Chapter 14 Dinner
Knee pillow? !
Those two words exploded like thunder in Yu Ling's chaotic brain, ravaged by overtime and code storms! Her eyes widened suddenly, staring at the handsome face in front of her, filled with innocence and anticipation. She felt the blood in her body rush to her head with a "boom", and her cheeks, ears, and neck instantly turned red, so hot that you could fry an egg!
"You...you..." Her tongue was tied, her mind blank, her heart pounding wildly in her chest, practically bursting out! This man, typing away at inhuman speed, his aura as sharp as a sword, could, in the next moment, put on this harmless face and beg for a "lap pillow" in a coquettish tone? Isn't this a terrifying shift in tone?!
Zhao Chen looked at her instantly steamed shrimp, and the smile in his eyes deepened, like a fox who had successfully stolen some fish. Instead of retreating, he moved a little closer, his nose almost touching Yu Ling's. His warm breath, with the faint scent of cedar, brushed against her sensitive lips and cheeks, bringing a subtle shudder.
"Lingling... just for a while... okay?" He lowered his voice even more, with an almost bewitching magnetism, and the ending tone rose slightly, like a feather scratching the tip of his heart, "I've been typing code today... my neck is so sore..." He frowned slightly, revealing just the right amount of grievance and fatigue at the right time, his eyes wet, like a large dog waiting for its owner to comfort it.
Yu Ling was completely helpless under his combination of "beauty + coquettishness + weakness"! Her mind screamed, "No! This is a sugar-coated bullet! He's pushing her too far!" But her body betrayed her will, frozen in place, unable to move. She could only futilely feel the astonishing heat in her ears and cheeks, and the panic-inducing pressure of his breath.
"I...I..." She opened her mouth, but no complete words came out. The words of refusal were stuck in her throat, unable to come out.
Just as the situation reached a stalemate, with sparks threatening to fly, Zhao Chen's phone suddenly rang! The sharp ringtone was like cold water, instantly extinguishing the charming yet dangerous atmosphere in the entrance hall.
Zhao Chen paused, a flicker of displeasure at being interrupted flashing across his eyes so quickly that Yu Ling thought it was an illusion. He stood up, distanced himself, pulled out his phone, glanced at the screen, and frowned slightly.
"Sorry, I need to answer the phone." He gave Yu Ling a slightly apologetic smile, his eyes clearing up. He then turned and walked to the French window in the living room and pressed the answer button. His voice was low and he spoke briefly into the microphone. His tone was calm, with a kind of distant and formulaic authority that Yu Ling had never heard before.
Yu Ling took the opportunity to change into her slippers like a frightened rabbit, then rushed into her second bedroom, slamming the door shut. Leaning against the cold door, she gasped for breath, her heart still pounding in her chest, her cheeks burning with heat.
Knee pillow... How dare he bring up a knee pillow! This big-headed wolf pretending to be a pig and eating the tiger!
The sound of Zhao Chen's footsteps ending the call could be faintly heard outside the door. He seemed to stay at her door for a moment, but in the end he did not knock. His footsteps went towards the master bedroom.
Yu Ling threw herself on the bed, burying her burning face in the soft pillow. Her mind was a mess, filled with Zhao Chen's deep amber eyes as he leaned in close, his low, seductive voice... and the afterimage of the flowing code... and the low-key, luxurious, top-tier brands in her home...
This man was like a book you could never finish, each page filled with startling contrasts and mysteries. She thought she was getting closer, but she only saw the tip of a much larger iceberg.
For the next few days, Yu Ling deliberately avoided any contact with Zhao Chen. The project was in full swing, and she threw herself into the work, leaving early and returning late. Upon returning home, she would dive into her room, euphemistically calling it "crunching up."
Zhao Chen seemed to have tacitly agreed not to "demand the debt," still serving a delicious breakfast every morning, picking her up and dropping her off at work without fail, and never missing a late-night snack. However, the atmosphere between them was subtly shrouded in a thin veil of awkwardness, the "knee pillow incident."
Until Friday afternoon.
The first phase of the "Star Ocean Project" optimization plan was successfully launched under high pressure! A/B testing data provided positive feedback, with a significant increase in user conversion rates. While there was still a gap to meet Lin Wei's high expectations, there was finally hope! The entire project team, after days of tense tension, finally felt a sense of relief.
"Let's have a dinner party tonight! We have to celebrate! Director Chen...oh no, Director Lin will treat us!" Team leader Li Ming announced excitedly, drawing cheers.
Yu Ling was also very happy. The stress and fatigue she had felt over the past few days seemed to have dissipated a lot with the positive data. She took out her phone and sent a message to Zhao Chen:
Ling: We're having a department dinner tonight to celebrate. Boss Lin is treating, so I'm not going home for dinner. No need to pick me up; I'll take a taxi afterward.
【ZhaoC】：[OK.jpg] Have fun. Don't drink too much. Give me your seat when you're done, and I'll pick you up.
【Ling】：[rolling eyes.jpg] Got it! Aunt Zhao!
The dinner was held in a private room at a reputable Cantonese restaurant near the company. Lin Wei, as expected, was generous, ordering a variety of dishes, creating a lively atmosphere. The project team members were excited, as if they had just survived a disaster, toasting and chatting cheerfully. As the new director, Lin Wei had also dropped her usual aloofness and mingled with everyone, engaging in lively conversation and engaging in humorous conversation, her presence still formidable.
