Lin Yang did not go to the lounge area. Instead, he adjusted his arm within Li Chenzhou’s grasp, signaling that he could continue.
Li Chenzhou did not insist, though his deep gaze lingered on Lin Yang’s profile for a moment before turning back to the next person coming to exchange greetings.
The atmosphere of the gala grew more heated. The champagne tower reflected brilliant light, and the smiles on people’s faces, catalyzed by alcohol and mutual interest, became even more exuberant. Lin Yang continued to play the role of the exquisite vase smiling, nodding, and occasionally offering a “thank you” or “you flatter me.”
However, his mind was busy observing. He noticed that although Li Chenzhou seemed to be dealing with various people, his peripheral vision seemed to scan him with pinpoint accuracy. He also noticed that the looks some people gave him held more than just curiosity; they hid something else contempt, desire, or a sense of possessiveness, as if they were looking at a rare object. This realization made his stomach churn.
Just then, a slightly plump, middle-aged man carrying two glasses of whiskey filled nearly to the brim approached with a jolly grin. Lin Yang recognized him as the owner of a construction materials company, a man named Wang. He had seen him at various events in his past life, where Wang was notorious for forcing people to drink and telling vulgar jokes.
“President Li! My, my, it’s truly rare to see you bring your wife out!”
Mr. Wang had a loud voice and reeked of alcohol. He first offered a fawning smile to Li Chenzhou, then fixed his eyes on Lin Yang with undisguised greed. “Mrs. Li is truly becoming more beautiful by the day! Come, come, allow me to toast you. You must do me the honor!”
As he spoke, he tried to shove one of the glasses of strong whiskey into Lin Yang’s hand. Lin Yang’s expression changed slightly, and he instinctively took half a step back. The pungent smell of alcohol made him feel physically nauseous, and the shadows of his past life surged back. He looked toward Li Chenzhou almost pleadingly.
Li Chenzhou’s face went cold almost instantly. The surrounding air seemed to freeze several degrees. He did not look at Lin Yang; instead, he stepped directly in front of him, shielding him from Mr. Wang’s uncomfortable gaze and the proffered glass.
“Mr. Wang.” Li Chenzhou’s voice was not loud, but it carried an icy weight of authority. “I appreciate the sentiment.”
He reached out not to take the glass intended for Lin Yang, but to seize the whiskey glass Mr. Wang was holding for himself. The movement was fluid, dominant, and left no room for refusal.
The smile on Mr. Wang’s face froze. He had not expected Li Chenzhou to pull such a move. Holding the glass meant for Lin Yang, he did not know whether to keep it extended or pull it back. The situation became momentarily awkward.
Li Chenzhou, however, seemed oblivious to the man’s embarrassment. He raised the strong liquor, his cold gaze sweeping over Mr. Wang and then scanning the surrounding crowd—those who were openly or discreetly watching the commotion. He spoke clearly, delivering a declaration like an unbreakable command:
“He doesn’t drink.”
Without waiting for anyone to react, he tilted his head back and drained the clear, potent liquid in one go. The action was swift and decisive, carrying an indisputable dominance and a sense of staking a claim. As the glass touched the tray with a soft clink, the entire area fell silent for a moment.
All eyes were fixed on Li Chenzhou, taking in his hardened features and the warning light in his eyes as he surveyed the room. Mr. Wang’s face turned from red to white. He sheepishly retracted his own glass, his lips quivering, but in the end, he did not dare say another word. He forced a dry laugh and slunk away with a hollow excuse.
Li Chenzhou casually placed the empty glass on a waiter’s tray, his face as calm as if he had just drunk a glass of water. Only Lin Yang, standing closest to him, saw the slight furrow and quick release of his brow after he swallowed, and the even more frigid, imposing aura he radiated for that split second.
Lin Yang stared blankly at the broad, straight back before him, his heart thudding wildly. It was not out of fear, but because of an indescribable shock.
“He doesn’t drink.”
Those four words were so simple, yet so powerful. They carried a sense of absolute protection and possession, drawing a clear line that deterred all those with ill intentions.
Why? Why did he do that? To protect the dignity of his “property”? Or…
At that moment, the cold anger radiating from Li Chenzhou was so real it startled him. Li Chenzhou turned back, his gaze returning to Lin Yang’s face. Seeing his still-pale complexion and dazed expression, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly again.
“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice even deeper than before.
Lin Yang snapped out of it, hurriedly averting his gaze and shaking his head. “…I’m fine.”
He needed space; he needed to calm down. The subtle, prying eyes of the crowd and the overwhelming pressure of the man beside him made him feel suffocated.
“I… I’m going to the restroom,” he whispered, his voice carrying a trace of an undetectable tremor.
Li Chenzhou looked at him silently, his deep eyes seemingly trying to peer into his soul. After a few seconds, he gave a slight nod. “Come back soon.”
Having received permission, Lin Yang turned almost immediately and walked quickly toward a less crowded area. He needed to leave this dizzying center of attention and catch his breath. He did not go to the restroom; instead, he turned down a hallway and saw a glass door leading to an outdoor balcony. The balcony seemed empty, with only the night breeze stirring the curtains. He pushed the door open and stepped outside.
The cool night air immediately enveloped him, dispelling the stuffiness and alcoholic scent of the ballroom and clearing his muddled head. He leaned against the cool railing, breathing deeply as he tried to steady his racing heart. The city’s nightscape stretched out below him flickering neon and flowing traffic, vibrant yet distant. He felt like an isolated island.
