"What birthday gift did Liu Jing give you? Why don't you take a look?" Nie Ping curiously asked as she looked at the beautifully wrapped gift box in Jiang Wei's hands. Jiang Wei's face, which had been full of enthusiasm, turned ice-cold, and a trace of disdain appeared in her eyes. She glanced at the gift box in her hands and casually threw it into the nearby trash can. "Liu Jing is so poor, what good thing could she give me? If Mr. Long hadn't taken an interest in her, I wouldn't have invited her—or brought over her poor relatives. It's really embarrassing."
"I really don't understand why Mr. Long would take an interest in her. Do I look worse than Liu Jing?" A hint of resentment flashed in Jiang Wei's eyes.
"Men are all the same. They lose interest after a fling; Mr. Long isn't going to have anything serious with her," Nie Ping said with a smile.
Although the two were speaking at the entrance, Lin Mo heard everything clearly. From the moment he stepped into the KTV, his Divine Sense had already spread throughout the entire KTV; no one's movements could escape his "eyes."
"People are inscrutable," Lin Mo sighed, a trace of sadness crossing his eyes.
"Xiao Jing, I heard something happened at your home?" Mr. Long, sitting on the sofa, asked Liu Jing in an indifferent tone.
Mr. Long appeared to be in his early twenties, wearing a GIVENCHY suit, and was slightly above average-looking, a typical wealthy and handsome man, his face showing a hint of concern.
Liu Jing sat next to him, looking restrained and merely nodded lightly.
Everyone was from the same school, and Liu Jing knew a bit about Mr. Long, whose real name was Long Jianfeng. His father was the president of the Chamber of Commerce in Chinatown and owned a gaming company in Han Country, with assets of about one billion. He was highly favored by many female students at school.
But Liu Jing also knew one more thing—that Long Jianfeng was a scoundrel who had deceived countless girls into sleeping with him and then callously cast them aside after the deed.
Somehow, Long Jianfeng had started noticing her and pursued her relentlessly. However, Liu Jing was sensible and had been rejecting Long Jianfeng.
Jiang Wei also knew about this, but why had she invited Long Jianfeng to her birthday and had not told her from the beginning until now?
Although Liu Jing was young, she was not foolish. Her best friend's actions were essentially a betrayal.
"There has been a bit of trouble," Liu Jing said, nodding.
"Your father is sick and hospitalized, and your mother must be struggling to manage the restaurant alone. Actually, I can help you if you agree to be my girlfriend," Long Jianfeng suddenly said, looking at Liu Jing.
"I..." Liu Jing fiddled with her skirt, looking down, biting her thin lower lip hard, clearly troubled.
"I heard that Xiang Yu went to trouble your mother today, and he seems to have been hurt by someone. He definitely won't let it go. Just be my girlfriend, and I'll have my dad help out. Xiang Yu should give my dad some face," Long Jianfeng said, confident in his leverage.
Hearing Long Jianfeng's words, Liu Jing fell silent. Although her family had been doing moderately well, they had been living in harmony until her father fell seriously ill. Since then, her mother had been the only one looking after the restaurant, and they were repeatedly harassed by Xiang Yu, who came to collect protection fees, making their life difficult. Moreover, having offended Xiang Yu, more trouble was likely in the future.
Long Jianfeng's father was a president of the Chamber of Commerce and knew the council members of Seoul Qingtan County. If Long Jianfeng's father stepped up, Xiang Yu might stop causing trouble at her family's restaurant.
"Liu Jing, you think about it. We live in Han Country, and we need Mr. Long's help for everything. Besides, Mr. Long letting you be his girlfriend would be an honor," another young man beside her said.
"Young, successful, and wealthy—what's not to like about being his girlfriend?"
Others chimed in all at once.
The smile on Long Jianfeng's face intensified. Dealing with such a young girl through both soft and hard tactics would eventually get her into his bed.
Women were not scarce around Long Jianfeng, but Liu Jing's continuous refusal only fueled his determination. He was set on winning her over by any means necessary.
"Mr. Long, I'm sorry... I... I can't be your girlfriend," Liu Jing said, biting her teeth and hesitating for a long time before she finally looked up at Long Jianfeng with a pleading expression.
Long Jianfeng's face immediately changed slightly.
After all his meticulous efforts, he hadn't expected Liu Jing to reject him in front of all these friends. Wasn't this causing him, Mr. Long, to lose face?
"Liu Jing, I'm giving you one more chance. If Xiang Yu really goes to trouble your family again, and you come begging to me, I won't be speaking to you like this," Long Jianfeng said, his tone carrying a hint of threat.
"Why pretend? Mr. Long's favor is your blessing, yet here you are, playing the White Lotus," a garishly made-up woman couldn't help scoffing.
Faced with the aggressive attitudes of everyone, an invisible pressure almost suffocated Liu Jing.
"That's enough, you're actually pressuring a young girl," Yingzi finally couldn't hold back and stood up, her voice sharply chastising.
Lin Mo stood up, frowning slightly. His Divine Sense had already sensed that an unwelcome group had arrived outside the KTV, "Xiao Jing, come back with us."
"What's wrong, Xiao Jing? You're leaving so soon?"
At that moment, Jiang Wei and Nie Ping returned. Hearing Lin Mo's words, Jiang Wei frowned.
After Jiang Wei spoke, she glanced at Long Jianfeng's face, seeming to understand something.
"Xiao Jing, my birthday party hasn't really started yet, why are you leaving so soon?" Jiang Wei said, holding Liu Jing's hand and putting on an indignant face.
Looking at her good friend's angry expression, Liu Jing hesitated, her eyes uncertainly meeting Lin Mo's.
"You must be Xiao Jing's distant cousin, right? If you have something that requires you to leave first, we won't keep you, but Xiao Jing has to stay for my birthday," Jiang Wei said with pursed lips, giving Lin Mo a slight smile.
Yingzi gripped her white fists, looking at Jiang Wei with some disgust. She had seen too many such green teas while accompanying her master.
Lin Mo's expression was cold as he casually said, "Are you planning to keep Liu Jing here, get her drunk later, and send her to Young Master Long's room?"
At his words, everyone's faces in the private room suddenly changed.
"What are you talking about? How could I possibly do such a thing?" Jiang Wei's face immediately showed a trace of coldness.
Nie Ping also chimed in, "Xiao Jing, what is with your cousin making such baseless accusations?"
As for Long Jianfeng and several young men around him, they glared angrily at Lin Mo. In reality, Lin Mo's accusation was spot on; Long Jianfeng had indeed planned to do exactly that if Liu Jing refused to be his girlfriend, having Jiang Wei get her drunk and take advantage of her at night.