"Are you trying to seduce me? Do you have an appointment?" Xiang Ri regarded her with suspicion, though his demeanor was merely a façade.
Tiewan felt a cold sweat trickle down her forehead; this scoundrel had become utterly shameless.
"Hey, gorgeous, is this your first time out? You seem a bit uptight," Xiang Ri queried skeptically.
"Yes, I rarely visit places like this," Tiewan replied with a smile, casually asking, "Why didn't you bring your classmates along for a drink?"
"Forget those rascals. They all have shifty eyes; bringing them would only ruin the mood," he dismissed, waving his hand as if brushing away an annoying insect.
"How can you speak about your classmates like that? By the way, I treated you to a drink earlier. Shouldn't you show a bit of sincerity now?" Tiewan said playfully.
"Of course!" Xiang Ri's gaze lingered on her meaningfully; this girl was not only stunning but also adept at ensnaring men—a rare combination.
"Bartender, put this beauty's tab on my account for the night," he proclaimed, tossing a bundle of cash onto the bar.
"Thank you!" The young bartender beamed as he accepted the money. Even if the woman drank a fair amount, the remainder would surely be a generous tip for him.
A ripple of astonishment swept through the crowd nearby; despite the bartender's swift actions, the sight of the cash had not gone unnoticed. Several unattached women, spotting the stack of money—worth a good ten to twenty thousand—turned their attention entirely to its owner. Clad in designer attire, he may not have been conventionally handsome, but his wealth masked any flaws, making him a real-life Prince Charming.
"Hey, handsome! Are you only treating her?" a striking woman with vibrant blue eyeshadow approached, her jealousy openly directed at Tiewan.
Xiang Ri, having grown accustomed to the attention of women, turned to the bartender and gestured toward the blue-eyed woman. "Her tab goes on my account too."
"What about us?" a few other women chimed in, emboldened by their companion's move.
"All of you!" Xiang Ri declared with a flourish, tossing another wad of cash onto the bar.
"Yay!" Even more women rushed over, some abandoning their male companions in their eagerness.
The bar was soon engulfed, the bartender working tirelessly yet skillfully, mixing one drink after another.
"Is this how you usually operate?" Tiewan asked with a wry smile, realizing they were now encircled by a throng of women.
"What do you think?" Xiang Ri countered, recalling that while he may have once behaved this way, it had been ages since he had engaged in such brazen antics after taking on a leadership role.
"Get lost, you filthy hussies! I want to see which little punk has the audacity to be so arrogant," a raucous voice erupted from outside.
A commotion ensued, accompanied by shouts and cries of pain. Xiang Ri's expression turned icy; not only did he detest others outshining him, but he also had a disdain for those who treated women like mere objects.
A young man with green, curly hair, his cigarette dangling from his lips, pushed his way through the crowd. He leered at Tiewan before disdainfully addressing Xiang Ri, "Who's this four-eyed loser? Does he not know this is Monkey's territory?"
"Smack!" A heavy slap sent the curly-haired youth sprawling to the ground, revealing Monkey standing beside him, his face twisted in fury.
Monkey had sensed trouble as soon as he saw the throng of women gathered around the moneyed Xiang Ri. With so many patrons in the bar, the focus on his boss was concerning; business could easily suffer. Yet he couldn't confront Xiang Ri, for inciting his wrath could spell disaster for everyone present. Thankfully, they were on familiar ground, and he could manage the situation.
Just as he felt a sigh of relief, a foolish bird brazenly challenged Xiang Ri, prompting Monkey to pursue him. But he was too late; the hothead had already begun to hurl insults, and Monkey swiftly retaliated with a fierce slap.
"Monkey, bro?" the curly-haired youth stammered, nursing his swollen cheek.
"Boss, I didn't expect this to happen," Monkey explained cautiously without even glancing at him.
"No need for explanations!" Xiang Ri interrupted coldly, "I find this fool repugnant; deal with it."
"What happened, Monkey?" At that moment, the chubby one and a few of his comrades arrived.
"He offended the boss!" Monkey pointed at the fallen youth.
"Damn it! I'll take care of you," the chubby one said, emboldened by recent gains as he seized the curly-haired youth's hair, ready to drag him away.
"No need to waste time on him!" Xiang Ri replied dismissively, as though discussing a trivial matter. "Just knock out all his teeth; a few months in the hospital will suffice!"
"Understood! I will certainly ensure that you are satisfied, Boss." The chubby one gleefully dragged the weeping curly-haired youth away.
Xiang Ri paid no heed to the curious glances around him, casually kicking Monkey in the shins. "Monkey, if there's nothing pressing, get lost. Damn it, your presence is making my head spin."
