Clean, delicate, fragile, pitiful, the kind that makes you want to protect.

“Have you said enough?”

Jiang Cai was seated quite a distance from Yu Zao, a deliberately arranged position. Even from that far, Jiang could still see the faint shimmer of moisture in the corner of Yu Zao’s eyes. He suddenly felt a surge of irritation, his tone sharp with the temper typical of youth. “You’re helping him chase me? Did I agree to that?”

“Yuan Jin, stop making stupid decisions on your own.”

Because of their similar family backgrounds, they often hung out together. But it was precisely this similarity that led to neither of them backing down or admitting they were wrong.

Yuan Jin was starting to get angry.

He knew that Jiang Cai always spoke in an irritating way, and frankly, their entire circle wasn’t exactly polite. They were all privileged young elites, raised to think they were above caring about others’ feelings.

But seeing Yu Zao’s eyelashes tremble, as if Jiang’s words had hurt him, caused something to stir inside Yuan Jin.

Just as he was about to speak, he felt the warmth of Yu Zao’s touch on his fingertips. He froze. The irritation that had been boiling over just a moment ago was doused as if someone had thrown cold water over it, disappearing without a trace.

Yu Zao took the tiny surveillance camera from Yuan Jin’s hand, slowly lifting his face, which glowed like a bright pearl in the night. His black, glossy eyes sparkled. In a soft voice, he asked, “Were you serious about what you said earlier?”

Yuan Jin couldn’t even remember exactly what he had said. He had said so many things.

Was it about helping him chase Jiang Cai? Or about the money? His mind was a mess, all his senses focused on the soft warmth lingering on his fingertips.

“Of course.”

Yuan Jin didn’t know what Yu Zao was referring to. But whatever it was, he was willing to give it.

Perhaps no one had expected Yu Zao to agree so quickly. The group sitting in the booth stared at him in a mixture of surprise and confusion.

…

The room was silent, only the faint glow from the crystal chandelier overhead.

Yu Zao wore a simple uniform, the second button on the shirt being the one Yuan Jin had given him, which had a hidden camera inside.

He revealed a pair of slender, white legs, his frame thin and delicate, with skin so pale it seemed to glow faintly.

The uniform, while ordinary, took on an inexplicable allure when worn by him.

Without a word, the others cast reproachful glances at Jiang Cai, labeling him the jerk.

Such a beautiful boy clearly liked him, even going as far as wearing a waiter’s uniform for him. Yet Jiang Cai, instead of acknowledging it, kept up his aloof and distant act.

They thought he didn’t know how good he had it.

Even Jiang Cai felt a little uncomfortable. He hadn’t expected Yu Zao to go to such lengths for him.

Yu Zao, with his pure and innocent appearance, and a soft, innocent expression in his wide eyes, was the very picture of someone sweet and vulnerable.

Jiang Cai’s gaze flickered uncomfortably. His eyes landed briefly on Yu Zao’s bare feet, before Yu Zao finished putting on his socks and shoes and left.

Yu Zao followed the group into the VIP room, and it wasn’t quite what he had imagined.

Instead of the opulence he expected, the room was designed like a high-end art gallery, with artistic elements everywhere. Large, expressive sculptures and crystal chandeliers added elegance, while intricately carved partitions and panoramic windows offered a view of the city’s glittering skyline.

“Rich people really know how to live,” Yu Zao thought to himself, though he kept his head bowed, not daring to look around too much.

Yuan Jin had told him to serve the drinks and then leave with the staff.

The guests in the room sat in pairs, not accompanied by any women, only the sound of paper shuffling filled the air.

“Mr. Ye, about my son’s behavior…”

A refined voice replied, “That will depend on Mr. Quan’s decision.”

It was all so cryptic, like a riddle, that Yu Zao couldn’t make sense of it.

He was last in line to serve the drinks, and as he waited, the camera hidden in his button had already captured everything. His task was complete.

He wanted to take a look at the faces of the two big villains, but as soon as he entered, his timid nature took over, and he decided against it.

He bent down to carefully place the bottle in front of him, his gaze lowered. The only part of the scene he could see was a few pairs of black dress shoes and long legs.

The light in the room shimmered and shifted, like slow-motion film, highlighting his face.

Under the elegant light of the chandelier, Yu Zao’s face was illuminated, the delicate contours of his face soft and fragile, long eyelashes casting small shadows. His finely arched brows and small nose added to his graceful appearance.

