Chuan Jin circled around the man and knocked on the thick soundproof door, pressing her ear against it. “Is the door’s quality poor? It’s not soundproof at all… But that can’t be right either. They wouldn’t be so bold as to openly discuss getting me drunk, would they? President Zhou, how did you know?”
Zhou Lincan cleared his throat dryly, turning sideways to look at her with an unchanged expression. “Just a guess. Things like this often happen in clubs.”
“Oh, I see.” Chuan Jin nodded, stepping away from the door and brushing past the man.
The scent of alcohol drifted past his nose. Zhou Lincan’s gaze followed her movement, carrying a hint of surprise.
She believed that so easily?
[Hah, he really is a scumbag. He frequents bars so often, he’s no different from that bastard Zheng Jingyuan.]
The inner monologue reached his ears, making Scumbag President Zhou feel disheartened for a second.
Although he had been abroad, thanks to a gossip-loving friend, he had heard about Zheng Jingyuan.
CEO of Bo Ya Film and Television, heir to the Zheng family, with an undefeated record in film investments—capable of managing Bo Ya’s vast business empire, yet notoriously known in the industry as a womanizer. Playing with women, keeping mistresses, abandoning them after toying with their feelings, dating multiple people at once… He was involved in all kinds of scandals and committed every despicable act. He often made arrogant remarks, claiming that since women threw themselves at him, it would be a waste not to take advantage.
Wei Chi despised men who looked down on women the most and cursed Zheng Jingyuan vehemently. Even while in the United States, Zhou Lincan would regularly receive updates on Zheng Jingyuan’s latest scandals.
And now, Miss Xu was comparing him to that scoundrel Zheng.
A hint of indignation rose in Zhou Lincan.
Chuan Jin crouched by the table, carefully selecting a few bottles as she tried to mix herself a mild sparkling drink.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over her. Zhou Lincan looked down at her and said, “Xing Lan has a rule against forcing alcohol on guests.”
Chuan Jin didn’t look up, continuing to choose her drinks.
[So?]
“Waitstaff don’t need to bring strong liquor. Their intentions aren’t hard to guess.” Zhou Lincan spoke lightly, “I don’t often come to these kinds of places. I was just lucky today to have guessed correctly.”
Chuan Jin’s hand rested on a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne, her fingers tapping against it, hesitating to pull back.
The air froze for two seconds before Zhou Lincan finally heard her inner thoughts.
[That’s right, someone like Zhou Lincan, a workaholic, probably doesn’t have time to fool around… That’s good. President Zhou isn’t a scumbag, so he’s worthy of sister again.]
Chuan Jin stood up, handed Zhou Lincan a glass, clinked it with his, and smiled elegantly. “Then let’s call it even. President Zhou helped me fend off those people, and I won’t hold it against you for ruining my chance with that handsome guy.”
Zhou Lincan looked at her through the glass refracting the light, finished his champagne, and casually changed the subject. “Did Miss Xu come alone?”
“Sister is here too. She went to touch up her makeup.” Chuan Jin held her glass, tilting her head thoughtfully before frowning. “She’s been gone for a long time.”
Zhou Lincan said, “There are several entertainment company executives on the second floor. President Xu probably—”
Just as he spoke, a sharp voice suddenly rang out from the neighboring private room.
“What are you crying for? So what if Zheng Jingyuan slapped you? He didn’t say he doesn’t want you. Crying at the slightest problem—how pathetic!”
“He didn’t say he doesn’t want me, but didn’t you hear what he said? President Xu is his fiancée! He’s about to get engaged—how could he possibly stay with me? If we’re not together, how am I supposed to get those resources?”
“What’s the big deal about being a fiancée? Look at Xu Mianchuan’s attitude—she even dares to disrespect Young Master Zheng. Even if these two get married, they’ll break up eventually. Zheng Jingyuan is famously promiscuous, and even Chairman Zheng doesn’t bother controlling him. What can one Xu Mianchuan possibly do?”
“Marriages in our circle are just performances for those with official status.”
“Stop crying now. If Young Master Zheng comes back and sees you like this, he’ll really get angry…”
A16 private room fell into silence. Chuan Jin and Zhou Lincan stood facing each other, both listening to the commotion from next door.
[So the rooms really aren’t soundproof after all]
Zhou Lincan looked at the dazed Chuan Jin: “You…”
How could she still be thinking about something else at a time like this?
Chuan Jin raised her face, breaking into a radiant smile: “President Zhou, let me borrow your glass.”
Zhou Lincan’s glass was larger. Chuan Jin snatched it and filled it to the brim with red wine, then threw away the bottle and charged out.
