Chapter 4 Especially for a pretty young boy like you.

In the quiet, somewhat eerie early morning hours, even the slightest sound seemed amplified.

The man's voice appeared abruptly, without any footsteps or the sound of a door closing, as if he materialized out of thin air.

Though the man's tone sounded playful, Ruan Qing's body instinctively stiffened, his hair standing on end, and every cell in his body clamoring for him to run.

Without thinking, Ruan Qing obeyed his inner voice. He tightly gripped the strap of his messenger bag and accelerated his pace without pause.

The elevator was just within reach, and the man's voice seemed to be at least ten meters away from him.

There's still time.

Ruan Qing exerted all his strength and dashed to the side of the elevator, not even bothering to look back. He pressed the elevator button without hesitation.

As expected, the elevator doors opened quickly.

Ruan Qing stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor. With one hand tightly clutching the strap of his messenger bag, he frantically pressed the close button on the elevator, nervously glancing at the man who seemed not to have reacted yet.

The elevator doors slowly closed, gradually blocking the man's view from outside.

However, Ruan Qing underestimated the man.

Through the gradually closing gap of the elevator doors, Ruan Qing widened his eyes.

The man from the corridor was indeed the same landlord he had seen during the day. After realizing what was happening, he briskly walked towards the elevator, his posture elegant and composed. However, in the blink of an eye, he seemed to have covered a significant distance.

So fast.

Ruan Qing pressed the close door button of the elevator even more frantically.

Faster!

Just a little faster!

The elevator doors gradually narrowed to a narrow gap.

But although the man moved faster than ordinary people, he was still at least two meters away from the door.

Ruan Qing breathed a barely noticeable sigh of relief.

However, just as the elevator doors were about to close completely, a strong hand forcefully wedged between them.

The elevator operated automatically, sensing something between the doors, so it opened again.

The tall figure appeared in the elevator in an instant, casting a shadow over Ruan Qing and emanating an undeniable sense of oppression.

Ruan Qing looked up at the man, his clear and bright eyes filled with shock and disbelief, his face drained of color.

The man was tall, about six feet tall, and looked down at the young boy in front of him with narrowed eyes, exuding a hint of danger. "Are you... really planning to run away?"

The man's tone made Ruan Qing's scalp tingle, and he instinctively shrank back, retreating a few steps until his back was against the elevator, with nowhere else to go.

As Ruan Qing avoided the man's aggressive gaze, his body trembled slightly, and he spoke softly, "N-no, I wasn't."

The man raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat wicked. "Then why were you running?"

Ruan Qing nervously pulled on the strap of his messenger bag, looking like he was about to cry. "I-I was... scared at night."

This excuse was barely acceptable to the man. After all, the boy was slender and carried only a small bag, not really looking like he was about to run away.

And he had just checked the boy's information thoroughly after returning home.

The sleazy man with deep social anxiety disorder, who could hardly communicate normally with others and would only hide in dark and narrow rooms, injuring others at will on the internet.

Just like a rat living in a sewer.

That's how the information found online described him.

However...

A glint flashed in the man's eyes as he looked down at the delicate and beautiful young boy in front of him, feeling that rumors were indeed untrustworthy.

After clearing up the misunderstanding, the man retracted his imposing aura and revealed a friendly smile, trying his best to appear gentlemanly and gentle.

"It's late. Where are you going? Let me take you. After all, it's not safe for someone as pretty as you to go out alone at night."

The man scanned Ruan Qing up and down, "Especially for a pretty young boy like you."

Ruan Qing shook his head slightly to indicate refusal, even whispering in fear that the man might not hear him, "No, it's okay."

"Ding." The elevator arrived. It was the first floor.

Ruan Qing bit his lip and mustered up the courage to try to pass the man and walk out, but he was pulled back by the man.

The man then pressed the elevator's close button and the button for the basement floor, speaking in a tone that brooked no refusal, smiling as he said, "It's too late now. Let me drive you."

Everything seemed so reasonable, as if he genuinely cared about the teenager's well-being.

However, after grabbing the boy's wrist and pulling him in, the man showed no intention of letting go, as if he had forgotten.

Although Ruan Qing's coat was quite loose, his wrist was covered by the sleeve, so the man's hand didn't directly touch his skin. Yet, Ruan Qing still felt a strong discomfort, as if he had been startled, and he struggled slightly, wanting to escape the man's grasp.

The man seemed to only just realize that he hadn't let go, immediately releasing his grip and apologizing with a smile, "Sorry."

Ruan Qing kept his head down and remained silent.

After reaching the basement floor, the man walked out of the elevator first. "Let's go."

Seeing that the teenager didn't seem to be following, the man stopped and waited for him.

Ruan Qing pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately followed.

It wasn't because he wanted to, but because the man was so domineering that he didn't give him a chance to refuse.

The landlord's name was Jiang Sinián. His specific occupation, address, and social connections were unknown. But Ruan Qing knew one thing: he had a terrible and perverted personality.

If you didn't comply with him, he would resort to force to make you comply.

If Ruan Qing didn't follow, he believed Jiang Sinián would either forcibly drag him along or forcibly send him back.

It was better to walk on his own terms than be dragged along by him.

Jiang Sinián's car was parked on the basement floor. He walked to his car and considerately opened the passenger door.

Ruan Qing had no choice but to obediently get in.

Jiang Sinián drove leisurely, glancing at the teenager in the driver's seat and asking, "Where to?"

Ruan Qing looked at Jiang Sinián cautiously and whispered, "Taoyuan Street, Fēngyǎ. Thank you."

Jiang Sinián was somewhat surprised. He glanced sideways at the teenager. "A bar?"

Ruan Qing nodded slightly.

The man tapped his index finger on the steering wheel a few times, casually asking, "Do you often go there?"

Ruan Qing hesitated for a moment before nodding again.

Seeing the boy's nod, Jiang Sinián felt a bit displeased. His gaze darkened slightly as he thought of some possibilities. His voice also turned colder. "What are you going there for?"

Ruan Qing seemed to sense the man's displeasure and became even more nervous. "To... borrow money, to pay rent."

Fēngyǎ Bar wasn't far away; they arrived in ten minutes.

Ruan Qing didn't make up the address. The original owner had gone out late at night before and accidentally bumped into someone from the bar. That person bought him medicine, and they exchanged contact information.

But that wasn't the main point.

The main point was that the bar was a chaotic place, perfect for fishing in troubled waters.

Jiang Sinián parked the car at the entrance of Fēngyǎ Bar. Ruan Qing opened the door and got out of the car.

Just as he was about to enter the bar, Jiang Sinián grabbed him. "The bar is too chaotic. You'd better call someone to come out."

Ruan Qing glanced at Jiang Sinián, didn't argue with him, and obediently took out his phone, finding the contact information and sending a message.

"Hello, I'm at the entrance of Fēngyǎ. Can you lend me 500,000 yuan?"