“I thought this was supposed to be a classy bar, but what’s this? Who ordered this pretty boy?”

Yu Zao tensed immediately.

A young man dressed in a leather jacket, with various accessories hanging from him, spoke. His face bore a few scratches, covered by white bandages.

He lazily opened a can of soda, the sound of fizzing accompanying his words.

“Who ordered him?”

The suited men sitting on the sofa noticed the situation and glanced over.

They were clearly from different factions, sitting apart from each other.

On one side was a refined man with a high nose bridge and thin-framed glasses, his demeanor both understated and aristocratic. On the other side sat the rebellious youth, accompanied by an older man, likely his father. In the far corner sat another man, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit that accentuated his tall, imposing figure, his rolled-up sleeves revealing strong, defined wrists.

It might have been due to the change in attire, but Yu Zao looked even younger than his actual age. His innocent, slightly nervous demeanor gave him the appearance of a naive young boy who had been deceived.

Beneath thick lashes were a pair of watery eyes. Whether from fear or not, his small pink lips were slightly pursed, and his face carried an expression of panic and confusion. Surrounded by a group of elite men sitting on the sofa, he gave off the impression of a lamb that had wandered into a pack of wolves.

The delinquent’s father was the first to speak: “President Quan and President Ye are upstanding men. What nonsense are you spouting? If they weren’t cleaning up your mess, would they need to go to such lengths? Not only are you ungrateful, but you—”

In the corner, a man dressed impeccably in a tailored suit, who had been bored up until now, suddenly put down the document in his hand.

“This isn’t the liquor we ordered.”

He glanced at the bottle of strong foreign alcohol—it was not something one would drink during a business meeting.

0926: [Quan Lushen, the biggest antagonist in the story, heir to a top-tier conglomerate, and CEO of LIN Group. He’s suspicious by nature, enjoys taking control, and thrives on challenging order…]

Indeed, he looked every bit the dangerous villain of the story.

Yu Zao felt a cold sweat break out on his back under Quan Lushen’s gaze.

The bespectacled man in a suit beside him said, “President Quan, I ordered this.”

Yu Zao didn’t understand why this man was helping him, and a flicker of confusion crossed his eyes.

Everyone present was sharp and couldn’t miss his subtle expression.

“President Ye knows him? But it seems like he doesn’t know you.”

Quan Lushen slowly stood up. His tall, broad frame made Yu Zao appear even more delicate in contrast. The overhead light illuminated his deep, sharp features, further intensifying his intimidating presence.

0926: [Say it was a mistake. The neighboring Jiang Cai room also ordered this drink, and the two rooms are close, so the mix-up is understandable.]

Yu Zao quickly reacted, “I apologize, I must have delivered to the wrong room.”

He reached to retrieve the bottle, but a finely sculpted hand blocked him, prompting him to quickly pull back.

Above him, a flat, emotionless voice said, “Just delivering drinks?”

“Yes,” Yu Zao replied, forcing himself to stay composed. “Just delivering drinks.”

Holding the tray in his hands, Yu Zao’s knees were tightly pressed together out of nervousness. His long, pale legs, trembling slightly from fear, were accentuated by the lighting, giving his calves a smooth, lustrous appearance.

Quan Lushen continued to stare at Yu Zao, his gaze cold and emotionless, like the eerie, dangerous touch of a snake.

Yu Zao, who was timid when faced with strong but bold against weaker, felt the primal fear of a prey animal facing a predator.

He tilted his head and stared blankly at Quan Lushen, his eyes wide open.

From behind the soundproof walls, the noise of a fight could be heard from the doorway—loud and intense. A bang echoed through the room, followed by a sharp scream. The door was repeatedly hit, as if someone was trying to force their way in.

Was it Jiang Cai’s people?

Yuan Jin had mentioned that if something unexpected happened, they would intervene. Was this disruption their doing?

Yu Zao didn’t dare move.

The commotion outside didn’t disturb the people inside the room.

Nervous beads of sweat formed at the tip of Yu Zao’s nose.

“You’re sweating,” Quan Lushen said calmly, his tone detached. “What are you so nervous about? Are you afraid I’ll discover your secret?”

His cold gaze drifted downward. “For instance, that extra thing you’re hiding on your body.”