Chapter 157: The Young Master Faces North!

Hearing this, Su Xiaoding's face darkened as she tried to dissuade her: "Lanlan, aren't you being a bit unreasonable?"

"Apart from looking somewhat handsome, what other capability does this good-for-nothing have?"

"Why on earth would you choose him as an inspector and treat him so well?"

"Exactly, Miss An."

Qi Tianfang chimed in: "Xiaoding and I are only looking out for you. Don't let yourself be fooled by this loser's appearance."

"We came out to relax, not to bring trouble upon ourselves."

"Allowing this good-for-nothing to drink with us, this is—"

"Wushang, let's go."

An Lan couldn't be bothered to waste words with them. She linked her arm through Ye Wushang's and turned to leave.

Ye Wushang was deeply moved by her unconditional trust in him, but his purpose in coming today was to finalize the mass production of the new medicine.

Just as he was about to speak, Su Xiaoding sighed helplessly and said: "I really can't do anything with you. Fine, fine, fine, leaving him here is fine, right?"

"You're my dear sister. I can understand you being a bit willful right now."

"But just this once, not as a precedent. If you ever pull this stunt again, I really will be angry with you!"

As she spoke, she hurried over to pull An Lan back.

Meanwhile, Qi Tianfang wanted to say something but hesitated. He originally planned to wait until this loser left, have his underlings corner him, and finish him off once and for all today!

However, since An Lan insisted on keeping him here, he had no choice but to wait a little longer.

To be honest, the reason he was pursuing Su Xiaoding wasn't because he genuinely liked her; his true target was An Lan.

His plan was to get close to An Lan gradually through their friendship.

Who would have thought that a wild card would suddenly appear, and seeing how fiercely An Lan defended him made jealousy burn in his chest like fire!

"Mr. Ye!"

At that moment, Master Tu, having finished handling his matters, stepped forward and called out.

"Master Tu?"

An Lan frowned. "Why are you here?"

"This is my bar!"

Master Tu chuckled and said, "Sister-in-law, I didn't expect you to be here. Had I known, I would have arranged a VIP booth for you."

"Mr. Ye said he came to discuss something with me. So, I hope I haven't interrupted you all?"

An Lan widened her eyes in astonishment. "You mean, Wushang came here to talk business with you?"

"Yes, is there a problem?"

Master Tu looked at Ye Wushang and said, "Mr. Ye, everything has been arranged. Let's go."

"No need, you go on down first. Just follow those samples, and I'll come down to check in a bit."

"An Lan just asked me to stay and have a drink with them."

With that, Ye Wushang handed the sample of the new medicine over, gave a brief wave, and turned back.

When he looked at Su Xiaoding, his face flushed red with a trace of embarrassment.

He had thought she assumed he was following her here, but not only did he know the owner of the place, he was actually here on business.

That meant she had misunderstood him all along.

Yet, why hadn't he said anything sooner?

"Xiaoding, aren't you going to apologize to Wushang?"

An Lan trusted Ye Wushang's character. Now that the truth was out, she felt emboldened and looked at Su Xiaoding. "We may be best friends, but business is business. After what you said about Wushang just now, you at least owe him an apology, don't you?"

"I—"

Su Xiaoding hesitated, pondered for a moment, and pounced her lips, sneering: "Hmph, so what? If he knows people, he knows them, what does that have to do with me?"

"You want me to apologize to him? On what grounds?"

"I, Su Xiaoding, only ever respect capable people. A good-for-nothing pretty boy like him simply doesn't deserve it!"

"The new medicine research is still up in the air, what face does he have to demand an apology from me?"

Ye Wushang's expression turned stern as he calmly stated: "I can handle the research for the new medicine. It won't implicate the An family, nor will it cause Lanlan to lose her position as president..."

"Bah!"

Qi Tianfang spat contemptuously, sneering: "Who do you think you are, the Jade Emperor?"

"Do you have any idea what the consequences will be if this new medicine research fails?"

"The An family's reputation will be ruined, and Miss An will lose her presidency."

"Let alone you, even with the backing of top-tier families like mine and Xiaoding's, we probably wouldn't be able to protect her."

"How dare you stand here and spout such arrogance? Where on earth do you get the nerve?"

A top-tier family?

Hearing this, Ye Wushang furrowed his brow.

He had previously sensed that Su Xiaoding's background was extraordinary, but now he learned she came from a prominent lineage.

And while Qi Tianfang was arrogant, he had the backing to justify it; with such a background, one could walk sideways anywhere.

Still.

If the new medicine research failed, the social fallout would indeed be too massive for even the gods to save.

However, he had already produced the samples and instructed Master Tu to begin mass production. By his estimation, working overnight, there would be no problem releasing the new medicine tomorrow!

"I said there won't be any issues, this matter—"

"Wushang, stop talking."

Just as Ye Wushang was about to retort, An Lan stopped him. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Let's leave it to fate."

