Chapter 66 Danger

After that night, Zhou Qing disappeared from the upper-class circles.

In the ensuing week, the Zhou family faced bankruptcy, all their assets were acquired, and the once illustrious family vanished overnight.

No one knew the reason.

It was merely deemed that the Zhou family, with its grandeur and prosperity, was superficially adorned with gold and jade, but internally fragile, becoming a pitiful sacrifice in the business world.

But Lulu was deeply affected by that night.

Was it Zhou Qing who rescued the fallen Liang Shu?

No.

It was another man who appeared suddenly after Liang Shu fell into the water.

He pulled the almost unconscious Liang Shu out of the icy lake, holding her on the shore. At that moment, Zhou Qing had just emerged from the lake, barely climbing onto the shore, only to be unexpectedly pushed back by this man.

Lulu widened her eyes, trembling all over. "Zhou Qing!"

She turned to stare at the man with a cold and charming face. In the darkness, his expression was indiscernible. Lulu pointed at him. "What are you doing?"

The next moment, the man put Liang Shu on a nearby bench and approached Lulu. The gleam of his polished shoes reflected a cold light, causing Lulu's heart to inexplicably tighten.

With each step he took toward her from a distance of two or three meters, it felt as though he was treading upon Lulu's heart.

Finally, as he moved in front of her, Lulu couldn't withstand the psychological pressure, and she fell to the ground, hands bracing against the cold ground.

He was soaked, yet it didn't diminish his handsomeness in the slightest.

He seemed like an elegant vampire from the medieval era, a fallen deity from the earthly realm, mysterious, soft, and alluring.

Lulu watched as his thoroughly wet hand reached out and gently tapped her cold cheek. "Good girl, you did the right thing. I shall reward you."

His voice was deep and melodious, yet it carried an eerie undertone.

Lulu blinked, unable to discern his expression no matter how hard she tried. Perhaps she was stunned, so her vision blurred too.

After saying those words, he stood up, carrying Liang Shu, and left.

Later, in the dead of night, Lulu, wrapped tightly in her clothes, trod through the uneven puddles on her way home, only to be intercepted by someone.

It was a cold, pale, slender hand, holding a cheque at the fingertips.

Lulu wasn't very good at arithmetic, and in the dim light, she couldn't count the number of zeros on it at a glance.

The man said, "Take it, it's your reward."

That night, Lulu asked a very foolish question. She held the cheque in her hand, looking at the tall figure before her. "Why are you rewarding me?"

Before she could finish her sentence, the man, who had already intended to leave, suddenly turned around, reaching out to grab Lulu's neck.

She was choked, almost unable to breathe, her face flushed, her entire being almost lifted by the man in front of her. On the brink of death, Lulu managed to survive.

All her strength drained away, she couldn't stand, falling onto the uneven ground.

Dirty water splashed onto the man's black leather shoes as he crouched down, gazing at her with compassion. Slowly, he spoke, "You pushed her into the lake, so of course, you deserve a reward."

He had done what he had always wanted to do but never did.

Continuing, he said, "If she dies, your reward will be a hundredfold of what it is now."

Upon returning home, Lulu finally counted the digits above, with a five followed by five zeros.

Five hundred thousand.

A hundredfold of five hundred thousand is fifty million.

The signature on the check was too messy for Lulu to recognize.

Later, she specifically sought someone's help to identify it. The name signed on the check was:

Lu Jinsheng.

Subsequently, Lulu left the city, and within a little over a year, she had squandered the fifty thousand.

In the end, she returned to Yucheng in poverty, resuming her old ways.

With Zhou Qing's disappearance, Liang Shu's reputation in the social circles also vanished.

She was no longer the frivolous socialite, despite her continuous engagement in such activities.

As for Zhou Qing, Lulu had never seen her again.

At this moment, Lulu really wanted to ask Liang Shu, "Where did you take Zhou Qing?"

These memories didn't fade away with the passage of time; they were deeply rooted in Lulu's heart, like a dormant beast, ready to tear her heart apart at any moment.

In the quiet restroom, Liang Shu coldly gazed at Lulu.

Lulu curled her red lips, her fingers hanging by her side, nails deeply embedded in her palm. "If only I could have killed you back then."

"I can swim, your push wouldn't have killed me," Liang Shu said calmly.

The temperature in the restroom wasn't high, it could even be described as cold.

But Liang Shu felt a heat rising from within, a heat that originated from her heart.

Lulu lowered her gaze. "Is that so?"

After a pause, Lulu continued, "They say Lin Jingtai cares a lot about you. I can see that too. In that situation, you didn't want to drink, and he didn't insist. Quite unusual."

