The waiter froze.
He hadn’t expected Ye Qiu to tell him to scram. Glancing at Ye Qiu, a hint of scorn flashed in his eyes.
“I’m delivering this drink for Young Master Ma, and you’re telling me to get lost? Are you trying to pick a fight with him?”
The waiter’s tone turned sour, then he addressed Lin Jingzhi, “Young Master Ma is the son of Suzhou-Hangzhou’s richest man—young, loaded, and countless women are dying to get close to him.”
Lin Jingzhi replied coolly, “My boyfriend told you to scram—didn’t you hear?”
“Ma’am, no offense, but sticking with a broke guy who can only afford Penfolds? You’d be better off with Young Master Ma—Royal Salute every day.”
“Come here.”
Lin Jingzhi smiled, beckoning the waiter with a finger.
The waiter’s heart leapt, thinking she’d been swayed, and eagerly leaned in.
Lin Jingzhi grabbed the glass from the tray and smashed it into his face with a sharp “crack.”
“Now can you scram?” Her smile flipped to icy disdain.
The waiter exploded, “I’m here on behalf of Young Master Ma, and you dare treat me like this? I—”
Before he could finish, Ye Qiu seized his hair.
“Bang!”
Ye Qiu slammed the waiter’s head onto the table. Blood streamed down his face instantly.
“Keep standing there, and I’ll end you.”
Ye Qiu was pissed.
He’d just wanted a quiet drink, not to deal with an idiot who couldn’t read the room.
To him, this guy wasn’t a waiter—he was Ma Dong’s lapdog.
Nearby, Ma Dong had been watching. Seeing the waiter get thrashed, a cold glint flickered in his eyes. He picked up a drink and strutted over.
Head high, chest out, gaze forward.
Polished and poised.
Arrogance oozed from his every feature.
His posse of well-dressed young men and women trailed him, chuckling as they went.
“Ma Shao’s as bold as ever—never lets a pretty girl slip by.”
“Haha, what woman Ma Shao wants ever escapes him?”
“Right—remember that A-list actress? Acted all pure at first, but Ma Shao dropped eight million and had her.”
“…”
Meanwhile, other bar patrons noticed, whispering among themselves.
“Damn, money really buys everything—stealing women like it’s nothing.”
“Ma Dong loves this game. If he spots a woman he likes, boyfriend or not, he’ll snag her.”
“Big deal—a trust fund kid. Without a golden cradle, he’d be less than us.”
“He’s so reckless, the Ma family’s bound to crash under him someday.”
“Poor guy over there—can’t keep his girl.”
“Not Ma’s fault, though. Who brings a stunner like that here? I’d lock her up at home.”
“If I had Ma Dong’s cash, I’d steal her too—she’s gorgeous.”
“Pipe down, let’s watch the show!”
All eyes locked onto Lin Jingzhi’s booth.
A spectacle was brewing.
The beaten waiter smirked as Ma Dong approached.
Hmph, Ma Shao’s stepping in—let’s see if you two dare lift a finger now.
He shot Lin Jingzhi a glance, thinking, “Stuck-up bitch, acting all high and mighty—Ma Shao’ll pry your legs open with cash soon enough.”
Then he glared at Ye Qiu, sneering inwardly, “Dead bastard, hitting me? You’ll be crying soon.”
Ma Dong reached Lin Jingzhi’s side.
“Hey, beautiful, I’m Ma Dong.”
He flashed what he thought was a killer smile, “They say 500 glances in a past life earn a passing moment in this one. Meeting you today—must’ve been 100,000 glances, right?”
What a simp!
Worse than me!
Qian Duoduo cursed in his head.
Lin Jingzhi didn’t bat an eye.
Ma Dong, unfazed, plopped down beside her, “How about a drink, beautiful?”
He ignored Ye Qiu completely, treating him and Qian Duoduo like background noise.
Lin Jingzhi didn’t acknowledge him, turning to Ye Qiu, “This place sucks—loud, and flies buzzing around, so annoying. Let’s bounce.”
“Sure,” Ye Qiu nodded.
Ma Dong’s face darkened.
The battered waiter jumped in, “Hey, woman, what’s your deal?”
“Ma Shao came over to drink with you—blind or what?”
“Show some enthusiasm, or—”
“Shut it!” Ma Dong snapped at the waiter, then smiled at Ye Qiu, “Buddy, name your price.”
“Ma Shao, what’s that mean?” Qian Duoduo asked, confused.
Ma Dong eyed Ye Qiu, grinning, “A woman this fine? A hick like you doesn’t deserve her.”
“Name a price.”
“She’s mine.”
A chill flickered in Ye Qiu’s eyes.
Ma Dong pulled a bank card from his pocket, tossing it at Ye Qiu, “One million in there—enough?”
Ye Qiu stayed silent.
“Too little?” Ma Dong sneered, yanking out Ferrari keys and dropping them on the table, “How about now?”
Ye Qiu acted like he hadn’t seen, saying softly, “Lin Jie, let’s go.”
He had zero interest in engaging.
A rich kid like this? Fighting him was a waste of energy.
“Mm,” Lin Jingzhi agreed, starting to stand.
“Hold it!”
Ma Dong barked, glaring at Ye Qiu, “Kid, you don’t know who I am, do you? I’m Ma Dong.”
“My dad’s Suzhou-Hangzhou’s richest.”
“Hand over your woman, and you get a million, a Ferrari, and my word—no one in Suzhou-Hangzhou will touch you.”
Ye Qiu stood, ready to leave.
Ma Dong’s face turned frigid, his tone menacing, “Kid, no one in Suzhou-Hangzhou says no to me. Know what happens if you do?”
“No clue what happens if I refuse you,” Ye Qiu smiled, “but do you know what happens when you try to steal my woman?”
“What?”
Ma Dong smirked, doubting Ye Qiu had the guts to challenge him.
“The consequence is…”
Ye Qiu’s smile vanished. He grabbed the ashtray off the table and smashed it onto Ma Dong’s head.
