The private room had long been prepared with refreshments; the soundproofing within was excellent. As soon as the group entered, the slender figure who had been standing with hands clasped at her lower abdomen and head bowed slightly rushed to perform a curtsy for them, her voice sweetly trilling: "Welcome."

Ning Yunhuan was quite familiar with her old adversary, recognizing Gu Yingxi’s voice instantly. Although Uncle Biao had already mentioned that Gu Yingxi was waiting in the private room, seeing her in person now still made Ning Yunhuan doubt her own eyes.

Was this the heroine who always maintained an air of ice-pure integrity, untouched by the grime around her? She was dressed in a maid’s uniform of black and white with large ruffles. The lower half consisted of sheer stockings, and she wore a cute panda apron over everything else. That was essentially all she wore; the hem barely grazed her hips, making the enticing curve of her backside perfectly visible. There was nothing underneath, allowing only a faint shadow of her secluded valley to be glimpsed between the full globes of her buttocks and the alluring indentation between them.

Gu Yingxi’s hair was divided into two cute pigtails hanging over her chest, and her head was wrapped in a ruffled headscarf matching the apron, making her look both seductive and innocent.

According to the rules of this elite gathering place for high officials and nobles, the serving maids here generally never left the private rooms for personal engagements. If someone arranged something privately, that was one thing, but under Uncle Biao’s jurisdiction, no one was absolutely allowed to lay a hand on the maids—it was an unwritten rule! Yet, these maids were dressed so seductively, they were visible but untouchable. Especially in this costume of forced submission, it wasn't just the men; even other women found themselves staring fixedly.

But when Ning Yunhuan saw Gu Yingxi dressed like this, she nearly burst out laughing. Gu Yingxi always loved to put on an act. Especially in her past life, perhaps due to juggling so many men simultaneously, no matter how debauched she was in private, she maintained an outward appearance as pure and pristine as the clearest maiden. This instinct for camouflage seemed innate; she always possessed the ability to feign pathetic vulnerability, convincing many men she'd only just become intimate with that they were her very first. Especially after watching Ning Yuncheng play the gullible fool again just now, seeing Gu Yingxi dressed this way made Ning Yunhuan want to laugh even more.

And she did laugh, but Gu Yingxi’s gaze completely bypassed her. The moment she entered, Gu Yingxi was utterly captivated by the tall, coolly elegant man who followed.

“Brother Lan Jiu?” Gu Yingxi’s sudden shriek almost completely drowned out the soft chuckle Ning Yunhuan had just let out. Her face flushed crimson with excitement, biting her lip in an expression of absolute innocence, looking as if she couldn't wait to throw herself into Lan Lingyan’s arms.

This look was too desperate, too starved. Ning Yunhuan instinctively moved to block in front of Lan Lingyan. If that damned turtle, Ning Yuncheng, wanted to treat Gu Yingxi like a treasure, so be it, but she would not tolerate Gu Yingxi laying a finger on Lan Lingyan.

However, Gu Yingxi paid Ning Yunhuan no mind. Even with such a large presence standing before her, she only had eyes for Lan Lingyan, her eyes welling up with tears that rolled back and forth, looking as pitiable and lovable as possible.

“Brother Lan Jiu, have you come to see me?” Under the dim, warm light of the private room, Gu Yingxi’s expression became softer and more timid. Her hands nervously twisted the hem of her apron, her body involuntarily adopting the most alluring, graceful posture. Ning Yunhuan’s eyes burned with fury, but Lan Lingyan merely extended his hand towards the large man behind him. The man passed him a small, clear glass vial, perhaps five milliliters in volume. Lan Lingyan then waved at Gu Yingxi: “Have a little something.” “Mm!” Hearing Lan Lingyan speak to her for the first time, Gu Yingxi’s eyes immediately lit up like two miniature suns, and she nodded repeatedly. A mesmerizing flush spread across her cheeks, her expression hazy, as if she were dreaming.

Seeing her completely infatuated by a handsome face, Ning Yunhuan’s eyelid twitched. But then Lan Lingyan walked a few steps, poured a full glass of red wine from the table, picked up the small glass vial, and poured its contents into the wine. After swirling the glass once, he offered it to Gu Yingxi: “Drink.”

“Brother Lan, I would drink poison if you gave it to me! Besides, I trust Brother Lan wouldn’t treat me that way, right?” Gu Yingxi’s voice was soft and weak, her eyes filled with a dreamy haze. She regretted having acted like an inexperienced girl when she first met Lan Lingyan; now, Heaven had granted her another chance to see the Brother Jiu she yearned for day and night. She wished she could tear open her heart to show him. Despite appearing completely dominated by Xie Zhuoyin and the others she kept company with, Gu Yingxi harbored a deep intuition: as long as she displayed this specific demeanor, men would always be drawn to her.

