DREB CHAPTER 64

“It’s so late. Where are you going?” Lu Lianning’s eyes were cold, his smile never reaching them.

Lin Sheng scoffed at the ridiculous question, responding curtly, “It’s only 7:30. Is that later than when your engagement banquet ends, Mr. Lu?”

The thin, menacing smile on Lu Lianning’s face disappeared entirely. He spat out a few words, “You have no sense of self-preservation.”

He reached out to grab Li Yan, who seemed paralyzed with fear, and said in a deep voice, “Come out first!”

Li Yan was forcibly dragged by Lu Lianning, nearly lifted off the ground, while Lin Sheng grabbed his other wrist.

The tension in the air thickened, making it hard for Li Yan to breathe.

Lin Sheng met Lu Lianning’s murderous gaze without flinching, his lips curling into a smirk as he said to Lu Lianning. “Isn’t it just a debt! Ten million, with interest. I’ll pay it off for him.” As if that wasn’t enough, he continued, “Is it necessary to torture him like this every day? You won’t let him work, won’t let him have friends, won’t even let him watch TV at home…”

“What the hell does that have to do with you! Who do you think you are!?” Lu Lianning finally dropped all pretense of civility. He yanked Li Yan closer and growled, “So, you’re his close friend now? Telling him everything?” He grabbed Li Yan’s chin with his free hand, forcing him to meet his stormy gaze. “Did you hear that!? He says he’ll pay your debt. Tell him yourself—do you need him to pay it off?”

Just then, a car pulled up in front of Lin Sheng’s. Lin Cheng stepped out, followed by a few bodyguards.

Li Yan’s palms were sweaty, his body tense. By now, Lu Lianning had released his wrist and stood outside the car, waiting silently for Li Yan’s response.

Li Yan lowered his head. The dim light inside the car made it hard for Lin Sheng to read his expression. Slowly, Li Yan began prying Lin Sheng’s hand off his wrist. Lin Sheng frowned and said in frustration, “You don’t have to be afraid of him. Someone like him…”

Before Lin Sheng could finish, Li Yan cut him off, “No. Really, it’s fine.” His face seemed composed again as he glanced at the group of expressionless men in black suits behind Lu Lianning. It was clear that Lu Lianning had no intention of letting Lin Sheng leave.

Li Yan wore a deeply troubled expression, but it was directed at Lin Sheng, as if Lin Sheng were the one causing him problems. “I’ve told you before, I’m fine. Stop meddling. You’re only making things harder for me.” The look of frustration on his face was something Lin Sheng had never seen in him before.

“Come on, stop trying to play the hero. My life’s not that tragic.” Li Yan slowly stepped out of the car. He didn’t even need Lu Lianning to pull him and walked over on his own. He waved at Lin Sheng impatiently, who was still staring at him in disbelief, unsure how to react. “Just go.”

But Lin Cheng’s car was still blocking Lin Sheng’s, and Lu Lianning’s expression showed no hint of softening, unaffected by Li Yan’s performance.

Li Yan took a deep breath, forcing a smile as he struggled to control his expression. He reached out and took Lu Lianning’s hand. “Let’s go home…”

Lu Lianning didn’t pull away, but it was clear he wasn’t going to let things go easily. “I gave you a chance!”

“I’m sorry, I was wrong…” Li Yan’s eyelashes trembled as he leaned closer, apologizing and admitting his mistake.

Lin Sheng sat in his car with the door wide open, watching the scene unfold without blinking. As Li Yan pleaded, Lu Lianning listened, slightly lifting his chin. His eyes, filled with disdain, locked onto Lin Sheng as if mocking him for overestimating himself. After all, he had been an outsider from the beginning.

Just then, Lin Cheng approached Lu Lianning and whispered something.

Lu Lianning glanced into the distance, catching the fading taillights of a car. The engagement banquet wasn’t over yet, and he had left through the back door. A reporter might have followed him, or someone might have noticed the star of the banquet had suddenly disappeared. If it was Lu Anling’s people looking for him, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But if it was someone from the Song family, things could get complicated.

Of course, Lu Lianning blamed everything on Lin Sheng. But Li Yan had managed to smooth things over. His apology was sincere, and he had even said those things to Lin Sheng. The dumbfounded look on Lin Sheng’s face made Lu Lianning scoff inwardly. Besides, the timing tonight wasn’t ideal…

“Get lost.” Lu Lianning kicked the door of Lin Sheng’s car, leaving a deep dent. Next to him, Li Yan flinched.

The car door slammed shut, and it looked like it wouldn’t be opening again.

Lu Lianning turned and dragged Li Yan along. Li Yan stumbled, struggling to keep up. Glancing back, he noticed Lin Sheng’s car was still there, but the vehicle blocking it had already driven away.

“Are we going back to the banquet hall? People are already looking for you,” Lin Cheng said, following behind.

“No need. Tell them I’m not feeling well and went home to rest.” Lu Lianning’s pace didn’t change as he led Li Yan toward the hotel’s underground parking lot.

