Ye Yuning stepped aside to answer the phone and asked softly, "Are you finished over there?"
"Not yet, you might need to come pick me up."
It was unclear whether it was because of the signal or because Xiao Linye had actually had some drinks. As Ye Yuning listened to his voice at that moment, it carried a slight hint of intoxication.
As soon as she heard that she would need to pick him up, the memory of the last time in the car flashed through her mind, sending shivers uncontrollably through her body.
"Pick...pick you up? Did you drink a lot?"
She instinctively wanted to ask if he could just call a designated driver or something.
Xiao Linye said, "There seems to be something wrong with the wine at the banquet."
Ye Yuning was momentarily speechless. What? Something’s wrong?
The words "something’s wrong" instantly sent her heart into a panic.
"Do you mean someone might be scheming against you? That someone spiked your drink?"
No, that couldn’t be, could it? He was just a business manager; who would go out of their way to scheme against him? If anyone were to be targeted, it would be someone like Xiao Shuo, who might not seem very capable but came from a family with a rich background—someone who, if successfully entrapped, could change the fate of their entire lineage.
Xiao Linye hummed in response.
Ye Yuning was taken aback. So it’s true!
Upon hearing that it was indeed a scheme, her mind started racing.
"Where are you? Can you send me your location? I’ll come over right away!" Her tone was urgent.
Damn it, could it be that he was schemed against last time as well? Thinking of the loss of control that night in the car, it seemed highly likely. At this moment, Ye Yuning became more convinced that Xiao Linye not only held some position within the Xiao Corporation but might even hold some stature in Upper City. She usually didn’t engage in futile social interactions, so she didn’t really know what kind of presence Xiao Linye held. Now she realized that one shouldn’t be too secluded from the world; otherwise, there was so much one couldn’t understand.
"I’ll send it to you right away," Xiao Linye said.
"Okay," Ye Yuning replied.
After she hung up, a WeChat message from Xiao Linye soon came through.
She turned around and went back to the restaurant. Gui Xingli had piled food high in her small bowl, like a little mountain, all dishes she had blanched for her.
Seeing her return, Gui Xingli said, "Hurry up and eat. Hotpot doesn’t taste good when it’s cold."
"Um, I might need to leave."
"What happened?" Hearing Ye Yuning say she had to leave, Gui Xingli’s hand paused, her chopsticks hovering.
Ye Yuning said apologetically, "My husband is drunk, and I need to go pick him up."
Gui Xingli was silent for a moment. Hearing Ye Yuning mention being married, a shadow flickered in Gui Xingli’s eyes, but it vanished just as quickly. The moment she looked up, her eyes had returned to their usual tranquility.
She took a deep breath and said, "So, you’re married now, huh?"
Ye Yuning nodded. "Then I’ll be going?"
"I’ll have Old Zheng pick me up," Gui Xingli said.
Hearing her say this, Ye Yuning didn’t press further and quickly asked the waiter for the bill.
But Gui Xingli said, "You go on. I’ll take care of it."
"No, I said it’s my treat, so it’s on me. Next time I visit Luozhou, you can treat me."
Gui Xingli’s tone grew firm.
This sudden firmness made Ye Yuning pause. Confused, she looked at Gui Xingli. Gui Xingli met her gaze, her eyes filled with an unprecedented sternness as she said, "Be good. Go on now!"
How could she let Ningning spend a single cent more in her presence? She knew exactly how this child had struggled to survive all these years. Never mind that Ningning was earning some money now; Gui Xingli couldn’t even imagine how she had gotten through all those penniless days in the past. Now that Gui Xingli had found her, she felt she was repaying a debt—a debt that could never be fully repaid in a lifetime.
Ye Yuning listened as Gui Xingli used her firmest tone to say words meant to gently persuade her. Her brows knitted tightly together.
"Aren’t you going yet?" Gui Xingli asked.
"Then let’s talk another day," Ye Yuning said.
The thought that Xiao Linye might have been targeted left Ye Yuning with no time for further considerations, and she hurried off.
Watching her retreating figure, Gui Xingli’s eyes filled with guilt and pain.
Old Zheng, who had been waiting outside in the car, quickly came in. "Miss."
"You said she married Xiao Linye, is that correct?" Gui Xingli asked.
"Yes!" Old Zheng nodded.
Gui Xingli closed her eyes for a moment. Her clenched fists trembled slightly, revealing the intense effort she was making to control her emotions.
「Meanwhile, at the banquet.」
Xiao Linye was in Rest Lounge Number Two.
Zheng Siyu had originally planned to come in here earlier to wait for him, but she was called away by a member of the waitstaff. That waiter had been arranged by Ye Tong!
Now that she knew Xiao Linye had entered the lounge, she was outside, frantically twisting the doorknob. "Master Seven, please open the door! I’ve had someone prepare sobering soup for you."
Damn it, she shouldn’t have left with that waiter earlier!
No matter how hard she knocked, there was no response from inside. Zheng Siyu grew increasingly anxious.
She knew this was her only chance. After today, her chances of seeing Master Seven again would be incredibly slim.