Chapter 87: Do you want to go home with me

Returning to the private room, President Song had already collapsed on the sofa, sound asleep with his face flushed from the alcohol.

Beside him, Nan Zhechuan held a wine glass. Although his face was red, his eyes were exceptionally clear. He stood up and smugly gave President Song the middle finger.

"Hahahaha, trying to outdrink me? Back in college, your Brother Nan could drink an entire club under the table."

Lin Ya hadn't drunk much this time. She helplessly massaged her temples and pressed Nan Zhechuan's arm down. "Alright, you're going to wake him up in a minute. Hurry up and call a designated driver; we still need to get him back."

Noticing An Ling at the door, she quickly walked over. "Ah Leng, are you alright?"

An Ling smiled and waved her hand. "I'm fine. I just feel a little dizzy, but I'm not drunk."

Lin Ya sighed in relief. "The driver will be here soon. We'll drop you off first."

Hearing this, An Ling quickly took out her phone to show her. "No need, no need. Someone is coming to pick me up. Sister Lin Ya, you guys can go ahead."

She glanced at President Song in the back. "How did the partnership talks go?"

"Not bad." Lin Ya nodded, revealing a smile. "At least we can report back to Ms. Chen."

"Sister Lin Ya, the driver says he's downstairs." Nan Zhechuan's voice came from behind.

An Ling stepped aside to make room. "You guys go first. My friend should be here soon too."

"Then be careful by yourself, and remember to call me if anything happens," Lin Ya instructed uneasily. "Don't just leave with anyone, and don't drink anymore."

"Okay." An Ling smiled and nodded.

After they left, An Ling returned to the second-floor balcony where she was before. Taking out her phone, she saw the message Wen Yuche had sent her.

[I saw Brother An Zhou's address. I'll be there in about fifteen minutes.]

An Ling hesitated and tapped her phone. She sighed, a suspicion arising in her heart. "Could An Zhou have done this on purpose?"

Just to get back at her?

She muttered curses at An Zhou under her breath while replying to Wen Yuche.

[Okay, I'm so sorry to bother you. You really didn't have to come; I could have asked my colleagues to take me back.]

Wen Yuche: [It's no problem. I just happened to be at home with nothing to do.]

An Ling: [You really don't have to be so polite to my brother! If you have things to do, go ahead and do them!]

Wen Yuche's tone carried a hint of helplessness.

[I'm really free. Brother An Zhou probably asked me because he genuinely couldn't get away. As a friend, I'm more than happy to come pick you up.]

An Ling was out of options.

Just as she was about to turn off her phone, a new message popped up.

Shen Linyan: [Madam, want to call?]

An Ling: [But I'm outside.]

Shen Linyan: [That's okay, me too.]

But she was in a bar.

The music here was too loud; if they called, they probably wouldn't be able to hear each other anyway.

An Ling: [Let's call when I get home. I'm heading home right now ^^]

The alcohol hit her, and she yawned. Leaning against the railing, she looked at the crowd of unfamiliar faces below. To be honest, even if there was someone she knew here, she wouldn't be able to recognize them.

An Ling checked the time, already feeling a bit regretful.

If she had chosen to go home earlier, she could be on the phone with Shen Linyan right now.

She lowered her head and muttered softly, "If I had known, I wouldn't have come to this social event. I should have just gone home."

Just as she finished speaking, her waist was gently wrapped by someone's arms, and the scent of cedarwood enveloped her along with a burning hot breath.

"Then do you want to go home with me?"

The man's deep voice carried a hint of a smile.

An Ling froze. A few seconds later, she turned around in pleasant surprise and threw her arms around the man's neck, her bright eyes blinking.

"Why are you here?"

The woman's cheeks were flushed pink, her eyelashes fluttering gently. Her lips were crimson, and her breath carried a faint, mellow scent of alcohol.

Shen Linyan smiled and held her waist. "I came here to see a friend and saw my wife. Why are you here all alone?"

An Ling felt a little embarrassed. "You're not allowed to laugh at me. I was curious about what these social dinners were like, so I tagged along to see."

Speaking of the social event, she raised her head, leaned close to Shen Linyan's ear, and whispered, "In the end, that investor even tried to force me to drink. It wasn't interesting at all."

Shen Linyan's movements paused slightly, though the curve of his lips remained unchanged. He lowered his head, his nose brushing past her hair, and asked in a gentle tone, "Which company's investor?"

