The private lounge on the second floor was luxurious, but the atmosphere was tense. A circle of young elites lounged on velvet chairs, sipping wine, their eyes sharp with curiosity.
At the center of the room, Lin Xi clinked her glass for attention."Everyone," she said sweetly, "this is Ji Yunxi. She insists on being called the Mo family's… guest." Her tone dripped with disdain.
A few chuckled, already siding with her. The circle was hers, after all.
Ji Yunxi didn't flinch. She stepped forward, her black dress flowing like liquid night, her chin tilted slightly. "Guest? I thought I was his date."
The room went dead silent. Lin Xi's smile stiffened.
[System Alert: Target humiliation attempt detected. Counter options available.]
Ji Yunxi's lips curved. Not yet. Let her hang herself first.
Lin Xi waved, and a waiter entered with a tray of crystal glasses filled with scarlet wine. She picked one up and offered it to Ji Yunxi. "Since you're so bold, why not join us in a toast? If you can drink three glasses, we'll accept you."
Several smirks spread. Everyone knew Lin Xi's tricks. That wine was spiked—if not with alcohol strong enough to knock someone out, then something worse.
Mo Liancheng's figure filled the doorway before Ji Yunxi could move. His eyes were darker than the storm. "Is this how the Lin family entertains their guests? With poison?"
The elites paled, but Lin Xi forced a laugh. "Poison? It's just wine, Young Master Mo. Surely she isn't afraid?"
Ji Yunxi reached out, taking the glass before Mo Liancheng could stop her. "Why would I be afraid? I'll drink."
"Yunxi—" His voice was low, warning.
She glanced at him, her eyes glimmering with quiet confidence. "Trust me."
She raised the glass and, under the stares of the crowd, tipped it back—only to pause halfway. With a flick of her wrist, the liquid swirled, catching the light.
Her gaze pinned the waiter. "This isn't wine. Tell them what it is."
The waiter froze, trembling.
"Speak," Ji Yunxi ordered, her voice like a blade.
Under the weight of her stare—and Mo Liancheng's icy aura—the man broke. "I-It's drugged… Miss Lin told me to…"
The lounge erupted.
Lin Xi went white. "You—lying! I didn't—!"
Ji Yunxi set the glass down with a soft clink, her smile sharp. "What a shame. You wanted to see me humiliated, and now the entire circle sees you as nothing but a scheming coward."
[System Notification: Task complete. +300 points. Additional bonus: Reputation +10.]
The crowd's whispers turned vicious, knives hidden behind polite smiles."So this is the Lin heiress?""Shameless.""Trying to drug a guest in Mo Liancheng's presence… does she have a death wish?"
Mo Liancheng's hand slipped around Ji Yunxi's waist, drawing her close. His voice was lethal calm. "From this moment on, anyone who dares insult her insults me. Consider this your only warning."
The room dropped into terrified silence.
Lin Xi stumbled back, her carefully crafted image crumbling like sand. Her scheme had backfired spectacularly, and her eyes burned with hatred.
But Ji Yunxi only smiled faintly, leaning against Mo Liancheng's steady warmth. System or no system, face-slapping was starting to feel addictive.
The night had only just begun.