Chapter Fifty-Seven: If You Dare to Act, You Must Dare to Face the Consequences

Lin Yuxin was escorted out by the last two female servers who entered, while the security manager and his team remained behind, standing vigilantly, their eyes fixed like predators on the people in the private room.

No one dared to make a move; anxiety, unease, and apprehension were etched clearly onto each face. Chen Feiyang was a little better, but his brows were tightly knit and his expression grave. He asked twice more to see the person in charge, but the security manager ignored him, offering no explanation as to why they were being detained.

It was only seven or eight minutes later that the door to the private room opened again. A young man dressed in gray, compact in build and wearing a rigid, corpse-like expression, strode in. The security manager immediately stiffened and greeted him respectfully, “Brother Le.”

The newcomer was none other than Ah Le, one of Gao Tianxiong’s trusted men. The security manager was a veteran of Paradise Bar, promoted to manage Paradise Nightclub after Hongcheng Group was established. He knew full well that when Ah Le appeared, he represented Gao Tianxiong.

Without a flicker of emotion, Ah Le swept his hand around the room. “Separate these people and question them individually about what happened in this private room tonight. Cross-reference with the surveillance footage. I want the most accurate account within fifteen minutes.”

The security manager acknowledged the order at once. Each security guard took charge of one person, escorting them out of the private room. In the process, the bathroom door opened and Shi Jie stepped out, but he didn’t even get a chance to speak before a guard pushed him out of the room.

On the third floor, in a makeshift medical room, Lin Yuxin lay unconscious on a stretcher. Her exposed skin was pale with a faint flush, and a subtle scent of alcohol lingered around her. Beside her, an IV stand held a bottle of glucose, which dripped steadily into her body through a thin tube.

Hong Chen stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at Lin Yuxin’s tightly furrowed brows—signs of discomfort within. A trace of pity flickered in his eyes as his gaze slid over her adorable, kawaii-style sailor uniform, particularly noting the skirt hem that barely extended past her thighs. His pity was tinged with anger at her lack of self-restraint.

After a long silence, the door was gently pushed open. Hong Chen glanced back at Gao Tianxiong, who nodded to him, and quietly stepped out of the room.

“Master Chen, we’ve got the details…” In a secluded spot, Gao Tianxiong relayed Ah Le’s report, recounting everything that happened from the moment Lin Yuxin entered the private room. He then added, “Miss Lin came tonight to borrow money from Chen Feiyang. Her younger sister owes a huge debt of three million and eighty-eight thousand yuan, with the final repayment deadline tomorrow night. This was confirmed by both Chen Feiyang and Lu Ke’er; the others were unaware.”

“That woman, Lu Ke’er, used to work as a hostess at King Bar. The other two, Zhao Yan and Ma Li—one was also a hostess, and the other sold drinks. In the past, they were colleagues with Lu Ke’er, and tonight she called them to pretend to be former high school classmates. According to them, a few months ago, Lu Ke’er owed over two hundred thousand yuan in gambling debts. She got involved with a rich young man who paid it off for her, after which she stopped working as a hostess—probably became his mistress. That rich young man is almost certainly Chen Feiyang.”

“That woman, Liu Qian, now works at Mao Ding Construction, which is essentially working for Chen Feiyang’s family. As for Li Chen, his family’s business depends on Mao Ding Construction. Shi Jie, recently engaged, borrowed one hundred fifty thousand yuan from Chen Feiyang for a down payment on a house. When the four women were forcing drinks on Miss Lin, he used her phone to send you a message. Luckily, he reported in time—five minutes later, Miss Lin would have been taken out of the club.”

Aside from Shi Jie, Gao Tianxiong made no comment on anyone else, merely giving an objective account. When he finished, his eyes held a hint of inquiry.

Hong Chen was silent for a moment, then asked, “Do you know my relationship with Miss Lin?”

Gao Tianxiong shook his head. “Last time you mentioned Miss Lin was the president of Lin Feng Trading; beyond that, I don’t know.”

In truth, it wouldn’t have been hard to find out about Hong Chen and Lin Yuxin’s relationship, but Gao Tianxiong, ever astute, would never pry into his boss’s private affairs—especially given his high position at Hongcheng Group.

Hong Chen smiled. “She’s my wife.”

Gao Tianxiong’s expression changed. Hong Chen continued, “But we’re getting divorced tomorrow. It’s just a marriage of convenience.”

Gao Tianxiong’s face changed again, but he held his tongue.

Hong Chen’s smile faded. “Chen Feiyang is the mastermind. I gave him one chance, and I won’t give him another. Lu Ke’er executed the plan—I gave her a chance, too, but not a second. The others must pay for their actions. As for Shi Jie, arrange for someone to speak with him, Gao—offer him either one million yuan as a reward or a middle-management position at Hongcheng Group. Let him choose.”

