Chapter 60: Proud Scholar x Elite Lawyer 18

Xie Qingjia sat back down, his mood soured, and he no longer had the heart to continue drinking.

He glared at Tao Yi with his deep, ink-black eyes, which resembled the depths of the sea. “When did Nightshade Bar start offering male models as a service?”

Tao Yi chuckled awkwardly. “It’s only been a few years. It used to be a regular bar, but after a new partner took over, the style changed.”

“Just that the quality of the male models here varies. The ones who came out earlier were probably just average-looking. I wonder why they came out today.”

Chen Si, the fourth young master, speculated, “Maybe the bar manager didn’t send them out. Someone in his position should have better judgment.”

“Perhaps it’s an internal conflict among the male models, and they’re just using us as pawns.”

Xu Er, the second young master, dramatically rubbed his arm. “You’re thinking too much! It’s just a mix-up.”

“It might not be a mix-up. We might have been used,” Tao Yi said solemnly.

“Wait here. I’ll go check.”

He walked out with a serious expression, immediately calling the bar owner and then having the manager summoned for a confrontation.

After a brief discussion and a review of the surveillance footage, they understood what had happened.

It turned out that someone had falsely claimed to be the manager, instructing the male models to go out and cause trouble. The culprit was none other than Xie Qingjia’s former roommate, Kong Liang, who had been the mastermind behind the online bullying that led to Xie Qingjia’s expulsion from school. After his true colors were revealed, Kong Liang had joined the reforming Nightshade Bar and became one of the male models.

When Xie Qingjia and his group entered, Kong Liang recognized the red-clad youth surrounded by the wealthy young men. Filled with resentment, he ordered the less attractive male models to go out and annoy them.

When Tao Yi returned to the private room, he brought a man who appeared refined but was actually vicious. He roughly grabbed Kong Liang by the collar and threw him next to Xie Qingjia.

“Xie Er, does this face look familiar?”

Xie Qingjia looked down at the fallen man, his gaze growing cold. “Kong Liang, it’s you.”

“You really know how to make me sick!” He didn’t need to guess that the earlier incident was Kong Liang’s doing, just to make him unhappy.

He grabbed Kong Liang’s collar and said, word by word, “Coward, I didn’t come looking for trouble, but you came to me. Do you really think I’m that easy to provoke?”

Kong Liang’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “What right does a useless, superficial person like you have to look down on others? I want to make you miserable, to make you angry.”

Xie Qingjia slapped him. “You’re still as stupid as ever, unable to even endure. Rushing in to provoke me like this…”

“Have you thought about the consequences?”

His voice was light, but it sounded like the whisper of a demon, sending chills down one’s spine.

Seeing the situation, the bar owner hurriedly stepped in with a smile. “Young Master Xie, let’s keep the peace. We can talk this out.”

“I’ll fire this person immediately, and I’ll cover all your expenses today. Don’t get angry; it’s not worth it to let such a person upset you.”

He didn’t want these young masters to cause a scene and preferred to resolve the matter quickly, even if it meant losing some money.

Xie Qingjia glanced at him. “Money can’t buy my silence. When have I ever been short of money?”

He shook his hand. “I didn’t start this; it was this fool who provoked me first.”

The bar owner tried to persuade him again, but Tao Yi pulled him aside. “Don’t worry, Xie Er won’t short you on the drinks.”

Xie Qingjia rubbed his wrist and then punched Kong Liang in the face.

He didn’t hit anywhere else, only the face.

“Kong, today I’ll make your thick skin bloom.”

Kong Liang tried to dodge, but Xie Qingjia pulled him back by the collar.

He had nowhere to go and could only endure.

After Xie Qingjia had his fill, he kicked the bruised and battered Kong Liang to the ground and stepped on his fingers with his black leather shoes.

He asked softly, “Does it hurt?”

Kong Liang felt the sharp pain in his fingers but bit his lip, refusing to make a sound, as if his silence gave him the upper hand.

Xie Qingjia smiled. “So it doesn’t hurt. I guess I didn’t hit hard enough.”

He moved his foot to Kong Liang’s wrist and pressed down with all his strength.

Kong Liang couldn’t bear it and moved his body, his trembling feet kicking the ground. “Xie Qingjia! If you have the guts, kill me. Otherwise, I won’t let you off. I’ll make sure you’re ruined again!”

Xie Qingjia sneered. “Not let me off? With your current state!”

“Kong Liang, it’s time to wake up from your dream.”

He leaned down slowly. “This time, I won’t let you off.”

“I might have overlooked you before, but now that you’ve come to me, I can’t let you off without repaying your manipulation and slander.”

Xie Qingjia gently patted Kong Liang’s face and said in a soft voice, “Don’t worry, from today on, your peaceful days are over.”

He straightened up, took a step back, and lazily looked at the broken Kong Liang.

“Kong Liang, we have a long road ahead.”

Kong Liang’s body trembled, a strange chill spreading through his limbs.

He was inexplicably terrified of Xie Qingjia at that moment, a fear that struck deep into his soul.