“That won’t be necessary,” Yao Tang cut in. “I’m not here to eat. Just say what you want to say and be done with it.”

Xu Xuan sighed inwardly and made to leave again, only to be stopped by Young Master Lu once more.

This time, he sounded angry. “Did I say you could go? Are you trying to disobey me again? Or is it that you want my men to teach you how to be obedient?”

“I… I’ll go and fetch your order.”

Lu Qing glanced at his watch and sneered atXu Xuan. “I’ll give you three minutes. If you aren’t back by then, you won’t be working here anymore, do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Off you go, then.”

Xu Xuan sprinted down the stairs and put the order together in record time before darting back to the private room.Lu Qingwas staring at his watch when she arrived.

Xu Xuan was panting as she set the plates on the table, then she stepped back and waited for further instructions.

“Aiya,” Lu Qingsighed. “It took you two minutes and fifty seconds. You almost ran out of time, eh? I suppose you’re one lucky egg.”

He sat up straight and waved Xu Xuanaway. “Go and wait outside the door.”

She immediately nodded and fled the scene.

Lu Qing plucked out a dainty serving of cake and handed it toYao Tang. “Here, Miss Yao. Consider this a token of my affection. Come now, don’t be so cold.”

But Yao Tangignored him. She didn’t even spare him a glance.

Undeterred, Lu Qingpulled out a single long-stemmed rose from the centerpiece on the table and twisted it between her fingers.

“I’m not sure if you’ve heard of this saying, Miss Yao,” he said slowly. “But all things in this world are just like this flower. It garners admiration when it blooms, but you and I both know that moment is fleeting. It will eventually wither and will be discarded in the trash.”

As he spoke, Lu Qingtook the knife that came with the cake, sliced off a piece, and brought it toYao Tang’s lips. “Go on, give it a taste.”

The next thing he knew, Yao Tanghad grabbed the knife from his hand and sent it flying past his head.

Lu Qing wasn’t able to dodge in time, and the blade nicked the corner of his mouth.

He let out a loud, maniacal chortle.

He even got up to his feet and threw his head back, laughing like a madman.

When he was finally spent, he swiped at the blood on his face and narrowed his eyes at Yao Tang.

“I like you even more now,” he growled.

“You crazy mongrel!” Yao Tang cursed.

In one swift motion, she seized Lu Qing’s neck and held it in a vise-like grip.

The man writhed and clutched her arm, but he couldn’t break free. Yao Tangwas simply too strong.

Lu Qing’s eyes began to bulge out from their sockets. His mouth was wide open, and his face was turning a faint shade of purple.

But he didn’t panic just yet. He still had one trick up his sleeve. “Lu…” he choked out. “Lu… Ming!”

Yao Tang ignored his pathetic attempt at blackmail and tightened her grip even more.

Lu Qing wheezed as he sucked in a long breath, then his words rushed out of his mouth.

“If I die, the family won’t forgive him… They will never take him back… And you wouldn’t escape, either. Not only you… But all your friends… You will suffer retribution for this!”

Then, to everyone’s surprise, he still managed to snicker at Yao Tang.

Despite being strangled half to death, Lu Qingwas confident that he still had the upper hand.

That was until Yao Tangspoke.

“Oh? Is that so?”

She didn’t seem bothered by his threat.

She dug her fingers deeper against his throat, and the smile disappeared from Lu Qing’s mouth.

His vision was blurring. He had no strength left in his body.

For the first time in his life, he felt a raw, primal fear. He could very well die in the next second.

Lu Qing made gurgling noises as his eyes began to roll inward.

He had expected Yao Tangto attack him. She would be risking her friends’ safety, after all.

Moreover, even if she did succeed in harming him, everyone knew that the Lu family would never let her go.

She was just an ordinary student. Where did she get the nerve to go against him like this?