The bronze nameplate bore not only a serial number but also an engraved English name.
Chuan Jin locked eyes with the young man and handed him a glass. “What’s your name?”
The eighth waiter took the glass, his eyelashes fluttering as he averted his gaze, pursing his lips to reply, “Yu Jingchen.”
Chuan Jin murmured the name softly and chuckled. “I’m not sure which characters those are. Let’s exchange contact information—you can send them to me.”
With Xu Mianchuan absent, all attention was fixed on Chuan Jin. At her words, several waiters gasped in surprise.
Everyone understood the implication: Yu Jingchen, usually quiet and unassuming, had struck gold. Who would have thought Miss Xu would be into his type?
Chuan Jin did indeed like Yu Jingchen. His eyes were clear and pure, with long, upturned lashes beneath double eyelids. A single glance had captivated her; if he were on the big screen, he could mesmerize audiences everywhere.
Even before transmigrating into this novel, she had dreamed of starting her own film studio. Seeing Yu Jingchen rekindled that ambition. Now, with ample wealth and leisure, plus the advantage of being a Xu Family heiress, she had valuable resources to leverage.
Observing the timid Yu Jingchen, Chuan Jin invited him to sit.
Two other waiters approached. “Miss Xu, don’t leave us out! Drinking alone isn’t any fun.”
“Exactly! If we’re having drinks, let me mix some for you.”
Chuan Jin took a sip of her drink, her lips curling into a radiant smile. She pointed at them with her index finger, the one that had been resting on her upturned glass. “Fine. Yu Jingchen and I will chat—just make sure the table never runs dry.”
A flicker of emotion stirred in Yu Jingchen’s calm eyes. “Mr. Yu”? This was the first time anyone had addressed him that way. It felt unfamiliar, yet… not unpleasant.
“Are you still a student?” Chuan Jin asked.
Yu Jingchen nodded. “Yes, I’m a junior in the acting department at Shen Xi.”
“A junior? So you have two years left until graduation…” Chuan Jin pondered. “Is the coursework at Shen Xi demanding?”
“Not too bad…”
As they conversed, they failed to notice the commotion nearby.
“Ryan, what are you doing?” Waiter No. 4 tugged at the person beside him.
No. 6 picked up a bottle of Tequila from the ice bucket and sneered. “What does it look like? The Xu CEO’s sister is clearly more adventurous than he is. I’m choosing the better opportunity.”
Positioned farther back, No. 4 cautiously glanced at the laughing Miss Xu and whispered a warning, “Manager Wei strictly forbids getting guests drunk. Long Island, Zombie—damn, such strong drinks! You didn’t confiscate them? Aren’t you afraid Manager Wei will fire you?”
“If you don’t snitch, how would he know? If we can charm her, it’s a win-win. The others do it too—those wealthy ladies love it. Don’t tell me you’re not jealous that Yu Jingchen got picked so easily.” Brushing No. 4 aside, the man approached with two glasses. “Miss Xu, try this iced tea.”
Chuan Jin’s glass happened to be empty, so the man replaced it with an orange-yellow cocktail. She took a sip—the liquid was chilled, with a subtle sweet-and-sour flavor. It was a Long Island Iced Tea, with reduced sweetness and boosted alcohol content.
Watching Miss Xu finish the drink in a few gulps, Ryan praised her tolerance and offered the second glass.
Both were strong cocktails, and the previous one hadn’t been weak either. Yu Jingchen frowned at him, his eyes conveying a warning.
Ryan shot back a defiant look, signaling him to mind his own business.
Chuan Jin seemed oblivious to the tense exchange of glances between the two. Taking the second glass of wine, she continued inquiring about Yu Jingchen’s situation: “Your professors probably don’t allow you to take on acting roles, right?”
Yu Jingchen pursed his lips and replied slowly, “Before junior year, the professors were very strict. The department strictly forbade students from accepting acting jobs, but some who were scouted by talent agencies would still take roles despite the rules.”
Chuan Jin nodded and took another sip of her drink.
This was similar to how things worked in her world—while taking on roles violated school regulations, it was relatively rare. Those who got noticed usually had some talent, and if they became famous, that was a different story altogether.
“Miss Xu, your face is very red…” Yu Jingchen murmured hesitantly.
Chuan Jin smiled at him. “Hmm? What about it?”
The young man looked conflicted.
Ryan’s intentions were obvious. Yu Jingchen knew it wasn’t right but didn’t dare confront them openly. Since the others nearby remained silent, why should he interfere? He hesitated, wrestling with his thoughts, and stayed quiet for a long while.
