The third floor is a unique bar. It doesn't have the crowds, noise, and mixed company of the bar on the first floor. The singers performing here are quite talented, though their paths haven't been smooth, and they haven't achieved their dreams. For survival, they have settled for performing here.

However, the third floor also has its share of sounds: flirting, giggles, men's moans of pleasure, and women's moans of pain and joy blending together.

Setting aside these primal activities, this unique bar offers excellent service. The fantastic performances by the bartenders and the uniquely delicious cocktails are unmatched elsewhere.

"What do you think? This place isn't inferior to the top entertainment clubs we have back home, right?" Cai Cai asked Hu Li, leading him to a relatively quiet, dimly lit table.

"It's indeed quite good." Hu Li watched the bartenders at the bar perform their series of fluid and graceful actions, thinking that if Hua Yan were here, she would be watching them with wide eyes and admiration, clamoring to taste their cocktails.

Hua Yan's sense of joy often differed from ordinary people's. Through observation, Hu Li noticed that a bouquet of flowers couldn't compare to a thoughtfully prepared home-cooked meal; sweet words couldn't match taking her to see a mountain sunset; and an expensive outfit or jewelry couldn't compare to a place where she could sleep.

"You seem distracted," Cai Cai said unhappily.

"You seem very familiar with this place," Hu Li deflected without explaining.

Cai Cai looked at Hu Li with a complex expression, smiled bitterly, and said, "I came to the seaside city earlier than someone, made myself a jack-of-all-trades here, just to provide convenience for that someone. Hu Li, do you know who that someone is?"

"Cai Cai, we can only be friends," Hu Li said in a comforting tone.

"You already have someone you like, don't you?" Hu Li was silent for a moment and then nodded.

"If she hadn't appeared, would we have been together?"

Hu Li frowned, looking into Cai Cai's eyes, and said firmly, "There are no ifs."

His firm response made Cai Cai's eyes sting and her heart ache, but she had no reason to make a scene. The frustration left her feeling like her insides were being twisted painfully.

"Why are you so good to others but unwilling to give me a chance? You know I've always lived only for you." Large tears rolled down Cai Cai's face. The always strong Cai Cai was heartbroken. Hu Li also felt uneasy; he wasn't cold-hearted. But he knew he couldn't give her false hope, so he only placed a tissue in front of her without making any other move.

"Cai Cai, even if I gave you countless chances, we wouldn't become a couple because there's no spark between us, understand?"

"You're not like yourself anymore. The old you would never say something like 'no spark.'"

"People change."

"Then there's a possibility for us in the future, isn't there? Hu Li, I've never asked you for anything. This time, I only ask you to give me a chance." Cai Cai wiped the tears from her face, stubbornly demanding. Her eyes held other emotions that Hu Li couldn't quite decipher.

With a hint of helplessness, Hu Li said, "Cai Cai, if another man asked you like this, would you agree?"

"So you're saying no!" Cai Cai stared at Hu Li intensely.

"We really have no chance."

"I understand... I'm going to the restroom." Cai Cai didn't look at Hu Li again and left with her bag.

In the restroom, Cai Cai saw her red eyes and bitter expression in the mirror, and her heart ached. She had always known how to give, but now she wondered if she could get some interest back, or maybe even principal and interest together. At this moment, her beautiful face in the mirror twisted, her eyes full of malice, and she exuded a sinister aura.

She hid in a stall, took out a packet of aphrodisiacs from her bag, and filled the space between her long ring and index finger nails with the white powder. She then covered it with a piece of transparent tape to prevent the powder from spilling out.

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Hu Li watched couples around him and missed Hua Yan. He took out his phone and dialed her number. At that moment, Hua Yan was sitting in the living room with Hua's father and Chang's mom, watching TV. She walked to the balcony with her phone, not noticing the smile on Hua's father's face.

"Xiao Yan, what are you doing now?" Hu Li asked softly.

"Watching TV with my dad. What about you?" Hua Yan asked cheerfully, looking at the vast, distant sky and the twinkling stars.

Hu Li felt a bit regretful for not thinking things through. He was at an entertainment club. If he told Hua Yan the truth, would she think he was indulging himself and not doing anything proper there?

Before Hu Li could explain, Hua Yan heard the noise and chaotic voices, including occasional women's moans, from his side. "Hu Li, where are you? Why is it so noisy!"

"I'm at an entertainment club, but I didn't hire any escorts. I came here for some business," Hu Li explained.

Hua Yan was amused by Hu Li’s urgent defense, feeling that Hu Li was becoming more and more adorable. She didn't intend to tease him further and quickly reassured him. "I didn't misunderstand anything, don't worry. Just drink less, it's not good for your health. If you really want to drink, I'll accompany you someday."

