Xia Mingyue glanced at her phone, her expression briefly stunned. However, it was just a moment before her expression returned to normal.

"Mingyue, are you okay?" Zhao Pu looked genuinely concerned.

Xia Mingyue looked up at Zhao Pu, stared at him for three full seconds, then suddenly smiled slightly and said, "It's nothing, just a harassing text message."

"With a beauty like you, Mingyue, there are too many people who adore you," Zhao Pu chuckled.

"Perhaps, but there are also many who resort to all kinds of schemes to achieve their vile objectives. Yet, not a single one has succeeded," Xia Mingyue said meaningfully.

Hearing Xia Mingyue's words, Zhao Pu just smiled lightly and said, "Of course, a woman of talent and beauty like Mingyue isn't someone ordinary people can covet. Mingyue, borrowing your words, for the sake of the friendly cooperation between our two families, let's drink this cup of wine."

"I must drink it, but, Mr. Zhao, do you want me to down it in one go like you?" Xia Mingyue said with a bitter expression, "I'm not good with alcohol. We still need to talk about work."

"Good wine is to be savored, let's take our time and not rush," Zhao Pu said considerately.

Xia Mingyue promptly picked up her wine glass and looked at the ruby red liquid within, a faint smile appearing on her face.

Zhao Pu took a small sip, but his eyes remained fixed on the wineglass in Xia Mingyue's hand.

"What's the matter, Mr. Xia? Aren't you going to taste it?" Zhao Pu asked with a slight smile.

Xia Mingyue didn't speak; her sensual red lips touched the wine in the glass, then she looked at Zhao Pu and said, "Mr. Zhao, staring at someone like that, you make it difficult for them to drink."

"Heh, I'll look away, then!" Zhao Pu's thought was simple; he wanted Xia Mingyue to drink the wine so he could proceed with his plan. Once she drank it, she'd have no choice but to let him carry out his intention, whether she wanted it or not.

Thinking this, Zhao Pu felt utterly pleased.

So, to ensure Xia Mingyue would drink, Zhao Pu quickly turned his gaze elsewhere. When he looked back at Xia Mingyue, her lips were moist, indicating she had indeed taken a sip.

Seeing this, Zhao Pu was even more delighted. He'd poured a whole capsule into the wineglass; whether she drank it all or just a sip, it wouldn't take five minutes for Xia Mingyue to lose herself.

Therefore, Zhao Pu didn't care how much Xia Mingyue drank; it only mattered that she drank at all.

"Mr. Zhao, shall we discuss that business deal now?" Xia Mingyue put down her wineglass, which still bore her lipstick mark. Had she not been in her normal state, Zhao Pu would have been tempted to kiss the glass himself.

"That's a trivial matter. Why rush, Ming Yue? I hear you don't have a boyfriend yet," said Zhao Pu, his eyes constantly roaming over Xia Mingyue as he spoke with a smiling gaze.

Although Xia Mingyue inwardly loathed Zhao Pu, she didn't want to fall out with him for the sake of the company's interests and just forced a smile, "Not yet, but I don't wish to bury my youth in a tomb anytime soon."

"You're wrong there, Ming Yue. As the saying goes, 'establish a home before a career.' You can only build your career after you've formed a home," Zhao Pu said earnestly, looking deep into Xia Mingyue's eyes, "To be honest, the moment I first saw you, I was deeply attracted. I would really like you to be my girlfriend. I'll treat you well for the rest of your life."

"Mr. Zhao... stop joking, we should talk about work," Xia Mingyue said with a start, quickly interjecting.

Seeing Xia Mingyue dodging and not outright rejecting him, Zhao Pu immediately became more audacious, grasping her hand and saying earnestly, "Ming Yue, I truly like you. If you're willing, our Zhao and Xia families joining forces would be invincible in business."

Seeing Zhao Pu make a move, Xia Mingyue instinctively withdrew her hand as if shocked by electricity and immediately stood up.

Zhao Pu saw Xia Mingyue stand up and thought whether the drug had taken effect or not, he would...

But before Zhao Pu could finish, Xia Mingyue slumped back onto the sofa, showing signs of weakening.

"What... what's happening?" Xia Mingyue asked weakly, her face filled with surprise.

