Chapter 18

Liu Jinyuan stared at Sang Nian with a half-smile, his eyes growing increasingly unfathomable. He could tell Sang Nian was terrified, and he enjoyed that fear. The sight of someone so insignificant trembling before him only fueled the most bloodthirsty desires within him.

So he didn't move, but he saw Sang Nian's face changing little by little. His face could no longer be described as snow-white, but as deathly pale, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead, his shoulders trembling, and his hands hanging at his sides clenched into fists, the knuckles turning an unnatural white.

How interesting!

He quietly observed his prey's every reaction, his smile deepening.

Suddenly, the person sitting on the sofa next to him moved, and the moment his raised foot came down, it knocked over a wine bottle on the coffee table. The bottle shattered on the ground with a crisp sound, and the entire booth was instantly filled with the rich aroma of wine.

Liu Jingyuan clicked his tongue impatiently and glared at the person who broke the silence. The person was so frightened by the glare that his legs went weak and he couldn't even stand up. Liu Jingyuan ignored him and slowly got up, his eyes fixed on Sang Nian, as he slowly approached him.

He took a step forward, and Sang Nian took a step back. He didn't know how far Liu Jingyuan would go today, but no matter what, he couldn't escape today.

The people around him were all Liu Jingyuan's men, while the people outside were strangers who had come to drink and have fun, so naturally they wouldn't help him.

No one can help him.

Sang Nian thought with near despair that there was no one left in this world who would stand by him without hesitation. He lowered his head, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips. He had vowed to avenge Qiu Yang, but now he couldn't even protect himself; how could he possibly seek revenge? His gaze fell on an empty wine bottle on the coffee table, and a sudden glint of madness flashed in his eyes.

Since no one was making things easy for him, he naturally couldn't let everyone have their way. Sang Nian quickly grabbed an empty wine bottle and smashed it on the coffee table before anyone could react. Then, holding up the sharp, broken bottle, he stood between him and Liu Jingyuan.

Liu Jinyuan raised an eyebrow and whistled, "The more you struggle, the more I like it. I hope you'll be just as hot in bed." He then licked his lips.

Sang Nian's hand, holding the shards of glass, trembled uncontrollably. He almost bit his lower lip until it bled, forcing himself not to appear so frightened. No one noticed what was happening in this secluded corner, and no one would come to his aid. He gripped the shards of glass tightly in his hand, as if gripping his own destiny—hard yet fragile.

He really shouldn't have come alone, but he couldn't refuse. His good impression of Liu Wenyuan made him lower his guard, completely failing to consider that someone who could reach this marriage agreement with Sang Wenhua could not be a good person.

Liu Jingyuan continued to walk towards him, seemingly posing no threat whatsoever to him with the "weapon" in his hand. Indeed, that was the case. When Sang Nian had nowhere left to retreat, Liu Jingyuan was already upon him, effortlessly snatching the shards of glass from his hand. The shards were still stained with blood from the cuts he had accidentally made when he broke the bottle. Liu Jingyuan glanced at the shards of glass, chuckled maliciously, his eyes growing even darker, and his breathing became rapid.

The hot breath exhaled onto Sang Nian's forehead made him shiver involuntarily.

He closed his eyes in despair, unable to predict what would happen next. Just then, someone nearby cried out in surprise, and suddenly a strong hand gripped his shoulder, pulling him backward. Sang Nian's body went limp with fear; he was completely at a loss for how to react, letting the force pull him into a familiar yet strange embrace.

The next second, Wen Yan's deep voice came from above his head, like heavenly music, and Sang Nian's eyes instantly reddened.

"How are you?"

Sang Nian first shook his head, then nodded slightly. Wen Yan was puzzled by his shaking and nodding, but he knew it wasn't appropriate to say these things here at this moment, so he pulled Sang Nian behind him and used his broad shoulders to block Liu Jingyuan's view.

Seeing the meat in his mouth snatched away, Liu Jingyuan was so angry that he kicked the coffee table hard, then pointed at Wen Yan and said, "Young Master Wen is in a good mood today, but you must have mistaken him for someone else. He is not your Sang Ning." After saying that, he was about to go forward and pull Sang Nian over.

Wen Yan turned to the side, blocking Liu Jingyuan's outstretched hand. "I don't need you to remind me who he is. Of course I know he is Sang Nian. But no matter who he is, he is not someone you, Liu Jingyuan, can touch." As Wen Yan said this, Sang Nian reached out and tugged at Wen Yan's sleeve. Wen Yan turned his head, and Sang Nian looked up at him, her mouth moving, but she couldn't say anything.

He couldn't tell Wen Yan that Liu Jingyuan was a blind date arranged for him by Sang Wenhua, and that they were getting married soon. If Wen Yan knew this, she probably wouldn't care about him anymore.

Wen Yan clearly saw Sang Nian's hesitant expression, and for some reason, he seemed to suddenly understand what Sang Nian was thinking. He patted Sang Nian's cold hand reassuringly and said to him, "Don't worry."

Even though he disliked Liu Jinyuan, and even though Liu Jinyuan was the blind date arranged by Sang Wenhua for Sang Nian, he could tell that Sang Nian disagreed, so he would help him.

