C11

Ignoring Lee Bingqian's sharp tongue, she was undeniably beautiful, Huang Wenyu mused to himself.

He didn't respond to his friend's question, instead asking with a hint of disgust, "Could you possibly refine your eating habits? Do you see anyone else indulging in pastries at a bar? And how many plates is that now? Are you intending to make desserts your main meal?"

The man nonchalantly crammed another piece of cake into his mouth and mumbled, "I'm starving, can't help it. When are we wrapping up, Young Master Yu? This isn't nearly enough for me. Let's hit up a restaurant later for a proper late-night feast."

Watching his teammate wolf down food, Huang Wenyu could only shake his head in silent disapproval. "Eat if you must; I'll pass."

Xia Zhe, out of sheer boredom, polished off the last pastry. He then lifted his glass and downed the wine in one go, as if he were a thirsty ox at a trough.

Seated to the side, Huang Wenyu was lost in thought, recalling how Lee Bingqian had been all smiles with the bartender, which stirred feelings of irritation and discontent within him.

Lee Binglian had disappeared, and yet her sister didn't seem the least bit concerned, instead choosing to flirt with men in a bar. It was utterly disgraceful.

Wait a minute! A sudden realization hit Huang Wenyu, and he leapt to his feet.

Xia Zhe, about to summon the waiter for another drink, was taken aback by Huang Wenyu's abrupt rise. With a puzzled look, he asked, "Young Master Yu, what's the matter?"

"Damn it, could she have come to Vushor specifically for this?" The more Huang Wenyu considered it, the more plausible it seemed.

Xia Zhe inquired, "Young Master Yu, who are you talking about? The woman from earlier?"

"Settle the bill; I'm heading out," Huang Wenyu declared, dashing off immediately.

Xia Zhe stared after the swiftly departing Huang Wenyu, a mix of amusement and frustration washing over him. "Hey! You promised to pick up the tab, Young Master Yu—that's the only reason I ordered so much! Ah! Ah! Ah! I've been had! This is outright betrayal!"

Huang Wenyu bolted from the bar, scanning the nearly deserted streets, but there was no sign of Lee Bingqian anywhere.

Huang Wenyu could never have imagined she'd have the audacity to come here, especially with Vushor being in such chaos recently!

The following day, Lee Bingqian spent another fruitless day searching for her sister, Lee Binglian. Despite this, she stumbled upon a new lead. While dining, Bingqian casually browsed Twitter on her phone. She glanced surreptitiously at a man nearby.

Setting her phone aside, she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and looked over at the man more openly. It was indeed the same person. All day, she had the nagging feeling of being followed, but every time she looked back, no one was there.

Luckily, she had an excellent memory. Bingqian was certain this was the third time she had encountered this man today. It was highly probable he was tracking her. But why? She couldn't figure it out. However, her main concern remained uncovering her sister's whereabouts.

After finishing her meal, Bingqian resumed her door-to-door inquiries. Around midnight, she headed back to the bar. She located the bartender from the previous evening, but the bar was packed, leaving Bingqian to look elsewhere for a seat.

The bartender shrugged apologetically, "Sorry, there are no seats available here."

"It's fine. I'll look around some more," she replied.

"You seem exhausted. Have you been searching all day again?" he asked.

Bingqian nodded.

"Any leads?"

She sighed, "None."

"Don't worry," the bartender reassured her, "you'll hear something soon. People don't just vanish into thin air. Don't lose hope."

"Thanks," she said, grateful for the kind words.

"No problem at all."

After Bingqian left, the bartender grabbed his phone and sent a quick text: "She's back again."

The cacophony of music in the bar was headache-inducing. Bingqian, with a furrowed brow, braved the discomfort and waded through the crowd, seeking an open seat.

Out of nowhere, an arm snaked around her waist, accompanied by a contrived British accent, "Beauty, were you searching for me?"

What? Looking for you?

Bingqian turned to face the sleazy man beside her, recoiling in distaste. She brushed off his arm, saying firmly, "Sorry, I don't know you."

As she turned to continue on her way, the man clearly wasn't ready to let her go so easily. His coarse hand yanked her back, "Hey, beauty, don't you want to give me a chance? Join me for a few drinks, or else, hehe..."

The sleazy man didn't finish his sentence. Lee Bingqian felt a wave of revulsion. She attempted to break free, but he leered at her and gripped her tighter, smirking with satisfaction, "You won't be able to get away from me."

"Don't delude yourself into thinking that a British accent makes you appear sophisticated. Your poor imitation only comes across as affected and nauseating. I suggest you return to school and pay attention in class," Lee Bingqian retorted with scorn.