Liang Shu frowned, her red lips moved as if to say something, but then she furrowed her brows, overwhelmed by a sudden dizziness.

Lulu glanced at her and left the restroom.

Liang Shu felt uncomfortable, she turned around, without much thought, splashed some water on her face, feeling a bit clearer.

Leaning against the wall, she slowly walked out of the restroom, just in time to meet Qian Hui.

Qian Hui had come specifically to find her. Seeing her at the restroom door, she breathed a sigh of relief, and hugged her shoulders. "Ah Shu, why are you still in the restroom? Come on, they're pouring drinks on me, I know you can hold your liquor, come and help me out."

Liang Shu leaned against the wall, stood still, and lowered her head. "I'm feeling a bit unwell. I think I'll go home first."

"It's still early, come on, let's sit for a while before we leave."

Her bag and phone were still in Qian Hui's care. Liang Shu clenched her fist lightly against her temple, then shook her head, saying, "No more sitting. Take me to get my bag, and I'll leave."

Gu Han Sheng definitely intended to find her.

Qian Hui's tone, however, grew solemn. "A Shu, can't you just accompany me? I'll send you back once it's over."

Liang Shu wasn't foolish.

She had some idea of the people present at the banquet.

Although there were no apparent anomalies in their conversation, Liang Shu could discern their demeanor.

She gently brushed off Qian Hui's hand, looking at her. "Perhaps they've supported you in your difficulties, but Qian Hui, I believe I've done enough at this point. I'm not a companion, nor can I leverage connections for you."

Liang Shu pursed her lips. "I hope you find happiness."

Qian Hui coldly watched Liang Shu walk towards the corridor, leaning against the wall. She remained expressionless.

But not long after, the person ahead collapsed.

...

When Ye Lan arrived, the snow outside was falling heavier and heavier.

As she entered the courtyard, two black cars passed through the gate, slowly heading towards the main road.

She checked her watch; it had been half an hour since Gu Han Sheng spoke to her. She wondered if she would miss something.

It was her fault for being so distracted today, coupled with the snowy weather, she had a minor collision on the drive, brushing against another car.

The other party insisted on waiting for the traffic police to handle it, delaying Ye Lan quite a bit of time.

At this moment, her heart trembled more violently as she approached that room.

However, as soon as she approached, she heard laughter from inside.

Ye Lan didn't move; her fingers slowly tightened around the door frame.

A woman inside was saying, "It seems that Su Qiping is determined to rise in status. If things go well tonight, I guarantee the skies of Yucheng will change color."

The other woman, who was merely there to accompany drinking, couldn't grasp the situation tonight, so she asked, "What's going on? I thought it was just a typical but secretive gathering among socialites."

"Now that everyone's gone, I'm not afraid to tell you. Su Qiping is set on promoting this mistress to a legitimate position. This mistress herself is quite capable. Look at the high-quality goods she brought with her tonight," the woman tutted twice. "Forget about men; just looking at her, I want to hold her tightly in my grasp."

She continued, "After so many years, I know most of the secrets in this circle. Lin Jingtai is a well-dressed beast. He has the most perfect appearance in the circle but the most venomous heart. He loves playing with women the most; he's a master in this regard."

The companion beside her was surprised. "Is it that dreadful? Maybe you shouldn't say anymore; I'm afraid to hear it."

The woman chuckled. "There's nothing to fear. Sooner or later, I'll be swept out by my sugar daddy. Some things, once kept in for too long, can't be said later."

"Few people know about Lin Jingtai's preference, but once someone caters to his tastes, as long as he fancies them, that person's success is almost certain. As an important figure in the Yu family, he holds numerous lists in his hands. The woman Su Qiping's mistress brought tonight could secure Su Qiping the position of a governor. Do you believe it?"

"This mistress truly has some skills. The woman she brought with her is stunning enough. You won't find anyone like her in the entertainment circle."

"Mmm." The woman squinted. "Seems like she's the little sister of that mistress. Named Liang Shu. Who knows, even Su Qiping might fall for this woman. In the eyes of these people, women are just playthings, to be used and discarded at will."

The woman chuckled again. "But even if Su Qiping wants to play, it depends on whether that beauty can survive until Lin Jingtai grows tired of her."

Ye Lan couldn't bear to listen any longer.

As soon as she entered, she slammed her bag onto the screen at the door, but the flimsy screen couldn't bear the sudden pressure and collapsed with a loud "bang" to the other side.

