Granting You A Second Life

Xǔ Junjie got comfortable as he splayed his hand on Ren Daiyu's waist. Ren Daiyu was discreetly pinching the back of Xǔ Junjie's hand, but to onlookers it appeared as if she was just being intimately with her man.

Xǔ Junjie smiled down at Ren Daiyu's. 'It's cute that she thinks that could hurt me.'

Xǔ Junjie gaze turned steely as he faced Jia Kuai Hua and Chong Honghui again: "Once upon a time there was an 18 year old girl called Jia Kuai Hua, she was hungry for money and power so she was always hunting for a rich man. One day her family threw a party at their residence. She found a potential victim and led him down a hallway where her body guard was waiting to knock the boy unconscious. She took the boy into a room and undressed him however; unfortunately for her whilst she was getting undressed he had regained consciousness and started making noise. He pushed Jia Kuai Hua who still had her dress half over her head into the wall as hard as he could. He then grabbed his clothes and ran out of the room." He gave Jia Kuai Hua a pitying look.

Jia Kuai Hua sneered: "Why are you making up such lies?! Do you know you can tarnish someone's reputation?! Who the hell do you think you are to be lecturing me?" She may have looked confident on the outside but on the inside she was panicking; 'Who is this man? How did he know so much about me? My daddy made sure there were no loose ends.'

Xǔ Junjie: "Mmm I don't recall accusing you of anything, the character in my story happens to have the same name as you. Miss Jia Kuai Hua has no one ever taught you not to interrupt an a.d.u.l.t when they're talking? Tut tut, well to conclude the story for the avid listeners. Jia Kuai Hua ran to her daddy like the spoiled and incompetent little girl she was. Her father paid off or got rid of any witnesses. The end."

Chong Honghui: "Just because Jia Kuai Hua told the truth about Ren Daiyu's past you've resorted to making up a factitious story about her? What kind of man are you, bullying a young woman so blatantly in public?"

Yao Changying: "Factitious, good word."

Chong Honghui gave Yao Changying a disgusted look.

Ren Daiyu whispered: "Let go of me."

Xǔ Junjie pulled Ren Daiyu closer.

Xǔ Junjie smiled: "My girlfriend just reminded me that I haven't introduced myself. I'm Xǔ Junjie, perhaps you've heard of me?"

Jia Kuai Hua heart sunk, of course the man before her would know about what happened. He was once part of the underworld and he still maintained healthy relationsh.i.p.s with some of them. She also heard that he often 'collected' information about members of high society; that's why no one with skeletons in their closets would ever cross Xǔ Junjie.

Xǔ Junjie grinned: "Chong Honghui you're a lawyer aren't you? Who would actually hire someone like you who can't even do his background research on the girl in his life? Oh I almost forgot to mention that there's actually an alternative ending to the story I just told, where Jia Kuai Hua gets sent abroad so as not to shame the Jia family. I much prefer this one."

Chong Honghui: "Who do you think you are to question my competence as a lawyer? Junjie who? You clearly think highly of yourself, probably a no name upstart. Is Ren Daiyu funding your lifestyle? Some lowly kept-man is trying to teach me; Chong Honghui. What an absolute joke. You're even threatening my girlfriend that you're going to get her sent abroad? What kind of authority do you think you yield especially with someone like Ren Daiyu as a backer?"

Xǔ Junjie chuckled darkly: "Mr. Chong, you and Miss Jia are getting awfully agitated about a little story. Why don't you ask your little girl to tell you who I am and what authority I yield?"

Xǔ Junjie turned to talk to Li Xiuying and Co. "Dr Li, could I walk you and your friend to your cars?"

Although Li Xiuying didn't like this man she decided to give him face because he had dealt with this situation adequately enough. She could have done better however his method was sufficient for now.

Li Xiuying: "Escort them, I'll be a moment." She handed her car keys to Yao Changying.

