Chapter 28: You Had Better Worry About Yourself First

I knew why Lin Zixuan held such hostility toward me; Chen Xiaona had told me earlier that evening.

Back then, Lin Zixuan had fawned over her, but Chen Xiaona found him repulsive and remained completely unmoved. While she did like handsome men, she preferred someone like Chen Yinan, who possessed both looks and substance. She had no interest in an empty-headed fop like Lin Zixuan. Seeing that his attempts to woo his boss were fruitless, Lin Zixuan shifted his target to the more easily manipulated Xiangxiang. This was the direct reason Chen Xiaona suspected his motives weren't pure and that he would eventually betray Xiangxiang; such a man could never be loyal to a relationship.

This was also the reason Lin Zixuan hated me. *If I couldn't get her, why should you?* He didn't care whether his suspicions were mere speculation or gossip; as long as someone received special treatment from Chen Xiaona, he viewed them with hostility.

Seeming afraid that I might snap, Lin Zixuan said with a wicked grin, "Hey, Sister Huang and her friends have been close associates of President Chen for years and have helped her out a lot. You’d better not anger them and make things difficult for President Chen!" He picked up a wine glass, walked over to me, and said, "So, I advise you to just drink it."

"Drink it!" the people around the table watched me with malicious glee.

Just as I was about to speak, someone walked over from the side and said to the group with a smile, "I'll drink it for him." A fragrant breeze swept by as someone took the glass from Lin Zixuan's hand.

Lin Zixuan frowned, grabbed her wrist, and snapped, "Xiangxiang, what are you doing? That was specially prepared by Sister Huang for this little boyfriend of President Chen!"

"What are you talking about!" Xiangxiang shot him a coy, indignant glare. "What 'little boyfriend of President Chen'? He’s just here to cover a shift for a day or two! By the way, honey, where did you go just now? I thought I saw you leave."

A flash of panic crossed Lin Zixuan's eyes. He smiled at her and said, "I had too much to drink and felt a bit sick, so I went to throw up and get some fresh air. If you don't believe me, ask Sister Jin and the others; they all saw me."

The plump woman glanced at Xiangxiang and curled her lip. "Zhou Le'er, this man you’re looking after—you really can't let him out of your sight for even a second, can you?"

"That's not it, Sister Jin!" Xiangxiang turned to her with a smile. "I'm just worried about him and want him to drink less. Sister Jin, Sister Zhang, Sister Huang, this young man is new and doesn't know the rules. If he’s offended you in any way, please forgive him. I’ll drink this glass for him!"

She raised the glass, ready to down it, but Lin Zixuan gripped her wrist tightly. "What are you doing? You can't drink this!" Presumably thinking about Xiangxiang consuming someone else's spit and then getting intimate with him later that night, a look of disgust washed over Lin Zixuan’s face.

Xiangxiang hadn't seen the wild woman spit into the glass, so she looked at Lin Zixuan, confused. "Why can't I drink it?"

"That..." Lin Zixuan quickly hugged her. "That... it was a penalty from Sister Huang for this guy. It wouldn't make sense for you to drink it!"

The wild woman turned to look at me, her voice cold. "I thought you were Na's little boy toy, and it turned out to be a misunderstanding. Since you have nothing to do with Na, where did you get the nerve to refuse me?"

I had remained silent until now. Seeing the real target had arrived, I turned to Xiangxiang and said, "Xiangxiang, thank you for stepping in."

Xiangxiang