Pampered by My Billionaire Childhood Sweetheart-Chapter 27: The Frustration of Not Getting What You Want

Having carefully assessed the situation between themselves and their adversary, Hu Ye's expression showed a profound discomfort, and he practically admitted defeat on the spot. If it were anyone else, he would have simply suggested, "Let's find some people to beat him up. Make him kneel and apologize—whatever works." But this was Gu Jingchen, the sort of man whose name alone made everyone in Quanyun City instinctively lower their heads. Hu Ye just didn't have the guts. In front of such an overpowering man, he was nothing more than an ant, a flea—what could he do?

"Mm."

Li Chengxi, still dazed from the beating he endured from Gu Jingchen, followed the conversation absentmindedly. His face wore a deeply frustrated expression as if his mind hadn't fully returned from the encounter. Even now, clear traces of the scuffle remained on his face—a wound from where he'd fallen after being struck.

The two men chatted for a while, and eventually, with Hu Ye's consolation, Li Chengxi, his face still covered in dirt, trudged up to the second floor.

Even when in a foul mood, a man still needs women and booze. After all, isn't life just about indulging in vices?

"Welcome!" At the very moment Li Chengxi and Hu Ye stepped onto the second floor, they were greeted by a soft and crisp voice from a KTV hostess.

That singular "Welcome!" lit a firework in Li Chengxi's otherwise drooping spirit. The sound roused the dispirited man entirely!

Wasn't that Shang Xixia's voice? The woman he loved and hated so deeply!

"Shang Xixia!" Li Chengxi's voice practically ground out her name, filled with seething resentment and an insatiable yearning for what he couldn't have.

The lingering scar on his face twisted further into a grotesque snarl with the expression of the man beneath it.

"Congratulations on your recovery, Mr. Li." Shang Xixia's tone was as flat as a sheet of glass. She offered a slight nod, her demeanor calm and unbothered. To her, the man standing before her was nothing but a scoundrel, a rogue. Engaging him any further would only waste precious energy—something she deemed entirely unnecessary.

Yet here she was at work, and professionalism demanded she keep herself composed. She couldn't let animosity leak out too much. So, the petite young woman forced herself to offer that bland congratulatory remark, which stabbed right where it hurt most—straight into Li Chengxi's chest.

"Just you wait." Li Chengxi shot Shang Xixia a venomous glare, his face a thunderous shade of blue-black. He stomped his foot in frustration before following a staff guide to a private KTV room.

"Shit!" The moment he stepped into the room, Li Chengxi cursed loudly. He kicked the coffee table with his leather shoe in a fit of rage, then collapsed onto the couch, seething and grinding his teeth.

"What's got you so worked up, Chengxi?" Hu Ye could clearly see something was wrong with Li Chengxi's demeanor and hurriedly asked.

"That damn girl caused me to take a punch, and now look at me! My goddamn frustration is through the roof. I can't get her, and it's killing me inside," Li Chengxi blurted, his face twisting grotesquely as he pointed toward the direction of the KTV entrance.

"Oh? So it's her, huh? I admit, that one's certainly got the looks!"

Hu Ye chuckled, his playful grin full of indecency and ill intentions.

"We can't do anything to Gu Jingchen, but when it comes to that little chick, Chengxi, we've got plenty of tricks up our sleeves!" With a sly smirk, Hu Ye pulled a small vial from his pocket, waving it around before chuckling with delight.

"What's that?" Li Chengxi's face lit up with interest. He immediately shook off his slumped posture, sitting upright with eyes that practically glowed green, riveted on the vial in Hu Ye's hand.

Hu Ye, holding the vial, practically basked in the sinister delight dancing in his own eyes.

"Alright, let's get started!" Li Chengxi's gaze burned a crimson red, laced with debauchery and unrestrained hunger. When it came to Shang Xixia, Li Chengxi was like a cat that had tasted stolen cream—just the thought of her made him itch with maddening desire!

"Mm." Hu Ye nodded, then picked up the intercom phone inside the KTV suite.

"Bring us two rounds of sake," Hu Ye ordered, his tone carrying an air of false authority. Pathetic men like him thrived on pretense.

"Got it," Shang Xixia responded over the phone before promptly ending the call.

"Xixia, I'll come with you. Li Chengxi is in this KTV too. If we go together, at least we can look out for each other," Xingyan suggested as worry welled up in her heart. Ever since she noticed Li Chengxi entering a specific room, an uneasiness began gnawing at her. She voiced her concern to Shang Xixia.

"Alright," Shang Xixia nodded.

"Come in," Li Chengxi called out, glancing momentarily at Hu Ye as they both heard the knock at the door. His voice carried an air of fake propriety.

"Sir, here's the alcohol you ordered. Wish you a good time." The two women set the bottles on the ground and opened them in plain view. Neither noticed, however, that Hu Ye had stealthily locked the door behind them.

"Mm." Li Chengxi's expression remained stony.

Shang Xixia's face was calm as she finished opening the bottles, then grabbed Xingyan's hand and turned to leave.

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Seizing the opportunity, Li Chengxi quickly poured the contents of the vial into one of the bottles.

"Shang Xixia, let's have a drink. Consider it a way of putting everything in the past behind us. Going forward, we can try to be friends, and if that's not possible, we can go our separate ways—as strangers, even. Whatever makes you happy." Li Chengxi stood, staring at Shang Xixia's departing figure as he spoke.

In truth, just looking at her exquisite form from behind sent ripples of excitement coursing through him. In the dim, sultry lighting of the KTV, the sight was downright intoxicating.

"Mr. Li, I don't drink with others, especially men like you. In my eyes, you're not even as significant as a stranger."

Shang Xixia turned back and cast a cold glance at Li Chengxi, once again chastising herself for her poor taste in people. Especially that night. Shang Xixia swore that if not for being bound by the obligation of her job, requiring her to maintain professionalism, she wouldn't hesitate to vomit at the mere thought of being within two meters of this man. Truly, she would.

"Shang Xixia, don't act like you're too good for this. If you won't drink the easy way, you'll drink the hard way. Either way, you're drinking tonight!"

By now, Hu Ye had moved up behind Shang Xixia and Xingyan. He snatched Xingyan's phone just as she noticed something off and prepared to call for help. His face bore a wicked smirk as he gestured toward the tampered bottle.

"What if I refuse?" Shang Xixia's expression remained composed, but her eyes made no effort to hide the disgust she felt for the man standing before her.