Chapter 5: Entrapment

"What did you say?" An Yu looked as if he was about to throw a punch.

A Li shrank back a little and warned him, "Don't do anything stupid. If I call Uncle, he'll come right away, and you won't be able to handle the consequences."

"Ha! Always with 'Uncle' this and 'Uncle' that. Haven't you heard that independent women are the trend now? Spending your whole life orbiting around a man—you really disgrace women," An Yu mocked.

Though it was true, A Li retorted, "Well, it’s not your face I’m disgracing. Unless you want to switch and become a woman?"

"You!" An Yu lunged at her, but A Li quickly dodged, intending to find Lu Jin Yan.

But as soon as she returned to the private room,

A Li saw Lu Jin Yan and Liu Meng Wan leaning together. Lu Jin Yan had drunk quite a bit tonight; his expression was languid, and Liu Meng Wan rested her head on his shoulder, her red lips almost brushing his cheek as she whispered something to him. He responded with a gentle smile.

So natural.

Anyone looking would think they were a couple in love.

A sharp pang twisted A Li’s heart.

If she had someone to rely on, an escape route, she would have rushed over, pulled the two apart, and declared to Liu Meng Wan that Lu Jin Yan was her man—hands off.

Or, with more flair, she could simply let them be and decisively file for divorce.

But with no memories and nowhere to turn, she could only stand frozen in place.

"Look at that—do you still have the nerve to approach them?" An Yu’s mocking voice echoed.

A Li snapped out of her daze.

Why wouldn’t she? She was Uncle’s wife!

And Grandma had said it—she had no way out; even if she lost all dignity, she had to cling to him.

"Un—"

A Li stepped forward, about to call out to Lu Jin Yan.

But An Yu was quick; he covered her mouth and dragged her out of the room.

A Li was startled, struggling to push him away, glaring at him in disbelief. "What are you doing?"

An Yu lifted his chin with a smug grin. "Tonight, you won’t be disturbing Jin Yan and Meng Wan."

"You’re insane!" A Li had not expected An Yu to be so unhinged.

She tried to re-enter the private room, but a few people emerged from it, all wearing malicious smiles that sent chills down A Li's spine. "What are you all up to?"

An Yu raised an eyebrow, "You seduced Jin Yan into sleeping with you back then and forced him to take responsibility. If he sleeps with Meng Wan tonight, do you think he’ll take responsibility for her too?"

A cold wave swept over A Li, fury rising to its peak. "You’re all mad! Uncle would never sleep with Liu Meng Wan!"

"Why not? They’re mutually attracted. If you hadn’t interfered, they’d have gotten together long ago!"

Besides, tonight’s drinks had been laced with something to stir desire.

A man and a woman, dry wood and fire.

Even a saint like Lu Jin Yan would eventually fall.

But An Yu saw no reason to tell A Li any of this.

"You’re all bastards!" A Li gritted her teeth and turned to run.

She needed to call Grandma and have her sort this out.

But An Yu had anticipated this. He exchanged glances with his friends, grabbed A Li, took her phone, and shoved her into another empty private room.

"Behave yourself in here; you’ll be let out in the morning," An Yu said, shutting the door.

A Li’s heart thudded in panic, unprecedented terror threatening to swallow her whole.

She pounded desperately at the door, shouting, "Let me out! Let me out! Help! Help! Someone open the door! I’m being held prisoner!"

But this corridor had already been cleared by An Yu—no one would pass by.

A Li had no idea how long she screamed; her voice was hoarse.

Her strength failed her, and she slid down to the floor, sobbing. The thought of what Lu Jin Yan and Liu Meng Wan might be doing right now nearly drove her to despair.

"Uncle! Uncle, I beg you, please, please don’t abandon me…"

The next morning.

The door to the private room opened.

An Yu strode in, triumphant. Seeing A Li curled up by the door, he grinned smugly, "You can get lost now."

But A Li sprang up and slapped him hard across the face, her fury unrestrained. "You beast!"

An Yu was stunned for a moment, then livid.

He had never been struck in his life.

"You bitch! How dare you hit me?!"

Seeing the murderous look in An Yu’s eyes, his face twisted in rage, A Li’s heart skipped a beat. She tried to flee, but An Yu seized her and flung her violently.

Bang!

A Li’s head struck the wall, sending her vision spinning. Something wet trickled down her forehead.

Her body went limp from the pain, sliding to the floor.

An Yu’s voice spat venom.

"You filthy whore! Still daring to hit people! Do you think Jin Yan will protect you now? Meng Wan is back. I could have someone violate you and he wouldn’t care!"

A Li listened in a daze, her heart sinking into cold despair.

Yes.

She was a lone orphan with no background. Without the Lu family’s protection, these privileged young men could destroy her with a single word.

But why should they be allowed to bully her like this?

A Li’s heart simmered with grievance. As An Yu drew close, she summoned the last dregs of her strength and swung her fist hard into his groin.

"Aaaahhh!" An Yu screamed, doubling over, his face contorted in agony and fury. "Bitch! I’ll kill you!"

But A Li had completely run out of energy.

She leaned against the wall and started to laugh.

That would hurt An Yu enough.

No regrets!

Just as she resigned herself to her fate, a tall figure suddenly appeared before her, blocking her from harm.