Chapter 86: Coercion**
"Oh, Xiwen—who would've thought, after all this time, you're even more beautiful than before!"
"Oh, Mr. Ouyang. It's been quite a while."
Ye Xiwen stared at the man before her. He was handsome, in his late twenties, with a sharp jaw and sleek hair, but her stomach churned with revulsion. His fingers clung to her right hand like a vice—greedy, almost desperate—as if a starved old lecher had just stumbled upon a nude beauty, unable to tear himself away. Regret gnawed at her. Had she made a terrible mistake, inviting him to Beitian? But with no other bartender capable of beating Oriental Coast's expert, she had no choice. She forced a smile, her patience fraying at the edges.
Ouyang Hai drank in the sight of her, his eyes lingering on the curve of her neck, the fit of her tailored blazer. She seemed more mature now, more womanly—like a ripe fruit, waiting to be plucked. A restless itch spread through him, as if thousands of ants were crawling beneath his skin, and he fought the urge to reach out and touch her. To spend a night with a woman like this—passionate, intelligent, devastatingly beautiful—it would be the pinnacle of pleasure. He was a born seducer, after all. He'd conquered countless women, using money, influence, even threats when necessary. Ye Xiwen had been in his sights since their first meeting last year, a fleeting encounter at a banquet, and now—finally—fortune had smiled on him. His eyes darted, plotting how to make her his.
Ye Xiwen wrenched her hand free, her fingers tingling from his unwanted grip. "Mr. Ouyang," she said, her voice tight but steady, "the reason I invited you to Beitian is to ask a favor. I need you to represent Infinity in a competition—beat a rival."
"Oh? A rival? Do tell. I'd love to see what passes for 'talent' around here." Ouyang Hai's tone was casual, dismissive, as if the challenge meant nothing to him.
"They're from Oriental Coast. Their bartender's name is Ah Shuai—apparently, he's quite skilled." Ye Xiwen frowned, recalling the little she'd heard about him. She hated admitting it, but the man might actually be a threat.
"Ah Shuai? Never heard of him." Ouyang Hai scoffed, waving a hand as if swatting away a fly. "Amateurs who mix a few cocktails and call themselves 'masters'—they're beneath me. Don't worry, Xiwen. With me here, your competition is as good as won."
"Thank you. That means a lot." Ye Xiwen forced gratitude into her voice, though every word felt like a lie.
"Between us? No need for thanks. You forget—we're friends." His tone dropped,暧昧的 (ài mèi de, suggestive), and his eyes raked over her body, lingering on her hips. He wanted to tear her clothes off right then, to pin her down and lose himself in her. The thought made his pulse race.
"About the payment, then—" she began, eager to steer the conversation back to business.
"Payment? How crass." Ouyang Hai smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. Before she could react, his hands were around her waist—slim, delicate, perfectly formed—and he pulled her close, his fingers brushing the fabric of her skirt. "Xiwen, do you know? From the moment I saw you last year, I couldn't stop thinking about you. You're my goddess. Even when I traveled, even when I was surrounded by others—you were always there, in my head. Now fate's given us a second chance. It's a sign."
Disgust flooded Ye Xiwen. His words were sweet, even poetic, but she knew the truth: he'd bedded dozens, maybe hundreds, of women. No one with self-respect would fall for such lies. Wu Yifan might be lazy, might joke too much, but he wasn't a womanizer. There was honor in him, somewhere. Ouyang Hai? He was a wolf in sheep's clothing.
"Mr. Ouyang, you just got off the plane. You must be tired. Let me show you to your room to rest." She wriggled out of his grasp, taking a step back, her breath coming faster.
"Tired? With you here? I could stay awake forever." He inhaled deeply, as if savoring the scent of her perfume—soft, floral, intoxicating. His arousal stirred, a tightness in his pants he couldn't hide. He smiled, shameless. "You have that effect on me."
" You're too kind. Let me arrange your room." Ye Xiwen inched toward the door, her gut screaming danger. His eyes were too bright, too hungry.
