Chapter 101: Hold on

Inside a bar in the city, the air was thick with pulsating beats and a raucous crowd---sensual women and reckless young men. The clinking of glasses and wild laughter filled the space, even in the corners.A man sat alone at the bar, nursing a drink. The chaos stemming from cost-cutting at the construction site had left him frazzled.

He had warned Lee Tian long ago not to be greedy when collaborating with the Han family. Yet, Lee Tian ignored his advice, significantly reducing the quality of the materials.

Lee Tian had pocketed substantial profits, and the construction site had been built. But after Lee Tian's scandalous photos with that woman surfaced, although he had managed to contain the fallout, a series of ugly revelations followed.

Eventually, the project associated with the Han family was exposed as a high-risk construction site.

Today, when he and Lee Tian met with Han LiTian to discuss the situation, Lee Tian shifted all the blame onto him!

He had already warned Lee Tian!

He understood that Lee Tian was trying to protect himself, but he refused to be the scapegoat.

He had tried to fight back, but he also knew his lifeline was firmly in Lee Tian's grip; escape wouldn't be easy.

So here he was, drowning his sorrows in drink, hoping the alcohol could temporarily numb the pressures of life.

His phone had rung countless times, but he leaned against the bar, unwilling to answer.

Most likely, it was Lee Tian asking him to handle the aftermath.

Lee Tian wasn't in a great position either; with so much dirt being unearthed, he would have been out of here long ago if not for his connection to the Han family through marriage.

So, it's true what they say: it's better to have a good life.

He downed his drink in one gulp and was about to order another when a man in sunglasses slid into the seat beside him.

The newcomer tapped the table and asked the bartender to order a drink for the man.

The man looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Mr. Liang Feng, is it okay to buy you a drink?"

The words snapped Liang Feng back to reality, his brow furrowing gravely. If this person knew his name, it meant he had come prepared---most likely for him to sell out Lee Tian.

Though Liang Feng wanted to do just that, he lacked the ability. He also understood that someone like him would merely be a pawn.

"Sorry, you can keep the drink for yourself."

With that, Liang Feng stood up, but the man's voice cut through the air.

"I know what you're worried about. You're a smart man; if I'm here, it's because I have a way to help you out of your predicament."

The man's words were intoxicating and dangerous, like a siren's call. Liang Feng's foot, which had begun to move, halted in place.

The man's attire obscured his features, but Liang Feng could tell from his youthful voice that he was likely relatively young.

"Lee Tian is watching your family, isn't it? I can help them escape at a crucial moment, but you'll also need to play your part. How about this deal?"

Liang Feng's pupils constricted sharply. He hadn't uttered a word, yet the other man had laid out exactly what he wanted.

He swallowed hard, his breath growing heavy.

"Can I trust you? You're not lying to me?"

Instead of answering, the man slid a list and a few photos across the table.

"This is the list of people Lee Tian has sent to monitor your family. It's not a large number, so dealing with them will be quite easy."

Liang Feng wanted to examine the documents, but the man pressed his hand down on top of them.

"I'll give you the information, but first, you must help me verify something. Consider it a test for you. Can you do that?"

"No problem! As long as you can free my family from Lee Tian's control, I'll do whatever it takes!"

Liang Feng nodded vigorously, eager to help the man before completing the task.

He had waited far too long for this day. Back when he was just a poor kid, Lee Tian had schemed against him, binding him tightly in a web of control, forcing him to work loyally for him.

Over the years, he had witnessed Lee Tian commit countless dirty acts, and now that he finally had a chance to break free, he was determined to seize it!

A plan to topple the Lee family was set into motion within the bustling bar.

---

Recently, Li Yue had been constantly by Han Shu Yi's side. She was surprised to hear that he was learning self-defense. After all, she believed students should focus primarily on their studies.

But then, thinking of all the opportunities Han Shu Yi had missed over the years, it touched her heart to see him working hard to bridge that gap.

Whenever she thought of Han Shu Yi, her mind wandered to HuMing.

The last incident was a definitive break between them. She knew her actions had hurt HuMing deeply, and that's why she hadn't sought him out since.

Reflecting on the past, Li Yue realized she didn't actually like HuMing; perhaps he was simply the only one who treated her normally, leading her to that misconception.

The one she truly liked was Han ShuYi!

Li Yue recalled her father's advice to befriend Han Shu Yi during this time---it would benefit the Lee family. After all, the last family gathering had erupted into arguments, and she heard the company wasn't doing well. Sёarᴄh the nôvelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Her father had urged her to say nice things to Han Shu Yi to ensure the Han family continued collaborating with the Li family.

Though she didn't want her love life to be mixed with ulterior motives, she understood that such was the nature of arranged marriages.

She walked straight into the classroom and heard the conversation between Han Shu Yi and HuMing.

"HuMing, did you hit them?"

"So?"

"They are your biological parents. Isn't this a bit too extreme?"

Han Shu Yi scrutinized HuMing, trying to find a chink in his expression.

HuMing merely shrugged, seemingly unfazed by Han ShuYi's gaze.

"Extreme? As soon as my grades improved, they approached me, saying that studying was pointless and that I should just find a job after graduation. I don't quite understand the term 'biological parents'. Or was it you who told them to do so?"

He stood up, locking eyes with Han Shu Yi.

Their exchange stirred a wave of murmurs among their classmates. High school students were no strangers to novels and dramas, having heard plenty about the underhanded tactics employed in the cutthroat world of the wealthy.

HuMing's words seemed to carry a weight of truth, making everyone consider the possibility that things might actually be that way.

Han Shu Yi's expression changed abruptly, his demeanor turning serious as concern crept into his voice.

"I didn't do anything like that! I just think you're being a bit too harsh!"

"I know you're anxious, but hold on. I was just saying, what are you afraid of?"

HuMing raised an eyebrow, a playful smile dancing on his lips."