17 – Goоd, dоn’t bе nеrvоus
Wеn Zhi lоoked аt him ехреctantly, аnd Мo Tingуan didn’t beаt аrоund thе bush, gеtting strаight to thе роint: “Sincе we hаve to аsk fоr helр anуwау, why nоt gо direсtlу tо thе nеw big bоss whо just aсquired Jiаnghаng Airlines? Often, thе higher thе pоsitiоn, thе mоre reаsonablе реоplе arе.”
Wen Zhi thought аbоut it аnd fоund it sоmewhаt reasonаblе. Аftеr аll, desperаtе timеs cаll for dеsperаtе mеаsures—whethеr it wоrks or not, thеy had tо givе it thеir аll.
“But sinсе Jianghang Airlines was acquirеd, the nеw СЕО hаsn’t madе a public аpрeаranсe. We don’t have any connections…”
“I know where he is. Back at the branch office, a friend told me the new CEO often visits a private club. Let’s go try our luck.”
Mo Tingyan drove Wen Zhi to the entrance of a private club, but it was membership-only, and neither of them could get in. Just as Wen Zhi was worrying, Mo Tingyan patted her shoulder reassuringly and said, “Don’t worry, my boss who owns a jewelry store is a member here. Wait a moment, I’ll make a call.”
Wen Zhi didn’t doubt him in the slightest, only surprised that he had such an impressive friend.
After two or three minutes, Mo Tingyan returned and used his friend’s membership number to smoothly bring her into the club.
Their luck was good—Huo Ze, the new CEO of Jianghang Airlines, was indeed at the club playing pool with friends.
Before entering the pool hall area, Wen Zhi grabbed Mo Tingyan’s hand and said seriously, “This is our last chance. Later, as long as he doesn’t bring up the idea of keeping you, just bear with it.”
Mo Tingyan raised his hand, gently tapped the tip of her nose, leaned in a little closer, and teased with a half-smile, “Back with that old pervert, you were the one who threw the first punch.”
Wen Zhi rolled her eyes at him. What else was she supposed to do? Let him go sleep with that old creep?
Seeing her displeasure, Mo Tingyan chuckled softly to placate her. “Alright, alright, I know what I’m doing. I’ll definitely keep my job and make sure your two-million-yuan loan repayment plan doesn’t go up in smoke.”
Wen Zhi: “…”
Well, he wasn’t wrong.
Since they had already found out which one was Huo Ze, the two of them headed straight for their target upon entering the pool hall.
When Huo Ze saw Mo Tingyan walking toward him, his face clearly showed a moment of surprise, but he quickly regained his composure.
Mo Tingyan noticed his shock, his eyebrows visibly lifting as he approached and bowed his head slightly in a show of “respect.” “Excuse me, are you CEO Huo?”
Huo Ze glanced at the serious-looking woman beside him and smiled. “I am. And you two are…”
“CEO Huo, hello. I’m Mo Tingyan, a pilot for Jianghang Airlines, recently transferred from the Xingzhou branch to Jiangcheng. There’s something I’d like to bring to your attention.”
He briefly explained his conflict with Xu Purser, how he had gone to see Xu Purser’s husband, and how Xu Purser had reacted afterward.
Huo Ze’s gaze lingered on the two people in front of him. After listening, he chuckled lightly and said, “So, you came to me hoping I’d help you keep your job?”
“Yes.”
Huo Ze raised the pool cue in his hand. “Helping you isn’t impossible. How about a game? If you win, I’ll help you keep your job. If you lose, I can still help you, but…” He pointed the tip of the cue at Wen Zhi. “She belongs to me. How about that?”
Wen Zhi’s previously serious expression instantly turned cold. Were all the higher-ups at Jianghang Airlines just not human anymore?She took a step forward, about to do something, when Mo Tingyan’s cold and indifferent voice rang out: “I can lose, and I can even give up my job, but using her as a bargaining chip is absolutely unacceptable! She is a person, not an item to be gambled with.”
Mo Tingyan’s words made Wen Zhi abruptly halt her movement, turning her head to stare at him in a daze.
She had never believed in so-called bullshit affection. After all, her own biological father had not only abandoned his wife and eldest daughter for his mistress but had also treated his own daughter as a bargaining chip, sending her to an old widower to boost the company’s profits.
And her mother…
Thinking of her mother, Wen Zhi shook her head and pulled her thoughts back.
She just hadn’t expected that this man she had known for only a few days would choose to protect her when forced to make a choice…
Seeing the firm and resolute look in Mo Tingyan’s eyes, Huo Ze didn’t press the matter. Instead, he praised, “You’re quite loyal. Let’s change the game. Have her play against me. If she wins, I’ll help you keep your job. How about that?”
Wen Zhi was startled. She didn’t know how to play pool at all.
But before she could react, Mo Tingyan casually agreed, “Sure.”
Wen Zhi nudged him with her elbow, standing on tiptoe to lean close to his ear and whisper, “You can’t agree. I don’t know how to play.”
Mo Tingyan reached out and patted her head, giving her a reassuring look.
Wen Zhi felt a bit stifled. What did he mean by that?
Huo Ze asked his friends to return to the private room first. After the break, he took the first shot. When he missed, it was Wen Zhi’s turn.
Mo Tingyan handed her the cue. As Wen Zhi took it, unsure of what to do, Mo Tingyan half-embraced her from behind. Holding her hand, he gently pressed her upper body toward the pool table and said leisurely, “Boss Huo only said you have to play. He didn’t say I couldn’t teach you hands-on. So don’t worry. Come on, be good, relax.”
Across the table, Huo Ze casually picked up a glass of red wine, took a sip, and clicked his tongue regretfully. “You found a loophole.”
Wen Zhi’s eyes lit up. This man’s quick thinking was truly timely.
But…
At this moment, Mo Tingyan’s body was half-pressed against her back, and she could clearly feel…
She glanced sideways and glared at him. What was this man thinking at a time like this?
As if sensing her confusion, Mo Tingyan curled his lips into a careless smile and whispered ambiguously in her ear, in a voice only the two of them could hear:
Wen Zhi: “…”
Mo Tingyan murmured into her ear, “Focus. We can try it at home later.”
Wen Zhi’s face visibly flushed. Who wasn’t focused? And who wanted to try anything with him!
Mo Tingyan held her hand and gently pushed the cue forward, sinking a ball into the pocket.
For the next ten minutes or so, they went back and forth with Huo Ze, evenly matched.
Wen Zhi remained highly focused, afraid that even the slightest mistake would cost Mo Tingyan his job.
But Huo Ze played casually, spending most of his time observing the two of them with a probing gaze…
Now, it was the decisive moment.
If Wen Zhi sank this last ball, they would win the game.
But if she lost, Mo Tingyan’s future would be ruined.
Wen Zhi grew increasingly nervous, her palms sweating as she gripped the cue, her breathing inexplicably growing heavier.Mo Tingyan sensed her panic. From an angle where Huo Ze couldn’t see, he gently kissed Wen Zhi’s earlobe with the tip of his tongue and reassured her in a steady, rock-solid voice, “Zhangzhu, relax. Don’t be nervous. Trust me.”
Wen Zhi turned to look at him, about to say something, but at that moment, Mo Tingyan suddenly tightened his grip on her hand and pushed it forward.
Unprepared, Wen Zhi was startled and thought, “Oh no!” She quickly turned back to look at this life-or-death shot…