Inside the Zero Degree Bar, the spotlights shifted to a blue-purple hue, slicing through the swirling smoke like blades.
The rims of countless glass cups reflected under the lights, casting several abstract, psychedelic worlds.
At that moment, the deafening music faded away, replaced by a soothing melody.
A female singer in a long dress took the stage, strumming and singing “Spring Night of Ulaanbaatar.”
Beside them.
After Lu Qiming finished speaking, Qian Duoduo’s bright eyes instantly widened, filled with shock.
Chen Yu and the others were also stunned for a moment before quickly recovering.
“Boyfriend?” Chen Yu repeated softly, his malicious gaze scanning the man in front of him from head to toe, then flicking back to Qian Duoduo with a frown.
“Qian Duoduo has a boyfriend?” He raised his hand to summon his underlings, voice lowered to a whisper, as if frustrated and confused. “Did Qian Yongyong say anything about this before?”
His subordinate shook his head, whispering back puzzled, “Never heard him mention it.”
Seeing this, Chen Yu shot a disdainful glance at the man, waved his hand dismissively, and ordered the men to step aside, then refocused his gaze on Lu Qiming.
Chen Yu narrowed his eyes.
The man before him had a robust and sharp figure, his chiseled features hidden partly in shadow.
His shirt sleeves were rolled halfway up, revealing a winding, menacing scar that slithered like a centipede obediently across the firm wrist bones, adding a touch of bloody menace.
The other party stared back.
Unlike Chen Yu’s scrutinizing, wary gaze, this man’s eyes were calm and still, like a tranquil pool— cold and deep— fixing Chen Yu with an unblinking stare that made him feel weak and chilled to the bone.
Chen Yu didn’t know where this man came from, but his bearing alone was enough to conclude he wasn’t some simple thug.
Today, he had used a trick to get Zhao Jingxi drunk and lure Qian Duoduo here, ultimately because he was still bitter about the little internet celebrity rejecting him a few days ago.
This was his territory.
He thought about a helpless girl falling into his hands, with no way out, completely at his mercy.
Chen Yu’s family was wealthy— not top-tier aristocrats but definitely among the upper echelons of Nan City’s society.
His parents were well-connected in business circles. If it had only been Qian Duoduo coming, he had plenty of ways to make the little online celebrity obedient.
But this suddenly appearing “boyfriend” didn’t seem like a good person.
What now?
Chen Yu’s frown deepened, lifting his glass to take a sip as he contemplated.
At that moment, a red-haired punk behind them entertained a sinister thought.
Taking advantage of the silent standoff between Lu Qiming and Chen Yu, he darted his eyes greedily, edging closer and discreetly reaching for the switchblade tucked behind Lu Qiming’s belt…
Lu Qiming noticed. With a sidelong glance, the punk’s body suddenly froze, as if hit by a Freeze Spell.
His eyes weren’t human at all—they resembled a predator’s, cold as metal and violent in their bloodlust.
A casual sideways glance was enough to terrify.
Intimidated, the punk backed away a few steps, retreating behind Chen Yu.
An invisible undercurrent rippled through the space.
The atmosphere tensed.
After about three seconds, Chen Yu finally forced a light chuckle and took a few steps closer to Lu Qiming, saying, “So you’re Miss Qian’s boyfriend. Brother, what should I call you?”
“My surname’s Lu,” Lu Qiming said flatly.
Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. “Mr. Lu, you probably don’t know this, but I and Miss Qian are old acquaintances. Our relationship was very close once— though it’s been a while.
Running into you here, I just wanted to treat Miss Qian to a couple of drinks. Don’t misunderstand my good intentions, little brother.”
Lu Qiming’s voice was icy cold. “My girlfriend doesn’t like to drink.”
Seeing this man was impervious to his charm, Chen Yu felt annoyed but kept his composure.
In business, pretending and feigning friendship was routine; Chen Yu’s smile came naturally, as if their past conflicts with Qian Duoduo had been nothing but a dream, treating her as a true close friend.
“Right, right, I get it. Girls don’t usually like drinking,” Chen Yu said as he paced back to the booth, casually poured a glass of whiskey, then returned. “Then Brother Lu, please honor us with a drink— for the little precious lady, how about it?”
Lu Qiming stared at Chen Yu expressionlessly, unmoving.
This scene sent chills through Qian Duoduo, her heart pounding wildly.
She’d had contact with Chen Yu before and knew his nature: a spoiled second-generation rich kid who leaned on his family’s money and connections, always putting on a superior attitude, with zero respect for women.
When Chen Yu said he just happened to meet and wanted to treat her to a drink, Qian Duoduo didn’t believe a word.
A “coincidence,” indeed.
If Lu Qiming hadn’t appeared just in time, Chen Yu’s whiskey might have already been forced down her throat…
Thinking this made Qian Duoduo even more anxious. Her eyelids trembled as she fixed her gaze on Lu Qiming’s right hand hanging by his side.
She mustn’t take it.
Maybe the drink was poisoned.
