C3 Ann Xin

The speaker was a girl about Ann Xin's age named Xue Lan, who happened to be Ann Xin's best friend. Although Xue Lan was quite attractive, she didn't quite match Ann Xin's allure. Ann Xin had come to this place at Xue Lan's invitation.

"Xiaolan, I... I just can't drink anymore. I'm sorry," Ann Xin said, her eyes conveying a sense of helplessness to her dear friend.

Upon hearing this, the countenance of the young man known as Gu Shao visibly soured. He glanced at Xue Lan with dissatisfaction and remarked, "Xue Lan, I agreed to help your friend as a favor to you. Two or three hundred thousand is a mere trifle to me, akin to the cost of a meal. But it seems your friend isn't quite grateful."

"Ann Xin, did you catch that? Just follow Young Master Gu's lead, and money is no issue. But if you disrespect him, he's not going to lend you money for nothing, is he?"

"I..." Ann Xin was visibly flustered. She was desperate for the loan but hadn't anticipated such conditions.

Noticing Ann Xin's hesitation, Gu Shao covertly signaled Xue Lan with a glance.

Catching his cue, Xue Lan nonchalantly dropped a pill into Ann Xin's cup.

"You see, Gu Shao, Ann Xin isn't much of a drinker. What if she has one final drink? If she does, will you consider it a deal?" Xue Lan advocated for Ann Xin with a sense of justice.

Gu Shao observed Xue Lan and, pleased, nodded his approval. "Fine. Since Lan Lan has spoken, I'll extend this courtesy. One last drink, and then I'll make the transfer."

"Ann Xin, you hear that? Just one more cup. Once you've had it, I'll take you home. The sooner you have the money, the sooner you can get your aunt's surgery scheduled," Xue Lan urged Ann Xin.

With thoughts of her mother awaiting surgery in the hospital ward, Ann Xin steeled herself, picked up the cup before her, and downed it in one swift motion.

"Ha! Excellent," Gu Shao laughed heartily, unrestrained in his amusement at the scene unfolding before him.

"Xiaolan, Mr. Gu, I've already had the drink, I..."

Mid-sentence, Ann Xin's head began to spin uncontrollably, and the figures and surroundings before her eyes turned into an indistinct blur.

In her daze, she could only make out the sounds of smug laughter and the sight of leering, vile faces.

"Haha, Xue Lan, you've outdone yourself this time. Once I've had my way with your friend here, you can count on a generous reward," Gu Fan declared, dropping all pretense as he saw Ann Xin succumb to the alcohol, his smile widening.

"Xue Lan, was it you? Was there something in that wine?" Ann Xin staggered back, staring at her best friend with a mix of fear and disbelief.

"Ann Xin, you should consider yourself extremely fortunate. Young Master Gu is the heir to the Xiangshi Group. It's a huge honor and opportunity for someone like him to take notice of you. I'm doing you a favor; you'll thank me for it later," Xue Lan assured her with a grin.

"Hahaha, exactly. Stick with me, keep me happy, and I promise you won't be shortchanged," Gu Shao added, rising to his feet and reaching out brazenly towards Ann Xin's chest.

Hearing the words of Xue Lan and Young Master Gu, Ann Xin felt a sense of utter despair. She finally grasped the full extent of the betrayal.

Desperate for money to pay for her mother's critical surgery, Ann Xin found herself at a dead end. That's when her best friend Xue Lan stepped in, claiming she had a friend who could help, and arranged a meeting for today.

Ann Xin had taken a half-day off work to meet this friend of Xue Lan's. Though she had felt uneasy about meeting at the opulent Supreme Wealthy Class, her trust in her best friend led her to go through with it.

But now, the unimaginable had happened—her best friend had drugged her. And as she looked at Young Master Gu's smirking face, Ann Xin could all too clearly imagine the grim fate that awaited her.

With a "clang," Ann Xin grabbed the wine glass before her and smashed it against the coffee table. Clutching a shard of broken glass, she pressed it against her neck.

"Xue Lan, Mr. Gu, I won't be needing the money. I'm leaving now, is that alright?" Ann Xin's voice shook as she spoke, clinging to a sliver of hope.

"Ann Xin, stop! Put the glass down!" Xue Lan hadn't expected Ann Xin to be so defiant.

"Xiaolan, please, don't push me."

