Shen Mengying followed the voice and saw the same man from last night sitting beside her with a glass of wine in hand. She immediately retracted her relaxed posture and became alert, “It’s you?”
The handsome man, dressed elegantly with a Rolex on his wrist, smiled gently with a warm and affectionate demeanor, “Looks like we’re quite fated to meet. How about we have a drink together?”
Shen Mengying quickly moved her chair to the side, “No thanks, I don’t know you.”
“Strangers can become acquaintances. You know, the first time’s unfamiliar, the second time it’s easy,” he said softly. “Beautiful lady, I noticed you’ve been drinking alone here for two nights in a row. You look troubled. Why not make a friend and share what’s bothering you?”
“I said, I don’t know you.” Shen Mengying shook her head.
Although she would sometimes come to this little bar for a drink, she knew what kind of place it was and remained highly cautious of those around.
Even if this man looked good and seemed wealthy, she still wouldn’t lower her guard.
“Also, I don’t have anything on my mind. Please don’t assume things.”
While shaking her head, Shen Mengying still watched the man cautiously.
Seeing her reaction, the man seemed a little helpless. He shrugged and said, “Seems like you’re still very wary of me. How about this? I’ll introduce myself first, and then you can decide whether to be friends with me. Just give me a chance—and give yourself one.”
“No need,” Shen Mengying replied bluntly. “I’m just here for a drink. You’ve got the wrong person.”
“Well… alright then.” The man, seeing her firm attitude, helplessly shrugged again and said, “Since you’re not welcoming, I won’t bother you further. My surname is Qin. People call me Mr. Qin. I’ll be sipping a few drinks here tonight. If you ever want to chat, feel free to find me. I wish you a pleasant evening.”
As he spoke, he gently raised his wine glass and clinked it lightly against hers. His manners and tone were impeccable, like a gentleman, making it easy for others to feel good about him.
Shen Mengying merely nodded slightly. She watched his actions without showing much reaction.
“Eh? Brother Ji?” Just as Mr. Qin’s wine glass was about to touch hers, he suddenly seemed to recognize someone and called out toward the door.
She saw a man and a woman walking in.
The man had a middle-part hairstyle and wore suspenders. With his arm around the woman, he walked in familiarly and headed to the other side.
While Shen Mengying was distracted, the handsome man swiftly dropped a small pill into her cocktail.
After doing so, he quickly stood up and gave her an apologetic smile, “Seems like an old friend of mine just arrived. I’ll go say hello.”
Without waiting for Shen Mengying to respond, he took his glass and walked away.
Shen Mengying felt confused. That man spoke as if they were old acquaintances.
She didn’t think much of it. After withdrawing her gaze, she lifted her cocktail and took another sip.
But this time, she noticed the cocktail seemed a bit cloudier than before.
And after drinking it, the buzz hit her harder than the first sip.
Not long after swallowing, her body began to feel hot, and her head started to spin.
Shen Mengying wasn’t sure if she was just too tired today, or if the bartender had made the cocktail stronger than usual. She was about to lift the glass and inspect it when the same man’s voice suddenly came from beside her, “Man, that was so embarrassing.”
“I thought that guy was my old friend and happily went over to say hi, but when I got closer, I realized he just looked like him. I even went up and threw my arm around his shoulder… what a scene.”
He had returned and sat beside her again.
Shen Mengying’s expression grew more displeased, “Didn’t I already tell you I don’t want to make friends or be disturbed? Go bother someone else.”
But the handsome man acted like he didn’t hear her, still animatedly recounting, “You didn’t see it, but when I threw my arm around him, the way he and his friends looked at me—God. You know that line from the song? ‘Most afraid of sudden silence in the air.’ It really felt like that.”
Shen Mengying felt something was wrong. Just as she was about to tell him off again, her body suddenly burned more intensely, and her head spun so badly she nearly collapsed onto the table.
“Get away! My name’s not Shishi!” Shen Mengying sensed that something was seriously wrong. She pushed his hand away and tried to shout as loudly as she could.
But it was already too late.
Her entire body had gone limp and weak. Not only was she unable to push him away, but her voice was also barely a whisper.
In the music-filled bar, likely no one besides the man next to her could hear her.
Though her thoughts were hazy, one terrifying idea flashed through her mind—
She had been drugged!
She didn’t know exactly when it had happened, but the current situation matched too closely with victim reports she had read in past news stories.
Panic surged in her chest.
Just then, due to the small commotion, a few other customers looked over. The man showed a helpless expression and said, “Jeez, I told you not to drink too much, but you wouldn’t listen. Now look at you, completely drunk.”
He turned to the other patrons and said, “Sorry, my friend always talks nonsense and gets crazy when she’s drunk. I tried to stop her, but I got distracted for a moment, and she went overboard.”
“Is there any kind-hearted lady here who could help me take her home? You know how it is—it’s not proper for a man and woman to be too close. If I take her alone, it’ll be hard to explain.”
Shen Mengying’s panic deepened.
This guy not only drugged her, but he was a pro.
What he said was clearly to confuse others and gain sympathy. He was retreating in order to advance.
If she didn’t act now to save herself, she might be taken away by him—and no one would stop it.
Everyone would just assume they were friends, and that the man was being forced to escort her out for her own safety.