Another Friday arrived.
As Su Qingyuan prepared to leave that morning, she turned toward Chen Yan and said calmly, “There’s an important business cocktail reception tonight. You’re coming with me.”
Chen Yan paused in surprise.
“I’m going as well?”
“Yes,” she replied while adjusting her heels elegantly. “Dress formally.”
After leaving those brief instructions behind, she walked out of the villa.
Chen Yan stood by the entrance, watching her black Porsche disappear beyond the bamboo grove.
A cocktail reception?
After thinking quietly for a moment, he opened his wardrobe and took out the only formal suit he owned.
He had bought it three years ago, yet had never once worn it.
At exactly seven that evening, Chen Yan drove the white Audi toward the hotel venue with Su Qingyuan seated in the back.
She wore a stunning dark navy evening gown, her hair swept into an elegant chignon that revealed the graceful curve of her neck. A diamond necklace rested against her collarbone, sparkling brilliantly beneath the lights.
Chen Yan occasionally glanced at her through the rearview mirror.
She was undeniably beautiful.
But she was equally cold.
That icy aura was exactly the same as the one she had shown him on the first day they met.
At that moment, Chen Yan suddenly realized something.
This was the version of Su Qingyuan the outside world saw.
The woman who wandered into his kitchen in oversized nightgowns, or stood outside his room late at night hugging a pillow during thunderstorms, belonged only to the private world hidden behind her corporate mask.
The Audi stopped smoothly at the entrance of the five-star hotel.
A valet stepped forward immediately and opened the door for Su Qingyuan. She stepped out gracefully while Chen Yan followed half a step behind her.
The reception was being held in the penthouse ballroom.
The moment they entered, they found the enormous hall already crowded with elites from the business world. Men in expensive suits and women in elegant gowns held champagne glasses while engaging in polished conversation.
The instant Su Qingyuan appeared, several executives immediately approached her.
“CEO Su, it’s been too long since we last met!”
“CEO Su, regarding that previous development project…”
“CEO Su, who is this gentleman beside you?”
Su Qingyuan handled the social interactions effortlessly, maintaining only the faintest professional smile.
Chen Yan remained quietly at her side.
Whenever someone’s gaze drifted toward him and they casually asked who he was, Su Qingyuan always gave the same concise answer.
“My assistant.”
The moment they heard the word assistant, their interest vanished immediately.
A mere assistant was not worth their attention.
Chen Yan remained completely indifferent to their dismissal.
He silently observed the crowd while staying beside Su Qingyuan.
Halfway through the reception, a familiar figure emerged from the crowd.
Zhao Yuchen.
Dressed in a spotless white suit, his hair styled flawlessly, he walked over holding a champagne glass.
“Qingyuan.”
Su Qingyuan’s expression did not change in the slightest.
“Young Master Zhao.”
Zhao Yuchen smiled smoothly, but his gaze quickly shifted toward Chen Yan.
“Oh? Even your little assistant managed to enter a place like this?”
Chen Yan gave a polite nod.
Zhao Yuchen slowly looked him over before sneering.
“What exactly is an assistant doing at an event like this? Pouring drinks?”
Chen Yan remained silent.
Before he could respond, Su Qingyuan spoke coldly.
“He came because I asked him to. Do you have a problem with that?”
Zhao Yuchen laughed lightly and ignored the sharpness in her tone.
He raised his champagne glass toward her.
“Qingyuan, what happened last time was my fault. Let me drink this as an apology.”
Su Qingyuan merely looked at the glass without moving.
Zhao Yuchen chuckled and drained it in one gulp.
“You still refuse to give me any face at all.”
Su Qingyuan remained expressionless.
After setting down his empty glass, Zhao Yuchen suddenly smiled.
“By the way, a few old friends are gathered over in the east lounge area. Why don’t we go have a drink together?”
Su Qingyuan glanced toward the section he indicated.
The people seated there were infamous within the business world for forcing others into drinking contests during social events.
“I’ll pass,” she replied flatly.
Zhao Yuchen’s smile stiffened slightly.
“It’s only a few drinks. Surely you aren’t planning to stay cold and distant all night?”
His tone carried obvious provocation.
Several nearby guests had already turned to watch.
A faint tension appeared in Su Qingyuan’s expression.
