Chapter Fourteen: The Gathering

Knee pillow?!

Those two words exploded like thunder in Yu Ling’s chaotic mind, battered by overtime and a storm of coding! Her eyes suddenly widened as she stared at the handsome face just inches away—etched with innocence and anticipation. She felt all the blood rush to her head with a roar; her cheeks, ears, and neck instantly flushed a fiery red, hot enough to fry an egg!

“Y-you…” Her tongue tied, her mind went blank, and her heart pounded wildly in her chest, nearly breaking free! This was the same man who had just moments ago demonstrated inhumanly fast typing and wielded an aura sharp as a drawn sword. And now, with that harmless face, he was coquettishly asking for a “knee pillow”? Such a shocking shift in demeanor was terrifying!

Zhao Chen watched her turn as red as a steamed shrimp, a deeper smile flickering in his amber eyes like a fox caught in the act of mischief. Instead of stepping back, he leaned in a little closer, his nose nearly touching hers. Warm breath scented faintly with cedar brushed past her sensitive lips and cheeks, sending a delicate shiver through her.

“Lingling… just for a little while… okay?” His voice dropped even lower, carrying an almost hypnotic magnetism. The tone lifted slightly at the end, like a feather teasing the heart’s core. “My neck’s so sore from coding today…” He furrowed his brows just enough to reveal a perfectly timed hint of grievance and fatigue, his eyes moist, like a large loyal dog waiting for its owner’s comfort.

Yu Ling was utterly defenseless against this combination of charm, coquettishness, and vulnerability! Her reason screamed “Refuse! It’s a honey-coated trap! A step too far!” Yet her body betrayed her will, frozen and unable to move, helplessly aware of the overwhelming heat at her ears and cheeks and the suffocating pressure of his breath enveloping her, stirring unease in her heart.

“I…I…” She parted her lips but couldn’t form a complete sentence. The words of refusal stuck in her throat and refused to come out.

Just as the tension thickened and sparks seemed about to fly in the air, Zhao Chen’s phone suddenly rang! The sharp ringtone was like a splash of cold water, instantly dousing the intimate and dangerous atmosphere in the entryway.

Zhao Chen’s movement halted, and a brief flash of annoyance crossed his eyes so quickly Yu Ling thought she imagined it. He straightened, stepped back slightly, glanced at the screen, and barely furrowed his brow.

“Sorry, I need to take this call.” He gave Yu Ling a slightly apologetic smile, his gaze clearing, then turned and walked to the living room’s floor-to-ceiling window. He pressed the answer button and spoke softly into the phone, his tone calm and carrying a detached, formal authority Yu Ling had never heard before.

Seizing the chance, Yu Ling darted like a startled rabbit, swiftly changed into slippers, and practically escaped to her secondary bedroom, slamming the door behind her with a bang! Leaning against the cool door, she gasped for breath, her heart still racing wildly, her cheeks burning long after.

A knee pillow… He actually dared to suggest a knee pillow! This wolf in sheep’s clothing!

Outside, she faintly heard Zhao Chen’s footsteps ending the call. He seemed to linger by her door for a moment but didn’t knock, then his steps retreated toward the master bedroom.

Yu Ling collapsed onto her bed, burying her burning face in the soft pillow. Her mind was a mess, filled with images of Zhao Chen’s deep amber eyes and his low, coaxing voice as he leaned close… the flowing shadows of code… and the understated luxury of the top-tier brands around the house…

This man was like a book whose last page could never be reached, each page full of startling contrasts and mysteries. She thought she had gotten closer, only to realize she had seen merely a larger tip of the iceberg.

For the next few days, Yu Ling deliberately avoided excessive contact with Zhao Chen. The project entered a critical phase, and she threw herself into work wholeheartedly, coming and going early and late, diving straight into her room upon returning home, all under the guise of “pushing through the workload.”

Zhao Chen seemed to tacitly agree not to “collect his debt,” still delivering exquisitely varied breakfasts every morning on time, unfailingly chauffeuring her to and from work, and never missing his late-night “snack deliveries.” Yet a subtle veil of awkwardness, dubbed the “knee pillow incident,” hung faintly over their interactions.

***

Until Friday afternoon.

The first phase of the Star Sea Project’s optimization plan was successfully launched under intense pressure! A/B test data showed excellent results, with a significant increase in user conversion rates! Although it still fell short of Lin Wei’s high standards, the team finally saw a glimmer of hope. The entire project group, tense for days, finally exhaled in relief.

“Dinner party tonight! We must celebrate! Director Chen… no, General Manager Lin is treating!” team leader Li Ming announced excitedly, prompting cheers all around.

Yu Ling was also delighted; the stress and fatigue of recent days seemed to fade with the positive data. She pulled out her phone and messaged Zhao Chen:

[Ling]: Department dinner tonight to celebrate. General Manager Lin is treating. Won’t be home for dinner. No need to pick me up; I’ll take a taxi home when it’s over.

[ZhaoC]: [OK.jpg] Have fun. Drink less. Send me your location when it’s over; I’ll come get you.

[Ling]: [Eye-roll.jpg] Got it! Zhao the nagging mom!

