Chapter 171 This first cup must be offered on one's knees.

Lin Yiyao took a closer look, and her heart skipped a beat.

That silhouette, that aura—who else could it be but Yan Tingnan?

"Ruanruan, don't worry, it's probably just a normal social engagement..."

Lin Yiyao quickly comforted her.

Su Ruan suddenly smiled and gently tapped her chin with her fingertip.

"In a hurry? Why would I be in a hurry?"

"I'm just curious, what kind of ordinary social occasion would require bringing a pretty girl along?"

"Looks unfamiliar."

"A newly hired assistant? Quite unique taste."

Her tone was casual, without a trace of anger, as if she were commenting on an unrelated passerby.

Lin Yiyao frowned and said in a low voice.

"Do you need me to go with you to take a look?"

"What are you looking at?"

Su Ruan chuckled and took Lin Yiyao's arm as they continued walking forward.

"Let's go see our client first."

"The important matter comes first."

"ah?"

Lin Yiyao was taken aback.

She smiled brightly, her eyes crinkling.

"Men care about their image, and we women should also have style."

"rest assured."

...

Inside the Canglan Hall, the lighting was dim, and the smell of alcohol mingled with the aroma of cigars.

Chen Jinming, with his beer belly, had his cloudy eyes glued to Mu Chuji ever since she entered the room.

She wished she could tear off that plain dress right there and then.

He's been with quite a few women, but this one has a pure, student-like quality.

And the fact that she appeared next to Yan Tingnan again made him even more eager to have her.

"President Yan, who is this gentleman?"

Yan Tingnan unbuttoned a button on his suit jacket, sat down in the main seat, and remained relaxed, without answering his question.

He nodded slightly, indicating that Mu Chuji should speak on her own.

"Hello, Mr. Chen. I am Mr. Yan's new assistant, Mu Chuji."

Her voice was soft and gentle, with a deliberately submissive tone, but she couldn't help glancing at the man in the main seat.

Chen Jinming laughed heartily, and his thick hand was about to pat Mu Chuji's shoulder.

"Assistant Mu is truly young and promising. Come, come, sit next to me and have a drink with your uncle!"

Mu Chuji felt a chill run down her spine under his gaze and instinctively moved to the side behind Yan Tingnan.

"Mr. Chen."

Her voice turned colder.

"I'm not a big drinker."

Chen Jinming's hand froze in mid-air, and the fat on his face twitched.

In Beijing, there aren't many women who would dare to embarrass him like that.

Because Yan Tingnan was present, he forced himself to suppress his anger, gave a dry laugh, and tried to save face.

"Is Assistant Mu shy?"

"Haha, that's great, that's great."

He reluctantly withdrew his hand and slumped heavily into his seat.

Mu Chuji also sat down.

Yan Tingnan sat in the main seat, swirling the amber liquid in his glass, his expression indifferent.

"What are your thoughts, Mr. Chen, on the new port plan?"

Chen Jinming chuckled and moved his bulky body closer, almost touching Mu Chuji's arm.

"The solution is easy to propose, very easy to propose!"

"It all depends on President Yan's sincerity..."

He made a pointed remark, his hand casually resting on the back of Mu Chuji's chair.

Mu Chuji froze, turning to Yan Tingnan for help.

But then Yan Tingnan's lips curled into a cold smile.

"Sincerity?"

He slowly sipped his wine.

"Mr. Chen, what do you think constitutes sincerity?"

Chen Jinming grew bolder and slid his hand down, trying to touch Mu Chuji's hand.

"For example, have Assistant Mu have a few drinks with me?"

"Shall we have a more in-depth discussion?"

His words were a test.

To test Yan Tingnan's attitude towards this woman.

Mu Chuji abruptly withdrew her hand, a look of disgust flashing in her eyes, as if she had touched something dirty.

The system said that Yan Tingnan is the male lead and will definitely protect her in crucial moments!

What is this old fat pig anyway!

She looked at Yan Tingnan again, her voice trembling, tears welling up but not yet falling, her acting superb.

"President Yan!"

