Chapter 695: Her Price

Wang Lingdao and Ding Lingdao saw Lin Yuan, and their bodies instantly stiffened……

The lecherous and evil smiles on the two leaders' faces…… vanished instantly, replaced by intense fear and panic……

The two leaders hurriedly stopped their actions%

The two leaders instinctively stepped back one step.

Their eyes darted away, they dared not meet Lin Yuan's icy gaze, and even their breathing became hurried.

"Lin…… Director Lin, you…… how did you come?" Wang Lingdao's voice trembled visibly; in his panic, he hurriedly spoke to explain.

Wang Lingdao's tone tried to stay calm, but he could not hide the fear in his heart,

"You've misunderstood; we…… we didn't mean to, she…… she just gave you an aphrodisiac in your drink, and she wouldn't obey, we're just disciplining her for you, venting your anger!"

Ding Lingdao also hurriedly echoed, his face ashen, his voice hoarse, nodding nonstop:

"Yes…… yes, Director Lin! You're right, this female waitress is bold to the point of recklessness, daring to drug you and refusing to admit fault; we couldn't stand it, so we wanted to get revenge on her for you, discipline her, absolutely with no other motive!"

The two explained while secretly observing Lin Yuan's expression, afraid he wouldn't believe them, afraid he would strike them again.

Lin Yuan stepped forward slowly, the pressure emanating from him growing stronger.

Lin Yuan narrowed his eyes, his icy gaze sweeping over the two, the corner of his mouth curling into a mocking arc.

Lin Yuan's tone was flat…… yet carried a bone‑chilling cold: "Oh? Is that so?"

Before his words faded, Lin Yuan raised his hand, moving as fast as lightning.

Lin Yuan directly slapped left and right.

He ruthlessly slapped Wang Lingdao and Ding Lingdao several times!

"Pa‑pa‑pa!" the sharp crack…… echoed in the narrow fire escape stairwell.

Lin Yuan's slap was extremely strong, instantly reddening and swelling the two leaders' cheeks.

The two leaders staggered, stepping back several steps in succession.

They almost fell to the ground, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths.

Lin Yuan's gaze was icy, his tone stern, filled with unquestionable anger, he demanded sharply:

"Did I tell you to discipline her?"

He stepped forward, closing in on the two, his tone growing colder.

"If discipline is needed, won't I do it myself? Why must you meddle, using my name to do such despicable things?"

Wang Lingdao and Ding Lingdao felt dizzy and their cheeks burned with pain。,

The two leaders' fear…… reached its peak.

The two leaders no longer dared to utter a word of excuse, quickly lowering their heads, not even daring to breathe.

The two leaders kept kowtowing while humbly apologizing:

"Sorry! Director Lin, we were wrong! We shouldn't have meddled, shouldn't have used your name to act recklessly; please give us another chance, we'll never dare again!"

Their apology was humble and urgent, their whole bodies trembling, they had lost all the dignity of leaders, leaving only deep fear and regret……

The two leaders feared Lin Yuan would strike again, and even more feared he would release the previous video, ruining them forever.

Zhou Mengmeng nearby, watching the scene, was dazed.

She never imagined that the two high‑and‑mighty leaders would be so respectful toward Lin Yuan??

At that moment, Zhou Mengmeng's tense nerves instantly relaxed, resentment and fear intertwining……

Zhou Mengmeng could no longer hold back, bursting into tears.

She broke free of their hold, stumbled, and flung herself into Lin Yuan's embrace.

At that moment, Lin Yuan became her sole lifeline……

Zhou Mengmeng clung tightly to his waist, her shoulders shaking, tears like broken beads streaming down her cheeks……

Zhou Mengmeng's voice choked as she said: "Thank…… thank you, Director Lin…… thank you……"

Her voice was thick with sobs, full of gratitude and grievance……

She thanked Lin Yuan for reaching out to save her……

If Lin Yuan hadn't appeared in time, she truly wouldn't know what she would have faced.

Lin Yuan was slightly stunned by her sudden gesture, the icy aura around him softening a little.

But this softness…… lasted only a moment.

Lin Yuan then raised his hand and shoved Zhou Mengmeng out of his embrace.

Lin Yuan's force wasn't rough, but it carried an irresistible detachment.

Zhou Mengmeng staggered back two steps, steadied herself, and the gratitude on her face instantly froze.

In her eyes…… a hint of panic welled up again, she looked at Lin Yuan, bewildered.

Lin Yuan's gaze turned icy again, his voice devoid of any warmth, he said coldly:

"Your matter, I haven't settled it with you yet. Just now, you secretly slipped something into my drink, right?"

Lin Yuan's gaze locked onto Zhou Mengmeng, scrutinizing and cold, each word like an ice pick piercing her heart.

Zhou Mengmeng's delicate pretty face twitched sharply.

