C5 Chapter 5

Sitting in a smooth-riding town car should’ve been a rare treat, but Hee Yu’s nerves stayed lodged in her throat. The scenery slid past the window, and with no idea where she was headed, she didn’t breathe easier until the car finally came to a stop.

A doorman stepped up and opened her door with practiced courtesy.

As if everything had been arranged in advance, a hostess in an elegant dress approached with a polite smile and guided her forward. “Miss Hee? Director Yan has been waiting for you in the private room.”

They walked through the nearly empty lobby for a moment before reaching an elevator that took them straight to the sixth floor.

The hallway upstairs was wide and lavish, the only sound the click of heels on marble tile. It didn’t feel gaudy or over-the-top—at least not until she stopped in front of the private-room door.

Inside, it was all neon glow, booze, and flirting—like stepping in one move from a formal, respectable world into a full-blown den of indulgence.

“Well, look who’s here...” A man stood with a grin, clapping his hands as he let go of the woman in his arms, who was nowhere near as pretty as she thought she was.

His features were sharp: a straight, prominent nose; thin lips that somehow didn’t read as cruel. His eyes were single-lidded, yet they held a soft, almost liquid warmth that made them dangerously charming. And even with that cocky, devil-may-care smirk, there was something upright about him—an edge like a blade that hadn’t quite left its sheath.

Hee Yu gave a small nod. Her gaze lingered for a beat, impressed despite herself, then she looked away.

In the room, Yan Jin sat sprawled with bold confidence—legs crossed, arms stretched along the back of the sofa—like a tiger posted high above its territory, watching everything below. And what stood out most was this: the women swaying around the room seemed wary of him. Instead of crowding close, they kept their distance.

With Yan Jin and that devilishly handsome guy in the room, the other three decent-looking men instantly faded into the background in Hee Yu’s eyes. Of course, she didn’t miss the way the beautiful women nearby kept sneaking looks at her, their expressions tinged with curiosity and jealousy.

The devilishly handsome guy nodded toward the coffee table crowded with bottles and glasses, lifted an eyebrow, and flashed Hee Yu a wicked grin. “We were just about to play a drinking game. Loser takes off a piece of clothing. Yan Jin won’t do us the honor, and with too few people it’s no fun. Since he invited you, come make up the numbers.”

Hee Yu put on a shy look, smiled, and said, “Then you’d better go easy on me, okay?”

He’d assumed that with Hee Yu stepping into a den of wolves for the first time, she’d be more cautious. He didn’t expect her to agree so readily—like she’d come prepared. He flicked a glance in Yan Jin’s direction, suddenly finding it amusing enough to reassess what was really going on with Hee Yu.

He and Yan Jin had grown up together, practically inseparable, but he’d never once heard of Yan Jin taking the initiative with any woman. Hee Yu wasn’t exactly a knockout, and that was precisely why the devilishly handsome guy paid even closer attention.

Figuring she wouldn’t know the games they usually played, they switched to a simple one: palm up or palm down. If only one person’s hand was different from everyone else’s, that person lost.

And whether the devilishly handsome guy had arranged something behind the scenes or not, after three chaotic rounds, Hee Yu ended up the odd one out—her palm up against everyone else’s palm down.

“Nice! So—strip, or drink?” he said, grinning like he was having the time of his life.

It was the height of summer, so nobody was wearing much. Lose three times and you’d be down to nothing. But that would get old fast, so they had a rule: you could drink instead of taking something off.

Better to keep her clothes on if she could. Hee Yu stuck out her tongue and said in a sweet, playful voice, “My luck is terrible. I’ll drink.”

The liquor was high-proof, smooth going down but with a serious kick afterward.

Just as Hee Yu reached out to take the brimming glass from the pretty-boy, another hand shot in from the side and snatched it first.

Everyone’s faces went blank with confusion—what was that supposed to mean?

Was he trying to spare Hee Yu and take it for her, or was he hoping to see her strip?

For a moment, no one—men or women—could tell what Yan Jin was getting at, and no one dared speak up and risk offending him.

The pretty-boy didn’t have nearly as many reservations. He shouted, “Yan Jin, what the hell are you doing?!”

Hee Yu cut in before Yan Jin could answer, quick to read the room and slap a compliment on him. “Young Master Yan really is a gentleman.”

Yan Jin looked at Hee Yu’s sly expression, snorted, and said, “Save it. Drink it yourself.”

Hee Yu froze for a beat, staring at the liquor already at her lips, not sure whether to laugh or cry.

She’d figured if she buttered Yan Jin up a little, he might just take the drink himself. Instead, he flipped on her in an instant—cunning as a fox.

The burning liquid surged down her throat, making her cough so hard tears sprang to the corners of her eyes.

“I really can’t drink. Hopefully I’ll have better luck next time!” With a sharp clink, she set the glass down on the tempered-glass coffee table, cheeks already flushed, and gave a helpless, pleading smile.