Chapter 130: The Year-End Approaches

After Ren Xiadong arrived at the location given by Liu Sheng, Liu Sheng sat in the car hesitating to get out, still angry about what had happened at noon.

“We’re here. Are you getting out or not?” Ren Xiadong asked, noticing Liu Sheng hadn’t moved.

Liu Sheng sighed deeply, uncertain why he had come in the first place. He reluctantly called Meng Yao, but a man answered instead and told him she was busy and couldn’t take the call.

This completely enraged Liu Sheng. He threw his phone onto the back seat, cursing under his breath, “Damn it! Are they messing with me?”

Thinking it was a prank by Meng Yao and the bespectacled woman, Liu Sheng originally planned to leave. Yet, he decided to get out just in case something was really wrong.

Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong entered the KTV and began checking one private room after another until they found one near the back where seven or eight men were surrounding Meng Yao, forcing her to drink.

Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong stopped outside the room. Liu Sheng murmured, “Looks like they’re having a good time. Maybe I shouldn’t disturb them.”

“Then let’s go. Drinking is more important,” Ren Xiadong urged, preparing to leave. But through the glass in front of the door, Liu Sheng caught a glimpse of Meng Yao struggling as two men forcibly poured liquor down her throat.

Seeing this, Liu Sheng sighed and pushed open the door. Ren Xiadong was still talking to him but heard no reply. Turning around, he saw Liu Sheng had disappeared inside. Smiling faintly, Ren Xiadong followed him into the room.

Inside, Liu Sheng didn’t see the bespectacled woman—only several men clustered around Meng Yao, who was alone. The men were quite rowdy, oblivious to Liu Sheng’s entrance.

Liu Sheng stepped forward and snatched the bottle they were forcing Meng Yao to drink from.

“Who the hell are you? Looking for trouble?” one man growled, glaring at the bottle in Liu Sheng’s hand.

Meng Yao’s anxious heart finally relaxed upon seeing Liu Sheng. But the men were displeased, having just gotten her drunk, only to have their fun ruined by an unexpected intruder.

Liu Sheng grabbed Meng Yao’s hand and started to lead her out. Several men grabbed bottles from the table and blocked his way.

“Leaving just like that? We finally got her drunk, and now you want to steal our prize?” one sneered.

Liu Sheng shoved the men aside loudly, “Get out of my way!”

At the door, Ren Xiadong flipped on all the lights. The men got a clear look at Liu Sheng and exclaimed, “Liu Sheng?”

Liu Sheng was puzzled. How did they know him? He looked at the man who had called his name with a questioning expression.

The man noticed his confusion and explained, “We’re under Zhao Bin. I’ve met you before.”

Ren Xiadong turned off the music, and discordant sounds came from the bathroom. Liu Sheng looked at Meng Yao, who, slightly intoxicated, said, “My friends.”

Liu Sheng knew she meant the bespectacled woman and moved to kick open the bathroom door, but one of Zhao Bin’s men stopped him, saying, “It’s Brother Bin.”

Meng Yao added, “They’re all here voluntarily.”

“Then let’s go,” Liu Sheng said, unwilling to stay another second. The noise inside was too loud, too tempting.

But Meng Yao held him back, “Wait. I’m worried too. They’re all...” She hesitated, and Liu Sheng understood—she wanted to say these people weren’t good, afraid her friends might be taken advantage of.

With no other choice, Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong found a place to sit. The room fell quiet except for the unsettling noises as they smoked.

“Damn, are they ever going to finish?” Ren Xiadong couldn’t help fidgeting, his impatience barely contained.

After a long while, the bathroom door opened, and the bespectacled woman and Zhao Bin emerged. The woman saw Liu Sheng and snapped, “What are you doing here? Can you even afford a place like this?”

Before Liu Sheng could respond, Zhao Bin approached, “Brother, what brings you here? It’s been years. What are you up to now?”

Liu Sheng answered the barrage of questions simply, “I’m studying at Chong City University.” Then he glanced at the bespectacled woman and added, “Nice hobby of yours—targeting university students.”

The woman looked toward Zhao Bin, asking, “You know each other?”

Zhao Bin ignored her and pulled out five hundred yuan, saying, “As agreed, it’s all about the money, no feelings involved.”

The woman took the money, smiled at Zhao Bin, “Sure, make sure to call me again next time.” Then she turned to Liu Sheng with a sneer, “What do you think? You poor loser, you’ll never touch me in your lifetime!”

Liu Sheng smiled slightly and signaled to Ren Xiadong to take the bespectacled woman away.

Before leaving, he told Zhao Bin, “You had your fun, but I’m taking her with me.”

The other men looked unhappy at losing Meng Yao, but since Zhao Bin allowed it, they could do nothing but watch the two leave, their gazes lingering on Meng Yao’s shapely figure.

“Where to?” Ren Xiadong asked as he drove.

“Anywhere but home. That’s if you’re paying,” the woman said, assuming Liu Sheng was broke but aware that Ren Xiadong had a car, so it wouldn’t be too bad.

Ren Xiadong floored the accelerator and soon arrived at Liu Sheng’s family hotpot restaurant. It stayed open until 2 a.m., and on a snowy night like this, what else was there to eat but hotpot?

