Fu Xiaotang froze, watching as a burly man with a crew cut beckoned to Ling Mengjiao. The hostess on his lap protested playfully, “Mr. Zhang, your appetite is too big; isn’t one of me enough?” The crew-cut man laughed, then his face hardened as he snapped, “Get lost, it’s none of your business how many I want!” The hostess, embarrassed, moved aside. The crew-cut man turned to Ling Mengjiao with a leering smile, “I’m talking to you, are your ears stuffed with something?” His voice wasn’t loud but was clear enough for everyone in the room to hear. Fu Xiaotang’s heart sank, her eyes on the door, wishing she could just push Ling Mengjiao out, but she couldn’t. This vulgar man would be hard to handle.
Ling Mengjiao was startled, filled with regret, but under the intense gaze of the crowd, she reluctantly walked over to him. The crew-cut man watched her approach, grinning as he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his lap. He pinched her chin, tutting, “Oh, look what I’ve found, this girl’s got some fire.” He then turned her face towards the others, boasting, “Take a look, all of you are blind. Such fresh goods are mine tonight.” Ling Mengjiao, suppressing a scream, felt the hot, alcohol-laden body against hers, making her dizzy as she struggled to break free, shouting incoherently, “No, no, let me go!”
Fu Xiaotang signaled for a waiter to call for help, then approached with a forced smile, “Mr. Zhang, this girl is new here, still learning the ropes. We just brought her out to get familiar with the place, not to serve the bosses yet. Please, let’s not upset everyone. Let the other sisters serve you today.”
The crew-cut man looked her up and down, snorting, “Cut the crap, she’s not here to drink or to admire the scenery, is she? I’ve been watching her; her eyes are glued to Young Master Yu. What, am I not a customer? Don’t give face and then take it away!”
Cheng Yu, holding his hostess, added with a sneer, “Mr. Zhang, no need to get angry. She’s new; you can teach her slowly. Everyone knows how gentle Mr. Zhang is with women.”
The crew-cut man, now grinning, tightened his grip on Ling Mengjiao, saying, “That’s right, I’ll take the time to teach you well today, and you’ll be a pro after this!” His hand then brazenly covered Ling Mengjiao’s chest.
Ling Mengjiao was terrified and disheartened by Cheng Yu’s lack of help. As she stiffened, unsure of what to do, Fu Xiaotang gently pulled the crew-cut man’s hand away, smiling brightly, “Mr. Zhang, no need to rush. Let me apologize on her behalf, okay?”
The crew-cut man, ready to explode from being interrupted, was momentarily stunned by the soft, cool, and smooth hand that seemed to send a tingling sensation to his heart. He looked at Fu Xiaotang, momentarily speechless. Chapter Fifty-Three: First Bloom (Part 2)
At some unknown moment, Fu Xiaotang had tied up her hair with a rubber band, revealing a tender, rosy-cheeked face. Her eyes, unhindered by glasses, were as clear as autumn water and as bright as cold stars. Coupled with her rosy, dew-like lips and her slender, graceful figure, she exuded a different kind of ancient Chinese charm compared to Ling Mengjiao’s sweet, foreign allure. Xiaopingtou felt as if a feather was tickling his heart. He couldn’t help but push away Ling Mengjiao in his arms, grabbing Fu Xiaotang’s wrist and squinting with a laugh, “I, Old Zhang, am really lucky today to meet such beauties, and two at once. Tell me, how do you plan to make it up to me?” As he spoke, he reached out to touch Fu Xiaotang’s delicate chin. However, his hand was intercepted halfway. Turning around in confusion, he saw Cheng Yu gripping his hand with immense force, yet his eyes were fixed on Fu Xiaotang with an icy gaze. He spoke in a very soft tone, word by word, “Tang Xiaofu, have you gone mad?”
Fu Xiaotang didn’t even lift her eyelids to glance at him, just smiled more radiantly at Xiaopingtou, raising a glass of wine, “Mr. Zhang, would you give me some face?” Xiaopingtou was slightly dazed, feeling an itch in his heart, almost drowning in the dimples that faintly appeared on her cheeks. However, he subconsciously glanced at Cheng Yu, who was casually playing with a lighter, flicking it open and shut, the monotonous clicking sound somewhat terrifying. Xiaopingtou felt a chill, quickly calculating in his mind. From the moment Cheng Yu entered the private room to his words just now, could it be that he and this girl had some connection? If that were the case, there was no need to offend this big shot over a mere woman. With this thought, he picked up a glass of wine, laughed heartily, “Sure, I, Old Zhang, always give face to beauties. I’ll drink this cup to show my sincerity.”
“Mr. Zhang is really straightforward. We will remember your generosity today,” Fu Xiaotang signaled Ling Mengjiao, who was still dazed, and the latter finally reacted, also raising her glass in a toast. Together with Fu Xiaotang, they drank. Fu Xiaotang set down her cup, smiled, “Apologies everyone, I must excuse myself.” She pulled Ling Mengjiao and left the private room calmly.
Outside, Xiao He glared fiercely at Ling Mengjiao, pulled her over to Wu Jing, who was waiting. Ling Mengjiao, still in shock, finally hugged Wu Jing and burst into tears. Xiao He, looking at Fu Xiaotang, was momentarily stunned. Just as he was about to say something, a person burst out from private room number 9, dragging Fu Xiaotang away in a whirlwind. Xiao He, coming back to his senses, frowned at their retreating figures and told a nearby underling, “Quick, go find Nan Ge… no, find Young Master Jie, tell him Xiaotang was taken away by Cheng Yu.”
…In room 2714, Song Li was sitting silently, smoking, when the door was forcefully pushed open with a “bang.” Cheng Yu shoved someone inside. Upon closer look, it was Fu Xiaotang, who steadied herself and calmly rubbed her wrist, saying indifferently, “You hurt me.”
In stark contrast to her composure, Cheng Yu’s eyes seemed to blaze with fire. Without a word, he reached out and yanked the rubber band from Fu Xiaotang’s hair, jumping up and down as he shouted, “Who is Zhang Beichi? He’s notorious in our circle as a scoundrel, a lecher, cruel and perverse. Countless women have been ruined by him. Why would you provoke him? Do you believe he could have people waiting at the door to kidnap you right now, making sure you couldn’t even cry?”
Fu Xiaotang couldn’t help but laugh inside. Cruel and perverse? Isn’t that you? Her face showed a faint smile as she slowly asked, “Oh, really? But what does it have to do with you?”
Cheng Yu was trembling with rage, suppressing his anger as he said, “Do you think you’re very capable? Do you think you could walk out unscathed today because of what?”
“Because of what? Because of you?” Fu Xiaotang’s face was all innocent inquiry, “Aren’t you all in this together? Isn’t Zhang Beichi, such a ‘figure,’ your sworn brother, bosom buddies? Why would he let me go because of you, and what am I to you?”
“Good, good,” Cheng Yu was at his wit’s end, only nodding fiercely, “If I ever care about you again, then…”
“Young Master Cheng, you worry too much,” a voice suddenly chimed in. They all turned to see Fang Junjie standing at the doorway, with his usual gentle smile. Situ Nan and a few others followed behind. Fang Junjie walked over leisurely, naturally putting an arm around Fu Xiaotang’s shoulder, and said with a laugh, “Young Master Yu, you worry too much. Xiaotang is now my person. Not to mention here in our own turf, even elsewhere, I wouldn’t let anything happen to her. If Zhang Beichi dares to touch a hair on her head, I’ll make him regret being born.” The last sentence was said with such casual ease that one might think he was joking, but those who knew him well understood that Young Master Jie’s light-hearted words were a sign of his anger.
