"Isn't that Director Liu? What a rare guest!" Yao Chen clapped his hands and greeted the hefty man with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I heard you were transferred back and promoted to Minister? Congratulations!"
"Xiao Yao, oh no, no need for that," Director Liu said, glancing at the beautiful girl behind Yao Chen. "You know, your server is quite unprofessional. Just look at my clothes..."
Yao Chen clicked his tongue and replied, "This young lady is just inexperienced; she got a little nervous with someone important like you around. I'll apologize on her behalf. You can leave your clothes here today, and I'll send someone to have them cleaned and returned."
He stood protectively in front of the girl, clearly intending to shield her. Though he wore a smile and spoke humbly, his heart was as dark as they come. Director Liu huffed, sensing the situation was getting a little too tense, and said, "No need to make it such a bother. Just have her come over and share a drink with me, and we can call it even."
Yao Chen's arrival was too coincidental, and Han Yanyan couldn't shake the feeling that he had been observing from the shadows, only showing himself at a crucial moment. After all, they were in the Eighth District, with Room 812 not too far behind.
Despite her suspicions, she couldn’t help but think that Yao Chen looked particularly manly as he stood in front of her. This must be why the trope of a hero saving a damsel in distress had been romanticized throughout history, used repeatedly for centuries. A faint smile crossed Han Yanyan's lips.
She thought that with Yao Chen standing up for her, he would shield her from having to take that drink. But her expectations were misplaced.
Yao Chen did not shield her; instead, he said with interest, "One drink isn't enough. She should be punished with three."
Han Yanyan gasped slightly.
Turning around, Yao Chen's expression grew stern. "Look at what trouble you've caused! Thankfully, Minister Liu has a big heart and isn't going to hold it against you. But if you want to continue working here, you need to apologize to Minister Liu and drink three cups."
He emphasized the part about "wanting to continue working here" as if he had learned about her circumstances from Xiao Yang, and he was sure she could not afford to lose her job.
Caught between the urge to display a "student's humiliation" and "calm acceptance," Han Yanyan thought for a moment. She realized that performing the former would require a bit of acting, while the latter was simply being true to herself and easier to do.
With her hands folded neatly in front of her, she adopted the standard waiter pose and lowered her head respectfully. "I'm sorry, Minister Liu. I was careless. Please forgive me."
Taken aback by Yao Chen's unexpected support, Director Liu felt quite pleased. He grunted with satisfaction, "It’s just a small matter. You drink three cups as a punishment, and we'll consider it settled."
Han Yanyan raised her head, but before she could speak, Yao Chen took hold of Liu's arm and pulled him into the private room. As he pushed Liu inside, he glanced back at Han Yanyan, the meaning clear: "Come in."
Han Yanyan rolled her eyes and let out a sigh, entering the room.
Replacing her was Ah Sen. She saw Yao Chen sitting on the sofa, beckoning Ah Sen closer. After hearing Yao Chen's instructions, Ah Sen shot Han Yanyan a look full of unspoken words before quickly leaving.
In the private room, Yao Chen and Director Liu settled on the sofa, chatting amiably and praising each other. No one paid any attention to Han Yanyan, as if she had vanished entirely.
Choosing not to make her presence known, she took Ah Sen's place and pretended she didn’t exist. However, it wasn’t long before Ah Sen returned, carrying a tray with three glasses of alcohol. The sight made Han Yanyan's heart sink. What was Yao Chen planning?
The drink was a potent concoction, strong enough that even men could easily lose their faculties, let alone a young girl like Han Yanyan. Her new body struggled even with secondhand smoke, so how would it handle alcohol?
"Yanyan, come over," Yao Chen said, biting down on his cigarette with a grin that seemed all too pleased. "These are for you. Director Liu is generous, and if you drink these three cups as an apology, we can move on from today."
Director Liu and the other men in the room clearly understood the weight of the situation, their expressions reflecting a mix of intrigue and amusement, while Ah Sen and a couple of familiar princesses worried.
"Yanyan," Director Liu called to her. His eyes landed on her name tag, which read "Yanyan." He waved a hand, saying, "Come on, drink this. Let's forget the whole matter!"
Taking those three cups meant she'd almost certainly lose herself.
Han Yanyan looked at Yao Chen. Surprisingly, she didn't feel angry; she was confused.
Director Liu had set his sights on her and seemed determined not to back down until he got what he wanted. Yao Chen’s intervention amounted to an acknowledgment that Han Yanyan fell under his protection. Nobody said a word, but everyone understood that the hidden meaning behind this "reconciliation" was that Liu could no longer pursue Han Yanyan.
Like a lion marking his territory, Yao Chen had placed her beneath his safeguard, ensuring no other predators could easily cross that boundary.
