That day, Ji Ling had caused such a scene that no one dared to confront him directly again. However, the gossip behind his back never stopped, and it mostly revolved around him and Yan Yixuan.
People were curious about what kind of power someone must have to get a young master like Yan Yixuan to pick them up from the hospital and take them for a stroll at the racetrack.
In this place, it seemed like being favored by a rich benefactor was the highest form of honor.
At least Ji Ling had some peace on the surface. His voice was hoarse and rough when he spoke, and he could no longer do the work he used to. The company had assigned him menial tasks instead.
It was a strange experience for him.
But Ji Ling had always been self-disciplined and reserved. After his outburst that day, he had calmed down. There were so many things he wanted to do now, and he didn’t have time to wallow in self-pity or throw tantrums.
He began to scroll through online loans, the ones he had once scoffed at, trying to figure out where to start. No matter what, he had to find a way to buy his freedom from this company, right?
But then Yan Yixuan reached out to him again.
More precisely, his secretary called the company, and the company passed the message along to Ji Ling—Yan Yixuan wanted to see him.
This only added to the rumors, and now people were more convinced than ever that Ji Ling was being kept by Yan Yixuan.
It was ridiculous… Even Ji Ling had to admit that Yan Yixuan was quite skilled at playing this ‘sugar daddy’ game.
Instead of being straightforward, he had plastered Ji Ling with the label of ‘Yan Yixuan’s’ from all directions.
Ji Ling had just been dropped from the car, and now he was being summoned again. Was this what they meant by ‘come when called, go when dismissed’? He even considered ignoring Yan Yixuan entirely. But then he thought, why create unnecessary trouble? If he embarrassed Yan Yixuan, the man would surely come up with even more ways to make things difficult for him.
Following Yan Yixuan’s request, Ji Ling went to a famous bar that evening. Stepping inside, he saw seductive figures twisting and turning in the flashing lights. The air was thick with a bold, suggestive vibe. He couldn’t help but scoff—did Yan Yixuan really have nothing better to do than live in this world of night and music?
As soon as he entered, a waiter came up to him and led him to the private room at the back. Ji Ling walked in to find Yan Yixuan already waiting for him.
Yan Yixuan wore a black shirt, sitting on the sofa with the collar open. The coffee table in front of him was piled high with various bottles of alcohol. He smiled at Ji Ling, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
At night, Yan Yixuan was a different person, hiding the gentleness and elegance of the day. Instead, he exuded a strange, devilish charm—like a king of the night.
Ji Ling couldn’t help but admit that Yan Yixuan was indeed charming. If he were a woman, he might even entertain the idea, even though he knew he’d be discarded later, but having a taste of him once still would be worth it.
However, Yan Yixuan wasn’t alone in the room. There were a few other men and women sitting around him, each with their own beauty, all eyeing Ji Ling with various expressions.
This started to annoy Ji Ling.
These people reminded him of his current situation—he was no different from them. In Yan Yixuan’s eyes, he was just another plaything.
Yan Yixuan didn’t speak, and neither did Ji Ling. He walked straight to the couch opposite Yan Yixuan and sat down without a word. In an instant, the atmosphere shifted. Yan Yixuan was surrounded by everyone on one side, while Ji Ling sat alone on the other.
The tension in the room became palpable.
But Yan Yixuan seemed completely unfazed. His demeanor remained casual as he turned to Ji Ling and said, “I called you here to drink.” He gestured to the bottle of alcohol in front of him. “Have a drink with me?”
Though it sounded like a question, it was clear there was no room for refusal. The invitation was there, but Yan Yixuan himself didn’t even move.
Ji Ling couldn’t help but laugh bitterly inside.
It seems his attitude of neither resistance nor compliance had irritated Yan Yixuan. Tonight was nothing more than a trap, a setup. Ji Ling knew there would be no way out of this. Whatever the outcome, he wouldn’t be leaving this place freely.
Yan Yixuan wanted him to willingly submit.
The people around Yan Yixuan heard him and quickly opened a bottle of wine from the table. They poured it into a glass and slid it across the table to Ji Ling.
Ji Ling glanced at the drink, picked it up, and drank it down in one go.
He could actually handle alcohol. He’d been accompanying his father at drinking tables since he was young. In those days, you couldn’t talk business without wine on the table. Drinking heartily was the way to show your sincerity. So, while he wasn’t someone who could drink endlessly, he knew he had a decent tolerance.
Zong Bolin could drink, but Ji Ling could not.
The liquor burned as it went down, its sharp sting hitting his throat. Before he could swallow it fully, he coughed and gasped for air.
His face flushed with the effort, and a little bit of wine dripped from the corner of his mouth as he coughed, struggling to catch his breath.
His clumsy reaction made the ‘beauties’ around Yan Yixuan giggle. The sound grated on Ji Ling’s ears, making him feel even more humiliated. Then, another glass was pushed toward him. Ji Ling didn’t even glance at Yan Yixuan and took the glass in silence.
This time, he focused on recalling the taste of fine wine from his memories, trying to will his body to accept it. His eyes watered, but at least he managed to swallow it without coughing.
A few snickers followed, and the third glass was poured.
Ji Ling remained silent, accepting the glass and drinking it again.
It seemed his body had learned to deceive itself, no longer resisting the alcohol’s sting. Ji Ling drank in silence, one glass after another.
