C5 Being Toyed with

Liu Susu led Ling Yifei to the entrance of the locker room. Ling Yifei was intently focused on the henchman trailing behind him, sensing the peculiar aura emanating from him—a weapon, perhaps.

"A gun?" Ling Yifei speculated. It wasn't sharp, but it seemed to carry the distinct energy of gunpowder.

Regrettably, his Vital Spirit wasn't strong enough for an accurate detection. Despite this, his sensitivity to danger hadn't diminished. Ling Yifei was aware that his body hadn't entirely forsaken the abilities he had honed previously.

"Damn, if only I could regain the power and status of my higher plane right now..."

As he pondered this, he realized he had unwittingly entered the locker room, clutching clothes from an unknown source.

"What's this?"

Before Ling Yifei could make sense of the situation, Liu Susu quickly responded, "Mr. Fei, why don't you try them on?"

Her flirtatious tone was almost too much for Ling Yifei to bear, but he reluctantly began to change into the clothes.

Meanwhile, the henchman had moved to the adjacent changing area, heightening Ling Yifei's anxiety. The locker room was constructed of flimsy plastic panels, easily damaged. It was clear the henchman was plotting an ambush.

It wasn't long before the henchman produced the weapon he'd been concealing. Ling Yifei could tell it was a handgun, albeit one he had modified, likely with limited power.

The henchman aimed the gun at the partition and muffled its report with the clothes he had brought in. As Ling Yifei dressed, he summoned his Vital Spirit. Thankfully, it responded without delay, forming a protective barrier around him.

"Swoosh..."

The sound of the gunshot was faint as the poor-quality steel ball struck Ling Yifei's flank, causing no pain.

"Ow..." he exclaimed, feigning agony with an over-the-top cry.

After the henchman fired two more shots, Ling Yifei played along for a moment before falling silent. The henchman, believing Ling Yifei had been taken out, peered through the bullet hole to check.

Ling Yifei seized the moment and slammed his palm onto the plastic board, knocking the lackey out cold with his Vital Spirit.

"Are you kidding me? You fell for that?" Ling Yifei rolled his eyes and tapped his temple in disbelief.

Ignoring the unconscious lackey, Ling Yifei quickly showed the two girls his clothes, then changed back into his original outfit and left with them in tow.

They hadn't wandered for long before arriving at a buffet restaurant, led by the two girls while Ling Yifei simply followed.

At the entrance, the waiter stopped them: "Hello, may I see your invitation?"

The girls nodded, pulled out their phones, and scanned their QR codes. Ling Yifei, still lost in thought, hadn't moved.

After verifying the girls' invitations, the waiter turned to him, "Sir, you cannot enter without an invitation."

Ling Yifei snapped out of it, giving the waiter a bewildered look, "Huh?"

Liu Susu and Jiaang Xueer couldn't help but giggle at the scene.

"Are you all together?" the waiter inquired of Liu Susu and Jiaang Xueer.

Jiaang Xueer glanced at Liu Susu, who surprisingly shook her head.

Unfazed, Ling Yifei pulled out his wallet, "How much to get in?"

The waiter shook his head, "I'm sorry, but the venue is fully booked today. Without an invitation, entry is not permitted."

That's when it clicked for Ling Yifei.

He looked at the two girls, insisting, "We're together."

"What a joke," Liu Susu quickly countered, "We're certainly not with him."

The waiter, taking cues from the girls, apologized, "Sir, I'm truly sorry. If you have an invitation, perhaps you could join us another time."

Realizing he'd been played, Ling Yifei remained calm. He turned and strolled out of the restaurant, laden with the girls' shopping bags. The girls had intended to see how things would unfold, but seeing him leave decisively with their belongings, they quickly caught up to Ling Yifei.

"Miss, I'm sorry, but we don't know each other."

Jiaang Xueer, now annoyed, chimed in, "If we're strangers, then at least give us back our things, will you?"

"What's this about your things?" Ling Yifei withdrew his hand from their grasp and flashed a sly grin.

"These bags are ours, aren't they?" Jiaang Xueer's voice was tinged with irritation.

But Ling Yifei was no pushover: "Oh, how did the items in my possession suddenly become yours?"

Liu Susu quickly intervened, "Let's calm down, everyone. Ling Yifei, we were only teasing. Please, don't be upset."

Ling Yifei gave Liu Susu a cold stare that sent shivers down her spine.

Jiaang Xueer persisted, "Can't take a joke, huh? No wonder you had to sell the house and shut down the factory!"

Her words hit Ling Yifei like a dagger to the heart. Had it not been for betrayal, would he and his father, Ling Zhiyu, be in this predicament? Biting back his anger, Ling Yifei stormed towards the exit, Liu Susu's attempts to stop him futile.

It should be noted that the several large bags in Ling Yifei's possession were worth a small fortune! They couldn't just let him walk away with them.

At that moment, a car pulled up and out stepped a rather handsome man.

He was none other than Situ Yun, the man Susu and Xueer had mentioned, the scion of the Situ family with vast holdings in real estate and finance.

"Susu, Xueer, you made it!" Situ Yun approached them eagerly as he exited the vehicle. "And who might this be?"

"Oh, he's a friend who came along with us. You don't mind, do you?" Liu Susu quickly explained, offering Ling Yifei a graceful exit. "Come on, Ling Yifei, join us for a meal. There's no need to rush off."

Situ Yun eyed Ling Yifei's plain attire, puzzled: "What's gotten into Liu Susu today?"

Liu Susu was known for her high standards. Why would she associate with someone who seemed so out of her league? That was the question on Situ Yun's mind.

Ling Yifei truly had no desire to linger; he wanted to avoid any complications. His only thought was to set down what he was carrying and make a quick exit.

But just then, a man dressed in a black suit exchanged greetings with Situ Yun before heading into the buffet restaurant.

Ling Yifei's expression turned sour in an instant.