On the way to the private room, the girls clustered around Leng Ling'er, eyes full of curiosity.
"Sister Ling'er, didn't you say you come to places like this a lot?"
"Later, when we get inside, you'll order the songs, right?"
"…Ah."
Leng Ling'er froze for half a second, then forced herself to stay calm.
"This is actually my first time too."
But on the surface, she waved her hand confidently.
"That's normal stuff. I'm very familiar with this kind of place."
"Just tell me what you want to sing—I'll queue it for you."
"Whoa! Sister Ling'er is amazing!"
After they entered the private room, none of them noticed—
A figure peeked out from around the corner.
Shen Tian.
He stared at the door the girls had just gone through, frowning slightly.
"Isn't that Jiang Tao's girlfriend?" he muttered.
"Why is she here?"
Then his gaze slowly darkened, greed surfacing.
Didn't get you at Xinghui…
Then maybe here—hehe.
With that thought, Shen Tian turned and walked back toward his own room.
He was going to call for backup.
---
Meanwhile, Gu Yan was on the road to the city, deep in thought.
Which KTV would Leng Ling'er and her friends go to?
Xinghui was gone.
The original plot had already been disrupted.
They might even decide not to sing at all.
"Tch… since I already cut off the original storyline ahead of time," Gu Yan muttered,
"Even if they go to a KTV, they shouldn't repeat the same mistake…"
Still.
This world had a nasty habit of self-correcting.
What if—
What if the plot forcibly snapped back?
Gu Yan's eyes narrowed.
That would be bad.
Suddenly, an idea clicked.
He asked inwardly,
"System, how do I locate Leng Ling'er?"
[Host, who is Leng Ling'er? This system only recognizes Leng Qingqiu, who is currently alone at home.]
"…Don't play dumb," Gu Yan said flatly.
"If something happens to my sister-in-law, Qingqiu will be heartbroken."
[...Fine. One point is required to check Leng Ling'er's location.]
Gu Yan smiled.
Perfect.
---
Inside the private room.
"Sister Ling'er, you're still not done?"
"We've been waiting forever!"
Everyone stared impatiently at Leng Ling'er, who was standing in front of the touchscreen.
Ten minutes.
Not a single song selected.
"Ah—almost done! Almost done!" Leng Ling'er replied quickly, swiping the screen in a panic.
Oh no… I don't understand any of this…
The interface looked like alien technology.
Truth was—
She was a complete digital idiot.
Xiao Wei quietly walked over and whispered,
"Sister Ling'er, tap this category. That's the playlist."
"Oh—right, right," Leng Ling'er laughed awkwardly, scratching her head.
"Of course I knew that."
She reached out—
Bang!
The door was kicked open.
Several men stormed in.
Shen Tian led the group inside, shutting the door behind them with a loud slam.
They looked at the girls and burst into laughter.
"Well well, little sisters, out having fun?"
"Want your big brothers to keep you company?"
"Don't worry—we'll pay."
The girls froze.
Then one by one, they stood up.
"Bah! Who do you think you are?"
"Get lost—why are you acting like thugs here?"
"Sister Ling'er! I'll go call security!"
These were rebellious, fearless girls—young, hot-blooded, and untouched by real danger.
Of course they weren't scared.
Leng Ling'er's expression darkened.
"This is our private room. Get out."
She grabbed Xiao Wei's wrist.
"Xiao Wei, go get security. They're causing trouble in someone else's place."
But—
Xiao Wei's face turned pale.
Her body trembled.
"Xiao Wei?" Leng Ling'er blinked.
"Ling'er… you all should leave. Now," Xiao Wei whispered stiffly.
"These people… we can't afford to provoke them."
Leng Ling'er was stunned.
Xiao Wei wasn't afraid of Shen Tian himself—
She was afraid of the Gu family behind him.
"What are you saying?" Leng Ling'er frowned.
"I can take these guys down in a few moves."
She stepped forward, fists up, eyes sharp.
"I suggest you leave now. Otherwise, I can't guarantee that you—skinny arms and legs and all—will walk out of here intact."
Her mocking tone stabbed straight into Shen Tian's pride.
He had just been beaten by Gu Yan's people.
His parents looked down on him.
Gu Yan looked down on him.
Now even a bunch of high school girls?!
The veins on Shen Tian's forehead bulged.
"Good. Very good," he snarled.
"Brothers—teach these little brats what society is."
"Heh, got it!"
"All on you, Brother Tian!"
They charged.
"Are we afraid of you?!"
"Sister Ling'er, let's go!"
The girls rushed forward too—
But the gap in strength was brutal.
In moments, everyone except Leng Ling'er was slammed to the floor.
"Ling'er…"
"I—I can't fight anymore…"
"Damn it—if my brother were here, you'd all be dead!"
Shen Tian's teeth ground together.
Enough.
"Hold her down."
He picked up a beer bottle and pointed at the loudest girl.
Walking forward, he sneered.
"You. Shut up."
"Stop!"
Leng Ling'er was exhausted.
Even with taekwondo training, she couldn't handle so many grown men.
When she saw Shen Tian raise the bottle—
She lunged forward.
But hands grabbed her from behind, forcing her to the ground.
"Stay put, kid!"
"Watch closely how your friend's head gets smashed open!"
"This is the price of arrogance!"
Xiao Wei's face went white.
She rushed forward anyway.
"Wait! You—you can't hurt them!"
"Xiao Wei, move!" Leng Ling'er shouted desperately.
"If they dare touch her, my brother will kill them!"
"Haha—get out of the way!" Shen Tian sneered.
"I'm just teaching the loudest one a lesson!"
He shoved Xiao Wei aside and raised the bottle high.
"Qiong Lan!!"
Leng Ling'er struggled wildly, pinned helplessly to the floor.
She could only watch—
The bottle coming down.
Closer.
Closer—
Bang!
The door exploded open.
A voice, cold and furious, cut through the room.
"Hey."
And in that instant—
Shen Tian felt his blood freeze.