Whether it was the enmity meeting, a sudden burst of jealousy, Ning Yunhuan’s makeup had transformed her to a state where even Father Ning and Madam Ning might not recognize her, yet Gu Yingxi singled her out immediately.

Furthermore, she had stood in the private room for a good while before Gu Yingxi finally noticed her. Just how focused was Gu Yingxi on Lanling Yan? Moreover, it wasn't she who administered the drug; Lanling Yan was the one who gave it, and Gu Yingxi drank it willingly. How could this possibly be pinned on her?

Ning Yunhuan gave her a speechless look, offering no reply. In any case, Gu Yingxi looked like she was about to suffer great misfortune. Whatever Lanling Yan gave her surely wasn't some simple **; what strange and bizarre concoctions didn't he have in his laboratory? Having tasted those bitter fruits in her past life, Gu Yingxi deserved to sample plenty more in this one!

Outside the back entrance reserved for dignitaries and nobles, Uncle Biao stood with about a dozen ruffians sporting wildly colored hair. He coldly commanded, “Remember to keep your mouths shut after you’re done, or you know what the consequences will be!”

The few scrawny-looking thugs nodded and bowed profusely in agreement. About ten minutes later, Gu Yingxi was escorted out by two strong men and shoved into the midst of this group.

“Ah! What are you doing?” As soon as she was pushed into their embrace, seven or eight hands immediately grabbed onto her, roughly pawing at her body. She instantly turned pale with terror, trembling uncontrollably, and let out a piercing scream. But as the pain on her body surged along with the sense of shame, a wave of pleasure also washed over her.

“Go on,” one of the thugs jeered, closing in to suckle at Gu Yingxi’s mouth, while several hands groped insistently over her entire body. Gu Yingxi nearly went mad, trying to cry out sharply, but just as she was about to sob, a smoke-laden mouth clamped over hers. After changing several times, her lips were swollen red, yet she couldn't utter a word.

Gu Yingxi let out muffled whimpers, and suddenly a tightness gripped her lower body, as if fingers were drilling inside. Her body stiffened completely, shivering all over. The humiliation flooded her mind, yet her body could not resist the pleasure, tightly clamping around the foreign object, emitting captivating breaths through her nose.

“Why? Why are you doing this to me?” Gu Yingxi’s body was experiencing such pleasure that it refused to let go of what was inside, fiercely gripping the fingers, but her heart was filled with bitter sorrow. A colossal agony engulfed her, and tears poured down her face in torrents: “Since you are so heartless, treating me this way, then I don't need to keep my virtue for you. Can you bear to watch these filthy people touch me? Then I will let them touch you to see, so you regret it!” Gu Yingxi suddenly shoved the face in front of her away, shouted a couple of times through gasping breaths, only to have her lips immediately muffled again.

Not far away in the car, Ning Yunhuan listened, speechless, and turned to cast a look at the ice-cold Lanling Yan: “Can you really bear this?”

The moment the words left her mouth, the arm clamped around her waist instantly tightened, full of warning, pressing so hard it made her waist ache. Ning Yunhuan quickly begged for mercy, meekly leaning in to let him kiss her lips for a while before she managed to catch her breath and rest against his chest, though her eyes remained fixed on the scene outside.

By now, Gu Yingxi was enveloped by the cluster of men, her clothes nearly torn off, her stockings already shredded into tatters. The sounds of eager kissing and swallowing from the men echoed from the car speakers.

“…” Ning Yunhuan felt a complex surge of emotion she couldn't quite place. As the two leaned against each other in silence, Brother Biao turned toward the car, bent down, and whispered:

“Master, she is just an ordinary young girl. Is this necessary?” Acting on a strange impulse, he pleaded for Gu Yingxi. Brother Biao couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy as he listened to Gu Yingxi’s desolate cries nearby. According to his investigation, Gu Yingxi was merely a frail and somewhat naive girl. Although she attracted a lot of male attention, this wasn't sought out by her; it was merely a series of unfortunate coincidences, and she shouldn't be blamed.

He didn't know how Gu Yingxi had offended Lanling Yan, but in Brother Biao’s research, there seemed to be no connection where Gu Yingxi had wronged him, save for their involvement concerning the Madam.

Thinking of this, Brother Biao instinctively tried to look up at Ning Yunhuan, who was leaning against Lanling Yan in the car. However, when he lifted his head, he failed to see the girl’s face clearly, catching only a pair of dangerous eyes flashing with cold light, like a leopard’s. He immediately lowered his head, and recalling Lanling Yan’s methods and temper, a cold sweat instantly broke out down his back.

“There are things you shouldn’t inquire about; don't ask too much. Lan Biao, how many years have you been by my side? Think about the fate of those before you. This time, for your grandfather’s sake, I will pretend I didn't hear what you just said.” Lanling Yan smiled mildly, his gaze resting on Lan Biao for a long moment before looking away.

