Chapter 4: Offending a Powerful Figure?

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At the entrance to the restroom on the first floor of Happy Sheep KTV.

“Hey, little lady, come have a few drinks with me.”

Guan Jiujia’s face was filled with terror as an older man gripped her wrist. No matter how desperately she struggled, she couldn’t break free.

The man before her was dressed in a suit, trying hard to look the part of a distinguished businessman, especially with that ostentatious gold watch on his wrist.

But he was clearly drunk, his entire body reeking of alcohol, his bleary eyes glazed with intoxication and a lecherous gleam.

The commotion drew the attention of many, but no one intervened; they simply returned to their private rooms.

A few waiters glanced at their boss for instruction, but he simply shook his head.

“We can’t afford to mess with that man. He’s President Wu from Jian Cai Industries.”

The boss’s words sent a chill through the waiters. All they could do was bow their heads and pretend not to see.

“Let go of me!”

“Let go!”

Guan Jiujia’s wrist hurt, red from the man’s grip.

“Haha, you’re quite feisty, aren’t you? Dressed so provocatively and pretending to be innocent?”

“Aren’t you just a hostess?”

“Come on, you’re coming with me!” Wu Jiancai’s patience snapped. As the president of a building materials company, was he really going to be thwarted by a mere hostess?

He dragged Guan Jiujia toward Room 103.

“Let her go!”

At that moment, the people from Room 101 came out.

There were officials from the City Administration Office, nurses from the city hospital, and among them, Lin Yaodong and Han Wen.

It was Lin Yaodong who shouted.

His face was dark with anger. On the night of his engagement, a guest he’d invited was being harassed at the restroom door? This was a blatant slap in the face.

Han Wen gazed at Lin Yaodong with adoration, feeling she’d chosen the right man—truly someone who would take a stand.

When Guan Jiujia saw Lin Yaodong and Han Wen, her face lit up and she hurriedly called out, “Sister Wen, help me!”

“Don’t worry, Jiujia. Your brother-in-law will protect you,” Han Wen comforted her, signaling her to stay calm.

But Guan Jiujia frowned slightly; she had no great opinion of Lin Yaodong.

Someone who would steal another’s girlfriend was hardly a noble person.

“Who the hell are you, kid?” Wu Jiancai turned abruptly, glaring drunkenly at Lin Yaodong.

“Think you’re some hero saving a damsel in distress?”

Lin Yaodong was about to retort angrily, but his expression shifted—he had clearly recognized Wu Jiancai.

This…

Suddenly, he realized he’d been rash, charging in without understanding the situation.

Everyone was watching him play hero; if he backed down now, wouldn’t he be a laughingstock?

“So it’s President Wu!” Lin Yaodong forced a smile and stepped forward.

“Hmph, as long as you know who I am.” Wu Jiancai’s face remained icy, his arrogance only growing.

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In these times, anyone who could make it in construction or building materials wasn’t soft—they were all rough types.

“President Wu, do me a favor. She’s a colleague of my girlfriend,” Lin Yaodong said with a smile, standing before Wu Jiancai.

Wu Jiancai hesitated, turning to glance at Guan Jiujia.

His heart sank—she wasn’t a hostess?

He suddenly realized he’d grabbed the wrong person. Curse this damned alcohol…

But pride was at stake. As the president of Jian Cai Industries, how could he be intimidated by some young upstart?

“Do you a favor? Who do you think you are?” Wu Jiancai shot Lin Yaodong a cold, disdainful glare.

Lin Yaodong felt his face flush with embarrassment, being insulted in front of so many colleagues.

“I’m Lin Yaodong from the General Affairs Section of the City Administration Office!”

Wu Jiancai paused, then shook his head. “Never heard of it.”

“My father is Lin Liangming, Section Chief of the Organization Department of the Municipal Party Committee.”

Lin Yaodong knew his own position wasn’t enough to impress the man.

Wu Jiancai was the owner of Jian Cai Industries, with assets in the tens of millions—he was a frequent guest among the city’s officials.

So Lin Yaodong could only invoke his father’s status.

Wu Jiancai’s eyes flickered with recognition at the name Lin Liangming.

No wonder the kid had the nerve to play hero—he was Lin Liangming’s son.

