Li San clutched her chin with such a force that he seemed out of control, "Having fun?"
Nan Xin winced in pain, trapped between him and the car door, her struggles as futile as a mantis trying to shake a tree.
She grabbed Li San’s wrists, trying to break free from his grip, "Of course I’m happy, does my drinking even concern you?"
Li San’s Adam’s apple bobbed continuously, overwhelmed by a surge of incomprehensible emotions that he couldn’t quite rationalize.
He extremely disliked the way Nan Xin spoke to him, and he didn’t want to see her inviting men to drink with her.
Although the nightclubs in Entertainment City didn’t provide special services, those two men obviously had impure intentions.
Selling alcohol was just a pretense, their real aim was her.
Was this woman unaware that the allure she inadvertently projected was like a deadly poppy to men?
In just the few minutes he watched, he had seen many men in the nightclub secretly focus on her, some even eager to make a move.
Li San gritted his teeth, his fingers tightening on Nan Xin’s jaw, "Blocking my number, ignoring my orders, Nan Xin, are you challenging my patience or planning to betray the organization?"
His words made Nan Xin freeze.
She never considered betraying the organization; it was just her emotions getting the better of her and her anger at him that led her to act so irrationally.
Nan Xin looked up at him, a tinge of nervousness crossing her flushed cheeks, "I haven’t..."
"Haven’t what?" Li San leaned in, closing the distance between them, easily smelling the fragrance on her along with the alcohol—his words though, were piercingly cold, "Have I spoiled you so much that you’ve become arrogant and ungrateful?"
Nan Xin felt dazed by his words.
Indeed, she was just a capable lieutenant to the Li San of the borderlands, not his woman.
Mistaking his indulgence for love, she allowed herself to act petulant towards him.
Nan Xin pursed her lips; all emotions previously fueled by alcohol now cooled.
She wanted to lower her head to hide the embarrassment in her eyes, but with her chin held in his grip, her movement was restricted, so she could only cover her eyelids and trembled as she admitted her mistake, "I’m sorry, boss, I... overstepped."
That single admission of overstepping made Li San instantly frown.
It was as though she had calmed down, but also built a wall between them, separating them as surely as the Chu River and Han border.
Li San lessened his grip, looking at her trembling eyelids without any sense of relief, only feeling choked up inside.
He forcibly lifted Nan Xin’s chin, making her look him in the eyes, his tense voice softened unnaturally, "Our power in South Sea isn’t strong, you running around alone, aren’t you afraid of unexpected dangers?"
Nan Xin looked at him unblinkingly, her face sporting a false smile as she replied in a businesslike manner, "Boss, you underestimate me. If I can’t handle sudden situations, I’d be unworthy of your nurturing."
Though she spoke the words, they came out sounding extremely uncomfortable.
She had started calling him boss again. Despite her sweet-sounding voice, there was not a hint of warmth to be heard.
Li San felt completely displeased with this. The feeling was even worse than when she would brazenly argue with him.
He grimaced, his gaze falling on her red lips, his breath deepening unconsciously, part of him wanting to taste her again, out of control.
Nan Xin, having sensed his intent and about to turn away, then heard his cold voice at her ear, "Since you don’t want to disappoint the trust I’ve put in you, let this be the last time."
She felt an awkward embarrassment borne of self-inflicted sentimentality.
Ultimately, Li San didn’t touch her; he just let go of her chin, turned, and headed towards the driver’s seat, his voice deep and commanding, "Get in the car."