Velvet Chains of a Tycoon

"Get lost!"

Yang Cheng, holding a glass of wine, approached Qin Ran.

"Qin Ran, if you don't want the rent to increase and want to keep the original payment method, it's not impossible."

"As long as you agree to marry me, I'll let you use those two storefronts for free. You can even open a shop there without paying any rent."

Qin Ran struggled to suppress her disgust. "I told you yesterday, I'm already married!"

"Married? Then spend one night with me, and I'll renew the contract with you based on the previous terms!"

After saying this, Yang Cheng reached out, grabbed Qin Ran's arm, and pulled her towards him. "Come on, go upstairs and sleep with me!"

"Get lost—"

Qin Ran kicked Yang Cheng away and turned to run toward the door.

Enraged and humiliated, Yang Cheng quickly chased after her.

"Qin Ran, you bitch, how dare you kick me!"

Lu Sheng was having dinner with clients from North City in a VIP room on the eighth floor of the Xingyue Hotel in Bincheng that night. At 8:30 PM, after finishing dinner, he stepped out of the elevator and saw someone being chased down the stairs.

A young woman in a light purple sports shirt was running down the stairs, followed by a middle-aged man with a protruding belly, panting as he chased her.

"Qin Ran, stop right there!"

Lu Sheng usually had no interest in such petty dramas between men and women, but the words shouted by the middle-aged man made him pause.

Qin Ran?

Why does that name sound familiar?

He turned around, curious, and recognized the woman running down the stairs. It was indeed someone he knew. Although her cheeks were flushed and her hair was slightly disheveled, he immediately recognized her as the woman who had firmly refused his bank card earlier that morning.

In her haste, Qin Ran stumbled over the last step when a foot suddenly appeared. She couldn't avoid it and fell forward, nearly face-planting. But she quickly regained control, grabbed the person, and used them as a cushion. Though she avoided falling, she also lost precious time, allowing Yang Cheng and his men to catch up and block her path.

Fuming, Yang Cheng shouted at his men, "What are you waiting for? Grab her and take her to my bed!"

The seven or eight men surrounding Qin Ran were the ones who had just dined with Yang Cheng. Hearing his command, they all moved to surround her.

Seeing the group closing in, Qin Ran's dark eyes grew cold as she began to warm up, flexing her wrists.

Lu Sheng took a few steps closer, observing the woman surrounded by the men. Her once distant and beautiful face now had a coldness he had never seen before. The men around her all wore lecherous grins, clearly intending to gang up on her.

Isn't she a college student? He had thought her social circle would be simple, but it seemed much more complicated, involving such scum.

As the men prepared to attack, Lu Sheng suppressed his irritation.

"Stop!"

The deep, icy command froze Qin Ran mid-movement. A group of well-trained bodyguards surrounded them, encircling the group. Qin Ran found the voice somewhat familiar but couldn't place it. The crowd was too dense, and all the faces were unfamiliar.

Lu Sheng, fearing recognition, quickly turned away after shouting, leaving the rest to his friend and assistant, Cheng Yu.

Cheng Yu addressed the group coldly, "Fighting is prohibited in the Xingyue Hotel!"

Qin Ran paused, her interest in a fight dampened by the hotel's strict rules. The others also halted, intimidated by Cheng Yu's presence.

Yang Cheng, mustering his courage, asked, "Excuse me, who are you?"

Su Yue, standing next to Cheng Yu, answered, "This is Cheng Yu from the Lu Corporation."

Cheng Yu from the Lu Corporation? The right-hand man of the CEO of the Lu Corporation? He had heard rumors that the Xingyue Hotel was owned by the Lu Corporation, but hadn't believed it until now. The group's expressions changed instantly.

Though puzzled by his boss's sudden intervention, Cheng Yu decided to follow through. He glared at them, "Fighting in the Xingyue Hotel shows complete disregard for our rules. Get out and never come back!"

The men turned and fled toward the hotel entrance. Seeing Yang Cheng about to escape, a fierce look flashed in Qin Ran's eyes. She quickly blocked his path.

"Mr. Yang, we haven't signed the renewal contract yet."

Panicked, Yang Cheng tried to kick her aside, "Bitch, what are you doing? Get out of my way!"

Qin Ran retracted her arm as he kicked, and Yang Cheng, thinking he had succeeded, started to run. But he only managed a few steps before a powerful force sent him flying. He landed face-first on the marble floor, spewing out food and drink, with a trickle of blood from his nose.

Qin Ran strolled over, grabbed Yang Cheng by the collar, and flipped him over. "Mr. Yang, will you sign the renewal contract now?"

Yang Cheng, in agony, shouted, "Mr. Cheng, she's fighting here!"

From the shadows, Cheng Yu's brow furrowed. That kick was quite powerful; he had underestimated her abilities.

Cheng Yu, slightly annoyed, reprimanded, "Miss, fighting is strictly prohibited in the Xingyue Hotel. Are you disregarding our rules?"

Qin Ran raised an eyebrow, her expression innocent. "How could I? I'm alone. Which eye of yours saw me gather a crowd?"

Cheng Yu: "..."

Seemingly, her logic was sound.

Yang Cheng, terrified, cried, "Help!"

His friends, who had already reached the hotel entrance, came back to help. Qin Ran's icy gaze swept over them.

"Do you want to gather a crowd?"