Chuan Jin took two more sips, finishing her Dry Martini.
Finally, Yu Jingchen made up his mind. “Miss Xu, you—”
Suddenly, the heavy soundproof door was pushed open from the outside, and a tall figure stepped into the private room.
“My apologies, wrong room.”Zhou Lincan entered, cutting through the strange atmosphere in the private room.”
Surrounded by eight male model waiters, Chuan Jin sat in the center of the sofa. Turning her head, she thought she might have mistaken the person.
“It’s you?” She stood up excitedly.
The sudden movement made her dizzy. Staggering slightly, she was steadied by Yu Jingchen and Ryan.
Zhou Lincan’s gaze turned cold for a fleeting moment. “What a coincidence, Miss Xu. We meet again.”
The man wore a polite smile, his tone distant and businesslike, carrying the demeanor of someone accustomed to social niceties. His eyes, however, were scrutinizing and probing.
Under his gaze, Chuan Jin felt a wave of heat.
“Since you’re here, why not stay for a drink?” Thinking of Xu Mianchuan, who hadn’t returned yet, she invited him to stay.
“Certainly. But if I’m chatting with Miss Xu, I don’t think we need so many people around, do we?” Zhou Lincan’s eyes swept over the dazzling array of men surrounding them.
Chuan Jin’s eyes sparkled. With Zhou Lincan here, who would bother with these bland offerings? She needed to create an opportunity for her sister and this man to interact.
“You may leave. We won’t be needing anyone for now,” Chuan Jin began shooing them away.
The waiters were visibly annoyed by this intruder and had no intention of leaving.
Why should they leave just because he said so? Number Four was especially displeased. He had just mustered the courage to try and please Miss Xu when he was interrupted. Who did this guy think he was, barging in without even wearing a name tag?
Seeing their reluctance to leave, Zhou Lincan’s smile widened. “Having trouble understanding? Miss Xu asked you to leave.”
His voice was low and deliberate, carrying an icy authority that belied his polite expression.
A tense pressure filled the air. Standing at the door, Zhou Lincan towered over the eight men, both in height and presence, completely overwhelming them.
Ryan pushed through the crowd, forcing a strained smile. “President Zhou, please don’t be upset. We’ll leave right away, right away. We won’t disturb you and Miss Xu. What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and come with me.”
He pulled and pushed the other six out of the room. Yu Jingchen glanced at Chuan Jin, who was now speaking with the unfamiliar man, pressed his lips together, lowered his gaze to hide the emotions in his eyes, and closed the door behind him as he left.
Outside the door, someone angrily asked, “If you want to leave, go by yourself! Don’t hold us back. If Second Miss Xu can’t handle it, there’s still President Xu. Why are you pushing all of us out?”
Ryan sneered, “Fine, go ahead. Let’s see if you can still survive in Shen Shi once President Wei finds out you’ve offended President Zhou.”
While plying guests with alcohol could be done discreetly and later excused as mutual consent, offending Zhou Lincan was different. President Wei would kick them out of Xing Lan tonight and blacklist them under Wei Chi’s orders—their careers in Shen Shi’s social circle would be over.
“But… who is that guy?”
“Do you know Dong Zhou? That’s the fucking crown prince of Dong Zhou!” Ryan gritted his teeth.
The crowd fell silent for a few seconds, astonishment dawning on their faces.
“N-no way… I remember the head of Dong Zhou doesn’t look like that.”
Ryan retorted, “You’re thinking of Zhou Chongcan. This is the second young master, Zhou Lincan, just back from abroad. If you want to survive in this circle, keep up with the gossip. The Zhou family has immense capital—who in Shen Shi dares cross them? President Wei is close with the second young master. If you value your lives, get lost now.”
The six waitstaff swallowed hard, recalling the man’s faintly mocking expression, and scattered within two seconds.
Yu Jingchen stood at the back, unmoving. Noticing this, Ryan taunted, “Don’t think Miss Xu speaking a few words to you means she respects you. These wealthy young ladies meet countless men—they’ll forget your face by tomorrow, even if they mention your name today. Only Miss Xu has such peculiar taste, actually liking a blockhead like you. Hmph.”
After his sarcastic remark, Ryan clapped his hands and went off to find his next target. Yu Jingchen stood still for a moment longer before leaving dejectedly.
Inside the private room, separated by just a door, Chuan Jin proactively approached Zhou Lincan.
Tipsy, she was more enthusiastic than usual, completely forgetting they had only met twice. Without hesitation, she grabbed the man’s sleeve and tugged, trying to pull him toward the sofa to sit.
