After finally finishing the meal, Luo Shu was incredibly full. She had even had several extra glasses of the '82 Lafite alone.
When they got to the underground parking garage, Qin Heng insisted on driving her home, but Luo Shu refused.
"You don't need to take me. I have a business trip tomorrow, and I have another appointment later. And remember! I like things clean. The car… don't get it dirty!"
"Don't get it dirty." Those four words were spoken with a particular cadence, and they pierced her own heart deeply.
Luo Shu fought back the urge to say something even harsher.
She had had a couple of extra drinks, but she wasn't so drunk as to lose control. Reason prevailed; she knew what her objective was this time.
Qin Heng obediently took her car keys and got into the car.
"Shu'er! I love you!"
Qin Heng leaned his head out of the car window, his words spoken with great sincerity.
For a fleeting moment, Luo Shu almost believed him. She pursed her lips into a smile but didn't respond.
Love was cheap. It came easily to the lips; anyone could say it.
She had to admit that in the past few years, they had once been in love. But that was strictly in the past.
Watching him drive her car away until it was out of sight, her eyes grew misty, and the tears she had been holding back began to stream down her face.
She began to sob quietly, the tears flowing like an unstoppable spring.
"Whore! Trash!" she gritted her teeth, cursing viciously under her breath.
The pain in her heart felt as if someone were slowly carving it open with a small knife, the blood spreading slowly, seeping into every part of her being.
She leaned against the wall, her face covered in tears.
After some time, it seemed as if she had cried herself dry.
She composed herself, reached a hand back to smooth her hair, and turned, only to find Yu Zhan standing at the elevator entrance, watching her.
She quickly averted her gaze and frantically wiped away her tears, not wanting him to see.
"...You."
Yu Zhan staggered over, his eyes hazy, looking as if he were about to collapse at any moment.
"Luo Shu?"
He squinted, as if drunk out of his mind. Beneath his rimless glasses, he still looked cool and noble.
Luo Shu turned her face away, not letting him look, but he lowered his head and blatantly peered into her eyes.
"It really is you..."
He stumbled and nearly fell.
With quick reflexes, Luo Shu caught and supported him.
"Mr. Yu..."
Her voice, hoarse from crying, trembled as she called his name.
She sighed, wondering how she had gotten into such a string of unfortunate events.
Cheated on by her boyfriend, backstabbed by her best friend, and she even slept with her boss.
Who on earth could possibly accept all that!
"Were you crying?"
Yu Zhan was clearly unsteady, half his body leaning on Luo Shu for support.
"No, I got sand in my eyes."
Luo Shu didn't want to waste her breath on him.
"Mr. Yu, where's your car? Give me the keys."
Luo Shu helped him to the wall, letting him lean against it, and began to search his pockets.
But his jacket pockets were completely empty, and she didn't dare to search his pants pockets, afraid of grabbing his family jewels.
"Didn't drive."
He tilted his head, looking at Luo Shu's red-rimmed eyes and her pink nose.
Luo Shu was at a loss. She frowned and muttered under her breath:
"You can get drunk on red wine at a fancy restaurant?! Is your tolerance really that bad? Did you get all your business deals by sleeping your way to them?"
Muttering curses, she called Shen Yan.
[Shen Yan, where are you? Your boss is drunk.]
[For crying out loud, what time is it? I'm off the clock.]
[No kidding, you think I don't know you're off work? I'm off work too! You're his assistant. Do you want your boss or not? If not, I'm leaving him here.]
Luo Shu had a bellyful of grievances with no one to vent to, and now she had to deal with this mess. She had wanted to stay as far away from him as possible, but she kept running into him every time.
[Where are you?]
[Shi Fu, basement garage.]
There was a moment of silence on the other end. [Let me talk to the boss.]
She sighed and walked over to Yu Zhan behind her.
"It's your assistant! Tell him to come get you, quick!"
Luo Shu grabbed his toned wrist and made him hold the phone.
