7 Trouble

Lin City is located in a coastal region and was among the first in the country to experience rapid development. Over the years, it has transformed into a dazzling, neon-lit, ultra-first-tier metropolis.

Luo Wen grew up in a small town. Despite his academic excellence and sharp intellect, surviving in this prosperous yet indifferent city was no easy task, especially with a sick mother requiring ongoing treatment. If he hadn't been driven to a dead end, he never would have agreed to that preposterous agreement.

Luo Wen did not take any more money from Lu Mingzhou than necessary; he still sought every opportunity to work and study whenever he had a spare moment.

Qingxuan Pavilion was a restaurant favored by the city’s wealthy young elite. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, beautiful young men and women dressed in traditional costumes performed elegant dances. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, part-time music conservatory students played a variety of instruments, offering a blend of Eastern and Western styles—a true visual and auditory feast.

As for Sundays, the theme was free-form. Whether it was clubbing or parties, these second-generation heirs did whatever they pleased, often causing a stir in the second-floor lobby.

Most of the staff here were young people hired by the owner at a high price, typically art students, all of them attractive and well-proportioned. The clientele consisted mostly of wealthy young heirs with time to burn; some sought casual encounters, while others hoped to climb the social ladder. However, the owner of this restaurant had significant connections, and the establishment operated on the principle of mutual consent—if a staff member was unwilling, they were never forced.

Besides, the salary was high enough to cover Luo Wen’s tuition with money to spare; otherwise, he would have quit long ago.

Today's restaurant theme was Western-inspired. Luo Wen and the other male servers were dressed in crisp, tailored white shirts layered with fitted waistcoats. The vests were slim-cut, cinching tightly at his waist. Paired with form-fitting black suit trousers, they clearly outlined his slender frame and lean waist.

He wore no expression, his gaze lowered with long, thick lashes, and his slightly elongated phoenix eyes slanted upward, maintaining that cold, unapproachable demeanor he presented to the outside world.

In reality, Luo Wen relied on this icy exterior to ward off many who wanted to strike up a conversation. Most people here valued mutual interest and playing the game, and someone with Luo Wen’s temperament was clearly not easy to handle.

"Luo Wen, could you please take this wine up to the second floor? The kitchen is rushing me, and I really can't get away," a young man with a delicate, cute appearance, dressed just like him, pleaded, cupping his hands together.

Luo Wen had a decent relationship with him; they usually helped each other out, and covering for one another was common. On any other day, he would have agreed, but thinking of the phone call he had just received from Lu Mingzhou, he hesitated.

"I have things to do," Luo Wen finally refused.

The young man stared at Luo Wen, his eyes flickering with an expression that was hard to define—perhaps relief, perhaps regret—before he looked away. "Alright then."

"..." Luo Wen frowned slightly and ignored him.

Upstairs, the second floor of Qingxuan Pavilion was bustling with activity.

Groups of wealthy heirs were mingling with their companions, toasting and joking, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Ke Tianyu was among them. Seeing someone come up from the first floor, he squinted, his arm around a young celebrity, his eyes filled with excitement and anticipation. However, upon seeing that it was just the delicate-looking young man, his expression turned to disappointment.

The newcomer was the same youth who had just spoken to Luo Wen. He walked over to Ke Tianyu with a tray, his face full of embarrassment. "Brother Tianyu, I tried, but he wouldn't come up."

Ke Tianyu shoved his male companion aside, his expression turning vicious, his voice filled with suspicion and dissatisfaction. "How can you not handle such a trivial thing? If you can't trick him, can't you just get people to drag him up here?"

The youth smiled bitterly. "That... that wouldn't be good."

He had worked with Luo Wen for a while and had never encountered such trouble. While feeling awkward, he actually felt a spark of pity for Luo Wen: to be targeted by someone like this was truly a stroke of bad luck!

Ke Tianyu stood up, smoothed the wrinkles on his jacket, sneered at the youth, and sauntered downstairs.

He spotted the handsome young man standing out from the crowd immediately.

Actually, there were others more handsome than Luo Wen, but perhaps it was because he hadn't crossed paths with this type of proud and aloof person, or perhaps because that guy Lu Mingzhou guarded him so tightly, but Ke Tianyu found himself irresistibly tempted.

Thinking of the text message Lu Mingzhou had sent him a few days ago, Ke Tianyu still felt his teeth ache with resentment.

*Fine, so you've set your sights on him, but what can you do about it?* Ke Tianyu thought with arrogance, never believing that Lu Mingzhou would break ties with him over a mere poor student.

The Ke and Luo families were old friends and business partners; surely Lu Mingzhou wouldn't kill him over this, would he?

Ke Tianyu felt completely untouchable.

Luo Wen finished refilling a guest's tea and was heading toward the back kitchen when someone blocked his path.

He held the teapot, glanced up at the person, frowned inwardly, pursed his lips, and tried to step aside.

"Why the rush to hide?" Ke Tianyu blocked his way again, leaning against the wall like a bully, grinning at Luo Wen as he reached out to touch his face.

Lu Mingzhou had used this move on him before, and Luo Wen had responded with silence rather than disgust. But when the same move came from Ke Tianyu, he realized that there were levels to being a scoundrel—at least Lu Mingzhou was easy on the eyes and didn't make one feel quite so nauseated.

Luo Wen kept his face cold and turned his head to dodge the hand.

