52: Chapter 52 The Turmoil at the Banquet

Choi Jae-ho left, but he had not given up.

Ten minutes later, Choi Jae-ho returned with two business big shots: one was the president of a film and television investment company, and the other was a representative of a media group.

Both were key figures who could determine an artist's resources.

He clearly wanted to use the pretext of introducing resources to force Choi Sulli and Im Yoona to offer a toast.

“Seol-ri, this is President Lee. He is currently preparing a major television production and is looking for a youthful and beautiful second female lead. Hurry and offer President Lee a drink, and have a good chat.”

Choi Jae-ho's tone carried a forceful quality that brooked no refusal.

President Lee cooperated by raising his glass, his eyes scanning her with scrutiny, clearly satisfied with Choi Sulli's appearance.

Just as Choi Sulli was about to speak and refuse, Liu Zijun had already reached out to support her arm, pulling her behind him.

He nodded slightly toward President Lee and said, “Apologies, Seol-ri is still a minor and cannot drink. If President Lee has an interest in collaboration, our company's President Kim is over there; you can talk to him as well.”

“What kind of thing are you? You think you're worthy of speaking to me? Being able to drink with her is giving her face; she’s just someone who sings and dances.”

President Lee's face darkened, clearly not regarding Liu Zijun at all as he reached out to grab Choi Sulli's wrist.

Liu Zijun's eyes turned cold as he raised his hand to clasp President Lee's wrist, his grip not heavy but carrying an intense sense of pressure.

“President Lee, please respect yourself.”

He applied a slight bit of pressure with his fingers, and President Lee instantly grimaced in pain, causing the champagne in his glass to spill out.

“You dare lay a hand on me?”

President Lee was both shocked and enraged, struggling to break free, only to find Liu Zijun's hand as immovable as a steel clamp.

Seeing this, Choi Jae-ho immediately stepped forward to pull the two apart, cursing under his breath, “aishiba! Liu Zijun! Are you crazy? President Lee is Young Master Zheng's honored guest, let go of him right now!”

Liu Zijun ignored him, only looking coldly at President Lee as he said, “Apologize to Seol-ri.”

In pain and fear, President Lee could only grit his teeth and say, “I'm sorry...”

Only then did Liu Zijun release his hand. President Lee rubbed his reddened wrist, gave him a fierce glare, and turned to call for security, ignoring even Choi Jae-ho's attempts to make him stay.

The other media representative, seeing the situation, also left directly, leaving Choi Jae-ho standing there, his face turning pale and then flushed with anger.

What made him even more anxious was that Jeong Hyun-bin had still not appeared.

He had clearly said he would arrive immediately, but now there wasn't even a shadow of him.

Choi Jae-ho's gaze swept from the contemptuous look President Lee gave him to the several security guards he had brought along in the corner of the banquet hall.

These people were all hired at a high price from a security company with a gang background; every one of them was tall and possessed 'real skills.'

A desperate thought rose in his heart—since the soft approach didn't work, he would use force! As long as he kicked Liu Zijun out, wouldn't the remaining Choi Sulli and Im Yoona be at his mercy?

He had gone mad!

Choi Jae-ho beckoned to the security guards and whispered his instructions: “That bodyguard in the black suit is not an invited guest of the banquet; he's an intruder here to cause trouble. Escort him out. Once he's outside, give him a good lesson for me!”

Hearing this, several security guards immediately walked toward Liu Zijun with fierce expressions.

The lead guard was nearly 1.9 meters tall with solid muscles.

He walked up to Liu Zijun and reached out to shove his left shoulder: “Kid, this isn't a place for you to stay. Get lost right now!”

Choi Sulli and the others cried out in alarm; that was exactly where Liu Zijun had been injured.

Liu Zijun turned his body and easily dodged, his gaze coldly sweeping over the men as he said calmly, “Whether I am an invited guest or not is not for you to judge. If you leave now, I can act as if nothing happened.”

