Li Xue clung to the chair with what little consciousness she had left, but her body no longer obeyed her, and she fell heavily to the floor.
The drug was taking effect. Li Xue was covered in sweat, soaking through her thin blouse. Her perfect figure looked even more alluring as her body began to writhe uncontrollably.
The wicked fire in Gao Yi's gut burned even hotter. He pounced on Li Xue like a ravenous wolf.
'This little newlywed is all mine!'
'Just watch, I'm going to devour you whole.'
'And I'll make that good-for-nothing a cuckold!'
"Did you think ordering the food yourself would keep you safe? Let me tell you, everyone in this hotel works for me! They have to do whatever I say!"
In her stupor, Li Xue subconsciously rolled over onto her side, her perfect curves now breathtakingly beautiful.
He lifted Li Xue's hair and leaned in close to her cheek, taking a deep breath.
'This faint, natural scent is so much more enticing than the cheap perfume of those common tarts!'
As if on fire, he tore off his jacket and impatiently undid his belt. Suddenly remembering something, he waved at his men.
"All of you, get out!"
Gao Yi's subordinates closed the door. Gao Yi was about to have his "fun," and naturally, they couldn't disturb him.
Besides, the men Li Xue had brought with her had already been taken care of. There was no other danger inside the private room.
Gao Yi was about to unbutton Li Xue's clothes when he remembered something else. With a wicked grin, he took out his phone, propped it up with a tissue box, and adjusted the angle to point at the sofa.
In the camera's view, Li Xue was as beautiful as ever.
Gao Yi picked up Li Xue and walked toward the sofa.
THUD...
A muffled sound came from outside the door. Gao Yi paid it no mind. 'It must be Li Xue's other men trying to get in, only to be dealt with on the spot.'
Li Xue fell defenselessly onto the sofa, her disheveled hair making her look even more enticing.
Gao Yi couldn't stand it any longer. He stripped off his pants, leaving him in his underwear, and opened his wallet to rummage for a condom.
'Found it!'
But just then, with a loud BANG, the two doors were blown off their hinges like fallen leaves.
Gao Yi flinched. The fire of excitement that had just been kindled was instantly doused with a bucket of cold water.
He was furious. He turned his head and shouted, "If you're going to fight, can't you be a little quieter?" He still thought his men were brawling with Li Xue's bodyguards.
What met his eyes was Mu Lin's icy gaze.
Mu Lin ignored Gao Yi and looked toward Li Xue. Seeing that her clothes were still intact, he knew he had arrived just in time.
"What did I tell you? You didn't listen to a single word!"
"If it weren't for my master's orders, who would want to be the husband of a foolish woman like you!"
Gao Yi calmed down and realized something was wrong. This Mu Lin was clearly not one of the men Wu Yue had arranged for him.
"Who the hell are you? I'm using this room! If you don't leave now, you'll regret it!"
Mu Lin was completely unfazed by Gao Yi's threat. Instead, he scanned the entire room.
He flicked his finger. The tissue box propping up the phone was sent flying, and the phone fell to the floor, its screen cracking.
Mu Lin remarked with a sigh, "We all have one nose and two eyes. How did you turn out so rotten?"
Gao Yi wasn't afraid at all. He had Wu Yue's backing. Whatever he did tonight would be forgotten by the time the sun rose on a new day.
Why bother?
"Being bad requires the confidence to back it up. Now, get the hell out, and I'll pretend I never saw you."
"Otherwise, this day next year will be the anniversary of your death. Nobody cares when a little ant gets crushed."
Mu Lin smiled calmly. "Why don't you try?"
Blood rushed to Gao Yi's head. He didn't stop to think how Mu Lin had gotten past his guards. He grabbed a decorative sword hanging on the wall and charged at Mu Lin.
Mu Lin didn't even move. Before the sword could reach him, he lifted his foot and kicked the tip of the blade.
A crack appeared in the middle of the blade. The front half of the sword spun through the air toward Gao Yi, grazing his thigh as it flew past.
It passed on the inside of his thigh. If it had been off by just a little, the Gao family line would have ended then and there.
Gao Yi stood stunned, holding a sword that was now just a hilt.
Then, Mu Lin lifted his leg and kicked Gao Yi square in the body.
Gao Yi was sent flying like a cannonball. He slammed into the wall, bounced off it, and completely overturned the dining table.
Plates and cups shattered, covering the floor in a mess. The shards left Gao Yi covered in blood, a truly miserable sight.
External injuries were now added to his internal ones.
