Chapter 31

Their entire family had been lurking around Ren Jianjun for years, all for the sake of getting their hands on his classified research data.

There was a top-tier tech expert working closely with Ren Jianjun, someone their organization had spent countless resources trying to win over—but with no success. Not only had they failed to recruit him, they couldn’t even obtain any of his research.

Not a single lead.

But now they had received intel: the elusive expert Ren Jianjun had been hiding had finally surfaced. Not only that, the research project he had been working on seemed to have reached its final stage—maybe it was even completed.

They had to get that data.

And that data was always tightly guarded in Ren Jianjun’s possession. The only thing he cared about as much as his country and his people… was Ren Nana.

Ren Nana lost her mother at a young age, and Ren Jianjun had poured all his patience and affection into raising her.

He wasn’t overly strict with her, nor did he let her grow wild.

So yes, Ren Nana was spoiled—but never truly malicious.

People in the compound were generally tolerant of this willful young miss, seeing her as just a pampered girl with no real ill intent.

Inside the dazzling dance hall, retro DJ music pounded loudly, vibrating in the hearts of the crowd.

This was Ren Nana’s first time in a place like this, and she was clearly uncomfortable. She clutched Liu Yaru’s hand tightly and said nervously, “Yaru, maybe we should go back…”

She truly wasn’t used to this environment—it was loud, chaotic, and reeked of cigarettes and alcohol.

Liu Yaru had always been seen as the model child of the compound—obedient, smart, polite.

Ren Nana might’ve been bossy, but deep down, she was actually quite restrained and innocent.

Liu Yaru smiled. “Come on, you’re already here. If you don’t have a little fun, you’ll kill the vibe.”

“I’ve got a few friends here. Come on, I’ll introduce you. Don’t worry—they’re really nice.”

Before Ren Nana could respond, Liu Yaru dragged her deeper inside.

They pushed through the crowded room—every seat on the sofas was taken. Some were laughing loudly, some belting out songs, and others were dancing wildly to blow off steam.

“Whoa, so this is the famous Miss Ren? Nice to meet you—we’re all Yaru’s friends. I’m Gao Zhi,” said a man approaching her.

He wore a black tank top, his body bulky and muscular, his arms covered in tattoos that screamed wildness. A buzz cut and a scar on his face made him look even more intimidating.

Ren Nana, pampered and protected all her life, had never met anyone like this.

“Gao Zhi, don’t scare Nana,” Liu Yaru warned, giving him a meaningful look.

The man, Gao Zhi, eyed Ren Nana up and down, a strange smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

Ren Nana’s heart was pounding like crazy.

Everything about this man screamed danger—his gaze, his build… terrifying. He looked like the kind of guy who had bodies buried in his past.

“Aww, don’t be scared. He just looks fierce. He’s actually super kind—he helps old ladies cross the street and all,” Liu Yaru said with a laugh. “He’s the second-in-command of this dance hall. Very warm-hearted.”

The man went to mix drinks and returned with two glasses.

“Try it. It’s not easy to get a drink made by me here.”

He lit a cigarette, then seemed to remember something and put it out. “Sorry, forgot there are ladies here.”

Ren Nana sat stiffly on the couch, staring at the drink but too afraid to touch it.

Her father had told her never to accept drinks from strangers.

“Nana, why aren’t you drinking?”

Liu Yaru took a sip of hers and looked puzzled. “You don’t think it’s unsafe, do you?”

Across from them, Gao Zhi leaned back on the couch, flicking his cigarette back and forth between his fingers, his eyes locked on Ren Nana, that vague smirk still on his face.

Ren Nana fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, whispering, “I… I don’t know how to drink…”

“Oh, that’s all? Don’t worry—this drink is sweet and not strong at all. If you’re scared it’s unsafe, I’ll drink it first.”

Liu Yaru picked up Nana’s glass and took a small sip.

“See? No problem.”

“But…”

Ren Nana still hesitated.

Liu Yaru’s face darkened.

“Nana, seriously, what’s your deal? You agreed to come with me, and now you’re acting like this? Do you even consider me your friend?”

“I—I do!” Ren Nana panicked, cheeks flushing red.

Among all her friends, Liu Yaru was the closest.

Others often avoided her, saying she was too spoiled, too difficult—your typical little rich girl.

“Then prove it—just take one sip. He made this just for you. If you don’t even drink it, you’re really being disrespectful. It’s like I mean nothing to you.”

Seeing Liu Yaru genuinely upset, Ren Nana took a deep breath, picked up the glass, and took a sip.

She’s right.

Liu Yaru was her best friend. What could possibly go wrong with her around?

Besides, her dad was her own father’s driver—the two families were super close.

With that thought, Ren Nana relaxed and kept drinking.

“How is it? Tastes good, right?”

Liu Yaru, seeing Nana had let her guard down, finally exhaled in relief.

She exchanged a subtle look with the man across from them.

He snorted and stood up to leave.

—

Meanwhile, Song Qingdai, after shopping, had stopped by the hospital—not to visit anyone, but because she was really curious.

She wanted to see just how miserable Song Mingshan looked after her first visit to the Zhang family, and how badly those three kids had tormented her.

“What’s so funny?” Gao Han glanced at the girl beside him, noting the constant smile on her face since they’d left the store.

She looked delighted.

Ever since they’d gone shopping, the corners of her lips hadn’t come down once.

“Me? Laughing? When did I laugh?”

Song Qingdai tilted her head up, playing innocent.

Gao Han nodded solemnly. “No, of course not. Our dear sister’s hurt—naturally, we should feel sad and concerned. No reason to be happy at all.”

—

Inside the hospital room, Feng Cuifen had never been to the provincial capital in her life. She hadn’t expected her first visit to be because her daughter had been injured—at her future in-laws’ house, no less.

“I told you not to marry into that family. But you insisted! And look what happened—before you even married into the Zhangs, you already ended up battered and bruised!”

Feng Cuifen wept as she scolded, clearly heartbroken.