Chapter 20: Ballache
In the side hall, Han Mo stood quietly by the window, watching the commotion outside.
He Huanhuan couldn’t quite figure him out anymore.
At first, she knew his flattery was for the East City project.
He wanted a voice within the Han Group.
When she was set up on a blind date with Liang Ye, he was all for it.
She knew he was just like Gu Chacha, hoping she’d latch onto the Liang family so they could bask in the reflected glory.
But when she ignored Liang Ye, he didn’t complain. Instead, he came back to be nice to her.
He even invited her to join him at his father’s birthday banquet.
What was he after?
She couldn’t wrap her head around it.
His father didn’t like him, and his younger brother had no respect for him.
And yet he kept at it—wasn’t his ambition obvious?
Would his father even let him stay in the company?
She stared boldly at the man by the window, until he turned and looked at her. “Why are you staring at me?”
He Huanhuan pouted. “I can’t figure you out.”
The whole estate was ablaze with lights, yet the glow only reached him from the front.
He stood by the curtain, half-hidden in the dark, and asked quietly, “What don’t you understand?”
He Huanhuan wasn’t one for beating around the bush. She stood up and asked directly, “Why did you invite me tonight? You know what Old Gu wants. Why provoke him? Why provoke your dad? You’re really weird.”
She wasn’t stupid. Han Mo’s actions were too contradictory.
He chuckled softly. “Weird? Maybe.”
Suddenly, he stepped forward, stepping into the dazzling light. “Are you afraid?”
He Huanhuan stared right back at him. “Afraid of what?”
“That I might hurt you.”
“Ha!”
He Huanhuan pointed at herself. “Hurt me? How? By throwing money at me?”
She was alone, dead broke—what harm could come to her?
That ten-thousand-yuan balance in her account was from him!
A smile tugged at Han Mo’s lips. “Maybe I really will throw money at you.”
He Huanhuan spread her arms wide. “Then you’d better hit me hard enough to kill me. If you don’t, I won’t accept it.”
“Alright.”
He nodded seriously, then pulled open the door. “Rest here. I’ll go out and take a look.”
After all, it was the Han family’s banquet. As Han Changyong’s eldest son, he had to make the rounds and socialize on his behalf.
The door closed gently, leaving the room in silence.
He Huanhuan lay back on the couch, listening to the noise outside.
She didn’t feel like going out. Forced smiles and small talk bored her to death.
She always believed she’d return to her modern world someday. All this splendor and luxury in the book? Just a fleeting dream.
Fun to play around with, but nothing to take seriously.
She wasn’t the real heiress of the Gu family, and she didn’t need to fit into this high society.
She was He Huanhuan, a penniless street girl.
In her own world, she was the scrappy kid waiting to turn eighteen so she could work off her debts.
She lay on the couch, legs crossed, enjoying a freedom that wasn’t really hers.
Just treat it like a sweet dream.
In that dream, a tall, handsome guy with long legs kept transferring her money, taking her out for spicy hot pot to cheer her up.
If Qi Meili and the others knew, they’d be green with envy!
She hummed a little tune, her thoughts drifting lazily.
She never noticed the door creak open or the slinking shadow creep inside.
The figure quietly locked the door behind him, then hunched over and edged forward.
The flickering light from the hall cast flashes across the room, lighting his way as he crept closer to the couch.
“Bang!”
In the dark, his foot caught on a trash can with a jarring clatter.
“Who’s there?”
He Huanhuan shot up, demanding.
“Don’t ask!”
The shadow lunged at her!
“Ahhh!!!”
A shrill scream tore through the room—cut short after just half a second, swallowed by the air.
The hall was loud and chaotic, no one noticed the brief cry.
“Click.”
The room’s light flicked on, casting a warm yellow glow over a pitiful, disheveled face.
He Huanhuan raised an eyebrow at the man at her feet. “Han Xuan?”
“Wah... it’s me...” Han Xuan lay at her feet, whimpering pitifully. “It hurts...”
She pressed her high heel down harder. “What were you trying to do, jumping at me like that?”
“Ahhh!!!” Han Xuan curled up in agony. “I wanted—I wanted to seduce you! If I could hook you and then land the East City project, I could kick Han Mo out of the company!”
The dim light flickered. He Huanhuan’s colorful hair swooped down as she stared coldly. “Seduce me? Or rape me?”
What decent man lunges at a girl like some perv, trying to pin her down?
If she hadn’t reacted fast, he would’ve kissed her!
Han Xuan forced a fawning smile. “Isn’t it... isn’t it kind of the same thing?”
If he could sleep with her, she’d have to obey him, right?
A girl raised in the countryside—who else would have her?
Did she really think Han Mo would want someone with a flashy dye job?
He just wanted the East City project, didn’t he?
If he’d succeeded in screwing her just now, see if Han Mo would still bother with her!
Inside, he was brimming with arrogance, but on the surface, he played the coward. “I’m sorry, I really messed up! I lost my head! Let me go...”
He Huanhuan lifted her heel slightly, and Han Xuan’s lips curled up secretly.
Typical country girl, so gullible.
A little sweet talk, and she’s convinced.
He scrambled to get up, not noticing she lowered the heel again, aiming perfectly for his thigh.
“Ahhhh!!! My balls!!!”
The scream was bloodcurdling. It cut through the room and spread across the whole hall.
“What’s that sound? What’s wrong with his eggs?”
“The cake, maybe? Isn’t it Old Han’s birthday today?”
“What happened to the cake? Why’s he screaming like that?”
“Was it smashed?”
“...”
The crowd buzzed with curiosity, but no one dared move in.
A few seconds later, another agonized howl rang out: “Help!!!.”
“That voice sounds like...”
“Isn’t that Second Young Master Han?”
Before anyone could react, Han Mo’s aura dropped to freezing. He spun around without hesitation, charging toward the room.
What was Han Xuan doing in there?
What did he plan to do to He Huanhuan?
With him leading the way, the nosy crowd followed eagerly.
With screams like that, who wouldn’t want to see what was happening?
At the door, Han Mo grabbed the handle anxiously, only to find it locked from inside.
His face darkened. He lifted his leg and kicked the door hard.
“Bang!”
The door splintered open. He rushed in, followed by dozens of curious eyes.
On the floor of the room, Han Xuan clutched his groin, drenched in cold sweat. “Take me to the hospital! Take me to the hospital! She kicked my balls! It hurts!”