Chapter 8

Leng Xiang leaned dazedly against the bar counter, her mind wandering off into the distance, on the verge of falling asleep. Suddenly, a man’s hand patted her shoulder.

Leng Xiang showed no reaction, emboldening the man further.

The bartender was in the back storeroom fetching something. Aside from this one drunk woman, there was no one else around.

A lone drunk woman was simply too good an opportunity to pass up.

The man recalled how this little beauty had danced in the Red Pool earlier—stunningly gorgeous, enough to quicken his breath just thinking about it.

He helped her up from the bar counter. Leng Xiang mumbled something, but he didn’t catch it and couldn’t be bothered to listen.

Leng Xiang seemed to want to struggle, but drunk as she was, her body was limp and powerless.

The man straightforwardly hoisted her up entirely and supported her as he headed out.

Leng Xiang assumed it was Shen Cheng coming to take her home. She closed her eyes and leaned against the other’s shoulder, gradually ceasing her struggles.

He led her through the bar and up to the second floor. The dim blue lighting abruptly vanished, replaced by harsh white light. Someone half-supported and half-carried her upstairs, where the hotel was located.

At the hotel front desk, the man opened a room. Seeing Leng Xiang’s poor condition, the front desk girl asked if he needed any help. He tightened his arm around Leng Xiang’s shoulders, waved her off, and said no.

Maliciously, the man thought that in a bar, a lone little beauty getting drunk—wasn’t that just asking to be picked up? What help did he need?

He took the room card and led her to the elevator. It quickly ascended to the thirty-fifth floor. He swiped the card to open the door, tossed Leng Xiang onto the bed, and removed the mask from her face.

The man’s breathing immediately grew heavy.

Still uneasy, he pulled a small bottle from his pocket and held it under Leng Xiang’s nose.

Leng Xiang was oblivious as the gas from the bottle was inhaled into her body with her breaths.

The bartender rushed straight to the hotel front desk upstairs with backup, asking if anyone had just brought in a drunk woman to book a room.

The front desk girl realized what was happening and hurriedly gave him the room number. The bartender grabbed a spare key card and dashed to the elevator while calling Jiang Sisi.

Jiang Sisi hung up and headed upstairs. Spotting their boss, the front desk girl hurried over to ask what had happened.

With a cold expression, Jiang Sisi summoned a few bodyguards and took the elevator up.

By the time the bartender swiped the card and burst in, Leng Xiang was already barely conscious.

Seeing his plans ruined by intruders, the man spewed a stream of filthy curses.

Leng Xiang still lay on the bed, her clothes intact—it seemed the man hadn’t had a chance to act yet.

The bartender and his men rushed in, subdued him, twisted his arms behind his back, bound him, and tossed him aside.

That was the scene Jiang Sisi walked into.

Leng Xiang lay on the bed, properly covered by the blanket, her clothes still intact.

The man had already been beaten. Unconvinced, he yelled, “Why’d you hit me? My wife and I are just getting a room—what business is it of yours!”

He tried to struggle again, only for the bartender to kick him in the abdomen. “Your wife? You’re the scum trying to take advantage of her!”

The bartender continued pummeling the man, who wailed in pain.

Jiang Sisi said, “Take him to the police station.”

The bartender pointed at Leng Xiang on the bed. “She doesn’t look right.”

He kicked the man again. “What did you do, you bastard?”

The man hit the floor, and the bartender found the small bottle in his pocket. He spat in disgust. “This animal drugged her!”

“Boss, what now?”

The man was hauled away. Jiang Sisi took the bottle, examined it, knew what it was, and tossed it back. “Call the hotel’s on-duty doctor to check her out.”

The five-star hotel in the Black Pool Building always had an on-duty doctor to handle emergencies.

The doctor arrived quickly and gave Leng Xiang a preliminary examination.

Everyone watched from the side.

The drug’s effects had Leng Xiang delirious, letting out occasional low murmurs.

After observing for a moment, the doctor shook his head. “The drug is too potent, and it’s been active for a while now. It’s beyond suppression at this point—she’s already showing signs of dehydration.”

“Either let her tough it out, or…”

Jiang Sisi asked, “Or what?”

The doctor replied, “Or help her relieve the fire, and it’ll pass naturally.”

Jiang Sisi thought for a moment. “You all go back first. I’ll handle it.”

The doctor hesitated, as if wanting to say something more, but ultimately held back and left.

Confident in their boss’s abilities, the bartender nodded and led the others out of the hotel room.

Jiang Sisi turned back to Leng Xiang on the bed.

Leng Xiang writhed restlessly under the covers. Jiang Sisi approached, sat on the edge of the bed, and felt her forehead to check her condition.

The Black Fox Mask had long been discarded on the floor. Leng Xiang’s eyes were tightly shut, the corners flushed red as if she’d been bullied to tears. Her usual arrogance and poise had vanished entirely; she could only huddle pitifully into a ball beneath the sheets.

Jiang Sisi’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before she reached out to feel her forehead again.

Burning hot—far beyond a normal fever.

If this continued, it could even threaten her life.

Leng Xiang was muddled, unaware of her state. She only knew she was scorching hot, hot enough to die. Yet her body was covered in cold sweat while burning intensely inside. A surging heat flowed through her, laced with tingling electric currents. She trembled all over, her mind frayed by the drug.

Suddenly, a cool, soft hand touched her.

Like finding a sliver of solace, Leng Xiang immediately pressed herself against it. She nearly wriggled entirely out from under the covers, her clothes tangled messily on her body. Feeling uncomfortable, she tugged unconsciously—and with a sharp rip, the fabric tore.