Under normal circumstances, he might have given him some face; after all, Lin Liangming held a decent position.

But not tonight.

“Your father isn’t qualified either,” Wu Jiancai sneered.

Lin Yaodong’s scalp prickled with anxiety.

He sensed the situation slipping from his grasp; his father was the strongest backer he had.

Now, even his father wasn’t enough for Wu Jiancai?

Seeing Lin Yaodong’s resistance, Wu Jiancai immediately dragged Guan Jiujia to the door of Room 103.

He pushed open the door and called out, “Gentlemen, could you step out for a moment?”

Several middle-aged men, heavyset and imposing, emerged from inside, each exuding the air of authority.

Lin Yaodong’s eyes widened in disbelief, his jaw dropping.

“Director Ma…?” he stammered, his head spinning. The Director of the City Investment Promotion Bureau?

“Deputy Director Chen?” The Deputy Director of the Public Security Bureau, in casual clothes, stepped out.

“Secretary-General Tian.”

When the third man appeared, Lin Yaodong was stunned. Even his own superior from the City Administration Office was among them.

Tian Guanghan was momentarily taken aback, locking eyes with Lin Yaodong.

“And Deputy Secretary-General Tang from the Municipal Party Committee Office,” Han Wen whispered to Lin Yaodong.

“Yaodong, aren’t you supposed to be celebrating your engagement tonight? What are you doing here?” Tian Guanghan, around fifty with a receding hairline, asked in confusion.

Lin Yaodong had reported the event to him before leaving work.

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“Heh, Secretary-General Tian, this kid tried to play hero and insulted me,” Wu Jiancai said coldly, clearly displeased.

Tian Guanghan's expression darkened instantly. He turned to Lin Yaodong and barked, “Get back to your room at once—stop making a scene and embarrassing yourself!”

“We’re here discussing business with President Wu,” he added, shooting Lin Yaodong a meaningful look.

Don’t cause trouble here—disrupting investment negotiations was a serious offense.

Lin Yaodong felt cold sweat trickle down his back. Even his father was a minor figure among these men; there were those of even higher rank present.

Realizing he couldn’t help Guan Jiujia, he no longer cared about appearances and only wanted to slink back to Room 101 in disgrace.

“Sister Wen…” Guan Jiujia’s voice was full of despair as she turned to Han Wen, her eyes pleading.

But Han Wen too was hopeless. With so many high-ranking officials, neither she nor Lin Yaodong could do anything.

“Fine, I’ll give your father some face.”

“This young lady’s not bad. Have her join us for a few drinks and I’ll let her go. How’s that?” Wu Jiancai wasn’t a fool; he knew better than to let things escalate, so he offered Lin Yaodong a way out.

Lin Yaodong’s face lit up with relief and he quickly agreed, “Yes, yes, of course.”

“No! Absolutely not! I won’t drink with you!” Guan Jiujia, the one truly affected, protested fiercely, her eyes icy as she glared at Lin Yaodong.

He hadn’t even consulted her before accepting on her behalf?

Lin Yaodong shrugged helplessly at Han Wen. “Wen, your colleague’s not cooperating—don’t blame me.”

“Jiujia, stop making a scene. Just have a few drinks with the leaders and President Wu, and it’ll be over,” Han Wen said, giving her a pointed look.

But Guan Jiujia’s expression was frosty, her heart chilled by Han Wen’s response.

To think she’d regarded Han Wen as a close friend, a confidante, a dear colleague—so this was the kind of person she truly was…

Despair overwhelmed her. All the city office people deferred to Lin Yaodong, and since he’d given in, there was no one left to speak for her.

The nurses from the hospital, all young women, were too frightened to be of any help.

Her eyes filled with tears. Raised in comfort and privilege, when had she ever suffered such humiliation?

“Miss, just have a few drinks with President Wu—it’ll be fine,” Tian Guanghan said with a genial smile, gesturing to Guan Jiujia before turning back into the room.

None of the leaders took it seriously; none would risk offending President Wu for the sake of a young woman.

One by one, they laughed and filed back into the private room.

Wu Jiancai sneered, pulling Guan Jiujia inside.

“Stop right there!”

A calm yet resolute male voice cut through the air, coming closer and closer.

Everyone froze.

They all turned to see who it was.