chapter 17 Where else do you want to hide?

"I'm really sorry, is there anything I can do for you?" Ja Jiang saw that the person in front of her was clearly drunk, so she remained cautious. In the spirit of avoiding trouble, she apologized once again. As the words fell, the person in front of her suddenly smirked with ill intentions and his voice became somewhat slurred, "Hey there, pretty lady... if you have a drink with me, you'll make your big brother very happy. Make me happy tonight, and I won't hold any grudges against you!" Ja Jiang furrowed her brows slightly, realizing that the person in front of her was now being unreasonable due to his intoxication. She decided not to engage and attempted to walk past him without making any further eye contact. Just as she reached the side of the drunk man, he spoke again, "Don't go, pretty lady! Big brother here is loaded. If you agree to be with me, I promise you a lifetime of luxury and indulgence!" He then laughed lasciviously and let his gaze wander unabashedly over Ja Jiang's body. The young woman before him had a delicate and stunning face, and her figure was well-proportioned. Under the dim lights, her skin looked incredibly fair, and it was safe to assume it would feel nice to the touch. The drunk man couldn't resist the temptation and reached out to touch Ja Jiang's face, wanting to experience the sensation. Seeing his hand approaching, Ja Jiang's expression turned cold. She immediately took a step back and delivered a swift kick to the man's abdomen. Today was her first day at the research institute, and she was dressed formally, wearing a pair of high-heeled shoes. Her kick was far from gentle. The man, already unstable due to his drunken state and hazy consciousness, couldn't react in time. He took the full force of the kick and turned pale as he clutched his stomach. After swaying a couple of times, he eventually sat down on the ground. "You wretch! Do you dare to lay a hand on me when I'm showing you favor? It's your privilege to catch my eye, and you dare to kick me!" He groaned in pain, his face turning red. After being on the ground for a while, the man gritted his teeth and managed to raise his head. His eyes were bloodshot. Ja Jiang gave him a disdainful look and raised her foot to step around him. Suddenly, the man yelled towards a corner, "Hey! Someone! This wretch dared to attack me. Take her to my private room! Tonight, I want to see what she can do to defy me!" As he finished speaking, two burly bodyguards rushed out from the corner. Seeing the disheveled state of their employer, they hesitated for a moment. One of them said, "Young master..." "Leave me alone! Get her for me!" the man shouted in anger. The two men immediately headed in Ja Jiang's direction. Hearing the approaching footsteps behind her, Ja Jiang's heart raced. She reached into her bag, clutching a packet of powder tightly. If these people dared to come any closer, she would make them taste the effects of this substance! Just as she was about to turn around with the packet in hand, one of the bodyguards who had been about to grab her suddenly screamed in agony, flying away from her side. The next second, another bodyguard disappeared from her view in the same manner. Ja Jiang couldn't help but freeze, realizing a new presence behind her. She turned her head and saw a tall figure standing a few steps away. Her heart tightened, feeling like her scalp was about to explode. Instinctively, she turned to run. Andrew Li's expression was dark. He was dressed in a well-fitted shirt and trousers, with rolled-up sleeves and a few unbuttoned buttons at the collar. His gaze was sharp as he looked at the woman in front of him. He had decided to step outside to get some fresh air in the middle of a social event. He had never expected to see this woman here. — Ja Jiang! It really was her! His gaze deepened, and just as he was about to say something, he saw the woman lifting her leg to run. Andrew Li's brow furrowed deeply as he quickly moved forward, grabbing her wrist. Ja Jiang's ears were filled with the pounding of her own heart. She had no idea when he had caught up to her, and being unexpectedly grabbed left her frozen in place, her mind in chaos. "Ja Jiang!" The man's voice, mixed with concealed anger, exploded in her ear. "Where do you think you're going?" Ja Jiang finally snapped back to reality and instinctively tried to pull away. Sensing her resistance, the man increased his grip. "Let go of me!" She gave up struggling, turned around, and gritted her teeth as she met the man's gaze. "Let go?" Andrew Li's voice seemed to squeeze through clenched teeth. His dark eyes were fixed firmly on her face. After six years apart, her face had gained a touch of mature charm, but it was still as beautiful as ever. However, she was no longer the gentle and obedient girl he remembered. She didn't lower her head and behave submissively as before; instead, she exuded confidence and fierceness. There was even a hint of detachment in her eyes! Realizing this, Andrew Li felt a surge of anger. He coldly locked eyes with Ja Jiang and uttered each word deliberately, "Do you think I'll let you run away?" Ja Jiang's heart trembled, and she was about to say something, but Andrew Li didn't give her a chance. His voice was chilling as he ordered Barry Lu, who stood behind them, "Take care of these nuisances!" Without waiting for Ja Jiang to react, he pulled her arm and strode into the nearby private room. Ja Jiang sensed trouble but couldn't break free. She stumbled along as he dragged her inside.