Chapter Ninety - Shameless Wafers, Part Two

I had already figured out what was going on at once. It had to be because Su Xin and the others were too beautiful, and they had long since attracted the attention of many people in the bar. That fellow named Huang Qi had already taken a grudge against me last time, and now he had found the perfect opportunity to whisper in Teng Tian’s ear, using it as an excuse to teach me a lesson and avenge the humiliation he suffered that day.

I had to admit, that move of his was vicious. If I refused, Teng Tian would certainly flare up. But if I agreed, then without a doubt Su Xin and the other two would be groped and molested, and I would lose face before them.

From his deferential manner, it was clear that this smiling man looking at me, Teng Tian, must be someone with considerable backing. Otherwise, with the kind of boldness I had shown when I once spent seven hundred thousand to snatch a coat, Huang Qi would never have dared come before me and provoke me.

I thought for a moment and deliberately glanced at the Japanese man called Teng Tian. He looked rather ordinary, with nothing especially remarkable about him. What did make me frown were the two young men behind him, who looked very much like bodyguards. Just from the sharp, spirited look in their eyes, I could tell they were men who knew martial arts.

“Sorry, Mr. Huang, Mr. Teng Tian. It isn’t that I don’t want to entertain you. It’s just that this private booth only seats four, and we’re finishing our drinks and leaving right away. How about I call a few prettier hostesses for you instead?”

I really did not want trouble. It was not that I feared Huang Qi and Teng Tian, but in a small city like C City, Japanese people rarely appeared. Teng Tian was most likely a representative brought in recently by the authorities for foreign investment, since the old district was about to be redeveloped. If I truly clashed with him, it would be somewhat troublesome.

“Hm? So what you mean is you won’t give Mr. Teng Tian any face?” Huang Qi said with obvious satisfaction, smiling toward Teng Tian behind him. “If you think there are too few seats here, you can always come to my private room. It’s spacious and comfortable there, Mr. Teng Tian, wouldn’t you say?”

Teng Tian nodded, then stepped forward and swept his gaze over the three women. A greedy look crossed his face as he said in rather stiff native Chinese, “Three lovely young ladies, my name is Teng Tian Shoichi. I am from Great Japan. May I ask whether I might have the honor of inviting you to drink with me?”

Of course the three of them had heard Huang Qi’s earlier words. They had long since lost any good feelings toward this Japanese man. Seeing him step forward to test the waters, Zhang Jing said coldly with a smile, “Sorry, sir. I have always been interested only in Chinese men.”

“Damn it! How dare you speak to Mr. Teng Tian like that! Just because you’re pretty, do you think you can act like a flirt? What the hell are you?” Huang Qi, hearing Zhang Jing’s words, could not help but stride forward in anger and curse out loud. He pointed at her face and shouted furiously, “Apologize to Mr. Teng Tian right now! You—” He suddenly stopped mid-rant, having finally seen Zhang Jing’s beautiful face clearly, and blurted in surprise, “Y-you’re the president of the Starlight Group, Zhang Jing?”

I was already somewhat angry, and hearing Huang Qi barking like a dog made me step closer to Zhang Jing to shield her. I said coldly, “Huang Qi, watch your mouth! Don’t you know shame when you see it? This is your last warning. If you don’t leave now, I’m really going to get angry!”

Huang Qi seemed restless at that moment. After learning Zhang Jing’s identity, he thought for a while, then turned around and whispered a few words to Teng Tian, whose expression had turned somewhat unpleasant. Teng Tian’s eyes suddenly lit up as he looked utterly astonished. “Ah, so you are Miss Zhang Jing. How rude of me, how rude. I had long heard that there was a beautiful female president in C City. Seeing you today, you are indeed dazzling beyond measure, truly enviable.”

“Mr. Teng Tian, we do not welcome you here. Please leave,” Su Xin said. Her face was slightly flushed from the red wine, and with those signature dimples of hers, she looked utterly pure and lovely. Coupled with the faintly cool gaze on her face at that moment, her beauty became all the more enchanting, causing Teng Tian’s eyes to light up again.

At first, he had only caught a distant glimpse of the three women and thought them beautiful, without seeing them clearly. But now, after this close encounter, he was truly feasting his eyes. Zhang Jing’s cool reserve carried a hidden allure; Su Xin had that pristine innocence; and Chu Qitong, who was still drinking red wine beside her, had the freshness and radiance of youth. Teng Tian had already fallen into a slight daze.

“Huang Qi, I’ll say this one more time: get out of here with this man from whatever country he came from. My patience has limits!” I was truly angered. Watching Teng Tian’s lecherous eyes linger over the three women, a sudden surge of jealousy welled up in me without reason. If you really make me mad, then even if you are heaven itself, I’ll make sure you gain nothing from it!

Hearing my angry words, Teng Tian seemed to cast me a contemptuous glance and said with dissatisfaction, “Young man, your attitude... is poor. You are the worst-mannered Chinese person I have ever met.”

“Hm? Poor manners? Then tell me, what counts as good manners? Acting like the lackey dog in front of you? Could it be that Mr. Teng Tian is not Japanese, but someone who specializes in raising dogs?” I sneered repeatedly and continued, “I respect you as an honored guest from Japan and, as the host, I am willing not to argue with you. Yet you speak to me of manners? Do you think this is still the land your people trampled decades ago?”