The abrupt collapse echoed in the silent space, startling the two women still sitting at the banquet, who turned their gaze towards her.

Ye Lan stood in the center of the room, her face pale, looking coldly at them.

Both of them were stunned.

It took several seconds for them to realize that she was Mrs. Shi, the wife of the mayor.

One was in a panic, while the other remained calm, with the appearance of someone who had seen through the world's illusions.

Clasping her hands tightly, Ye Lan asked, "Where's Su Qiping?"

The woman looked at her casually and pointed outside the window. "Oh, it's Mrs. Su... Have you seen the six-star hotel next door? That's where they're staying tonight."

...

As Ye Lan drove into the club, Gu Han Sheng's car was parked across the street.

The snow was falling heavily, and the flakes passed through the orange light of the street lamps, cascading down. In no time, a thin layer of white had accumulated on the car.

It was almost ten o'clock at night.

Just as Gu Han Sheng was about to call Liang Shu, he received a call from Zero Mansion.

"Sir, there's something I need to tell you. Madam hasn't returned yet."

In just a few words, Gu Han Sheng's heart tightened.

His eyebrows furrowed lightly, his voice still relatively calm. "What's going on? Explain."

"Madam said she was going to see a friend in the afternoon and drove there herself. She..." Qu An paused. "Told me not to tell you, saying she was going out to have dinner with a friend and would be back. But with this heavy snow, she still hasn't returned."

Qu An continued, "I tried calling Madam, but she didn't answer, so I decided to inform you."

Hearing this, Gu Han Sheng couldn't help but feel uneasy.

His lips tightened into a straight line, and his Adam's apple rolled. "Did she mention who the friend was?"

Qu An shook his head. "Madam didn't mention it."

"I see."

Gu Han Sheng tried calling Liang Shu, one after another, but there was no answer.

As far as he knew, Liang Shu had almost no friends.

The only two close friends she had had already gone abroad.

The remaining one—

was only Qian Hui.

Gu Han Sheng narrowed his eyes. He tapped the front seat, and Ji Chen turned back. "Sir."

"How does Su Qiping plan to win over Lin Jingtai with that mistress tonight?"

"Appeal to his interests, by sending women to him." Ji Chen paused. "Tonight, there's a woman named Lulu by Lin Jingtai's side. It must be her."

The fingers resting on the man's knee moved slightly, but after a brief moment of contemplation, he turned his head to look out of the window.

Countless snowflakes danced in the air, partially obstructing Gu Han Sheng's view, but the towering hotel next to them still caught his eye.

At this moment, Ye Lan's call came in.

"Su Qiping really intends to promote that mistress and sever ties with me. Tell me, how does he plan to silently make me disappear?"

Gu Han Sheng's eyes grew deep and cold again, his tone icy. "Given your husband's current status and power, it's difficult to make someone who's been in the circle for so long disappear."

Ye Lan's father had not taken a straightforward path, and Su Qiping had climbed up from the grassroots to become her father's confidant and later her son-in-law. Some things were clear in his mind.

If he decided to make the Ye family disappear, it would be as easy as turning his hand.

Both were intelligent people, and Gu Han Sheng hinted at something, Ye Lan understood.

She felt icy all over, as if her blood was flowing backward. Her nails dug deeply into her palms, and her palms were sticky with fresh redness.

"How could he..." Ye Lan closed her eyes and suddenly chuckled coldly. "This isn't over yet. They're at the hotel next door. Today, I'll cause a scene until Su Qiping divorces me. As long as he doesn't divorce me, that woman will always be a mistress!"

Gu Han Sheng's thin lips parted into a faint smile. "Wish you luck."

...

That night, which later became a nightmare for Gu Han Sheng for a long time, was saved by Ye Lan.

Ye Lan was determined to settle accounts with Su Qiping. Gu Han Sheng wished her luck, but just before the call ended, Ye Lan said, "That mistress also sent a woman to Lin Jingtai. Heard she's her sister, called Liang Shu, a top-tier beauty."

She mocked herself, "No wonder I couldn't find any clues. This woman is as ruthless as Su Qiping, not sparing even those close to her."

The call abruptly ended.

His heart felt like it had been hammered a few times, and his breath stopped for several seconds.

He had calculated everything, except for Liang Shu.

However, just a block away, Ji Chen also drove through a red light.

...

Liang Shu woke up in an unfamiliar environment.

It seemed to be a suite in a high-end hotel.

She felt hot all over, as if there was a fire burning within her.

She collapsed into the soft bedding, and by the window stood a tall figure. In her blurred vision, wisps of smoke seemed to rise around him.

