The Imperial Capital Hotel.
Three young people were having dinner in a private booth by the window. A magazine, the latest issue of *The Insider*, sat on the table; the man on the cover looked spirited and determined.
Jin Heng, dressed in a casual suit, raised his glass. "Mr. Yuan, you certainly have excellent writing skills. This interview is brilliantly written, yet it remains objective and truthful. Thanks to the new business and your report, our Jin Group's stock price has even risen a bit. I toast to you."
Red wine flows from a stemmed glass, its alluring color gleaming under the light.
Yuan Mu felt a surge of pride. His report had earned him a promotion at the magazine, and he was just one step away from becoming editor-in-chief. "Mr. Jin is young and promising, with an extraordinary presence, which is why I had something to write about. Editing is simply the process of integrating and reprocessing materials."
A very humble attitude.
Beside her, Hua Se smiled sweetly, her perfectly manicured nails reflecting the transparency of the glass, making her even more beautiful. "Aheng, having editor friends from multiple mainstream media outlets, especially a talented person like Mr. Yuan, is like adding wings to a tiger. It makes it much easier to guide public opinion."
"Yes, Sese, you were right."
The glass was empty. Jin Heng glanced at the Vacheron Constantin on his wrist. "I have other engagements to attend to, so I'll take my leave now. Se Se, please keep an eye on Mr. Yuan for me."
As he spoke, he lightly kissed Hua Se on the forehead, picked up his phone, and prepared to leave.
Hua Se was reluctant to part with him and grabbed his hand. "Aheng, I'll see you off."
Jin Heng patted her hand and said softly, "Don't worry, there's a driver. Don't drive if you've been drinking."
As soon as Jin Heng left, Hua Se's gaze grew colder and colder, even her pretense of politeness was so perfunctory.
With the patron gone, Yuan Mu saw no need to linger any longer. "Miss Hua, I should head back now. Be careful on your way home tonight."
Hua Se glanced at him and pressed the hotel's doorbell. "Miss Hua, what do you need?"
Fauci snapped his fingers. "Another bottle of Margaux, please."
Yuan Mu hesitated for a moment, then remained still. "Miss Hua, why are you doing this?"
"Can't I drown my sorrows in alcohol? You've seen me in far worse shape, so what's the big deal?" Hua Se sniffed, looking pitiful and aggrieved.
The waiter served red wine, filling each of them to about seven-tenths full, and then quietly withdrew.
Hua Se swirled her wine glass, her eyes hazy and alluring. "Look, he doesn't care at all when I'm alone with other men. And I, on the other hand, go to great lengths to arrange things for him. He wants to enter a new business, and my Hua family is giving him all our resources. Ha, I'm truly the biggest fool in the world."
Yuan Mu stood there, stunned, not knowing what to say. He didn't want to have anything to do with the woman in front of him, but her arrogance, her haughtiness, and her helplessness were all laid bare before him.
"I...I need to go to the restroom." Yuan Mu's alcohol tolerance was only so-so; his stomach reacted after just a little. After relieving himself, he finally felt much better. He reached into his pocket, intending to send Jian Yan a message, only to realize his phone was still on his seat.
When he returned, he saw Hua Se holding his phone and saying "Hello." His heart tightened, and he snatched the phone away. "Give it to me. Xiao Yan, wait for me a moment, I'll go find a quiet place."
In the hotel corridor, Jian Yan asked him who the person on the phone was.
Yuan Mu didn't have the courage to tell her the truth. Although there was nothing between him and Hua Se, he felt inexplicably guilty and afraid that she would misunderstand. He said, "It's an entrepreneur I want to interview."
Jian Yan hung up the phone, and Yuan Mu returned dejectedly. A quarter of that bottle of Margaux was gone, and Hua Se's face was flushed crimson.
"Damn it, Miss Hua is a drunkard." Yuan Mu thought to himself. "Miss Hua, I really have to go." He walked quickly, out of sight, out of mind, and leaving was the best option.
He hadn't taken three steps when he heard a thud; Hua Se had fallen off the dining table. She looked like a pitiful little thing, her forehead bruised, her eyes brimming with tears, pleading for his help.
Yes, Yuan Mu had witnessed every embarrassing moment Hua Se had ever experienced. Helpless, he returned and helped Hua Se up, mechanically asking, "Address?"
Hua Se shook her head, as if she didn't understand.
"I asked you where you lived, and I took you home. I really owe you one."
This time, Hua Se understood and smiled happily. "Panhai International. Next to Chaoyang Park."
Yuan Mu knew that the capital city had famous mansions where many celebrities lived.
Yuan Mu hailed a taxi downstairs at the Imperial Capital Hotel and helped Hua Se, who was practically clinging to him, into the back seat.
Once in the car, Hua Se clung to Yuan Mu's arm, snuggled against him, and fell asleep. Yuan Mu tried several times to pull away, but couldn't. The driver looked in the rearview mirror and asked, "Young man, what's wrong with your girlfriend?"
Yuan Mu wanted to explain that she wasn't his girlfriend, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't make it clear.
After finally arriving at the community, Yuan Mu helped the woman down, saying, "Miss Hua, you can go in by yourself."
As soon as he let go, Hua Se fell to the ground, and Yuan Mu had no choice but to bite the bullet and catch her again.
The security guard recognized Hua Se. "Oh dear, Miss Hua, you're drunk."
Poor Yuan Mu didn't even know the apartment number. He was eventually told by the security guard. Despite being in a bustling area, the upscale community maintained a tranquil environment. Access to each building unit required a card swipe.
"Miss Hua, here's your access card. If you don't have it, you'll have to sober up in the open."
Hua Se muttered, "In my bag."
The first time Yuan Mu emptied a girl's bag, it was full of high-end cosmetics, various platinum and diamond cards, mixed with a cell phone and access card. After much trouble, he finally managed to deliver Hua Se to her apartment.
There was an entryway with shoes laid out. The living room was spacious, about 60 square meters, almost the size of many two-bedroom apartments. Yuan Mu dragged Hua Se into the living room and settled her on the sofa.
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