In a relatively spacious lobby, there was a vibrant atmosphere, with the sound of wooden stairs echoing and various conversations, but mostly silence prevailed.
An ethereal, black-haired Asian beauty was surrounded by much taller men, her soft, flowing hair cascading down to cover her porcelain cheeks. Her eyes were wide with fear, making them appear even rounder.
Her facial features were distinctly different from those at the inn; they bore a gentle softness, giving her a non-threatening kind of beauty. Her eyes were somewhat round, glistening with a watery brilliance, yet the corners were slightly arched.
While stealing glances at others, her eyelashes fluttered, unwittingly exuding a bit of allure, an intriguing contradiction.
The slender Asian shopkeeper looked delicate in the midst of such robust figures, almost as if she hadn’t fully grown into her beauty, appearing both fragile and enchanting.
At that moment, all eyes converged upon her.
He appeared quite lean, with a thin yet resilient waist, and even his exposed wrist was slender, easily encircled by a hand.
Long lashes drooped, and her lips pressed together, as if in fear.
Among the group of gold seekers, a young man knocked on the table, his long fingers slightly curved.
“Vinson,” he spoke, his voice low and cold, devoid of emotion.
The man seemed to be the spokesperson of the group, and when he called the brown-haired man “Vinson,” the latter paused momentarily.
Vinson tugged at his lip, seemingly reluctant to show his discontent, his gaze lingering on the Asian shopkeeper’s strikingly beautiful face.
From his perspective, the shopkeeper was undoubtedly a little scared, making her even more alluring.
However, a warning was given, neither harsh nor gentle, yet Vinson understood that his partner was somewhat displeased.
Not only had he failed to get the Asian shopkeeper to drink willingly, but he had also gained nothing from it. Vinson’s expression darkened slightly as the alcohol took hold, revealing a more fierce demeanor.
His gaze shifted from the wine glass to the others and suddenly inspired a brilliant idea.
“It wasn’t intentional,” Vinson pushed the guns on the table closer together, forcing a similar, mischievous grin. “I’m just slightly drunk…”
He laughed as if to lighten the mood while his companion joined in dramatically.
“If you’re not interested in drinking…,” Vinson clapped his hands, convinced he had a brilliant suggestion. “How about choosing this guy?”
He pointed at the young man who had just spoken up for him.
Yan Chuan and the young man exchanged glances.
The man was handsome, with defined features, deep-set eyes, and a prominent nose. However, his brow held a hint of coldness, and his thin lips were pressed together, slightly turned down.
Despite his youthful appearance, there was an intimidating aura about him. With his arms crossed, he appeared tall and commanding, exuding pressure even while seated.
He let his gaze drop, those deep blue eyes devoid of emotion first glancing at Vinson, then landing on Yan Chuan.
Yan Chuan pressed his lips together.
He didn’t understand Vinson’s intentions.
After being reminded, the man’s expression turned cold, feeling embarrassed, yet Vinson steered the topic elsewhere, even pointing at the man who had just defended him.
Weren’t they companions?
Vinson continued speaking.
With slightly intoxicated cheeks, the brown-haired man squinted and chuckled, “You don’t fancy us? Then what about this one? How about the young master from the Norton family?”
Vinson’s tone was half flirtatious, half threatening: “You don’t drink, and you don’t speak—what sort of hospitality is this? Will people even come again?”
“If you really don’t want it…” Vinson pointed to the man with blue eyes beside him. “Let’s invite young master Duncan for a drink?”
Suddenly, with a suggestive smile, he winked at Yan Chuan and lowered his voice, allowing everyone to hear, “He is a well-known wealthy man, his family made a fortune from gold mining. If you’re not impressed by a piece of gold, what about several mines?”
Vinson pulled out gold nuggets from his pocket, their metallic surfaces gleaming coldly, showing off and symbolizing wealth. In this abandoned gold mine forest, they were a long-awaited opportunity for riches.
For over twenty years, countless hasty gold seekers have visited this forest, but few could attain true wealth; most returned disheartened or even met their demise far from home.
Yan Chuan recalled the script’s background from the system, furrowing his brows.
Vinson continued to speak.
Whether it was the alcohol giving him courage or his inherent contempt for the “young master Duncan,” he was venting his frustrations by teasing the innocent Asian shopkeeper, trying to impose dominance over her.
It could also be that the latter’s beauty, her innocent expression, stirred some unsated desire in others.
“This damn man always makes me feel like he slipped something in the alcohol, trying to drug our wife.”
“Fine, just a mere watcher benefiting from others’ labor!”
“Anyone who bullies a wife gets sentenced to a wife-less prison!”
“Hmm, this guy looking later doesn’t seem like a good person either.”
“A kiss for all that gold,” Vinson sighed, his tone filled with regret. “That’s a great deal, right? You’d never earn that much in this inn…”
He began to overstep, implying Yan Chuan should kiss Duncan, his words becoming increasingly crude.
“Hey,” Vinson took another swig of beer, tipsily addressing the seated young man, “Don’t you think his lips look soft? I’d bet they’re softer than a Southern girl’s!”
His companions burst into laughter.
It seemed the gold seekers unconsciously divided into two factions; one side followed Vinson, while the other heeded the blue-eyed man’s directives. As Vinson’s words grew bolder, the men began to grip the weapons at their waists.
Yan Chuan sensed a whiff of danger.
He pressed his lips together, while Ahsu’s expression darkened. If this young employee, who seemed protective of the shopkeeper, were given a gun, he might not hesitate to pull the trigger.
Yan Chuan shook his head, trying to pull this impulsive young man back.
Frowning, he wore a worried expression. Yan Chuan slightly parted his lips, forming a silent “no” with his mouth towards Ahsu.
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