Chased by My Heartless Ex - Chapter 25

“If I’m not worthy, then who is?” Xu You laughed instead of getting angry. “You?”

To be honest, Li Rui’s angry outbursts were nothing more than child’s play, like a declawed cat trying its hardest to attack, leaving behind only a few red marks. Noticeable, but not painful.

Strangely, it was Li Rui, who had started the aggression, who now acted as if her tail had been stepped on, bristling all over. She withdrew her gaze from Zhou Siyu, a flicker of disbelief flashing in her eyes before she gritted her teeth, preparing for another round of retaliation.

In the banquet hall, the applause gradually faded, replaced by the crisp clinking of glassware.

Xu You glanced in Zhou Siyu’s direction. Her fingertips cradled a wine glass, the dark liquid inside swirling and leaving faint traces along the inner wall as she moved it. Someone offered her a toast, but she merely pressed the rim to her lower lip, letting the wine moisten her lips. When she set the glass down, the level of the liquid showed no noticeable decrease.

Shifting her attention back, Xu You noted that Li Rui’s “skill cooldown” had nearly run its course. Not wanting to waste any more time on her, Xu You opened her mouth and delivered another remark that sent Li Rui into a frenzy.

“Save your breath. I don’t care at all. Unless you strip and run naked right now, I won’t show any expression other than delight.”

Li Rui was so enraged she stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence, let alone consider streaking.

From the diagonal across the table, the department head shot a meaningful glance. His assistant was making rounds, pouring drinks for colleagues, and happened to stop in front of the two women. Placing both red and white wine on the table, he asked, “Which would you like, or a bit of both?”

The restaurant chosen for the celebration wasn’t starred, but it ranked among the mid-to-high-tier establishments in North City. With generous funding from above, the wines on the table were already worth over a thousand yuan.

The colleague’s arrival provided a solid stepping stone for Li Rui, who had been left hanging in her confrontation. She smoothed her curly long hair and flashed a charming, alluring smile. “Either is fine.”

“But I have a low alcohol tolerance, so please pour me just a little.” She followed up with a playful wink.

The design department hadn’t seen any new hires in quite some time. Everyone was familiar with each other, having pulled all-nighters together and witnessed dawn break, their disheveled appearances etched deeply in each other’s memories. The sudden presence of someone so seductive and radiant made the man feel a stir of spring fever, even in the depths of winter.

“No problem, I’ll pour you just a little. If it’s too much, leave some; if it’s not enough, just call me over.” He tilted the bottle, and the clear liquid poured out.

The baijiu pot, holding just over an ounce, had a wide belly and a narrow neck. Just as the liquid reached the widest part, Li Rui let out a soft, boneless whimper and reached out with a delicate hand to steady the bottle.

“Bro, that’s enough, that’s enough.”

Their skin brushed unintentionally, and the man froze, his movements halting instantly. As he straightened the bottle, the remaining wine at the neck didn’t have time to flow back and dripped squarely onto the back of Li Rui’s hand.

“Sorry, sorry!” He hastily pulled out a napkin to wipe it, his fingertips brushing against her soft skin once more before he blushed and quickly withdrew his hand.

Xu You had been resting her chin in her hand, watching the spectacle unfold. One was deliberately flirting, while the other enjoyed the attention but lacked the nerve to take it further.

Her verdict: not particularly interesting.

The commotion drew the attention of other colleagues at the table. Apart from Team Leader Qian, those who had gotten familiar with Li Rui at noon were already teasing and joking. Li Rui wiped her hand dry, covering her mouth as she laughed and called it an accident. The man finished pouring her drink and turned to Xu You.

“How about you?” His tone lacked the earlier enthusiasm, likely due to their lack of familiarity.

Xu You shook her head. “I don’t drink. No need to pour for me, thank you.”

She still remembered Zhou Siyu’s text message, her hand hovering lightly over the cup. Though not as flattering as Li Rui, her smile was sincere. The person glanced down at her briefly without saying a word and was about to leave when the department head called out from nearby.

The department head, slightly displeased, asked the assistant, “What’s going on? Why haven’t you poured Xiao Zhang a drink?”

“Brother Qiu, her surname is Xu,” Li Rui corrected, seemingly standing up for Xu You but actually aiming to keep everyone’s attention focused on herself.

The department head’s stern expression softened at Li Rui’s sweet remark, and his tone eased as he turned to Xu You. “Pour her whatever she wants to drink.”

The assistant clearly hesitated, and Xu You, seeing the situation, steeled herself and repeated loudly, “Department Head Qiu, I don’t drink.”

The face that had just cleared up moments earlier now darkened like a brewing storm. Xu You kept her gaze steady, not sparing a glance at the anxious Team Leader Qian. She remembered her kindness, but her sister had just told her not to drink. She was a good girl and had to listen.

On the other side of Li Rui, Ouyang chuckled as if unintentionally, “These days, there are still college students who don’t drink? That’s quite rare. Surely, it’s not because you think we’re not worthy or that the alcohol isn’t good enough?”