"Damn it, using suicide to threaten me? I'm not falling for that. I just wanted to toy with you, but since you're ungrateful and ruining my fun, I'm going to have my way with you today. Guys, strip her clothes off for me."

With a wave of his hand, Gu Shao signaled his entourage, and they charged at Ann Xin.

Realizing she couldn't escape their clutches, Ann Xin, with a grim determination, drove the shard of glass toward her own neck.

"Bang!"

Simultaneously, a thunderous noise erupted, and the private room seemed to turn upside down.

The crowd was in disarray, spinning around to see the door had been kicked in, and a figure burst through.

Ye Luo, seeing Ann Xin's neck drenched in blood, felt his mind reel. Had he arrived too late?

He dashed over in a frenzy, cradling Ann Xin, snatching the glass from her grip, and swiftly examining the gash on her neck.

Thankfully, the glass hadn't hit any major arteries; it was merely a flesh wound, not life-threatening.

Ye Luo exhaled deeply, his heart racing with what-ifs. Had he been even a moment later, the thought was unbearable.

"Ye Luo?" Ann Xin, in a daze, saw him and struggled to believe her eyes.

"You're safe now. Just rest." Ye Luo pressed on her neck, and Ann Xin quickly lost consciousness.

"You! Who are you? Who let you in here? Get out, now!" One of the young men regained his composure and pointed at Ye Luo, his voice laced with panic.

"Bang!"

Without a second thought, Ye Luo's leg shot out, landing a kick squarely on the man's chest. He was sent flying, crashing hard against the room's wall.

Ye Luo knew the people in this room. From the previous generation, he was aware that the ringleader was Gu Jun, a wealthy heir who had long lusted after Ann Xin. After repeated failed attempts at harassment, he had plotted to use Ann Xin's close friend, Xue Lan, to finally ensnare her.

Xue Lan had taken Gu Jun's bribes and, without a moment's hesitation, betrayed Ann Xin.

In her previous life, Ann Xin's tragic death was inextricably linked to these people, particularly Gu Jun and Xue Lan. They had driven Ann Xin to suicide, and after witnessing her despair, not a single one of them had the decency to call for help. They simply watched her die. Ultimately, it was the club's owner who alerted the authorities. Ye Luo hadn't forgotten any of it.

Back then, due to Gu Jun's influential connections, Ann Xin's death was dismissed as a drunken suicide, and everyone present escaped justice.

It had taken Ye Luo a considerable amount of time and sacrifice to uncover the truth, and eventually, she avenged Ann Xin.

But in this lifetime, she was determined to prevent the tragedy from recurring. Yet, the thirst for vengeance remained. Ye Luo would spare none of those before her.

"Quick, take him down! What are you waiting for?" Gu Jun barked at his henchmen after seeing one of them sent flying by a kick.

The remaining five or six men grabbed wine bottles from the coffee table and charged at Ye Luo. But in an instant, they were all writhing on the ground, each with a broken hand and leg—Ye Luo's mercy at play. Had it not been for holding Ann Xin, Ye Luo would have ended them all.

Only Gu Jun and Xue Lan remained standing, staring in horror at this unforeseen adversary.

"Do you have any idea who I am? You dare to lay a hand on my people? You're a dead man."

With a sharp "smack," Ye Luo's hand connected with Gu Jun's face, sending him reeling, his mouth suddenly tasting blood as teeth came loose.

"You..."

Another "slap" echoed, and this time, a mouthful of bloody teeth flew out.

"Wuwu, I belong to the Gu family. How dare you strike me?" Gu Jun cried out in terror, his words muffled and unclear.

With two resounding "cracks," Ye Luo's kicks shattered Gu Jun's kneecaps, sending him crashing down to kneel before Ye Luo.

"Gu Jun, I swore you would die," Ye Luo said, gazing down at him. In her past life, she had paid dearly to kill Gu Jun. But now, merely killing Gu Jun wasn't enough for Ye Luo. She intended to reduce the entire Gu family to dust.

"Are you... Ye Luo?"

Xue Lan's voice quivered as she spoke from the sidelines. Though she was Ann Xin's best friend and familiar with Ye Luo, she had never been kind to Ann Xin's penniless and powerless boyfriend, holding him in utter contempt. Yet, she never imagined she'd encounter him here, in such a fearsome state, having left Gu Jun in such a battered condition.

"I'm Ann Xin's best friend, please don't hurt me," Xue Lan pleaded, her voice shaking.