At this moment, panic swept over her entire body in an instant.

Zhou Mengmeng's earlier gratitude vanished, her eyes darted, her lips trembling slightly.

Zhou Mengmeng stammered in defense:

"It…… it was Wang Lingdao who forced me! Sorry, Director Lin, I didn't mean to…… I'm just a low‑level waitress, I had no choice, he threatened me—if I didn't comply, he'd fire me and cause me trouble……"

As she spoke, Zhou Mengmeng broke down again, tears like broken beads streaming down her cheeks……

Her whole body trembling, she repeatedly bowed before Lin Yuan, desperately pleading:

"Please, please spare me, I know I was wrong, I won't dare again, I'll never do this again, please forgive me……"

Zhou Mengmeng's voice was hoarse, full of fear and despair; she was utterly terrified, barely able to stand.

Beside him, Wang Lingdao had originally been lowering his head in a humble apology; … upon hearing Zhou Mengmeng's explanation, Wang Lingdao instantly lifted his head.

Wang Lingdao's face was full of rage, disregarding the pain and embarrassment on his face, he bellowed angrily:

"You're talking nonsense! Making excuses! I clearly gave you ten thousand dollars, you were greedy for money and voluntarily agreed to help me drug someone, and now you're trying to push all the blame onto me, you little bitch!"

Lin Yuan coldly glanced at Wang Lingdao, the chill in his eyes deepening.

Wang Lingdao hastily shut his mouth, not daring to take a breath.

Lin Yuan then shifted his gaze…… toward Zhou Mengmeng, who was kneeling on the ground begging for mercy.

The corner of Lin Yuan's mouth…… curled into a cold sneer, his tone piercingly cold:

"Oh? Let you go? When you drugged me, how come you never thought about letting me go?"

That sentence…… instantly shattered Zhou Mengmeng's psychological defense.

She fell to her knees with a 'thud', both hands tightly gripping Lin Yuan's pant leg……

Zhou Mengmeng's forehead…… kept knocking against the ground, she wept heart-wrenchingly:

"Please, please spare me, I really know I was wrong, I was forced, I too had no choice……"

Zhou Mengmeng's forehead…… quickly turned red from knocking.

Yet she dared not stop in the slightest, her heart filled with fear.

She only hoped Lin Yuan would show great mercy and give her a way to live.

Lin Yuan looked at her humble, begging appearance, his eyes showing no ripple.

Lin Yuan's tone remained icy, he said word by word:

"People must always pay the price for their own actions. You, too, must pay the price. What is your price? Think it through clearly."

His voice wasn't loud, yet it carried an unquestionable oppressive pressure, causing Zhou Mengmeng's sobbing to halt instantly.

Zhou Mengmeng's eyes…… were full of despair and confusion, not knowing what punishment awaited her.

The two Leaders stood aside, not daring to take a breath.

They both watched the scene before them, their eyes filled with fear.

The two Leaders, neither daring to plead for Zhou Mengmeng nor to defend themselves.

The two Leaders could only lower their heads, silently praying that Lin Yuan would not take his anger out on them.

In the fire escape stairwell, only Zhou Mengmeng's suppressed sobbing remained, along with Lin Yuan's icy aura……

The atmosphere, oppressive to the extreme.

Zhou Mengmeng bit her delicate teeth, kneeling on the cold ground.

Her fingernails…… dug deep into her palm, leaving several red marks.

Zhou Mengmeng's inner self, surged with intense struggle……

After thinking for a long time, her tears…… gradually stopped.

Zhou Mengmeng's eyes, despair and confusion, slowly…… were replaced by a resolve to burn one's boats.

Anyway, tonight she's already done for.

She was first coaxed and forced by Wang Lingdao and Ding Lingdao, almost suffering humiliation.

Moreover, because of the drugging incident…… she was pursued by Lin Yuan for responsibility……

Either way, it's hard to escape.

Zhou Mengmeng thought……

She would rather…… than be wantonly humiliated and ruined by those two despicable middle-aged men……

Once this idea arose, it was like a vine…… wildly entwining her heart……

Zhou Mengmeng…… slightly lifted her head, her eyelids trembling lightly.

She furtively glanced at Lin Yuan.

In the dim emergency light, Lin Yuan stood tall, his features handsome, his brows and eyes bearing a touch of cold heroic spirit, far surpassing the oily middle-aged Wang Lingdao and Ding Lingdao, who knows how much more outstanding……

Furthermore, Lin Yuan is young and tall; even though his body exudes a cold aura, it's hard to hide his outstanding nature.

Zhou Mengmeng's heartbeat…… quickened inexplicably, her pretty face secretly flushed with a hint of red, mingling with her previous tear tracks, adding a touch of broken beauty.

