Chapter 124: Drunken Rampage

That high fee wasn't some extravagant payment; it was just my salary that Old Zhou gave me, seeing how hard I'd been working lately.

A new entertainment club had opened near Kangda University. Xia Qi insisted that the sound quality at the KTV was incredible, perfect for someone nursing a broken heart.

When we arrived, seeing that golden, opulent building and the four giant characters "Nanfeng Club" flickering under the neon lights, I was suddenly seized by fear and suggested we go somewhere else.

Xia Qi thought I was just being stingy. She tugged at me, saying, "I'm kidding! That little fee of yours wouldn't even be enough to fill the gaps in my teeth. My mom gave me twenty thousand yesterday; it's plenty for us to go wild."

I couldn't tell her that I was terrified because ninety-nine percent of this place was Zheng Nanfeng's business, and there was a fifty-fifty chance I’d run into Luo Ange.

Right now, I’d rather face the King of Hell than see Luo Ange.

Thankfully, everything went smoothly. From checking in at the front desk to singing in our private room for an hour, nothing bad happened.

I suddenly realized I had been worrying over nothing. A man like Luo Ange would never come to such a chaotic place. He didn't have the time; he was too busy preparing for his engagement and keeping his bride-to-be company.

Thinking this, I went into "mic-hog" mode, wildly queuing up all my favorite songs.

Xia Qi was in an especially high mood tonight. She ordered two absurdly expensive bottles of red wine and drank by herself. Reeking of alcohol, she hugged me while singing "Hiroshima Love," followed by "Single Room, Double Bed." When she started singing "He Doesn't Love Me," she began to cry.

"I know he doesn't love me; his eyes reveal his heart. I’ve seen through his heart, where the silhouette of another still lingers, his memories not yet fully scrubbed clean. I’ve seen his heart, playing a movie that only stars him and her..."

These fatal lyrics truly captured all the bitterness and tears of women abandoned by men everywhere.

Tonight, I was remarkably strong. I didn't shed a single tear, and I even bravely sang "Die to Love," a song I used to despise.

Seeing me in good spirits, Xia Qi wanted me to drink with her, but I told her I couldn't because I was on my period. Besides, she had already had enough; if she kept going, would she end up like me, needing a partial gastrectomy?

She didn't get angry; she just giggled and left with her purse.

But after I’d finished four more songs, she still hadn't returned. Fearing she might cause trouble, I slipped out to check on her.

I searched everywhere to no avail. Feeling uneasy, I grabbed a decent-looking waiter and asked if he had seen Xia Qi.

After I described her, the waiter pointed toward a private room and whispered, "That young lady is inside."

Thinking Xia Qi must have walked into the wrong room, I didn't dare barge in, so I peeked through the door to see what was happening.

What I saw was appalling: two greasy, middle-aged men were pawing at Xia Qi, and one of them was forcing a drink on her.

I pushed the door open, hit by a wave of rustic, tacky energy. A man whose face I couldn't clearly see was hugging a scantily clad girl, singing "Soulmate" together.

"Let my love accompany you, until the end of time..."

I rushed over, grabbed the glass from the table, and splashed its contents onto the face of the man who had his hand inside Xia Qi's clothes. Then, I hauled Xia Qi up, ready to leave.

Xia Qi leaned limply against me. Just as I was about to start cursing, I glanced up and saw the father of Jiang Chenghuan.

The music for "Soulmate" continued, and the girl in his arms was still swaying, oblivious.

Seeing me, Jiang Fuhai looked a bit awkward, but he quickly regained his composure. He didn't let go of the girl but stared straight at me and Xia Qi.

Actually, I should have been the one feeling awkward. Jiang Fuhai was a well-known entrepreneur in Kangcheng. In this society, unless you were from the inner circles of power, you couldn't avoid social obligations. And where there were obligations, there were bound to be situations you couldn't escape. Even if Jiang Fuhai kept a mistress, I wasn't surprised.

Xia Qi started giggling. I knew she was thinking of Jiang Chenghuan. Back when they were inseparable, she had called Jiang Fuhai "Dad" more than once, and he had always given her red envelopes whenever they met.

I grabbed her arm. "Stop acting crazy and come home with me."

Only then did I notice that her laughter was twisted because she was trembling all over. Pointing at Jiang Fuhai, she asked me in a shaking voice, "Lanshan, haven't you always wanted to know why things ended up this way between Jiang Chenghuan and me? Did Li Wanqiu tell you my dad almost ruined Uncle Jiang? Forget it, forget it. You can't blame others for being treacherous; blame my dad for being too sentimental—he was betrayed by his best brother without even knowing it."

Thinking she was just drunk, I tried to help her walk away.

But she pushed me off and pointed at Jiang Fuhai again. "Lanshan, Lanshan, I hate it. I hate this man I once looked up to as a father. He held leverage over my dad, and he wanted to ruin him. The most hateful thing is me—I was his accomplice. I almost ruined my own father. Lanshan, I am the one who deserves to die."

