Liu Jia: “…”
After a moment, she whispered, “President Meng, are you telling me a bad joke?”
“Exactly, a bad joke,” Meng Chu said expressionlessly.
People like Qian Wei deserved to be thrown in a trash can.
“President Gu was worried since you’d been gone so long, so she asked me to check on you,” Liu Jia said, supporting Meng Chu.
Meng Chu responded with a soft “Thanks.”
“It’s no problem. Let me help you back to your seat,” Liu Jia offered.
Although Meng Chu didn’t want to return to the private room, she knew it was inevitable.
She leaned on Liu Jia as they walked back.
Just as they reached the door, Meng Chu released Liu Jia’s hand, lifted her head, tidied her hair, and calmly pushed open the door.
“Sorry for being gone so long,” Meng Chu said lightly as she returned to her seat.
Qian Wei glanced at her. “President Meng, that was indeed too long.”
A faint smile appeared on Meng Chu’s lips.
“I wonder what kept President Meng so entertained outside?” Qian Wei teased deliberately.
Wang Can, sitting nearby, also looked at Meng Chu upon hearing this.
Meng Chu lightly clasped her hands and raised her eyes toward him with a faint smile.
“Not much, just…”
Before she could finish, Gu Ting suddenly said, “President Qian, let me toast you again.”
He seemed to recognize Meng Chu well— last time when she threatened to fire Shao Yun Jia, she made the same expression.
Though Gu Ting didn’t know what was going on, he wisely decided to intervene.
Qian Wei’s attention shifted with Gu Ting’s interruption.
He lifted his glass and looked at Meng Chu.
“President Meng, though this is our first meeting, I feel like we’re old friends. I believe a company like Xingyuan, with you around, will definitely thrive.”
“As for our cooperation…” Qian Wei slowly swirled the wine in his glass.
He suddenly raised his hand as if to put it on Meng Chu’s shoulder in a familiar gesture.
Meng Chu stood abruptly and avoided his hand, though she still felt his fingers brush against her hair resting on her shoulder.
The lively atmosphere in the room suddenly fell silent.
Everyone stared as Meng Chu stood.
Qian Wei’s face showed displeasure — her avoidance was too obvious.
The friendly vibe of the dinner seemed about to be destroyed.
Meng Chu turned to Qian Wei.
“President Qian, do you mean that if I drink enough, we can talk cooperation?”
Qian Wei just smiled without answering.
Meng Chu reached for the clear flask in front of her.
“There are about three cups left in this flask; I’ll drink them all for you, President Qian.”
Holding the flask, she nodded at Qian Wei in a toast.
Then she tilted her head back and drank straight from the flask.
Everyone was dumbfounded as Meng Chu finished the entire flask in one go.
Her originally fair cheeks were flushed a deep red, like blooming cherry blossoms.
Her beautiful, moist eyes had a pink tinge around them, with long lashes lowered, yet still betrayed a blurry, tipsy gaze.
After finishing, Meng Chu turned her head slightly to look at Qian Wei.
“I hope Xingyuan can have the opportunity to cooperate with Linjiang Group.”
“President Meng is generous,” Qian Wei seemed extremely pleased with her performance.
*
It was past 10 pm when the frustrating banquet finally ended.
Meng Chu had drunk almost all she could.
But she clung to her remaining bit of sanity to hold on.
Everyone stood at the restaurant entrance, preparing to leave.
“President Meng drank quite a lot,” Qian Wei smiled at her. “Let me send you on my way.”
Gu Ting suppressed his irritation and smiled.
“No need. Our company has a car to pick her up.”
Just then, the driver’s car arrived.
Gu Ting leaned toward Meng Chu and whispered, “You get in first.”
“No, I’ll take a taxi home,” Meng Chu said expressionlessly, pulling out her phone.
Gu Ting lowered his voice, “Meng Chu, don’t be difficult.”
Meng Chu said, “Gu Ting, I can go home on my own. I don’t need you to send me.”
Gu Ting, annoyed she insisted at this point, said, “Don’t be stubborn. You’re this drunk — how will you get home?”
Though flushed, Meng Chu’s expression remained calm. “I can.”
At that moment, her phone suddenly rang.
Gu Ting was about to look, but Meng Chu answered first.
It was Cheng Jinyu calling. He sounded cheerful, his voice light.
“The snacks you ordered have arrived at home.”
“That’s good,” Meng Chu nodded.
“Have you been drinking?” Cheng Jinyu immediately sounded uneasy.
Meng Chu blinked and tried to control her voice, “Just a little.”
Cheng Jinyu’s tone turned serious.
