Chapter 128: This Damn Sense of Oppression

After Long Wuhen finished speaking, she walked into the Imperial Dragon Manor first. Qin Chuan, Lin Wanyu, Liu Qingcheng, and Lan Jin followed closely behind. Watching the four walk away with such nonchalance, the scene fell into a deathly silence.

This silence, so profound that one could hear a pin drop, lasted for a full three minutes before it shattered like a massive boulder crashing into a tranquil lake.

"Holy crap, can someone tell me what just happened?"
"That guy who beat people up actually called Miss Long 'Wuhen'?"
"The key is that Miss Long didn't even seem to mind! Can you believe it?"
"The Lin, Liu, and Lan families are about to skyrocket!"

The security guards who had surrounded Qin Chuan moments ago were also gasping in shock. The captain, in particular, recalled Qin Chuan’s earlier warning and was filled with overwhelming regret.

*Slap! Slap! Slap!*

The captain struck his own face repeatedly. If he had only called his superiors to verify Qin Chuan’s identity earlier, he might have earned some favor in front of Miss Long. With a few kind words from Qin Chuan, his own life could have been changed forever.

"It’s all those two bastards' fault for misleading me!" The captain glared fiercely at Guo Zikun and Fu Tingshu. If looks could kill, the pair would have been torn to shreds long ago.

In truth, Guo and Fu were still in a state of shell-shocked bewilderment. They could never have imagined that Qin Chuan’s relationship with Long Wuhen was so close. Despite Qin Chuan causing such a scene at the cocktail party, Long Wuhen showed no intention of holding it against him; in fact, there seemed to be a subtle, flirtatious spark between them.

Although it was mostly Qin Chuan teasing her and Long Wuhen maintaining a cool, detached gaze, it was clear that their connection was far from ordinary. Lan Jin, Lin Wanyu, Liu Qingcheng, and Long Wuhen—any one of these women was a dream for any man. That Qin Chuan was entangled with all of them simultaneously defied all logic.

Fu Tingshu and Guo Zikun exchanged glances, seeing in each other’s eyes the unique sympathy of fellow "dog-like" sycophants—the desolate sorrow of someone who gave their all to end up with nothing, and the soul-crushing humiliation of being disgraced in public.

The look was so complex that the surrounding crowd didn't dare to speak, fearing they might shatter the bizarre and shocking tableau. Even the security captain, who hated the duo, felt a pang of pity. These men were usually high-and-mighty figures, but now, being trampled on the ground like stray dogs, the sheer contrast gave the captain a sense of superiority and long-awaited vindication.

"Brothers, help these two young masters get an ambulance. Send one to surgery and the other to psychiatry," the captain said in a low voice.

Watching the two wealthy heirs being carried away in a stupor, the captain sighed and remarked, "Once you’ve seen the vast ocean, other waters are hard to admire. Who can they blame but themselves?"

"Captain, is that poem really appropriate here?"
"Yeah, Captain, that’s usually used for romance."
"So you finished junior high, big deal! And you, finished high school, you’re so proud? I’ll use it wherever I want! Any of you have a problem with that?"
"..."

Elsewhere.

After Long Wuhen stood on the podium to announce the start of the gala, she summoned Qin Chuan, Liu Qingcheng, and the others to a private reception room.

The Imperial Dragon Manor was a quintessential example of European architecture, opulent and luxurious. Though referred to as a reception room, the furniture and the oil paintings on the antique walls were priceless, some even being masterpieces by famous artists.

"Qin Chuan has already told me about your situations, but I believe commercial cooperation should be approached with caution. I would like to hear you articulate your own advantages. I will base my decisions on the reality of your presentations. You have no objections to that, I presume?"

Long Wuhen’s opening was filled with authority. Her beautiful but stern face exerted a unique pressure that made even business powerhouses like Lin Wanyu and Liu Qingcheng feel the strain.

As for Lan Jin... well... Qin Chuan noticed the girl was drooling over a plate of pear cakes on the table. Clearly, the snacks were far more interesting to her than the business negotiations. With her large, sparkling eyes and delicate, adorable face, she looked incredibly tempting. On an impulse, Qin Chuan pinched her cheek and whispered with a smile, "If you want to eat, just eat. No one here is going to stop you."

Liu Qingcheng caught this intimate moment. A flash of surprise crossed her face, but she immediately shot Qin Chuan a seductive wink, as if to say: *Not bad, darling. Another little girl has fallen into your clutches.*

The shock lingered longer on Lin Wanyu’s face. She never expected that Qin Chuan and his good friend were already at a stage where they could share such intimate gestures. A complex emotion welled up in her heart—was that a hint of bitterness?

As for Long Wuhen, her expression remained unchanged, though she mentally labeled Qin Chuan: *Lecher + Scumbag!*

Lan Jin, however, didn't mind the gesture at all; in fact, she felt grateful that Qin Chuan’s words had given her the courage to indulge in the pear cakes. It wasn't until she felt the strange gazes of Lin Wanyu and Liu Qingcheng that she realized how ambiguous the action must have seemed, and her cute face turned a deep shade of crimson.

To spare Lan Jin from embarrassment, Qin Chuan quickly changed the subject. "Miss Long has asked, so hurry up and present! Or do you think I have the business proposal written on my face?"

Lin Wanyu snapped back to reality and began introducing the advantages of the Lin family’s industries. Among those present, the Lin family had the weakest comprehensive strength, so she dared not be careless.

It had to be said that when Lin Wanyu spoke about work, she became a different person. The aura of a domineering female CEO was fully unleashed, not losing in the slightest to Long Wuhen, which made Liu Qingcheng feel a bit of pressure.

Even though Liu Qingcheng usually claimed she didn't mind sharing Qin Chuan with other women, it didn't mean she was willing to settle for second place—especially in business, where she refused to concede even an inch. This was one of the two skills she could use to boast to Qin Chuan.

As for the other skill she used to boast? That, of course, belonged to the intimate arts of the bedroom.

After Lin Wanyu finished her presentation, Long Wuhen gave her a high appraisal. She had assumed that the connections Qin Chuan brought were only here because they lacked the strength to compete fairly. She hadn't expected Lin Wanyu to be so clear and insightful about both her family's industrial advantages and their synergy with the Long family’s interests.

She even proposed several development strategies that hit the mark perfectly, to the point where Long Wuhen felt that even if she were in her position, she couldn't have done better.

"Miss Lin, I look forward to our cooperation," Long Wuhen said in a low, firm voice.

A wave of joy washed over Lin Wanyu’s face. She had prepared for this meeting for a long time, and receiving Long Wuhen’s affirmation gave her a profound sense of achievement.

"I am also honored to work with you, Miss Long." Lin Wanyu’s tone was sincere. For some reason, she shifted her gaze toward Qin Chuan, and seeing him give her a thumbs-up, she felt a flicker of quiet delight in her heart.

Next was Liu Qingcheng. Lin Wanyu felt inexplicably nervous, even developing a sense of competitive rivalry, wanting to see how much insight this woman—who was her equal in beauty and figure—could demonstrate in the business field.

However, Liu Qingcheng’s opening line nearly caused Lin Wanyu to stumble: "Is Miss Long also one of Qin Chuan’s fiancées?"