Zhou Mengmeng took a deep breath, silently making up her mind:

She would rather…… be humiliated by the young, handsome Director Lin……

Even if she has to pay such a price, it is far more dignified and willingly accepted than falling into the hands of those two lecherous men.

After making her decision, Zhou Mengmeng gritted her teeth, suppressing the shyness and nervousness in her heart……

In her gaze…… there was added a hint of resolve.

Zhou Mengmeng suddenly reached out her hand…… she was preparing……

In her tone…… there was a strong sense of shyness and nervousness, plus a trace of resolve to burn one's boats.

Zhou Mengmeng's voice was as tiny as a mosquito…… yet unusually clear:

"I…… I am willing to pay the price……"

As her words fell, before Lin Yuan could react, before he could question again……

Zhou Mengmeng……

Beside them, Ding Lingdao and Wang Lingdao had originally been lowering their heads, not daring to take a breath.

At this moment, the two Leaders, hearing the movement, instinctively lifted their heads……

Upon catching sight of the scene before them, the two instantly widened their eyes……

Zhou Mengmeng's eyes, confusion and despair, were completely replaced by the resolve to burn one's boats.

She took a deep breath, suppressed the shyness and nervousness in her heart, slowly lifted her head, and her gaze cautiously fell upon Lin Yuan.

Under the dim emergency light, Lin Yuan remained straight-backed, his whole body still exuding an icy aura, his suit jacket slightly creased at the shoulder from his recent movement, making him seem even colder.

Zhou Mengmeng bit her lower lip, her fingertips trembling slightly, she slowly reached out and lightly placed her hand on Lin Yuan's shoulder.

Her fingertips carried a hint of warmth, and when they touched Lin Yuan's icy suit fabric, both of them tensed slightly.

Zhou Mengmeng quickly composed herself, her fingertips applying gentle pressure, and began to massage slowly.

Her movements were clumsy and awkward, the pressure so light as if afraid to disturb something; her fingertips carefully kneaded Lin Yuan's neck and shoulder, following the muscle lines, pressing slowly, and whenever she hit a tense spot she slightly increased the pressure, her eyes full of caution and eagerness to please.

Lin Yuan stood rigid in place, neither speaking nor pushing her away, only the iciness in his eyes softened a little.

Lin Yuan's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, as if he were not quite used to such closeness.

He could clearly feel the warm touch on his shoulder, a stark contrast to the coldness surrounding him; that clumsy pressure, tinged with cautious probing, actually eased his originally taut nerves a little.

Wang Lingdao and Ding Lingdao, kneeling on the ground nearby, couldn't help but sneak a glance, using the corner of their eyes to look at the two, their hearts filled with disbelief and a hint of envy.

They pressed their lips tightly, not daring to breathe, their bodies still trembling, yet they couldn't help stealing a few more looks.

They never imagined Zhou Mengmeng would have such courage……

They envied Lin Yuan even more……to receive such treatment,

But the fear deep in the hearts of the two leaders kept them from making any move; they hastily lowered their heads, pretending not to have seen anything, yet couldn't help muttering in their hearts about Zhou Mengmeng's boldness.

In the narrow stairwell, only Zhou Mengmeng's gentle massage movements and the three of them breathing remained.

The emergency light fell on Zhou Mengmeng's face, highlighting her still-wet tear tracks and a faint flush; that broken loveliness, mixed with her cautious demeanor, actually gave her a somewhat moving appearance.

She kept her head down, her fingertips never stopping, her heart full of anxiety, afraid that if she did anything wrong she would upset Lin Yuan; only that determination kept her going.

The two leaders' eyes……were full of disbelief……and a hint of envy.

Yet they dared not speak more, only hastily lowering their heads, pretending to have seen nothing%

Both of them still trembled all over, fearing Lin Yuan would take his anger out on them……

Yet the corners of their mouths couldn't help twitching slightly, and in their hearts they secretly muttered about Zhou Mengmeng's boldness.

Lin Yuan's mind……had not yet fully recovered from the earlier shock……

He looked at Zhou Mengmeng……her head still bowed……and her faintly trembling movements……

Lin Yuan's heart lurched, he instinctively spoke up, hurriedly stopping: "Don't……"

But by the time his words left his mouth, it was already too late.

At this moment, Lin Yuan was completely dazed, standing rigid as a stone……

He stared at the scene before him, his mind a blank……%

Originally, Lin Yuan had wanted Zhou Mengmeng to pay some other price.

For example, have her record an apology video to use as leverage……

Lin Yuan's thought was really simple.

But he never expected this.

Zhou Mengmeng's way of paying the price turned out to be so pure??

It permeated the whole cramped space, making one feel suffocated.

Wang and Ding continued to stare fixedly at the scene before them, their envy and jealousy growing ever stronger, yet they still dared not step forward……

They could only stand aside and watch silently, their hearts full of resentment and regret……