Lu Lianning had been fine just moments ago, and now he was suddenly claiming to feel unwell. Lin Cheng frowned. With so many guests, especially from Lu Anling’s side, it wouldn’t be easy to explain.

He wanted to persuade Lu Lianning, but before he could speak, Lu Lianning had already shoved the Beta into the car and slammed the door shut.

The car hadn’t even left the underground parking lot when Lu Lianning exploded in anger. He unbuttoned his collar, fury barely contained as he glared at Li Yan. “If I catch you again, I’ll make sure he disappears from City A for good.”

Li Yan tried to put as much distance as possible between himself and Lu Lianning and refrained from speaking.

But Lu Lianning continued, his words harsh. “Complaining to him? Telling him I treat you badly? You think that’ll help? Qin Liu can’t save you, and neither can he.”

Hearing Qin Liu’s name again, Li Yan, despite telling himself not to argue, couldn’t help but retort, “Lin Sheng and I are just friends! Why do you have to act like this! He was just being kind…”

“Kind, my ass! Tell me, how long have you two even known each other? What kind of ‘good friend’ offers to pay off a 10 million debt just like that!” Lu Lianning gritted his teeth, clearly regretting letting Lin Sheng off too easily after being coaxed by Li Yan.

“Do I really need to explain what he’s thinking! I don’t know what’s going through your head, but the more I tell you to stay away from him, the closer you get!?” Lu Lianning’s rage intensified with every word. “You fucking smell yourself! I didn’t drink as much as you at the engagement party today! Where did you go with him!”

Li Yan’s temper flared at his unreasonable accusations. “He was just trying to help! There’s no hidden agenda! You don’t want me to have any friends—it’s the same with anyone!” His eyes reddened with anger. “You never wanted things to go well for me. You just want me to suffer. If anyone hurts you, you make them pay a thousand times over!”

“Stop the car!” Lu Lianning suddenly shouted, startling the driver into slamming on the brakes. They were in a deserted area with no one around.

“Get out!” Lu Lianning’s face was full of hostility, his expression twisted with undeniable rage.

Once the car stopped, the driver quickly got out, leaving only Li Yan and Lu Lianning inside. In the dim light, Lu Lianning’s face looked even more menacing, and it was then that fear crept into Li Yan.

“You’re yelling at me because of him?!” Lu Lianning was livid. “He’s the good guy, and I’m just the villain who wants you to suffer and pay back every little grudge!”

Li Yan, unwilling to confront the real issue, ignored the second half of his words and retorted, “I wasn’t yelling at you. My voice wasn’t even as loud as yours.”

Without wasting any more words, Lu Lianning reached over to grab Li Yan’s clothes. Li Yan shrank back, but after a few tugs, he was pulled forward again.

If he still didn’t understand why Lu Lianning had asked the driver to leave, then he’d really be a fool.

Outside, the driver stood in the biting November wind, smoking one cigarette after another. His face stung from the cold, his legs were numb, and half a pack of cigarettes was gone by the time the car window finally rolled down, signaling him to return.

When he got back in, the thick scent of Alpha pheromones hit him so hard he nearly stumbled.

He quickly rolled down the front windows, started the engine, and glanced into the rearview mirror. The heated argument between the two had shifted to a much different atmosphere.

The Beta sat curled in the back corner, his eyes vacant and red-rimmed, his breathing labored. His clothes were wrinkled and disheveled.

The driver averted his eyes. The overwhelming pheromones were uncomfortable enough for him—he could only imagine how unbearable it must be for the Beta, who was the direct target.

After venting, Lu Lianning was no longer as enraged, but he was always petty and slow to calm down. Li Yan didn’t dare make a sound anymore, but Lu Lianning continued to berate Lin Sheng, “And he had the nerve to say he’d pay your debt. He hasn’t even finished school and has no real power, yet wants to play the hero. That 10 million? It’ll come from Lin Zhe. You think Lin Sheng has that kind of money?” His tone was dripping with contempt as if to suggest Li Yan was blind for befriending someone like that.

“Someone like him loses his temper with me, and you think you don’t deserve to be taught a lesson?” Lu Lianning turned to look at Li Yan.

Li Yan had slumped over completely, his neck exposing the bite where he’d been marked, dried blood staining his collar.

Of course, Li Yan wasn’t going to respond now. Lu Lianning knew Li Yan was traditional at heart—he hated engaging in these things anywhere but the bedroom.

Lu Lianning was skilled at stirring up trouble and chaos, knowing someone would always clean up after him. If not, the mess would eventually sort itself out.

But right now, Li Yan seemed too broken to pull himself together. After winning his argument and flaunting his victory, Lu Lianning naturally pulled him into his arms as the driver made a turn, causing Li Yan’s head to tilt toward the window.

In an awkward tone, Lu Lianning asked the stiff Li Yan, “Did I bite you too hard?” He gently placed a hand over the swollen, fevered area on the back of Li Yan’s neck, where the bite had drawn blood.