“Meng Chu, do you think I’m easy to fool?”
Huh?
Why was he sounding angry?
Meng Chu thought for a moment.
“Maybe a little.”
“Send me your address. I’m coming now,” Cheng Jinyu ordered firmly.
Meng Chu said, “But I was already planning to go home.”
She heard shuffling sounds in the background — he was preparing to leave.
“Address.”
“No need to bother. The company driver is sending me home.”
She could feel everything around her swaying.
“Then have the driver send you. I’ll wait for you at home.”
Cheng Jinyu knew she was truly drunk now and wouldn’t force her.
Meng Chu seemed pleased and smiled, “I’ll have the driver send me.”
“Don’t hang up. Stay on the phone with me the whole way.”
Cheng Jinyu’s voice sounded again.
“Okay.”
Meng Chu’s voice was a little more obedient.
“Do you have your Bluetooth earphones? Put them on.”
Meng Chu obeyed, pulling out the earphones from her bag and putting them in.
“Are they on?”
Cheng Jinyu asked again.
“This time, Meng Chu answered, “Yes, on.”
“Good. Now get in the car. I’ll wait for you at home.”
She looked up again and said to Gu Ting, “I’m not going home on my own. The driver will take me.”
Gu Ting, who had just seen her insist on taking a taxi, laughed.
“Now you know, right?”
Meng Chu nodded, “Yes, my husband wants me to go with the driver. He’ll pick me up.”
Gu Ting’s expression stiffened — he hadn’t expected the call was from her rumored but never seen husband.
“I’m leaving first,” Meng Chu waved and got into the car.
Gu Ting was about to say something when Meng Chu said, “Tonight I’ll trouble you to take a taxi, Gu Ting. The driver will send me home.”
Even with her mind muddled by alcohol, she still maintained clear boundaries with Gu Ting.
Gu Ting watched her get into the car.
At least he could grit his teeth and tell the driver, “Take her home.”
The driver noticed Gu Ting didn’t get in and asked, “What about you, Gu Ting?”
“Just send her,” Gu Ting replied helplessly.
Meng Chu leaned back in the seat with her eyes closed, but her hand gripped her phone tightly.
As the car started, the driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror and softly asked, “President Meng, do you want some water?”
“No, thanks,” Meng Chu mumbled drowsily.
After she spoke, she felt a breath lingering near her ear.
She rested against the seat as the driver drove her home.
Because he had driven her many times, he knew her address by heart.
The car moved smoothly on the road, and Meng Chu seemed to drift into a dreamlike state, her mind hazy yet surrounded by a faint warmth.
After some time, the driver suddenly called her twice.
Meng Chu slowly woke up and looked out the window.
“Are we there?”
She pushed open the door and got out.
The driver followed, noticing her unsteady steps.
“President Meng, shall I walk you downstairs? Can you manage on your own like this?”
“I’m fine,” Meng Chu shook her head.
Just as she began to walk, her foot twisted, but someone grabbed her arm firmly.
“Meng Chu,” a voice called out.
She looked up at the person standing before her.
Seeing his serious, handsome face, she suddenly lifted two fingers and waved them teasingly near his eyes.
“Cheng Jinyu, why do you have two voices?”
He was clearly standing right in front of her, yet she also heard his voice in her ear.
Cheng Jinyu laughed with some anger.
She was so drunk she forgot she still had the Bluetooth earphones on.
He had told her to put them on earlier, so they could stay connected.
The driver, seeing Cheng Jinyu appear, asked cautiously, “Who are you?”
“I’m her family,” Cheng Jinyu said patiently, understanding the driver’s concern.
The driver hesitated.
“You’re her family? I’ve never seen you before.”
Then the driver looked at Meng Chu.
“President Meng, is this your family?”
Meng Chu quietly looked at Cheng Jinyu but didn’t answer.
The driver became more alert.
“I think you should let go of President Meng.”
Cheng Jinyu sighed and gently pinched Meng Chu’s chin, staring into her eyes.
“Meng Chu, who am I?”
“Cheng Jinyu.”
Meng Chu said his name slowly and clearly.
Cheng Jinyu smiled, relieved she still recognized him.
Then he softly asked, “Who is Cheng Jinyu?”
Who was Cheng Jinyu?
After a brief silence, Meng Chu blinked slowly and finally said,
“Cheng Jinyu is my husband.”
As soon as she said that, it was as if all her defenses completely fell away.
Her head leaned lightly against him, resting on his chest.
Cheng Jinyu looked down at the person against him, feeling a heat rise in his chest that made him tremble.