Qin Yaoyao's voice trembled, and her eyes were red. "The first time we met. If you're dissatisfied with me, you can tell me directly."
Looking at the pitiful girl in front of him, Xu Yansen felt no mercy at all. He just raised his eyebrows indifferently. "I have no dissatisfaction with you. You're overthinking."
"It's just that the model I originally chose was replaced halfway with an amateur. I'm just in a bad mood."
Qin Yaoyao's face turned pale then red. She was so choked that she couldn't say a word for a long time.
Just then, the waiter brought up a bottle of wine.
Xu Yansen hadn't finished speaking. The moment he saw the wine, his eyes suddenly lit up. As if remembering something, he pointed at the bottle.
"Alright. If you drink this wine, I'll forgive you." He spread his hands and said casually, "Let the wine wipe out all grudges. How about it?"
As soon as he said this, Qin Yaoyao's smile suddenly became forced. "Sorry, Mr. Xu. I'm allergic to alcohol. I can't drink it."
After she finished speaking, she nervously glanced outside the door.
Why hasn't A Yan come back?
Hearing her words, Xu Yansen widened his eyes, seemingly very surprised. "You're really allergic to alcohol?"
"Really." Qin Yaoyao nodded frantically, with a pleading look in her eyes.
"I see..." Xu Yansen's tone became regretful. Qin Yaoyao couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief in her heart. But then he changed the subject.
"I don't believe it. Unless... you drink some for me to see."
Qin Yaoyao felt embarrassed. Looking at the glass pushed in front of her, her lips began to tremble.
Just then, Xiao Yanzhi happened to push the door open and come in.
Qin Yaoyao instantly seemed to see a savior. Her voice was trembling with sobs. "A Yan, Mr. Xu asked me to drink to apologize, but you know I can't drink."
Xiao Yanzhi frowned. He stared at Jiang Li for a while before saying indifferently, "Yaoyao is allergic to alcohol. Drinking it could cost her life. Mr. Xu, don't make things difficult for her. I'll drink in her place."
After saying that, he calmly picked up the glass and drank it all in one gulp.
Seeing him protecting Qin Yaoyao like this, Jiang Li lowered her head. She felt as if there was a big rock weighing on her chest, making it hard for her to breathe.
"So Mr. Xiao knows that an allergic reaction could cost a life."
Xu Yansen, who had been smiling and joking all night, suddenly turned cold. His voice was even more enunciated word by word. "Then when you let Qin Yaoyao force Jiang Li to drink a milk - containing beverage, weren't you afraid it would cost her life?"
Jiang Li's eyelashes trembled but didn't fall for a long time.
The room was extremely quiet. Everyone's breathing could be clearly heard.
After a while, Xiao Yanzhi's cold voice came. His tone was indifferent. "Yaoyao didn't force her. She insisted on drinking it to prove herself."
Xiao Yanzhi's tone was contemptuous. "She wanted to kill herself and even blamed others. She's really stupid."
Xu Yansen almost choked. He was about to swear.
There was no need to continue this meal. Xiao Yanzhi got up from his seat with a cold face and left the restaurant with Qin Yaoyao.
Watching their departing figures, Xu Yansen was so angry that he wanted to throw the glass.
"The tableware here costs five - figure prices per set." Jiang Li raised her eyes and timely stopped him with a word.
"Jiang Li, you really make me so angry. I wish you could be more assertive." Xu Yansen gritted his teeth angrily. "Don't you see that green - tea girl is about to step on your neck? Why are you still being so submissive?"
Jiang Li lowered her eyes. Her voice was gentle. "I haven't paid off my debt yet. Angering them won't do me any good."
"I'll lend it to you!" Xu Yansen said passionately, "How much? I'll lend it to you!"
Hearing this, Jiang Li lifted her eyelids and replied casually, "Thirty million. Do you want to transfer the money or use a card?"
Hearing this number, Xu Yansen hardly blinked. "Come on. Pay off your debt slowly. I'm rooting for you."
Jiang Li: …
Although two people left during this meal, it didn't affect the remaining two of them.
The atmosphere was even more relaxed than before. They ate and chatted while later ordering a few bottles of wine.
"Jiang Li, let's talk about something serious."
He picked up his glass and took a sip, then continued, "It's obvious to everyone now that your boss has a new love and is going to abandon you, his old love."
"In this situation, aside from your personal feelings, you have to think about your way out."
Xu Yansen half - squinted his eyes. He had a low alcohol tolerance but still loved to drink. Now he was a bit drunk.
Jiang Li stared blankly at her glass. She said slowly, "What way out can I have?"
She had nothing and no way out.
The only thing she had was the skills she had developed through four years of hard work in Jiang Entertainment.
But without the opportunities provided by Jiang Entertainment, her skills would be useless in the entire North City.
"You can start an agency company."
Xu Yansen swayed his glass. His voice began to slur. "You were very professional when you taught that amateur today. You can manage artists on your own. You'll definitely earn more this way."
The more he talked, the more excited he became. "With your experience, even if you can't train artists as excellent as you, you can surely train a few top - notch ones with ease."
"By then, you'll be your own boss. Why would you still have to bear Xiao Yanzhi's anger?"
Jiang Li listened to the beautiful future blueprint Xu Yansen was painting for her. She didn't say a word for a long time, just deep in thought.
On the way back, Jiang Li was in a daze all the way.
Although Xu Yansen was drunk, his suggestion was quite feasible.
She had had this idea before. After all, in her line of work, it was a youth - based career. Even if she was popular now, it didn't mean she would be popular forever.
Youth fades quickly, and beauty is fleeting. Nothing in this world is timeless.
What is easy to expire also includes feelings.
——
After waving goodbye to Xu Yansen, Jiang Li put on her mask and hat and took a taxi home. The night - shift driver didn't recognize her.
She was thinking all the way. Even after the driver dropped her off downstairs, she still sat motionless in the back row.
"Miss, we're here."
Reminded by the driver, Jiang Li then came to her senses. She quickly paid the fare, opened the door, and got out of the car.
Because she had drunk a little wine, Jiang Li's mind was a bit hazy. Coupled with her distraction while thinking about starting an agency company, she almost fell when she stepped onto the steps.
A big hand held her shoulder. Jiang Li steadied herself. She looked up and was about to say thank you gently. "Thank..."
Before she could say the second "thank", when she saw the man's familiar and calm face, her voice got stuck in her throat.
Xiao Yanzhi was tall and long - legged. The dark custom - made suit fit him perfectly. His shadow completely covered her.
Jiang Li looked at him against the light but couldn't see his eyes clearly.
"Weren't you going to let Xu Yansen sleep with you tonight? Why are you back?"
These words were like a basin of ice - cold water, pouring directly on Jiang Li's head. It made her sober up instantly, and even her breathing became difficult.