TFRLTOP Chapter 26 Part 2

“Then change into something else.”

“No way!” Mingming kicked him. “I’m in a hurry to head out.”

Huo Xiao held back, kissed her on the lips, and said, “I’ll come pick you up when you’re done.”

Mingming wriggled free with a smile. “Don’t bother. I can’t handle that kind of treatment—next thing I know, I’ll be everyone’s target again.”

Huo Xiao lowered his brows, his expression faintly displeased.

Taking advantage of the moment, Mingming slipped two cards from the table, waved, and said, “I’m off.”

Her brisk, cheerful figure as she left gave Huo Xiao the uneasy feeling she could walk away from him at any moment—without a second’s hesitation.

That evening, a bunch of friends gathered to eat, drink, and make merry. Jiang Ming fired up the karaoke machine in their private room and sang an off-key love song to Ye Weiran, cracking everyone up until they were doubled over. Mingming learned a few new card games, then teamed up with He Lu to mix cocktails using expensive bottles of liquor. They even sampled some of their concoctions—Mingming got a little tipsy, a bit dizzy, but she was genuinely happy.

It felt good.

It felt lively.

Deep down, she pretended the party was also celebrating her birthday.

For a moment, it was like she got to experience what it felt like to be surrounded and celebrated on her special day.

When everyone sang happy birthday to Ye Weiran, Mingming quietly made a wish: If I can return to reality with everything intact and start fresh, I hope for a life that’s not so bitter.

As Jiang Ming queued up another raucous love song, Mingming stood and said she needed some fresh air.

“Don’t go far! Come right back!” Ye Weiran leaned on the sofa armrest and called after her.

“It’s fine, I’m not drunk,” Mingming waved.

She hadn’t gone far when she ran into a crowd spilling out of another private room. They were noisy, filling up the hallway, chatting as they walked. Mingming didn’t want to squeeze past them, so she turned to go the other way.

A few guys came out last, still carrying bottles. “Young Master He, this is good liquor, you really don’t want it?”

“What crap booze. Toss it.”

Then a girl’s voice chimed in, “Just leave it by the door. Let some poor suckers pick it up—might as well give them a chance to score.”

Mingming froze—the voice was familiar. She turned and, sure enough, among the group was He Chengtian, along with one of the spoiled heiresses she’d fought before. Mingming remembered she was distantly related to the He family, surname Li.

So the troublemakers partied together after all.

At that moment, they spotted her too.

“Well, well, if it isn’t that little slut,” He Chengtian narrowed his eyes.

One of his drunk buddies, who didn’t recognize her, slurred, “Whose girl is that? If Young Master He’s interested, we should all have some fun.”

Mingming rolled her eyes in disgust and turned to leave.

“Did I fucking say you could go?” He Chengtian barked.

Miss Li, egging him on, sneered, “Brother Tian, you didn’t notice before, but look at how nasty some people get once they’ve got a little luck. A kept woman acting like she’s above us? Disgusting. I even heard she clashed with your goddess before. Now Miss Ye is the rightful heiress of the Ye family, while this one’s just a mistress. The second her sugar daddy drops her, she’s nothing. Where does she get the nerve to go against us?”

The drunk friend still asked, “Who’s her sugar daddy? Spoiling her like this!”

Miss Li just smirked and didn’t answer.

“You dared bully my goddess?” He Chengtian shoved Mingming’s shoulder. “Bitch! You think just because you landed a rich guy, you can forget who you are? You acted all high and mighty with me, but turned around and became someone’s whore. Looking down on me, huh? Huh?”

His friends didn’t intervene. Whether he wanted to stir trouble or mess with a woman, they weren’t going to stop him—maybe even join in.

Mingming didn’t want a scene with drunkards. She turned to walk away, but He Chengtian yanked her back and slapped her across the face.

Smack!

Silence.

Then the ringing in her ears.

Her cheek burned hot before the realization hit: she’d just been slapped in front of everyone.

Her head spun.

Around her, people whispered: “Doesn’t even know her place…” “Had to piss Young Master He off…”

The last thread in her mind snapped.

What the hell did I do wrong?

Did I ask to be kept?

Fury surged. Mingming grabbed an unopened bottle from the floor and smashed it over He Chengtian’s head.

A dull thud. The bottle shattered, spilling liquor down his shoulders.

Blood trickled down his forehead. Mingming tossed the broken glass aside, balled her fist, and swung at his face.

He was sluggish from the alcohol, but still had brute strength; he started swinging back. Mingming took a few heavy blows, pain jolting through her organs, but she gritted her teeth and drove a kick straight into his groin.

“Ahhh!” He shrieked, collapsing. Mingming tackled him to the ground and rained punches on his face, shouting between blows: “I’ve been a kept woman without ever getting hit—you think you can slap me?”

Her rage was white-hot. No matter how tough her past had been, she’d never had her dignity trampled like this. Unbearable. Absolutely unbearable.

She didn’t hold back. He Chengtian could barely defend himself. His friends sobered up and rushed in, kicking and punching Mingming, trying to pull her off, but she clung to him like a vise.

The commotion drew Ye Weiran and the others from their room.

“Stop it!” Ye Weiran shouted, rushing forward—only for Jiang Ming to hold her back and charge into the fray himself, kicking away the men surrounding Mingming. He Lu and Ye Weiran hurried in to drag Mingming off.

He Chengtian’s face was a bloody, swollen mess, his head turned as he coughed and spat blood.

Mingming didn’t look much better—her cheek was ballooned, her eye bloodshot, her lips split, and bruises spreading across her face.

“What the hell happened here?!” He Lu shouted, looking between her own brother and Mingming.

The onlookers recognized He Lu, but seeing her rush to Mingming’s side instead of her brother’s left them speechless. Could it be Young Master He had picked a fight with someone dangerous?

Mingming shrugged off their support, staggered over to Miss Li.

The heiress tried to hide behind the others, but Mingming was faster. She grabbed her hair and slammed her head against the wall.

Blood streaked down the plaster as Miss Li crumpled.

Mingming crouched, yanking her head up to force eye contact.

“This has nothing to do with the Huo family. I’m the one who beat your asses.”

“If you’ve got the guts, come after me.”

She stood, eyes bloodshot, glaring around. The crowd parted without a word, clearing a path.

Mingming swayed on her feet, then walked away—battered, but unbowed.