At that moment, Chen Yu lifted his glass, staring directly at Lu Qiming, trying to pierce through the man’s calm as if it were a façade.
But within a second, Chen Yu regretfully realized it wasn’t.
Lu Qiming looked down at him, his gaze not threatening but indifferent and cold, as if Chen Yu wasn’t even worthy of being a threat.
That realization sent a shiver down Chen Yu’s spine.
He bit his lip, fingers tightening on the glass until the knuckles cracked.
After a while, Chen Yu finally lost patience.
Frowning deeply, he snapped, “What’s wrong, Brother Lu? Are you gonna drink or not? Say something— don’t you think my booze is crap or what?”
His voice grew louder, even overpowering the rock music in the bar.
The underlings all caught their boss’s anger, straightened their posture, eyes flashing fierce light.
Seeing this, Qian Duoduo’s heart jumped into her throat; she swallowed hard.
This bar was Chen Yu’s territory; if they openly clashed here, they would surely lose. Besides, Zhao Jingxi was still missing somewhere…
Just as Qian Duoduo felt utterly helpless, Lu Qiming finally moved.
He extended his hand and took the glass of whiskey from Chen Yu.
“Good!” Chen Yu grinned maliciously, eyes glinting with a sinister smile, grabbing his own glass. “Drink this one, and from now on, Brother Lu is a friend of mine.”
With that, a crisp “ding” sounded as their crystal glasses clinked.
But to everyone’s surprise, Lu Qiming didn’t raise the glass to his lips. After a brief pause, he casually flipped his wrist, and the liquid poured out.
The deep golden whiskey spilled onto the floor, its color darkened by the tiles, crawling like a snake lurking in the shadows toward Chen Yu’s expensive snakeskin shoes.
The shoes soaked.
“Shit.” Chen Yu jumped back instinctively, moving away.
When he looked up again, unable to hide his fury, he glared at Lu Qiming. “You’re fucking kidding me?”
Lu Qiming tossed the glass aside, calm as ever. “Sorry, slipped.”
Chen Yu was speechless.
His rage boiled over, clenching fists itching to strike, but seeing Lu Qiming’s physique and the faintly visible taut muscles on his arms, he hesitated.
Besides, this was his own turf, and getting humiliated in front of so many men would ruin his reputation in the circle.
After agonizing over it, Chen Yu grew even angrier. He grabbed the red-haired punk by the collar, pulling him forward and commanding in a low voice, “Damn it, why are you hiding so far back? Didn’t I say take care of him? Beat him to death!”
With that, Chen Yu shoved the punk forward like a duck being driven to slaughter, forcing him to stand in front of Lu Qiming.
The red-haired punk had tried to act tough in front of the girl, but he was only about 1.7 meters tall, thin, and looked like a mere kid under Lu Qiming’s cold gaze, which made him feel like a monkey being scrutinized.
He had tried a sneak attack but was frozen stiff by a glance, leaving a psychological scar.
Now his boss was afraid to come out, so he was pushed out as the scapegoat? Like he was some idiot!
Reluctantly, the punk took a deep breath, grit his teeth, and charged forward with the switchblade, stabbing straight at Lu Qiming.
“Watch out!” Qian Duoduo shouted in alarm.
A flash of cold light flickered. Lu Qiming didn’t even blink. With a swift sidestep, he dodged and gently twisted the punk’s wrist to disarm him.
With a loud clatter, the switchblade hit the floor.
The punk howled like a slaughtered pig and fled back to his comrades.
In just seconds, the rest of the thugs trembled on their legs, thinking: That fluid and effortless movement was clearly from someone trained— going up against him would be suicide.
“What are you all standing there for…” Chen Yu’s face turned green with anger. He kicked the backside of a towering man over 1.8 meters tall, scolding, “I treat you all well, feed you well, and none of you dares to step up at the crucial moment? Are you just freeloaders?”
Even after scolding, most of the men kept their heads down, silent.
Chen Yu’s vision blurred; he nearly fainted.
Just as his anger clouded his mind and he was about to roll up his sleeves and fight himself, Lu Qiming finally spoke, calm and composed.
He said flatly, “I advise you not to provoke anymore.”
“Huh?” Chen Yu sneered angrily, “So what if I provoke you? Do you really think I’m afraid to fight you?”
Lu Qiming remained emotionless. “I’m better at strangling than fighting.”
Chen Yu: “…”
Qian Duoduo: “…”
All the bar’s thugs: “…”
Amid the stunned silence, Qian Duoduo realized she couldn’t delay any longer.
She took a deep breath and said firmly, “Chen Yu, I came here because I got a call from my friend. I think you’re the one who knows what’s really going on.”
Her words hit the thugs like a spotlight on their guilt.
Chen Yu still tried to act nonchalant, a fake smile twisting his lips. “What do you mean? Miss Qian suspects I kidnapped your friend? Let me remind you, this is a society ruled by law. You need evidence for accusations, or I’ll sue you for defamation.”
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