“Hmm, this is good—the most famous hotpot restaurant in Xinghai City,” the woman remarked, then patted Ren Xiadong’s shoulder. “You’ve got good taste, much better than some people I know. A man who’s willing to spend money is a good man. Don’t be like that guy beside you, frowning over the bill.”

Ren Xiadong unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to her, “Tonight’s meal is on Liu Sheng’s tab. Just scan his face.”

He then asked Meng Yao, “Don’t you know anything about the guy you’re meeting?”

Meng Yao shook her head, “No, my mom just told me there was a blind date and chose the place herself.”

“I had some drinks earlier and I’m hungry now. Let’s eat quickly. I want to see how the face scan works. I’d believe it if Liu Sheng stayed to wash dishes,” the woman said, hopping out first and striding into the restaurant.

Just as she entered, the host at the door said, “Sorry, we’re full right now.”

The woman checked her phone, “It’s already 11 p.m., and it’s still this crowded?”

“In winter, hotpot draws a crowd. Our closing time is late, so it gets busier as the night goes on,” the waiter explained.

Liu Sheng walked in, commanding, “Find a way to add a table.”

The waiter’s eyes lit up upon seeing Liu Sheng, “Mr. Liu, why didn’t you call ahead? I’ll get a table ready right now.”

After the waiter left, Liu Sheng stayed silent, but Ren Xiadong joked, “I told you, scanning Liu Sheng’s face works well. You insisted on making him wash dishes.”

Liu Sheng’s father usually came home by 10 p.m., so he wasn’t at the restaurant at this hour.

Soon the waiter returned with an extra table. Once seated, Liu Sheng said, “Order whatever you like. I just want you all to enjoy.”

The bespectacled woman was momentarily stunned. She felt she had misjudged Liu Sheng before. He didn’t appear wealthy, yet his clothes and demeanor suggested he came from an affluent family. Her mind buzzed with questions she couldn’t quite resolve.

Despite her confusion, she ordered freely. Soon, a large spread was laid out, including the spiciest broth. Fortunately, Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong had spent nearly a year in Chong City and could handle the heat.

“Didn’t expect you to be this hot inside and out,” Ren Xiadong said, eyeing the bespectacled woman as she removed her coat. Both he and Liu Sheng couldn’t help but glance her way, the memories of the KTV’s sounds still echoing in their minds.

During the meal, Ren Xiadong couldn’t hold back. He turned to the woman. “Zhao Bin gave you five hundred, I’ll give you a thousand. Come home with me tonight.”

“Deal. I trust no one but money. Give me money, and I’ll do anything,” she replied.

Liu Sheng glanced at Ren Xiadong, thinking his friend was getting carried away. Tian Yun had just gone home a few days ago, and Ren Xiadong was already acting reckless. Seems like money spoiled him—men do change.

What surprised Liu Sheng even more was that the bespectacled woman actually went home with Ren Xiadong. Meng Yao, being a well-behaved girl, insisted on going home that night, refusing to stay out. Liu Sheng had no choice but to return to his own place, unwilling to be disturbed by the noises Ren Xiadong might make.

The woman assumed the meal was paid for by Ren Xiadong, even if Liu Sheng’s face had been scanned to charge. She believed Liu Sheng was just tagging along, which left him feeling unsettled. No matter how he acted, she saw him as a poor nobody.

In the following days, Meng Yao, under the woman’s influence, rarely contacted Liu Sheng, and things quietly ended. That suited Liu Sheng fine since he was never fond of Meng Yao. Meanwhile, Ren Xiadong became the bespectacled woman’s biggest client, responding whenever she called—more diligent than even going to school.

As the year drew to a close, Liu Sheng organized the company’s annual party. Like last year, Sister Ya hosted, and Liu Sheng personally funded employee bonuses—this year even more generous than before.

At the party, Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong spotted a familiar figure.

“Isn’t that Yang Fan?” Liu Sheng pointed out to Ren Xiadong.

Ren Xiadong stared in disbelief. Yang Fan’s hairstyle was unchanged, but his clothes no longer looked shabby. He looked every bit a rich kid.

“Yang Fan!” Ren Xiadong called out to the back of the man.

Hearing Ren Xiadong’s voice, Yang Fan quickly turned around and, seeing both of them, grinned as he hurried over.

“Aren’t you two in the south? I thought you wouldn’t come home for the holidays,” he said.

Ren Xiadong, amazed at Yang Fan’s transformation, said, “They say girls change a lot, but your change is something else. You used to be such a crybaby, a snot-nosed kid. Now you’ve turned into a wealthy heiress.”

“Do I look pretty?” Yang Fan laughed and nudged Ren Xiadong, who nodded appreciatively. Then Yang Fan looked at Liu Sheng. “Why don’t you say anything?”

Liu Sheng smiled, lowered his head briefly, then looked up. “Study hard. The college entrance exam is only one semester away.”

In short, the year-end party was a huge success. Every colleague received a bonus from Liu Sheng, their faces glowing with joy as if they had stumbled upon unexpected fortune. Everyone was grateful to Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong.

From that day on, a saying circulated in the company: “Boss Liu and Boss Ren rarely come to the office, but when they do, they hand out money. We hope they visit more often.”

After everything finished, Ren Xiadong received a call from Tian Yun. She wanted Ren Xiadong to join her on the second day of the Lunar New Year for their high school reunion. She insisted that anyone with a partner must bring them, no matter the distance.