Chapter 022: Zhou Jingyi, do you think I have a good figure?

Wen Ni looked at Jiang Shaozhang.

Jiang Shaozhang smiled at Wen Ni, but the smile never reached his eyes; his gaze was shadowed and fixed on her. “Kneel to me and bow your head, and I’ll forgive you, Wen Ni.”

Wen Ni’s throat moved slightly.

The two stared into each other’s eyes.

Wen Ni gently removed Jiang Shaozhang’s hand and said, “Young Master Jiang, the third bottle. You’ve counted, haven’t you?”

She continued to drink.

Swallowing was pure muscle memory now, and pain crept across her face. The burning liquor slid down her throat like scalding acid, searing her esophagus, her stomach spasming violently, her body trembling uncontrollably.

A dizzy spell swept over Wen Ni.

She gripped her palm tightly.

Blood welled from her palm where her fingernails dug in.

The sharp pain brought her back a shred of sanity; she paused.

Jiang Shaozhang glared at her furiously.

Wen Ni couldn’t drink any more. The world began to spin, her body felt hollowed out, and suddenly she collapsed backward.

Jiang Shaozhang instinctively reached out.

But caught nothing.

Zhou Jingyi caught Wen Ni steadily, his strong arms forming an impenetrable barrier around her waist—a slender waist that seemed almost breakable under his grip.

Zhou Jingyi spoke in a calm voice, “Jiang Shaozhang?”

Jiang Shaozhang withdrew his arm.

He stood up.

Looking at Zhou Jingyi, he said, “Oh! So it’s the young uncle of the Zhou family. Wen Ni and I have a personal feud. She came to apologize of her own accord, chose to drink; it’s not my fault.”

Zhou Jingyi pressed Wen Ni to his chest.

With his other hand, he tapped Jiang Shaozhang’s shoulder gently. “Mm, it’s not your fault.”

Jiang Shaozhang suddenly laughed.

He said, “Now that the Zhou family’s young uncle is here, I must give you this respect. The silk I have will be sold to Wen Ni at the same price.”

Wen Ni felt ill.

She squirmed in Zhou Jingyi’s arms.

His hand tightened around her waist, holding her fast.

He scolded her softly at her ear, “Don’t move!”

Zhou Jingyi picked up a full bottle of Martell left on the coffee table and handed it to Jiang Shaozhang.

Jiang Shaozhang was puzzled.

He could only take it.

Then Zhou Jingyi took the third bottle Wen Ni had been drinking from; there was about fifty milliliters left.

Zhou Jingyi raised the bottle to his lips. “Shaozhang, I toast you. I’ll finish it.”

With that, Zhou Jingyi drank it all in one gulp.

He turned the bottle upside down—not a drop remained.

Jiang Shaozhang looked at the bottle in his hand, steeled himself, and drained it in one go. He, too, turned his bottle upside down. “Young uncle of the Zhou family, I’ve done my part.”

Zhou Jingyi smiled.

He said, “Someone will contact you about the silk tomorrow.”

With those words, Zhou Jingyi bent down, lifted Wen Ni, and strode out without a backward glance.

Jiang Shaozhang stared at Zhou Jingyi’s upright figure, his hand tightening around the Martell bottle.

When Zhou Jingyi left the private room—

Jiang Shaozhang raised the bottle and smashed it violently against the opposite wall.

He let out a roar of rage.

No one around dared make a sound.

Tonight was supposed to be Jiang Shaozhang’s triumphant moment, but once again, he’d been put in his place.

Jiang Shaozhang hadn’t had many humiliating moments in his life.

In all his years,

Just twice.

And both times, because of Wen Ni.

Jiang Shaozhang took a deep breath.

Wen Ni.

Well done!

His blood surged, the alcohol hitting him all at once.

Jiang Shaozhang’s head spun; he hurriedly sat down.

The girls crowded around, some massaging his back, others his legs, some feeding him grapes.