Liang Shu closed her eyes, and the first thought that crossed her mind was, "Gu Han Sheng is smoking again."

When she opened her eyes, the man had already walked over to her, hands in his pockets.

Liang Shu blinked, looking at him. Her red lips parted, "Gu Han Sheng."

The room was dimly lit, and Lin Jingtai couldn't quite hear her. He leaned in closer, "Say it again."

It wasn't the familiar crisp scent of wood she knew. Liang Shu widened her eyes suddenly and sat up in bed, "Who are you?"

"Lin Jingtai."

"And Qian Hui?"

"Qian Hui?" Lin Jingtai took a drag of his cigarette.

After a moment, he shook his head, "No idea."

Liang Shu probably understood what was happening by now. Given the changes in her body at this moment, she forced herself to calm down. "Please give me my phone. I need to call Qian Hui."

Lin Jingtai flicked his cigarette and chuckled softly, "You only have me here. I know nothing else."

He shrugged off his suit jacket and tossed it aside, then unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt. His face, stern yet with a faint smile, sent chills down one's spine.

Liang Shu slowly backed away until her fingers gripped the edge of the bed. "What did you offer her?"

Lin Jingtai read her expression clearly. He sat down slowly on the edge of the bed, his stern face now with a faint smile, but it was chilling.

Liang Shu, sweating profusely on her forehead, blinked, trying to control her breathing. "This way, you're losing out. I'm not worth exchanging with them for all of this."

Lin Jingtai suddenly stood up, glanced at her, "Did she say you need money?"

Liang Shu shook her head. "I've already said, I don't need money."

"You don't need money yet you're in this kind of situation?"

At this moment, Liang Shu regretted agreeing to Qian Hui's words. She denied, "I don't need money. I'm Gu Han Sheng's woman. If you touch me, you're all finished."

This reason, Liang Shu thought, would be convincing enough.

But it didn't work with Lin Jingtai.

Upon hearing this, Lin Jingtai raised an eyebrow, "Gu Han Sheng? Now, that's even more interesting."

"You will die a miserable death," she attempted one last struggle. "Let me go, and I won't say a word about tonight's events."

But Lin Jingtai merely smiled, opening a nearby cabinet and tossing a black bag in front of Liang Shu.

"Choose one."

The open black bag contained various... indescribable items.

Liang Shu looked up at him, sweat rolling down her cheeks. Her body felt hotter, and she couldn't help but feel the urge to find a way to cool down.

For example, by removing her clothes.

Lin Jingtai was well aware of her bodily changes, and his smile deepened slightly.

Liang Shu shook her head, her eyes fixed on the silver object in his hand.

She turned and tried to climb off the bed, her body weak, but at least she didn't fall. Liang Shu headed for the door—

But before her fingers could touch the doorknob, her arm was grabbed from behind.

Lin Jingtai looked down at her, smiling. "Where are you running? Be obedient, and I won't treat you like the others tonight."

The woman's fair feet touched the ground, temporarily relieving the turmoil in her body with their fleeting coldness. But it was far from enough.

Liang Shu bit her lower lip, looking at him. "I was deceived by Qian Hui. Let me go, or Gu Han Sheng will kill you."

"Since you're Mr. Gu's little beauty, I can't let you go."

Liang Shu's lips were almost bleeding from her biting. She panicked, "I'm his wife. If you touch me, you're dead."

This statement seemed to surprise Lin Jingtai for a moment, but he quickly said, "Mrs. Gu, that's even more interesting."

Lin Jingtai was a pervert.

After saying this, he seemed too lazy to play this game with Liang Shu. At the same time, he said, "Don't try to resist me, or I won't mind giving you something intense from the start."

Fear filled Liang Shu's eyes. She desperately pulled at the door, "You will die a miserable death!"

"Hush," Lin Jingtai dragged her to the edge of the bed. "If you keep this up, it'll be you who suffers. Do you know how I usually torment them?"

Liang Shu collapsed onto the bed, her long hair strewn over the blanket.

Lin Jingtai didn't rush to do anything to her. Instead, he opened the video player on his phone and tossed it in front of her.

It was a video recorded with a professional camera, showing a woman.

The video was only a short two or three minutes long.

But after watching it, Liang Shu was scared to tears.

Her lower lip was bitten, and blood stained her lips. She glared at the man sitting on the sofa. "You can't do this to me. What you're doing is illegal, and you'll go to jail!"

The person in the video just now had almost no intact skin on her entire body. Cigarette burns covered her arms and thighs, with not a single piece of clothing on her. The entire person looked extremely gruesome.