Chapter 15: Li Qingqing, You Really Have Low Standards

Qin Yichuan instantly recognized the girl behind Mu Xingyi.

“Yo, isn’t this the one from the Earl Nightclub…” Qin Yichuan hadn’t even finished speaking when he suddenly felt a sharp chill in the air.

Lu Yan turned his head slightly, his gaze carrying an unmistakable warning.

Qin Yichuan swallowed the rest of his words abruptly.

At that moment, Li Qingqing also noticed Lu Yan. She lowered her head and instinctively hid behind Mu Xingyi, not daring to look at him.

“President Lu, what a coincidence. You came here to have fun too?” Mu Xingyi hadn’t expected to run into them again so soon.

“Yeah. Dr. Mu, you sure treat your staff well—taking them to a place like this on their first day,” Lu Yan replied. Although he was speaking to Mu Xingyi, his gaze never left Li Qingqing.

Mu Xingyi chuckled, “That’s right. I just accepted a very obedient little disciple today. I’m in a good mood, so a little spending doesn’t matter.”

Hearing Mu Xingyi call her “little disciple” so casually made Lu Yan’s anger spike rapidly.

“Obedient, huh? Dr. Mu, don’t be fooled by some people’s appearance,” Lu Yan said with pointed sarcasm.

Li Qingqing’s face flushed with shame.

Before Mu Xingyi could ask what he meant, Lu Yan had already turned and headed upstairs with his group.

Mu Xingyi was a little confused by Lu Yan’s strange attitude. He turned to Li Qingqing and asked, “Qingqing, do you have some kind of grudge with President Lu?”

Li Qingqing awkwardly shook her head. “Of course not, Master… Don’t overthink it.”

Mu Xingyi quickly smiled to ease the tension. “Good. Let’s head upstairs.”

In the private room, everyone was either singing or drinking, and the atmosphere was lively.

Holding a glass of wine, Mu Xingyi walked over to Li Qingqing. “Qingqing, why aren’t you singing?”

Li Qingqing gave an embarrassed smile. “Master, I’m not a good singer. Please don’t make me.”

“That’s exactly why it’s fun!” Mu Xingyi laughed.

Li Qingqing couldn’t help but laugh along.

Buzz buzz!

Li Qingqing’s phone buzzed on the table.

She picked it up and saw a voice message from Chen Suyun.

The room was too noisy, so after signaling Mu Xingyi, she stepped out.

She found a quiet hallway and played the voice message.

“Qingqing, your brother says he misses you. Come home this weekend.”

As soon as she finished listening, Li Qingqing called Chen Suyun back.

“Mom, has Ah Ze been discharged?” she asked anxiously.

“The doctor said your brother’s condition is stable for now. There’s no need for him to stay in the hospital every day. Once a matching donor heart is found, we’ll schedule the surgery. He keeps asking for you. Come home this weekend, you hear me? You’re always out gallivanting—do you think you don’t have a mother anymore?”

As always, Chen Suyun ended the conversation with complaints and blame, even though it was just a short exchange.

Li Qingqing was already used to it.

“Got it, Mom. I’ll come home this weekend.” She hung up right after.

Since she started college, Li Qingqing had never really lived at home. The few times she did return were just to visit Ah Ze.

There was no space for her in that two-bedroom unit in the suburbs.

Back in high school, she also lived on campus. During summer and winter breaks, she always worked part-time. Occasionally when she came home, she had to make do with sleeping on the living room sofa.

Ah Ze loved his sister and would often call her into his room in the middle of the night, curling up in the corner so she could sleep more comfortably. That’s how the siblings got through the tough times—sharing and enduring.

After hanging up, Li Qingqing sighed deeply.

Why was she born into such a family?

Still, at least Ah Ze’s condition was stable for now, and she would have more time to save up for his surgery.

Just as she was about to return to the room, a tall figure stepped into her path.

The tall figure stepped closer and closer to her, cornering her against the cold, hard wall. A familiar chill and scent enveloped her.

It was him.

Li Qingqing looked up and locked eyes with the man’s dark, brooding gaze.

“What are you—”

Before she could finish, he lowered his head and kissed her forcefully.

The scent of alcohol on him was overwhelming, crashing into her like a wave.

“Mm—”

Li Qingqing was nearly suffocated by his kiss. She summoned all her strength and shoved him away.

“Lu Yan… what the hell are you doing?!” she yelled.

Lu Yan’s grip only tightened. He pressed his forehead against hers, panting harshly. His voice was low and hoarse as he said, “Go ahead and scream. I don’t mind letting your dear Dr. Mu come watch.”

Li Qingqing froze.

He was threatening her—with Mu Xingyi.

He actually stooped to such a despicable level to humiliate her.

Her mind buzzed. Before she could react again, his lips crashed down once more.

She instinctively tried to struggle, but his large hands pinned her firmly, leaving her unable to move at all.

No one knew how long the kiss lasted. When Lu Yan finally realized the girl in his arms had gone limp like a deflated balloon, he slowly let her go.

Only then did he notice her face was streaked with tears.

His heart clenched. He instinctively reached out to wipe them away, but Li Qingqing slapped his hand away.

“Lu Yan, you’ve gone too far!”

Li Qingqing choked out, biting back her sobs.

At least she could still fight back.

Lu Yan sneered, lips curled in mockery. “So, you turned me down so decisively because you’ve hooked up with Mu Xingyi? Li Qingqing, your taste is really low.”

Li Qingqing’s tearful eyes stared at him. “What do you want from me?!”

“Be with me,” Lu Yan said coldly.

“No way,” Li Qingqing replied firmly.

“Just for one year. After that, I’ll let you go.” He reached out and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.

“Not even for a day.” Li Qingqing turned her face away.

“Because of Mu Xingyi?” His voice was laced with rising anger.

Li Qingqing stared at him in disbelief. “Can you stop bringing him up? What does any of this have to do with him?”

“You get so worked up the moment I mention him, and you say it has nothing to do with him?” Lu Yan pressed one hand against the wall behind her.

Li Qingqing had no more patience to argue. “Let me go, Lu Yan. Whether or not Mu Xingyi exists, I would never be with you.” She shoved at him.

It seemed her attitude finally provoked him.

“Li Qingqing, while I still have some interest in you, you’d better behave. Otherwise…”

“Otherwise what?” Li Qingqing snapped, refusing to back down.

She had nothing left to lose—how much worse could her life get?

Lu Yan’s eyes reddened as he looked at the stubborn woman in front of him. She seemed fiercer than before—no longer so easy to bully.

Right now, it felt like someone was squeezing his heart so tightly he couldn’t breathe. Yet despite this, he had no way to deal with her.

Slowly, he lowered his hand and stepped aside.

Li Qingqing turned and brushed past him, walking out of the emergency stairwell.

As soon as she opened the door, she ran right into Mu Xingyi.