Chapter 18 – Easy, Darling. Don't Be Nervous.
Wen Zhi looked at him expectantly.
Mo Tingyan didn't stall this time—he cut straight to the point.
"Since we're begging someone anyway," he said casually, "why not go straight to the new big boss who just acquired JiangAir? The higher the position, the more reasonable the person tends to be."
Wen Zhi blinked.
That… actually made sense.
Dead horse, living medicine—might as well try.
"But the new president hasn't shown his face since the acquisition," she worried. "We don't have any connections…"
"I know where he is." Mo Tingyan started the engine, tone easy. "Back at the branch office, a friend told me he often visits a certain clubhouse. Let's go test our luck."
They arrived outside the high-end private clubhouse—strictly members-only. Not a chance of getting in.
Wen Zhi's brows were beginning to knit when Mo Tingyan patted her shoulder reassuringly.
"Don't worry. The boss of a jewelry store I used to work for is a member here. Wait for me—I'll make a call."
Wen Zhi didn't doubt him at all, only surprised he had such powerful acquaintances.
Two or three minutes later, he returned, holding a membership number that let them breeze inside as though they belonged.
And luck seemed to favor them—Huo Ze, the new JiangAir president, was indeed inside, playing pool with a few friends.
Before entering the billiard hall, Wen Zhi tugged his hand, face solemn.
"This is our very last chance. As long as he doesn't ask you to sleep with him, you endure. Got it?"
Mo Tingyan hooked a finger under her nose, leaning in with that teasing smirk that always made her want to hit him.
"You were the one who hit the old pervert first, remember?"
Wen Zhi rolled her eyes.
What was she supposed to do—offer him to that greasy creep?
Seeing her irritation, he chuckled and coaxed,
"Alright, alright. I know what I'm doing. I'll keep my job. I won't let your two-million mortgage collapse."
Wen Zhi: "…"
Well… he wasn't wrong.
They had already identified Huo Ze in advance. So the moment they entered, they walked straight toward him.
And Huo Ze, upon seeing Mo Tingyan approach, visibly froze for half a second—though he masked it quickly.
Mo Tingyan noticed. His brow arched ever so slightly as he stepped forward with a respectful nod.
"Excuse me, are you President Huo?"
Huo Ze's gaze flicked to Wen Zhi, who looked stern and deadly serious. His lips curved.
"I am. And you two are…?"
"Captain Mo Tingyan, JiangAir," Mo introduced himself. "I transferred here from the Singapore branch recently. There's something I'd like to report to you."
He succinctly summarized the situation with Chief Purser Xu and the disgusting offer her husband had made mere minutes ago.
Huo Ze listened, expression unreadable except for an occasional amused spark. When Mo Tingyan finished, he gave a soft laugh.
"So, you came to me to ask me to save your job?"
"Yes."
Huo Ze lifted his pool cue.
"I can help. But let's play a round. If you win, I'll keep you in the company. If you lose, I can still help—however…"
He pointed the cue at Wen Zhi.
"She'll belong to me. Deal?"
Wen Zhi's face darkened instantly.
Were all JiangAir higher-ups allergic to behaving like human beings?
She took a step forward, ready to unleash hell—
But Mo Tingyan's voice cut through the air, cold and sharp.
"I can lose. I can give up the job. But she is not a bargaining chip. She is a person—not something you gamble over."
Wen Zhi froze mid-movement, stunned.
She'd never believed in love or affection.
Her own father had abandoned her mother and daughter for a mistress.
Worse—he had treated her, his own daughter, as a bargaining tool to be offered to an older widower just to secure a business deal.
Her mother…
Wen Zhi forced the thoughts away.
She had known Mo Tingyan for only a few days—and yet this man had just chosen her, firmly, without hesitation.
Huo Ze seemed genuinely entertained.
"You're surprisingly sentimental."
Then he shrugged. "Fine. We'll change the rules. She'll play against me. If she wins, I'll save your job. How about that?"
Wen Zhi's pulse jumped—
She didn't know the first thing about billiards!
But before she could speak, Mo Tingyan answered coolly,
"Sure."
She bumped his elbow, leaned up to whisper urgently against his ear,
"I can't play—don't agree!"
He only stroked the top of her head gently, giving her a reassuring look that somehow made her even more flustered.
What did that mean?
Huo Ze sent his friends back to the private room. After the break shot, he took the first turn. He missed.
Wen Zhi's turn.
Mo Tingyan handed her the cue. She took it awkwardly—
Then he stepped behind her, half embracing her, guiding her grip with his own hand, gently lowering her upper body toward the table.
His voice drawled softly against her ear,
"President Huo only said you had to play. He never said I couldn't teach you. So relax, darling. Easy… good girl."
Across from them, Huo Ze sipped his wine with a regretful sigh.
"Didn't expect you to catch that loophole."
Wen Zhi brightened.
This man's crooked brain really worked at the best moments.
Though…
With his body pressed along her back, she could clearly feel—
She shot him a sideways glare.
Seriously? At a time like this?
Noticing her look, Mo Tingyan smirked lazily and whispered against the shell of her ear—
a voice only she could hear.
She stiffened, face heating instantly.
He murmured,
"Focus. We'll test it when we get home."
Wen Zhi's face turned crimson.
Who wasn't focused?!
Who was testing what with who?!
Ignoring her internal meltdown, he guided her hands, nudged the cue forward—
And the ball slid neatly into the pocket.
For the next ten minutes, the match was intense—neck-and-neck.
Wen Zhi was hyper-focused, terrified of costing Mo Tingyan his future.
Huo Ze, on the other hand, played lazily, eyes mostly studying the chemistry between them.
Then came the final shot.
If Wen Zhi sank this last ball—they won.
If she missed—Mo Tingyan's career was over.
Her palms were slick with sweat, breath tight.
Her heartbeat thundered.
Mo Tingyan sensed the panic.
With Huo Ze's line of sight blocked, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the edge of her ear—gentle, grounding.
His voice dropped, steady and warm:
"Easy, Zhangzhu. Don't be nervous. Trust me."
She looked back at him, wanting to say something—
But at that moment, Mo Tingyan's hand abruptly tightened around hers and pushed the cue forward—
Catching her completely unprepared.
Wen Zhi jolted, panic shooting up her spine.
Oh no.
Oh no—
Please, not the final shot!
She whipped her head toward the rolling ball