As the half-head-taller frame pressed down heavily, Xu Mianchuan panicked, closing her eyes to evade.
Just as her vision darkened, her senses heightened. Her body was suddenly pulled by a startling force, veering unnaturally in another direction. With a muffled grunt, Xu Mianchuan collided with a powerful arm.
The woody scent of vetiver washed over her, mingled with faint traces of tobacco—fresh yet assertive, dominating her senses and dispelling the discomfort from the strong liquor and cloying perfume.
“My apologies, Miss Xu, for the intrusion.”
Xu Mianchuan looked up from the crook of his arm and met the gaze of the man looking down at her.
It was Wei Chi. “Mr. Wei,” she murmured, shifting to free herself from his hold before grasping what had happened.
Wei Chi had seized Zheng Jingyuan’s restraining wrist with one hand. It was unclear how much force he used, but Zheng’s face contorted in pain—the very force that had pulled her into Wei Chi’s embrace.
“Wei Chi! Let go of me, damn it!” Zheng Jingyuan hissed through gritted teeth.
Wei Chi held fast to his wrist, his tone icy. “Zheng Jingyuan, I didn’t invite you here for this.”
“She’s my fiancée, mind your own fucking business.”
“Oh, your fiancée? Shouldn’t you save the intimate quarrels for home instead of flaunting it here? Xing Lan didn’t prepare a bed for you.”
Xu Mianchuan frowned at his words. “Mr. Wei.”
Wei Chi glanced at her and offered an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I was insulting his lack of restraint and ended up offending you by association.”
“You son of a—” Zheng Jingyuan started to curse, but a sharp, bone-crushing pain flared in his wrist, turning the skin bright red. Unable to bear it, he yielded hastily, “Alright, alright! I shouldn’t have laid hands on her. My mistake. Now let me go!”
Disliking Zheng as he did, Wei Chi still had to show respect to Chairman Zheng. With a scornful laugh, he released him.
“So protective of Xu Mianchuan, Wei Chi? What, have you taken a liking to her?” Freed from danger, Zheng Jingyuan rubbed his wrist and sneered. “Too bad she’s my fiancée. If you’re interested, the Xu Family has an unwanted second daughter—nothing wrong with her except she’s not the real heiress. Think it over, and we could be brothers-in-law?”
Wei Chi frowned at this.
Zheng Jingyuan truly had no tact, spouting such offensive remarks right in front of Xu Mianchuan.
“Zheng Jingyuan, you have no right to judge my sister. Before you treat others like commodities, take a good look at what you are.”
Her expression stern, Xu Mianchuan said coldly, “Let me repeat: the Xu Family has no engagement with the Zheng Family. I am not your fiancée now, nor will I ever be. Watch your language.”
Wei Chi was slightly taken aback, lowering his gaze to study her profile.
Zheng Jingyuan was a self-righteous scoundrel, and Wei Chi was used to hearing his crude remarks. He had assumed Miss Xu would let it slide to maintain decorum, never expecting her to confront Zheng so directly.
He wasn’t well-acquainted with Xu Mianchuan, having only seen her from afar at business banquets. He had always regarded her as the pampered, delicate flower of the Xu Family, never imagining a peony could transform into a rose.
And a rather sharp one at that.
“Xu Mianchuan, what do you mean by that?” Zheng Jingyuan was momentarily stunned, wondering if he had misheard.
“Exactly what I said.”
Zheng Jingyuan exploded with rage: “How dare you call me a worthless bastard? What the hell do you think you are? Just because I showed you some respect, you actually think you’re some celestial beauty? You’re nothing without the Xu Family! How dare you challenge me here? Do you even want Xuri to survive in this industry?”
The insult was utterly humiliating. Zheng Jingyuan fantasized about seeing Xu Mianchuan’s furious yet fearful expression, but instead, she stood tall and responded coldly: “President Zheng, have you forgotten that I built Xuri from the ground up? Even if I leave the Xu Family, I have the capability to forge my own career. I wonder if President Zheng would still possess such sharp investment vision to maintain your undefeated myth without Bo Ya?”
