Time always slips away unnoticed, like grains of sand slipping through one’s fingers, drifting away with the wind. Yet some friendships remain as rich and fragrant as ever, even after enduring the trials of time.
The Yinhai Xuan was a place of dazzling luxury, brimming with endless temptations. The extravagant and indulgent lifestyle lured many hearts. Numerous seductive women flitted between men of all kinds, hoping to latch onto a wealthy husband.
Yet the place where Fan Le stayed with Xiao Yufan was unusually quiet. Nobody dared provoke the owner of Yinhai Xuan, and Xiao Yufan’s icy aura alone was enough to make many ambitious women hesitate…
“It’s only been a year since we last met, yet you’ve already become the owner of Yinhai Xuan. What’s wrong? That little bar can’t support such a big shot anymore?”
Xiao Yufan gently swirled the wine in his glass, a faint smile softening his coldness. Hearing this, Fan Le could only shake his head with a smile.
“I’m taking over the family business, you know? I wanted to live a quiet life for another couple of years, but some things won’t disappear whether you accept them or not. I guess I just have to accept my fate!”
Fan Le sounded pitiful, but to nearby listeners, it was nothing but showing off. Owner of Yinhai Xuan—just thinking about it was enough to drive someone wild. Bars were inherently violent places, and Yinhai Xuan was the largest bar in Beijing.
“You’ve played around long enough. It’s time to settle down a bit. You don’t even have a girlfriend yet. If I hadn’t known you for so long, I might suspect you had a preference for men!”
Feeling the subtle shift in mood, Xiao Yufan couldn’t help but twitch his lips. This guy was truly unique—choosing to run a small bar when he could have lived a much better life. The lives of the rich were indeed unconventional…
“Simplicity is better. I actually prefer the old days. At least then I could live carefree…”
Fan Le merely shook his head and smiled at Xiao Yufan’s teasing. He didn’t have grand ambitions; he was just used to a simple life. Being thrust into a bigger stage might not be a good thing—it would only bring more troubles.
“Just like you said, some things can’t be avoided. It’s a responsibility you must bear yourself. Even if the road ahead is bumpy, we still have to face it, right?”
Though Xiao Yufan didn’t know exactly what Fan Le had experienced, he could sense the latter’s feelings. It seemed that the past year hadn’t been as glorious as it appeared.
Even so, Fan Le harbored no real complaints. After all, not everything could go as one wished. Although family affairs and the management of Yinhai Xuan were extremely complicated, overall, he still lived quite comfortably.
The bar grew increasingly noisy. Fan Le and Xiao Yufan’s conversation gradually shifted from daily trivialities to business development. Both had completely different identities compared to a year ago, and their mindsets had changed significantly as well.
Just as Xiao Yufan was enjoying the atmosphere, a jarring voice came from the counter, instantly capturing their attention. When their gazes settled on that familiar, delicate face, Xiao Yufan’s expression turned complex.
In front of the counter, several young men dressed like playboys surrounded a beautiful young girl. As they stared at her perfect figure, their eyes gleamed with predatory lust.
“Never seen such a pretty girl before. Looks like we’ve got some good luck today. Miss, would you like to hang out with us?”
One of the young men gulped hard, imagining how he could have such a beautiful woman beneath him. His voice dripped with lewdness, and after his words, the surrounding crowd burst into laughter once again.
Not everyone could claim to be a real playboy. No one truly believed these young men were anything but hooligans and spoiled brats. Xiao Yufan had absolutely no interest in them.
The girl at the counter was none other than Lan Yue. After a fight with her brother, she had run away from home. She never expected that on her very first day working at Yinhai Xuan, she would encounter such a situation. Feeling those invasive gazes, she bit her lip anxiously, unsure of what to do.
The men’s teasing grew louder. They had encountered countless bar girls before—perhaps not a hundred, but certainly dozens. In their eyes, conquering Lan Yue would only take a few minutes…
Feeling Lan Yue’s trembling body, the men grew even more brazen, their laughter turning lewd as they reached out to touch her. The surrounding crowd disliked seeing such a beautiful girl being harassed, yet no one dared to speak up. After all, these spoiled brats had powerful backgrounds. Provoking them would surely bring endless trouble.
Watching all this unfold, Xiao Yufan’s gaze gradually turned cold. He didn’t know why Lan Yue was here, but how could he possibly watch her suffer? After all, the two of them shared a certain connection…
“You know her too…?”
Sensing Xiao Yufan’s mood shift, Fan Le hesitated for a moment before turning his gaze toward Lan Yue, his expression uncertain. Although this young woman worked at Yinhai Xuan, he dared not treat her lightly. If those men went too far, he definitely wouldn’t stand by and watch. After all, she was the sister of the founder of Fengyun Enterprise—any mishap here could bring the entire sky crashing down…
“Just a few brief encounters. I never expected our reunion to be so awkward!”
Xiao Yufan shook his head with a smile, then jumped off the barstool. Thinking back to the day he had seen Lan Yue with Liu Hua, a faint, mischievous smile curled his lips.
Facing the men before her, Lan Yue instinctively took a couple of steps back. No matter how brave she tried to appear, she was still just a woman. Unconsciously, someone’s image flashed through her mind. Right now, how she wished for someone to stand by her side.
Her delicate, helpless appearance completely erased the last remnants of hesitation in the men’s minds. They could already imagine what would happen next…
“This lady doesn’t want to play with you. How about I join in instead? What do you think?”
Just as Lan Yue stood at a loss, a mocking voice rang out amidst the crowd’s stunned silence. The young men immediately turned around…
Upon seeing Xiao Yufan’s figure, Lan Yue’s beautiful eyes shimmered with tears. Though she didn’t know why Xiao Yufan was here, a sudden wave of happiness surged through her. Standing before him, she felt a sense of security she had never experienced before…
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage