In Room Eight of the Yaochi Club, Lei Zhengyang lounged on a plush sofa chair, exuding ease. Two women—one older, one younger—watched him with concern. Finally, Leng Youran broke the silence. "Third Young Master Lei, you're just going to sit here and wait?"
Shi Luo Luo, her voice trembling, added, "Brother Lei, you should leave. The Lins are too powerful—don't clash with them head-on. I'm not worth it."
Zhengyang sat up, his eyes glinting with a devilish spark. He glanced at both women, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Got any food? Bring me something. Luo Luo, stay—I've got something to say."
In the past, Leng Youran would've scoffed at fetching anything, but today, she couldn't deny it: this once-spineless Lei scion had shown real grit. The world admired strength, and women were no exception.
With a glance at Luo Luo, she said, "I'll get some food. Luo Luo, keep the Young Master company." Before, Leng always kept an eye on them, ensuring Zhengyang had no chance to cross lines. Now, after his display, she wouldn't blink if Luo Luo offered herself willingly.
Luo Luo had always feared Zhengyang. His gaze once carried a predatory hunger that chilled her, making every moment near him unbearable. But today, that feeling was gone. She stepped forward, gently taking his hand. "Brother Lei, I belong to you completely. Whoever you give me to, I won't resist."
She'd misunderstood, assuming he planned to hand her over to quell the Lins' wrath, given the trouble she'd caused.
Zhengyang studied her. Honestly, after a year, the girl had blossomed. The raw youthfulness had softened, replaced by a vibrant teenage charm. She was a far cry from the desperate girl he'd struck a deal with a year ago. Perhaps her family's burdens or the club's harsh environment had forced her to mature quickly.
He patted her head gently, chuckling. "Silly girl, I'd never give you away. I've thought it through—I'm setting you free. Tomorrow, when that fat cat delivers the money, I'll leave it with Leng Youran. Need cash? Ask her. And stay out of Yaochi Club—it's no place for you. Go back to school. You're in your final year, with college entrance exams coming. Until you graduate university, I'll cover all your expenses."
His rush to Yaochi today was for one purpose: to free his kept "loli," giving Shi Luo Luo her life back.
Luo Luo's misty eyes widened, tears still glistening, as she stared in disbelief. He was giving her freedom? Hadn't they agreed—he'd fund her mother's treatment, and she'd belong to him, forever?
"Brother Lei, you're leaving me? You don't want me anymore?" Over time, she'd grown accustomed to her role. A delicate beauty like her, radiating innocent allure with no means to protect herself, was prey to countless men. Zhengyang was her shield, her towering tree, as Leng Youran had taught her.
A woman's beauty wasn't her fault—only the danger it invited.
Zhengyang shook his head. "I've been a bastard long enough. It's time I did something worthwhile. Luo Luo, you don't want me wasting my life as a playboy, chasing skirts here, do you?"
She nodded, her voice soft but firm. "Brother Lei, I'll support any choice you make. As long as you don't cast me aside, I'll wait for you—forever."
Their bond, born of a cold transaction, couldn't spark true connection. But this shift, this act of liberation, melted Luo Luo's resistance. She began to believe entrusting her future to this man might be a blessing.
She was just a fragile girl. Without support, the weight of caring for her parents would crush her.
Outside, sirens wailed, piercing the air. Zhengyang didn't move, but his sharp ears caught the chaotic footsteps echoing through the corridors. The Lin family was mobilizing. He was sure the Leis had gotten wind of it too.
Beating Lin Zhouwei wasn't just for Luo Luo—it was a calculated probe, testing both the Lins and the Leis. Tensions between the families had simmered for years. If possible, Zhengyang wanted to ignite the spark now. The longer it festered, the bigger the explosion.
As he mulled, the door swung open. Leng Youran entered, her usual icy composure tinged with tension. Seeing Luo Luo clinging to Zhengyang's arm, her face hardened. "Third Young Master Lei, this mess isn't over, and you're still taking advantage of Luo Luo? Got some nerve, don't you?"
Their closeness stemmed from Luo Luo's overwhelming gratitude—she wanted to show Zhengyang her unwavering loyalty. Embarrassed, she blurted, "Sister Youran, it's not Brother Lei—it's me. I wanted this." Her face flushed crimson. Once, Zhengyang's lecherous glances sent her fleeing like a startled bird. Now, if he wanted her, she wouldn't resist.
Zhengyang glanced at Leng Youran's frosty expression, inwardly marveling. Cold Beauty, living up to her name.
"I'm not the sleaze you think," he said dryly. "Hand over the food. I need to eat—got business to handle soon."
Leng Youran bristled, tempted to hurl the tray at his head. Since when was she a servant, summoned at his whim? But Luo Luo, ever perceptive, hopped up with a grin, taking the tray and setting it before Zhengyang. "Brother Lei, thank you. Eat slowly—if it's not enough, I'll grab more."
Leng Youran's eyes flashed with curiosity. Luo Luo's behavior was striking. For the past year, they'd lived together, and from her stray comments, Leng knew she dreaded Zhengyang's lustful stares, chilling her to the bone. Yet this Zhengyang, reappearing after a year, carried none of that predatory aura.
Even Leng couldn't quite figure him out.
Swallowing her irritation, she warned, "The police have sealed the place. They'll be here soon. Need my help?"
Leng wielded hidden power—Zhengyang wasn't sure of its extent, but in Yaochi's cutthroat world, her stunning beauty remained untarnished. That spoke to serious backing. Still, he shook his head. He didn't rely on women for protection.
Leng's pride stung. In Beijing, nearly every major family had members at Yaochi—some chasing women, others indulgence, and the shrewdest tapping the club's covert networks. A mere woman, yet none dared underestimate Leng Youran. Zhengyang's refusal felt like a slap.
She wasn't offering for his sake—she wanted to shield Luo Luo. After a year, she truly saw her as a sister.
Zhengyang was mid-bite when the door burst open rudely. Several police officers stormed in, guns trained on the trio.
Leng didn't flinch, her deep eyes flashing with unmasked fury at the intruders. Nobody dared disrupt Yaochi Club.
Luo Luo, scared silent, instinctively edged closer to Zhengyang. The man she'd once viewed as a beast had become her rock in this moment of vulnerability. Oddly, instead of seeking Leng's protection, she trusted him.
Zhengyang, interrupted, looked up at the officers glaring at him. In a dead-serious tone, he said something absurdly comical: "Damn it, what's with people these days? No manners—don't you knock before barging in?"