Kennedy Bella was startled and quickly ran toward James, throwing herself into his arms.
James stood up, his brows furrowed.
"I... I didn't mean to!" the scar-faced man stammered, realizing that things had spiraled out of control.
At that moment, a large group of people swarmed into the private room from outside.
The KTV owner, Brown, had received a call informing him that a Rolls-Royce-driving VIP had arrived at his establishment.
He had rushed over, eager to network with such a wealthy client.
But as soon as he stepped in, he saw the young salesman who had called him leading a group of security guards toward a commotion.
After asking what was going on,
he learned that the VIP's companion had been dragged into another private room.
Brown panicked on the spot.
Anyone driving a Rolls-Royce was either filthy rich or ridiculously powerful, likely worth at least tens of millions.
If something happened to such a person on his property, the reputation of his KTV would be ruined.
He stormed toward the troublemaker's private room with his entourage in tow.
"Who the hell dares to cause trouble on my turf?!"
The scar-faced man, seeing Brown arrive, lit up as if he'd found his savior. He quickly stepped forward with a smile, trying to cozy up to him.
"Brother Brown, it's me, Tiger! Don't you remember me?"
Brown recognized him as one of his friend's underlings and his expression softened slightly.
But when he glanced toward the other side of the room and saw the coupleâ
the girl with her torn shirt and the man with a cold, frosty expressionâ
Brown instantly understood what had happened.
Without saying a word, he kicked Tiger to the ground and barked at the security guards,
"Beat him to death!"
The security guards, who were all seasoned enforcers, didn't hesitate. They immediately began pummeling Tiger with a flurry of punches and kicks.
Thud, thud, thud!
"AHHH!!! STOP! PLEASE!"
The room filled with the sound of Tiger's screams and fists connecting with flesh.
The others in the room stayed silent.
James cast a disinterested glance at the scene but didn't intervene.
Kennedy Bella buried her face deeper into his chest, ignoring everything around her.
"Stop... I'm sorry... I was wrong..."
Tiger lay on the floor, holding his head and begging for mercy.
His accomplices exchanged glances and quietly slipped into the corner, trying not to draw any attention.
Meanwhile, in the VIP private room.
Asa waited for a while, growing restless. She turned to Shirley Taylor and said,
"What's going on? Bella's been gone forever, and now your boyfriend isn't back either?"
There was a hint of mischief in her tone, trying to stir the pot.
But Shirley Taylor didn't pick up on it. She absentmindedly replied, "I don't know."
"You're way too relaxed. They were flirting right in front of you, and you didn't even react? If it were me, I would've lost it by now," Asa said indignantly.
"They look good together," Shirley Taylor said with a hint of envy in her eyes.
"That's good? Let me tell you, men need to be kept in check, or who knows what they're up to in the next room."
Asa grew more animated, eventually suggesting, "Why don't we go look for them?"
"You can go. I'll wait here for him to come back," Shirley Taylor said, staring at the photo on her phone's lock screen.
He had told her not to wander off before he left. What if he came back and couldn't find her?
"You're really not worried about the two of them together?" Asa glanced at her phone and asked with a jealous tone.
"No, I trust him."
Shirley Taylor turned off her phone, gazing at the music video playing on the screen. After a long pause, she said softly,
"If they truly love each other, I'll give them my blessing."
"Fine, then I'll give you my blessing," Asa muttered, rolling her eyes in exasperation.
She queued up one of her favorite songs and started singing.
This private room was more like a mini suite.
It had everythingâfood, drinks, a rest area, a game room, even a private bathroom.
Staying here was just as fun, so she didn't feel like going out to look for James.
On one side was the delicate and gentle Shirley Taylor; on the other was the proud and willful Kennedy Bella. Asa couldn't see how she had any chance of competing with them for James's attention.
Besides, James was young, wealthy, charming, and sweet-talking. He had probably seen his fair share of beautiful women. Even if she wrapped herself up and delivered herself to him, it probably wouldn't be enough to sway him.
Thinking about this, Asa decided it was safer to cozy up to her two roommates instead.
She would play both sides, ensuring that no matter which of them ended up with James, she could remain a bridge between them.
And if James ever decided he wanted both, he'd surely have to bribe her somehow.
Asa grinned to herself, happily singing a few songs.
The door to the private room suddenly opened.
This VIP room was locked, and only those with a keycard could enter.
Bella and James walked in together.
Asa's sharp eyes immediately caught something unusual.
Bella was wearing James's white shirt, while James himself was in a random T-shirt he'd found somewhere.
What the hell?
These two... they'd been gone for half an hour, and now their clothes were swapped?
Asa's eyes filled with shock.
"Bella accidentally ripped her shirt earlier, so I lent her mine," James explained with a smile, noticing the odd looks from the two women.
He then casually walked over to Shirley Taylor, sat down next to her, kissed her on the cheek, and said,
"Shirley's the best. Not like some people who can't even step outside without ruining their clothes."
Shirley Taylor blushed from the kiss, feeling a little shy.
She had no idea what had happened, but from James's tone, it sounded like there had been some sort of unpleasant incident.
She glanced at Kennedy Bella, who was sitting there fuming, and asked with concern,
"Bella, are you okay?"
Before stepping into the room, Kennedy Bella had thought James was a decent guy.
But after coming in, for some inexplicable reason, she couldn't help but feel angry.
"I'm fine," she said, sitting on the couch and turning her head away with a cold huff.
Shirley Taylor still looked a bit worried.
"Don't mind her," James said dismissively. "She's just being a princess. Ignore her, and she'll be fine."
He handed the microphone to Shirley Taylor with a smile and said,
"Sing me Common Jasmine Orange. I didn't get enough of it last time."
Distracted by the microphone, Shirley Taylor blushed slightly and gave a soft "okay."
James asked Asa to queue up the song and sipped his drink while listening to Shirley Taylor's pure, ethereal voice.
He felt completely at ease.
Kennedy Bella, meanwhile, sat to the side, grinding her teeth as she glared at James.
In her mind, she was cursing him furiously.
You dog of a man. You were just comforting me, and now you're pretending I don't exist.
Scumbag. Player. Bastard. Womanizer. You're going to end up in a pigsty someday...
Feeling her intense gaze, James glanced over and asked curiously,
"Why are you staring at me? Let me warn you, I'm the kind of man you'll never have. Don't be like a toad dreaming of eating swan meatâ"
Kennedy Bella couldn't take it anymore. She ran over and pinched James.
"You're the toad!!"
James, wincing in pain, didn't dare fight back, worried it might upset Shirley Taylor.
After she finished pinching him, Kennedy Bella demanded a drinking contest with him.
The afternoon passed in a blur of singing, drinking, and bickering. Before they knew it, evening had arrived.
During the evening, the KTV owner Brown stopped by to introduce himself and gave them a bottle of Hennessy Richard.
James discreetly looked up the priceâover $5,000.
Brown also gave Kennedy Bella a shopping card, saying it was a gesture to calm her nerves.
Kennedy Bella refused to accept it.
She was extremely sensitive to such gestures, as her family's upbringing was very strict.
Brown didn't insist and left with a respectful bow, his eyes filled with reverence as he glanced at James and Kennedy Bella.
He even mentioned that he'd arrange for Tiger's boss to apologize to them both in person at a later date.
James casually brushed him off, while Kennedy Bella firmly declined.
It was obvious these people were hoping to curry favor with her father.
This was exactly why Kennedy Bella avoided casually throwing around her father's name.
Once entangled with such people or caught in their sights, it could be extremely dangerous.