Substitute Bride: The Young Master's Ultimate Indulgence

Capital City, Imperial Grace Bar. A young woman, dressed simply in a plain T-shirt and black pants, stepped out, pulling her cap low over her face. She slipped directly into the back alley, stopping at a dumpster. After a quick glance around confirmed she was alone, she swiftly pulled several blood test reports from her pocket, lit them with a lighter, and watched them burn to ashes. Once the documents were destroyed, Shi Chu hailed a taxi. The bar wasn't located in the city center but in a slightly more remote area. The back alley was long and narrow. Glancing at the time, Shi Chu urged the driver to hurry, anxious to get back. "Screech…" Suddenly, a blinding beam of light shot towards the taxi from the far end of the alley, forcing the driver to slam on the brakes and cover his eyes against the glare. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" A series of frantic, violent pounding sounds hammered against the car doors, accompanied by menacing shouts. "Leave the woman and you can get out alive! Hurry up!" "Get out! Now! What are you waiting for?" "Move it!" The abrupt and harsh yells terrified the taxi driver. He trembled uncontrollably, frozen in his seat. Had they encountered murderous bandits? Shi Chu frowned deeply, quickly assessing the situation outside. Cars blocked them front and back; escape was impossible now. She couldn't involve the innocent driver. "Master, open the door. I'll get out," Shi Chu said to the driver with surprising calmness. "Once I'm out, no matter what you hear, don't come back. Just go." The door was yanked open, and Shi Chu was forcibly dragged out by a lead thug. Seizing the chance, the driver floored the accelerator and sped away. "May I ask how I have offended you gentlemen?" Shi Chu faced the dozen or so men, some even brandishing clubs. Fear clenched her heart, but if she was to die, she wanted to know why. "If it's money you want, name your price." Money could be earned again; her life was paramount. Smack— "Cut the crap!" a coarse voice snarled. A vicious, unexpected slap landed squarely on Shi Chu's beautiful face, the pain instantly searing and sharp. The blow was so sudden she had no time to brace herself. Shi Chu tugged at the corner of her stinging mouth, spitting out a mouthful of blood. She glared furiously at the lead man, her eyes scanning the situation, looking for any possible advantage. She couldn't just wait to die. The man was portly, with a greasy complexion and a lame leg, supporting himself with a crutch. He wasn't very tall. Shi Chu always carried a dagger hidden at her waist, but right now, the odds were overwhelming. Furthermore, her arms were pinned by two thugs, leaving her unable to move. A direct fight was out of the question; her only hope was wit and opportunism. "Someone paid good money for that pretty face of yours…" The portly man pinched Shi Chu's chin, turning her head left and right. "What a beauty. Such a pity to ruin it…" He was clearly captivated by her stunning looks, a lecherous gleam appearing in his eyes. His gaze roamed over her body, lingering on the form-fitting T-shirt and tight black pants that accentuated her curvaceous figure. The red mark from the slap on her cheek only added a touch of vulnerable innocence, making the portly man swallow hard repeatedly. Seeing his reaction, Shi Chu pushed down her disgust and forced a coquettish, seductive tone. "This elder brother clearly possesses remarkable courage and spirit. I've never met anyone quite so brave and imposing. But I truly don't know where I went wrong to deserve such treatment from you." Tears even welled up in her eyes, making her appear utterly fragile and pitiable, enough to soften any man's heart. Right now, she had to endure this nauseating act. Survival was key; she could deal with the shame later. The man's inherent desire for conquest and the vanity of being admired clouded the portly man's judgment. His eyes glazed over with pure lust as he licked his lips and swallowed. "So, little beauty, how would you like this big brother to treat you?" His voice dripped with suggestive vulgarity. "As long as you don't hit me… I… I'll serve you properly…" Shi Chu looked at him with tear-filled eyes, appearing heartbreakingly vulnerable and pleading. Her lips seemed to tremble invitingly, a mix of fragility and allure that would make any man want to prove his dominance. The portly man thought to himself, why not have some fun first before disfiguring her? A rare beauty like this didn't come along often. Besides, with over a dozen men here, how could she possibly escape? "Let her go," the portly man commanded impatiently to the two men holding her. "Let me have a go first before we take care of her face." "Boss… after you're done, let us have a turn too, alright? Hehe…" The other men, also stirred by primal desire, chimed in, hoping for a share of the spoils. "Fine! Let's see who can please this beauty more! Haha!" The portly man waved his hand, and the two thugs immediately released Shi Chu, shoving her towards him. This is my chance! As she stumbled forward, seemingly about to fall into the portly man's arms, Shi Chu suddenly executed a swift backflip, landing behind him. In a flash, she drew the dagger from her waist and pressed it against his throat. "Tell your men to let me go!" she ordered coldly. "You b***h! Trying to trick me?" The portly man clenched his fists in fury, humiliated in front of his men. "Boss!" The other men panicked seeing their leader held hostage. The portly man's eyes turned icy. "You b***h, you've underestimated me!" Ah! In an instant, Shi Chu's vision went white. A powdery substance sprayed into her eyes, blinding her. The portly man's crutch contained hidden powder. He had pressed a button, releasing it directly into Shi Chu's face. Suddenly, her world went dark… "Tricky w***e! Trying to outsmart me? Today, I'll show you just how cruel the world can be!" The portly man began unfastening his belt, even beckoning to his comrades behind him. "Brothers, let's all have a go! This b***h likes excitement, right? Let's give her a real thrill…" Shi Chu frantically wiped the powder from her face. As her vision cleared, she saw the group of lecherous men advancing towards her, unbuckling belts and removing clothes, their eyes filled with evil, filth, and malice. True panic set in. This was the first time she felt so utterly terrified and helpless. The men rubbed their hands together, reaching for Shi Chu… Darkness seemed to close in. Her pupils dilated and contracted violently in fear. She was on the verge of closing her eyes, resigning herself to her fate. The next second, she felt herself being lifted effortlessly. A powerful force pulled her up. Startled, she opened her eyes and saw a figure silhouetted against the starlight. He leaped into the air, his long leg sweeping in a wide arc, instantly knocking down several men. A chorus of pained male groans and shouts erupted into the night air… Someone cursed, trying to get up and retaliate, but one look at the newcomer made their legs go weak with terror. It was none other than the man whose very name struck fear throughout the Capital City—Mo Qien. "Get lost!" a black-clad man standing beside Mo Qien coldly snarled. "M-Mo… Mo…" The portly man stammered, unable to even form the name before turning tail and fleeing in panic. Seeing their leader run, the remaining men scrambled to follow, scattering in disarray like frightened rats... Shi Chu, still stunned and terrified, found herself momentarily forgetting the horror of her narrow escape, mesmerized by the man who had saved her. He wore a white dress shirt tucked into impeccably tailored suit pants, his stature tall and commanding. His features were so perfect they seemed carved from icy jade by the gods themselves—flawless. Yet, his eyes, the moment they landed on her, were deep and sent a chill down her spine, carrying an bone-chilling coldness. His breathtakingly handsome face held a strangely captivating, almost eerie charm. One look was enough to make one willingly, irresistibly fall…