The path to the back kitchen was a corridor tucked behind the restaurant for aesthetic reasons, so almost no one passed through it except for the servers.

Those who noticed the two slowed their pace, glancing back repeatedly, but seeing Ke Tianyu, who often caused trouble here, they didn't dare to look for long and hurried away.

It was common for employees here to be hit on or even taken away, and they didn't find it strange, though some kept a secret watch, fearing trouble and quietly looking for the owner.

Ke Tianyu didn't expect Luo Wen to be so disrespectful. In his mind, a poor student was someone who should be ready to come whenever someone with money beckoned. If Young Master Lu could have him, why couldn't he?

His face darkened, and he felt quite annoyed. "Don't be ungrateful. What does Lu Mingzhou give you? I can give you the same."

Ke Tianyu’s offensive gaze wandered over him, as if appraising a fish on a cutting board. "Stay with me, and I'll double it. Do you want money or a car?"

Every pore of Luo Wen’s body radiated disgust and hatred. He refused expressionlessly, "Sorry, I don't know you."

"Hey, I really don't believe it today." Seeing Luo Wen standing firm and realizing so many people were watching, Ke Tianyu felt he had never been more humiliated. He hardened his heart and caught sight of the youth who had followed him, the one he had just scolded. "You, come here. Today, even if you have to carry him, get him upstairs for me."

The youth was at a loss, looking at Luo Wen, not knowing what to do. Only when Ke Tianyu threatened him did he hesitantly step forward. "Brother Luo, don't blame me. I have no choice."

Luo Wen hadn't expected him to be so bold as to snatch someone in a public place. A trace of shock flashed through his phoenix eyes, and he turned to run, but his clothes were grabbed tightly.

The youth covered his mouth, his face full of guilt, apologizing incessantly. "Brother Luo, I really have no choice. No one in my family supports my studies; I rely on this job that Young Master Ke introduced to me."

Luo Wen’s eyes were filled with anger. He watched as Ke Tianyu approached, that contemptuous, mocking look as if he were watching an ant struggling hopelessly on a spiderweb.

Trapped, Luo Wen struggled with all his might, clutching at everything he could reach, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.

In the darkness, he touched something—the teapot he had left aside earlier. Without a second thought, he grabbed it and hurled it forward with all his might.

A cry of pain rang out in the dim corridor. The youth was so startled that he instinctively let go of Luo Wen’s mouth and trembled. He saw Ke Tianyu standing under the dim, yellowish light, clutching his bleeding forehead, looking at them with a cold, sinister expression.

Half of his face was in the light, while the other half was swallowed by darkness. Thick, bright red blood gushed from his forehead, and his eyes, filled with malice, glared fiercely at Luo Wen through the blood. His facial contours were shrouded in a bloody haze, making the youth feel for a fleeting moment that he was looking at a demon.

Ke Tianyu licked the blood that had slid across his lips, his eyes bloodshot and abnormally red. He stepped forward, grabbed Luo Wen by the throat, and with his other hand, tore the tie from Luo Wen’s neck, rolled it into a ball, and stuffed it into his mouth, signaling the youth to hold him down.

The corridor was not long, and Ke Tianyu, as a regular, knew there was a utility room at the back.

He hadn't intended to make a scene, but this person was simply too unappreciative.

Ke Tianyu swung a heavy slap, spat out the blood in his throat, and laughed wildly. "If you won't take the easy way, don't blame me for what happens next."

The youth was uneasy, stealing a glance at Ke Tianyu. Seeing the madness in his eyes, his heart hammered wildly.

A bright red handprint appeared on Luo Wen’s fair face. He was held by both men and dragged toward the back.

Luo Wen had been here long enough to know what that place was. He didn't stop struggling, but he was no match for the strength of two men. Even while resisting with all his might, he was dragged into the utility room.

Luo Wen raised his jet-black eyes, his pupils like unmelting ink, staring straight ahead.

A faint, ghostly blue gleam flickered in his eyes. He lowered his head, as if he had given up, staring blankly at his own blood-stained, bruised fingertips.

Ke Tianyu glanced at him, and seeing him stop struggling, as if resigned to his fate, his eyes couldn't help but show a hint of mockery.

No one noticed a chilly wind brushing through the corridor, gently swirling the dust on the floor.

A massive shadow emerged behind Ke Tianyu, a pair of huge, blood-red eyes staring intently at him and the youth, filled with malice and greed.

Ke Tianyu felt as if someone had breathed on the back of his neck, a cold, soft sensation. He frowned and looked behind him, but seeing nothing, he gave a light "tsk." Dragging Luo Wen along, he reached out to open the utility room door.

He couldn't wait to see the expression of this high-and-mighty, beautiful young man as he knelt on the ground, crying and begging for mercy.

"What's going on?" Ke Tianyu pushed the door hard, but the wooden door didn't budge. Thinking something was jammed, he looked down, his eyes filled with impatience.

A long, straight leg appeared before him. Ke Tianyu looked up, and a face of incomparable handsomeness came into his view.

It was Lu Mingzhou.

Recognizing the person, his face immediately showed astonishment, followed by utter awkwardness.

At the same moment, those huge, bright red blood-shot eyes blinked gently the moment the owner of that face appeared and vanished behind Ke Tianyu.

It was as if they had never been there, and no one noticed anything unusual.