“Still acting tough?”

The lead guard smirked and swung a fist toward Liu Zijun's shoulder again, clearly intending to capture Liu Zijun directly to claim credit and more money in front of Choi Jae-ho.

Liu Zijun's eyes turned icy. He shifted his body slightly, hooked his index and middle fingers, and struck the man's wrist hard with his knuckles.

With a crisp 'crack,' the big man let out a heart-wrenching scream and fell to his knees, his whole body twitching in pain.

Seeing this, the other three security guards immediately swarmed him, some throwing punches and others kicking with vicious moves.

But in front of Liu Zijun, these movements were as slow as a slow-motion film.

In just over ten seconds, the other three guards were also lying on the ground wailing, and the entire banquet hall instantly fell into chaos.

Guests screamed and backed away; the ladies covered their mouths, and the men turned pale. The originally elegant atmosphere vanished without a trace.

SM Entertainment's President Kim Young-min rushed over, pointing at Liu Zijun's nose and trembling with rage as he cursed, “Liu Zijun! Have you lost your mind?!”

He was wearing a grey suit, and his hair was somewhat disheveled from his haste.

“This is a top-tier banquet hosted by President Zheng of the SD Group! You actually dared to hit people here? Do you want to ruin our SM Entertainment Company's reputation? Do you have any idea how many big shots are present today?”

In truth, Kim Young-min had long found Liu Zijun somewhat disagreeable.

This bodyguard was too flamboyant and stayed too close to Choi Sulli.

Many people in the company had already reported these matters to him.

Moreover, he had dared to publicly confront SBS Television Station at the Gayo Daejeon.

Now he was even resorting to violence on such an important occasion; it was simply lawless.

He had already decided to fire this ungrateful bodyguard right now.

Things had developed too quickly. When Choi Sulli and the other four girls saw the four guards about to attack Liu Zijun, they were already terrified.

But the four were quickly dealt with by Liu Zijun, his movements being so simple.

They were all stunned, and seeing Kim Young-min arrive now, they instantly became anxious.

With tears of worry in her eyes, Choi Sulli said, “President-nim, those people started it. Oppa didn't do it on purpose!”

The other girls were also about to speak up and plead!

Kim Young-min glared at the girls and shouted at Choi Sulli, “Shut up... As for your matter...”

Liu Zijun suddenly roared at Kim Young-min, “Shut up!”

Kim Young-min was stunned. He had thought Liu Zijun would bow his head and admit his mistake, but he never expected the other party to actually tell him to shut up in front of so many people.

He couldn't help but look at Liu Zijun with a face full of disbelief and indignant shame.

What kind of eyes were those—there was not a hint of fear, only an icy chill, like they came from a bottomless abyss, filled with murderous intent.

Stared at by those eyes, Kim Young-min felt as if he had been drenched in ice water. The reprimand at the tip of his tongue was forced back down, and he subconsciously took a step backward.

He suddenly remembered what Section Chief Park Woo-sik had once whispered to him: “Mr. Liu Zijun's background is not simple. Someone from the Yongsan side has put in a word, and his skills are even more formidable than the elites of the special forces. Do not offend him lightly.”

Being stared at by those eyes now, Kim Young-min truly realized that the man before him seemed to be anything but simple.

He opened his mouth but couldn't say a single word. He could only watch helplessly as Liu Zijun turned around, walked back to Choi Sulli's side, and reached out to gently tidy her bangs, his tone so tender it could almost melt.

“You weren't scared, were you?”

Choi Sulli's eyes were full of tears.

“Oppa, you... you...”

The girl stuttered for a long time but couldn't say a single sentence.

Jessica Jung looked at the wailing security guards on the ground, a flash of imperceptible wonder and admiration crossing her eyes.

She had long heard that Liu Zijun was skilled, but she hadn't expected him to be powerful to this extent.

And he actually wasn't afraid of Kim Young-min at all.

Mysterious men were always attractive.