Chapter 17: Hunter and Prey

The two nodded inwardly: it was truly Li Yan's style—both low-key and measured.

Watching the wine list being swiftly arranged, Shen Qingyue couldn't help but admire Li Yan's composure even more.

She tilted her head slightly and whispered to Liu Yuting, "He seems exceptionally familiar with this kind of setting."

Liu Yuting swallowed hard, watching the bottle of Blue Label being delivered to the table, her heart a swirl of complex emotions.

Although she was a regular at the bar, she had never sat in such a spot, let alone witnessed this level of spending.

At this moment, she was even more convinced that Li Yan was indeed at a level she couldn't hope to reach.

On the table, the clear gold of the Veuve Clicquot shimmered under the lights, mingling with the mellow aromas of the Johnnie Walker Blue Label and Hennessy VSOP, and the atmosphere quickly heated up.

Li Yan sat in the main seat, holding a wine glass, his gaze indifferent yet commanding the entire room.

He tapped the glass lightly, drawing everyone's attention: "Come on, everyone, be casual, don't be stiff. Since we're here, just relax, have some drinks, and play some games."

Taking advantage of the lull while everyone was drinking, Li Yan leaned over and whispered to Wang Zhen, "Liu Yuting looks like she loves to have fun. Be proactive, just chat about some light topics, don't be too nervous."

Wang Zhen nodded; although he still felt a bit insecure, he understood this was an opportunity.

He took a deep breath, turned to lean toward Liu Yuting, and said casually, "Yuting, you're very familiar with bars, right? You must come to places like this often?"

Hearing this, Liu Yuting's lips curled up, and she replied with a smile, "I suppose so. I've been here a few times with friends before, but a spot like this tonight is truly a first."

Her tone was light, but her eyes darted toward Li Yan intentionally or otherwise.

Liu Yuting knew clearly that she was only able to sit here tonight because of Li Yan.

As for Wang Zhen, she was still observing, but hearing that his family ran a supermarket and was considered a moderately wealthy family in Luzhong City, she didn't resist getting to know him.

Seeing the atmosphere gradually warming up, Li Yan picked up the dice cup and dice prepared on the table and smiled slightly: "Let's play a game. Liar's Dice, everyone knows how to play, right? If not, you can learn as you go; the rules are very simple."

As he spoke, he shook the dice cup, producing a crisp clattering sound, his movements skillful and natural.

As the sound of dice cups rose and fell, the atmosphere at the table became increasingly heated.

Shen Qingyue gradually got into the swing of things, her cheeks flushed with a faint red from the slight intoxication.

She was forced by Li Yan to open her cup several times, only to find that he seemed able to win easily every time; that sense of control made her both annoyed and impressed.

Liu Yuting, meanwhile, was kept laughing by Wang Zhen, occasionally even taking drinks on his behalf, making the scene appear increasingly harmonious.

The music inside the bar became more and more intense, with strong, rhythmic drumbeats echoing throughout the space, pushing the atmosphere to a new height.

The S-booth area was slightly quieter, but it still couldn't mask the intense vibrations of the background music.

The sound of dice cups on the table gradually ceased, replaced by the relaxed conversation and laughter of the few people.

Shen Qingyue sat beside Li Yan, her fingers lightly twirling a glass of pale pink fruit-flavored cocktail.

Her cheeks were stained with a shallow blush from the alcohol, which only served to add a touch of charm to her cold temperament.

Her gaze rested on Li Yan intentionally or otherwise, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, carrying a hint of an elusive smile.

The bar lights flickered on her snow-white, slender thighs, making her smooth skin appear exceptionally dazzling; her skirt hem rested casually on her knees, vaguely revealing a few captivating curves.

Li Yan leaned against the back of the sofa, one hand holding a wine glass, the other resting casually on the armrest, his whole person appearing very relaxed.

Seeming to notice Shen Qingyue's gaze, he tilted his head slightly, looked down at her, and a subtle smile appeared on his lips: "What's wrong? Lost a few rounds of the game and feeling unconvinced?"

Shen Qingyue chuckled, leaned over toward Li Yan, and a fresh, elegant perfume scent quietly permeated the air.

She placed her wine glass on the table, turned her head slightly, leaned into Li Yan's ear, and said in a low, soft voice, "Who's unconvinced? I was just letting you win earlier, alright!"

Because the music was loud, her voice was almost pressed against Li Yan's ear, and her warm breath brushed across his skin, carrying a slight dampness.

The distance between the two was so close they could almost hear each other's breathing.

Shen Qingyue's actions at this moment were bold yet elegant; she leaned slightly, her slender waist almost pressing against Li Yan's body.

Li Yan's lips curled into a slightly playful arc, his gaze calm and mature.

He didn't rush to respond, but instead took the opportunity to reach out and rest his hand on Shen Qingyue's waist.

Her waist was slender and soft; through the thin fabric, the temperature of her skin could be clearly felt.

Li Yan's movements were extremely natural, as if this were just the most casual gesture, his face still carrying a peaceful expression.

Feeling the touch on her waist, Shen Qingyue's body trembled slightly, but she didn't pull away.

She turned her head slightly, her eyes filled with a hint of coquettishness, but also revealing a trace of excitement.

She remained close to Li Yan's ear, her voice even softer: "Are you too smug? Next time I'll definitely make you lose even worse."

Li Yan tilted his head to look at her, smiled slightly, his tone calm but carrying a hint of teasing: "Then I'll wait and see, though... I rarely lose."

His voice was low and steady, carrying a kind of convincing composure that made Shen Qingyue's heart skip a beat.

He didn't take any further action, nor did he appear eager; he simply tightened his arm around her waist slightly, pulling her a little closer, his movements so natural it was as if all of this were perfectly ordinary.

Shen Qingyue's heart rose and fell slightly.

She knew that her closeness tonight hadn't been rejected by Li Yan, which made her secretly happy while also giving rise to an indescribable nervousness.

Li Yan's composure and calmness made her feel as if she were probing an unknown territory, and this unknown carried an addictive attraction.

She lowered her head slightly, taking the opportunity of being close to Li Yan to let her fingers brush across his arm intentionally or otherwise, her tone slowing down: "Li Yan, are you the type of person who never takes things seriously?"

Li Yan raised his eyebrows and smiled faintly: "That depends on who it is."

His words were ambiguous, yet they sent ripples through Shen Qingyue's heart.

At this moment, the roles of hunter and prey were switching, so rapidly it was hard to tell them apart.

Meanwhile, Xiaomei and Yueyue were actively enlivening the atmosphere on the side, occasionally interjecting with witty remarks without being overly intrusive, making the scene appear relaxed and natural.

Wang Zhen, meanwhile, seized the opportunity and gradually hit it off with Liu Yuting.

Amidst the clinking of dice cups and wine glasses on the table, the night was slowly ignited by the lights and laughter.

Li Yan remained calm and composed, but he knew that tonight's layout was gradually getting on track.

He glanced at Shen Qingyue beside him, the smile on his lips deepening slightly, though he didn't let anyone notice.

Those who have victory in their grasp are often better at knowing how to wait for the other party to take the initiative. ===== CHAPTER 18 =====