"His surname is President Song. I didn't ask much else, but anyway, Sister Lin Ya said the deal was sealed..."

Remembering the message from just now, An Ling suddenly realized, "So when you asked to call earlier, you did it on purpose!"

She had wondered why Shen Linyan suddenly wanted to call, even when he was outside.

The man's eyes curved in a smile, not denying it. "So, do you want to go home with me and call?"

An Ling shook her head and sighed. "No, I originally asked my brother to pick me up, but he sent Wen Yuche instead."

Shen Linyan held the person in his arms and glanced downstairs, his gaze landing on a certain someone. His arms tightened slightly, and his tone was soft. "Doesn't Madam have trouble recognizing people after drinking?"

As if sensing his gaze, that person looked up at the second floor. Upon meeting his eyes, the other man's expression abruptly froze.

Shen Linyan curled his lips and, right in front of that person, lowered his head to kiss the top of the woman's hair.

The man's face grew increasingly ugly as he took out his phone.

Completely oblivious to all this, An Ling took out her phone to check her messages. "Yeah, so I'll ask him to wait for me outside later, that way I won't mistake him for someone else. He should be here by now."

Just as she finished speaking, a call came in.

The caller ID showed it was indeed Wen Yuche.

An Ling paused.

What a coincidence.

Just as she was about to answer, her chin was pinched. The man's presence pressed down, and their lips met. His breath was scorching and damp, the scent of alcohol intertwining between them.

Having drunk alcohol, An Ling's reactions were a bit sluggish. Blushing, she was pressed against the railing and kissed by the man. She whispered, "I think he's here."

Shen Linyan lowered his eyes, gently kissed the corner of her mouth, and helped her hang up the phone.

"It doesn't matter if he waits a bit, or you could tell him I'm taking you back."

An Ling was coaxed by the man to the point where she almost agreed.

"No, my brother will find out."

The man's movements paused slightly. His dark eyes were deep in the dim light of the bar. He stared at her, his voice softening, "Has Madam considered telling your family that we plan to remarry?"

"Hmm?" An Ling blinked, smiling as she hugged his neck. "Do you want me to tell them? My brother definitely won't agree."

She didn't know her parents' attitude, but she felt they probably wouldn't say much.

"Plus, haven't you not finished sorting out the shares yet? I originally planned to wait until you were done before saying anything."

Shen Linyan merely lowered his head and kissed the corner of her lips. "Whatever Madam wants is fine."

From the corner of his eye, he glanced downstairs at the man who was no longer visible. Retracting his gaze, he raised a hand to tidy the girl's hair. "Alright, go home. Call me when you get there, okay?"

An Ling nodded, "Okay."

Shen Linyan watched the woman's retreating figure as she left the bar. Footsteps sounded behind him.

"Shen Linyan, you should thank me."

Wang Yihong walked over nonchalantly, holding a wine glass.

The man glanced at him. "Send me the information on that investor once you find it."

Wang Yihong gave an "OK" gesture.

He then lifted his chin. "But who is this Wen Yuche guy? I haven't seen him before."

Shen Linyan lowered his head and took out a cigarette. Just as he was about to light it, he thought of something and paused his movements, saying flatly, "He's a nobody."

Oh ho, looks like a love rival.

Wang Yihong was intensely intrigued; it had been a long time since he last heard Shen Linyan evaluate someone like that.

But he didn't dare fan the flames of that particular topic, so he simply changed the subject.

"So, you're really not going to Damian's bidding conference? Lu Jingshen definitely won't win the bid anyway, so who is getting it this time?"

Shen Linyan toyed with the cigarette in his hand.

"The An Group."

"Huh?"

Wang Yihong whipped his head around in surprise. "You suggested that to Damian? And he agreed? Is Damian really that comfortable handing it over to the An Group?"

A smirk then spread across his face. "Wow... that old hag is probably going to die of rage. Such a massive project, handed right to her former daughter-in-law."

The man said nothing, his silence serving as a tacit agreement.

He lowered his gaze to his empty ring finger and spoke in a quiet voice.

"I've lost interest in playing games with them."

Wang Yihong froze at those words and turned to look at him.

But Shen Linyan had already turned away and was heading downstairs.

Watching the man's retreating figure, Wang Yihong took a sip of his wine and clicked his tongue.

"The Shen Group's good days are officially over."