“You...” Teng Tian Shoichi was clearly enraged by my words; his face turned livid as he pointed at me and shouted, “Baka! What are you, to dare insult me like this? I am a distinguished guest of Japan. Do you know what your end will be if you do this?”

“What end? I...” I was about to step forward and continue cursing him when a fair arm blocked my way. Looking closely, I saw that Chu Qitong, who had been drinking a moment ago, had somehow come to my side.

“Your name is Teng Tian Shoichi, right?” Chu Qitong took two steps forward, brought her beautiful face close to Teng Tian’s, and suddenly smiled. “You want to buy me a drink, do you?”

“Beautiful lady, it would naturally be my honor. It’s just that your friend seems a bit...” Teng Tian Shoichi was delighted by her sudden question. He had barely begun speaking when Chu Qitong suddenly smiled, the faint scent of wine on her breath, and whispered softly, “It doesn’t matter... that fellow only cares about his girlfriend. Me? He doesn’t care about me at all...”

“Qitong? What nonsense are you spouting? You’re drunk!” I shuddered at her words. What on earth was this little troublemaker trying to do? The whole thing was getting more and more chaotic.

“I’m not drunk, hehe...” Chu Qitong gave a soft laugh, patted her rosy cheek, and looked at Teng Tian Shoichi with glassy, tipsy eyes. “Do I look pretty?”

“Pretty. You are definitely one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen.” Gazing at the allure and faint sensuality in Chu Qitong’s drunken eyes, Teng Tian felt his whole body heat up. He hurriedly nodded and said, “Very well. Since that friend of yours does not mind you, I would of course be delighted to drink with a beauty.”

Chu Qitong gave a slight nod, then seemed to hesitate as she pressed her soft lips together and let a little crease appear between her brows. “That’s fine, but what should we do? I already promised him I’d be drinking with him tonight. If I leave like this, it would seem rather rude, wouldn’t it? How about this: why don’t the two sides have a little contest? If you win, I’ll drink with you. If you lose, then I’m sorry.”

“Fine. What kind of contest?” Teng Tian already knew that among the three women, one was my girlfriend and another was the female president of the Starlight Group, neither of whom would be easy to deal with. Only this one seemed to offer the best chance. He had not originally intended for all three women to accompany him, and now that Chu Qitong had stepped forward, wasn’t that plainly handing him an opportunity? He immediately became eager.

“Very simple. We’ll compare dice rolls.” Before I could say anything, Chu Qitong had briskly produced a dice cup from the table and left only one die inside. Smiling, she said, “Each side gets one roll. Big or small, let fate decide. Fair and square. What do you think?”

I could no longer bear to listen. I hurried up to her, grabbed her arm, and said softly, “Chu Qitong, have you lost your mind? Do you have any idea what this lecher wants to do to you? Do you really think he just wants to drink with you?”

Chu Qitong forcefully shook off my hand and sneered at me. “Sir, what relationship do you and I have? Just mind your own girlfriend. What am I to you? What right do you have to interfere with me?”

“You...” For a moment I was at a loss for words. How could I not know that this mad girl was deliberately trying to anger me? I could only say helplessly, “Qitong, don’t be like this, all right? If anything, come at me. Don’t treat yourself this way. That man clearly has bad intentions. If you keep acting like this, how am I supposed to answer to your father?”

At that moment, there seemed to be tears at the corners of Chu Qitong’s eyes. Looking at Su Xin and Zhang Jing, who were watching us anxiously from the side, she gave a bitter smile and said, “Sorry. I just like mistreating myself. Isn’t that all I am, someone nobody loves, nobody cherishes? Since I can’t have anyone’s love, why do you care what I do...”

I knew that day I had indeed hurt this beautiful woman terribly. But how could I possibly abandon Su Xin? Glancing at Su Xin beside us, I knew that if I kept talking, she would surely become suspicious, and I could only let out a deep sigh.

Fine. Let’s compete, then. Worst case, if I lose, I’ll beat the hell out of that bastard.

I looked up and glared fiercely at Teng Tian. “Fine. Let’s compete!”

“We’re not afraid of you! Hmph, if Mr. Teng Tian were not a gentleman, he would have already flattened you. What are you so cocky about?” Huang Qi sneered at me a few times.

“Agh—”

A miserable cry burst from Huang Qi’s mouth. As I walked back to my seat, I struck his lower body with a kick in a flash. That bastard truly had it coming.

While Huang Qi clutched himself in agony and collapsed half-sitting into a nearby chair, groaning, the two young men behind Teng Tian immediately frowned and were about to step forward, but Teng Tian casually stopped them. He smiled and said, “Mr. Huang talks too much. A little lesson is good for him. As for this young gentleman, his conduct does earn my respect. Very well, let us have a contest!”

And so Teng Tian and I sat opposite each other in the booth, completely ignoring the noisy music in the bar. Behind me stood Zhang Jing and Su Xin; behind Teng Tian Shoichi stood his two subordinates. Chu Qitong stood in the center of the booth, acting as referee.

The atmosphere at once grew tense.