The old man I had splashed with wine wiped his face and walked over. He looked at Jiang Fuhai, then at us, and asked with a sneer, "President Jiang, do you know them?"

Jiang Fuhai shot a cold, sharp look at me. I quickly interjected, "Uncle Jiang, um... Xia Qi has had too much to drink and is just rambling. Please don't mind her. We won't disturb you any longer. Please, continue."

He didn't speak. The old man looked us over with lecherous eyes. "Since you're already here, why don't you stay and play a round with me before you leave?"

He reached out, and I quickly pulled Xia Qi back, so he only managed to grab a piece of my clothing.

I looked at Jiang Fuhai. "Uncle Jiang, aren't you going to do something about this?"

Jiang Fuhai glanced at the old man and said coldly, "Old Li, sit back down."

But Old Li ignored him. He lunged like a starving wolf, his chubby hands reaching for our chests.

Supporting Xia Qi, I couldn't fight back, so I kept retreating.

We backed into the sofa. Someone grabbed me by the waist, while another pinned Xia Qi down on the couch.

I shouted for Uncle Jiang, but he had already walked out with the girl.

Xia Qi finally sobered up. She pushed the man off her and kicked him straight in the crotch.

I lifted my elbow and slammed it into the face of the man behind me, finally forcing him to let go.

I grabbed Xia Qi and ran. At the doorway, I yelled at the top of my lungs, "Zheng Nanfeng, get out here right now!"

I pointed at Old Li and his group. "Don't you dare move! Zheng Nanfeng is my brother. If you mess with me, I'll make sure you regret it!"

Old Li paused. He clearly knew who Zheng Nanfeng was, so he looked at me with hesitation, then suddenly scoffed. "You brat, you think I'll believe you just because you drop the President's name? He's my cousin, you believe that? Get them!"

Seeing that my bluff hadn't worked, I shoved Xia Qi and ran.

They weren't about to give up, and with Jiang Fuhai gone, it was as if he had silently given them permission to do whatever they wanted.

As we burst through the door, Xia Qi ran out first, throwing a sentence back at me: "You handle the aftermath; I'm going to find Jiang Fuhai."

I shouted, "Don't look for him! Just run!"

She shook her head. "No, he still has the leverage on my dad. I have to get it back."

Hearing that, I quickly slammed the door shut and gripped the handle, refusing to let go.

But the people I had locked inside weren't easily bullied. Seeing the door about to be forced open, I gathered all my strength, let go, and bolted.

The corridor was full of stumbling, drunk people, making it hard to run. I kept looking back to see if they were chasing us. After running a short distance, I slammed right into someone.

I fell to the ground but scrambled up immediately, bowing and apologizing profusely.

From behind, I heard Old Li's greasy voice: "Don't run! See how I deal with you!"

I didn't run, because when I realized the person I had bumped into was Zheng Nanfeng, I knew that if I kept running, I’d be a fool.

Zheng Nanfeng looked at me, looking unbothered. "Was that you calling me just now?"

I panted and nodded. "Yeah, so what? Is that a problem?"

He glanced at the men rushing toward us and suddenly laughed. "Got yourself into trouble?"

Old Li and his men arrived before us. I acted smart, sidling up to Zheng Nanfeng and asking with a smile, "Zheng Nanfeng, I'm in a bit of a jam. Are you going to help me or not?"

He looked me over. "If I help you, how will you thank me?"

I blurted out, "Why are you just like that pervert, always making conditions? Would it kill you to just help me out?"

As I said this, I couldn't help but pinch his arm a few times. He cried out, "Sister, are you trying to pinch your brother to death?"

Seeing this, Old Li stopped his men and stepped forward, fawning, "President Zheng, a pleasure, a pleasure."

Zheng Nanfeng shifted his gaze to his face. "Ah, President Li. My apologies for not greeting you sooner."

"Not at all, not at all. It’s an honor that you recognize me, President Zheng. If you don't mind, how about we have tea later?"

Zheng Nanfeng pointed at me. "So, the person my sister here offended is you, President Li?"

Old Li waved his hand. "No, no, we were just joking around. President Zheng's sister is my sister, too."

Zheng Nanfeng nodded. "President Li, you might not know, but this sister of mine is an expert at causing trouble. If she offended you, I apologize on her behalf. I'll treat you to dinner another day."

Old Li was flattered, promising it was no problem, and led his men away.

As soon as he left, I jumped away from Zheng Nanfeng and cupped my hands in a salute. "Thanks. I'll treat you to dinner another day."

I made a move to leave, but he grabbed me. "What? You get the benefit and then act all cocky, and now you want to run?"

I raised an eyebrow. "What, should I stay and wait for you to ask for a pound of flesh?"

He smiled mysteriously. "What pound of flesh? Your brother is planning to give you a big gift—I guarantee you'll like it."