Li Xiuying watched her friends leave. She then focused all her attention on Chong Honghui; she was like a lioness looking at her prey.

Li Xiuying stepped forward slightly; Jia Kuai Hua blocked her way.

Li Xiuying voice held no room for argument: "Move."

She then looked at Chong Honghui like he was a cadaver on her dissection table.

Li Xiuying's voice contained certainty and a promise: "Everything that you did to Daiyu will be returned to you ten-fold."

Li Xiuying glided away and went to find a waiter to pay for their meal.

The Manager approached her: "Dr Li I'm sorry you were unable to finish your meal tonight. Your meal will be covered by us. We have also packed a few desserts for you to takeaway. The owner would also like to invite you to a private party that will be held here next month." He then passed over the bag of desserts and an elaborately decorated invitation card.

Li Xiuying took both: "Thank you." She still paid the bill on her way out, the restaurant wasn't to blame for rabid Bambi.

The manager turned to Chong Honghui: "Mr Chong, Mr Zhōu and Miss Jia could you possibly follow me. The owner would like to discuss the events of tonight. This way please." He bowed slightly before walking towards the private rooms that were upstairs.

Chong Honghui and Jia Kuai Hua held their heads high. Zhōu Shàoqiáng looked relax but he was on edge. He was questioning why they were being treated differently from Li Xiuying.

The manager kept walking until he reached the very last set of doors. He knocked three distinct times and waited for a few moments.

Manager: "You may enter." The manager stood to one side.

Chong Honghui entered the room followed by the others.

Upon entering the room they saw a large Chinese screen in the center of the room. On the other side was the silhouette of someone reclining, it was hard to tell whether they were male or female.

Owner: "Welcome dear guests. Please have a seat we have much to discuss."

All three of them sat on the cushions that were places around a rectangular mahogany table.

Owner: "My staff have informed me that there was quiet a ruckus in my restaurant earlier today. Could you tell me what happened?"

Jia Kuai Hua animatedly told her version of what happened earlier today. She made sure to exaggerate as much as possible to make Ren Daiyu and the others look like the evil wrongdoer's.

Owner: "That's very interesting and you say you did nothing to provoke them?"

Chong Honghui: "The truth often evokes strong emotions from people who don't want to hear it. Ren Daiyu simply couldn't handle having a discussion about her past."

Owner: "Hmm. I heard from a staff member that someone was telling some sort of story? That seems rather odd."

Jia Kuai Hua acted cute and tried to change the subject: "Aaahhh Mr... Oh I'm sorry we've been so rude and haven't formally introduced ourselves."

Owner Lài: "Oh dear it seems you are right Miss Jia how careless of me. My family name is Lài."

There was a knock at the door and then the manger entered followed by a waitress carrying a tray of tea and snacks. The manager served owner Lài whilst the waitress put a cup of tea and plates of snacks in front of the trio.

The manager and the waitress left swiftly after finishing their task.

Owner Lài: "Miss Jia I believe you were in the midst of telling me about the story?"

Chong Honghui: "Mr Lài you must be referring to the ludicrous things that insignificant kept-man was talking about?

Owner Lài: "Ludicrous? Mr Zhōu do you think the story was ludicrous? "

Zhōu Shàoqiáng had been quietly sitting counting down the seconds until he could leave. He could sense that something wasn't right about this meeting with owner Lài. He was growing weary of listening to Chong Honghui and Jia Kuai Hua speaking. Jia Kuai Hua was only 19 so she could blame her spoiled and sheltered upbringing as well as her age and lack of worldly experience. However, he couldn't understand what was wrong with Chong Honghui. His friend was meant to be a highly successful lawyer with a ruthless mind and killer instincts.

Zhōu Shàoqiáng took a sip of his tea and noticed something odd about the taste. Alarm bells were ringing in his mind 'Are we being drugged? Was Chong Honghui's drink drugged before? What the hell is going on?'