Thinking of the scene he had just witnessed, Secretary Wen didn't dare to breathe a word.

But inwardly, he was wildly cheering for Madam.

Their boss's wife was truly the most awesome. A single night had passed, and she had already made good on last night's bold words and really found herself some young, tender fresh meat!

And that wasn't all. After being caught, she had even arrogantly provoked President Xie!!!

Secretary Wen spoke up at the right moment, "President Xie, the place Director Pei invited you to for dinner is right here. It's getting late, since we're passing by, why don't you..."

Before he could finish his sentence.

The sound of the car door opening followed.

Xie Yanli bent over, got out of the car, and started walking toward the private restaurant.

His long fingers casually adjusted the low-key, luxurious mother-of-pearl cufflinks fastened at his wrist, his pace unhurried.

Secretary Wen quickly followed.

Inwardly, he lit a candle for Madam.

When Xie Yanli arrived at the private room, everyone was already seated.

Pei Feng came to greet him personally. "I thought you weren't coming. I didn't expect my face to carry so much weight."

Secretary Wen, following behind Xie Yanli, couldn't help but curse inwardly: 'I don't know about his prestige, but Second Young Master Pei's face is definitely getting bigger.'

Xie Yanli's cold eyes swept across the room, but he did not see Qin Fan.

The man's handsome brows furrowed deeply.

The black prayer beads that slid from his fair, lean wrist to his long fingers were casually toyed with a few times by Xie Yanli's fingertips.

Secretary Wen, who knew his habits, recognized this as a sign that President Xie's patience was running out.

Secretary Wen discovered that not only was Madam not in the room, but the young puppy-dog who was with her was also missing.

Ssss—

Secretary Wen could almost see his boss's short black hair slowly starting to turn green.

Although Xie Yanli's expression was as indifferent as ever, aloof and proper, even Pei Feng could sense that he was even more unapproachable than he usually was at dinner parties.

No one dared to toast him.

Even the originally lively conversations quieted down.

Everyone, like Secretary Wen before, didn't dare to breathe too loudly.

Secretary Wen coughed lightly and asked tentatively, as if in passing, "Why don't I see the female lead?"

After all, he was President Xie's chief secretary, so naturally, many people were willing to answer his questions. "Teacher Qin is a lightweight. She got a little dizzy after a sip of wine and went outside to sober up."

Secretary Wen: "Hasn't it been a while? I hope nothing happened."

The assistant director replied, "Don't worry, little brother Chi went to find her. They should be back soon."

At the main table:

Pei Feng poured Xie Yanli a glass of wine. "What's wrong? In a bad mood today?"

Xie Yanli's long fingers carelessly held the transparent glass. He first took a sip of the strong liquor, then tilted his smoothly contoured chin back slightly and drained the entire glass.

He then stood up, his gaze turning indifferent as it swept past Pei Feng, and strode outside.

Pei Feng couldn't wait for this low-pressure system to leave.

He was really ruining the atmosphere.

Secretary Wen didn't dare follow. He assumed his boss was going to find the missing female lead.

The hallway was extremely quiet.

Xie Yanli left the private room. Through the door, he could hear the atmosphere inside liven up.

The private room was at the end of the hallway. Xie Yanli stood nonchalantly in the shadows of the corner, his posture not perfectly straight, but rather carrying a hint of casualness.

Click...

The faint sound of a lighter opening and closing echoed in the silent hallway, especially clear.

In the dim light, the man's shadow was long and slender, the spark at his fingertips flickering in and out of existence.

As Xie Yanli brought the cigarette to the edge of his thin lips, the black prayer beads wrapped around his cold, pale hand swayed with his movement. The ash nearly fell onto the beads, which were engraved with scriptures and filled with a sense of sacred reverence.

His face, like a sculpture of ice and jade, seemed to be stained by the smoke and fire of the mortal world.

He took his phone out of his pocket. Seeing that the message he sent was still being rejected, his expression grew even more restrained.

Just as he was lost in thought, the sound of high heels on the carpet came from not far away, growing clearer.

......

Qin Fan had left the private room to avoid the initial round of toasts. She was 'allergic' to alcohol these past few days!

She waited until she felt that everyone would probably no longer pay attention to whether she was drinking or not before slowly making her way back.

Who would have known that just as she reached the door of the private room and was about to push it open, her wrist was grabbed.

Qin Fan's ankle twisted. Carried by the momentum, she slammed into a man's firm, hard chest, her forehead hitting a button, and she couldn't help but cry out in surprise.

The next second.

She was swiftly pulled by this force into the nearby emergency exit in the corner.

The heavy door closed behind her with a dull thud, blocking everything out.

At that moment, the door to the private room opened.

The assistant director stood at the doorway, looking at the empty hallway, a little puzzled. "Huh, I thought I heard Teacher Qin's voice just now."

Just then, the tall and slender Chi Guyuan walked over from the distance. The assistant director waved to him, "Little Chi, did you see Teacher Qin?"

......

Qin Fan's back was against the cold stair railing. Her eyes, having adjusted to the darkness, could clearly see the familiar face right in front of her.

Her chaotic heartbeat gradually calmed. "Xie Yanli, are you insane!!!"

Suddenly pulling her into a place like this, she thought it was some kind of pervert.

Xie Yanli didn't answer.

In the dark and narrow emergency stairwell, his palm pressed against Qin Fan's slender waist, holding her completely within his control.

The man's slightly hot breath drew closer and closer.

Qin Fan's fingertips, gripping the railing behind her, tightened slightly. Every breath she took was filled with the heavy, dark fragrance clinging to the man. What was different from usual was that the woody agarwood scent was mixed with the worldly smell of smoke and alcohol.

Then, Qin Fan felt his thin lips brush past her cheek. His potent breath landed on her thin, tender earlobe, as if trying to brand it.

Qin Fan leaned back forcefully, trying to avoid him.

However, the difference in strength between a man and a woman was too stark.

In the end, his kiss lingered on her neck, barely there. His usually cold voice was tinged with hoarseness, "Who is he?"

Qin Fan was stunned for a moment. After she processed it, she stopped trying to get away.

She couldn't help but laugh out loud.

At some point, Xie Yanli was looking at her laughing, his expression calm.

Realizing his intentions, the alarm bells in Qin Fan's mind were silenced. She crossed her arms, leaned against the railing, and said with a mocking smile, "What, is President Xie feeling a sense of crisis?"

"It makes sense. Little brother Chi is young and strong, and he's also well-behaved and obedient. In every aspect, he's much more likable than a certain thirty-year-old man..."

Before she could finish her words.

Qin Fan's pupils abruptly dilated.

Her red lips were sealed. The moment their tongues touched, he firmly captured hers, preventing her from saying any more words the man didn't want to hear.

In the darkness, the wet sounds were exceptionally clear, and their breathing grew more ragged.

In a short time, the originally tense space became thick with dark desire.

Suddenly, the sound of voices came from outside.

Qin Fan bit down hard on that wantonly mischievous tongue, but he retracted it extremely quickly.

Thus, she bit his lower lip instead. Qin Fan instantly released him, and decisively pushed Xie Yanli's face away, not caring in the least whether he would be discovered.

As long as she wasn't discovered, it was fine.

However, the moment Qin Fan pushed him away, the emergency exit door opened—