When Lanling Yan fixed his gaze upon him, Lan Biao felt as though he were being targeted by a fierce beast. He had no doubt that if he had said another word just now, several guns might already have been aimed at his head and heart. Lanling Yan, a member of the Lan family who survived to this day, was certainly no benevolent figure. Why had he just spoken up for Gu Yingxi as if he were bewitched? Recalling the scene, Lan Biao felt as if he had gone mad. Thankfully, his family had served Lanling Yan's great-grandfather, and he had been specially granted the surname Lan, marking him as one of the most trusted individuals in the Lan household.

Yet, such status had nearly been ruined because he pleaded for Gu Yingxi! Lanling Yan's words implied that he was granting him this one chance, but there would be no second one. By using this opportunity, the loyalty earned by Lan Biao’s family over generations in the Lan household was now worth next to nothing. Lan Biao felt dizzy; the result of generations of his family’s efforts was nullified by a single sentence from him!

He knew Lanling Yan’s temperament—his word was law, and there would be no chance for reconsideration. Why had he spoken up for Gu Yingxi just now? If people in his own family knew of this situation, they would surely be furious! Lan Biao’s father also served Lanling Yan’s father; he was supposed to be the person Lanling Yan trusted most. But because Gu Yingxi had lost everything, not only would it be impossible for him to infiltrate the center of the Lan clan in the future, he might even end up worse off than now. Realizing this, a murderous intent toward Gu Yingxi involuntarily surfaced in Lan Biao’s heart.

“Let them take their time. It would be boring if she died in one go,” Lanling Yan said, crossing his arms to prop up his chin, his eyes fixed on the scene nearby. It was unclear to whom he was speaking.

As Gu Yingxi’s shrieks continued unabated, she was pinned to the ground, and the sound of footsteps echoed—it seemed someone was approaching.

This area was part of the exclusive club for dignitaries, so theoretically, no one dared to cause trouble here, and the back door was secluded; no one should arrive. Yet, someone was coming now. Recalling the outcome of his intercession for Gu Yingxi, Lan Biao instinctively moved to block the car, hoping his demonstration of loyalty would earn him another chance from Lanling Yan.

“Ying’er! Ying’er!” A heart-wrenching cry rang out, accompanied by the frantic sound of running footsteps. Two long shadows stretched under the lights and zipped rapidly toward them. Gu Yingxi, who had been nearly unrecognizable amidst the crowd, was still identified—after all, the female lead must be recognizable even in such a state.

Ning Yunhuan instantly recognized Ning Yuncheng, whose eyes were bloodshot, leading the charge. Trailing behind him was a tall, thin figure with a look of utter despair, seeming to be Xie Zhuoyin. However, because a year had passed and Xie Zhuoyin looked so utterly downtrodden, his face covered in stubble, appearing at least five years older than the once dashing young master, Ning Yunhuan couldn't be entirely sure for a moment.

“Ah! You scum, get away from her!” Ning Yuncheng charged forward as if driven mad, shouting Gu Yingxi’s name as he ran: “Xi’er! Xi’er! Are you alright?”

Ning Yunhuan couldn't hold back upon hearing this. She struggled to sit up straight on Lanling Yan’s body and looked up at him: “Shouting like that, isn't he afraid of attracting others? Is he so afraid that no one will know a woman is being assaulted here?” Didn't Ning Yuncheng always treasure Gu Yingxi like his own eyesight, unable to tolerate even the slightest harm coming to her? Last time, even when she did nothing, he threw a tremendous tantrum. Now that Gu Yingxi was being subjected to this, only the final act remained, and he was still yelling. If this was discovered later, how could Gu Yingxi ever show her face in public?

Lanling Yan nearly burst out laughing when he heard this, and Lan Biao’s mouth twitched. This was the first time he had heard Ning Yunhuan speak since seeing her tonight. He had initially felt a sense of admiration for the two approaching men, who, undeterred by the number of people present, showed loyalty and courage by rushing to save their beloved instead of running away cowardly. But after hearing Ning Yunhuan’s words, he also thought that man was foolish.

Yet, according to his investigation, wasn't this man her elder brother?

The leader always takes the first hit. Ning Yuncheng was the first to charge in, attempting to snatch the prized flesh from others' mouths. Naturally, the thugs were displeased and swung their fists toward his face. Through the sounds emanating from the small device placed on Gu Yingxi when she was first grabbed, those in the car clearly heard how loud the punch landed. Although Ning Yuncheng usually maintained a dignified appearance, he knew nothing of fighting. If it were just one or two people, it might be manageable, relying on his height advantage to hold them off. But with so many people, even one punch from each would be enough for him. Soon, Ning Yuncheng was beaten until he was groaning continuously.