When it came to assessing the capabilities of the new generation in Shen Shi’s elite circles, Xu Mianchuan confidently ranked among the top three women, and not necessarily the third. Zheng Jingyuan, however, couldn’t even make the top five. If not for Chairman Zheng and Bo Ya’s established status, where would he get the audacity to engage in all these disgraceful acts?
She struck right at his sore spot, making Wei Chi chuckle beside her.
No wonder she was a top student from the same school as Zhou Lincan—her confidence was truly formidable.
Zheng Jingyuan, who had always navigated business and romantic affairs with ease, had never been so thoroughly rebuked. His defenses shattered, blood rushing to his head, he swung his hand toward Xu Mianchuan’s face.
Wei Chi’s eyes darkened as he shifted half his body in front of Xu Mianchuan, intercepting the hand aimed at her ear.
Zheng Jingyuan stomped in fury: “Wei! If you interfere in my affairs again, the Zheng Family will deal with you too! I’m not your father—he fears your old man, but I don’t!”
Xu Mianchuan abruptly looked up at the man shielding her.
The corridor was dimly lit, with only spotlights illuminating small patches of space. Half of Wei Chi’s face was hidden in shadow, his presence suddenly turning intimidating.
“Zheng Jingyuan, you’ve crossed the line.”
Just six words, carrying a chilling coldness.
Zheng Jingyuan broke out in goosebumps as reason returned, suddenly remembering his father’s warning.
Wei Chi wasn’t like the pampered young masters they were—don’t provoke him for no reason, especially not his father. He’d been so enraged by Xu Mianchuan’s arrogance that he’d foolishly attacked this mad dog.
Now he was done for—his father would definitely punish him.
His hand was suddenly released as Wei Chi let go, taking out a cigarette case to light one.
Amid the swirling smoke, the man remained silent, his sharp aura spreading through the entire corridor.
Xu Mianchuan stepped out from the shadows, kindly reminding him: “President Zheng has been drinking and must be drunk. You should leave Xing Xing Bar early.”
This was a battle of presence, and clearly, Zheng Jingyuan had lost—to both of them.
Unable to confront Wei Chi, Zheng Jingyuan turned his anger back toward the Xu Family: “Fine, fine! Xu Mianchuan, you don’t want to marry into the Zheng Family? Let’s see if your parents share your sentiment. I’ll make you beg to marry into the Zheng Family!”
No sooner had he spoken than an angry shout came from behind: “You scumbag bastard! Don’t even think about marrying my sister in this lifetime or the next!”
A figure darted out from around the corner, rushing over to deliver a kick to Zheng Jingyuan’s backside. Just as he’d steadied himself, he grunted and fell to the ground. Before he could get up, a glass of red wine was poured over his head.
“Who the hell?!”
Chuan Jin threw the glass beside him, clapping her hands as she snorted: “Your grandma, that’s who!”
Red wine splattered all over his suit, ruining it completely. She watched as Zheng Jingyuan wiped his face and stood up, pointing at her with furious rage, ready to unleash a torrent of abuse.
Fingers wagged conspicuously before her eyes. Chuan Jin felt a surge of malice and opened her mouth to bite down on them.
The next second, Zheng Jingyuan erupted in screams: “Ahhhhhhhhh!!!”
Xu Mianchuan: “!!!”
Wei Chi: “???”
Zhou Lincan, who had followed closely behind: “…”
As he had guessed, Miss Xu was truly drunk.
Zheng Jingyuan desperately waved his hand to break free, but the more he moved, the harder Chuan Jin bit. The pain pierced straight to his heart, worse than when Wei Chi had grabbed his wrist. He begged on the spot: “President Xu! Quickly make your sister let go!”
Xu Mianchuan snapped back to reality and hurried over to pull Chuan Jin away.
She had confronted Zheng Jingyuan because she had been harassed and insulted—there was a reason for it. Even if Chairman Zheng and her parents questioned her later, she could justify it. But if Chuan Jin suddenly escalated to physical violence and actually injured Zheng Jingyuan, her parents would blame her for being unreasonable again.
Xu Mianchuan: “My sister has had too much to drink and isn’t thinking clearly. President Zheng surely won’t hold a grudge against someone who’s drunk, right?”
Zheng Jingyuan’s finger was on the verge of bleeding. Suppressing the pain, he glared fiercely at the two sisters.
