Soon, a tall, rugged-looking man strode toward them from inside.
"Hahaha! President Qin, what brings you to grace this place with your presence? And with an escort, no less! Were you afraid I might eat you up?"
His sinister gaze swept over Chen Xiao with disdain. What's the use of bringing a pretty boy here? I have over a hundred men guarding this place! A single spit from each of them could drown this pretty boy.
Qin Lan smiled faintly. "Manager Yu, you're joking. This is merely one of my subordinates."
The rugged man before them was Yu Zhenhai, the manager of the Zongheng Chamber of Commerce, a man notorious in Yuncheng City.
"President Qin, please, come inside!" Yu Zhenhai's lustful gaze swept over Qin Lan's curvaceous figure as he feigned a gentlemanly demeanor and ushered her in.
When Chen Xiao tried to follow, several thugs blocked his way. His expression darkened.
Qin Lan frowned and asked, "Manager Yu, what is the meaning of this?"
Yu Zhenhai sneered, "This is a conversation for the two of us, President Qin. Bringing a small fry inside is just a hindrance. Don't you think it's a bit disrespectful to me?"
Qin Lan's expression soured. She turned to Chen Xiao and said, "Wait here. I'll go in and talk to him."
A strange look crossed Chen Xiao's face. "Are you sure?"
"If I can't handle it, should I be relying on you? I've got this, just watch!" Qin Lan said contemptuously before following Yu Zhenhai inside.
Chen Xiao shook his head. Since the woman was so confident, he would let her handle it herself.
In the private room, Yu Zhenhai took a bottle of high-end red wine from the liquor cabinet and filled Qin Lan's glass. "President Qin, let's have a drink!"
Qin Lan got straight to the point. "Manager Yu, when can we expect the final payment of twenty million from the Zongheng Chamber of Commerce? We're all businesspeople; I hope you can be understanding."
The twenty-million-yuan payment had been delayed for a long time, and the pressure from the board of directors was immense. If she couldn't resolve this, Luo Baifeng's faction would seize the opportunity to make trouble. The situation is very unfavorable for both me and Luo Qingli. I have to handle this!
"Hehe, President Qin, if we're going to talk terms, we have to have a few drinks first. Business gets done when everyone's happy, right? You wouldn't deny me this little courtesy, would you?" Yu Zhenhai said, his smile not reaching his eyes.
Although she felt uneasy, Qin Lan still raised her glass. "I'll finish this glass."
A sinister glint flashed in Yu Zhenhai's eyes.
Qin Lan continued, "Manager Yu, although my Luo Group isn't as powerful as the Zongheng Chamber of Commerce, business is built on trust, isn't it? If this doesn't work out, our only option will be to take legal action!"
"Are you threatening me?" Yu Zhenhai asked coldly.
Qin Lan enunciated each word. "If we cannot secure the final payment from you, Manager Yu, that will be our only recourse. I hope you understand."
Yu Zhenhai suddenly let out a sinister laugh. "Getting the final payment is simple. Just spend a week with me, and the twenty million will be in your account immediately. I, Yu Zhenhai, have long wanted a taste of Yuncheng City's famous enchanting beauty..."
Qin Lan's eyes grew sharp. "Yu Zhenhai, what are you implying?"
"I'm implying... I want to fuck you!" Yu Zhenhai stood up, laughing vilely as he advanced on Qin Lan. "Let me tell you, withholding your payment isn't just my idea. Even if I do take you, I have powerful people backing me up!"
Qin Lan's face went livid. "Yu Zhenhai, you're disgusting! I will report your actions to President Luo. I'm leaving!"
She grabbed her bag and turned to walk out.
Yu Zhenhai yanked her back, rudely throwing her onto the sofa.
"Bitch, you think you can just walk out of my Zongheng Chamber of Commerce? Do you take me, Yu Zhenhai, for a pushover? Don't worry, I'll make sure you die from pleasure today!"
"I added something to your drink just now. You're always acting so seductive; you must be desperate for a man's touch. Today, I'll satisfy you completely!"
With a lecherous grin, he pressed his body down, closing in on her.
SLAP!
Qin Lan struggled fiercely, landing a hard slap across his face before using the moment to flee the private room.
Yu Zhenhai touched his stinging cheek, his face twisting into a ferocious expression. "Run? Do you think you can fucking escape?"
The moment she opened the door, two burly men blocked her path. She was forced back into the room.
She was trapped between a wolf at the door and a tiger at her back, with nowhere to go.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!
Qin Lan's face turned ashen. She was in enemy territory, and with Yu Zhenhai's overwhelming numbers, she feared there was no escaping his clutches. An unnatural heat began to spread through her body...
Touching his cheek, Yu Zhenhai followed her out with a malicious grin. "Qin Lan, I'll give you two choices. One, you let me have my fun with you. Or two, I let my brothers have their fun, too!"
Barely able to stand, Qin Lan looked desperately at Chen Xiao. "Chen Xiao… call, call President Luo! Tell her to bring backup!"
"Women are such a hassle." Unruffled, Chen Xiao dropped his cigarette butt, lifted his gaze, and started walking toward them.
Yu Zhenhai gave a cold wave of his hand, and seven or eight thugs menacingly surrounded Chen Xiao.
"Kid, you'd better not move. Otherwise, I can't guarantee you'll leave here in one piece!"
Chen Xiao's voice remained utterly indifferent as he spoke.
"Now you have two choices. One, hand over the twenty million final payment."
"Two, get beaten up by me, then kneel and beg me to accept the twenty million, bowing and scraping as you send us off."
Qin Lan's heart sank into the pit of her stomach. At a time like this, he still dared to provoke Yu Zhenhai? Has he lost his mind?!
"Kid, you've got guts." Yu Zhenhai sneered and ordered the thugs, "Break this brat's legs and bring him to me!"
Qin Lan steeled her resolve. "Yu Zhenhai, stop! I'll stay, just let him g—"
Before she could finish, screams tore through the air. Two of the thugs who had lunged at Chen Xiao were sent slamming violently against the hallway walls.
Her beautiful eyes quivered.
The next moment, CRACK... CRACK!
Chen Xiao twisted and broke the arms of two more thugs before kicking them aside.
An intimidating, lethal aura surged from him. The thugs were like paper dolls, utterly incapable of stopping his advance as he walked, step by step, toward her and Yu Zhenhai.