In light of this, it would be simple for him to shield her from the drink, yet, not only did Yao Chen refuse to do so, but he also made things harder for her, upgrading the challenge. If he was willing to take a stand for her, why put her through this?
With newfound clarity, Han Yanyan realized—he wanted her to submit! Just days earlier, she had turned down his offer to support her financially, so now he aimed to make her bend to his will, using both carrot and stick.
If she were to shed tears and plead with him, would he not gallantly step forward to protect her from those three cups? Psychologically, she’d be inclined to yield to him from then on!
This man didn’t need to study manipulation; he was a natural expert! Whether the concept of manipulation even existed, it seemed he was destined to become its progenitor!
Three cups down meant certain intoxication, and then what?
Han Yanyan glanced at Director Liu, whose eyes sparkled with amusement. With Yao Chen present, a man would always have his eyes on the woman not yet within reach, unwilling to let her slip away easily.
Alright, then let’s gamble.
With steady resolve, Han Yanyan stepped forward, lifting a glass. "Director Liu, my apologies. You’re magnanimous; please don’t hold it against me."
As she raised her glass, Yao Chen's brow arched slightly. Ignoring him, Han Yanyan tilted her head back and downed the drink in one go. The fiery sensation scorched her throat, but warmth quickly surged through her, flooding her mind.
Here goes—let's gamble!
Her hands trembled slightly as she lifted the second glass and drained it as well, holding her mouth shut to avoid gagging on the alcohol.
She'd written about men and women countless times; the patterns weren't that complicated!
The room began to spin, and she swayed, barely managing to raise the third cup.
What she gambled on was waking up tomorrow morning in Yao Chen’s bed—fully clothed or stark naked!
With her senses shutting down, she toppled toward Director Liu. Sensing the moment, he opened his arms with a grin, prepared to catch her.
However, Yao Chen had already been on his feet, quick as lightning, as he scooped her into his arms, leaving Liu with nothing to catch. Liu ended up with his arms wide, feeling embarrassed as he waved them uselessly.
"Just a young girl with no tolerance for alcohol. Don’t take it to heart," Yao Chen said as he supported Han Yanyan while addressing Liu. "You take your time; I’ll get her settled."
Director Liu watched helplessly as Yao Chen carried the pretty girl away, muttering under his breath, "He got the better deal."
When a woman is drunk, she is at the mercy of others, right? At that moment, Yao Chen must have thought it was worth his while!
Tsk!
Director Liu had indeed misjudged Yao Chen. But what could he do? After all, he was no match for Yao Chen's striking looks.
Yao Chen was handsome, a wild beauty in his youth, sharp as a wolf. From sixteen-year-old girls to women in their forties, there was no single woman Yao Chen couldn’t captivate. He did have somewhat selective tastes in women.
Women had always pursued him, but while Yao Chen had committed many misdeeds, he had never crossed the line into forcefulness or deception, primarily because he hadn't had the opportunity.
By now, Han Yanyan had completely passed out, leaning limply against Yao Chen as he carried her out of the room. He realized it was inconvenient to carry her that way, so he bent down and lifted her legs, cradling her horizontally.
The manager approached, casting a wary glance at Han Yanyan in Yao Chen's arms. "Mr. Yao..."
Yao Chen dismissed him, saying, "Not your concern." He added, "Tell someone to unlock the suite upstairs for me."
The manager shrank back, watching helplessly as Yao Chen stepped into the elevator with Han Yanyan.
Once on the right floor, Yao Chen carried her into the room and gently set her on the bed before following suit. Supporting himself with his arms, he scrutinized Han Yanyan.
Previously seen as a polite and gentle girl, now she lay all soft and cozy on the large bed, her cheeks slightly flushed—a picture of enticing beauty.
His mind wandered back to the moment she had lifted her glass to him, those dark eyes holding a hint of something unexplainable. Perhaps he was mistaken, but there seemed to be a trace of mockery and amusement hidden in her gaze.
Whether or not he was correct, the thought sent a thrill through him.
He had always thought she was beautiful, but it was only now that he recognized how truly captivating she was.
Yao Chen pinched her chin, turning her head to examine her more closely. While he had indulged in plenty of exploits at the expense of men, he had never behaved similarly with women. Still, he reasoned there was nothing wrong with breaking his own record.
Yao Chen's moral standards were particularly low.
Suddenly, Han Yanyan opened her eyes.
Her normally dark and deep gaze now shimmered with uncertainty, and she looked dazedly at Yao Chen. "…Ding Yao?"
She reached out, gripping his throat!
The next morning, Han Yanyan awoke with a throbbing headache. With a groan, she turned over, feeling a heated, solid body pressed against her back.
Memories of the previous night's events flooded back, one by one. Covering her forehead, she opened her eyes to see her bare arm, the skin directly touching the duvet and another naked body.
Wait? Had she lost the bet?