Gao Xufan’s forehead was covered in sweat, beads forming and sliding down his temples. His collar felt tight and suffocating.
He didn’t dare wipe the sweat.
Not even dared to move too much.
"Mayor Gao," Ye Chen spoke casually, as if starting a friendly conversation, "you really surprised ."
His lips curved into a faint smile.
"I thought you were going to reject again."
The tone was light, almost like teasing a close buddy.
But Gao Xufan’s heart skipped a beat.
"N-No, Mr Ye... how could I dare?" he said quickly, his voice slightly hoarse.
His eyes flickered around the room for a split second and imdiately regretted it.
Around them, several n stood silently.
So leaned against the walls. So held weapons without bothering to hide them.
Their gazes were cold, filled with a bloodlust that might devour him at any mont.
Gao Xufan felt as if he was standing in the middle of a pack of wolves.
If Ye Chen gave a single signal, he wouldn’t even have ti to scream before dying.
"Last ti... the situation was out of my control," he continued hurriedly, forcing the words out. "The news had already spread. Even if I wanted to help you, I couldn’t..."
His voice trailed off slightly.
Ye Chen didn’t respond imdiately. He simply watched him. Then took another slow drag from the cigar.
The silence stretched just long enough to make Gao Xufan’s heartbeat grow louder in his ears.
"Really?" Ye Chen finally said, his tone still calm, but the smile on his face carried a faint sharpness now.
"Because to ..."
He tilted his head slightly.
"...it feels like we’re not very welco here."
Gao Xufan’s pupils shrank.
"N-Not at all!" he blurted out imdiately, almost stumbling over his own words. "Mr Ye, you can stay as long as you want. I have no issue at all."
His hands trembled slightly at his sides. He clenched them instinctively, trying to stop it—but it only made it worse.
Ye Chen watched the small movents, the stiff posture, the shallow breathing. Every detail.
And the smile on his face deepened.
"Relax," he said, waving his hand lightly. "Don’t make it look like I’m forcing you."
He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbow on his knee, his tone almost friendly.
"Take a seat."
The words sounded like an invitation.
But Gao Xufan hesitated.
For just a fraction of a second.
That hesitation didn’t escape Ye Chen’s eyes.
The air seed to grow colder.
Gao Xufan imdiately moved, sitting down stiffly, his back straight, as if afraid to lean even an inch.
"Shixun," Ye Chen said without looking away, "pour Mayor Gao a drink."
"Yes, Brother Ye."
Lu Shixun stepped forward, his movents calm and efficient.
Gao Xufan watched him approach, his throat dry.
His gaze dropped to the tray in Lu Shixun’s hands.
The glass was filled with a dark red liquid.
At first, his mind didn’t register it.
But when it did.
His fingers twitched.
Lu Shixun stopped in front of him and held out the glass politely.
"Here, Mayor Gao. Your drink."
Gao Xufan didn’t move.
He didn’t want to move.
But Ye Chen’s gaze was still on him.
Waiting and watching with an amused smile.
Slowly... Gao Xufan raised his hand.
It trembled visibly as he took the glass.
"Th... thank you..."
"Don’t ntion it," Lu Shixun replied with a small smile before stepping back.
The room fell silent again.
Gao Xufan stared at the glass in his hand.
The sll reached him. It was thick and tallic.
His stomach churned instantly, and his breathing grew uneven.
His grip loosened slightly, almost dropping the glass before he caught it again.
He forced himself to look up at Ye Chen.
"T-this..."
His voice cracked.
"Mr Ye... why... why is this blood?"
The question ca out barely steady.
Across from him, Ye Chen leaned back again, taking another slow puff from his cigar.
His eyes narrowed slightly, watching Gao Xufan’s reaction like soone enjoying a show.
"Hmm?"
He exhaled a thin stream of smoke.
Then smiled.
"Mayor Gao..."
His tone was still calm. Still casual.
But now, there was sothing colder underneath.
"You don’t recognise it?"
Before Gao Xufan could force out another word to ask, a sharp, heart-wrenching cry tore through the suffocating silence of the room.
"Daddy!!!"
The voice was small, trembling—yet it struck him like a bolt of lightning.
Gao Xufan’s entire body stiffened.
His pupils shrank, and his head snapped toward the entrance almost violently.
The mont he saw her, the last trace of colour drained from his face.
"L-Little Mimi...?"
His voice ca out strained.
His six-year-old daughter stood at the doorway, her small figure shaking as tears stread down her face. Her hair was ssy, her eyes red and swollen, as if she had been crying for a long ti.
Gao Xufan’s fingers tightened around the glass in his hand. The faint sll of blood seed to grow stronger, making his stomach churn even more.
"W-what are you doing here...?" he said quickly, his voice dropping as if afraid it might provoke sothing.
His eyes darted instinctively toward Ye Chen and the n around him before returning to his daughter.
"This... this isn’t a place for children," he continued, forcing a stiff, unnatural smile onto his face.
The smile trembled. It looked uglier than crying.
"Go back, okay? Don’t disturb the uncles..."
Every word felt like it was being dragged out of his throat.
He didn’t dare raise his voice. Didn’t dare show urgency.
"Go back to your mom... Daddy will co see you later."
He tried to sound calm. Gentle.
At this mont, he wanted nothing more than to let her escape this dangerous place.
But children didn’t understand fear the way adults did.
Little Mimi, who was usually very obedient, didn’t move.
Her lips trembled as she looked at him. Then, suddenly, she ran toward him.
Her small footsteps echoed loudly in the quiet room.
"Uwuuu... Daddy..."
She crashed into his legs, clutching onto him tightly, her tiny hands grabbing onto his clothes as if afraid he would disappear too.
"They took Mama away..." she cried, her voice breaking. "Save her... please save her..."
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