C3 The Bar Incident.

Chu Qing quickly made his way to Crescent Bar.

Upon entering, he was greeted by the sight of women wildly dancing on the dance floor, their heads thrashing to the thumping beats of the DJ, lost in a frenzy of excitement.

Around the edges of the dance floor, several young men, handsome and neatly dressed, lounged in their seats, only rising to join the dance when invited by the women.

Chu Qing's attention was then drawn to a flamboyant man who was ingratiating himself with a plump woman. "Director Wang, some fresh young men have just arrived. They're quite youthful," he cooed. Dressed in designer wear, the woman's face lit up with a lascivious grin before she followed the man into a private room.

"Little brother, are you here by yourself?"

A glamorous woman approached Chu Qing, her excitement palpable upon laying eyes on him.

Suppressing the impulse to rebuke her, Chu Qing shook his head with a frosty detachment. "You don't interest me."

Undeterred, the woman edged closer, her voice a sultry whisper, "Little handsome, you're a virgin, aren't you? How about I show you a good time? You'll enjoy it."

"You're Chu Qing, aren't you?" A burly woman approached, her eyes squinting with hostility.

She then spun around, fixing a fierce glare on the woman who had been hitting on Chu Qing. "He's Sister Zhou's man. How dare you flirt with him? Get lost!"

The woman's complexion turned ashen. She recoiled in fear, bowed deeply, and stammered, "Miss Bai, I was unaware. Please, accept my apology and convey it to Sister Zhou. I'll get out of your way."

With that, she slapped herself hard across the face and beat a hasty retreat.

Miss Bai let out a wry smile, gave Chu Qing a once-over, and led him to room 302.

Inside, the bright lights revealed Chu Xiao, flanked by two burly women on a sofa, her complexion wan but her demeanor composed, showing no signs of harm.

Relieved, Chu Qing strode forward, tossed the bag onto the table, and declared, "I've brought what you asked for. Now, you must release my sister."

The woman in the center of the sofa looked up, her freckled face breaking into a smile of delight.

"You're even more handsome than your pictures," Zhou Yun said as she stood and moved toward Chu Qing, her eyes gleaming.

"How old are you, handsome?" Zhou Yun inquired with a grin, her gaze raking over him, growing more pleased by the second, a thrill of excitement prompting her to swallow hard.

"That's none of your concern," Chu Qing replied, feeling a wave of revulsion. Zhou Yun's leering made him bristle, and he turned icy.

Zhou Yun bit back her irritation and glanced at the bag on the table. Unzipping it, she discovered it was filled with stacks of cash.

Chu Xiao on the sofa gasped in shock, clearly not expecting to find a stash of money in the bag.

Chu Qing remained composed; he had checked the bag before arriving. Only his absent-minded sister would be oblivious to its contents. Truth be told, there was at least a million yuan inside, and he was clueless about how she had gotten tangled up in this mess.

Realization dawned on Chu Xiao, her face blanching further as she frantically gestured, "Sister Zhou, I had no idea this money was yours. Lin is my close friend. She told me it was her personal stuff and asked me to keep it safe for a while."

"Shut up!" Zhou Yun barked sharply, her gaze icy as she stared down Chu Xiao. After a tense silence, she let out a chilling chuckle, "I know you wouldn't dare take my money! Lin Xiaowan has the nerve to steal from me while working on my turf? She's asking for trouble. Get out before I lose my temper!"

"Thanks, Sister Zhou," Chu Xiao said, her voice trembling as she broke free from the two women beside her and leapt to her feet. She rushed to Chu Qing's side, desperate to drag him away.

"Hold it!" Zhou Yun's voice cut through the air like a blade. "Who said he could leave?"

"Sister Zhou, what do you mean?" Chu Xiao's face paled, and in a swift move, she shielded Chu Qing with her body, her voice fierce, "No one's laying a finger on my brother!"

"Your brother's quite handsome, still a virgin, I presume? I've taken a liking to him; he stays. You, however, are free to go," Zhou Yun sneered.

She lounged on the sofa, sipping red wine, her eyes crawling over Chu Qing with predatory hunger.

Miss Bai stood guard at the door, her lips curled in anticipation. They all knew the perks that came with Sister Zhou's conquests. This man, with his refined appearance, promised a delightful encounter.

Chu Xiao's heart raced with fear under their leering stares, but she stood her ground, "Sister Zhou, this is between us women. Please, leave my brother out of it. He's just a kid."

"You think I should let him go?" Zhou Yun laughed, puffing on her cigar. "Ask around; your brother is exactly my type. Gentle and unspoiled—I have no intention of letting him go. But if you're so adamant, I might consider it. Only if you stay in his place. And I won't promise your safety. Don't come crying about my ruthlessness later."

Before Zhou Yun could finish, Chu Xiao cut in firmly, "I'll stay."