Li Chenzhou, what exactly is he?
“My, isn’t this Mrs. Li? Why are you out here alone in the wind?”
A greasy, slippery voice suddenly came from behind, interrupting Lin Yang’s thoughts.
Lin Yang’s body stiffened, and he turned around abruptly.
Standing there was a corpulent middle-aged man in a straining suit. Having followed him onto the balcony at some unknown moment, the man was now rubbing his hands together and approaching with a greasy smile. His eyes were clouded, filled with undisguised lechery as he looked Lin Yang up and down with a sickening grin.
Lin Yang recognized that face, it was a small-time business owner named Qian. In his past life, Qian had attempted to get handsy with him, only to be frightened off by a single look from Li Chenzhou.
“President Qian.” Lin Yang suppressed his disgust and rising alarm, straightening his posture and speaking in a cold tone. “Is there something you need?”
“Nothing, nothing at all,” Qian chuckled, taking another step closer. A heavy stench of alcohol and tobacco washed over Lin Yang. “I just saw Mrs. Li out here all alone. It must be terribly lonely, so I came to keep you company. What’s the matter? Is President Li so busy that he has no time for you?”
His words were laced with suggestion and unwanted flirtation.
Lin Yang’s stomach churned. He instinctively retreated until his back hit the cold iron of the railing. “There is no need for President Qian to concern himself.”
“Oh, don’t be so distant!” Qian, clearly emboldened by too much drink, pressed forward until he was almost touching Lin Yang. He lowered his voice, his tone growing more lewd. “How could a powerful man like President Li know how to properly cherish someone? It’s a tragedy for a beauty like Mrs. Li to stay in an empty room alone. Why don’t you…”
As he spoke, that greasy hand actually reached out, intending to stroke Lin Yang’s face!
“Get away from me!” Lin Yang’s face went deathly pale. He violently swatted the hand away and barked the command, his voice sharpening with a mix of fear and rage.
The force of his recoil pushed him back; half of his body was now leaning precariously over the railing, the distant lights of the traffic below blurring into a haze. A familiar, desperate terror seized him instantly!
“Hey! Don’t be ungrateful when I’m being nice!” Rejection sparked a flash of humiliated rage in Qian’s eyes. Fueled by the alcohol, he lunged forward recklessly, reaching for Lin Yang’s arm. “Who are you pretending to be? You’re nothing but a—”
His words were cut short.
As if an invisible hand had clamped around his throat, the lechery and anger on his face froze, replaced by absolute horror. His eyes widened into circles as he stared past Lin Yang.
Lin Yang felt it too.
A low-pressure wave of terrifying fury surged from behind him, instantly enveloping the entire balcony. Even the air seemed to crystallize into ice. He turned his head with difficulty.
Li Chenzhou stood at the balcony entrance.
The lights behind him cast a long, dark shadow. His expression was obscured, but the cold, murderous glint in his eyes was unmistakable, it looked capable of tearing someone apart. The aura of bloodlust radiating from him was so thick it was suffocating, like a beast pushed to total provocation.
President Qian was paralyzed with fear. His legs shook like reeds in the wind, and his lips trembled, unable to form a single word. Cold sweat poured down his forehead.
Li Chenzhou didn’t look at him. His gaze was locked onto Lin Yang on his pale, terrified face and his body leaning dangerously over the edge. The violence and coldness in that look were almost tangible.
He stepped forward, one pace at a time. His footsteps were light on the carpeted balcony, nearly silent, yet each one felt like it was stepping directly onto a beating heart, bringing a staggering pressure.
He reached them. Without taking his eyes off Lin Yang, he reached out with lightning speed and precisely, ruthlessly, seized the greasy wrist that had just tried to touch his wife.
CRACK.
A sickening sound of bone splintering echoed through the air.
“AAAGH!” Qian let out a shrill, guttural scream like a slaughtered pig. His face contorted with agony, and he was instantly jolted half-sober.
Li Chenzhou didn’t even blink. He spoke through gritted teeth, his voice a low, deathly knell from the depths of hell.
“You. Want. To. Die.”
With that, he jerked his hand. Qian’s heavy body was tossed aside like a ragdoll, stumbling back until he slammed into the balcony wall with a dull thud. He slid to the floor, clutching his shattered wrist and letting out muffled moans and sobs. He tried to scramble away, but his legs were too weak to stand.
Li Chenzhou didn’t spare him another glance. His attention finally returned fully to Lin Yang.
He took a step forward and reached out not to pull him, but to grab him by the waist and the back of his neck, hauling him away from the railing and pulling him firmly, tightly into his embrace.
Lin Yang’s face slammed into a hard, warm chest. His senses were immediately filled with the man’s familiar, cold woody scent mixed with a trace of whiskey. The man’s arms were like iron bands around him, his grip so tight it felt like he might crush him. Beneath that chest, the heart was thudding with heavy, rapid beats against the fabric of his suit.
Is he. afraid?
The thought entered Lin Yang’s blank mind with a sense of absurdity. Li Chenzhou is afraid?
Held stiffly in the man’s arms, Lin Yang could feel the slight trembling of his body, a suppressed yet uncontrolled aftershock of pure, unadulterated rage.
The silence around them was deathly, broken only by the faint music from below and Qian’s muffled whimpers. Lin Yang’s mind was a complete void, unable to process what was happening.
Li Chenzhou rested his chin on the top of Lin Yang’s head, his breathing heavy and labored.