Yan Tingnan finally raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over her.

Under the light, his profile appeared cold and hard.

"Mr. Chen has excellent taste."

His tone was flat.

"Assistant Mu, if you don't know the rules, then learn them."

"Mr. Chen is an important partner of Qingyan. Let's toast Mr. Chen."

"Respectfully offer this salute."

Mu Chuji's pupils constricted sharply as she looked at Yan Tingnan in disbelief.

How could that be?

Instead of protecting her, he forced her to toast this lecherous old man.

[Emergency Mission Triggered: Maintain a vulnerable yet resilient persona despite Chen Jinming's harassment, and evoke Yan Tingnan's protective instincts!]

With a determined look, Mu Chuji dug her nails into her palms, forcing out a few tears from her eyes, making her appear even more pitiful.

"Mr. Yan, I really don't drink alcohol."

Yan Tingnan's eyes turned cold, and his tone was devoid of any warmth.

"A toast is a basic courtesy; do I need to teach it to you?"

"Or is it that I can't get you to come?"

Mu Chuji shuddered, her mind buzzing.

he……

He actually didn't help her?

Her last shred of hope was shattered.

It shouldn't be like this!

She's the female lead!

"President Yan, I..."

She tried to remain calm, but her voice betrayed a hint of panic.

"A toast."

Yan Tingnan interrupted her with two words, cold as iron.

Seeing Yan Tingnan's attitude, Chen Jinming immediately understood what was going on.

It turns out that this woman didn't hold any real weight with Yan Tingnan.

It's even possible that Yan Tingnan brought it to him on purpose to relieve his boredom.

His courage suddenly grew, and he leaned back in his chair, glancing sideways at Mu Chuji.

"Assistant Mu, President Yan has spoken."

"What, is my glass of wine not worthy of your toast?"

Mu Chuji's fingertips were icy cold, and the wine glass trembled slightly in her hand.

[System Warning: Target's protective instincts not triggered! Plot deviation 15%!]

[Activate Plan B: Enhance the victim's image and evoke instinctive male pity!]

To hell with instinctive pity!

This man is like an unbreakable block of ice!

Under pressure, Mu Chuji reluctantly picked up her wine glass and walked towards Chen Jinming.

"Mr. Chen, let me toast you."

Just as she tilted her head back to drink, Chen Jinming smiled sinisterly.

He tapped his fingers on the table, pushing his luck.

"Hey, isn't it insincere to stand there while offering a toast?"

"Assistant Mu, there are rules for toasting."

"In our old-fashioned tradition, the first cup must be offered while kneeling to show sincerity."

kneel?

He actually dared to make her kneel?!

She suddenly looked at Yan Tingnan.

Yan Tingnan lowered her eyes, fiddling with the wedding ring on her ring finger, unmoved.

"President Chen is very dedicated to teaching people manners."

It was a casual remark, neither explicitly agreeing nor disagreeing.

But it was like a key that completely unlocked the beast within Chen Jinming's heart.

This is tacit approval!

Chen Jinming's face twitched, and he gave his secretary a wink.

The secretary stepped forward and, without any mercy, kicked Mu Chuji hard in the back of the knee.

Mu Chuji cried out in pain as her knees slammed uncontrollably onto the carpet with a dull thud.

The wine glass slipped from her hand, spilling most of the wine and soaking her skirt.

Mu Chuji felt blood rush to her head, and the feeling of humiliation overwhelmed her reason.

She looked up and stared intently at Yan Tingnan.

Yan Tingnan finally lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on her disheveled face.

Their eyes met.

In an instant, a violent traction force struck again!

He looked at Mu Chuji's tear-filled eyes and his heart inexplicably clenched.

My temples throbbed with a needle-like pain, and a strange sense of irritability rose within me.

He actually felt a slight urge to pull her away.

He clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles turning white.

The restlessness was forcibly suppressed, and his eyes returned to a state of icy stillness.

Under Mu Chuji's gaze, Yan Tingnan only raised his glass to Chen Jinming.

"Mr. Chen, enjoy yourself."