As the project executive, Yu Ling naturally became one of the focal points. Her colleagues' congratulations and Lin Wei's affirmation brightened her mood, and she too drank a few glasses of red wine. A faint blush crept across her fair cheeks, like a newly ripe peach, making her look particularly captivating under the bright lights.
After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere intensified. Wang Tao, the manager of another project team in the marketing department, approached Yu Ling, glass in hand. Wang Tao was in his early thirties, average in ability, but a strong alcohol tolerance. He was particularly skilled at building relationships and creating a good atmosphere at the table, earning him a reputation as the "King of Toasting."
"Xiao Yu! Come on! I have to toast you!" Wang Tao had an exaggerated smile on his face, his tongue sticking out, and a strong smell of alcohol hit him. "You are the number one contributor to Xinghai's revival this time! Even President Lin praised you highly! You have a bright future! I admire you brother! You must drink this glass of wine!"
As he spoke, he thrust a small wine glass filled with baijiu into Yu Ling's hand without hesitation. The glass wasn't big, but it contained a strong, spicy Maotai.
Yu Ling's alcohol tolerance was average to begin with, and after a few glasses of red wine, she was already a little tipsy. Looking at the clear, alcohol-smelling liquid in her hand, she instinctively felt a sense of resistance and discomfort. She smiled and declined, "Manager Wang, you're too polite! The credit goes to everyone! I really can't hold my liquor, and this white wine..."
"Hey! What are you talking about!" Wang Tao's face immediately turned stern, and his voice rose, with the arrogance and persistence of the drunkenness, "You look down on your brother Tao, don't you? It's just a glass of white wine! Look, Zhang Wei drank it! (Zhang Wei was surrounded by several people on the other side and was forced to drink, her face was grim) She's the 'chief planner'! How can you, a great contributor, not drink? You're not giving her face, are you?"
As he spoke, he put his arm around Yu Ling's shoulders and leaned closer to her, his drunken breath almost spraying on Yu Ling's face.
Yu Ling was very uncomfortable with his sudden physical contact and aggressive attitude. She retreated stiffly, her brows furrowed tightly. "Manager Wang, I really can't drink baijiu. I..."
"What do you mean you can't drink? You just won't give me face!" Wang Tao's voice grew louder, with the paranoia and arrogance typical of an alcoholic, drawing the attention of the entire room. Without a word, he grabbed Yu Ling's wrist, which was holding the wine glass, with considerable force, and forced it towards her lips!
"You must drink this glass of wine today! If you don't, you're not recognizing me as your brother! You're looking down on our project team!"
Her wrist was gripped so hard it hurt, the strong smell of alcohol made her dizzy, and the embarrassed or amused looks from her colleagues made her even more embarrassed and angry! Furious and anxious, Yu Ling struggled to pull her hand back: "Wang Tao! Let me go! I said I don't want to drink!"
"Xiao Yu, Manager Wang is also happy, just show your appreciation." Someone nearby tried to smooth things over, but no one really stepped forward to stop Wang Tao's arrogance.
Just as the situation was at a stalemate and Yu Ling was so angry that her eyes turned red and she almost wanted to throw the wine away, the door of the private room was gently pushed open.
A tall, slender figure appeared at the door, carrying the slightly cool air of the outdoors. He wore a well-tailored dark gray cashmere coat, a simple white turtleneck sweater underneath, which accentuated his elegant and gentle demeanor. It was Zhao Chen.
His gaze calmly swept across the bustling room, instantly locking onto Yu Ling, who was being harassed by Wang Tao, her face brimming with anger and grievance. His gentle, harmless smile remained unchanged, but his steps were steady and swift as he walked towards her.
"Lingling?" Zhao Chen's voice was low, yet strangely penetrating, clearly drowning out the noise in the private room. He walked over to Yu Ling and, with a natural touch, reached out and gently placed his hand on the wrist that Wang Tao was holding.
His fingers were slender and powerful, with a warm touch. His movements seemed casual, but with an unquestionable strength. He separated Wang Tao's rude hand imperceptibly but with great determination!
Yu Ling felt her wrist loosen, the unpleasant grip instantly vanishing. She looked up in surprise, meeting Zhao Chen's downcast gaze. His amber eyes remained gentle, like the surface of a calm lake, but Yu Ling keenly caught a flash of icy, sharp light from beneath the surface! It was so fast it seemed like an illusion.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable after drinking too much?" Zhao Chen's voice was gentle, with undisguised concern, as if he didn't notice Wang Tao's grim expression next to him, nor did he feel the weird atmosphere at the table.
He naturally took the white wine glass that Yu Ling had gripped so tightly that it nearly spilled, and smoothly placed it back on the table. Then, he picked up Yu Ling's tall glass of red wine, which still had half a glass left, and faced Wang Tao, whose face was livid and about to explode, with an impeccable, gentle, and distant social smile.
"Is this Manager Wang? Hello, I'm Yu Ling's husband, Zhao Chen." He spoke politely and calmly, "Lingling can't drink much. She's already had quite a bit, and if she drinks any more, she'll probably feel sick. This glass of wine is for her, and I'm toasting to you. Thank you for taking care of Lingling."
He finished speaking, and without waiting for Wang Tao's reaction, he gracefully raised the glass of red wine, gestured to Wang Tao, then tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. His Adam's apple rolled, and the movement was crisp and clear, with a silent sense of oppression.
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