Chapter 18: The Bar Run by Second Senior Sister

"Thank you, big sister!" Chu Tian smiled knowingly. Though Liu Qingxue always appeared cold and aloof before outsiders, in private she was a warm-hearted elder sister. At the very least, she treated Chu Tian exceptionally well, protective and caring.

"Why are you being so formal with me?" Liu Qingxue tucked away her sentimental side and said, "You live in the school dorm, and that's not very comfortable anyway."

"But moving in with you all… isn’t that a bit improper?" Chu Tian hesitated. He had considered leaving the dorm, but never expected his senior sister to be so direct, inviting him to live together.

"What’s so bad about it? I’ll take you to move your things later." Liu Qingxue pressed her right foot to the accelerator, drove out of the parking lot, and headed straight for Tianmen City No. 1 High School.

Back at the dormitory, Chu Tian packed a few clothes—there wasn’t much to take—and followed Liu Qingxue back to the villa.

"Xiao Tian, tonight your senior sister is taking you to an interesting place."

Night fell; Dark Night Bar.

Liu Qingxue stopped the car right in front of the bar’s entrance.

"Where is this?" Chu Tian asked.

"This bar was opened by our second junior sister. After work, she often comes here to unwind," Liu Qingxue explained.

Chu Tian was a bit surprised. He hadn’t expected his junior sister not only to own a bar, but also to enjoy spending time in one. It was completely outside his expectations.

"After the mess you caused with Song Tao this afternoon, your second junior sister is probably quite troubled. Haven’t you thought about apologizing and formally introducing yourself to her?"

Before Chu Tian could reply, Liu Qingxue suddenly leaned close to his ear and whispered something.

"Senior sister, you seem so upright on the surface, but behind the scenes, you know how to have fun," Chu Tian said, catching a delicate fragrance from Liu Qingxue and feeling both surprised and hesitant. “But isn’t it a bit much for us to play such a trick on second junior sister?”

"If you’d just made your identity clear at the start, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Just do as I say," Liu Qingxue said, brooking no refusal, and got out of the car, striding toward the bar.

Chu Tian waited a moment in the car, noticing the crystal pendant hanging from the rearview mirror. He took it down, got out, and walked toward the bar.

Half an hour later, at the Dark Night Bar.

Liu Qingxue sat alone at the bar, savoring a cocktail. Perhaps the alcohol was starting to take effect after several drinks. Under the glow of the lights, she became the focal point of the whole room; many men had cast their gaze upon her.

The white blouse and tight pencil skirt accentuated Liu Qingxue’s alluring figure, as if she were a goddess of the corporate world seeking her own form of indulgence after work.

"This girl is a knockout. Her looks and body put every other woman to shame."

"But her aura is so icy. In just half an hour, she’s rejected nine men who tried to chat her up. I wonder what type of guy she actually likes?"

"Forget it, guys. A beauty like her must be waiting for some rich heir. No way any of us losers could win her over."

All around, the men murmured amongst themselves, content to feast their eyes but none daring to approach further.

Upstairs, there was a private room with a transparent window overlooking the bar. Ye Binglan stood before the glass, frowning in concern. Why would senior sister come to a bar alone, and drink herself drunk? This wasn't like her at all.

Still, to get to the bottom of it, Ye Binglan didn’t make her presence known. After all, in her own bar, no one would dare lay a hand on her senior sister.

Just then, a young man in a tailored suit strode straight toward Liu Qingxue.

"Beautiful lady, don’t drink alone—let me keep you company," he said.

The man was Li Shiming, a wealthy heir with some assets who frequently prowled clubs and bars looking for attractive women to take home.

"Is this how you usually approach beautiful women?" Liu Qingxue’s cheeks were flushed, the alcohol lending her a hint of bashfulness.

"Don’t misunderstand, I only try to chat up women I genuinely like," Li Shiming replied. "And I think this diamond necklace would suit you perfectly. Would you be interested in becoming the spokesperson for our company? If you agree, this necklace will be yours."

He leaned closer and produced a diamond necklace from his pocket. Under the lights, its brilliance was unmistakably valuable.

"I’m not interested." Liu Qingxue shook her head, gave the necklace a brief glance, and promptly dismissed it.

Li Shiming’s face stiffened. The routine that had always worked for him failed utterly with Liu Qingxue.

At that moment, Chu Tian appeared, squeezing in beside Liu Qingxue.

"Beautiful lady, here’s a gift I picked especially for you. Do you like it?" Chu Tian presented a cheap crystal bracelet, waving it before her eyes.

"Put it on for me." Whether from drunkenness or muddled thoughts, Liu Qingxue nodded.

"Have you even looked at what he’s giving you? That bracelet is worthless," Li Shiming protested loudly. "You’d rather refuse my diamond necklace and accept his dime-store trinket? Are you blind?"

"The value of a gift isn’t in its price, but in who gives it. I like this crystal bracelet," Liu Qingxue replied, and leaning into Chu Tian’s embrace, let him slip it onto her wrist.

Their intimacy was unmistakable; they looked every bit a couple deeply familiar with one another.

At this point, even Li Shiming, slow as he was, realized he’d been made a fool of.

Just then, a graceful figure approached the bar. Ye Binglan had changed into a strappy evening gown, its slit revealing a pair of long, fair legs. With each step, she drew the eyes of many men.

"Li Shiming, are you planning to cause trouble in my bar?" Ye Binglan walked up to Liu Qingxue, the two beauties standing side by side, each distinct in their charm. The only difference was that the proud Ye Binglan was icy as winter frost, while Liu Qingxue, flushed with drink, radiated sensual allure—a beauty of strikingly different temperament.

Li Shiming was momentarily dazed, lost in admiration for the two women.

"Li Shiming!" Ye Binglan’s voice snapped him back to reality.

"Miss Ye, I don’t want to cause trouble in your establishment, but this wretch dared to make a fool of me. Tonight, I will teach her a lesson!" Li Shiming masked his embarrassment and glared at Liu Qingxue in anger.