Seeing Ji Ling drink recklessly, someone gathered the courage to approach him, hoping to take advantage of the situation. But as soon as they touched Ji Ling, he furrowed his brow and impatiently pushed them aside. Then, without hesitation, he grabbed the bottle and poured the liquor into the glass with a steady stream.
As long as Yan Yixuan didn’t say stop, Ji Ling wouldn’t.
The alcohol gradually dulled his senses. Ji Ling felt like the world was spinning around him, his vision blurred, and the burning sensation stretched from his throat all the way down to his stomach. It felt as if he was on the verge of collapsing.
But he held on. Across from him, Yan Yixuan continued to watch him coldly, unmoved. This silent contest wasn’t over yet.
Ji Ling began to dig through his memories, trying to anchor his fading consciousness. Not all of his memories with alcohol were just for business. He remembered his father joyously drinking at a celebration banquet, his brother’s university graduation party, and the quiet toasts shared with friends.
Looking back, alcohol didn’t seem so bad. Thinking of those moments made it feel a little less painful. Ji Ling finally met Yan Yixuan’s gaze, lifted his glass, and mustered every ounce of strength to smile at him. “I toast to you, Young Master Yan.”
Yan Yixuan observed the person across from him.
At first, it was clear Ji Ling couldn’t handle alcohol. He’d been coughing and choking, but he kept going. His face turned bright red, yet he didn’t stop. As the flush faded, his face grew pale, and in the dim lighting of the private room, he seemed on the verge of collapsing.
But he still hung on.
Yan Yixuan knew that at this point, Ji Ling had reached his limit. Yet, he still lifted the glass and toasted him.
For a brief moment, Yan Yixuan was lost in thought.
He had done his homework on Ji Ling—no notable background, just a beautiful but fragile person. When he first saved him, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but when they met again, he found something different about Ji Ling, something that piqued his interest unexpectedly.
The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became. Yan Yixuan had never met anyone he couldn’t conquer. The reason he’d called Ji Ling here was to assert his dominance. Even if Ji Ling refused to cooperate, Yan Yixuan would have his people force him to drink until he submitted.
But this person, Ji Ling, appeared delicate. When he was quiet, he seemed almost fragile. But when he met Yan Yixuan’s gaze, there was a steadiness and determination in his eyes.
Just like now. Yan Yixuan had thought several times that Ji Ling wouldn’t be able to hold out, but he hadn’t collapsed.
How much self-control could a person have to resist the overpowering urge to surrender to drunkenness?
Since Ji Ling entered, they hadn’t exchanged a single word. Yan Yixuan had simply motioned for him to drink, but Ji Ling had taken glass after glass, clearly showing his determination.
Even if Ji Ling died here tonight, he wouldn’t bend to Yan Yixuan’s will.
Yan Yixuan stared at Ji Ling deeply, his gaze shifting several times.
Finally, Yan Yixuan reached for his own glass, tracing its rim with his fingers. Immediately, someone quickly refilled it for him.
He finally drank, after Ji Ling toasted to him.
Ji Ling nearly laughed out loud. Yan Yixuan had finally wavered.
As expected, Yan Yixuan said, “I’ve always liked the idea of mutual willingness. I won’t force anyone.”
‘Nice words,’ Ji Ling thought sarcastically. In the game of the rich, the rules were always set by the rich. Other than being a bit more handsome, Yan Yixuan’s actions now were no different from those of the person who had squeezed Ji Ling’s throat.
Perhaps it was the alcohol, but Ji Ling didn’t even realize that he had completely positioned himself against the wealthy patron. Not long ago, he had been the one gripping someone else’s throat.
Yan Yixuan looked at Ji Ling, then slowly said, “Pick a path. Follow me, or…” He paused, his face darkening. “…or get lost.”
Ji Ling almost wanted to sigh deeply.
Yan Yixuan, Yan Yixuan. The world called him gentle and romantic, but it was only now that Ji Ling truly understood his soft side.
Ji Ling focused on his remaining concentration, struggling to speak. “Thank you, Mr. Yan, for saving me earlier.” His words were slurred, but he still managed to get the meaning across.
He no longer called Yan Yixuan ‘Young Master Yan’ in sarcasm, but sincerely expressed his gratitude.
After speaking, he staggered to his feet and unsteadily made his way out of the private room.
Everyone watched him leave, but Yan Yixuan remained seated on the couch, not giving any orders, so no one dared to stop Ji Ling.
The path out of the bar felt like it stretched for miles. Ji Ling stumbled and nearly bumped into people, using them as support just to keep from falling.
When he finally reached a back alley, he leaned against the and stuck his hand into his mouth, forcing himself to vomit.
If he didn’t, he might end up passing out.
The alcohol heaved up from his stomach, but instead of feeling relief, he just felt like a crumpled piece of paper. He had always been somewhat obsessive about cleanliness, but right now, he couldn’t care less. Fatigue washed over him, and he slumped against the wall, slowly collapsing to the ground.
Before losing consciousness, he thought about how he had never experienced sleeping outdoors or in the streets. It seemed that living a second time meant he had to go through all the things he’d never experienced the first time.
Still, no matter what, Yan Yixuan would surely keep his word. He had finally freed himself from Yan Yixuan.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
Huh? What throat did MC supposedly grip “not long ago”?