“I choose to drink!”
Before Jiang Shijing could say anything, Lin Xiangwan had already grabbed the bottle and twisted off the cap.
Seeing her act decisively without hesitation, Jiang Shijing’s eyes darkened.
Lin Xiangwan wasn’t a strong drinker.
Her biggest worry about returning to the country was that, if there were unavoidable social gatherings, drinking too much could worsen her stomach problems.
But at this critical moment, she didn’t care.
Even if it meant drinking herself into oblivion today, she would not kiss Jiang Shijing.
And she would never give up this opportunity to cooperate with Huafeng so easily.
Lin Xiangwan had prepared herself mentally headaches and stomach problems didn’t matter.
As long as she could secure the deal in this dignified way, it was worth it.
She tilted her head back and gulped the wine down.
The spicy liquor stung her, bringing tears to her eyes.
Before she could take a second sip, the bottle was snatched from her hands.
Jiang Shijing held the bottle.
The sudden movement caused some wine to spill, wetting his sleeve.
Lin Xiangwan coughed twice, wiped the spill from her mouth, and tried to grab the bottle again.
Jiang Shijing’s eyes darkened, the smile from earlier gone, and he said in a low voice, “Enough.”
Lin Xiangwan tiptoed and grabbed the bottle with him.
Up close, the scent of alcohol hung between them.
She stubbornly lifted her chin to meet his gaze. “What’s the matter, Mr. Jiang? Have you changed your mind, refusing even to give me a chance at the deal?”
Jiang Shijing’s chest heaved violently. Suddenly, he grabbed the back of Lin Xiangwan’s head and pressed her forcefully against him, demanding a kiss.
The sharp taste of alcohol spread across her lips and teeth it was far from a pleasant kiss.
Lin Xiangwan pushed him away with all her strength and slapped him.
“Jiang Shijing, that’s too much! Do you have to push me to this point?”
The man tilted his head from the slap, two finger marks appearing on his face.
He was about to speak when the door opened.
Qin Ou appeared, expressionless, scanning the situation before stepping forward to shield Lin Xiangwan.
“Miss Lin, you weren’t answering my calls, so I came up to check.”
Lin Xiangwan stepped back, hiding behind him.
Jiang Shijing squinted, silently watching them.
“Finished with the business? Let’s go,” Qin Ou asked gently.
Lin Xiangwan nodded, not looking at Jiang Shijing, and turned to leave only to hear a soft scoff.
Her wrist was grabbed; Jiang Shijing pulled her back, hugging her from behind.
Qin Ou’s expression changed instantly; he tried to push him away, but five or six bodyguards suddenly poured in from outside, surrounding Jiang Shijing.
“If Miss Lin doesn’t want an ugly scene, let him go,” one said.
Jiang Shijing, in front of Qin Ou, lightly nibbled Lin Xiangwan’s earlobe, whispering provocatively, “Otherwise, leaving won’t be so simple.”
Qin Ou’s face was like stone. “Miss Lin, don’t be intimidated by him. Even if I go in there, no one will touch a single hair on your head.”
He rolled up his sleeves, ready to act.
Lin Xiangwan stiffened and closed her eyes. “Qin Ou, you go out first.”
Qin Ou was surprised.
“Go. I’m fine,” she signaled to him with her eyes.
Jiang Shijing was the kind of man who, the angrier he was, the calmer he appeared.
She could feel that this was already his limit.
If Qin Ou didn’t leave, being maimed would still be considered Jiang Shijing going easy.
Lin Xiangwan felt powerless.
She had expected her biggest problem to be Lin Xijun but it turned out to be her ex-fiancé.
Jiang Shijing clearly shouldn’t have been behaving so recklessly.
Once everyone had left, she turned to Jiang Shijing and asked, word by word, “What exactly is your purpose? Torturing me for revenge, or are you just so vile that you enjoy humiliating those weaker than you?”
Jiang Shijing chuckled lightly, scratching her chin with his finger, teasing her like a proud cat.
“Your bodyguard is handsome. Did you ask Wen Qian specially for him?”
Lin Xiangwan’s heart tightened. She turned her face away, avoiding his hand. “It’s none of your business.”
Jiang Shijing grabbed her chin again, gently turning her face back, half-smiling. “Besides driving and protecting you, does Qin Ou have any other duties?”
Hearing this from him irritated Lin Xiangwan deeply.
She hated how Jiang Shijing speculated about her relationships, hated him casually saying such flippant things, and hated how he could trample on others’ sincerity without a second thought.
She lifted her gaze and returned a bright smile. “I’m sensitive to cold, Mr. Jiang knows that. It just so happens Qin Ou is good at keeping me warm, so I keep him around.”
As she stepped back, she pushed Jiang Shijing away.
Without looking back, she left, as if she didn’t care whether the Huafeng project would succeed.
Jiang Shijing stood at the doorway for a moment, then returned to his desk and lit a cigarette.
The flame flickered, but he never took a drag, even as it burned down.
Until Yan Jing entered.
“Mr. Jiang, Miss Lin has left. What about the cooperation?”
“Go.”
A single word sent Yan Jing fleeing in panic.
Jiang Shijing picked up his phone expressionlessly.
In the car, Lin Xiangwan leaned her forehead against her hand, staring out the window, her face pale.
Qin Ou kept glancing at her, eyes full of worry, and after a long pause, cautiously asked, “Did that man deliberately bully you? Did… did he take advantage of you?”
“No,” Lin Xiangwan said, returning his gaze.
Qin Ou felt his ears heat up under her stare. He cleared his throat; his usually steady voice trembled slightly.
“So… what about the cooperation?”
Lin Xiangwan shook her head.
She had been thinking the whole time about what to do.
Even though she had prepared to meet Jiang Shijing, she had been provoked into fleeing.
Now, she seemed to understand what Jiang Shijing’s intentions were.
He wanted revenge for being abandoned three years ago, to slowly watch her burn under pressure, using his power like a mountain forcing her to compromise.
Lin Xiangwan felt a heavy weight in her chest.
Today it was a choice between kissing him or drinking herself senseless tomorrow, if she had to see him again, what would he demand? Sleeping with him?
People inevitably yield in the face of absolute power.
Would she also fall? What would Jiang Shijing do to finally stop?
“Stop the car,” she said suddenly, her tone firm.
Qin Ou hit the brakes and pulled over, turning to look at her in confusion.
Lin Xiangwan took a deep breath, weighing her decision carefully.
Before she could speak, Qin Ou understood and frowned. “Miss Lin… you want to go back to him?”
Lin Xiangwan clenched her fists.
She didn’t know what else to do, only that she couldn’t lose the Huafeng cooperation.
Every step of the deal needed to be flawless.
The shareholders were restless, eagerly watching to see which side she would take she had to hold firm.
Kissing Jiang Shijing? Fine consider it like being bitten by a dog.
Lin Xiangwan closed her eyes. “Go back.”
The moment she spoke, her phone rang.
She answered Xiaoxue’s call.
“Miss Lin!” Xiaoxue’s voice was excited, laughing. “You’re amazing! You actually secured the Huafeng order! Their team is contacting us now!”
Lin Xiangwan’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What did you say?”
“Huafeng is coming here! Their deputy manager is personally negotiating the deal! Miss Lin, how did you persuade the old man? I really admire you!”
Xiaoxue’s excitement was palpable, her voice rising as if she could already see a bright future following Lin Xiangwan.
Lin Xiangwan hung up, stunned, still trying to process.
Huafeng had finally agreed.
Yet she had just had an unpleasant encounter with Jiang Shijing.
Could it be that Madam Jiang personally intervened, leaving no effort spared to convince Mr. Hua?