Chapter 121: Someone Is Messing Up the Place?
Qin Sitong was a native of the Imperial Capital and had heard certain rumors about Sheng Yang and his companions. After all, they hailed from one of the four major families, and any move they made was bound to become fodder for gossip. "They're all local to the Imperial Capital; as a local yourself, you've probably heard their names," explained Yun Zijin. "But if you can't recall it exactly, don't think too hard. We're just out to have fun—no point overthinking it."
Qin Sitong, who wasn't the type to dig for details, accepted Zijin's casual explanation. "Alright," she said softly. "I won't pry."
"C'mon, let's have a drink to celebrate my bar's first day open!" Sheng Yang called, standing up with a glass in hand. "Cheers!" Su Mengyao raised hers enthusiastically—a fruit wine with minimal alcohol. Zijin, too, picked up her fruit wine. Qin Sitong, uncertain, simply copied Zijin, raising her glass of juice. "Cheers… Congratulations," she said.
When the toast ended, Li Yuexuan and the others drank their alcohol in one go. Sheng Yang, setting down his glass, motioned at the table. "We're all friends here, so grab what you like—food, drinks. If we don't have it, call the waiter. Also, if you want to sing, feel free to pick songs yourself. I'm not gonna babysit you." With that, he reached for a snack, popping it into his mouth.
Su Mengyao noticed Qin Sitong, new to the environment, looked a bit shy. She walked over, smiling. "Sitong, want to sing? Let's go choose some songs." Sensing Qin Sitong's unease, Su Mengyao felt it her duty to help, especially since they were two of only three girls in the room. "They're busy with card games and drinks. We can do our own thing."
"R-right, okay," Qin Sitong said, sounding relieved. She was still somewhat reserved, thinking it might be rude to rush to the karaoke machine in someone else's space. But with Su Mengyao's encouragement, she followed.
Over at the table, Li Yuexuan, Fu Yang, and the others started a card game. Nobody showed interest in picking songs, so it made sense for the three girls to handle karaoke. Su Mengyao convinced Qin Sitong that it was fine, no need for inhibitions, and soon, they'd queued up a list of songs they usually liked. Despite being in the same private room, the boys and girls were split into two halves, each enjoying their own fun.
Partway into their revelry, there was a sudden, frantic knock at the door—sharp and urgent. The sound of someone yelling filtered in, muffled by the good soundproofing. Zijin threw Lingyi a glance, and he rose to answer it.
"Boss! Boss, there's trouble outside!" cried a bar employee, bursting in as soon as Lingyi opened the door. Sheng Yang, alarmed, dropped his playing cards and got up. "Trouble? Didn't you say this bar was my territory?" He sounded irritated. On day one, no less. Typically, folks familiar with the Sheng family name steered clear of stirring up chaos.
"S-sir, they said they're here to wreck the place," the employee stammered, looking frightened.
Sheng Yang's face hardened, though he was more worried about letting Sister Yun down if the bar was trashed and her investment lost. "Who's the leader?"
"I'm not sure," the waiter admitted. "He has dyed-yellow hair and shifty eyes—he definitely looks like trouble." He couldn't identify the leader beyond that. Meanwhile, a name flickered in Zijin's mind, but she couldn't conclude anything without seeing the culprit.
Sheng Yang growled. "Let's go see. Someone who dares to pick a fight here must be either stupid or quite prepared." Everyone swiftly followed, descending to the bar's first floor. Below, a group of strangers had formed two camps facing off, leaving just enough space in the middle for a couple people to pass. Tension filled the air; they were close to throwing punches.
"Zijin, are they going to fight?" asked a trembling Qin Sitong. She'd never faced something like this. If anyone had knives or weapons, things could get ugly.
"Don't worry. Just stay near me," Zijin replied calmly. She'd brought Qin Sitong out here, so of course she'd keep her safe.
Qin Sitong nodded, feeling better to be near Zijin and her bodyguards. "Mengyao," she called quietly, "shouldn't we… stay away?" The idea of a bar fight on her first visit was unnerving. However, Su Mengyao stayed resolute. "Relax," she said with more confidence than she felt. "No matter who's behind this, they won't dare go too far. If they do, they'll face the consequences. In the Imperial Capital, they'd be crazy to push the Sheng family to the limit."
Qin Sitong didn't know how all these connections worked, but Su Mengyao's assurance made her slightly calmer. She stuck close to Zijin, stepping into the protective circle formed by her bodyguards.
---------
Hey guys, VerseX here :)
If you want to support me and the work that I am doing, you can support me on pâtreon. It costs 1 dollar a month, and you get six early-access chapters. I know that it isn't much of an advantage, but I would love your support.
Thank you for enjoying my translation and enjoy.
The link to my pâtreon is: https://www.pâtreon.com/VerseX
You just have to change the â to a