight with Xiao Yang, he rapidly put on a smiling face, raised a hand in greeting, and said, "Long time no see, Big Big Boss!"
What?!
Hearing this, everyone present was so shocked their jaws nearly dropped to the floor.
Lin Yufei and Xi Qiuying stared at Xiao Yang in astonishment, wondering if they were hallucinating.
Ye Shaocheng froze for several seconds before asking uncertainly, "Young Master Huang, what did you just say?"
Huang Qingshan cast a cold, indifferent glance at his direction and said flatly, "That is my Big Big Boss. Did you hear that clearly?"
"This..." With confirmation, Ye Shaocheng was completely at a loss for words, having no idea what to say.
With a cold chuckle, Huang Qingshan continued, "Young Master Ye, you're quite something. You wanted to dig a trap for me and make me deal with my Big Big Boss? I originally thought you were a decent guy—good with your words and capable—and was planning to partner with you on the resort project."
"Tsk tsk tsk. Now it seems I need to look for a new partner."
As those words fell, Ye Shaocheng's expression changed drastically, yet he still didn't utter a single word to ask him to stay.
Young Master Ye had his own dignity as well; without the resort project, he would at worst make a little less money.
At that moment, Huang Qingshan stood up and took the vacant seat right next to Xiao Yang on his other side. "Big Big Boss, when did you get back? You didn't even notify your brother—that's not cool at all!"
"We can catch up later. First, help me collect the bet I'm owed." Xiao Yang looked toward the pale-faced Pang Zizhu and said indifferently.