"Xiwen, don't go." He took a step forward, his voice low, urgent. "I mean it. I'd do anything for you." His gaze locked on her ass—curved,饱满, hugged by her skirt—and primal desire surged in him. He lunged, wrapping his arms around her from behind, his hands roaming over her chest, her stomach, anywhere he could reach.
" No! Mr. Ouyang, stop! You can't do this!" Ye Xiwen froze, then struggled wildly, but his grip was iron. She was strong for a woman, but he was bigger, stronger. Panic clawed at her throat.
"Relax. Just one night—" he whispered, his breath hot against her neck "—and I'll make sure Infinity wins. Guaranteed." Sanity had fled him, replaced by raw lust. The polished gentleman was gone, leaving only a man consumed by greed.
"You're无耻! (Wúchǐ! Shameless!)" She raised her hand, slapping him across the face.
He laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "Shameless? Maybe. But if you refuse? Infinity loses. Badly. Is that what you want? To watch everything you've built crumble?" He'd heard the urgency in her voice, the way she'd spoken of the competition. This place mattered to her—more than she'd admit. And he planned to use that.
Tears stung Ye Xiwen's eyes, spilling down her cheeks. Where was help when she needed it? Who would save her, save Infinity? Was she really being forced to choose between her virginity and her livelihood? It was a cruelty she couldn't bear.
Ouyang Hai mistook her silence for surrender. Joy exploded in him. "See? You're not so stubborn after all. Since last year, I've dreamed of this—of you. And now… fate's been good to me." He nuzzled her neck, breathing in her scent, and let out a low moan of pleasure.
" No… please…" Her voice was weak, broken.
"'No'? Wait till I'm done with you. You'll be begging for more." He grinned, starting to unbutton his shirt, confident she was his. A lamb, cornered, with no way out.
"Stop… please… stop…" Her eyes were wide with terror, her body trembling.
"Shout all you want. No one's coming." He laughed, a lecherous sound, and lunged at her, arms outstretched—
*CRASH!*
The door flew open, slamming against the wall. Figures burst in—two men, their faces set in hard lines.
Ouyang Hai spun, fury blazing. "Who the hell—?!"
*SMACK!*
A fist collided with his jaw, hard enough to send him spinning. He crashed to the floor, stars exploding in his vision.
Song Mingjie rubbed his knuckles, snorting. "Damn, this guy's weaker than a wet noodle. Must be impotent. Needs to chug some ginseng or something—otherwise, he'll never get laid."
Wu Yifan's lips curled into a dark smile. He stepped over Ouyang Hai,蹲下, and grabbed him by the collar, hauling him up until their faces were inches apart. "You know, he kinda looks like a pretty boy. Wasted potential, really."
"Brother Wu… you thinking what I'm thinking?" Song Mingjie's eyes lit up, scheming.
"Your clubs—you said there are those forty-something ladies? Frustrated, looking for fun?" Wu Yifan's smile turned colder. "I bet they'd *love* a pretty boy like him."
Ouyang Hai paled, stammering. "Y-you… y-you can't—"
"Damn, Brother Wu! That's genius!" Song Mingjie crowed, clapping his hands.
"Oh, and make sure he 'performs,'" Wu Yifan added, his voice dripping with malice. "A little… enhancement. To keep the clients happy.鞠躬尽瘁 (Jūgōng jìncuì, Spare no effort), right?"
"D-don't do this! I'm Ouyang Hai! You'll regret this!" He knew what they meant. He loved women, young, beautiful women—but the thought of those older, desperate ladies? It made him gag.
"Regret? Please." Song Mingjie kicked him, hard, in the ribs. "You think your name scares us? Even if you were Ouyang Feng, the poison master himself, we'd still kick your ass. This is Beitian. Our city. Our rules."
Ouyang Hai's eyes rolled back. He fainted, collapsing in a heap.
Wu Yifan stood, turning to Ye Xiwen. Her clothes were disheveled, her hair messy, but she was unharmed. He sighed, softening, and pulled her into a gentle hug, his voice low and warm. "Silly woman. You think Infinity's just *your* burden? I told you—with me here, it'll never fall."
Ye Xiwen stared up at him, his confidence like a shield. Her heart fluttered, a strange, warm feeling spreading through her.
Maybe, just maybe, she wasn't alone after all.