Chapter 123: Drenched in Filth

After Lin Le hung up the phone, he noticed Ji Xiaorui watching him with curious eyes.

"Honey, who is coming?" Ji Xiaorui asked.

"No one special, just a friend."

Fourth Master Gu’s reputation in Shangjing was simply too grand, and with Ni Fang, Lingling, and the others in the car, Lin Le found it inconvenient to elaborate.

A short while later, the car finally pulled up in front of Zijin KTV. Upon arrival, even Lin Le was slightly struck by the scale of the establishment. It was truly the finest KTV in Shangjing, possessing an opulence that resembled an ancient palace—or perhaps something even more magnificent. Beyond the architecture, the facilities inside were top-tier and highly professional, far surpassing any ordinary karaoke venue.

As soon as the girls, including Lingling, arrived, they couldn't help but bubble over with excitement. It was just the start of the nightlife, and as everyone entered Zijin, they were greeted by a bustling, high-energy crowd. Despite the exorbitant prices, the enthusiasm of the patrons remained undampened; those who could afford to spend here were invariably wealthy or influential. Being able to frequent Zijin had become a status symbol, satisfying the vanity of its clientele.

"The private room is booked—Heaven Suite Number Six," Zhang Yang said, his voice laced with pride.

"Wow, a 'Heaven' suite? Isn't that the most luxurious room in all of Zijin? I heard the starting price is over one hundred thousand!" Lingling exclaimed.

"It seems Zhang Yang is truly being generous this time!" The other girls chimed in with delight.

Although Zhang Yang didn't say much, he was inwardly thrilled, finding the praise from Lingling and the others quite satisfying. The Heaven Suite was incredibly spacious and equipped with the absolute best amenities Zijin had to offer. Ni Fang, Lingling, and the others immediately began scrambling to choose songs and start singing. Ji Xiaorui and her brother, Ji Xiaohai, were not to be outdone, joining the fray with the others.

Ever since the collapse of the Lin family three years ago, Lin Le had basically stopped singing karaoke. After three years of military life in the Kyushu Bureau and his subsequent maturation, he found little joy in such activities. He sat alone, watching them enjoy themselves.

"Come on, Lin Le, you've had too much to drink, have some juice. Their juice here is all freshly squeezed," Zhang Yang said, handing a glass to Lin Le.

"No thanks," Lin Le replied coolly.

"Just have some. Don't worry, I didn't poison it," Zhang Yang said with a wry smile.

Before Lin Le could respond, Ding Jun, standing nearby, pretended to bump into Zhang Yang "accidentally," causing the juice to splash all over Lin Le.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there," Ding Jun said, feigning an apologetic tone.

Lin Le knew full well they had done it on purpose. He gave them a cold, sharp look. *So, you want to test the limits of my patience?*

Fine. I hope you won't regret this later.

Ignoring them for the moment, Lin Le stood up and headed toward the restroom at the end of the corridor. Seeing him leave, Ding Jun and Zhang Yang exchanged a smile; it seemed their target had taken the bait. As soon as Lin Le departed, the two of them called over several other boys to head toward the restroom as well. The other boys, assuming Zhang Yang had some "exciting entertainment" prepared, followed eagerly.

Lin Le’s clothes were soaked with juice, and his hands felt sticky. Just as he finished washing his hands and prepared to return, a woman in heavy makeup suddenly lunged at him and wrapped her arms around him without explanation.

"Hey there, handsome. Looking for some fun?" The woman was wearing a magenta bodycon dress that accentuated her curves. Based on her appearance, Lin Le knew she was not a respectable woman.

"Miss, you've got the wrong person. I'm not even of age yet," Lin Le said, trying to push her away.

"It doesn't matter. As long as you have money, I don't mind," the woman said, her arms locked around his neck, smiling coyly.

At that moment, it clicked for Lin Le. First, Ding Jun and Zhang Yang lured him to Zijin KTV, then "accidentally" spilled juice on him to force him into the restroom, and now this woman appeared out of nowhere. Every step was clearly a setup. It seemed the final act of their trap lay with this woman.

*Very well, Ding Jun, Zhang Yang. Let’s see what pathetic tricks you have in store for me.*

"I wonder what your rates are?" Lin Le asked with feigned interest.

The woman, sensing a negotiation, immediately brightened. Lin Le’s suspicion was correct; this was indeed a trap set by Ding Jun. The woman, Zhang Yanyan, had been hired by Xiangzi to frame Lin Le.

"The price is negotiable. Let’s find a private place to discuss it," she said, leaning into him.

"But I'm just a high school student, and I don't have any money on me," Lin Le said calmly.

"No money? That's fine. You're handsome enough that I don't mind," she said, her red lips puckering toward his face.

"You might not mind, but I do. You have three seconds to disappear from my sight, or I will make you regret it," Lin Le said with a composed smile.

"You..." Zhang Yanyan froze, not expecting his attitude to shift so abruptly. She had been confident in her charm, believing no man could resist her. She hadn't expected this boy to be the exception, nor had she expected such a sharp tone.

Seeing that soft tactics wouldn't work, she resorted to the hard approach. Before Lin Le could react, Zhang Yanyan went limp as if she had no bones and threw herself into his arms. "Help! Help, someone is assaulting me! Grab this pervert!" she shrieked at the top of her lungs.

Simultaneously, she grabbed Lin Le's hand and shoved it toward her own chest. Lin Le was taken aback by her desperation.

Her scream immediately drew the attention of everyone nearby. At the same time, Zhang Yang, Ding Jun, and the other boys "happened" to emerge from the men's restroom, just in time to witness Lin Le "molesting" Zhang Yanyan.

"Wow, Lin Le, you've got some nerve! You dare to act like a pervert in public?" Ding Jun sneered.

"As expected from someone from a small town. You can't even resist this little temptation? How could you ever be worthy of Xiaorui?" Zhang Yang mocked.

The boys with them, unaware of the truth, were swayed by the scene.

"Damn, this Lin Le is way out of line!"

"How could Ji Xiaorui ever fall for a guy like this?"

"Trying to act tough because you're drunk? What a poser."

The boys traded insults and contemptuous remarks. The passersby gathered around to watch the spectacle. Seeing that they had attracted a crowd, Zhang Yanyan pushed Lin Le away, acting like a terrified victim. "You little brat! You're so young, yet you're already acting like a pervert! Have you no shame? Waaaah..." She played the part of an innocent, wronged girl perfectly.

"That's going too far! Can't you afford a girl, so you have to grope people in public? You've got some guts!"

"Are high schoolers this precocious nowadays?"

"Call the police! Someone like this belongs in jail!"

The condemnations from the crowd grew louder, threatening to bury Lin Le in their collective scorn. Zhang Yang and Ding Jun watched with glee, reveling in the misfortune. *Heh, you think you're so special? You're covered in filth now, and there’s no washing it off.*