The dinner was booked at a highly regarded Cantonese restaurant near the company, in a private room. As expected, Lin Wei was generous, ordering only the best dishes. The atmosphere was lively. The project team members, as if having survived a storm, were exuberant, clinking glasses and laughing heartily. Lin Wei, the new director, relaxed her usual aloofness, mingling warmly and humorously with everyone while maintaining her commanding presence.

As the project’s execution lead, Yu Ling naturally became one of the focal points. The colleagues’ congratulations and Lin Wei’s praise lifted her spirits. She had a few glasses of red wine, her fair cheeks tinged with a gentle blush, resembling a ripe peach glowing under the light.

After several rounds of drinking, the mood grew even livelier. Wang Tao, the manager of another marketing project team, came over with a wine glass. Wang Tao was in his early thirties, average in ability but with excellent drinking capacity and a notorious talent for wheedling and stirring atmosphere at the table—a well-known “king of persuasion.”

“Xiao Yu! Come, come! I have to toast you individually!” Wang Tao’s face stretched into an exaggerated grin, his breath heavy with alcohol. “You’re the top contributor to reviving the Star Sea Project! Even General Manager Lin can’t stop praising you! Your future’s limitless! Brother here admires you! This glass, you must down it!”

Without waiting for a response, he thrust a small glass filled with strong Maotai liquor into Yu Ling’s hand. The cup was small but filled with fiery, pungent alcohol.

Yu Ling’s tolerance was modest, and the earlier red wine had already made her slightly tipsy. Looking at the transparent liquid emitting a strong alcoholic scent, she instinctively felt resistance and discomfort. Smiling, she declined, “Manager Wang, you’re too kind! The credit belongs to everyone! I really can’t handle strong liquor…”

“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?” Wang Tao immediately put on a stern face, his voice rising with drunken arrogance and persistence. “You looking down on your Brother Tao? It’s just one glass of baijiu! Look, Zhang Wei already drank hers!” (Zhang Wei, the chief planner, was surrounded on the other side, being forced to drink, her face sullen.) “You’re the big hero of the project—how can you not drink? You’re not giving face, huh?”

As he spoke, he reached out to grab Yu Ling’s shoulder, drawing closer with his alcoholic breath nearly on her face.

Yu Ling stiffened, uncomfortable with the sudden contact and aggressive attitude, and recoiled, frowning tightly. “Manager Wang, I really can’t drink baijiu, I…”

“What can’t you drink? You’re just being ungrateful!” Wang Tao’s voice grew louder, filled with the stubbornness and rudeness typical of a drunkard. All eyes in the room turned toward them. He grasped Yu Ling’s wrist holding the glass firmly, exerting force, with an unmistakable intention to force the cup to her lips.

“You have to finish this glass today! If you don’t, you don’t acknowledge me as your brother! You’re disrespecting our project team!”

Her wrist ached under his grip, the strong smell of alcohol made her dizzy, and the stares—some awkward, some merely watching—made her feel humiliated and angry. Yu Ling struggled to pull her hand back, “Wang Tao! Let go of me! I said I won’t drink!”

“Xiao Yu, Manager Wang’s just in a good mood; just show some face,” someone tried to mediate, but no one stepped up to stop Wang Tao’s bullying.

Just as the struggle reached an impasse, Yu Ling’s eyes reddening with frustration and on the verge of pouring the drink out, the door to the private room was gently pushed open.

A tall, upright figure appeared in the doorway, carrying a slight chill from outside. He wore a perfectly tailored dark gray cashmere coat over a simple white turtleneck sweater, exuding refined warmth. It was Zhao Chen.

His calm gaze swept across the noisy room and immediately locked onto Yu Ling, who was tangled with Wang Tao, her face full of anger and distress. His gentle, harmless smile remained unchanged, but his steps were steady and swift as he headed straight toward her.

“Lingling?” Zhao Chen’s voice was soft but carried a strange piercing power, cutting clearly through the room’s clamor. He reached Yu Ling’s side and naturally placed his hand gently on her wrist, which Wang Tao was gripping.

His fingers were slender and strong, warm to the touch. His movement seemed casual but bore an undeniable firmness, effortlessly and resolutely prying apart Wang Tao’s aggressive hand.

Yu Ling felt the grip loosen instantly, the detestable restraint vanishing. Surprised, she looked up into Zhao Chen’s lowered gaze. His amber eyes remained gentle like a calm lake, but she keenly caught a fleeting, icy sharp glint beneath the surface—so quick she thought it might be a mirage.

“What’s wrong? Had too much to drink?” Zhao Chen’s tone softened, revealing genuine concern as if he hadn’t noticed Wang Tao’s sullen face nor the strange atmosphere at the table.

He smoothly took the baijiu glass Yu Ling had been clutching so tightly it nearly spilled and placed it back on the table. Then, picking up her half-full red wine glass, he turned to the pale-faced, about-to-lash-out Wang Tao and offered an impeccable, gentle yet detached social smile.

“You must be Manager Wang? Hello, I’m Yu Ling’s husband, Zhao Chen.” His tone was polite and composed, his demeanor calm and unhurried. “Lingling doesn’t handle alcohol well. She’s already had quite a bit tonight, and more would make her uncomfortable. I’ll drink this glass on her behalf and thank you for looking out for her.”

Before Wang Tao could react, Zhao Chen gracefully raised the glass, gave a nod, and drained it in one smooth motion. His Adam’s apple bobbed decisively, the gesture crisp and silent yet suffused with a subtle pressure.