C1 New Tricks!

"No, I won't drink..."

Within the opulent private room, Tang Xin was coerced into tilting her head back, enduring the fiery liquor the man before her was forcing down her throat. Her delicate face contorted in discomfort, growing paler under the dim lighting, while her body trembled slightly—a clear testament to her distress.

Despite this, she managed to keep the tears welling in her eyes from spilling over.

The outcome of such a confrontation was predictable.

Having emptied a bottle, the man released Tang Xin's chin and accepted a tissue from someone nearby to meticulously wipe his hands. His hands, however, bore no trace of the liquor, underscoring his disdain for the woman before him.

"You know my temper. If I see you again, the consequences will be far worse!" Ho Li, with his enchanting looks and an air of supremacy, exuded an overwhelming presence. Now, he was looking down at Tang Xin, his face expressionless but his voice icy and intimidating.

A hush fell over the room, and those who had previously viewed Tang Xin with disdain now felt a twinge of apprehension for her.

Tang Xin was half-kneeling on the ground, droplets still falling from her lips. Unaware of her disheveled state, her slender fingers were clenched tightly. She couldn't fathom why this man was treating her so harshly.

She had been warned not to cross anyone in the club, especially Ho Li, but her dignity had been severely violated.

From where she found the courage, no one knew, but as Ho Li was about to walk past her, Tang Xin summoned her voice and called out, "Stop!"

His stride halted. Without turning, the intensity of his presence was palpable from his towering silhouette.

The entourage following Ho Li watched in astonishment as Tang Xin steadied herself against the dark gold marble countertop and shakily rose to her feet. She then turned and took measured steps toward the man. Her petite stature stood in stark contrast to his towering frame.

Her eyes shone with unshed tears, yet her resolve was unyielding, leaving Ho Li's companions to wonder what she intended to do next.

"Take it back!" Tang Xin raised her hand, offering the stack of red bills she had just clutched from the marble countertop back to the man.

Her pale, defiant face was heartbreakingly stubborn.

Ho Li slowly turned his head, his movements devoid of any hint of danger, his lips even curving into a slight smirk. Yet, inexplicably, the temperature in the private room seemed to plummet ten degrees, sending shivers down everyone's spine.

Those who had been with Ho Li for years knew all too well that his gentleness was a harbinger of someone's impending doom.

And at this moment, that someone was Tang Xin.

"A new tactic?" He looked down at her with half-closed eyes, like a sovereign gazing upon his most humble servant.

Next to his towering frame, Tang Xin appeared even more pitiful and insignificant.

"Please take this money with you. Thank you!" Her hand remained outstretched with unwavering determination, as if she wouldn't relent until he accepted the cash.

The onlookers couldn't help but gasp. After all, no one in A City had ever dared to stand up to Ho Li, and here was a woman, merely a hostess lost in the glitz and glamour, challenging him. What leverage did she have to contend with Ho Li?

"Is it not enough?" Ho Li's eyes narrowed further, his smirk deepening. "This is your worth. Take the money and vanish. If I see you again... The news is full of hostesses meeting untimely ends. Which fate do you think suits you best?"