"Who are you!" Gao Yi sprawled on the ground, pointing at Mu Lin as he roared.
He was going insane. He had been just one step away from bedding Li Xue, but who knew some interloper would come out of nowhere and ruin everything.
'If only I hadn't bothered with all this elaborate setup and just went for it directly...'
'Regretting it now is useless. Once Wu Yue's reinforcements arrive, I'll make him pay!'
"Just a lowly vice manager at the Li Group. Nothing compared to Team Leader Gao, of course."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Mu Lin was in front of Gao Yi, his hand clamped around his neck.
Gao Yi couldn't breathe. He struggled desperately, reaching out to try and claw at Mu Lin's face.
Mu Lin suddenly flung him down, pressing Gao Yi's entire body into the floor of broken shards and then sat on top of him.
Shards pierced Gao Yi's skin, wedging themselves between muscle and bone, doubling the pain.
Gao Yi's screams of pain could be heard throughout the entire Huangshanghuang Hotel.
"Li Group, you just wait!"
"I, Gao Yi, will use everything I have to come after you!"
"In just a few years, the Li Group will fall apart!"
"And you! I'll make sure you die without a proper burial!"
Such a venomous vow left Mu Lin a little stunned.
'How can such cold-hearted words come from a living, breathing person?'
Ordinarily, Gao Yi would be a dead man. But with Li Xue here, and countless witnesses, his death would implicate her.
'I'll let him live for now. There are plenty of ways to kill him later; no need to rush.'
After his tirade, Gao Yi exhausted his strength and passed out.
Mu Lin clapped his hands, and Li Xue's bodyguards walked in.
Having had their lives saved by Mu Lin, they held him in high regard.
Mu Lin looked at them. These men were top-tier experts in their own right, but unfortunately, Gao Yi's lackeys were a cut above.
"If anyone asks, tell them you were the ones who saved her. I was never here, understand?"
A look of confusion appeared in the lead bodyguard's worshipful eyes. He truly didn't understand Mu Lin's meaning. But Mu Lin was their savior, so whatever he said, they would do. "You can count on me."
"I have other business to attend to. Take her home. Be gentle."
The lead bodyguard glanced at Li Xue's provocative figure and pulled his eyes back as if he'd been electrocuted. "We can't do that! She's your wife, it wouldn't be appropriate!"
"Come on, you're just carrying her!"
The bodyguards shook their heads like rattle-drums, absolutely refusing to touch her.
'Since when did these brutes start quoting Confucius?' Mu Lin rolled his eyes, picked up Li Xue, settled her in the car, and left directly.
The lead bodyguard stared at Mu Lin's retreating back. "Incredible! As elusive as a dragon. With Mr. Mu's power, why would he lower himself to be President Li's live-in son-in-law? I don't get it... I just don't get it!"
...
「Huangshanghuang Hotel, Private Room 2020」
The decor here was magnificent, clearly beyond the means of ordinary people. And indeed, even within the Huangshanghuang Hotel, this particular private room could only be booked by a select few with special status.
The father and son pair, Lin Tian and Lin Jin, were clinking glasses with a middle-aged man. The seat for the guest of honor was still empty—it was reserved for Mu Lin.
After three rounds of drinks, even Lin Tian was feeling a little tipsy, but Mu Lin still hadn't shown up.
The middle-aged man noticed his anxious expression and called out warmly,
"Brother Lin Tian, why do you seem so restless?"
Lin Tian put down his wine glass and explained, "I invited a young man to meet you today, but he's running late. I'm worried he might be slighting this old man."
The middle-aged man chuckled. "Brother Lin, there's a young man like that? He must be some kind of unparalleled genius. It's not to brag, but I know all the young masters from the wealthy families in Anhua City, and which one of them isn't completely respectful to you?"
The middle-aged man's name was Jiang Hong. He was in charge of managing the city's project approvals and inspections. Although his position wasn't high, it was crucial. Coupled with his knack for networking, he maintained close ties with the upper class and had secretly amassed a considerable fortune.
Lin Tian had invited him to introduce him to Mu Lin, hoping Jiang Hong could help smooth things over and reduce any obstacles Mu Lin might face.
By doing this, Lin Tian could also repay a favor to Mu Lin and deepen their mutually beneficial relationship.
Thinking of Mu Lin's attitude toward him, Lin Tian gave a bitter smile. "This one's different. He's an oddball, but my very life is in his hands. I have no choice but to listen to him!"
These words sent a chill down Jiang Hong's spine. 'There's someone like that out there?'