At that exact moment, Chen Yan stepped forward.
“CEO Su still has work to handle later tonight, so drinking would be inconvenient,” he said calmly. “If Young Master Zhao truly wants someone to drink with him, I can take her place.”
Zhao Yuchen froze briefly before laughing mockingly.
“You?” His gaze swept over Chen Yan contemptuously. “Does a mere assistant like you even qualify to drink with me?”
Chen Yan remained calm.
“I don’t qualify. But if Young Master Zhao insists on drinking, I’m willing.”
Zhao Yuchen stared at him for several seconds, then smiled darkly.
“Excellent.”
He turned toward a waiter.
“Bring two bottles of premium Moutai.”
The alcohol arrived quickly.
Zhao Yuchen poured a full glass and shoved it toward Chen Yan.
“Using glasses is too slow,” he declared loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear. “We’ll drink straight from the bottle. Whoever can’t finish loses.”
The surrounding crowd immediately became excited.
Su Qingyuan frowned deeply, about to stop them, but before she could speak, Chen Yan had already picked up the bottle.
“Agreed.”
Then he tilted his head back and began drinking.
The strong liquor poured continuously down his throat.
Half the bottle disappeared.
Then the entire bottle emptied.
The crowd gradually fell silent.
Everyone stared at him in disbelief.
Su Qingyuan’s fingers tightened around her clutch bag as anxiety quietly rose inside her chest.
One minute passed.
Then another.
Chen Yan calmly set the empty bottle down.
His expression remained completely unchanged.
Looking directly at Zhao Yuchen, he said evenly,
“Your turn.”
The color drained instantly from Zhao Yuchen’s face.
He had assumed Chen Yan was bluffing.
He never imagined someone could drink an entire bottle of Moutai without even flinching.
Grabbing his own bottle, Zhao Yuchen forced down several large mouthfuls before suddenly choking violently.
Laughter quietly spread throughout the surrounding crowd.
Humiliation flooded Zhao Yuchen’s face crimson.
He slammed the bottle onto the table and glared furiously at Chen Yan.
“Are you even human?”
Chen Yan did not answer.
Zhao Yuchen pointed at him angrily, clearly wanting to say something vicious, yet unable to find the words.
Finally, in complete humiliation, he kicked his chair backward and stormed out of the ballroom.
The room remained stunned for several moments before the music and chatter slowly resumed.
Su Qingyuan stepped closer to Chen Yan and lowered her voice.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
Chen Yan shook his head.
“Not at all.”
She stared at him silently.
She had witnessed everything.
He had stepped forward to shield her from the drinking pressure. He had finished an entire bottle of high-proof liquor without changing expression once. He had publicly humiliated Zhao Yuchen so thoroughly that the man fled in disgrace.
And throughout it all, he had remained as calm as if he were simply doing household chores.
“Why?” she asked softly.
Chen Yan looked at her.
“What do you mean?”
“Why did you step forward for me?”
Chen Yan thought briefly before answering,
“Because I’m your assistant.”
A faint disappointment quietly appeared in her eyes.
Assistant.
Always assistant.
Just her assistant.
Without saying anything else, she turned and left the ballroom.
After the reception ended, the Audi drove back toward the villa.
The entire ride home passed in silence.
When they finally arrived, Su Qingyuan stepped out of the car and walked toward the entrance.
After several steps, she suddenly stopped.
“Chen Yan.”
“Yes?”
She still did not turn around.
“About tonight… thank you.”
Chen Yan quietly watched her back.
Moonlight spilled softly over her navy gown, making her look almost unreal.
“There’s no need to thank me.”
She remained silent for several seconds before speaking softly.
“The reason you did those things tonight… it wasn’t simply because you’re my assistant.”
Then she slowly turned around and looked directly at him.
“It’s because you genuinely wanted to protect me.”
The silver moonlight illuminated her face completely, and her eyes shone with unmistakable intensity.
Chen Yan looked back at her.
And somewhere deep inside his chest, something quietly trembled.
Su Qingyuan turned around once more and walked into the villa.
Chen Yan remained standing alone in the driveway long after the door closed behind her.
A slow smile eventually appeared on his face.
Because you genuinely wanted to protect me.
Those words continued echoing endlessly in his mind.