Chapter 20: Don’t Let Anyone Take Advantage of You

Shang Yucheng withdrew his gaze, cold and indifferent, letting it fall heavily upon Shang Ao'er as if weighed down by a thousand pounds.

Shang Ao'er wore an expression as if disaster had struck. "Little uncle..."

She had made sure in advance that Shang Yucheng wouldn't be coming tonight before daring to show up herself.

Shang Yucheng let out a mocking laugh, biting down on his cigarette. "So this is what you meant by extra tutoring off campus tonight?"

Shang Ao'er grinned ingratiatingly. "Didn't you say you had to work overtime?"

His brows were sharp, and tonight he looked especially hard to approach.

Without question, Shang Ao'er was forcibly sent back by him.

Unable to match his strength, Shang Ao'er desperately shouted toward Liang Jinshang, "I'm not leaving! Either take Teacher Liang with me, or I won't leave her here alone!"

Liang Jinshang had come tonight to settle accounts with Gong Xueyuan. Most of the second-generation partygoers here were Gong Xueyuan's acquaintances—Liang Jinshang would surely be at a disadvantage alone.

Shang Yucheng dragged her toward the exit, but Shang Ao'er clung to his arm. "Teacher Liang looks so tempting tonight—don't let anyone take advantage of her! Little uncle, think carefully!"

She was determined not to leave unless Liang Jinshang did, forcing Shang Yucheng to click his tongue and turn to Liang Jinshang alongside her.

Liang Jinshang swept away her earlier aloofness, raising her head to listen intently to the person chatting her up.

Shang Ao'er was about to shout and chase away the lewd pink-haired youth, but then saw Liang Jinshang smile at him and say something.

The pink-haired man offered her a cigarette.

Under the complicated gaze of uncle and niece, Liang Jinshang accepted it with practiced ease, lit it, took a drag, exhaled, and then turned to enter the bar together with the pink-haired man.

Shang Ao'er rubbed her eyes and turned to Shang Yucheng for help. "Little uncle, am I seeing things?"

"She's gone," Shang Yucheng said, twisting her shoulder to turn her around, his voice icy. "Let me warn you: never smoke cigarettes given to you by strangers."

Who knows what might be mixed in them.

Shang Ao'er was distracted. "Little uncle, does this mean you allow me to smoke?"

Shang Yucheng's expression grew even darker. "Just try it."

Once they were in his car, Shang Ao'er regained her composure and asked Shang Yucheng what he thought about seeing Liang Jinshang smoke.

"I have only one opinion: stay away from her."

Shang Ao'er thought him too heartless and began to accuse him of sending his assistant to sabotage Liang Jinshang.

Shang Yucheng kept his face stern, driving fast, but at her words, he arched his brows faintly.

Gong Xueyuan was his fiancée. It was nothing for his assistant to be used by her.

But only a pretty but empty-headed woman would use a highly paid, Ivy League graduate assistant like that.

Shang Yucheng didn't need to guess—he knew this was Gong Xueyuan's own idea. If she merely gave instructions for the assistant to handle things, it would never have resulted in such a clumsy mess.

...

Liang Jinshang walked inside with the pink-haired youth.

He watched her chain-smoke, finally unable to stand it, snatching the cigarette from her lips. "That's enough, two puffs are plenty."

She didn't tell him she needed a bit of courage after so long away from such places.

She complied obediently.

He hadn't seen her in years, and Liang Jinshang chatted about her recent life, picking only the good parts.

He was genuinely happy for her, but finally put on a serious face and asked, "Didn't you promise Brother Que you'd never come to places like this again?"

His stern look was somewhat comical.

Liang Jinshang didn't laugh, but explained softly, "I have something to take care of. I'll leave once it's done. Your friends are calling you—go on!"

The pink-haired youth was the one who had helped her film that video that night.

Since Liang Jinshang got into Jin University, their circles no longer overlapped at all, so he didn't know about the injustices she'd suffered this week.

Liang Jinshang had already spotted Gong Xueyuan and, saying her goodbyes, walked over.

Gong Xueyuan had already drunk quite a bit. Seeing Liang Jinshang, she sneered, "Well, look who decided to show up?"

Liang Jinshang looked straight at her. "I'm here for you."

"We aren't close," Gong Xueyuan scoffed. "Don't come near me. My family is strict—I don't want to end up trending online with you tomorrow!"

As she spoke, she loudly spread the news of Liang Jinshang's alleged academic fraud among those around.

The men here were out for fun. Who cared about Liang Jinshang's qualifications or what wrongs she'd committed?

They only cared if she was pretty and if she could party.

Gong Xueyuan didn't care either—but she knew Liang Jinshang did.

Aside from reading a few books, that wretched girl had nothing. There was barely anything worth teaching her a lesson over.

Pathetic!

A few men, eager for drama, brought up a dozen beers. "Beauty, it seems our Miss Gong isn't keen to talk to you. Why don't you have a drink to show your sincerity first?"