Chapter 26: Zhou Yuansheng

In a private room, a middle-aged man with a bruised and swollen face strode in. Inside sat three men, each accompanied by a beautiful young woman.

“Boss Wang, weren’t you just going to the restroom? How did you end up looking like this?” asked a bald man, his face full of puzzlement as he looked at Wang Quangui.

“Damn it, don’t even mention it. I ran into a student girl just now—thought she was working—but turns out her boyfriend brought people and beat me up,” Wang Quangui cursed furiously, then turned to another man. “Brother Zhou, I was attacked on your turf. You’ve got to help me save face.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Zhou Yuansheng’s brow arched. “Someone dared lay hands on my friend on my turf? They must not have any respect for me, Zhou Yuansheng.”

At this moment, a young man with dyed blond hair stood up. “Boss Wang, where’s the guy who hit you? I’ll take my brothers and drag him over to apologize to you on his knees.”

“They’re in Room A12,” Wang spat out with hatred.

“Don’t worry, Boss Wang. I’ll take care of it for you,” the youth promised, slapping his chest, then called over more than a dozen men and headed toward Room A12.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan and his friends, unaware that trouble was on the way, were happily singing and drinking.

Just as they were enjoying themselves, the door to their room was suddenly kicked open.

“Who the hell is looking for trouble?” Zhou Yuan cursed, whirling around to yell at the intruders, “You bastards have a death wish?”

“Go to hell,” a young man barked back, landing a hard kick on Zhou Yuan and sending him flying.

Everyone was stunned by the sudden violence.

Seeing the intruders—over a dozen fierce-looking men—fear gripped the hearts of all present.

Zhang Qingya and the other girls, all students, had never experienced anything like this before; terror welled up inside them.

“Brother Fei, what’s going on?” Zhou Yuan recognized the man leading the group as Brother Fei, who managed security at Emperor Club, and felt a wave of confusion.

After taking a kick, he dared not show any dissatisfaction. He knew Brother Fei was a gangster, rumored to have taken lives—a truly dangerous man.

“What’s going on?” Brother Fei strode up to Zhou Yuan, slapping his face as he spoke. “You just beat up a friend of my boss. What do you have to say for yourself?”

At these words, Zhou Yuan immediately understood. The man they’d just ganged up on was actually a friend of Brother Fei’s boss.

“Brother Fei, we apologize. We’re willing to pay compensation. Please, let him forgive us,” Zhou Yuan pleaded desperately.

Though wealthy, he was terrified in the face of gangsters—he had no way to resist them.

“Shut the hell up. Whether I let you off or not depends on my boss’s friend,” Brother Fei ignored him, barking orders. “All of you, come with me. Anyone who doesn’t cooperate will leave here bleeding.”

Zhou Yuan dared not delay and quickly nodded in agreement.

Zhang Qingya and Mo Chenxi, along with the other girls, clung to each other in fear.

Against such men, there was nothing but terror in their hearts.

“Didn’t you hear me? Get over here!” Brother Fei shouted at the girls still sitting frozen on the sofa.

Startled by his roar, Zhang Qingya and the girls stood up, trembling, and followed Zhou Yuan and the others out.

“You too. Move it,” Brother Fei pointed at Yang Fan.

Yang Fan shrugged, rising from his seat and following them out with a calm expression.

All of them were led to a large, luxuriously appointed private room.

As soon as they entered, Zhou Yuan spotted the middle-aged man they had assaulted.

Inside, Boss Wang and Zhou Yuansheng sat with their legs crossed, gazes fixed on Zhou Yuan and his group.

“Well, well, these student girls are quite pretty. No wonder you found them tempting, Boss Wang,” Zhou Yuansheng’s eyes lit up at the sight of Zhang Qingya and Mo Chenxi.

Compared to the student girls they’d played with before, Zhou Yuansheng thought these two were far more attractive.

Feeling Zhou Yuansheng’s predatory gaze, Zhang Qingya grew tense, her hands gripping Mo Chenxi’s tightly.

Both girls were gripped by fear, overwhelmed by a desire to cry.

“Kid, weren’t you pretty tough just now?” Boss Wang taunted Zhou Yuan. “Here I am in front of you. If you want to try something, go ahead.”

Zhou Yuan, terrified, immediately dropped to his knees, begging for mercy. “Big brother, I didn’t know who you were. Please, let this go just this once—I swear I’ll never do it again.”

“Hmph, let you go? Do you think that’s possible?” Boss Wang sneered. “Whoever laid hands on me just now, step up and line up.”

At that, Zhou Yuan, Gao Yang, and the other boys quickly stepped forward.

“Brother Zhou, my father is Gao Zihang. Please, for his sake, let us go this once,” Gao Yang pleaded.

“Oh, so you’re Gao Zihang’s son?” Wu Tianhao said in surprise.

He remembered Gao Zihang—the owner of a five-star hotel in which Wu himself owned considerable shares, making him one of the bosses.

“In that case, I’ll do your father a favor,” Zhou Yuansheng said, turning to Boss Wang. “Boss Wang, vent your anger, but don’t go too far.”

“Then I’ll show Brother Wu some respect,” Boss Wang replied.

He stepped in front of Zhou Yuan and the others, slapping each of them twice across the face, then giving each a hard kick.

Zhou Yuan and his friends were knocked to the ground, clutching their stomachs in pain and distress.

“All right, you can go now,” Zhou Yuansheng waved them off.

“Thank you, Brother Wu!” Gao Yang hurriedly thanked him, then prepared to leave with Zhou Yuan and the others.

“Not so fast—you girls stay and keep us company tonight,” Zhou Yuansheng said to Zhang Qingya and the other three girls.

At these words, Zhang Qingya and Mo Chenxi went pale with fright.

“Brother Fei, do me a favor and let them go?” Gao Yang tried to smile as he pleaded.

“Get lost. I let you off just now for Gao Zihang’s sake. Don’t push your luck, or none of you will leave,” Zhou Yuansheng snarled, his expression menacing.

Seeing his fierce demeanor, Gao Yang was terrified and immediately fell silent.

Zhang Qingya looked at Gao Yang, her eyes full of pleading.

Gao Yang ignored her gaze, pretending not to see. At this point, he was just thankful to save himself.

“Zhou Yuan, help me,” Liu Meimei called out to Zhou Yuan, her voice trembling in fear. The thought of being toyed with by these men filled her with terror.

“Meimei, just go along with them. It’s better than getting hurt,” Zhou Yuan advised after glancing at her.

He had no other options—he could only look out for himself.

As for Liu Meimei, at worst she’d be violated, but her life wouldn’t be in danger. Zhou Yuan wasn’t about to offend Zhou Yuansheng and his gang for her sake.

Liu Meimei was utterly crushed by his words, completely losing hope in her boyfriend.

“All right, get out of here,” Zhou Yuansheng said impatiently.

At this moment, Yang Fan stepped forward, pointing at Zhang Qingya and Mo Chenxi, and said to Zhou Yuansheng, “The two of them are leaving with me.”

His tone was firm and unyielding.

Hearing this, Zhou Yuan and Gao Yang were chilled to the bone. They’d thought they were about to escape unscathed, only for Yang Fan’s recklessness to put them all in even greater danger.