She turned to Chu Qing, managing a weak smile, "Go home, Qing. I'll follow soon."

Chu Qing shook his head, knowing full well the danger of leaving Chu Xiao behind.

"Be sensible. You're a boy; this isn't your fight. I got us into this mess; I'll handle it," Chu Xiao said, her smile tinged with sadness.

"Sis, you think I'd abandon you?" Chu Qing grinned, then his face clouded over. "And stop calling me Qing, okay? I'm Chu Qing."

Facing Zhou Yun, who sat smugly on the sofa, Chu Qing suppressed his disgust and defiantly said, "You think you can keep me here, you old hag?"

Zhou Yun's crew was left speechless; it had been years since anyone dared insult Sister Zhou, especially a young man like Chu Qing.

Zhou Yun's fury erupted. She snuffed out her cigar and howled, "You're done for! I'll have you tied to a bed and drugged before you know it."

But her threat was cut short by a slap across her face. All eyes turned to see Chu Qing standing before Zhou Yun, hand casually in his pocket, the picture of composure.

"Qing!"

Chu Xiao gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as she let out an incredulous shriek.

"Run for it!"

With a serene smile, Chu Qing didn't spare a glance for the seething Zhou Yun. She nimbly sidestepped an incoming punch from behind.

"Catch him!"

Zhou Yun's voice was thick with rage as she leapt forward, lunging at Chu Qing.

"This is getting interesting!"

As he parried a punch from a woman behind him, Chu Qing's eyelids gave a slight twitch. The women in this world were remarkably strong!

But he was undaunted.

"You scoundrel, get down!"

Another woman's roar echoed, reminiscent of a mother bear, as she exploded with tremendous force. She materialized beside Chu Qing, her hands clawing towards him.

Chu Qing just shook his head and chuckled. His fingers came together, and with a swift motion, he tapped the woman's forehead. It was like a needle popping a balloon; the woman's momentum halted abruptly, and she let out a gut-wrenching scream before being hurled against the wall.

"You've got some nerve!"

Zhou Yun was livid. Within seconds, her crew was halved. Her eyes glinted with deadly intent as she drew a black pistol from her waistband.

"Is that a gun?"

Chu Qing hesitated, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

Zhou Yun couldn't help but gloat, taunting, "Kid, think your hands can outspeed my bullets?"

"Don't!"

Chu Xiao leapt in front of Chu Qing, her face ashen. "Sister Zhou, I beg you, spare my brother."

Chu Xiao looked genuinely taken aback. She hadn't expected her brother to take down these thugs. But no matter how skilled he was, he couldn't outrun a bullet.

"Shut up, bitch, or I'll sell you off to a brothel!"

"You wouldn't dare!"

In an instant, Chu Qing's glare sent a chill through the women around him, as if the air temperature had plummeted to freezing.

Zhou Yun's sinister smile widened. "Think I won't?"

"If you're so eager to dig your own grave, I'll oblige," Chu Qing replied coolly, ready to act.

"What a spectacle we have here."

Just then, the private room door swung open. A woman in a red dress entered, flanked by two formidable, black-clad female bodyguards.

"Chu Qing!" The woman in red beamed at the sight of him.

Chu Qing gaped at her. This was the woman from the hotel earlier that day, the one who had tried to force herself on him.

Confused, he asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I should be here," Ye Chenxi said with a hearty laugh, ignoring Zhou Yun completely. "Zhou Yun, I've had my eye on him for a while. You can leave now."

Zhou Yun's face turned a sickly shade of green, and she let out a shrill cry, "You want to defy the rules?"

Ye Chenxi's gaze turned icy, her voice dropping to a menacing whisper, "Take her away. Break her hands and legs, then dump her in the street."

"Boss Ye, I was wrong!"

Zhou Yun's fear was palpable; she seemed to grasp the gravity of her situation and pleaded desperately. She fell to her knees, her forehead thudding against the floor.

"Cut off one of her hands and one of her legs," Ye Chenxi ordered dispassionately.

The two black-clad women approached and, with steely expressions, hoisted the limp Zhou Yun off the ground and out of the room.

Soon after, Crescent Bar fell eerily silent. The music ceased, and a lone scream ripped through the night.

"Chu Qing, this is a gift for you. Do you like it?" Ye Chenxi revealed a smile, her teeth gleaming white.

"It's none of your business." Chu Qing's brow furrowed. Had this woman not shown up, he would have already settled the issue and made off with her sister.

"You're the first man who's ever had the nerve to speak to me that way!" Amidst the astonished looks from the two women clad in black, Ye Chenxi's eyes sparkled with delight. She appraised Chu Qing from head to toe as if he were a precious, rare find.

"You truly stand out from the rest! I've made up my mind. You'll be my thirty-sixth boyfriend!"