“I wouldn’t,” Lan Lingyan managed a slight twist of his lips. He was always ruthless; while he held no pity for Gu Yingxi, he wouldn't be moved by her words. But her current behavior was truly repulsive. He frowned, staring at Gu Yingxi’s look of unwavering devotion, and ordered again, “Drink!”

As soon as the word left his mouth, a palpable killing intent surged off him. Gu Yingxi’s face went ghostly pale with fright, and without thinking, she tipped the wine back, gulping it down with a few loud swallows.

The fierce and terrifying look in Lan Lingyan’s eyes when he had previously ordered her to drink was startling—not just for Gu Yingxi, but if Ning Yunhuan had a wine glass nearby, she might have choked on it too.

Gu Yingxi finished the drink in a few gulps, her face turning somewhat pale. “I just… that medicine…” Her mind, previously clouded by lust, had regained a sliver of clarity. Ning Yunhuan knew very well that Gu Yingxi was always sharper after drinking alcohol than when sober. In her previous life, this trait was even lauded by those men as an innate gift, and she had worn it proudly. Now, Ning Yunhuan was surprised to see that after drinking, Gu Yingxi seemed almost more perceptive than when she was clear-headed.

She dared to drink something of unknown origin! Did she truly believe she was invincible and immune to death just because she was the heroine? Ning Yunhuan walked over to the sofa and sat down with a cold smile. Just as she thought Gu Yingxi had finally gained some sense, Gu Yingxi started giggling, clutching her head: “Brother, what did you give me? I feel so hot all over.” Her tone had become playfully naive, her demeanor utterly innocent as she tugged at her collar and fanned her rapidly reddening cheeks.

“If Brother Lan asked, I wouldn’t need medicine,” Gu Yingxi murmured. Having worked at this club for the elite for so long, she was quite familiar with some of the common tactics. While most patrons wouldn't touch the maids in the premises, many would coax them into taking something to lower their inhibitions so they would agree to leave. As long as this wasn't entirely forced, the club usually didn't interfere. Naturally, she concluded that Lan Lingyan had given her a drug that turned women into promiscuous sluts.

The thought that Lan Lingyan would give her such a drug, and for what purpose, was self-evident. Gu Yingxi became so overwhelmed with emotion—realizing the Brother Jiu she adored had stooped to this and desired her—that tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She kept thinking: My destined one, how little you know. You wouldn't even need medicine; just one smile from you, and I would overlook anything to stay by your side, even serving you alongside Ning Yunhuan, whom I cannot stand!

She had missed Lan Lingyan so much her heart ached; how could she possibly refuse intimacy with him? As the drug slowly began to take effect, Gu Yingxi felt heat coursing through her, rendering her speechless.

Hearing Gu Yingxi’s heartfelt confession, Ning Yunhuan nearly gagged. She remained silent. Lan Lingyan merely pointed at Gu Yingxi, who was now frantically ripping at her clothes, murmuring about the heat with an almost seductive languor: “Watch her carefully. Release her outside only when the drug takes full effect.”

He had already prepared a grand gift for her outside. Thinking of this, Lan Lingyan’s mouth curved into a tiny, subtle line.

Watching Gu Yingxi, who was now burning with desire and twisting her body like a water snake, being held by two men in black, she struggled desperately, occasionally turning her head to try and lick the men beside her. These two brutes had undergone special training by the Lan family; their loyalty to Lan Lingyan was incomparable to those men Gu Yingxi had previously seduced who had faltered. At this moment, they knew exactly how important Gu Yingxi was to their master, so when she tried to lick them, they were so disgusted they wished they could punch her.

“Let’s go, the real show is starting,” Lan Lingyan said with a cold laugh, watching Gu Yingxi completely overcome by passion, her body constantly trying to rub against the two men. Her expression was one of intense craving, yet a flicker of panic remained in her eyes, indicating she was still maintaining some clarity.

“Ah, hmm… Brother Lan, where are you sending me?” She understood what was happening internally, but her body felt like it was engulfed in fire. Just looking at Lan Lingyan, Gu Yingxi felt the thin thong cutting tightly against her tender core, waves of heat surging outwards, leaving her body so empty she felt drowned by it.

Having achieved his objective, Lan Lingyan now had no patience for her words. He ignored her completely and pulled Ning Yunhuan’s hand to walk away. Gu Yingxi’s eyes widened abruptly, as if only now noticing the person beside him. She momentarily stifled the moan building on her lips and shrieked: “Ning Yunhuan! It’s you! Why are you thwarting me at every turn? What advice did you give Brother Lan to make him harm me? Brother Lan, save me…”