“You still dare to glare?” Chuan Jin spread her arms, shielding Xu Mianchuan and Zhou Lincan, and said angrily: “Sister, brother-in-law, step back. I’ll deal with this scumbag.”
Zheng Jingyuan was stunned—since when was Zhou Lincan here too?
The situation had suddenly turned into 1 vs. 4. Young Master Zheng stood alone in the encirclement, feeling both aggrieved and humiliated.
Especially with Zhou Lincan present, he had no choice but to restrain himself.
If Wei Chi weren’t a mad dog, the Zheng Family could still contend with the Wei Family. But the Zhou Family’s capital was formidable—even his father was wary of them. He couldn’t afford to lose face in front of the Second Young Master Zhou, let alone… Zheng Jingyuan glanced at Chuan Jin, who was glaring at him, and gritted his teeth in fury.
This fake young lady was even crazier. If Wei Chi was a mad dog, then Xu Chuanjin was a vicious one! Who would resort to such ruthless tactics right from the start? Biting fingers?? And kicking him!?
Damn, she was even more aggressive than he was.
Today, he shouldn’t have let lust cloud his judgment and made a move on Xu Mianchuan on someone else’s turf. Not only had he gained nothing, but he was left aching all over. What should have been a tender embrace had turned into pure self-inflicted suffering.
“Fine, I’ll consider myself unlucky today. I’ll remember this debt, and we’ll settle it later,” Zheng Jingyuan conceded defeat, uttered a few harsh words, and left, rubbing his sore backside.
The corridor, which had been in an uproar, returned to silence. Xu Mianchuan’s tense spine relaxed as she took Chuan Jin’s hand and asked, “Xiao Jin, have you been drinking?”
Chuan Jin’s eyes sparkled: “Don’t worry, sister, I’m not drunk. I have a high alcohol tolerance.”
Zhou Lincan had heard this five times already and frowned as he asked, “Does she always act like this after drinking?”
Xu Mianchuan nodded helplessly.
Chuan Jin could hold her liquor, and after drinking, she would become more enthusiastic and outgoing. But at times, she would grow unusually dull and repeat how well she could hold her drink. That alone was manageable; the real problem was that she could suddenly black out and collapse at any moment.
Remembering this, Xu Mianchuan took Chuan Jin’s hand.
“Mr. Wei, my sister is drunk, so I’ll take her home now. Thank you for your help today. I’ll personally visit to express my gratitude another day.” Xu Mianchuan smiled sincerely. “And congratulations on the club’s opening. This place is wonderful—your sister will surely love this gift.”
Wei Chi extinguished his cigarette and kept his distance, not stepping forward. “You’re too kind, Miss Xu. We’ll meet at the banquet.”
The Xu Family had also invited the Wei Family to their banquet, and Wei Chi would likely represent them. Xu Mianchuan replied politely with a smile, “You’re welcome.”
Chuan Jin asked groggily, “Are we going back now?”
Xu Mianchuan replied, “Mm, let’s go.”
“Oh.” She nodded obediently and followed her sister, but suddenly stopped when passing by Zhou Lincan.
Staring seriously at the man, Chuan Jin waved goodbye: “Goodbye, brother-in-law.”
Alcohol had numbed her mind—she no longer knew what she was saying.
Zhou Lincan felt both helpless and amused. He wanted to remind her to rest properly when she got back, but Xu Mianchuan had already pulled the girl behind her like a protective mother hen.
“Xiao Jin is talking drunken nonsense, President Zhou. Please don’t mind her.”
Her condition was nearing a blackout. Anxious, Xu Mianchuan apologized to Zhou Lincan and hurriedly led Chuan Jin away.
Their figures soon vanished. Zhou Lincan turned to glance at the empty corridor, shaking his head with a light laugh.
He had caught Xu Mianchuan’s inner thoughts—he knew that Miss Xu had a tendency to black out after drinking. He’d wanted to help escort her to the car, but never got the chance.
Miss Xu was well guarded by President Xu. A good thing.
“President Zhou, when did you become the Xu Family’s son-in-law? Did you sign yourself away along with the contract?”
Behind him, Wei Chi’s teasing voice rang out.