Chapter 35: Car Accident (Part 1)

  After sunset, the neon lights dimmed the moonlight, and the streets with five colors were occupied by the signs of high-end hotels, which also robbed people's sight; among them, "Ji Yang" was the most special.

  The black stone wall surrounds the exterior of the Extreme Day, with a wooden door that gives a sense of stability, embedded with frosted glass that is not transparent. It seems to be deliberately protecting the visitors. The hollow signboard with the words "Extreme Day" shines brightly in white light at night, as if emphasizing its name.

  It can be said that it is 24 hours of brightness, or it can be said that there is no eternal night. Regardless of the rumors outside, whether Jiuyang sells wine or laughter, and whether the accompaniment is male or female, it is always a nightclub that makes its peers jealous with its lucrative business.

  "Please come in, sir..." The hostess at the door was dressed more charmingly than usual, her red dress slit to the top of her thigh, revealing a glimpse of her snow-white long legs, which swayed and made one's imagination run wild. The neckline of her upper body was open to the cleavage, and her snowy, plump, high-pitched breasts stood out prominently. Behind her, a large expanse of beautiful back was exposed in the air. She stretched out her slender hand and grasped Chu Lintao's arm, leading him into the hall filled with dim yellow light.

  Soft music softened this mysterious space in an instant, a uniform black layout paired with silver embellishments, beautiful and not losing its vitality.

  The walls in the corner were embedded with wall lamps, and the soft light was faintly filled with a dreamy and illusory atmosphere, even Chu Lin Tao couldn't help but admire the designer of this nightclub for arranging it so elegantly and mysteriously.

  Lounging on the sofa, after scanning the surroundings, Chu Lintao began to appreciate the various handsome men and beautiful women passing by his side from an onlooker's perspective. The waiters in white casual attire were a uniform color. At 1.78 meters tall, he wasn't considered tall, but paired with their handsome facial features, they looked exceptionally refreshing. Their elegant yet slightly awkward smiles made people feel especially close to them.

  "The gentleman looks a bit unfamiliar, could it be his first time at our 'Extreme Day'?" A slender figure sat down in the only empty seat next to Chu Lintao, causing the red-clad woman sitting beside him to glare with dissatisfaction, but she didn't dare say anything and instead continued drinking her cocktail.

  Chu Lin Tao couldn't help but gaze at the beautiful face beside him, with a subtle curve of his lips reflecting a faint pink glow under the light. The fair skin was so fine that it didn't have any blemishes, and even had a hint of porcelain whiteness; the dark pupils seemed like bottomless swamps, shrouded in a layer of misty haze, while the hair tips with a hint of purple color seemed to intentionally or unintentionally sweep across his forehead, outlining the flow of air.

  "Who is this lady?"

  "Zero." The woman's watery eyes flashed a hint of a smile, her gentle tone caressing Chu Lintao's ears, mixed with some barely perceptible laughter, carrying a soothing and drowsy feeling, as well as a sweet and intoxicating aroma like wine, the unhurried and gentle rhythm sounding like heavenly music.

  Chu Lin Tao beckoned the waiter over and whispered a few words in his ear, then turned to Ling with a smile and said, "I wonder if Miss Ling would do me the honor of joining me for a drink and some conversation?"

  "It depends on whether the wine you've chosen for me meets my expectations." Zero's lips curved into a perfect crescent moon, his eyes gleaming with flirtation, "Oh dear, I haven't even asked for your esteemed name yet!"

  He picked up a glass of cocktail with white luster from the tray and handed it to Ling's hand, Chu Lintao smiled slightly, "White Moonlight, please taste it, Miss Ling."

  "White Moonlight?" Zero raised his wine glass, examined it under the lamplight, and then brought it to his lips for a sip. "Beautiful color, impressive flavor that leaves a deep impression... I like it very much."

  "This is specially tailored for you." Chu Lintao was not stingy with women, especially the beautiful women in nightclubs, he was even more interested in coaxing a smile from them. After all, this was a place where he could put down his disguise as a good husband and father, and be himself frankly.

  But good husband, good father and all that have become things of the past.

  He didn't want to think about the future anymore.

  "As a return gift, please follow me to this side of the stage……" Zero held up his wine glass and then took Chulintao's hand and walked towards the stage where someone was playing the piano. After exchanging a glance with the player, the other party immediately understood and stood up, yielding their position to Zero.

  "Please sit down." Zero invited Chu Lintao to sit on the piano chair, and he himself sat beside him. The small chair was a bit cramped for two people, but Zero calmly put his wine glass on the piano and poured a cup of Scorpio Palace for Chu Lintao. Just as the waiter handed the wine to Chu Lintao's hand, a beautiful melody suddenly sounded in his ear, like a piano piece played by a music box, following Zero's slender fingers, jumping and winding.

  Chu Lin Tao was stunned, he forgot to drink, and also forgot the purpose of coming here tonight, but just sat blankly beside Ling, staring at the nimble fingertips dancing on the black and white squares. The music went from high to low, as if it were a bird's light shadow rotating and flipping in mid-air, and like a posture seeking a mate gradually rising higher, until it reached the mountain peak.

  The yellow spotlight on the stage shone down on her zero-beautiful face, making it somewhat dreamy, like a mirage at the end of the desert that was illusory and unreal. The dyed hair strands swayed with his body as he played, dancing momentarily, giving people a sense of walking in the clouds.

  Compared to the charming smile she had just now, the way she played the piano was even more moving for Chu Lintao, because the effort and seriousness in her eyes were exactly like those of a person, someone he thought about day and night.

  Chu Lin Tao was completely stunned, and the thin wine in his hand...

  A single note remained, until the music ended and the applause faded away...

