Chapter 24: You Overdid It

Inside the private dining room, the air conditioning slowly filled the space, and Lin Ting felt the cool air brush against her skin. Along with the chill, there was a faint, lingering scent. It was very subtle, yet Lin Ting felt it was far from a decent or pleasant aroma. She stood up to leave.

Zhao Chen watched her retreating figure without stopping her, merely letting out a mocking laugh. Lin Ting had anticipated this lack of resistance. As she opened the door, she found, as expected, bodyguards blocking the way. She couldn't get out.

She turned to face Zhao Chen. "What is the meaning of this, Mr. Zhao?"

"Do you really think you can just walk out after coming here?" Zhao Chen replied.

Lin Ting looked at him in silence.

"Lin Jinchuan sold you to me," Zhao Chen stated. "That is a settled fact. It cannot be changed."

"I don't want to go through with this transaction anymore. Is that not allowed?" Lin Ting asked.

"That is not for you to decide. There has never been a woman I wanted that I couldn't have." Zhao Chen rose and walked toward her.

Lin Ting frowned. Zhao Chen loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt, exposing his chest. "I have yet to enjoy someone as beautiful as you, especially someone who has been so well-trained."

Watching his movements and the skin he revealed, Lin Ting pursed her lips, feeling a wave of nausea. She felt her eyes had been sullied.

"Do you smell the fragrance in here?" Zhao Chen stepped closer. "This is the finest stimulant. I am already starting to heat up. Can't you feel it?"

Lin Ting remained expressionless, silently encouraging herself. *Lin Ting, if you have this kind of endurance, you will succeed in whatever you do in the future!*

"We are right here, and no one will disturb us." Zhao Chen, excited, felt his blood circulating faster, and the drug took effect more rapidly. His face flushed as he said, "Enjoy tonight. Serve me well, and the Lin family will be saved. Once the Lin family is saved, Lin Jinchuan won't cut ties with you, and your life will be much better."

He opened his arms to embrace her. Lin Ting lifted her foot and kicked him squarely in the chest. "Take flight, you old bald-head."

Zhao Chen tumbled to the floor, his wig flying off his head. Lin Ting pulled out her phone, stopped the recording, and said, "Dawdling and making me feel disgusted for so long. Next time you speak, get to the point all at once."

"You dare hit me? Have you lost your mind?" Zhao Chen scrambled to his feet, clutching the nearby sofa.

Lin Ting opened her camera and pointed it at him. "Wow, look at these 'glamour shots' of the CEO of Zhao Group. Fifty cents each, message me privately if you want to buy."

Zhao Chen first covered his exposed chest, then remembered to hide his face. Lin Ting remarked, "Oh, look at you, getting all shy now. Be generous."

Zhao Chen lunged forward, trying to grab her phone. As Lin Ting dodged, she reached back and pulled the door open. Zhao Chen, overextending his momentum, flew out of the private room and landed face-first on the floor. Lin Ting quickly slipped out after him.

The six bodyguards outside rushed to help Zhao Chen.

***

Zhao Chen’s forehead was scraped. He pointed at Lin Ting and shouted, "Catch her! Don't let her run!"

The bodyguards lunged forward. Lin Ting grabbed the hand of the first one and tossed him over her shoulder with ease. The remaining bodyguards hesitated for a moment before moving in. Lin Ting balled her fists and knocked another one to the ground with a single punch.

Just then, footsteps echoed from the other end of the corridor. As Lin Ting tripped another bodyguard, she glanced over. Shang Moting? And Wei Zhishu and Fang Cheng were with him. Why was Shang Moting always dragging those two around?

Lin Ting punched the tripped bodyguard, stood tall, and smoothed her hair. She cast a cold glance at the three remaining guards, then let her lip curl, dropped her eyes into a look of feigned innocence, and turned to run.

"Help—me—!"

The three bodyguards behind her were stunned. "Don't just stand there, chase her!" Zhao Chen yelled from behind.

The bodyguards gave chase.

It was a familiar scene. Shang Moting watched the young woman running toward them while calling for help. Unlike the time at the mirage, her performance this time was heavily exaggerated. The teachers at the film academy were right to suggest she change careers. Another difference was that Wei Zhishu and Fang Cheng did not stop her.

Lin Ting ran so fast that she couldn't brake in time and slammed directly into Shang Moting’s chest, pushing him back half a step. Shang Moting caught her arms and looked down at her.

"Thank you," Lin Ting said first, then stepped back and added, "Sorry, I overacted a bit."

Wei Zhishu couldn't help but laugh. Fang Cheng was speechless. Shang Moting raised an eyebrow at her.

Lin Ting looked at the pursuing bodyguards and hid behind Shang Moting. "They’re bullying me."

Fang Cheng looked at her, wondering how she could say that with such a straight face. Wei Zhishu coughed softly. They had just seen her knock those men down with their own eyes.

The bodyguards stopped in front of them, but that was as far as they got. They couldn't even beat Lin Ting, let alone her and these three men. Besides, the man leading them looked like someone they couldn't afford to provoke. Just as the three guards were about to step aside, Zhao Chen’s voice came from the back.

"Do something! Grab her! What am I paying you for?"

***

The three bodyguards looked at the men before them. Wei Zhishu said, "Move aside. You can't win." The three men were quick to listen and stepped aside.

With the path clear, Shang Moting looked toward Zhao Chen. Zhao Chen, leaning against the wall, cursed, "A bunch of losers, can't even beat one woman! That woman is mine; I suggest you mind your own business!"

Lin Ting gripped Shang Moting’s sleeve. "He’s so scary."

Shang Moting looked at her, seeing no trace of fear on her face.

Zhao Chen’s face grew even redder. He irritably tugged at his clothes. "Don't meddle in things you shouldn't. I'm not someone you can afford to mess with."

"He said you can't afford to mess with him," Lin Ting repeated.

Shang Moting turned his head to look at the little repeater.

Zhao Chen looked even more agitated, covered in sweat. "Lin Ting, come here! Lin Jinchuan already sold you to me! If you serve me well, I might forget what just happened. Come here now! Otherwise, I'll make your Lin family disappear! You just know how to seduce men! Get over here!"

Hearing the man’s shouting, Shang Moting frowned, and the air pressure in the room seemed to drop. Wei Zhishu and Fang Cheng took a shallow breath.

Shang Moting said softly, "Dispose of him."

"Yes."

Wei Zhishu and Fang Cheng moved in swiftly, covering Zhao Chen’s mouth and dragging him into the room. Moments later, the sounds of Zhao Chen’s screams filled the corridor.

Lin Ting let go of Shang Moting’s sleeve. Shang Moting looked at her, noticing the fine beads of sweat on her forehead. He paused, then asked, "Are you hurt anywhere?"

It was a very clumsy attempt at conversation. Hearing his words, Lin Ting blinked and checked herself. Finally, she found a red, swollen spot on the back of her hand and held it out for him to see. "Here, it's all red."

It was from punching the guards earlier.

Shang Moting looked down. "So serious. If we had waited any longer, it might have faded away."

Lin Ting raised her hand and gave his arm a light tap. "Liar."

Shang Moting smiled, took her hand, and began to walk away. Lin Ting’s eyes widened as her hand was held. Shang Moting’s hand was large, completely enveloping hers. She looked at their joined hands and savored the moment. It felt like something quite magical.