The crowd scrambled for the microphone from Old Zhou, bursting into laughter and forming a lively scene.
Li Qingran glanced at Senior Luo Lan, who still sat in her original spot with drooping eyebrows, her beautiful face expressionless.
Song Shize came over with two glasses of alcohol, handing one to Li Qingran: "Here, have a drink."
Li Qingran refused: "I don't drink."
Song Shize held up his glass with a sneer, "Li Qingran, do you know? You're just like Luo Lan, pretentious and so good at acting!"
He downed his glass in one gulp, still holding Li Qingran's aloft in mid-air.
Li Qingran's usual good temper was worn away, her eyes hardened, "Song Shize, are you asking for a thrashing? Knowing that Senior Luo Lan and I are such act-puts, why do you shamelessly cling on? Is that amusing?"
"Ha!" Song Shize's displeasure vanished, "See, you do have a temper! Why always pretend to be so genteel and lovely? It's so tiring!"
Song Shize had been circling around these young girls; initially, his flunky friends, scared of frightening Li Qingran and the others, didn't dare to approach. But as Song Shize got more and more out of line, they exchanged looks and drew closer.
A guy with a few streaks of dyed red hair checked out the three girls, asking Song Shize, "Brother Ze, which one is Li Qingmo's sister?"
Song Shize just glanced at them and didn't speak.
Linking arms with the red-haired guy, a blonde guy chimed in, "Are you stupid? Haven't you heard Li Qingran and Li Qingmo are twins? Just see which one looks like Li Qingmo."
Hearing this, the group actually started encircling Li Qingran and Ruan Ruan, carefully scrutinizing them. Wen Shiyi, timid, tucked herself in a corner, turning her face away to avoid their unfettered stares.
Ruan Ruan stepped forward angrily: "Fuck off with your staring!"
"Ha-ha, come on, we're all classmates," the red-haired guy didn't seem offended at all.
He looked around and pointed at Wen Shiyi, "That one, she looks like!"
"I think so too," agreed two guys standing next to the red-haired.
Though Li Qingran and Li Qingmo were twins, they didn't resemble each other much; Li Qingmo resembled their father, Mr. Li, while Li Qingran took after their mother.
"What are you looking at?" Song Shize stepped in front of the girls, his face stern as he scolded: "Go away, go play over there!"
The guys, shamelessly accustomed, laughed off, hanging around arm-in-arm, "Brother Ze, we're just watching here, won't disturb you haha~"
"Yeah, Brother Ze, tired of holding the glass? Little sister, hurry and drink a bit."
Ruan Ruan took the glass from Song Shize, "Ranran doesn't drink, I'll drink it for her."
Before Li Qingran could stop her, Ruan Ruan had already downed the drink.
"Whoa." A chorus of cheers erupted.
"Such tolerance, such a good student."
The noise was so loud, many in the same room turned to look.
Even Wen Shiyi's stepsister walked over, her makeup heavy and dressed provocatively, barely distinguishable as a student in such an environment.
"Brother Ze is awesome, you tricked all these little sisters here?" Her voice carried a deliberately flirty complaint.
Wen Shiyi bristled, unable to watch any longer: "Wen Siqi, can you talk normally?"
Wen Siqi shot her a glance.
"Thanks to you," Song Shize grinned wickedly, his eyes darting mischievously between the sisters, "Siqi, how about drinking with your sister?"
Wen Siqi really obediently pulled Wen Shiyi to drink.
Blonde guy muttered: "Fuck! Guessed wrong, that one's Wen Xiaohua's stepsister."
Li Qingran's phone vibrated continuously in her bag, she took it out and saw 'Xie Ying'an' calling on the screen, sliding to answer.
Song Shize, seizing the moment she was distracted, snatched the phone away; the call already through, he hit the speakerphone and Xie Ying'an's anxious voice came through—
"Li Qingran, where are you?"
"Shh!" Song Shize placed a finger to his lips, signaling everyone to silence.
The KTV room quickly quieted down, the red-haired even turned off the multicolored flashing lights.
But Li Qingran was anxious to leave, she wouldn't listen to him, "Xie Ying'an, I'm at..."
Song Shize swiftly hung up the phone with a flick of his finger, his gaze narrowing at Li Qingran, "I told you to shut up."
At this moment, the arrogant and privileged young rich kid seemed chillingly unrecognizable.
The phone rang again, Song Shize cast a warning glance at them, sliding once more to answer.
Ruan Ruan was momentarily frightened by Song Shize's sudden change of demeanor, Wen Shiyi held her hand, both exchanging looks.
"School heartthrob," Song Shize mocked with a snide smile, "guess where we are?"
"Song Shize," the voice on the other end was Xie Ying'an, calm and certain.
"It's me, Li Qingran is also with me."
"Where?"
"Ha, you think I'd tell you?"
Silence lingered briefly before the voice returned, devoid of emotion: "Song Shize, do you want to die?"
Only Li Qingran could discern that Xie Ying'an was truly furious.
"Would love to, come on." Song Shize fearlessly lowered his voice, too soft to be overheard by others, "Also, just so you know, the girl's lips are quite soft..."
Immediately, Li Qingmo's furious shouting burst out, "Song Shize, you son of a bitch, if you dare touch a single hair on my sister, I swear I'll kill you today..."
"Annoying." Song Shize snapped the phone shut, turned it off, and slipped it in his pocket.
Li Qingran reminded him, "That's my phone."
Song Shize didn't care, "I'll buy you a new one tomorrow."
"Song Shize, do you think you're the only one in F city with a renowned family?" Li Qingran's brows also cooled.
Song Shize hated when his family background was mentioned, he straightened up, his face losing its jest: "Li Qingran, am I giving you too much face?"
"Who needs your damn face!"
Li Qingran was not afraid, meeting his gaze head-on.
Tension crackled between them.
The red-haired and his friends exchanged looks; very few dared to be so bold in front of the Second Generation Son, but this frail-looking pretty girl was fierce.