It wasn’t even subtly sarcastic, it was a blatant provocation.

Xu You didn’t move her hand, but her peripheral glance caught Zhou Siyu holding a cigarette between her fingers. Someone must have said something amusing, as she smiled, tilted her chin up, and downed the entire glass of red wine in her other hand.

Department Head Qiu took Ouyang’s words to heart and stared at Xu You with an unyielding tone. “You can’t survive in society without drinking. Since you’ve joined our department, you’re one of us. Today, we’ll help you practice.”

It sounded nice, but “practice” was just a pretense, forcing her to drink was the real goal.

Xu You saw through it clearly. If she didn’t drink today, they wouldn’t let her off easily, and future troubles were inevitable.

With a green tea exemplar beside her, she followed suit. Reluctantly, she moved her hand and nodded at Department Head Qiu as if making a firm decision. As soon as the assistant filled her cup with alcohol, she instantly grabbed the small flask, stood up, and wore an expression of heroic determination, as if heading to the battlefield to fight the enemy.

“Thank you, Department Head Qiu, for giving me this opportunity to grow. For the first toast, I offer it to you. I hope we get along well during my internship and that our department continues to thrive.”

Everyone at the table watched in astonishment as Xu You raised the flask and gulped down the entire contents in one go. The moment the baijiu touched her lips, she furrowed her brows tightly, enduring the pain without a moment’s pause, forcing herself to finish it all.

While everyone was still stunned by her sudden move, she swayed unsteadily, set down the flask, and immediately braced herself against the tablecloth. With a tragically beautiful smile, she looked like a leaf trembling precariously on a branch in the cold wind outside the window.

“Wh-why drink so fiercely? Sit down and take a break,” Department Head Qiu stammered, dumbfounded. He had only intended to pressure her a little but hadn’t expected her to be so stubborn. Watching her sway as she sat down, he cleared his throat irritably.

“Department Head Qiu, aren’t you going to drink?” Xu You’s gaze drifted unsteadily.

The genes of her alcoholic father had been perfectly passed down to her, she had never been drunk before. The alcohol she had just drunk even tasted sweet, and her pained expression was all an act for the crowd. In reality, she was perfectly fine.

Seeing the young girl who supposedly couldn’t drink pushed to this extent, how could Department Head Qiu refuse? Generally, the amount of alcohol offered in a toast and the response should be equal. He picked up his flask, glanced around, and downed it in several gulps.

Xu You, a newcomer bold as a newborn calf, downed a whole pot of alcohol in one go. Once the banquet officially began, everyone avoided getting too close to her. She happily embraced the solitude, occasionally taking a bite of her favorite dishes, then rubbing her temples and frowning as if feeling nauseous.

Li Rui, shifting the attention elsewhere, charmed everyone left and right, incessantly calling out “brother” and “sister.” Xu You couldn’t shake the feeling that a crowing rooster had taken the seat beside her. With a trembling hand, she accidentally knocked over Li Rui’s wine glass. The tablecloth, already saturated, let the remaining red wine drip onto Li Rui’s short skirt and thighs.

It was an unintentional act, and Xu You sincerely apologized for her mistake. Li Rui, putting on a gracious front, forgave her on the spot and headed to the restroom to clean up.

No one blamed Xu You. Who could harshly scold a girl who hung her head in panic, looking like a startled fawn? Besides, they had all played a part in her drinking too much. Soon enough, Li Rui returned, her face glowing with delight.

The lively atmosphere continued. Amid the noisy surroundings, Xu You overheard Li Rui telling Ouyang that she had run into President Zhou in the restroom and that he had shown concern for her.

The dinner lasted two to three hours. Once everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they gathered noisily in the parking lot, waiting for the shuttle bus to take them home. Team Leader Qian, worried about Xu You’s condition, held her arm the entire time, letting her lean against her for support.

Touched by the gesture, Xu You leaned in and whispered in her ear, “I’m not drunk at all, it’s all an act!” She received a gentle scolding in return, delivered with affection.

Before the shuttle bus arrived, a Buick GL8 soon pulled up in front of the gathered design department crowd.

The electric sliding door opened, and someone peeked into the back seat.

Through the lowered window of the passenger seat, Xu You spotted the driver, Xiao Fu. She immediately straightened up and announced, “Team Leader Qian, my girlfriend sent a car to pick me up. I’ll be going ahead!”

Team Leader Qian clicked her tongue in mock disapproval. Xu You stepped forward, bid farewell to everyone by the car door, and slipped into the back seat. The door closed, the window rolled up, and the gossip was shut out.

Zhou Siyu melted into the darkness inside. Xu You, guided by the faint, elegant fragrance mingled with the scent of alcohol, threw herself into her arms. Without any warning, she bit down on the side of Zhou Siyu’s neck.

After a long moment, a pink tooth mark appeared on the fair skin, and only then did the little wolf release her grip.

Zhou Siyu pinched her waist. “You’re being naughty.”