“You’ve got to admit, that beer girl is actually really pretty. Even her voice sounds nice,” one diner said to the person beside him.
“Of course. That voice—tsk tsk— just imagining what she’d sound like… who knows what kind of feeling that’d be.”
With him starting it, voices of agreement rose all around.
Su Wanqing moved between rows of square tables, a smile hanging on her lips as if she hadn’t heard a thing. She treated their words like air, focusing only on enthusiastically promoting her beer.
No matter where you go, a pretty face always draws attention. Very quickly, the crate of beer on Su Wanqing’s back was emptied. While waiting for restocking, she leaned against the riverside railing to take a break.
Su Wanqing had been working here for three days already. It was tiring, sure, but the pay was good—enough to solve her urgent financial troubles.
A black sedan was parked in the distance. The window rolled down, and Jian Ou watched Su Wanqing leaning against the railing, his gaze cold and distant.
Su Wanqing was also looking in his direction. That black car of his had been parked there for three days straight.
She didn’t even need to see his expression to imagine it. And yet, she deliberately let him watch—just to prove that even after leaving Mei Se, she could still survive on her own.
“Boss, should I go down and call her over?” the driver glanced at the man in the backseat and asked quietly.
For a long while, Jian Ou didn’t respond. His gaze seemed locked onto Su Wanqing, as if the rest of the world had disappeared.
“Boss, that looks like Long Wu’s people.”
The driver’s words finally caught Jian Ou’s attention. He followed the direction being pointed out, his expression instantly darkening. His tightly pressed lips finally moved.
“Call the police.”
“Hey, look who this is. Tsk tsk—if it isn’t Mei Se’s top girl? What’s wrong? The rich young masters there weren’t paying you enough, so you came here to scrape by?”
A slick-looking young man pushed aside the people in front of him and walked toward Su Wanqing with a grin.
Recognizing who it was, Su Wanqing frowned slightly. She turned and walked toward the beer delivery truck nearby, trying to avoid Long Wu’s people.
But she had barely taken two steps before someone blocked her.
“Hey, Su top girl, why are you running? Didn’t you see that Brother Long is here?”
With no way to escape, Su Wanqing had no choice but to face Long Wu. She gave a respectful little bow.
“Hello, Brother Long.”
Long Wu swaggered over, then waved a hand and pulled Su Wanqing straight into his arms.
“Letting a beauty like you do this kind of work—tsk tsk, what a waste. How about it? Stay with me, Brother Long will make sure you live well and eat well.”
The smell of sweat mixed with cheap perfume rushed straight into Su Wanqing’s nose, making her choke. She couldn’t even catch her breath and started coughing violently.
“N-no… cough, cough… I… I can’t afford that.”
She backed away while coughing, only stopping once she had put some distance between them.
Maybe her act wasn’t convincing enough, because the moment she steadied herself, one of Long Wu’s lackeys sneered from behind him.
“Brother Long, this woman doesn’t know what’s good for her.”
“Doesn’t know what’s good for her?”
Long Wu’s eyes darkened. He grabbed Su Wanqing again, pulling her into his arms—this time leaning in with his smoke-reeking mouth.
Before his lips could even touch hers, her stomach churned. Acting on instinct, she shoved him—and unexpectedly, she actually managed to push him away.
Rejected again, Long Wu’s expression turned vicious. Not giving her any time to react, his hand shot to the back of her neck and yanked her forward, forcing his smoke-filled mouth onto her lips.
Their noses collided in the struggle, a sharp sting spreading instantly. She couldn’t even smell the smoke anymore—only the overwhelming nausea rising in her chest, impossible to suppress.
With all her strength, Su Wanqing pushed him away. She didn’t even have time to run—she turned and bent over the railing, vomiting uncontrollably.
She hadn’t eaten much to begin with, and after working for hours, there was nothing left in her stomach. Only bitter yellow fluid came out, leaving a burning sensation in her chest.
“You damn woman, I gave you face and you refused it! You dare look down on me, Long Wu? Do you know how many women cry under me? Tonight, I’ll let you taste what it’s like to lose yourself to my ‘treasure’!”
Before Su Wanqing could even straighten up, her wrist was already clamped in his grip as he dragged her toward a white van nearby.
There were plenty of onlookers around. Some kind-hearted people tried to step forward to help her, but Long Wu’s men weren’t pushovers. The moment someone approached, they were knocked to the ground with a punch, followed by the flash of sharp knives.
“Mind your own business! Anyone who interferes—I’ll make sure they regret it!”
Most of the people at the riverside night market were ordinary folks. Long Wu was already known as one of the local bullies—no one wanted to risk themselves for a stranger.
Panic filled Su Wanqing’s heart. She knew that if she got dragged into that van, there would be no coming back.
But right now, no one was willing to step in.
Jian Ou’s car was still parked there, unmoving—yet he showed no sign of helping her.
Jian Ou, you’re really more ruthless than I ever imagined!
Tears streamed down her face as she clung desperately to a nearby utility pole, holding on for dear life.
Her resistance only fueled Long Wu’s anger. His eyes turned even more vicious, and his grip tightened as he pulled harder.
It’s over…
A chill ran through Su Wanqing’s heart. Was this really where everything would end tonight?
She should have known—Jian Ou’s appearance always meant her misfortune would follow.
Jian Ou… Jian Ou again.
Hasn’t he already ruined her life enough?