"Ha, stand up then, come on, if you can," Zhao Pu laughed heartily, looking triumphant as he caressed Xia Mingyue's thigh and said, "I might as well tell you the truth. I spiked your drink with a high potency sleeping drug. Even if you only had a little bit, it will take effect quickly. You're feeling limp all over now, aren't you? Don't worry, you'll soon fall asleep. Oh, right, you didn't drink much, so it probably won't knock you out quickly. Therefore, I'll make sure you know exactly how it feels to be in agony wanting to find relief, half-awake, haha."

"You... you bastard!" Xia Mingyue's face was covered in shock as she heard Zhao Pu's words; clearly, she had somehow not expected that Zhao Pu really intended to make a move on her, and with such a despicable trick as drugging her.

But then again, those tricks seemed to be the favored method of rich young masters when playing with innocent girls.

"Ha ha, bastard? Rest assured, I'll show you how forceful I can be, and, in the future, you'll definitely be begging me to play with you. Gosh, I just can't help but be impatient, you know? When I saw you, my first reaction was to want you, it's just such a pity that your cousin is so very annoying," Zhao Pu laughed heartily, unashamedly bragging to Xia Mingyue with his disregard.

Xia Mingyue's face turned slightly red with anger, but she didn't speak.

Thinking the drug was taking effect since Xia Mingyue remained silent, Zhao Pu chuckled lowly, his hands about to grope Xia Mingyue without restraint.

If nothing went wrong, Zhao Pu was sure to succeed. Although this tactic had been overused by him, it had always worked, luring girls into bed wasn't anything new for him; no, this must have been the umpteenth time.

But...

"Mr. Zhao, what an elegant hobby you have."

A voice that should not have been in this room clearly came from a corner of the room.

This made Zhao Pu, whose hands were almost on Xia Mingyue's waist, freeze, and he immediately looked towards where the sound originated.

There, where Zhao Pu had been pouring the drink, Ye Xiao leaned casually against the bar, watching Zhao Pu with great interest.

Zhao Pu was startled to see Ye Xiao; wasn't this guy gone? Even if he hadn't left, how did he appear here?

"How are you here?" Zhao Pu asked, his face full of shock; then narrowed his eyes, staring coldly at Ye Xiao.

Ye Xiao just smiled slightly and said, "I said I was going for a walk, but I didn't say where. It's just, the way you treat Mr. Xia, isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

Zhao Pu stepped back twice, quickly pulling a black metal object from under the sofa and aiming it at Ye Xiao.

It was a gun, a pistol with a silencer.

Ye Xiao was slightly startled to see the gun; he hadn't expected Zhao Pu to have a pistol. Wasn't Yan Country extremely strict with gun control? Where did this guy's pistol come from? And it was even fitted with a silencer; what kind of person was Zhao Pu, really?

Xia Mingyue was also shocked to see this; she hadn't imagined Zhao Pu would actually have a handgun. Though Xia Mingyue didn't understand guns, she knew from TV that special police on secret missions always used silencers, and the one on the ruffian's pistol looked exactly the same.

"You even have a gun!" Ye Xiao raised an eyebrow at Zhao Pu, chuckling lightly, his words laced with a hint of scorn.

Zhao Pu, with a gun in hand, wasn't afraid at all and laughed arrogantly, "If you listen to me, boy, I'll let you live. But if you resist at all, hmph, I'll put seven or eight bullet holes in you, ha ha."

"Mr. Zhao, I advise you to apologize to Mr. Xia now, otherwise, you'll regret it. I'm usually very patient, but if you push me too hard, I might become unhappy," Ye Xiao's words still carried a smile.

"Unhappy?" Zhao Pu laughed aloud, then suddenly his face twisted viciously, glaring at Ye Xiao, "Then I'll send you to see King Yan."

As soon as Zhao Pu finished speaking, his finger pulled the trigger.

A muffled thud sounded as the bullet 'whooshed' out, aimed directly at Ye Xiao's thigh. Clearly, although Zhao Pu's words were harsh, he didn't actually plan on killing Ye Xiao.

Zhao Pu expected that this shot would bring Ye Xiao down on one knee.

However, things did not go as Zhao Pu had imagined. Ye Xiao slanted his knee slightly, and the bullet brushed past the edge of his trousers, leaving a gray mark as if it had been scorched by something hot.

"Ah?" Zhao Pu was shocked to see this, he never expected Ye Xiao to dodge, but dodging one bullet didn't mean all others could be dodged. Without a second thought, Zhao Pu fired several more bullets at Ye Xiao with a furious spray.

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