The Bordeaux bottle fell onto the carpet with a dull thud. Zhou Lincan took a long stride with his tall frame blocking her path: “What do you think you’re doing?”
Chuan Jin’s eyes flushed crimson: “I’m going to teach that bastard Zheng Jingyuan a lesson! Who said my sister is engaged to him? Who gave him permission to ruin my sister’s reputation outside?”
Though Chuan Jin’s face was flushed and her eyes bright, her words and actions were completely disordered. Zhou Lincan frowned: “Are you really not drunk?”
“You’re the one who’s drunk! I have great alcohol tolerance.”
Zhou Lincan refused to let her leave. Furious and unwilling to spare anyone’s feelings now, Chuan Jin pushed him hard with one hand.
The man was too tall. Though Chuan Jin wasn’t short herself, she appeared slender in comparison. Just as she couldn’t pull him along minutes earlier, she now couldn’t push him away either.
Chuan Jin grew frantic with anger.
[Think you’re so great because of your status! If you don’t move, I’ll kick you! Zhou Lincan, you bastard!]
The bastard Zhou Lincan grabbed her wrist and said in a deep voice: “I’ll go with you.”
…
Xing Lan primarily catered to female clients, with makeup touch-up stations arranged in every public restroom. After freshening up her makeup, Xu Mianchuan received a call from her management director.
Knowing she was also at Xing Lan, he wanted to come greet her. Xu Mianchuan told him to focus on managing the artists and not make a special trip.
Hanging up, she saw the time displayed on her screen: 8:05. Exactly ten minutes had passed since she left the private room.
Taking one last look at herself in the mirror, Xu Mianchuan retraced her route back.
The corridor was dimly lit. Besides the hidden light strips along both sides indicating direction, only several spaced spotlights shone down at angles. While visibility wasn’t ideal, the ambiance was pleasant.
Rounding a corner, she encountered a man and woman walking toward her, arms draped over shoulders and waists in an overly intimate posture.
The woman wore a body-hugging long dress that highlighted her graceful curves, nestling softly against the man who stood a head taller. She looked up exchanging quick kisses with him. The man kept his left hand in his pocket while his right hand traced incendiary paths along her body’s curves. Hearing her soft moan, he let out a wicked laugh from his throat.
Xu Mianchuan averted her gaze, pretending she hadn’t seen anything.
Noticing another person’s presence, the woman pushed at him: “Someone’s coming, Young Master Zheng, don’t… Ah!”
His mood interrupted, the tall man bit his companion’s lip in displeasure and looked up with a dark expression. Hearing the pained cry, Xu Mianchuan instinctively glanced over.
Under the lighting, she clearly saw the man’s face.
It was Zheng Jingyuan. Beside him was Xiao Tiandai, the internet celebrity who had gone viral a month ago for her makeup imitation videos.
Xu Mianchuan remembered this online celebrity distinctly and recognized her immediately.
Xiao Tiandai’s makeup replication skills were exceptional, her exquisite cosmetic application revealing an even more beautiful face beneath. Her acting in unedited videos under a minute was also commendable. The moment she gained popularity, Xuri Entertainment considered signing her.
Xu Mianchuan had reviewed her profile, but her impression wasn’t formed from that—rather, from how decisively the girl had rejected Xuri’s offer.
She initially thought Xiao Tiandai wanted to focus solely on her makeup channel, never expecting her to connect with Zheng Jingyuan. It seemed she had signed with a studio under Boya Entertainment.
Zheng Jingyuan hadn’t anticipated encountering Xu Mianchuan at Xing Lan. He froze briefly before immediately releasing his arm from around Xiao Tiandai to greet her.
“President Xu, what a surprise meeting you here.” Zheng Jingyuan curled one corner of his lips in a meaningful smile. “Chairman Wei made the right call opening this club—even someone as busy as you finds it interesting.”
Xu Mianchuan responded politely, “The club opened today. Mr. Wei specifically invited several entertainment companies to liven up the venue. As a CEO, I couldn’t well refuse his invitation, so I made the trip personally.”
As she spoke, Zheng Jingyuan’s gaze swept over her, his fox-like eyes fixed intently on her.
Though her attire remained unchanged from usual, Xu Mianchuan preferred light makeup during work hours for a more elegant appearance. Tonight her makeup was slightly heavier, and under the club’s unique lighting, it carried a hint of allure that felt refreshingly novel.
Intrigued, Zheng Jingyuan teased, “Chairman Wei’s influence truly is remarkable. Even I’ve never seen President Xu looking so captivating. Since we’ve crossed paths, let me buy you a few drinks?”
