The group soon arrived at the lounge bar, and Yan Sui stepped out of the car, finding everything refreshingly new.
The entrance, understated yet luxurious, lacked the flashy atmosphere of a typical nightclub. Instead, elegance and wealth seeped from every detail.
In truth, what others said wasn’t wrong.
She really was a country girl who had never seen much of the world.
Unfortunately, during the ride, she had leaned out the window several times, trying to sense it again, but she still couldn’t feel that familiar gaze.
Had the stalker given up?
She had always been curious about who it was.
Now that the gaze had disappeared without warning, she felt a small sense of disappointment, as though her curiosity had been left unsatisfied.
The wealthy young masters were regulars here, and they easily led the way toward a private room.
A boy named Chen Xuan stayed closest to her.
“What would you like to drink? How about I ask the best bartender here to make you a custom Mojito?”
Yan Sui politely shook her head.
“I don’t know how to drink alcohol.”
Her answer only made the boys more excited.
“No way, you’re already an adult and you’ve never had alcohol?”
“That’s rare. There are actually girls this innocent nowadays?”
“Then you definitely have to try it, right, Suisui?”
“Chen Xuan, don’t you already have a girlfriend? You’re already calling her Suisui?”
Surrounded by the group, Yan Sui followed them through the main hall.
With everyone crowding around her, she couldn’t get a clear look at the surroundings.
Then suddenly, at one particular moment, she felt that familiar gaze again.
Wild and intense.
The same as before, yet somehow different.
It vanished in an instant, like an illusion.
Startled, she stood on tiptoe and looked around.
The hall was crowded with people, but nothing seemed unusual.
The next second, she had already stepped into the private room.
The door closed behind her.
At the same moment, the sound of shattering glass rang out from a floor-to-ceiling window in a secluded corner of the hall.
The man who had been sitting there abruptly stood up and knocked over the glass in front of him.
The world spun around him.
Bracing himself against the wall, he gasped for breath and reached up to tear open the top two buttons of his shirt.
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
Veins spread across the pale skin of his neck, as though a demon was about to burst free from its shell.
How could this be?
Why was she here?
Most importantly…
Had he hidden himself well enough?
Who were those people?
How dare they stand so close to her?
Kill them.
No.
That would scare her.
What if she discovered he had been watching her?
She would definitely find him disgusting…
I want to see her.
Do you deserve to?
Countless voices surged through his mind, making his ears ring.
His thoughts were chaotic.
His vision blurred.
Physically, the effects of the medication dulled his senses and left him dizzy.
Emotionally, however, the overwhelming and unhealthy longing was impossible to suppress.
He had already made up his mind.
He had promised himself he would stop doing these disgusting things.
Stop tainting her with his obsession.
Then why was it that every time he saw her, he lost control again?
Grinding his teeth against the stomach cramps brought on by the storm of emotions, he gestured toward someone outside.
“Get me the live surveillance feed from Private Room Number Six.”
Several people were already inside the room, both men and women.
“So you’re Yan Sui.”
A girl with long wavy hair spoke, smiling faintly as she looked her over.
The boys failed to notice the subtle hostility hidden beneath her expression. They immediately pulled Yan Sui down onto a seat while introducing her.
“This is Gu Xin, Lin Ran’s best friend.”
Gu Xin examined Yan Sui from head to toe before turning toward Chen Xuan.
“Hey, did you order a drink for our new little sister yet?”
Yan Sui hurriedly waved her hands.
“I really don’t drink alcohol.”
Gu Xin smiled.
“Yan Sui, how can you not drink? Since you’re President Lin’s daughter, you’ll have plenty of social events in the future.
“Besides, everyone here is drinking. If you’re the only one who doesn’t, are you refusing to show us any respect?”
She spoke with a cheerful smile, appearing completely straightforward.
The others quickly joined in.
“Exactly, just have a little.”
Chen Xuan leaned in so close that they were nearly touching.
“It’s settled then. I’ll order you a Mojito right now—”
Gu Xin suddenly stood up and enthusiastically patted Chen Xuan on the shoulder.
“You only ever order the same thing. Have some creativity. I’ll get our little sister my favorite Long Island Iced Tea. My treat.”
She left immediately.
Soon she returned carrying a drink that looked just like iced tea and placed it in front of Yan Sui.
“I mixed this myself. Don’t worry, it tastes great.”
Long Island Iced Tea was notorious.
It didn’t taste particularly strong, but its alcohol content was extremely high.
Gu Xin had even added extra vodka.
Half a glass would be enough to knock someone down.
“I really don’t drink…” Yan Sui said helplessly, her brows knitting together.
At that moment, everyone seemed to become strangely united.
The boys who had been trying to please her in the car were now the loudest.
“Come on, Suisui. It’s fine. We’ll take you home afterward!”
“Gu Xin personally made this for you. If you really can’t do it, how about I feed it to you?”
“Everyone’s having fun tonight. Don’t ruin the mood!”
“Lin Qi, come on, personally bring the drink to your sister.”
Lin Qi was slightly drunk.
Holding the glass out to Yan Sui, he smiled.
“Sis, considering I argued with Mom for your sake today, do me this favor.”
Pair after pair of eyes stared at her.
As though refusing to finish the drink would make her the villain.
Yan Sui accepted the glass.
Pressing her lips together, she lowered her head and took a sip.
The burning alcohol traveled from her tongue all the way down her throat.
It was sweet and not unpleasant, but far too harsh.
The little girl stuck out her tongue.
“Sorry. I really can’t get used to alcohol.”
Gu Xin’s expression suddenly darkened.
“Seriously, Yan Sui? I’ve never seen anyone so delicate. Can you stop acting like some fragile little flower?”
“I’m a straightforward person. I can’t stand this kind of behavior. I deliberately reduced the alcohol content, and you’re still reacting like this. Anyone would think I’m trying to harm you.”
Generously, she picked up her own glass and clinked it against Yan Sui’s.
“How about this? We’ll both finish our drinks, and I’ll pretend none of this happened.”
With that, she tilted her head back and emptied her glass.
“As expected of Sister Xin! That’s what I call bold!”
“Yan Sui, your turn. Sister Xin just toasted you!”
“Bottoms up! Bottoms up!”
The crowd cheered loudly.
Chen Xuan, already drunk, watched Yan Sui’s troubled expression and felt increasingly tempted.
He reached out, preparing to force the drink on her—
BANG!!!
A deafening crash exploded through the room.
The private room door was kicked open with tremendous force.
Everyone screamed in shock.
A figure dressed in black charged inside, grabbed a liquor bottle from the table, and smashed it directly over Chen Xuan’s head.
“AAAAAHHHHHHH!”