Chapter 312 - 216: More Wronged Than Dou E

To be honest, the vice president wasn’t happy with Huang Lingyu’s behavior, either. He even wondered what Director Wang was thinking, bringing such an icy beauty along. Was she here to kill the mood?

But unexpectedly, Director Wang suddenly reprimanded Zhao Ling. "Huang Lingyu doesn’t drink, so let her eat. If you can drink, then you drink more. Stop pressuring her."

Zhao Ling froze, staring at Director Wang in disbelief. ’How could he be taking Huang Lingyu’s side?’

’You son of a bitch! I let you grope me at the office, and you won’t even back me up now? She can’t drink, but you think I can? I’m already dizzy from these past few glasses.’

The VP of Sales was also quite surprised. He glanced at Director Wang, guessing he probably had ulterior motives concerning Huang Lingyu.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door of the private room. Everyone except for Huang Lingyu, whose back was to the door, turned to the entrance. Yang Hui walked in with Zhang Chun and a few others trailing behind. They hadn’t originally intended to come over and offer a toast, but Yang Hui had mentioned that the VP of Sales often helped him with his business, so he wanted to come and return the favor.

Upon seeing the newcomers, the VP of Sales and Director Wang shot to their feet. Zhao Ling looked astonished. Staring at the leader, Yang Hui, she blurted out, "What are you doing here? Are you looking for Huang Lingyu?"

Yang Hui had just opened his mouth to say, "I came to offer a return toast," when he heard Zhao Ling. Huang Lingyu immediately spun around. The moment Yang Hui saw her, his brow furrowed. Director Wang jumped, rushing to explain, "President Yang, this is just a dinner. We haven’t made Huang Lingyu drink."

The VP of Sales finally realized that the icy beauty was connected to Yang Hui. ’No wonder she was so proud,’ he thought. He quickly added, "President Yang, what Director Wang said is true. None of us have made her drink."

Yang Hui’s gaze settled on Huang Lingyu, and he saw there was no wine glass in front of her. At the same time, Huang Lingyu quietly explained, "I haven’t had anything to drink."

Only then did he give a satisfied hum. "From now on, you don’t have to attend any business function you don’t want to. If anyone gives you a hard time, you tell me."

Behind Yang Hui, Zhang Chun and President Tian glared coldly at the VP of Sales and Director Wang, who both looked scared enough to piss themselves. The VP of Sales could have killed Director Wang. ’Isn’t this motherfucker setting me up? If President Zhang Chun and President Tian start holding a grudge against me over this, I’ll be the most wrongly accused man in history!’

He rushed to explain, "President Yang, President Yang, we were just discussing our collaboration over a meal today. It’s not a formal business dinner."

Yang Hui sneered, casting a meaningful glance at Zhao Ling and her plunging V-neck. "Right, I believe you," he said. "I just came to return the toast and thank you for your professional support."

The VP of Sales was about to cry. ’You glance at this floozy next to me and say you believe me? You clearly mean you believe me like hell.’ He drank a glass with Yang Hui’s group in a state of terror, already vowing to find an opportunity to explain this incident later.

"Do you still require Lingyu’s services here?"

Yang Hui smiled at Director Wang, but the director felt a chill creep up his spine. ’He’s a smiling tiger,’ he thought, suspecting that if he truly angered this man, he’d be toyed with until he was ruined. To say nothing of the collaboration between Lantu and the Xinyue Group, which would surely be jeopardized. And hadn’t he seen the titans behind Yang Hui, ready to treat his word as law? Director Wang hurriedly said, "No, not at all! Zhao Ling and I are more than enough to host. Huang Lingyu is just here for the meal. We wouldn’t dare ask her to ’serve’ anyone."

The VP quickly chimed in, also insisting that no "service" was required. Zhao Ling looked from one person to the next. How could she not understand the situation by now? It was clear that Huang Lingyu’s boyfriend was someone even her own boss had to suck up to.

’And to think, just a moment ago I was gloating at Huang Lingyu after getting a few compliments from my boss,’ she thought. ’Great. I’m the clown again.’

"Since she’s not needed, I’ll be taking her with me. Lingyu, come to my room. I’ve been drinking, you can drive me home later."

As an automotive salesperson, Huang Lingyu naturally had a driver’s license—a fact Yang Hui had known all along. She had been desperate to leave this room, and now she could leave with Yang Hui. Feeling his protectiveness, her heart swelled with a sweet warmth. She stood, gave a quick farewell to Director Wang and the others, and followed him out of the room.

After they sat back down, the VP of Sales wiped the sweat from his brow with a damp towel. "I’m done drinking for the night," he said to Director Wang. "Let’s call it a day."

He had lost all appetite for the evening. Tomorrow, with a clear head, he’d have to figure out how to explain himself to Yang Hui. If he couldn’t appease him, he was afraid President Zhang Chun would be the one to "fix" him.

Director Wang hadn’t expected a perfectly planned dinner to end up like this. Judging by the VP’s mood, if Yang Hui wasn’t placated, his own collaboration with Xinyue Square was probably finished. He couldn’t sit still at the thought. He sent a quick text begging Huang Lingyu to put in a good word for him, vowing to never again ask her to attend a business function.

Walking behind Yang Hui, Zhang Chun and President Tian exchanged a look. President Tian gave a slight shake of his head. Zhang Chun understood. Some things were not for them to speculate on or interfere with. Their job was simply to report the facts up the chain of command.

When dinner was over, Yang Hui and Huang Lingyu saw Zhang Chun and the others to their car. After waving goodbye, he tossed his keys to Huang Lingyu. "You drive me home."

Huang Lingyu caught the keys, taking his arm to steady him. "You drank so much. Are you sure you’re okay?"

Yang Hui smiled. "I’m not. So... should we go to a hotel? You can take care of me."

He was only joking and didn’t expect Huang Lingyu to actually agree. They were silent on the way to the car. Huang Lingyu opened the passenger-side door, helped him in, and then walked around to the driver’s side. After getting in, she turned to him and asked, "Which hotel are we going to?"

Yang Hui’s head was still swimming in a drunken haze. The passenger seat felt as soft as a cloud soaked in Osmanthus Brew. Huang Lingyu’s question—"Which hotel are we going to?"—crashed through the fog. His eyes snapped open. She was gazing at him calmly, as if she had already made up her mind.