Chapter 16: Even If I Had to Repeat the Same Mistake

The male manager was now completely furious. If Young Master Wu got into trouble here, his own boss would definitely hold him accountable. His position as manager would be at risk.

“You, tie these two up and wait for Young Master Jiang to arrive. Let him handle it. Hurry up!” the male manager ordered the security guards.

The bodyguards took defensive stances. Seeing the guards’ bulky muscles and imposing frames, the security staff felt a bit intimidated.

“Go ahead! Why are you hesitating? You bunch of cowards! If Young Master Wu gets hurt, Young Master Jiang will come after you all. No one will escape,” the male manager shouted impatiently, frustrated at their hesitation. Reluctantly, the guards stepped forward.

Manager Song had been at Nyx longer than the male manager and understood their boss better. That was why she dared to threaten Young Master Wu earlier. Seeing the situation now, she intervened, “No one’s allowed to make a move! Wait for Young Master Jiang to arrive. I will explain to him that it was Young Master Wu who made the first move on the customer.”

The male manager, who already looked down on women, frowned and said, “What do you know? Would Young Master Jiang really risk turning against the Wu family over a woman?”

“You!” Manager Song was about to retort when several people appeared at the end of the corridor.

The one walking ahead spoke calmly, “What’s going on here?”

Everyone turned to look. The man at the front was none other than Jiang Jibai, the owner of Nyx.

Zhou Yinhe followed lazily behind him, glancing briefly at the chaotic scene before withdrawing his gaze with an expressionless face.

Because Wen Ling was blocked behind two mountain-like bodyguards, Zhou Yinhe didn’t even notice her.

“Young Master,” the male manager approached, pointing at the two bodyguards. “These two assaulted Young Master Wu.”

Jiang Jibai frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over Young Master Wu lying on the ground, clutching his mouth and unable to speak. Then he looked at the two bodyguards coldly. “Which families do you belong to?”

Manager Song stepped forward to explain, “Young Master, it was Young Master Wu who tried to forcibly bring the customer into a private room, so the customer’s bodyguards defended her.”

Jiang Jibai was very familiar with the usual playboy heirs who frequented Nyx and naturally knew Young Master Wu’s character. He ordered the security staff to help Young Master Wu up.

Wu struggled to speak, “Brother Jiang, you have to stand up for me.”

Jiang Jibai looked at his pitiful state and couldn’t hide his disgust. He glanced sideways at the woman whose face was half-covered by the bodyguards and found her somewhat familiar.

At that moment, Wen Ling seemed about to collapse. She steadied herself against the bodyguards and let out a dry heave. Shaking her body slightly, her face finally came into full view.

Jiang Jibai was momentarily stunned. “Wen Ling?”

Zhou Yinhe suddenly lifted his head, staring intently at Wen Ling. Qi Zhan was also taken aback.

Manager Song, who had risen to her position not only by being articulate but also by keen observation, noticed that the young masters’ expressions had changed. She continued, “It was this customer. I couldn’t stop Young Master Wu, but fortunately, the customer had bodyguards, or else something serious would have happened.”

Wen Ling slowly lifted her eyelids and saw Zhou Yinhe looking at her from nearby. A wave of grievance rose within her, forcing the tears she had held back all night to stream down her cheeks.

She pushed the bodyguards aside and staggered forward, collapsing into Zhou Yinhe’s arms. Instinctively, he supported her waist as she murmured, “How could you stand me up like that?”

Manager Song lowered her eyes, relieved that the beautiful young lady would be fine. In contrast, the male manager’s heart was pounding. Anyone could see that this customer’s relationship with the Fifth Young Master of the Zhou family was far from ordinary.

Wen Ling clung tightly to Zhou Yinhe’s clothes, sobbing with deep sorrow.

Zhou Yinhe pursed his lips but held her close, whispering an apology, “I’m sorry.”

The air was thick with tension as onlookers stared blankly at the Fifth Young Master, so different from his usual self. Even Jiang Jibai and Qi Zhan were stunned.

Jiang Jibai gave a subtle signal to Manager Song and said to Zhou Yinhe, “Have Manager Song take her to the sobering bar first.”

Manager Song stepped forward to half-support, half-carry Wen Ling. Wen Ling slowly released Zhou Yinhe’s clothes, looked up at him with a pained expression, bit her lip, then followed Manager Song.

The two bodyguards trailed behind cautiously, unsure whether Manager Song might harm the young lady.

Once Wen Ling’s figure disappeared from sight, Zhou Yinhe slowly withdrew his gaze and looked at Young Master Wu, who was being supported by the security guards.

He clenched his fists, his mind involuntarily imagining what might have happened if he had really taken Wen Ling away.

Before anyone could react, Zhou Yinhe strode forward and landed a punch on Young Master Wu’s face, knocking him to the ground. Not satisfied, he kicked him repeatedly.

Zhou Yinhe had rarely fought anyone since childhood and had no need to. His sudden violence stunned everyone present.

Jiang Jibai did not intervene, knowing that it was useless to stop Zhou Yinhe at this moment. Only when Young Master Wu’s cries grew faint did Jiang Jibai and Qi Zhan pull Zhou Yinhe away.

Zhou Yinhe’s face darkened ominously. His narrow eyes were filled with rage, and he struggled briefly as the two held him back.

“If you keep hitting him, he’ll die,” Jiang Jibai warned softly.

Qi Zhan added, “Don’t kill him. It’ll be a headache to deal with. Just let him vent when he wakes up at home.”

Zhou Yinhe gritted his teeth and suppressed the rising fury, shaking his aching hand.

Seeing him calm down, Jiang Jibai ordered the security guards, “Take Young Master Wu to the hospital. If the Wu family asks, tell them to come find me.”

“Yes.” The guards hurriedly lifted Young Master Wu and rushed off.

At that moment, Manager Song returned alone and said, “The young lady said she doesn’t want to stay here anymore. She has already left.”

Zhou Yinhe had quieted down, standing silently for a moment. Just as he was about to leave, Qi Zhan grabbed him.

“Where are you going?”

Zhou Yinhe didn’t know.

So he was pulled into a private room. Jiang Jibai closed the door, and silence fell instantly.

Zhou Yinhe closed his tired eyes, leaned back on the sofa, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he spoke hoarsely, blaming himself, “She was upset because I stood her up. That’s why she came here.”

“That’s not your fault,” Qi Zhan comforted him.

Zhou Yinhe said, “If I hadn’t stood her up, or if I had been straightforward with her, maybe she wouldn’t have been so upset, wouldn’t have drunk so much, and wouldn’t have run into that bastard.”

Jiang Jibai stood beside him, his face cold as he looked down at Zhou Yinhe.

“You still can’t let her go, can you? Even if it means repeating the past, enduring the pain you once couldn’t bear, you still can’t let go, right?”

Zhou Yinhe opened his eyes, filled with confusion. “I don’t know.”

The experiences from three years ago had been unbearably painful, but seeing her cry in front of him now caused even greater anguish.

Seeing him like this, the two men who regarded him as a younger brother also felt uneasy.

“If you’re not afraid, try again,” Qi Zhan encouraged him, helping him make his decision.