Reluctantly parting from Ling Chen, Tang Shiyun returned to the restaurant.

"Sorry to keep everyone waiting."

"Shiyun, are you feeling unwell? Why did it take you so long?" Zhang Zekai asked with concern on his face.

"It’s nothing." Tang Shiyun sat down again, her pretty face always wearing a sweet smile.

Nanrong Wanqing couldn’t help but take a few more glances at her. She could feel the change in Tang Shiyun, especially her smile. As the chairwoman of Hongyu Group, she was adept at reading people, and Tang Shiyun’s smile before seemed forced, but now it was genuinely heartfelt.

She was curious about why Tang Shiyun underwent such a significant change.

After dinner, the four returned to the living room.

Zhang Zekai called the butler and instructed, "Have the driver take Miss Tang back first." After finishing, he explained to Nanrong Wanqing, "Shiyun has rehearsals tonight and cannot stay long."

"It’s okay, I am already very happy that Miss Tang could come. Miss Tang, when you return to East Sea City, you are welcome to visit my home anytime. My sister also really likes your songs," Nanrong Wanqing invited.

"Thank you!" Tang Shiyun smiled faintly and then turned to Zhang Zekai, "I don’t want to go back yet, can I stay a little longer?"

Hearing this, Zhang Zekai immediately beamed with joy, his eyes filled with excitement as he quickly nodded, "Of course, no problem. You can stay as long as you like."

In his view, Tang Shiyun’s willingness to stay likely meant she had considered his conditions and was willing to accept them. The thought of possibly spending a romantic evening together made him restless inside.

After chatting for a while, Nanrong Wanqing suddenly saw Zhong Wei approaching. He came to her side and whispered, "Chairwoman, when are you planning to go back to the hotel?"

"Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing’s wrong, just... Ling Chen asked me to relay a message; he suggests you return soon."

"Why?"

"He said you might not want to see what happens next. It’s better to avoid it."

Hearing this, Nanrong Wanqing slightly furrowed her brows. Asking her to avoid it, what exactly does he intend to do?

"Go back and tell him, I will arrange my return to the hotel myself; he doesn’t need to make decisions for me." After saying this, she couldn’t help but instruct, "Tell him from me, since we are guests at someone else’s house, ask him to behave and not stir up trouble."

"Yes," Zhong Wei nodded and left.

Not long after Zhong Wei left, Ling Chen appeared alone in the living room.

Seeing him approaching, Tang Shiyun’s smile deepened, her eyes unblinkingly fixed on him.

Nanrong Wanqing’s gaze followed Ling Chen, wondering to herself, what is he up to?

While pondering, Ling Chen had already walked up to the sofa and sat down as if no one else was there.

Zhang Zekai recognized him as Nanrong Wanqing’s security, so he did not get angry because of his rudeness; instead, he looked at Nanrong Wanqing with a questioning look in his eyes.

"You don’t need to look at her. I am not here as a security personnel of Hongyu Group, but in a personal capacity to find you."

"To find me?" Zhang Zekai was puzzled, "What do you need me for?"

Ling Chen chuckled and patted his shoulder, grinning, "President Zhang, you’re really something, using your status to mess around with quite a few celebrities, huh?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhang Zekai’s face changed instantly, a hint of hidden anger in his frown as he said, "You better watch your mouth."

"I’m already being very polite."

"Ling Chen, don’t be rude," Nanrong Wanqing chided softly.

Ling Chen glanced at her and said indifferently, "Didn’t you hear what I just said? I’m not talking to him as an employee of Hongyu Group, so you have no right to tell me what to do."

After saying that, he completely ignored the anger in Nanrong Wanqing’s eyes and turned to look at Zhang Zekai, smilingly said, "President Zhang, a man should own up to what he does. Are you afraid to admit the things you have done? Okay, let’s not talk about distant things; let’s talk about what just happened. You must be very familiar with Miss Tang. You must be very clear about the unreasonable demands you made on her before. I’m someone who always stands up against injustices and can’t help but get involved when I see things that displease me."

"What do you mean by that?" Zhang Qianqian said angrily, "My elder brother and Miss Tang have mutual affection. He has never forced her into anything; don’t falsely accuse him."

Zhang Zekai waved his hand, signaling his sister to be quiet.

"You think you can control me?" He sneered disdainfully, "Do you think you’re qualified to control me? If you weren’t Miss Nanrong’s security, you wouldn’t even have the qualification to enter this door, yet you dare to be so presumptuous in front of me. Hmph! Since you repeatedly claim you came here in a personal capacity, I have nothing to discuss with you. Butler, kick this man out."

Watching several men in suits quickly approaching, Ling Chen’s mouth slightly raised, appearing undisturbed, his gaze fixed on Zhang Zekai.

"President Zhang, I came here to reason with you; it’s best not to resort to violence."

Zhang Zekai scoffed and turned his head, not interested in giving Ling Chen another glance. However, realizing that Nanrong Wanqing was nearby, he quickly halted the men in suits and said, "Miss Nanrong, I hope you don’t mind how I handle this?"

Nanrong Wanqing replied expressionlessly, "As you wish."

At this moment, aside from being furious, she was more puzzled, not understanding why Ling Chen was standing up for Tang Shiyun. From what Ling Chen had said earlier, she roughly understood the reason.

The entertainment industry is notoriously chaotic and filled with hidden rules. As a leading figure in the entertainment industry, Zhang Zekai undoubtedly engaged in many of these sordid transactions using his status.

Yet, if what Ling Chen said was true, that Zhang Zekai harbored ill intentions towards Tang Shiyun, then this man was indeed detestable. Treating a girl who had just turned eighteen like that, what’s the difference between him and a beast?

Seeing Nanrong Wanqing’s stance, Zhang Zekai immediately breathed a sigh of relief and gave a signal to the men in suits.

Seeing those men in suits fiercely approaching Ling Chen, Tang Shiyun suddenly became worried, gripping her clothes tightly.

But Ling Chen seemed to not even see the suits closing in, his gaze still locked on Zhang Zekai.

"Get up."

One of the men in suits barked, reaching out to grab Ling Chen’s shoulder.

But at that moment, the still-seated Ling Chen suddenly made a move, fiercely grabbing the back of Zhang Zekai’s neck and forcefully pulling forward.

Bang!

A crisp sound.

Zhang Zekai’s face heavily smashed onto the transparent glass coffee table, shattering the glass completely.

This sudden turn of events stunned everyone present. No one had expected Ling Chen to actually attack Zhang Zekai directly, and with such severity.

Zhang Zekai clutched his face, continuously crying out in pain, as blood gushed from his nostrils, quickly flowing through his fingers and staining his white shirt red.