The man was dressed in a black suit. His face was sharply defined, refined to the point it almost didn’t look human.
His brows were habitually slightly furrowed. His face was pale, even his lips lacked color.
But the corners of his eyes carried a faint red tint, hinting at an inescapable, lingering brutality.
That cold, oppressive aura easily overshadowed his striking appearance, making it impossible for anyone to look at him too long.
As he passed through the hall, people respectfully and cautiously greeted him as “Young Master Jiang.”
He only gave the occasional faint nod, saying nothing, and raised a hand slightly behind him.
Two bodyguards in sunglasses stepped forward. One led him to a sofa in the far corner, the other went to pour him a drink.
Only then did the crowd dare to whisper.
“I can’t believe they actually invited him.”
“You’ve always wanted a chance to meet Young Master Jiang, haven’t you? This is your opportunity.”
“Not a chance. No one can read him. One wrong move and you’re done for.”
Yan Sui peeked curiously.
She saw him sitting with his legs crossed, head slightly lowered. A few strands of hair fell across his brow and eyes.
He lifted his hand and took the glass of wine offered by a bodyguard.
His long, slender fingers swirled the glass twice before he slowly raised his gaze, scanning the surroundings—
Those bloodshot, narrow eyes happened to meet Yan Sui’s curious almond-shaped ones.
In that instant, the surrounding noise seemed to fade away.
Their eyes met for only a moment.
Yet it felt like a dark, surging wave crashing straight toward her.
Yan Sui’s heart skipped a beat. She thought she saw his pupils suddenly contract, his entire body tensing like a beast sensing danger.
She found his reaction strange.
Just as she tried to look again, he had already lowered his gaze.
Then, as if giving an order, he spoke something briefly. The bodyguard beside him shifted position and deliberately blocked the line of sight between them.
The girl blinked in confusion.
He was different from everyone else here. An invisible barrier seemed to surround him, as if—
A fragile, exquisite figurine was sealed inside a transparent display case.
That thought suddenly surfaced in her mind.
She tried to lean forward to look again.
But Zhou Jin stopped her.
The man stepped closer, and Yan Sui smelled his strong cologne—overpowering and unpleasant.
“That’s Jiang Yuan of the Jiang family,” Zhou Jin said nervously. “Don’t stare. He might dig your eyes out.”
Yan Sui blinked. “Huh? How could that be?”
“Who knows. He’s a… madman.” He didn’t say the last word aloud, only mouthed it.
“But everyone seems to respect him.”
“Because no one wants to provoke a madman. Forget it. Let’s go sit somewhere, Miss Yan?”
He leaned closer and reached for her waist.
Yan Sui stepped back and avoided him, smiling lightly. “No need. I’m fine here.”
Her clear rejection made Zhou Jin’s smile fade slightly.
“What, Miss Yan doesn’t want to accept my invitation?”
Lin Jian also walked over, frowning at her.
“What did I tell you before coming here?”
Zhou Jin quickly interjected with a smile. “It’s fine, it’s fine. It’s probably just her first time at an event like this. She’s not used to it.”
“Girls should be more generous. Don’t be so petty.”
His gaze slid over her body and lingered on her waist again as he stepped closer.
“Come on.”
His hand reached out again.
Yan Sui continued to step back, still smiling sweetly.
Completely unmoved.
If she had shown panic or discomfort, Zhou Jin would have had ways to manipulate her.
But her calm, smiling expression while staring at him made him feel oddly unsettled—like she was looking at something filthy.
“You’re getting a bit ungrateful, Yan Sui,” Zhou Jin finally lost patience.
He glanced at Lin Jian. “Mr. Lin, your daughter is quite the character.”
Lin Jian shot Yan Sui a harsh look.
But then he understood Zhou Jin’s meaning and smiled.
“Yes, she’s a bit ill-mannered. I actually have something to attend to. Please help me discipline my daughter.”
With that, he turned and left immediately.
Zhou Jin looked at Yan Sui, his eyes filled with both admiration and amusement.
“So you’re still pretending to be aloof? If you don’t understand, I don’t mind making it clear.”
“No one is protecting you now. Your father needs me. Pleasing me is your only option.”
Yan Sui’s smile widened.
Perfect. Lin Jian was gone—no need to pretend anymore.
“Mr. Zhou, do you know something?” she said softly.
“You look dirty and disgusting. You might even have a disease. Someone like you is worse than a stray dog on the street.”
Zhou Jin froze completely.
For a moment, he even wondered if he had misheard.
“You—what did you say? Say it again!”
His face turned beet-red in an instant.
Yan Sui stepped back slightly, as if frightened, blinking innocently.
“Is your ear blocked by gutter oil in your brain?”
Zhou Jin’s rage exploded.
“You bitch, you forced my hand!”
He grabbed her wrist and dragged her toward a private room.
A grown man easily restrained a slender girl.
Yan Sui gasped softly, eyes reddening.
“Mr. Zhou, please don’t.”
The surrounding guests looked over, disgusted or sympathetic, but none stepped in.
Zhou Jin felt a surge of satisfaction as he watched her struggle.
“So your mouth works? Let’s see if it still does later!”
As she was dragged forward, Yan Sui lowered her head—and slightly curled her lips.
Then a low, slightly hoarse voice sounded.
Not loud, but it cut clearly through the entire hall.
“Zhou Jin.”
Zhou Jin froze instantly.
A cold fear washed over him.
He subconsciously let go, straightened up, and forced a flattering smile.
“Young Master Jiang… were you calling me?”
Yan Sui rubbed her wrist and stood upright, also slightly surprised.
At some point, one of Jiang Yuan’s bodyguards had already appeared behind Zhou Jin, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Without hesitation, they dragged him over.
The man on the sofa pressed his fingers against his brow, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
“Zhou Jin,” he said hoarsely. “In April, you tampered with the contract between your company and Jiang Corporation’s subsidiary, Zhixing Group.”
His tone was stiff and unnatural, as if speaking such a long sentence required effort.
Zhou Jin’s legs went weak, and he collapsed to his knees.
How did he know? He had covered everything.
Even if Jiang Corporation’s higher-ups noticed, they wouldn’t care about something so minor.
But the one who noticed was this living devil.
“I’ll give you two choices,” Jiang Yuan said coldly.
“Within a month, the legal department will prepare evidence and fully sue your company, while also blacklisting it across all sectors.”
“Or—”
He raised his hand slightly.
Zhou Jin trembled violently, unable even to beg.
The two bodyguards stepped forward and pinned him down.
A chill swept through the crowd. Some gagged, others staggered away.
Jiang Yuan remained seated, head slightly lowered, looking at the unconscious Zhou Jin.
“Throw him out.”
His fingernails dug deeply into his palm as he struggled to restrain the violent madness within him.
Not because he didn’t want to look up—
But because he didn’t dare.