Chapter 64: Spike the Wine
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Shen Wan smiled and took He Huai’s hand.
The two of them took the elevator directly down to the basement level. As soon as the metal door opened, deafening music assaulted their senses.
Compared to the quaintness of the villa’s entrance gate and the grandeur of the lobby, this underground bar had a completely different style: flamboyant yet decadent, chaotic, and wild.
He Huai led her hand, guiding her through the dance floor. Despite his protective efforts, Shen Wan still bumped into people lost in the revelry several times.
“Don’t worry, you might not be used to it on your first visit, but it gets better after a while!”
Due to the loud music, He Huai had to speak closely. At first glance, the two of them appeared quite intimate.
Shen Wan didn’t think much of it herself. After all, in her previous life, she had a good relationship with He Huai. Though he could be a bit mischievous and occasionally naughty, he had never made any fundamental mistakes. Perhaps it was his simple upbringing that had instilled in him the character of “being simple-minded thus wealthy”. Compared to Song Lin’s righteousness and Qin Zeyan’s indecision, Shen Wan actually appreciated He Huai’s style.
“All Qian, 1 didn’t expect your little sister to be so capable.” Song Lin swayed the highball glass in his hand with great interest.
Shen Qian lowered his eyelids, and perhaps due to the dim lighting, even Song Lin sitting beside him couldn’t discern his emotions at this moment.
Soon, He Huai brought Shen Wan to a private booth.
“Ze Yan, move over a bit.”
Qin Zeyan amiably made room for them. After this, He Huai instantly switched to “thoughtful and considerate” mode. He would ask Shen Wan if she wanted a drink, if she was hungry, and was overly attentive.
Song Lin couldn’t help but burst into laughter, Qin Zeyan appeared helpless that this young lad was flirting again…
However, since Shen Wan appeared, Shen Qian had remained silent, and everyone assumed he had drunk too much, finding nothing strange about it.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtOnly Song Lin, with a mysterious and dangerous smile, raised an eyebrow.
“…I’m not thirsty,” Shen Wan said, completely impressed by He Huai’s hospitality, “really, there’s no need.”
“Why be so polite with me? If you don’t like fruit juice, there’s also beer, Sprite, cola, or even milk if you want.”
Shen Wan still shook her head.
In a place like this, she had developed a habit of remaining cautious. She wouldn’t touch the drinks or food if she could avoid it; who knew what might be added inside? She wasn’t going to toy with her own safety.
He Huai, not seeing through her caution, thought she was just timid and unable to make requests, unaware that this scene was crystal clear to Song Lin’s experienced eyes.
She was acting overly cautious. What was she worried about? Or rather, whom was she guarding against?
“Wan Wan,” Song Lin suddenly called her name, “Is it okay if 1 address you like this? We all follow your brother’s lead.”
Shen Wan looked up at him.
The man was so stunned by those clear, glistening black eyes that he was momentarily lost for words. They say “beauty shines in the light”, perhaps because the lighting was dim, or maybe it was because Shen Wan’s little black dress emphasized her slender waist, but Song Lin, breaking his habit, approved of He Huai’s aesthetics. Apart from her eyes, she was cleaner than any woman he had ever seen.
But the cleaner something was, the more people wanted to tarnish it.
As an illegitimate daughter, what right did she have to possess such innocent eyes?
“Since you didn’t like what All Huai suggested,” Song Lin continued, “how about trying this glass of Patoussin?” As he spoke, he poured the wine and handed it to Shen Wan.
“Sorry, I won’t drink.”
“Everything has a first time; you’ll get used to it slowly.”
“Drinking alcohol is harmful, and 1 don’t want to harm myself.” Shen Wan still didn’t accept the drink, her eyes fixed firmly on Song Lin.
The atmosphere started to get awkward.
He Huai jumped in to defuse the situation, “1 haven’t tried it yet. Give it to me first…” He reached for the highball glass in Song Lin’s hand.
The latter gently moved it aside, avoiding him, and his expression suddenly turned stern, “Why did you snatch it from me? There’s more in the bottle. This one is for Wan Wan.”
He Huai didn’t understand why he was suddenly so serious and touched his nose apologetically, then cast an apologetic look at Shen Wan.
He couldn’t keep challenging his brother’s dignity like this. He could only let her fend for herself. However, this amount of alcohol wasn’t intoxicating, and even if she got drunk, they were here to protect her, weren’t they?
So, he didn’t feel the need to intervene too strongly.
As for Qin Zeyan, this man was used to staying out of things. Shen Wan didn’t hold any hope for him either. That left…
She turned her gaze towards Shen Qian, who was sitting quietly in the corner. “Brother, do you think I should drink this glass of wine?”
Shen Qian lowered his head, unmoved, and appeared heavily drunk.
One second.
Two seconds.
Ten seconds.
He still didn’t speak, and Shen Wan smiled.
She knew that she had to drink this glass of wine today; even if she didn’t, Song Lin would come up with other tricks. Instead of that, she might as well be cooperative. Moreover, she wanted to know what this man was up to.
She raised her hand, took the glass, and met Song Lin’s gentle smile. Shen Wan replied with a graceful smile, “Thank you.”
The man released his grip. “A pleasure to serve a beauty.”
Shen Wan held the wine glass, emulating his earlier actions, swaying it in her hand. The red liquid swirled, creating small waves. Before she could bring it closer, the fragrant aroma began to ferment, filling her senses.
The wine was good.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmBut the people, not so much.
Taking a sip, Shen Wan didn’t detect anything strange in the taste. She felt slightly relieved, but she dared not let her guard down. Under Song Lin’s intense gaze, she finally finished the glass.
“How does it taste?” he asked with a smile.
“Sorry, I may not know how to appreciate it,” Shen Wan’s cheeks had turned slightly red.
“Oh, that’s a shame,” he shrugged and then turned his attention away from her, starting a low conversation with Qin Zeyan.
Seeing that it was about time and after saying something to He Huai, Shen Wan got up and went to the restroom.
From the moment she took the glass until she left the seating area, she didn’t glance at Shen Qian at all.
“Could you please tell me where the restroom is?” Shen Wan asked a waiter. The waiter pointed her in the right direction, and she proceeded down the corridor further into the venue.
The noise and clamor grew fainter, but her breathing became heavier. By the time she reached the restroom door, her steps were unsteady, and her limbs felt weak.
If she didn’t realize by now that there was something wrong with Song Lin’s drink, she’d be the most foolish person in the world!
However, if Song Lin made the first move, she was prepared to make the fifteenth.
After closing the door to one of the stalls, Shen Wan pulled a thin needle from her coiled hair. It was long and slender, with a slightly soft texture, not like an embroidery needle but more like the kind of needle acupuncturists used in TV dramas to puncture acupuncture points.
She aimed it at the back of her left hand, near the base of her thumb, and stabbed it firmly. It sent a sharp jolt of pain through her body, but it gave her a moment of clarity.
Her top priority was to get out of here!
Just as she was preparing to leave, she heard clear footsteps outside—one, two, three…
Five people in total!
“Are you sure she’s inside?”
“Yes, I saw her coming this way,” the same waiter who had shown Shen Wan the way replied.
“Go in and search!”