Liu Jingyuan laughed upon hearing Wen Yan's words. Watching the interaction between the two, a fierce rage ignited in his eyes.

This guy, who I thought looked so pitiful on our blind date, really knows how to seduce people.

He licked his lips and said, "Young Master Wen probably doesn't know, but the person behind you is my blind date. Soon, oh, that is, after you and Sang Ning get engaged, we will get married."

"So, I can't even touch it?"

Sang Nian's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally died. He dared not look at Wen Yan's expression at this moment, and could only resign himself to closing his eyes and waiting for Wen Yan to hand him over.

"No." Wen Yan's words struck Sang Nian like a storm raging in his heart. He looked up in disbelief, staring intently at Wen Yan's sharply defined profile, with only one thought in his mind.

Wen Yan was the best person he had ever met in his life, besides Qiu Yang.

He simply couldn't let go like that.

Liu Jingyuan wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Liu Wenyuan who rushed over. Liu Wenyuan had noticed the situation was somewhat serious as soon as he entered the bar, so he immediately ran over, grabbed Liu Jingyuan, and whispered in his ear, "Brother, Dad wants you to go home. Grandpa isn't doing well."

Liu Jingyuan glanced at him and spat, "What bad luck!" Then he looked at Wen Yan and said, "You just wait, Wen Yan!" After saying that, he glared fiercely at Sang Nian, who was hiding behind Wen Yan, and snorted coldly.

"Sang Nian, we have a long future ahead of us, you can't escape."

Like the whispers of a demon from hell in his ear, Sang Nian felt a chill run down his spine and gripped Wen Yan's hand tightly.

This was the only lifeline he could grasp.

He doesn't want to let go.

After Liu Jingyuan and his group left completely, only Wen Yan, Sang Nian standing behind Wen Yan, and Xu Muze, who had been watching the show with his arms crossed and leaning against the wall, remained in the booth.

"Have you had enough of the excitement?"

Wen Yan ignored Sang Nian completely, as if he wasn't the one who had just "saved the beauty," and that he was just someone who was passing by.

Xu Muze pouted, "Ayan, how come I never knew you liked meddling in other people's business so much?" As he spoke, he moved closer to Sang Nian with interest, smiled at him, and introduced himself, "My name is Xu Muze, and you are Sang Nian, right?"

Sang Nian, not understanding what was going on, glanced at Wen Yan's cold back and nodded.

Xu Muze circled Sang Nian, looking her over. "You look so much like Sang Ning. No wonder you're twins. At first glance, I thought you were Sang Ning." He then put his arm around Sang Nian's shoulder and asked softly, "Are you and Liu Jingyuan really getting married? Do you know anything about him...?"

"Xu Muze!"

Wen Yan suddenly called out to him, "Let's go." After saying that, Wen Yan ignored the two of them and walked out of the bar alone. Xu Muze glanced at Sang Nian and chased after him, "Why did you just leave like that? Isn't he going to take care of us?"

"Never mind." Wen Yan's tone was indifferent, revealing no emotion. A moment of desolation flashed in Sang Nian's eyes, which finally turned into a self-deprecating laugh.

Without hesitation, he followed. Wen Yan had long legs, and in just a short while, he was almost outside the bar. Sang Nian jogged up to him, panting, and grabbed Wen Yan's hand.

Wen Yan frowned, glanced at Sang Nian, and stopped in her tracks.

Sang Nian put Wen Yan's hand down, first said thank you, and then asked, "Is there a problem with Liu Jingyuan?"

After he asked that question, he heard Xu Muze next to him scoff, "Didn't your family tell you when they arranged this blind date for you?"

Sang Nian bit her lip and shook her head.

Xu Muze was speechless. He never expected the Sang family to be so ruthless, pushing their youngest son, who had just returned from abroad, into such a predicament. Liu Jingyuan's case caused quite a stir back then, but it also subsided quickly, and there are no records of it online now.

The only people who remember these things have more or less had business dealings with the Liu family.

But this does not include the Wen family and the Xu family.

So Xu Muze leaned closer to Sang Nian, half seriously and half jokingly, and said to him, "Liu Jingyuan, he's killed someone."

Sang Nian stared wide-eyed in disbelief, his body swaying as he took two steps back. Afraid of screaming and attracting attention, he covered his mouth with his hand. He saw Xu Muze's smile, which held a hint of cynicism, and yet he still couldn't believe it, so he looked at Wen Yan for confirmation.

Wen Yan's expression was indifferent, as if it were none of his business. However, seeing Sang Nian's pale face, he felt a pang of pity. So he said, "I have no intention of interfering in your marriage, but Liu Jingyuan is definitely not a good person, you..." Wen Yan didn't finish his sentence because he suddenly remembered that this marriage was arranged by the Sang family elders, and even if Sang Nian disagreed, it couldn't be changed.

A sudden pang of guilt arose in his heart. Even though he wasn't one of the same ilk as the Sang and Liu families, he still couldn't help Sang Nian.

After hearing Wen Yan's words, Sang Nian understood. For a moment, he didn't know what expression to make, or perhaps he couldn't make any expression at all, because his mind was completely blank.

The Sang family not only used him as a tool to become their heir, but also arranged a marriage for him with such a person, intending to push him into an endless hell.

They were even more ruthless than he had imagined.