Yu Zhan shook his dizzy head, looked at the phone, then put it to his ear and walked aside to take the call.
Luo Shu used this opportunity to fix the tear stains on her face and tidy her messy hair.
[Mm,] said Yu Zhan.
[Mr. Yu, you were drinking at Shi Fu, correct?] Shen Yan confirmed again.
[Mm.]
[You don't need me, do you?]
Having been by Yu Zhan's side for so long, he knew what kind of man he was. It was absolutely impossible for a mere two glasses of red wine to knock him out. The only explanation was that he was faking it.
Yu Zhan had to admire Shen Yan's quick thinking.
[Mm.]
[I can suddenly fall ill right now, but I'll need tomorrow off. A paid day off.]
Shen Yan certainly knew how to seize an opportunity!
[Mm.]
[Long live the boss! You keep being drunk! I'm turning my phone off now.]
[Mm.]
Indeed, it takes a man to understand a man!
Yu Zhan ended the conversation with a single "Mm."
On the other end, Shen Yan was probably grinning from ear to ear!
"..." Yu Zhan dazedly walked back to Luo Shu, his arm slinging over her shoulder.
Luo Shu flinched and quickly dodged, but fearing he would fall, she had no choice but to support him again.
"Hey! Did you call someone or not?!"
Luo Shu snatched the phone back and tried to call again, but it had already been turned off.
Well, I'll be damned!
She had no choice but to help him to the ground floor to catch a taxi.
They sat in the back seat together, and Yu Zhan rested his head on her shoulder.
Luo Shu tilted her head. The faint scent of his shampoo filled her nose. It was nice.
"Going out drinking without even bringing a bodyguard. Don't you know your pretty face would be worth a fortune in a brothel?"
Luo Shu took the opportunity to pinch his cheek.
It was quite smooth. She couldn't resist stroking it a couple more times, chuckling to herself.
The taxi driver chuckled in the front seat.
She finally managed to get him back to his apartment based on her memory. It was already eleven o'clock.
Just as they arrived at his door, the bodyguards rushed out to greet them.
"Get lost!"
Yu Zhan looked at the bodyguard who was about to help him, and just like that, the man was bluntly dismissed.
"Are you a pig! Do I look like I can carry you!"
The bodyguard at the side stared with wide eyes.
Luo Shu was sweating profusely as she dumped him on the living room sofa.
Just as she was about to dust off her hands and leave, her small wrist was grabbed, and he pulled her back. She stumbled and fell into his arms, held tightly by him.
"Hey!"
His chest was just as firm and hot as it had been that night. It felt incredibly good to the touch.
"Don't go..."
Slap!
Luo Shu slapped him across the face and quickly scrambled up.
Luo Shu was startled by her own actions, but then, afraid she had hit him too hard, she reached out and stroked his face. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
He paused, staring at her with almond eyes full of watery tenderness, then leaned back on the sofa and looked up at her.
The maid, who had been about to step forward to help, froze in shock.
Luo Shu stood up, straightened her clothes, and said to the maid:
"If he doesn't remember tomorrow, don't say I hit him. Just say… just say he fell."
"Okay..."
The maid nodded slightly. She recognized this woman as the same one who had slept with her master the other day and didn't dare to refuse.
Luo Shu looked at him one last time, then turned and walked out of the apartment.
Less than two minutes later, Yu Zhan straightened his clothes and picked up the hangover soup the maid had prepared on the table.
"Hiss—"
He touched his stinging cheek and looked in the direction Luo Shu had gone.
The maid stood at the side, pursing her lips to stifle a laugh, not daring to make a sound.
Who would have thought that the great domineering CEO would resort to playing such little games? And who would have thought there would be a woman who could refuse the CEO's advances? It was truly a rare sight!
Back in her rented apartment, Luo Shu eagerly tore off the dress that Qin Heng had touched, threw it directly into the trash can, and then went into the bathroom to take a shower.