Zhou Lincan remained motionless, his gaze calm and unwavering as he looked down at her. “Miss Xu, you’re drunk.”
It felt like trying to move a small mountain—Chuan Jin couldn’t budge him and had to turn back, tilting her head to look up at him.
Zhou Lincan seemed even more handsome than the previous two times they’d met. Her lips curved into a bright smile as she shook her head earnestly. “No, I’m not. It was only three drinks—how could I be drunk? You don’t know, but I have a great alcohol tolerance.”
Her eyes were large and bright, glistening with moisture. Zhou Lincan watched her quietly, trying to discern the truth from subtle expressions and details.
“You don’t believe me? I’ll drink to prove it!” Thinking he doubted her, Chuan Jin grew serious and snatched a bottle from the table, raising it to her lips.
Zhou Lincan swiftly took the bottle from her. His composed expression faded, a frown forming between his brows. “Stop fooling around!”
Chuan Jin immediately ceased her antics, staring directly at him with a grin.
[Hahahahahahaha, he actually fell for it—so silly and adorable!]
Zhou Lincan was taken aback.
The bottle felt light in his hand. He shook it slightly and said helplessly, “It’s empty?”
The girl beamed. “I tricked you! Three glasses of strong liquor are plenty—I’m not foolish enough to keep drinking.”
“…”
Zhou Lincan set the bottle down, his tone suddenly turning cold. “You’re not foolish? Drinking with strangers outside.”
“What does it matter? I have a high tolerance—I won’t get drunk.” Chuan Jin shrugged and laughed. “Besides, if they offer me a drink, refusing would be rude and embarrass them.”
Zhou Lincan lifted his eyes, his gaze piercing into hers. “You knew?”
He had overheard all the inner voices outside and knew those scoundrels intended to get someone drunk to take advantage. Most of the thoughts were either too vulgar to hear or detached bystanders waiting for drama, while the only concerned voice hesitated, too timid to step forward.
The Zhou family’s upbringing made it impossible for Zhou Lincan to stand by idly. He had initially planned to wait and see if someone would speak up, so he wouldn’t have to step in deliberately. But before anyone uttered a word, his patience ran out, and he couldn’t help pushing the door open and entering.
Only after entering did he notice that Miss Xu’s glass was also empty. The man with badge number six was fumbling to hand her a fourth drink, while the circle of men around them watched like hungry wolves, each more despicable than the last.
“Ahem.” Chuan Jin raised an eyebrow, emphasizing once more, “I have a high alcohol tolerance. I can tell exactly what they’ve mixed in these drinks with one sip. I haven’t called them out, first because I want to enjoy today and don’t mind drinking a little, and second…”
Chuan Jin narrowed her eyes, turning her gaze away to stare into empty space. “I also wanted to see if anyone would try to stop me.”
The scope of “anyone” was far too narrow. Zhou Lincan knew exactly whom she was referring to. He lowered his gaze to look at her and said calmly, “It seems among the eight, there’s someone Miss Xu has taken a liking to.”
Chuan Jin met the man’s eyes again and blinked playfully. “There are eight of them, of course there’s someone I like. Tsk, what a pity President Zhou had to ruin it.”
【I’ll have to get Xiao Yu’s contact info later. How can I set up a studio without any artists? He’s professionally trained, and his screen debut deserves a good script… Ah, suddenly I have so much to do…】
A flicker of surprise crossed Zhou Lincan’s eyes. An artist?
So that’s what Miss Xu meant? Her “liking” wasn’t romantic interest but selecting a suitable actor for her studio?
Realizing this, Zhou Lincan smiled. “My apologies for interrupting your plans, Miss Xu.”
“Just an apology? President Zhou, you’re really stingy.” Chuan Jin pouted.
【Aren’t you going to make it up to me? Like delivering him to me, or at least proposing an alliance with the Xu Family’s eldest daughter?】
Zhou Lincan raised an eyebrow, ignoring her inner ramblings. “I thought by stopping them from forcing drinks on you, we were even.”
“…True.”
If Zhou Lincan hadn’t shown up, she might have kept drinking. She could hold her liquor, but that didn’t mean she enjoyed being manipulated into drinking.
Zhou Lincan watched her nod blankly, looking utterly earnest, and his expression softened even more.
Miss Xu was quite adorable when she’d been drinking.
“Hey, President Zhou, how did you know they were forcing drinks on me?”
In the quiet private room, the adorable Miss Xu suddenly voiced her doubt.