He paused, then added, “Gather everyone back in the original private room. I’ll handle it personally.”

Gao Tianxiong agreed at once, his heart pounding—Hong Chen’s personal intervention meant real anger over tonight’s events.

Private Room C7.

Chen Feiyang and the others had returned, but there was no interaction among them. They exchanged glances, their eyes drifting anxiously; the atmosphere was strange and tense.

The silence didn’t last long. The door opened, the security guards stepped aside, and when they saw who entered, except for the two women, Chen Feiyang and the other five shot to their feet, faces filled with disbelief.

Hong Chen, Lin Yuxin’s useless husband—how did he get here?

“You’re all adults, and must take responsibility for your actions. If you dare to do something, you must dare to face the consequences!”

Hong Chen surveyed the room, speaking calmly, then locked his gaze on Li Chen. “You were part of the group urging my wife to drink. You didn’t force her, but you stood by and did nothing.”

Before Li Chen could speak, Hong Chen flashed forward, kicking Li Chen to the ground. He then stooped, hauled Li Chen up, and flung him sideways against the wall. Li Chen crashed to the floor, stunned and convulsing.

The whole process took at most two seconds. Li Chen didn’t even have time to cry out, lying prone and twitching.

The others were terrified. The four women shrieked in varying degrees of panic. In the next instant, Hong Chen’s gaze shifted to Liu Qian. Her face turned frantic and she cried out, “It’s not my fault!”

Hong Chen replied coolly, “You were also part of the group urging Yuxin to drink, and you helped force her.”

Liu Qian hurriedly pointed at Lu Ke’er. “It was her, she told me to do it!”

Lu Ke’er glared viciously at Liu Qian, then turned to Hong Chen and shouted sharply, “Lin Yuxin splashed her drink on me! I demanded an apology, but she refused and insulted me, so I forced her to drink as punishment. Hong Chen, don’t think you can act wild just because you have some strength—this isn’t a place for trash like you to run amok!”

“Good, well said. I was going to deal with each of you, from least to most severe. You were second to last—originally, I planned to take only your eyes. Now, I’ve decided to add your tongue.”

Hong Chen cast a cold glance at Lu Ke’er—his words were overly calm, as if he were discussing something trivial, yet a chilling fear shot through Lu Ke’er, freezing her to the core. The others were also horror-stricken, hands and feet turning cold without realizing it.

Hong Chen didn’t waste any more words. He moved again, instantly appearing at Liu Qian’s side and kicking her behind the knees.

“Ah!” Liu Qian screamed, dropping to her knees and supporting herself with her hands. Hong Chen stepped forward, pinning her right hand under his foot. His voice was icy: “You held Yuxin’s head down while forcing her to drink—so now, I’ll cripple one hand. Consider yourself lucky.”

“No, please don’t!” Liu Qian’s composure shattered. She struggled desperately to pull her hand free, but it was as if a heavy stone pinned it—she couldn’t budge it at all.

“I’m a gold card member, a VIP here! Are you just going to let him do as he likes? Have you thought about the consequences? If word of this gets out, Paradise’s reputation will be ruined!” Chen Feiyang, shaken by Hong Chen’s brutality, tried to bluster at the security manager.

The security manager gave him a cold look. “Acting on instructions from above—Mr. Hong is in charge of everything tonight.”

That sentence made Chen Feiyang’s face turn ghastly. Hong Chen had already said that Lu Ke’er was second to last—so who was last? It could only be him. If Lu Ke’er was to lose her eyes and tongue, what punishment awaited him? He didn’t even dare to imagine.

Most importantly, Hong Chen now seemed like a madman unconcerned with consequences. Chen Feiyang had no doubt he would carry out his threats.

What was supposed to be a long-awaited, delightful night had suddenly turned into a nightmare. Chen Feiyang was on the verge of losing his mind!

He wasn’t alone—Lu Ke’er’s face was deathly pale, her soul fleeing. The security manager’s words sounded to her like a death sentence: a pair of eyes, a tongue—never able to see or speak again. Worse than death!

Compared to Lu Ke’er’s panic, Zhao Yan and Ma Li were slightly better, but their hearts raced as they stared at Hong Chen’s foot pinning Liu Qian’s hand, their eyes full of terror and unease.

Tonight, they played the same role as Liu Qian and helped force drinks on Lin Yuxin. Liu Qian’s fate was almost certainly theirs.

Meanwhile, Li Chen, still prone on the floor, felt a flicker of relief—he’d been dealt with first, so perhaps he’d gotten off lightly?

“I said, if you dare to do it, you must dare to face the consequences!” Hong Chen looked down at Liu Qian’s pleading face, unmoved, a cold flicker in his eyes. He was about to press down with his foot when suddenly, a panicked figure burst in, crying out, “Hong Chen!”