Pong had brought only one man, who seemed unarmed. Faced with the sudden show of force, the attendant paled, beads of sweat sliding down his temples. Knowing resistance was futile, he urgently pulled Pong back, urging him to calm down.
"Mr. Pong," Nuozhi said, gun raised, a mocking half-smile on his lips, "I suggest you remember whose territory you're standing on. If you come seeking peace, I recommend you drop the arrogance."
Angwei remained utterly composed, legs crossed, the pristine porcelain cup still in his hand, its tea undisturbed. After watching the scene unfold, he turned his head slightly and spoke in a low, reproving tone.
"Nuozhi. Even when beating a dog, one must consider its master. Know your place. That's insolent."
Pong flushed green at being called a dog, his fists clenched tight, humiliated.
Daian watched, her palms sweating, heart pounding in her throat. It was her first visceral experience of someone radiating such unrestrained, unapologetic arrogance.
If Pong's face screamed 'villain', then Angwei was a jaguar – deceptively smooth and beautiful on the outside.
Inside, however, lay pure, brutal savagery and ambition.
As Sister Hua had said, he truly surpassed his father.
Angwei lifted his eyelids, a smile touching the corners of his narrow eyes. He scratched his temple and sat up slightly, radiating lazy indifference. "Uncle Pong, the young one lacks manners. Don't take offense. Sit."
Pong glared murderously at Nuozhi, but with several weapons still trained on him, he had no choice but to take the offered step down.
With a slight gesture from Angwei, his men lowered their guns. Angwei offered Pong a cigar, motioning for someone to light it, then took one himself, holding it under his nose to savor the aroma.
Angwei observed him for a moment, his voice regaining its usual steady, almost amused tone.
"Uncle Pong, since you've made the effort to visit today, I'd like to propose a condition. If you're willing to cooperate, we can continue this conversation. If not... well, the road forks. We each go our own way. How about it?"
A lighter clicked. Angwei's cigar flared to life with a blood-red ember as he took a deep drag, the glow illuminating his inscrutable face. His dark eyes, fixed on Pong, were like bottomless chasms, chilling to behold.
Daian was still watching when a male server carrying drinks approached down the corridor. She quickly stood, feigning confusion. "These hallways are so confusing," she said lazily. "How do I get to the 'Mountain View' room?"
The server pointed the way – outside the gallery – and politely offered to escort her. Daian couldn't refuse without raising suspicion, so she followed him.
After two turns, they arrived outside the "Mountain View" room. Daian thanked the server and lingered at the door, waiting until she saw him descend the stairs before retracing her steps back to Angwei's room.
By then, the storm inside seemed to have passed. Pong and his attendant were leaving. Daian ducked into an alcove, watching them leave before emerging.
Peering through the crack again, she saw Angwei walk leisurely to the tea area and sit down. He picked up a teapot and began pouring slowly, not looking up as he spoke to a bodyguard.
"Khun Da. There's a little bird at the door. Bring it in."
The words, spoken so lightly, sent an instant wave of furious disbelief across the bodyguard's face. Daian's mind buzzed with panic, but it was too late to run. The door was kicked open violently from within.
The man's ferocious gaze landed immediately on the petite woman outside. He raised an eyebrow, his voice harsh. "Well, well. A reckless one. Hey! What the f*ck were you doing skulking at the door?"
He seized the back of Daian's dress with lightning speed, hauling her inside like a sack and dumping her in front of Angwei.
She instinctively twisted in his grip. Instantly, he backhanded her hard across the face, then kicked her squarely in the kidney.
Daian gasped, pain exploding through her head and side before she could react. The world spun. She crashed to the floor, the bottle of liquor she'd been carrying shattering beside her, alcohol foaming across the tiles.
The force of the blow sent her flying half a meter. Her head struck the sharp corner of the low table with a sickening crack, blood immediately welling crimson from the wound.
These underworld enforcers showed no mercy, even towards women. Their methods were ruthlessly efficient.
Daian felt the searing pain in her cheek. She tasted the metallic tang of blood on her lip. Trying to push herself up, her hand pressed against her stinging face, but the kick to her kidney was too severe. She couldn't straighten; the agony was paralyzing, numbing. The blow and the slap had left her disoriented, shattered like glass thrown violently to the ground.
Angwei ignored the woman sprawled at his feet. He busied himself with the tea set, finishing a cup of scalding white tea before slowly lifting his gaze. His deep-set eyes held only detached contempt.
"Look up."
He commanded her in Thai.
But Daian's vision swam with black spots. It felt like her insides were shredded, spasming violently, the pain excruciating. She lacked the strength to lift her head.
Seeing her ignore him, Angwei extended a foot. He used the polished toe of his shoe to hook under her chin, forcing it upward. Blood from Daian's face smeared onto the leather. Angwei frowned slightly.
Daian bit down hard on her lower lip, enduring the agony. As her face was tilted up, she fixed the man towering above her with a fierce, defiant glare.
The moment Angwei saw her face clearly, the toe of his shoe trembled almost imperceptibly.
His pupils dilated slightly. He narrowed his eyes, studying those familiar features, desperately searching for his memory.
Beneath brows furrowed in pain were those captivating, fox-like eyes. They burned with impatience and defiance. Her bloodied lips trembled as she glared at him, her breathing shallow and ragged.
Raven-black hair cascaded over her chest, partially obscuring the pale, porcelain curves hinted at beneath her torn dress.
He examined her face, her attire, quickly identifying her as one of the establishment's hostesses. "Which room? So utterly lacking in manners."
Daian remained silent, her gaze locked with his. The intense pain made her whole body tremble faintly.
His eyes... The irises were an intense, heavy black, seeming to pull one into an abyss, seeing everything, leaving nowhere to hide.
In the silent tension of their locked gazes, Manager Asu was ushered in by another bodyguard. He immediately dropped to his knees.
"Young Master Angwei, profound apologies! She's new, still unfamiliar with the rules. She offended you. Please, I beg for your mercy!"
Asu scrambled over to Daian. Seeing her bloodied face, he visibly recoiled, then urgently pulled at her, forcing her to bow.
"What happened? I sent you to Mountain View! What are you doing here? Do you know who this is? This is Young Master Angwei! Apologize immediately! Say you were just passing by!"
Angwei withdrew his foot. Daian collapsed limply. Asu helped her up, still wearing an obsequious smile.
"Young Master, please forgive her! She's a Chinese international student. Her Thai is poor. She couldn't possibly have meant to eavesdrop! I sent her up to the fourth floor to serve a guest."
"Chinese?" Angwei arched an eyebrow, a spark of interest igniting in his dark eyes.