Chapter 369 I just don't want to pretend anymore
The moment the bottle hit the ground, it was as if the air had been paused.
The dull thud of the bottle hitting the marble floor was followed by the crisp crack of shattering glass, like a sharp knife slicing through the tranquility of the winery's corridor.
The deep purple liquid spread rapidly across the ground like a surging undercurrent, meandering into twisted patterns. The tiny shards of glass reflected a cold, glaring light under the lamplight, like scattered diamonds, yet with sharp, hurtful edges.
Cui Xiao stood frozen in place, the emptiness still lingering in her fingertips from when she had just let go, and her hand, hanging by her side, unconsciously clenched slightly.
Suddenly, a scorching gaze almost burned a hole through her back.
Cui Xiao felt no guilt at all; she turned around and met Zhou Mubin's gaze.
It's like a form of venting, and also like a form of resistance.
Not far away, at the corner of the corridor, Zhou Mubin stood there, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his expensive custom-made suit highlighting his noble and aloof temperament.
He held a cigarette between his fingers, took a deep drag, and the white smoke obscured his deep-set face.
Zhou Mubin's gaze was fixed on the mess in front of him, his deep eyes churning with complex and unpredictable emotions.
His tightly pursed thin lips outlined a cold, hard line, and his knuckles were slightly white from gripping the cigarette butt tightly.
The air around them seemed to freeze. Even the sommelier was too frightened to breathe, quietly taking a half step back, his eyes darting back and forth between the two, clearly unsure how to end the situation.
Cui Xiao saw that his eyes were cold, like a frozen lake in winter, devoid of any warmth, yet beneath that coldness, there seemed to be a trace of barely perceptible hurt and anger.
She twitched the corners of her mouth, revealing a mocking smile.
Zhou Mubin didn't say anything, but simply started walking towards her step by step.
The leather shoes made a crisp sound as they stepped on the smooth ground, each step feeling like it was stepping on her heart, making Cui Xiao inexplicably nervous.
He stopped a few steps away from her, his gaze shifting from the broken pieces and spilled wine to her face, his tone devoid of emotion, "Don't you like it?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an invisible sense of pressure.
Cui Xiao sneered, "Is it possible that you're the one who dragged this bottle of wine down with you?"
Looking at Cui Xiao's indifference, Zhou Mubin's eyes grew even colder.
He bent down, picked up a relatively intact shard of glass, and gently stroked the edge of the shard with his fingertips, as if he were thinking about something.
After a long while, he raised his head and spoke again, his voice carrying a hint of imperceptible weariness, "Cui Xiao, so this is the real you, the you with sharp claws and fangs."
Having grown accustomed to Cui Xiao's submissive nature, Zhou Mubin only gradually discovered this side of her after she left the company.
He thought about it carefully again. If Cui Xiao was a soft-hearted person, how could she have helped his law firm reach its current scale?
She was never kind-hearted, nor was she ever submissive.
Cui Xiao's face darkened, the rich aroma of alcohol lingering around her nose. "Zhou Mubin, I just don't want to pretend anymore."
After saying that, she picked up her bag, turned around, and walked away very quickly.
After a while, Cui Xiao got into the car and drove away. Zhou Mubin broke the cigarette in his hand with his hand.
He said coldly, "Clean this place up, give you an address, and send another bottle over."
The sommelier was taken aback, and it took him a few seconds to react. "Yes, Second Young Master."
After leaving the winery, Cui Xiao drove straight to the agreed-upon restaurant.
Not having time to cater to his preferences, Cui Xiao could only approach his wife. She passed by a shopping mall and chose a bottle of globally limited edition perfume as a gift for his wife.
At the same time, Sun Lu also arrived at the Belle Grand Hotel.
She had arranged to meet with Editor-in-Chief Ma here to discuss contract renewal. To prepare, Sun Lu even went home early and chose a high-end suit from Cui Xiao's wardrobe to change into.
Wearing white snakeskin high heels and an expensive suit, Sun Lu walked into the most expensive restaurant in the port city, and she instantly felt like a completely different person.
It's as if they've crossed social classes and successfully squeezed into the upper echelons of the elite circle.
No wonder everyone wants to be rich; indeed, that feeling is truly captivating.
When they arrived at the reserved private room, Editor-in-Chief Ma was already there. However, he wasn't the only one there; there were also three or four men that Sun Lu didn't recognize.
Editor-in-Chief Ma was sitting in the main seat. When Sun Lu came in, he immediately said, "Assistant Sun, you'll have to drink a penalty shot if you're late."
The moment they met, Sun Lu was immediately intimidated. Her instinctive nervousness crept in as her white snakeskin high heels clicked on the gleaming marble, instantly eroding her confidence.
She forced a polite smile. "Editor-in-Chief Ma, there was a bit of traffic on the way. I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting since it's our first meeting."
Sun Lu knew that there would be traffic jams during rush hour, but she never expected it to be this bad.
She should have had Cui Xiao deliver the clothes to the law firm instead of rushing back at this time.
"So Assistant Sun does know how to feel embarrassed."
After speaking, Editor-in-Chief Ma picked up the transparent wine cup in front of him and swirled it, instantly releasing the pungent aroma of baijiu. "Assistant Sun's outfit makes it look like she's attending a banquet. What, did you dress up specially for us knowing you'd be meeting several executives today?"
The men at the table burst into laughter, their eyes darting from the collar of Sun Lu's suit to the tips of her high heels.
Sun Lu's cheeks flushed instantly, her fingertips digging into her palms, but she could only maintain a stiff smile. "Editor-in-Chief Ma is joking. When it comes to work, we should be more formal."
Editor-in-Chief Ma put down his wine glass, tapped his knuckles on the table, and his voice suddenly turned cold. "Editor-in-Chief Sun is quite sensible, but even so, he can't avoid this penalty drink."
Sun Lu's smile froze. Just as she was about to speak, a man wearing a gold chain spoke up first, "Editor-in-Chief Ma, that young lady has had a tough time. How about this, if she drinks this glass of wine, we'll forgive her, okay?"
As she spoke, Sun Lu looked at the transparent container the man was holding up. It wasn't a wine cup at all, but a decanter. The container was full of pungent white liquor, gleaming coldly under the light.
Sun Lu hadn't even drunk it when her stomach started churning.
These people were clearly trying to make things difficult for her, and Sun Lu wasn't stupid; how could she not see that?
She suddenly thought of Cui Xiao. Could it be that she was also pressured into signing the contract by Editor-in-Chief Ma?
Thinking about it this way, Sun Lu was tempted again.
If Cui Xiao can do it, why can't she?
Having figured this out, Sun Lu was full of fighting spirit, a smile playing on her lips. She even tried to bargain, "Editor-in-Chief Ma, if I drink this glass of wine, the contract renewal..."
Editor-in-Chief Ma's face darkened, and he urged, "What's the rush? Drink it first."
He took the decanter from the man and handed it directly to Sun Lu.
Then, Editor-in-Chief Ma sat down, looked at Sun Lu with interest, and said casually, "Assistant Sun, whether you can renew your contract today depends entirely on our moods."
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