Chapter 128: Sweet White (Bonus for 250 Diamonds)

The person on stage gathered ten people, six women and four men, for a total of three dance numbers. Amidst the enthusiastic atmosphere, the dance-off began.

When Shang Yucheng arrived, Yuan Xi pulled him aside to sit down alone. "Mr. Shang, let me confirm with you first: you don't happen to go by the alias 'He Xiaoque,' do you?"

Shang Yucheng’s eyes turned chillingly cold for a fleeting moment. Yesterday, Gong Xueyuan had mentioned it, and as soon as he heard her talk about how Fang Jiabao was obsessively pursuing someone, he had hung up the phone. Today, even Yuan Xi was bringing up the name in front of him. The name "He Xiaoque" seemed like some new kind of contagion, specifically infecting the women associated with him.

Shang Yucheng impatiently loosened two buttons on his shirt and remained coldly silent.

Yuan Xi held up her phone and, risking her life, played the clip she had just recorded for Shang Yucheng. When he heard Liang Jinshang say, "I'll do a striptease for you," the rage radiating from him became almost sinister.

Yuan Xi silently reached for a bottle of ice-cold mineral water and handed it to him. Shang Yucheng didn't take it; instead, he grabbed a bottle of hard liquor from the table and downed three glasses without blinking. As for the cooling effect... at least the outward sparks were no longer visible.

Shang Yucheng narrowed his eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing several times, as he watched the woman in the center of the stage with unreadable emotions. Among the crowd of intoxicated men and women, Liang Jinshang had a unique quality that made her stand out at a glance. Her shirt and pencil skirt were not suited for a hot dance. Of course, this was her first time dancing in a bar, so the "hot dance" had absolutely nothing to do with what she was actually performing.

The other girls, revealing their limbs and slender waists, twisted with seductive heat. Only Liang Jinshang moved with a sense of adolescent restraint, swaying her hips while her gaze wandered aimlessly across the dark crowd below. Because of the alcohol, she appeared dazed and languid, mixed with an unconscious, naive charm. Perhaps once the music started, she had forgotten all about her bold claim of doing a striptease, but the onlookers below had not.

Although the girl wore no makeup, her superior features did not fear the harsh stage lights. Compared to the others whose heavy makeup was smudged by sweat, her face, covered in a thin, glistening layer of perspiration, looked clear and moving like ripples in a mist.

Someone led the shouting: "Number Eight! Number Eight, do another dance alone! That wasn't enough!"

"Do a striptease! I'll top up a 50,000 credit card right now!"

"Our table will open a bottle of Royal Salute!"

The crowd below cheered noisily, and the situation was becoming nearly impossible to control.

On the second floor, Liang Zi felt none of the excitement of making money; his expression darkened. This was utter nonsense! They had organized this event to build their brand and attract customers. Stimulating consumption was one of the goals, but certainly not through the kind of sleazy tactics happening now. The one being objectified like a stripper by these men was Fang Jiabao.

Liang Zi was a man himself, so he naturally knew exactly what was going through the minds of these flushed, excited men. As he rushed downstairs, Sheng Xiao followed at a leisurely pace. The two appeared on the stage, and Liang Zi shouted, "Liang Jinshang, get down here!" To prevent Sheng Xiao from gossiping to He Xiaoque, Liang Zi had been using the name "Liang Jinshang" all day.

Liang Jinshang ignored him, looking at Sheng Xiao’s direction with confusion. She was a complete stranger to this man; what was he doing here to watch the show? And he was looking at her with such a mocking expression. Whenever she thought about the fact that this man knew He Xiaoque, she couldn't help but wonder if He Xiaoque had sent him.

Just as Liang Jinshang and Sheng Xiao locked eyes, a bottle smashed fiercely into the center of the stage. The people on stage jumped and scrambled to avoid it. Only Liang Jinshang, distracted, had her legs splashed with wine.

Upon seeing the bottle, Yan Liang let out a cry of agony: "My God! My noble rot sweet white!" That was the bottle of Noble Rot Sauternes from the Jin Winery that He Xiaoque had bid on—priceless and unavailable on the market. He had placed it on the display shelf to impress guests for the opening this week! His heart shattered, and he thought vengefully that Fang Jiabao would definitely force Brother Que to show up this time. And once he came out, he would strangle this troublemaker!

Just as Yan Liang glared around, looking for the culprit, the man revealed himself. Shang Yucheng lifted his long legs and stepped onto the stage, unhurried. With that disdainful and noble air, one could hardly tell he had just committed an act that was both "theft" and "thuggery."

Shang Yucheng grabbed Liang Jinshang’s hand without any gentleness, using so much force that she collided straight into his chest. Her nose ached. He then snatched the microphone from the stunned host and said coldly, "I bid 800,000. Does anyone want to bid higher?"

With that aura, who couldn't see his possessiveness over this woman? Who would dare to incite or tease her with malicious intent as they had just done?

No one dared to jeer anymore. However, Liang Jinshang’s face turned deathly pale. It wasn't just because of the thick disdain and mockery in his tone, but because of the chilling, dark malice beneath it. Shouldn't Shang Yucheng be in Jincheng? How did he end up here? And he had appeared exactly when she was letting herself go.

"Very well, it seems there are no higher bids." Shang Yucheng tossed the mic to the host and, pressing on the back of Liang Jinshang’s neck, pulled her against his chest. He lowered his head and asked coldly in her ear, "Is that, then, your He Xiaoque?"

His gaze locked directly with Sheng Xiao’s, and he said in a low, cold voice, "I'm afraid he won't be able to watch your striptease."

Before Liang Jinshang could explain that Sheng Xiao was not He Xiaoque, Shang Yucheng forcefully dragged her away. As they left the stage, Liang Zi hurried over to block them. He was in such a difficult position that his scalp tingled. "Mr. Shang, please stop! What are you..."

"The money will be transferred to your account later," Shang Yucheng threatened impatiently. "Move aside!"

Liang Jinshang was desperate not to leave with him. Between her "betrayal and breakup" and tonight’s farce, she was truly afraid that Shang Yucheng would lose control and kill her. Although she was drunk, she knew Liang Zi had no ability to stop Shang Yucheng. Only Sheng Xiao, who stood before them with a height and aura that rivaled Shang Yucheng’s, could help. In her desperation, she cast a pleading look at him.

That helpless, teary-eyed gaze was enough to soften any heart. Sheng Xiao, who had been watching the show for a while, finally spoke lazily, "Mr. Shang, the young lady is also a paying customer. The way you’re spending money to 'take her out' is, I think, a bit too insulting."

"I’m not going! Shang Yucheng, let me go! Let go—mmh!" Shang Yucheng, usually dignified in public, could no longer restrain himself and lowered his head to forcefully seal her defiant, shouting mouth.

The scene of him asserting his dominance was so intense that Liang Zi felt awkward, not knowing where to look, feeling that if he didn't intervene, things might become inappropriate for public viewing.

"Shang..."

Shang Yucheng released Liang Jinshang. Unable to stand steadily, she was held by the waist by Shang Yucheng, leaning against him against her will. Shang Yucheng wiped the moisture from her red lips with his thumb and sneered, "I spent money to smash Mr. He’s wine. If you really think that is an 'insult,' name your price. Using a term like 'taking her out' for my girlfriend—who is the one lacking class here?"