As if nothing had just happened.

Jiang Shaozhang shoved aside the girl feeding him grapes, kicked the coffee table far away. “Go, go, get the hell out, all of you!”

Everyone hurried to leave.

Racing each other.

The private room finally fell quiet.

Jiang Shaozhang slumped onto the sofa. No sooner had he lain down than his face changed; he scrambled up, staggered to the bathroom, and vomited.

That liquor.

Really was damn strong.

…

In the corridor,

Zhou Jingyi walked quickly; Shen Qinglan rushed to meet him.

Only when close did he see Zhou Jingyi carrying Wen Ni in his arms.

Shen Qinglan’s androgynous face registered shock—almost twisted with disbelief. “Weren’t you just out for a smoke?”

Zhou Jingyi didn’t even glance his way, instructing, “Just say I left early.”

Before Shen Qinglan could respond,

Zhou Jingyi was already in the elevator with Wen Ni.

Shen Qinglan chased after them, but the elevator doors had closed.

He couldn’t help muttering at the elevator, “A welcome banquet for you, and you’re gone—what kind of banquet is that?”

But the man was already gone.

Shen Qinglan had no choice.

He braced himself and returned to the private room. Quietly, he said, “Jingyi has an urgent matter, very tricky, had to leave. He says he’ll invite us another day.”

On the single sofa,

A beautiful woman frowned, a hint of disappointment flickering in her eyes.

—

Before they reached the hospital,

Wen Ni vomited.

She threw up in Zhou Jingyi’s car.

The driver glanced at the man in the passenger seat.

Zhou Jingyi said, “Stop the car.”

The driver hurriedly pulled over.

Wen Ni flung the door open, rushed out to find a trash can, and clung to it, vomiting until the world spun.

The driver whispered, “Why did she drink so much?”

His words happened to reach Zhou Jingyi.

Zhou Jingyi cast a sidelong glance.

The driver realized his slip and quickly shut his mouth.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Jingyi replied, “Courting death.”

With that,

Zhou Jingyi got out.

He stood quietly under the streetlamp, watching Wen Ni suffer.

Zhou Jingyi truly didn’t understand.

He couldn’t understand how someone could risk their life for a matter.

In Zhou Jingyi’s world, nothing—and no one—was worth risking his own life.

Such behavior was foolish.

Wen Ni finished vomiting.

She slumped by the roadside, gasping for breath.

Zhou Jingyi fetched a bottle of mineral water from the car and handed it to her.

Wen Ni took it.

She was utterly drained, unable to open the cap.

She tilted her head back; under the streetlamp, her eyes glimmered gold, deep and sparkling like a lake. “I can’t open it.”

A pitiful voice.

With the rabbit ears atop her head…

Zhou Jingyi took the bottle back, twisted off the cap, and handed it to Wen Ni.

He tore off the rabbit ears and tossed them into the trash.

The driver poked his head out. “Sir, should we skip the hospital? I’ll go wash the car now?”

Zhou Jingyi nodded faintly.

The driver quickly drove off.

Wen Ni rinsed her mouth, then gulped water. “I got the silk, Zhou Jingyi. I told you I’d give you an answer—I wasn’t lying.”

Zhou Jingyi’s voice was cold. “Wen Ni, you really aren’t afraid of dying.”

Wen Ni smiled, lips pressed together. “I took a sobering pill before I came.”

But perhaps she drank too quickly, and the pill didn’t have enough time to take effect.

Wen Ni tossed the empty bottle into the trash with precision and stretched.

She was still dressed as a bunny girl.

The outfit was already short.

One stretch,

Everything that should—and shouldn’t—be exposed, was exposed.

Zhou Jingyi took off his jacket and threw it forcefully over her.

Wen Ni hugged his jacket, swaying and laughing. “Zhou Jingyi, do you think I have a nice figure?”

Zhou Jingyi’s brow twitched twice.

He said, “Wen Ni, you really…”