No Falling in Love After 2 AM - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The night before Anniversary Night, we went over the plan until the early hours of the morning.

Ah Liang would be outside, picking up the signal.

Once Wen Yan took the stage, he would be responsible for switching the main screen.

I would enter Lu Qi’s private booth to stall for time and retrieve the access card.

Before I left, Wen Yan pressed an earpiece into my hand.

“Say something if anything goes wrong.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll be listening while I’m on stage.”

“What if there’s no time?”

Wen Yan looked up at me.

“Then I’ll protect you first.”

The words sounded harsh.

But I didn’t argue.

On the evening of Anniversary Night, Distortion was packed to capacity.

Lu Qi sat in his second-floor booth as usual, acting as if nothing had ever happened.

I carried the drinks inside and set the glass down by his hand.

Lu Qi glanced at me.

“Thought it through?”

“I have.” I sat down with a smile. “To survive at Distortion, you have to follow the right person.”

Only then did Lu Qi signal for someone to close the booth door.

“Where’s Wen Yan?”

“He’s about to go on stage.”

As I spoke, Ah Liang’s voice came through the earpiece.

“Pei Shi, the signal isn’t connecting. The permissions are still locked.”

My heart sank.

Lu Qi was still watching me.

“What are you so nervous about?”

“It’s my first time in President Lu’s booth,” I said with a smile. “I’m afraid of saying the wrong thing.”

Lu Qi laughed.

“Your brother used to be afraid, too. Pity his memory wasn’t very good.”

My fingers tightened instantly.

Ah Liang’s voice came through the earpiece again.

“The access card should be on him.”

I glanced at Lu Qi’s jacket draped over the sofa, then stood up to refill his drink.

“President Lu, a toast to you.”

Lu Qi didn’t suspect a thing.

In the moment he reached for his glass, I slid my hand into his jacket pocket and felt the card.

The next second, Lu Qi suddenly grabbed my wrist.

“What are you taking?”

My heart hammered against my ribs.

But I kept the smile on my face.

“A lighter.” I looked at him. “I forgot my cigarettes.”

Lu Qi stared at me for two seconds before suddenly letting go.

“Stop trying to copy your brother’s tricks.”

I slipped the card into my sleeve and sat back down.

In the earpiece, Ah Liang whispered, “Say something once you’ve got it.”

I lowered my head and coughed.

“Got it.”

Ah Liang immediately began the connection on his end.

But a second later, he swore out loud.

“Damn it, the backup line’s been cut.”

My expression shifted instantly.

Lu Qi had already sensed something was wrong. Just as he stood up, the music outside abruptly cut off.

The entire venue fell silent for a heartbeat.

Immediately after, the main screen flickered to life.

It wasn’t a performance video.

It was the surveillance footage from that night three years ago.

On the screen, Lu Qi stood at the booth door, personally handing that package to a guest.

The next segment was a full audio recording.

“Suppress the incident. Pin it on Pei Che.”

“If that guest wakes up, tell him he overdosed on his own.”

The atmosphere in the booth went dead instantly.

Lu Qi’s face transformed.

“Who gave this to you?”

I looked at him, and for the first time, I felt the weight in my chest ease slightly.

“My brother did.”

Lu Qi raised his hand to grab me.

I had just taken a step back when the booth door was kicked open from the outside.

Wen Yan rushed in, slamming directly into Lu Qi.

Lu Qi grabbed a wine bottle and swung it.

Wen Yan tilted his head to dodge, but a shard of glass still sliced a gash across the back of his hand.

I didn’t freeze. I grabbed a tray and smashed it against Lu Qi.

The scene descended into chaos.

People downstairs were already starting to run for the exits.

Screams, footsteps, and the sound of people recording videos all blurred together.

Lu Qi tried to bolt for the back door.

Wen Yan grabbed his wrist and slammed him violently onto the table.

“I didn’t crush you three years ago,” Wen Yan’s voice was hoarse. “I’m making up for it today.”

With his face pressed against the table, Lu Qi was still cursing.

“Wen Yan, you think you’re so clean?”

“Pei Che was dragged to his death because of you.”

Wen Yan’s grip faltered for a fraction of a second.

It was as if Lu Qi had finally found the perfect blade. He laughed while pinned against the table.

“What, don’t want to admit it?” he hissed through gritted teeth. “If you hadn’t stopped him that night, Pei Che would have left long ago.”

“Aren’t you the best at playing the good guy? You’ve played the part for three years-played it so well his brother even crawled into your bed. Haven’t you had enough yet?”

My head throbbed with a sudden buzz.

It wasn’t because Lu Qi was insulting me.

It was because Wen Yan had actually frozen for a moment.

For the first time, I saw so clearly how the memory of Pei Che and that night had been lodged like a permanent weight in his heart.

In that split second, Lu Qi tried to struggle free.

I picked up a jagged, broken wine bottle and pressed it directly against his throat.

“Try moving one more time.”

Lu Qi finally went still.

The main screen was still playing.

Ledgers, bank transfers, backups, testimonies-everything was flashing before the crowd.

This time, no one could wash their hands of this.

The sound of police sirens drew closer from outside.

When the police burst in, I finally tossed the broken bottle aside.

Before Lu Qi was pinned down and taken away, he stared fixedly at Wen Yan.

“You won’t win,” he laughed through his teeth. “Pei Che is dead, and dead is dead.”

Wen Yan didn’t respond.

I walked over, looked at Lu Qi, and said word for word:

“Yes.”

“But it’s time for you to start rotting, too.”