As the secretary's translation echoed through the room, everyone was dumbfounded. It turned out that Su Wanwan's earlier remark—"What a coincidence, it really belongs to my family"—was no mere jest! She truly held the rights to those two roads! This explosive revelation was like a colossal stone cast into a serene lake, sending towering waves rippling through their calm.
The most embarrassed of all was Li Manya. She had no time to ponder how Su Wanwan wielded such immense power. All she knew was that she had unwittingly staged a foolish farce, a self-directed tragedy.
Su Wanwan's gaze rested on the bottles of foreign liquor atop the table. "Your staff are quite hospitable—meeting me and immediately wanting to share a drink."
Xize's eyelid twitched sharply. He was both friend and superior to Su Wanwan. There was still room to salvage this situation, but if her two brothers found out, resolution would be far from simple.
Decisively, Xize said, "Oh? Is that so?" His eyes flicked over the work badge hanging on Qiao Zhen's chest. "Qiao Zhen, I never took you for a drink enthusiast."
"Since that's the case, you might as well drink them all."
Qiao Zhen trembled as he stared at the bottles. Drink them all... today, he might as well hand over his life right here!
"Vice... Vice President... I... I..."
Xize closed in, his voice a whisper only they could hear. "Do you want the alcohol... or do you want to live?"
Qiao Zhen shuddered, wordlessly picking up a bottle. The sound of him swallowing was nearly unbearable. The instant the alcohol touched his tongue, every wound felt as if it had been sprinkled with salt—sharp, stinging pain. The liquor he had not yet swallowed trickled from his mouth, dripping onto the floor.
Su Wanwan cast a faint glance at the ground. Xize immediately rebuked coldly, "Are you mocking me? Spilled liquor on the floor—crawl and drink it up!"
Leaning lazily against the table, Su Wanwan's lips curved into a faint, elegant smile. Yet that graceful expression sent chills down everyone's spines.
Only now did they truly grasp Su Wanwan's background—and it was far more profound than anything they had seen or heard before.
Though the office and its outskirts were crowded, silence reigned, broken only by Qiao Zhen's agonized swallowing sounds.
Suddenly, the mischievous liquor found its way into Qiao Zhen's windpipe, forcing him into a harsh coughing fit that caused the bottle to clatter to the floor. The ruby-hued liquid spread across the pristine, flawless tiles.
Qiao Zhen's eyes widened like copper coins—empty and hollow.
The next moment, a sharp kick landed on his backside. He fell clumsily, nearly face-planting beside the shattered glass, only an inch from the fragments.
"Drink it all, not a single drop left!" Xize's words cut like steel.
Qiao Zhen planted his hands on the floor, arms trembling violently, gasping fiercely through parted lips. A battle for dignity waged within him.
"What are you dawdling for? Want me to feed you myself?" Xize roared.
Slowly, Qiao Zhen lowered his head. Everyone closed their eyes, unwilling to witness more.
Li Manya bit her lip tightly, clutching Liang Yihang beside her, whispering, "Su Wanwan is simply merciless..."
"Qiao Zhen's words were harsh, but he didn't deserve such humiliation..."
"When this is over, how can he possibly remain in this industry?"
Liang Yihang swallowed hard, silent yet clearly thinking the same.
The spilled liquor on the floor gradually disappeared as Qiao Zhen grasped a fresh bottle and kept drinking.
Time stretched endlessly.
Eventually, Qiao Zhen halted. His stomach churned violently, and he vomited uncontrollably. The foul stench filled the air. The expelled liquor was tinged with blood.
Li Manya gasped, "Blood... he's vomiting blood!"
Drinking until vomiting blood clearly meant severe gastric damage.
Unable to bear it any longer, Li Manya pleaded, "Su Wanwan, we came here to discuss cooperation!"
"I understand that Qiao Zhen wronged you," she added softly.
"But... you could have spared him. There was no need to be so heartless!"
Su Wanwan's exquisite almond eyes shimmered with moisture, deep and glossy. She casually tucked a stray lock behind her ear, tilting her head slightly—part innocence, part allure.
"Sold out and still counting the money?" Li Manya didn't comprehend.
Su Wanwan approached the weakened Qiao Zhen and delivered a sharp kick to his knee.
"Care to explain what happened at the bar?"
Qiao Zhen clutched his stomach in agony, utterly limp like a deflated balloon.
Li Manya frowned, "What do you mean?"
Su Wanwan leaned sensuously against the table, her slender waist arching gracefully.
"If it weren't for me, right now you'd be lying in Qiao Zhen's bed."
"The foreigner who dragged you yesterday was in VIP Room 303."
"The drinks in that room were heavily laced with drugs."
Li Manya's teeth clenched. She knew if Su Wanwan hadn't intervened yesterday, something terrible might have happened.
"But... what does this have to do with Qiao Zhen?"
Su Wanwan interrupted, "Perhaps you don't know that every VIP suite in that bar is rented yearly, exclusive to cardholders—not open to outsiders."
"And the user of Room 303 this year? Qiao Zhen."
This was confirmed by the bar manager's detailed report Su Wanwan received after returning to the hotel last night.
Li Manya staggered, nearly falling.
"If you wish to protect someone who means you harm, be my guest."
Su Wanwan shrugged indifferently.
Liang Yihang, upon hearing this, cursed repeatedly under his breath.
"Damn it! I once considered you a brother! After all these years, you're still coveting my wife. I'll kill you!"
Seething, he kicked Qiao Zhen mercilessly.
Li Manya stood frozen, tears silently streaming down her cheeks.
Su Wanwan stepped forward. "I'm hungry. Xize, treat me to a meal."
"Right away, right away!" Xize beamed like a loyal puppy, following her eagerly.
Behind them, the office was left in stunned silence.
Once Liang Yihang had vented his fury, he pulled Li Manya close, whispering tender words of comfort.
As for Qiao Zhen, he had long been beaten unconscious by Liang Yihang and was carried off to the hospital.
"Forgive me, my wife. It was my fault—my carelessness."
"I should have seen that bastard's intentions toward you sooner, given he's coveted you for so many years."
"My negligence almost cost you dearly."
"From now on, we'll sever all ties with him. Tomorrow, we return home."