Chapter 172: Sister-Whipped

The night wind on the deserted street gave the illusion of flying through its speed, causing hips to briefly leave the seat with every bump.
It was akin to stepping out of a bar into the cold air after a night of heavy drinking—a sudden jolt to the heart that instantly brings one to their senses.
"I'm grabbing a smoke!"
The middle-aged taxi driver, confidently verifying that there was no tail behind them, struck a victorious pose and stepped out of the vehicle.
As the car came to a complete and steady stop, Si Shaozhe finally sobered up entirely, patted his chest, and let out a long sigh of relief.
"I just pray that my sister never finds out about what we've been up to here."
"Otherwise... I am so dead, ahhhhh!"
The driver turned back, flashed a smile, tapped on the car window, and chuckled.
"You little rascal, I thought you were on the run from an angry wife, but you're just henpecked!"
"What about the two of you?"
"Neither of us is married," Lin Yu and Wang Fei explained.
The driver muttered a low curse under his breath.
Damn it!
He had thought these three shared his misery as fellow whipped husbands!
Was that really it? Just this?
The driver walked off to the side once more to smoke his cigarette.
The three of them looked at each other in dismay.
"I have a feeling something's not right," Lin Yu said, rubbing his chin.
"Three times out drinking, three times trouble strikes. There's a pattern here."
Wang Fei chimed in.
"There's definitely a problem."
Si Shaozhe blinked, meeting the gazes the other two directed at him.
What is that supposed to mean?
Are you saying the problem is me?!
How the hell should I know?
...
Back at the hotel.
In the guest room corridor.
Si Shaozhe's manager reflected for a moment and decided she had perhaps been a bit too strict with her younger artist lately.
After all, he was a man; what was wrong with going out for a few drinks?
As long as he didn't sleep with anyone he shouldn't have, and sealed the deal with anyone he should have, wasn't that the end of it?
To soothe Si Shaozhe's fragile little heart, his older sister planned to share a quiet drink with him to celebrate his advancement today.
She knocked on the door. No response.
Her expression turned glacial, and she immediately contacted the managers of the other two artists.
Meanwhile, in Su Xiaolin's room.
Ji Ya and Su Xiaolin were discussing Lin Yu's future career trajectory.
Their previous contract terms were definitely off the table now.
Unless... they raised the price!
You get the caliber of artist you pay for.
Their Lin Yu was now a singer with over a million followers.
Su Xiaolin stood up to pour some tea while Ji Ya answered a phone call. Upon hearing what Si Shaozhe's manager said on the other end, Ji Ya's face darkened instantly.
Back in the hallway, Si Shaozhe's manager was just about to continue staking out the room when she saw the hotel manager scurrying over, beaming obsequiously.
He handed the room key directly to the manager with a knowing smile.
"Respected VIP, there's no need for you to run back and forth. I've brought the room cards for the other two gentlemen as well. Shall I send them over later, or...?"
Look at me, aren't I clever?
I guessed they'd be up to their old tricks again tonight, so I prepared in advance!
Our hotel is so thoughtful, be sure to stay with us more often next time!
Seeing you folks, we know what to do, rest assured! We've got everything completely arranged!
Si Shaozhe's manager: ...
Well, well, well, cutting the spellcasting short right in the middle, are we?
It looked like they couldn't keep staying at this hotel; the fact that these three artists sneaked out every single day was evidently common knowledge to everyone here!
What would happen to the reputations of the three artists if word got out to the outside world?
Right on cue, the other two managers arrived at the scene as well.
Si Shaozhe's manager exchanged a glance with them, and they all marched unanimously toward the elevators!
This time, they were staking out the elevators!
...
In front of the hotel entrance.
The taxi driver executed a sharp drift, delivering the three men safely to their destination.
"If you need to make another getaway next time, remember to call me!!"
With a dramatic sweep of the car's rear, he vanished into the shadows, leaving behind his anonymous legend.
"Let's go back up."
The three exchanged glances and walked toward the elevators.
"Wait! Something's wrong!"
Lin Yu suddenly blocked the other two, his gaze sharp as he stared at the elevator banks.
"Based on our analysis of yesterday's situation."
"If we step into that elevator, we're practically walking to our doom!"
The other two looked at him. Teacher Lin made a valid point!
Judging by how things went yesterday.
If they got caught by their managers today.
Si Shaozhe might literally be slammed against the wall so hard they'd have to scrape him off with a spatula.
Considering his safety, Wang Fei pondered for a moment.
"Should we... find somewhere else to stay?"
Lin Yu remained silent, but Si Shaozhe grabbed Wang Fei by the collar.
"Let's go! Good buddy!"
This was a bond forged through life and death!
After a brief silence, however, Lin Yu suddenly pressed the elevator call button.
"What the hell are you panicking for? Follow me, there won't be any surprises!"
Wang Fei and Si Shaozhe exchanged glances.
Real men shouldn't be afraid of the eighteenth floor!
Let's go!
Time to move!
...
Inside the elevator, Lin Yu began outlining his grand strategy.
"Judging by yesterday's events, they've definitely gathered together."
"Once the three of us go up, ignore everything else. Three grown men are afraid of three women? If word of that gets out, do we even care about our dignity?"
"Buckle up, both of you! Stand a united front and make those three women realize their mistakes!"
Wang Fei clenched his fists. "Makes sense! If word gets out that men are afraid of women, it's utterly humiliating!"
"We'll stand united this time, act tough, and tell the three of them: when men go out for drinks, what business is it of women to meddle?"
Both men simultaneously turned their gaze toward Si Shaozhe.
Speak up, shout the slogan already! Say something to pump yourselves up!
Si Shaozhe felt like bursting into tears.
Are the two of you poets or what?
One of you has a girlfriend who's an agency boss, and the other has a manager with a secret crush on him. Even if you get cornered at the door, you'll still make it through safely like yesterday, right?
I'm the only one from Gotham here!!
The world where only he gets hurt has finally been achieved!!
...
Si Shaozhe's inner self was screaming in refusal.
Yet he was trapped between two big men, with no choice in the matter. Hauled directly into the elevator, watching the numbers tick steadily upward, he felt as though he wasn't heading to the eighteenth floor of a hotel.
He was heading...
Straight to the eighteenth layer of hell!
Despair began to spread, and his legs trembled uncontrollably.
Wang Fei and Lin Yu glanced at him sideways.
"Don't forget our slogan, what are you chickening out for?"
"Share the blessings, bear the hardships together!"
"Be a real man!"
Lin Yu and Wang Fei locked eyes.
And spoke in unison!
Si Shaozhe: ...
Do you see me daring to make a single peep right now?!
You two are acting so damn bold now, you'd better be able to withstand the roar of the lioness in a minute!!
None of you better run away! Don't you dare run away, y'all!
...
Ding~
The elevator doors opened~
The time for the death sentence had arrived~
Behind the elevator doors.
The three women stood with gloomy expressions, arms crossed, glaring menacingly at the three men.
Thump. Si Shaozhe dropped straight to his knees!
"Sis! I was wrong! Sis!!!!!!"
...
...
A heavy silence descended upon the elevator lobby.
Lin Yu and Wang Fei exchanged glances, feeling intensely awkward as they turned around to face the wall.
Chanting silently in their hearts.
We don't know him, we don't know him.
Eh?
Why is he still kneeling on the ground instead of being plastered to the wall?
Realizing something was amiss, Si Shaozhe raised his head and took a look.
He was completely dumbfounded.
Wait...
The three of you look rather unfamiliar?
...
...