Qin Jing’s face scrunched up as she stared at the entrance of the place. It was the club she frequented for snacks.

The same place where they had met Xu Xuanwhile she was working as a server.

If Xu Xuanhad come here for work, she wouldn’t have been so shaken when she was called over.

Something else must have happened.

Qin Jing mulled this over for a moment before taking out a card from her purse. Then she took hold ofYao Tang’s wrist again and dragged the latter inside.

The truth was that Xu Xuan had rushed over because she received news about her bracelet.

It had been so long since she had lost it. She always ended up empty-handed no matter how hard she searched, so she had asked the lobby manager to keep an eye out, just in case.

It was a precious heirloom, after all, one that she had worn since she was a little girl.

Losing it for good would be the same as betraying her family’s trust, and Xu Xuanwouldn’t be able to forgive herself.

She had searched every nook and cranny of the club these last few days, to no avail.

And so, the manager’s news just now was a godsend. He was the one who had called her earlier, telling her that they finally had a clue.

Xu Xuan went to him directly and offered him a bow. “Manager, I don’t know how to thank you for this. I’m really glad to finally have a lead after so long. If it weren’t for you, I fear I might never find it again.”

Xu Xuan was a talkative person, to begin with, so she couldn’t help but stumble through her words.

Even so, her sincerity was clearly conveyed to the man.

He casually waved his hand and smiled at the girl. “Oh, come on, what’s the big deal? I’m only helping you to save myself from your daily nagging.”

Xu Xuan bobbed her head in earnest, her eyes filled with gratitude.

“May I ask where you’ve seen it, Manager? It’s very important to me. Please, I need to know right away.”

The man felt a pang of sympathy pierce his heart after hearing that, but he had no choice—he must harden himself for what was to come.

He cleared his throat before saying, “It’s in the same room as last time. You know which room I mean. You should go and take a look.”

He had his eyes averted as he spoke, and he walked away without waiting for Xu Xuan’s response.

Xu Xuan nodded and gave him another respectful bow.

Then she turned on her heel and sprinted upstairs to the room in question. In her haste, she failed to register that she had searched the same room countless times before, and she had never seen the bracelet.

Nor did she feel any apprehension, despite her horrible past encounter within that room.

In truth, there was a lingering doubt at the back of her mind, but she chose to ignore it.

The value of the bracelet far outweighed any reason she had.

The moment Xu Xuanopened the door to the room, she was hit by the strong smell of alcohol.

Her eyes then fell on the man sprawled on the sofa, and it was as though a bucket of ice water was dumped over her head. She was rooted to the spot, unmoving and barely breathing.

The man put down the wine glass he was holding and got to her feet. He approached Xu Xuanwith a malicious grin on his face, his pace lazy and unhurried.

“Are you surprised? Have you missed me all this time?”

Xu Xuan’s instincts screamed for her to turn around and flee, but they quickly died down at the man’s words.

“You’ve been looking for this for the past few days, haven’t you?” The man whipped out a silver bracelet from his pocket and dangled it in front of Xu Xuan’s face.

“Young Master Lu,” she said through gritted teeth.

Lu Qing’s grin grew even more sinister. “Well?” Don’t you want to come in and sit with me for a while? Don’t tell me you’re leaving already.”

As if on cue, one of his subordinates suddenly appeared at his side and handed him a pair of scissors.

With his gaze fixed on Xu Xuan, he tauntingly ran the edge of the blades against the length of the bracelet.

He chuckled and made to cut the piece of jewelry in half.

“No!” Xu Xuancried out.

Lu Qing smugly tossed the scissors away and let the bracelet fall to the floor with a soft clink.

Xu Xuan lunged for it when the subordinate kicked her leg, sending her crouching on her side.

Lu Qing flicked his hand and had the same man pick up the bracelet and pass it to him.

Again, he waved it in front of Xu Xuan’s face. “Here, do you want this? Hmm? How badly do you want it.”

“I do, I want it! Please return it to me!” Xu Xuan’s voice was thick with emotion as she pleaded with the cruel man.