Chapter 44: Miss Lu, You're Drunk

“Linda, how about you compete with Miss Lu? Whoever finishes drinking first gets it, how about that?” Mr. Huo looked at Melinda with a half-smile.

Melinda never touched white liquor, only red. If she downed half a bottle of strong spirits, she’d be seeing the King of Hell himself. She immediately sat back down, her gaze fixed on Lu Yao with a mocking glint.

She was certain that Lu Yao, who hardly ever mingled at these dinners, wouldn’t be able to drink half a bottle of liquor.

Lu Yao picked up the bottle again, and, as if drinking a soft drink, began pouring the liquor straight into her mouth, gulp after gulp.

At the start of the dinner, she hadn’t even had a chance to eat something to cushion her stomach, and had already downed three glasses of white liquor, leaving her stomach burning. Now, with a third of the bottle inside her, it was as if flames were blazing within, searing with pain.

Not only did her face flush hot and red, but even her neck turned crimson.

Mr. Huo had wanted to watch the drama unfold, but seeing Lu Yao drink with such reckless abandon stirred something deeply within him.

It took her a full ten minutes to finish the half bottle. She turned the bottle upside down, her gaze a little unfocused as she looked at Mr. Huo. “Mr. Huo, I’ve finished the drink. The agency rights are mine now, aren’t they?”

Mr. Huo gave her a thumbs up in admiration. “You’re the boldest woman I’ve ever met. I keep my word—the legal representation of Huo Corporation’s future business is yours. The video is proof.”

With that, Mr. Huo personally recorded a video of his promise and sent it to Lu Yao.

Lu Yao felt light-headed, her legs barely steady on the floor. Fortunately, her mind retained a thread of clarity. Only after confirming the video held legal effect did the weight in her heart finally ease.

Melinda was so furious she gritted her teeth and stomped her feet, then left Mr. Huo behind and stormed out in frustration.

Mr. Huo had seen plenty of worldly women and had never been particularly interested in someone as promiscuous as Melinda. He stood up, supporting Lu Yao by the shoulder, and asked with concern, “Miss Lu, you’re drunk. Let me take you home.”

Lu Yao remained on guard, shrugging off his hand, and replied gratefully, “Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Huo, but I’m fine going home by myself. I won’t trouble you.”

She picked up her bag and walked straight toward the door, clinging to her last shred of rationality, forcing herself to ignore the discomfort in her stomach as she made her way to the entrance of Yipin Pavilion.

A cold wind blew in, penetrating her clothes, making her shiver uncontrollably.

Her burning stomach suddenly heaved with nausea. Before she could make it to the restroom, she doubled over and vomited onto the ground.

She retched for quite a while before finally straightening up against the wall, her strength spent, her eyes vacant as she gazed at the passing traffic.

Inside one of the cars, Shen Yang watched his new boss’s expression, then glanced at Lu Yao, disheveled and retching not far away.

He asked tentatively, “Mr. Ye, Sister Lu Yao seems really drunk, and she looks terrible. Should we…?”

At the same moment he spoke, Lu Yao, trying to hail a cab, lost her balance and staggered down the steps.

Ye Zehong, anticipating her fall, shot out of the car at lightning speed and caught her in his arms just as she was about to hit the ground.

Lu Yao’s mind was in a haze, her vision blurred as she looked at the familiar face before her, now overlaid with double images.

She must be drunk, she thought. Otherwise, how could she see Ye Zehong’s noble, handsome face appearing before her?

Ye Zehong looked down at the woman in his arms. Her cheeks were crimson, her lips parted slightly, her eyes misty, her skin burning hot to the touch. She looked exactly as she had during their most intimate moments in bed, and his body shuddered involuntarily.

Lu Yao struggled to her feet, a self-deprecating smile on her lips. “You’re not him… Not him… He’s the heir to the most powerful family now—why would he ever come to see a mere… lawyer like me… urgh…”

She couldn’t hold it in any longer and vomited all over Ye Zehong.

His face darkened, his grip on her arm tightening. He tugged at his tie, his gaze fierce, and barked at his assistant, “Find out who had the nerve to make her drink so much.”

“Yes, Mr. Ye.”