"Hmph, I thought Qin Luoshui had such high standards for appreciation," sneered the heavily made-up woman named Sun Lili, thinking she had said something clever. "Turns out her ex-boyfriends aren't anything special either. They're miles behind Yanxue."
Fueled by jealousy, she belittled Qin Luoshui while simultaneously praising Ling Yanxue and Chen Yuze, feeling a surge of smugness.
Chen Yuze seemed to relish being fawned over, a pleased expression on his face. He even glanced at Zhang Fan, as if to provoke him.
Ling Yanxue, however, frowned. She disliked people who spoke ill of others behind their backs, and despite the flattery, she felt a twinge of displeasure.
Zhang Fan cast a glance at the heavily made-up woman, choosing not to engage. He figured a woman like that would eventually suffer consequences for her words.
"Damn, what rotten luck," muttered Gao Duyang, who had stormed out earlier in a huff and now returned, cursing as he entered.
"Duyang, what happened?" Chen Yuze asked, noticing the distinct red palm print on Gao Duyang's face, assuming he had been bullied.
"Nothing," Gao Duyang waved his hand, glancing at Zhao Qingqing. "Just now, while washing my hands, I met a very attractive lady who looked a bit like Zhao Qingqing. I thought I'd bring her back for some fun, but she thought my offer was too low and slapped me."
After the previous incident, Gao Duyang knew he wasn't as charming as he'd imagined, and his chances with Zhao Qingqing were slim. He no longer held back his words.
Zhao Qingqing's expression darkened at his words. 'Looked a bit like her, so I thought I'd bring her back for fun?' Every word felt like an insult.
Zhang Fan also heard everything. His previously calm demeanor slowly turned cold.
"You have one minute to gather your thoughts and apologize to Qingqing," Zhang Fan said calmly. "Otherwise, I'll make you crawl out of here today."
Zhang Fan's words stunned everyone in the private room. This seemingly ordinary young man spoke with an authority that seemed out of place.
They all shook their heads. Not only could he not contend with Gao Duyang, but even if he could, Gao Duyang had the backing of Chen Zeyu, who held more power in the northern district of Donghai. How could a mere student like Zhang Fan possibly compete?
"Haha," Gao Duyang laughed in anger, a mocking curve to his lips. He stared at Zhang Fan and sneered, "Apologize? You think you're worthy?"
"Look at your country bumpkin aura. If it weren't for us, do you think you'd even have the right to sit in this 'Golden Splendor' KTV room?"
"You've lost your last chance." Zhang Fan shook his head and prepared to stand up and stretch his muscles.
"Brother Zhang Fan," Zhao Qingqing tugged nervously at Zhang Fan's arm, her eyes filled with concern.
"Zhang Fan, don't be impulsive," Ling Yanxue also advised. After their duet earlier, she found herself developing an inexplicable affection for Zhang Fan and didn't want him to get into trouble.
Chen Zeyu leaned back on the sofa, casually tapping his fingers on the black leather. He watched Zhang Fan with amusement, eager to see how the young man who had shown him no respect would handle the current predicament.
A one-on-one fight? Gao Duyang had been a star player on the school football team from middle school through high school. He was much taller and sturdier than Zhang Fan and had nothing to fear.
A group fight? Chen Zeyu could summon several vans full of people to 'Golden Splendor' within ten minutes with a single phone call, so he wasn't afraid either.
"What! You want to fight?" Gao Duyang smiled, seeing Zhang Fan's posture. He then cracked his knuckles, the popping sound echoing in the room, and stared at Zhang Fan. "It's been a while since I've stretched my muscles. I can spar with you."
Just as Zhang Fan was about to teach this arrogant junior a lesson, his keen ears picked up some movement outside the private room. A sly smile spread across his lips, and he sat back down.
"Wimp." Gao Duyang thought he had been scared, and scoffed, "With your courage, you expect someone to apologize? You're still far too short."
The other handsome and beautiful young people in the room also looked at him with disdain. It seemed he had only stood up to put on a show. Zhang Fan sitting back down immediately solidified his image as a coward in everyone's eyes.
Zhang Fan didn't care about their scornful gazes. He shook his head indifferently and said, "Let's see if you can get past this hurdle first."
"What do you mean?" Zhang Fan's words left everyone puzzled.
"Bang!" At that moment, the luxurious glass door of the private room was violently kicked open, slamming against the wall. The thick glass on the door showed a slight crack spreading across it.
A group of burly men in black suits entered, their eyes fixed on the people in the room with ill intent.
Chen Zeyu's eyes narrowed. He could sense the formidable aura emanating from these men in black, an aura far beyond that of ordinary thugs. These were people who truly lived by the rules of the underworld.
"Brother Qiang, it's him." A woman, dressed extremely provocatively with heavy makeup, emerged from the crowd, her body swaying like a snake. She pointed at Gao Duyang and said, "It's him."
"Heh heh, young man, you've got some nerve, daring to touch my woman." The leader, a bald, somewhat stout man of medium height, had a rough appearance. Combined with his grinning, tooth-baring smile, he looked quite menacing. The timid girls in the room instinctively recoiled. Zhao Qingqing also clutched Zhang Fan's sleeve, looking frightened.
It wasn't just his intimidating aura, but his sheer ugliness that was terrifying.
Gao Duyang recognized the woman as the one he had encountered earlier, the one he had tried to take back to the room. Seeing her provocatively dressed, he had assumed she was one of the hostesses at 'Golden Splendor' and tried to take her, only to be slapped.
Judging by the current situation, she was clearly the woman of a triad boss.
"Brother, I was drunk earlier and didn't realize this beautiful lady was your woman. I apologize here and now. How about I offer you a drink, and we let this matter go?" Gao Duyang, considering himself a seasoned rich kid, spoke with neither arrogance nor subservience, not wanting to appear cowardly just because they outnumbered him.
"Alright." The rough-looking bald man agreed heartily. "Bring the wine."
Gao Duyang was surprised that the rough-looking bald man was so accommodating. His woman had been lightly flirted with, yet he was so easily willing to let it go, filling Gao Duyang with relief. "Could it be that my charm has reached such heights that even men can't resist!"
Gao Duyang quickly picked up a beer bottle from the side, ready to open it and pour a drink.
"I'll do it," the rough-looking bald man said.
Gao Duyang blinked. This rough-looking bald man was being overly enthusiastic. Nevertheless, he handed the bottle over.