The taxi stopped at the entrance of Wanghaichao.
A waiter jogged over and opened the car door for Yun Sheng.
As Yun Sheng got out, the waiter asked, “Are you Miss Wen?”
Yun Sheng nodded. “Yes.”
“Mr. Qin asked me to pick you up. This way, please.” The waiter gestured politely.
Yun Sheng followed his lead.
On the way, she asked, “Is he here for a dinner gathering?”
“Yes, it seems to be a business dinner.”
Yun Sheng frowned. Then why did he call her here?
“Miss Wen, we’ve arrived.”
The waiter had already led her to the door. He knocked three times before pushing it open.
The private room was lively, with a round table surrounded by people who appeared to be company executives and senior managers.
The man seated at the head of the table wore a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing his strong forearms. His tie had been removed, and the top two buttons of his shirt were undone. Leaning back in his chair, he rested his forearm on the armrest, a lit cigarette held between his fingers, smoke curling around him.
The usually meticulous man now carried an air of casual nonchalance.
Yun Sheng paused at the doorway. The atmosphere in the room made her feel out of place, as if she had stumbled into forbidden territory.
All eyes turned to her, making it difficult for her to take another step.
Qin Yanchuan stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray beside him, his dark eyes lazily fixed on her. “Yun Sheng, come here.”
Only then did Yun Sheng shuffle forward.
Someone at the table immediately caught on. “So this is Mr. Qin’s sister.”
“I heard she was studying abroad. When did she return?”
The earlier scrutinizing gazes instantly turned warm and respectful.
Qin Yanchuan smiled faintly. “She just graduated and hasn’t been back long.”
“Ah, returning after completing her studies—young and promising, truly promising.”
“Of course, being Mr. Qin’s sister, she must be exceptional.”
The table buzzed with a mix of genuine and perfunctory praise.
Qin Yanchuan’s lips remained curved in a slight smile, seemingly unbothered by the flattery.
Yun Sheng slowly made her way to his side, her slightly tense expression betraying her discomfort.
“Did the family send you?” he asked.
Yun Sheng was momentarily taken aback. Meeting his deep, dark eyes, she realized he had called her here to help him make an exit.
She nodded. “Yes. Aunt Jin said you should come home.”
Qin Yanchuan glanced at the others at the table and smiled. “Then I’m afraid I must excuse myself.”
“Oh, Mr. Qin, you’re too polite!”
“Family matters come first. Please, don’t worry about us.”
Qin Yanchuan pushed himself up from the armrest, swaying slightly as he stood. The veins on the back of his hand stood out from the effort.
Yun Sheng, who had been standing beside him, was suddenly enveloped by his towering figure. The strong scent of alcohol washed over her, and she instinctively took a step back.
He released the armrest and straightened up but stumbled unsteadily, losing his balance.
Yun Sheng quickly reached out to steady him. “Are you all right?”
His weight pressed against her, his warm breath brushing against her ear. His lips moved slightly as he murmured in a low voice, “I’m fine.”
Yun Sheng stiffened, her ears instantly flushing red. She even had the fleeting thought that his lips might have brushed against her ear.
But with his tall frame shielding her, no one at the table could see her reaction.
Qin Yanchuan draped his arm over her shoulder, using her for support as he steadied himself. He then straightened up slightly, putting a small distance between them.”Let’s go,” he said.
Only then did Yun Sheng snap out of her daze, her eyes flustered as she blinked, and she helped him walk out.
“This is Mr. Qin’s jacket.”
The waiter had even specifically brought Qin Yanchuan’s suit jacket. Yun Sheng hurriedly took it with one hand, then supported him as they left the private room.
Once the door to the private room closed, the people at the table laughed. “Mr. Qin’s alcohol tolerance isn’t as good as it used to be.”
“Mr. Qin was in high spirits today, probably because our project is progressing smoothly, so he drank a few extra glasses.”
“Indeed, this is the first time I’ve seen Mr. Qin in such a good mood.”
Yun Sheng struggled to support Qin Yanchuan as they left the private room before asking, “Why did you drink so much?”
“Negotiating a partnership,” he replied, his voice slightly hoarse.
Yun Sheng looked up in a daze and noticed an unusual flush at the corners of his eyes, confirming that he was truly drunk.
She rarely saw him drunk. The last time was at her coming-of-age ceremony.
Her eighteenth birthday celebration had been specially arranged by Aunt Jin. It wasn’t grand, but it was heartfelt.
Her classmates and friends had been invited.
Surrounded by friends as she cut the cake, Lin Xi even dabbed a bit of cream on the tip of her nose. Someone popped a party popper, and with a “bang,” colorful streamers fluttered down, making her flinch.
Everyone burst into laughter.
She caught sight of that familiar, tall figure standing at the back of the crowd, one hand tucked into his suit pants pocket, the other casually holding a champagne glass, a faint smile playing on his lips.
He seemed to be in a good mood, having drunk a few extra glasses. The corners of his eyes were tinged with that same rosy flush, adding a touch of allure to his usually cool and composed demeanor.
Across the crowd and the fluttering streamers, their gazes met, and her heart skipped a beat.
Now, seeing him drunk again, it was at a dinner like this.
She had thought that someone of his high status and authority wouldn’t be pressured to drink, never imagining that he, too, had to rely on drinking culture to negotiate partnerships.
Seeing him in such a disheveled state now left her feeling unsettled.
Wen Yunsheng glanced around. “Where’s Assistant Chen?”
At such dinners, Assistant Chen was usually either inside accompanying him or waiting outside.
“He didn’t come.”
“What about the driver?”
“I drove myself.”
Yun Sheng was stunned for a moment and turned to look at him. How was he supposed to get back now?
She didn’t know how to drive.
Yun Sheng had only attended university in the country for a little over a year, and during that time, Qin Yanchuan had driven her to and from school every day, so getting a driver’s license had been repeatedly postponed.
She knew she was a bit slow to react and lacked confidence in driving.
Later, when she went abroad, she had even fewer opportunities to learn.
She had taken a taxi here herself.
“Maybe you should call the driver—”
Before Yun Sheng could finish her sentence, Qin Yanchuan rubbed his temples, seemingly in pain. “Call a car.”
Seeing his discomfort, Yun Sheng didn’t press the idea of calling the driver back.
It would likely take the driver at least an hour to arrive.
Yun Sheng asked a waiter to help hail a taxi to the entrance.
She helped him into the car and stood by the door, hesitating whether to accompany him. Then she saw Qin Yanchuan leaning back in the rear seat, his head slightly tilted, eyes closed, and his brow tightly furrowed.
The driver asked, “Where to?”
Qin Yanchuan didn’t even open his eyes, as if he had already fallen asleep.
Yun Sheng frowned, still uneasy. She bent down and got into the car. “Southland Mansion.”
The taxi driver drove off.Yun Sheng looked at Qin Yanchuan. “Are you feeling better?”
Qin Yanchuan leaned to the side, his head resting on her shoulder, and responded groggily, “Mm.”