"If it works, it works; if it doesn't, so be it. I won't force it."

"Come on, let's go drink. Since you're here, keep me good company today; we didn't quite finish having fun last time."

With that, she pulled Ye Wushang over to sit in a booth.

Su Xiaoding and Qi Tianfang exchanged glances and, with lingering reluctance, reluctantly agreed for the time being.

Arriving at the booth, they raised their glasses and prepared to toast.

Right at that moment, a bald young man walked in from outside.

The young man had a fierce expression and looked thoroughly arrogant, yet his demeanor carried an air of haughtiness and extraordinary presence that set him apart from the ordinary crowd.

"I've heard about this bar for a long time, but I didn't expect it to be this lively."

Bei Chaonan wore an evil smile as he scanned his surroundings, finally fixing his gaze on An Lan sitting in the nearby booth.

When he caught sight of her alluring and mesmerizing beauty, he was instantly frozen in place.

His eyes roamed up and down her curvaceous figure, and his jaw practically dropped to the floor.

"Damn, what a masterpiece!"

"I never expected to run into a woman like this here. I'm truly blessed today!"

Bei Chaonan was a veteran among women. Having encountered countless beauties, he had never failed in his pursuits.

He didn't care about the occasion or the woman's background when picking up women; if his eyes landed on her, he was determined to win her over!

Without hesitation, he walked straight over, draped one arm casually across An Lan's delicate shoulder, and teased with a smile: "Beauty, the seat you're occupying happens to be my exclusive spot. Since you're sitting in my place, shouldn't you show some courtesy?"

An Lan raised an eyebrow, glanced at him dismissively, ignored his remark, and instinctively brushed his hand away.

However, the man didn't let go; instead, he slid his hand downward from her shoulder, wrapped his arm around her slender waist, and sat down right beside her. "No matter, though. I've always had a good temper, especially with beauties. A chance meeting is better than an invitation; let me buy you a drink right here."

With that, without standing on ceremony, he directly picked up a wine bottle, poured two glasses, handed one to An Lan, and smiled: "Come on, beauty, let's clink glasses."

"I don't know you, and I don't want to drink with you."

An Lan shoved the glass away, wanting with disgusted repulsion to pry off his wandering paws.

Yet the man possessed a thick skin; not only did he refuse to let go, but he pulled her even closer, shamelessly insisting: "We don't know each other yet, but won't we after chatting a bit more?"

As he spoke, his gaze repeatedly drifted toward her chest.

Through the slightly parted neckline, glimpses of her cleavage were vaguely visible.

It stirred Bei Chaonan's passions to a frenzy. Licking his lips, he cut straight to the chase: "You should know very well what I mean."

"Name your price. As long as you spend the night with me, I'll give you however much money you want—"

"Get lost!"

Incensed with fury, An Lan grabbed her wine glass and splashed the contents right into his face!

The splashing liquor instantly ignited Bei Chaonan's anger.

Even so, he prided himself on cherishing beauty; despite his overwhelming power and influence, he didn't press the issue immediately, merely chuckling: "If anyone else had dared to splash wine on me, they'd already be dead. But you're a woman, and a great beauty at that, so I'll forgive you."

"However, you'll have to keep me well-pleased to make up for it."

"Come, give me a kiss."

Saying this, he actually puckered his lips and leaned in toward her.

"Slap!"

Pushing her patience past its breaking point, An Lan lashed out with her hand and delivered a hard, vicious slap across his face!

It was a heavy and forceful blow.

Moreover, her slender fingernails scratched across his cheek, leaving a faint trace of blood!

"Damn it."

Enraged, Bei Chaonan glared at An Lan. "Bitch, how the fuck dare you hit me?"

Rubbing his burning, stinging cheek, he felt utterly humiliated.

Growing up, who had ever dared to strike him?

Let alone being hit, no one had even dared to speak harshly to him.

To be made a laughingstock in public like this was practically courting death!

An Lan, unaware of his background and by no means a pushover, retorted sharply against his roar: "Your hands and feet are uninvited and filthy; you deserved to be hit."

"Brainless trash, trying to kiss people on sight. Such cheap behavior!"

With that, An Lan made to move to the opposite seat.

However, Bei Chaonan grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back, furious: "You want to play tough with me, do you?"

"I'm dragging you to bed today whether you like it or not!"

"Come with me!"

Just as he attempted to drag her away, before he could even stand up, a resounding 'slap' echoed as his hand was violently batted away. Qi Tianfang stepped forward, taking a firm stand!

"You stray dog, can't you open your dog eyes and see whose territory this is?"

"Is Miss An someone a piece of trash like you can lay a hand on?"

Qi Tianfang barked furiously.

Although he hadn't yet established any intimate relationship with An Lan.

In his heart, An Lan was already his woman.

It was only a matter of time.

He would never allow anyone else to lay a finger on her before he did, no matter who they were!