Qiu Liyao finally found himself face to face with the notorious Lord Sheng, a figure he had heard so many stories about but never expected to meet. Standing confidently at the pool table, Zhai Yunseng was engaged in a match with Yu Xi, dressed in a casual black shirt. The top three buttons of his shirt were undone, exposing a hint of well-defined muscles beneath—a stark contrast to the frail, sickly image Qiu Liyao had conjured in his mind.
Seeing Zhai Yunseng up close, Qiu Liyao was taken aback; the young man hardly resembled the weakling he had anticipated. Instead, he appeared healthy and vigorous, radiating a charisma that commanded respect. Not wanting to interrupt the game, Qiu Liyao stood to the side with Yu Simiao, waiting patiently.
After what felt like an eternity, Zhai Yunseng finally finished the round with Yu Xi. With a bright smile, Qiu Liyao seized the moment and stepped forward. "Lord Sheng," he greeted warmly.
Zhai Yunseng glanced over, his lips curving into a subtle smile that sent a ripple of anxiety through Qiu Liyao. That gaze—sharp and penetrating—reminded him of his last encounter with the chairman of Tianxing Group. During that meeting, he had barely exchanged more than a fleeting glance, as his status was far too low to engage in meaningful conversation with such a powerful figure.
Determined not to let his nerves show, Qiu Liyao fumbled to present the meticulously prepared gift—a rare, thousand-year-old wild ginseng encased in a vibrant red silk box. "This is for you…"
"What games do you play?" Zhai Yunseng interrupted, his attention still fixated on the pool table and clearly disinterested in the expensive ginseng.
Taken aback by the abrupt change in topic, Qiu Liyao paused, glancing at the pool table before stammering, "I'm not very good, certainly not on par with you, Lord Sheng."
"Play a game with Yu Xi," Zhai Yunseng commanded, handing Qiu Liyao a pool cue with an air of authority.
Confused, Qiu Liyao hesitated momentarily before accepting the cue. He watched as Zhai Yunseng casually moved to a nearby sofa, taking a seat while Yu Xi prepared the balls for their game. Feeling the pressure, Qiu Liyao stepped up to the table, unsure of what to expect.
Yu Simiao approached Zhai Yunseng, speaking softly. "Is Lord Sheng displeased?"
"What makes you say that?" Zhai Yunseng replied, his voice deep and resonant, laced with a hint of mischief.
With a subtle smile playing on his lips, he exuded an aura of both charm and danger. Yu Simiao felt a pang of unease; he realized that Zhai Yunseng wanted him to divulge more.
"I brought Qiu Liyao here to meet you," he said carefully.
Zhai Yunseng's right hand rhythmically tapped the armrest of the sofa. After a lengthy pause, he delivered a curt response: "This will not happen again."
"Understood." Yu Simiao nodded, fully aware that he had to refuse all visitors moving forward.
After a round of pool, it was Yu Simiao's turn to play against Qiu Liyao. As Qiu Liyao attempted to approach Zhai Yunseng for another conversation, he found no opportunity.
Yu Xi leaned closer to Zhai Yunseng and whispered, "Thanks to you, I finally got to see Qiu Liyao in a compromising position! You have no idea how much I despised him back when I was in high school at Shenghua."
Pausing for effect, Yu Xi continued, "Oh, and by the way, Old Master Zhai just instructed me to introduce you to some innocent young ladies."
Yu Xi didn't dare keep anything from Zhai Yunseng; whatever Old Master Zhai requested, he relayed without hesitation. It had been a long-standing intention of Old Master Zhai to encourage Zhai Yunseng to engage with young women, especially those considered wholesome and pure, likely to avoid anything too provocative that could disrupt his lifestyle.
As the atmosphere shifted with this new discussion, Qiu Liyao found himself enveloped in uncertainty. The evening was rapidly becoming more complicated than he had anticipated, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was on the precipice of something far beyond his control.