"Okay, I'll listen to you. I'll pick you up from school tomorrow."

"Good, you're doing well."

At this moment, Hu Li saw Cai Cai walking towards him from a distance. Not wanting Hua Yan to know about the murky things here, he quickly said, "Something came up, I'll call you after I'm done."

Cai Cai saw Hu Li hanging up the phone, with an unhidden smile still on his face, and asked, "Missing your sweetheart already after just a little while apart?"

"Feeling much better now?" Cai Cai teasing him suggested she had come to terms with things, which relieved Hu Li.

Cai Cai maintained a calm smile, but inside, she was crying and bleeding. For the sake of her plan, she had to endure. She said, "I haven't figured it out, but so what? I'm not going to stop being your friend over this."

While chatting with Hu Li, she observed where Hu Da and the other bodyguards were. Once she had a clear picture, she prepared to act. "Hu Li, do you think the lead singer on stage is handsome?" Seeing Hu Li’s confusion, she added, "I'm thinking of making him my first boyfriend. Help me check him out."

Hu Li rarely smiled, but he did now, nodding as he began to pay attention to the young singer. Cai Cai confirmed that Hu Da and the others hadn't moved. Her actions were in a blind spot, unseen by them, and Hu Li was focused on the stage.

Unnoticed, she peeled off the transparent tape from her finger, letting the aphrodisiac powder fall into Hu Li’s drink. She shook the glass to mix it thoroughly, steadied her nerves, and said, "So, what do you think? My taste is pretty good, right? Let’s toast to my leaving singlehood."

She handed Hu Li his drink and filled her own glass to the brim, ready to toast with him. However, Hu Li set his drink back down.

Seeing this, Cai Cai panicked slightly, fearing Hu Li had noticed her actions. Apologetically, Hu Li said, "I've had quite a bit to drink tonight. Let’s toast with water instead." He placed Cai Cai’s drink back on the table and handed her a glass of water.

The calmer Hu Li appeared, the more terrified Cai Cai felt, like a lost child in the dark, dreading each step. The fear of the unknown nearly made her confess.

After drinking the water, Hu Li said, "The guy on stage is nice, but isn’t he too young?"

His concern made her think he hadn’t noticed the drug. This realization gave Cai Cai a sense of relief but also strengthened her resolve to achieve her goal.

"You're making a big deal out of nothing. We’ve seen plenty of this. I like them young."

"So, you have a taste for this." Hu Li teased, and Cai Cai smiled without denying it.

Hu Li’s phone rang. After the call, he summoned Hu Da, whispered a few words, and Hu Da left with three or four bodyguards, leaving two to protect Hu Li.

Hu Da initially disagreed with leaving only two guards, but when Hu Li asked him to call Hu Er over, he reluctantly left to meet Reed. Reed had called to say Hu Si had escaped from the psychiatric hospital and had been missing for some time.

Cai Cai glanced at the glass of water in front of Hu Li and smiled, asking, "What happened? Something wrong?"

"Just a minor issue."

"Let’s toast again, with water this time, as compensation for disappointing my love."

Without hesitation, Hu Li drank the water, and Cai Cai followed suit, drinking a bellyful of water. She was thrilled, eagerly anticipating the moment when Hu Li would be under the influence. But she needed to get rid of Hu Li’s men first.

"Hu Li, could you have your men go to the best flower shop in the seaside city and order 999 roses for me?"

"Really? You want to play for real?" Cai Cai nodded, and Hu Li signaled one of the bodyguards to handle the matter.

A few seconds later, Hu Li felt a wave of heat in his body and a bit dizzy. He leaned back completely on the soft sofa, closing his eyes to rest.

"Hu Li, Hu Li..." Cai Cai cautiously called out to Hu Li several times.

"Let me lie down for a while." Hu Li didn't realize that his voice had already taken on a low, sensual tone.

Cai Cai smiled, got up, and went to another bodyguard sitting at the bar, asking him to help retrieve the coat she had left on the fifth floor. The bodyguard ignored her and kept his eyes on Hu Li.

Cai Cai had no choice, frustrated, she walked back and patted Hu Li, saying, "Hu Li, tell your bodyguard to help me get my coat from the fifth floor. That coat is my favorite."

Hu Li opened his eyes, rubbed his temples, felt a bit better, and called the bodyguard over to get Cai Cai's coat. When no one else could see, this bodyguard received a special signal from Hu Li, one used only in specific situations.

Unaware of this, Cai Cai glared at the bodyguard fiercely, expressing her dissatisfaction.