Xiao Tiandai, already uncomfortable encountering Xu Mianchuan, paled at his words and looked up at Zheng Jingyuan. “President Zheng, President Zhao and the others are still waiting for you in the private room.”
Xu Mianchuan chuckled lightly, declining gracefully. “You have prior engagements today, President Zheng. Let’s postpone our gathering.”
“Don’t be like that, President Xu. Such a fine occasion shouldn’t be wasted.” Zheng Jingyuan completely ignored Xiao Tiandai, focusing solely on inviting Xu Mianchuan. “I’ve been meaning to discuss the casting for ‘Ru Hua’ with you anyway. Let’s find a private room and talk properly. Their mixologists are excellent—I’ll have them prepare some mild cocktails for you.”
Close business partners knew Xu Mianchuan didn’t drink, and Zheng Jingyuan was among them. Yet to secure her company, he’d seemingly forgotten this detail.
Shedding her corporate persona, Xu Mianchuan refused directly. “That won’t be necessary. Thank you.”
Xiao Tiandai breathed a sigh of relief.
When Zheng Jingyuan mentioned the ‘Ru Hua’ casting, her heart had leaped to her throat, fearing Xu Mianchuan might accept. To her surprise, President Xu showed no interest and declined outright.
Since Xu Mianchuan wasn’t taking this opportunity, she wouldn’t let it slip away. “President Zheng, didn’t you need to discuss matters with President Zhao? We’ve been out here quite awhile—shouldn’t we return?”
She shook his arm with a syrupy sweet voice.
Three minutes earlier, Zheng Jingyuan would have eaten this up. Now, hearing her affected tone, his displeasure at being rejected by Xu Mianchuan transformed into irritation, instantly eroding his patience.
“What does Zhao Yi amount to? Should I fucking abandon my fiancée to entertain some man?”
“Fiancée?” Xiao Tiandai stared blankly, her gaze shifting between them. “President Zheng, you and President Xu…”
The term “fiancée” jolted Zheng Jingyuan’s memory. He suddenly recalled the discussed marriage alliance between their families—Xu Mianchuan wasn’t just President Xu, but his soon-to-be legitimate fiancée.
Recalling this matter, he brushed off the woman’s hand: “Don’t pull and tug at me. Get lost.”
Xiao Tiandai gritted her teeth and grabbed Zheng Jingyuan’s sleeve again, cooing softly in a wheedling tone: “President Zheng, take me along too. I can also drink with President Xu.”
Zheng Jingyuan’s patience ran out. Like an enraged lion, he abruptly turned and slapped the woman across the face. “I fucking told you to get lost!”
The corridor fell silent, the sound of the slap especially sharp.
Xu Mianchuan was startled, her face changing color.
One shouldn’t hit the face, especially in front of another woman. Xiao Tiandai covered her cheek, her eyes quickly reddening after the shock. Biting her lower lip, she turned and ran off, bumping into her agent Sister Xia who had come looking for her.
Sister Xia had overheard the entire conversation from around the corner. Without saying a word, she led her away from the troubled spot.
Zheng Jingyuan straightened his disheveled collar and smiled elegantly at Xu Mianchuan, appearing every bit the gentleman as if he hadn’t just hit someone.
“Mianchuan, we—”
“President Zheng.” Xu Mianchuan interrupted: “You should call me President Xu.”
Her tone was cold and aloof, quite different from the merely coquettish little internet celebrity.
Zheng Jingyuan took a step closer and snorted with laughter: “You’re my fiancée. Shouldn’t I call you by your name?”
Xu Mianchuan’s expression remained cold as she subtly increased the distance between them: “The marriage alliance hasn’t been finalized yet. I’m not your fiancée. Please don’t address me incorrectly, President Zheng.”
Zheng Jingyuan sneered: “Whether this marriage happens or not is up to me. Don’t forget, it’s the Xu Family begging the Zheng Family. My agreeing should be exactly what you want, right? Why pretend to be reserved?”
As he spoke, he wrapped his arm around the slender waist he had long coveted.
Suddenly feeling a thick arm encircling her waist, Xu Mianchuan widened her eyes and struggled forcefully to break free from his embrace. Staggering back two steps, anger flashed between her brows: “President Zheng, please show some respect! This is a public place!”
“You’re talking to me about respect? Since when do I need to care about location when hugging my own fiancée? What a joke.”
The feel of her slim waist in his grasp was exceptionally pleasing. Zheng Jingyuan’s eyes gleamed as he grabbed Xu Mianchuan’s wrist, raising it high and pinning her against the wall before lowering his head to kiss her.