"Yes, yes, yes! I'll be off right away. Enjoy yourself, Big Brother," Monkey replied hurriedly, nodding his head as he and his lackeys retreated in defeat.
"Wow, you're quite the imposing figure!" The women's gazes toward Xiang Ri intensified, their enthusiasm noticeably heightened. They were fully aware of Monkey's character, yet this man had managed to make him obedient—what did that signify? He was not only wealthy but also powerful. Who would dare to cause trouble or demand protection money when aligned with him?
"Just average, really," Xiang Ri humbly remarked, downing another glass.
However, the women's interest only grew, as they surged around him, pushing Tiewan out of the circle that had previously enclosed her, filling the air with flirtatious chatter.
"Handsome, what's your name?"
"Where are you from, handsome?"
"How about I keep you company tonight?"
Tiewan glumly sipped her drink, watching as the man effortlessly charmed the women, wishing she could drag him away to interrogate him immediately.
Despite having consumed a considerable amount of alcohol, Xiang Ri felt no inebriation. Every woman attempting to approach him was kept at bay, not because he desired to emulate the likes of Liu Xiaohui, but because he needed to return to Chuchu without leaving any evidence. If she got angry and uttered, "You're not sleeping in my bed tonight," his plans for a nocturnal rendezvous would be thwarted.
Shifting his gaze to the beautiful woman drinking alone nearby, he exchanged a few words with the women around him before making his way toward her.
"Beautiful lady, aren't you bored sitting here alone?" Xiang Ri plopped down onto a high stool opposite Tiewan.
"What can I do about being bored? It's my appearance that drives people away," Tiewan replied with a mournful glance, suppressing the urge to drag him to the police station and opting instead to employ her feminine wiles.
"True, you may not be a classic beauty, but you're certainly passable," Xiang Ri shamelessly declared.
"You... sigh!" Tiewan clenched her fists, then released them. This incorrigible man was pushing his luck; she hoped he wouldn't fall into her grasp.
"Quit sighing; your looks aren't your fault, but scaring me certainly is. Heh, how about compensating me for my distress?" Xiang Ri continued his unabashed antics.
"What do you want?" Tiewan seethed, nearly grinding her teeth in frustration at his audacity.
Seeing her temper flare, Xiang Ri changed his tone. "Just kidding! No need to get upset, beautiful."
"Is that the sort of joke you make with women?" Tiewan feigned a flirtatious glare at him.
"Wow!" Xiang Ri exclaimed as if he had discovered something marvelous. "That gesture was fantastic! Do it again." He imitated her, but his attempt was only met with nausea rather than admiration.
"Enough with the jokes." Tiewan, feeling the moment was right, casually inquired, "Do you come here often?"
"What? Have you truly fallen for me and wish to share a nest?" Xiang Ri looked at her with a mischievous glint.
"Can't you be serious for once?" Tiewan felt her sanity slipping; this man seemed intent on monopolizing her attention without her even posing a significant question.
"Serious? I am always quite serious," he replied, grinning lewdly.
"You..." Tiewan's anger surged again. This man was infuriatingly slippery. Realizing she wouldn't gain any information from him, she resolved to extricate herself from the situation. "I'm sorry, but I must take my leave."
"Leaving so soon? We haven't had a chance for a 'deeper' conversation yet. That hardly seems fair," he retorted, feigning disappointment.
"There will be opportunities!" Tiewan shot him a glance, smiling mysteriously. I will certainly return, but with a gun and a search warrant.
"Alright then, I look forward to it," Xiang Ri grinned wickedly.
Tiewan slammed the door behind her in frustration, but moments later, she burst back in, her eyes betraying a palpable fear.
"Back so soon? Can't bear to part with me?" Xiang Ri wondered what could frighten such a beauty so intensely. Perhaps he should acquire something similar to wield against women to ensure their compliance.
"Hahaha!" A cacophonous laugh erupted from outside the bar, followed by a large group of three to four dozen people entering.
Leading them was a man with long yellow hair, his face marred with deep scars, undeniably grotesque, and the source of the jarring laughter.
Upon seeing him, patrons in the bar scattered, particularly the women, who screamed and fled in terror.
"Who would have thought Monkey had such exquisite beauties in his establishment? Haha, tonight should be entertaining," the ugly man boasted arrogantly.
"Black Dog!" Monkey was the first to confront them, but unfortunately, he was accompanied by a mere seven men, a stark contrast to the formidable group before him.
Xiang Ri's gaze sharpened slightly as he finished the drink in his hand. This man, as hideous as a toad, was indeed the infamous "Color Dog"? Just as he was about to confront him, he realized the man had come right to him.