  Ling picked up the glass of "White Moonlight" from the piano and gently clinked it against Chulin Tao's wine glass. With a soft "ting", she asked in a gentle voice, "Do you like it?"

  "Very good, you... very good..." Chu Lin Tao downed the wine in his hand in one gulp, the taste was great, but by the time he realized something was off, he was already quite drunk.

  Just at this time...

  "Mr. Chu, I didn't expect to see you again." The low male voice was lazy and languid, with white smoke rings drifting around him, the dim lighting and white mist making it impossible to discern his expression at that moment, except for those narrow eagle eyes which shot out sharp glints in the gloom.

  "It's been a long time, Ye." Chu Lin Tao's wine glass seemed to tremble slightly in his hand. He calmed himself and spoke slowly, "I didn't expect this place to be yours."

  "It's just a small business, nothing to brag about. Unlike Chu Da Shao, who is now the CEO of a listed company and has even married the eldest daughter of the Gu family." The man made an inviting gesture with his hand, smiling as he said, "Speaking of which, it's been almost ten years since we last had a drink together."

  "It's hard to recall the past." Chu Lin Tao stood up, gesturing for Ling to wait outside, and followed the man named Ye into the most secluded private room at the end.

  "But you still came back to find me." Ye's eyes were as sharp as an eagle, his age was only around thirty, wearing a black Armani suit, his short hair was slightly disheveled, his sword-like eyebrows and nose, his deep black eyes showed indifference. A thin scar ran from the bridge of his nose to his cheekbone, not only did it not ruin his handsomeness, but it added to his charm, like a dangerous black panther. "Speak, what do you want to exchange this time."

  "You two, you choose." Chu Lintao, slightly drunk, pulled out two photos from his shirt pocket and placed them in front of Ye, a hint of cold smile on his lips. "How's that? If I'm not mistaken, they should meet the requirements."

  He picked up two photos and looked at them, then put them down one by one. He gazed indifferently at Chulin Tao, "I'm not interested in raising your daughter for you, besides, neither of them is suitable as a candidate for 'Charm'."

  Chu Lin Tao sneered and smiled elegantly, extinguishing the remaining cigarette in his hand in the ashtray. "Don't worry, not to mention Yan You, but Mu Ran won't be worse than her mother. With a little cultivation, she will definitely make you look at her with new eyes."

  "I have no interest in trivial things." A flash of disgust quickly passed through his icy eyes at night, he picked up the high-footed cup and sipped a mouthful of wine slowly, saying, "The payment and gain are directly proportional. Now, if you want to ask me for something, only when you pay an equivalent price can I possibly agree with you."

  "What do you want this time?"

  He suddenly laughed at night, the thin corners of his mouth slightly raised, and the strange smile was gloomy. "The most precious treasure to you."

  "It's impossible." The cold lips spat out these three words, and Chu Lintao refused without hesitation.

  His dim gaze stared at Chu Lintao in front of him, his thin lips slowly raised a mocking smile, and he said indifferently, "Then, I'm afraid I can't do anything about it."

  "You know that the Chu family is my life's blood, for it I even..." Chu Lingtao didn't continue speaking, and in a daze, he seemed to have returned to that scene from back then.

  Among the dazzling lights, Chu's family held a banquet with 100 tables to marry off their daughter to Gu's family. The guests were all prominent figures in politics and commerce, as well as major media outlets from across the country. As the groom, he frequently raised his glass, his expression filled with pride and satisfaction.

  Under the brilliant sunshine, the completion ceremony of Qudu Building was jubilant, with a sea of people on the scene. He and several dignitaries stood in a row to cut a red ribbon into several segments, behind which was the pinnacle of his career.

  When Chu Lin Tao lifted his head again, a fierce gust of wind swept through his eyes. His expression was both gentle and ferocious, with thick clouds accumulating in the depths of his heart, and darkness spreading out from his body.

  "You can go check the goods now, I'll wait for your news." Chulin Tao took out a key from his shirt pocket and placed it in front of Ye, "If you're satisfied, I can give you an opportunity, whether you grasp it or not is up to you."

  "Mr. Chu, are you sure?"

  "Yes." Chu Lin Tao's voice was cold and low, with a hint of numbness, and there was no emotion in the simple word. He picked up his pen and wrote an address on a note, handing it to Ye, "Have fun tonight."

  The flickering light cast eerie shadows, making the man's expression seem even more sinister. Suddenly, he stood up from the sofa beside him, his massive frame eclipsing Chu Lintao who had just been standing in front of him. A low, muffled laugh echoed through the air as the man said with a faint smile, "Since it's your own choice, I'll respect your decision as always. I hope you won't regret it." As soon as he finished speaking, the man walked towards the door, followed closely by two bodyguards who emerged from the shadows.

  Until several people had left, Chu Lintao's mouth slowly hooked up a cold arc.

  In the old Gu residence, Gu Quyun stared at the DNA report in her hand and Shen Yanran's prenatal test results, losing control and smashing everything in the room to pieces.

  Chu Lian trembled with fear in the corner, wanting to comfort her mother but not knowing how to put it into words. The father who was once perfect and made her incredibly proud had now become a heartless hypocrite and a scoundrel.

  She doesn't want to go to school at all, doesn't want to hear her classmates' ridicule, and even less wants to see the teachers' sympathy. She doesn't need it! Chuyan sobbed, she only wanted her dad, only wanted her mom, only wanted their original happy home.

  "Mom, let's go home..."

  In a fit of rage, Gu Yujuan suddenly heard her daughter's desperate cry for help. She stopped what she was doing and turned around to look at Chu Liuyao, "Go home... that is our home, even if we have to leave, he should be the one to get out of that house." After saying this, she grabbed the car keys and rushed out.

  "Mom!" Chu Lian followed closely and rushed out.