Li Mai: “…”
This man had problems.
“This is my private matter—it’s none of Mr. Zhou’s business.”
“Li Mai!”
“Mr. Zhou, you’re really being strange right now. You said you weren’t interested in me and told me not to pester you.”
“I’m already doing that. But what about you? That day you suddenly kiss…”
Li Mai couldn’t continue.
“Now you’re trying to control me again. We have no relationship, so Mr. Zhou, please maintain proper boundaries, okay?”
Zhou Songyan wanted to hang up the phone but forcibly restrained himself.
“Li Mai, I’m kindly reminding you that people can be deceitful. After all, we were together once. If you don’t appreciate it, fine—but don’t cry when you suffer.”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Zhou. Even if I cry, I won’t cry in front of you.”
“Li Mai, are you sure you want to talk to me this way? Your nephew is still at my place.”
Li Mai: “…”
This man was threatening her?
“Zhou Songyan, you’ve become so annoying now!”
After shouting that, Li Mai hung up.
Zhou Songyan: “…”
Was he annoying?
How was he annoying?
When Chengcheng came out after his bath, Zhou Songyan pushed the door open: “Do you want to video call your aunt?”
Chengcheng glanced at him: “If you want to call, do it yourself.”
Zhou Songyan: “…”
Had a kid seen right through him?
But he stubbornly refused to admit it: “I don’t want to call. I was afraid you might miss your aunt, so I specifically came to ask.”
Chengcheng: “I already talked to my aunt on the phone during the day. No need to call.”
Zhou Songyan: “…”
How disappointing.
“Uncle, is there anything else? If not, please leave. I need to sleep.”
Zhou Songyan glanced at him.
This kid was pretty irritating when he talked too.
Li Mai returned to the private room.
A client toasted her: “Secretary Li, let’s have a drink.”
Li Mai: “I’m sorry, Mr. Huang, I don’t drink alcohol. I’m allergic to it.”
“Oh come on, that excuse is outdated. Secretary Li, give me some face.”
“Mr. Huang, I really can’t drink.”
The man called Mr. Huang held his glass and walked toward Li Mai, clearly intent on pushing her to drink.
Before he could reach Li Mai, Ji Wangyu stood up and blocked her.
“Mr. Huang, my secretary, really is allergic to alcohol. I’ll drink with you.”
The man’s gaze swept over Ji Wangyu and Li Mai, and he smiled ambiguously.
“Alright then. Since Manager Ji is protecting his beauty, I can’t refuse to give face.”
Ji Wangyu knew he had misunderstood but didn’t explain.
After the drinking session ended…
Ji Wangyu had been forced to drink quite a bit and his steps were unsteady.
Li Mai supported him as they swayed left and right walking out of the restaurant.
Li Mai hailed a taxi, stuffed Ji Wangyu into the back seat, and climbed in herself.
“Driver, Huangting Hotel.”
The car drove smoothly on the road.
Ji Wangyu leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed, reeking of alcohol.
Li Mai was grateful to Ji Wangyu.
If he hadn’t protected her, she would have been forced to drink.
Some people just didn’t believe she was allergic to alcohol and thought she wasn’t giving them face.
Ji Wangyu suddenly leaned over onto her, his head resting on her shoulder.
Li Mai pushed him away.
Before long, Ji Wangyu leaned over again.
Li Mai pushed him away once more.
Ji Wangyu was pushed awake.
He looked at her with innocent eyes: “Secretary Li, what’s wrong?”
“Manager Ji, sit properly.”
“Wasn’t I sitting properly?”
“You keep leaning over and taking advantage of me.”
Having worked together for two years, Li Mai said whatever was on her mind.
Ji Wangyu stared at her for a long while.
Really, he just pretended to lean on her a bit and got pushed away.
Who did he drink so much for?
Ungrateful woman!
The restaurant wasn’t far from their hotel—they arrived in about ten minutes.
Li Mai got out first.
“Manager Ji, can you manage on your own?”
Ji Wangyu held his head and extended one hand: “Help me up. I’m dizzy.”
Li Mai had no choice but to grab his arm, help him out of the car, and support him into the hotel.
“Manager Ji, we’re here. Swipe your room card.”
Ji Wangyu pulled out his room card and swiped it. With a beep, the door opened.
Li Mai pushed him inside. The door closed, and she quickly returned to her own room.
Ji Wangyu’s steps wobbled as he steadied himself…
…against the wall to steady himself.
He smiled helplessly.
Li Mai was on guard against him.
Afraid he might do something to her.
Zhou Songyan lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
Thinking about Li Mai on a business trip with Ji Wangyu, he could tell at a glance what intentions Ji Wangyu had toward Li Mai.
In a different city, a man and woman alone together…
The more Zhou Songyan thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt.
Finally, he couldn’t hold back and made a video call.
Li Mai had just finished showering, her hair still wet. Hearing her phone ring, she walked over and picked it up.
Seeing it was Zhou Songyan, she hung up.
Two seconds later, Zhou Songyan called again.
Li Mai hung up again.
Zhou Songyan sent a voice message.
While doing her skincare routine, Li Mai clicked on it.
Zhou Songyan’s voice came through.
“Li Mai, answer the phone!”
“If you don’t answer, I’ll throw your nephew outside right now.”
Li Mai’s face darkened.
She initiated a video call herself.
Zhou Songyan answered after two seconds.
He couldn’t see Li Mai’s face—only the ceiling and spotlights.
“Li Mai.”
“Zhou Songyan, what do you want?”
Zhou Songyan didn’t know what he wanted either, but he just felt uncomfortable, worried, and couldn’t sleep.
“Li Mai, are you back at the hotel?”
“Yes.”
“Are you in your own room?”
“Yes!”
“Just you alone?”
“Yes!”
“Let me see.”
Li Mai held up her phone and showed him the entire room, including the bathroom and every corner.
“See? There’s no one else!”
Zhou Songyan pressed his lips together, relieved.
But Li Mai exploded.
“Zhou Songyan, do you realize your behavior is problematic? Who am I to you? What gives you the right to interrogate me?”
“You threatened me using Chengcheng, and I compromised, but that doesn’t mean I’ve truly compromised. Even if I really did have a man here, it’s none of your business. Don’t do such pointless things.”
Li Mai hung up after her outburst.
Zhou Songyan didn’t call back.
That night, both of them were furious.
Zhou Songyan completely lost sleep.
Li Mai didn’t fall asleep until 3 a.m.
The next day, Chengcheng sensed Zhou Songyan’s irritability.
From early morning, his face was terribly gloomy.
After thinking about it, Chengcheng asked: “What’s wrong with you?”
Zhou Songyan was driving: “Kids shouldn’t ask about adult matters.”
Chengcheng decided not to bother with him anymore.
He turned to look out the window.
For the next few days, Zhou Songyan didn’t call Li Mai again, and Li Mai didn’t call him either. During the day, she would call Chengcheng to check on the situation.
Three days later…
Li Mai returned from her business trip.
When she got off the plane, it was already 9 p.m.
But she really wanted to pick up Chengcheng and bring him home.
So she took a taxi to 58 Chunfeng Road.
The security guard at the entrance recognized Li Mai and let her in.
Standing at the door of Unit C08…
Li Mai didn’t ring the doorbell but called Zhou Songyan instead.
Just before the call would automatically disconnect, Zhou Songyan answered.
“What is it?”
His voice was cold.
Li Mai didn’t care and stated her purpose: “Mr. Zhou, I’m at your door. I’m here to pick up Chengcheng and take him home.”