Chapter Forty-Six: Taking the Drinks

Mu Chuan was amused by Yu Yuchu's remark and said on an impulse, "What about your boyfriend? Why don't you have him buy you a new tire?"

Yu Yuchu hummed softly, "I knew you guessed it this morning! You were holding back without asking, and now you just couldn't contain it anymore!"

A flash of unreadable emotion crossed beneath Mu Chuan's smile, though it clearly wasn't as radiant as before. "I just wanted to see if you could hold back without bragging to me. Turns out you're still not as composed as I thought."

Yu Yuchu chuckled smugly.

"So... what is he like?"

Mu Chuan unconsciously tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

"Sister's taste has always been top-tier. My eyes are discerning, so you can rest assured."

"Really? I distinctly remember you complaining to me about your tasteless ex-boyfriend."

"Hey, hey, hey! That was a mistake, a dark page in my history, let's not bring that up. My current boyfriend is definitely top-notch..." Yu Yuchu gave a thumbs-up.

"I'll wait until your relationship actually lasts before passing judgment. Just don't come running back to me to complain later."

"Wish me some good luck, will you!"

Indignant, Yu Yuchu pulled out her phone and saw that Pei Jiayin had sent her a message.

"Sorry, but my boyfriend is quite the clingy type. That automatically cuts the chances of him being a scumbag in half."

Mu Chuan curled the corner of his lips in a mocking sneer.

Assuming Mu Chuan was just annoyed by her public display of affection, Yu Yuchu happily went back to replying to her message.

Looking closer, the message was only three words long, lacking both a subject and an object.

[Are you there yet?]

Yu Yuchu refreshed the screen; there wasn't even an emoji. True to form, he was an online iceberg.

[Almost there, hitched a ride with a coworker.]

[Remember to let me come pick you up when you're done. Don't drink too much.]

[Okay.]

After careful selection, Yu Yuchu sent back an obedient sticker.

It would be the same if she asked Pei Jiayin to come after most of the coworkers had left—this way, there was zero chance of getting exposed.

Lost in thought, she exchanged a few more messages with Pei Jiayin, completely oblivious to Mu Chuan, who had remained silent and quiet the entire way.

Mu Chuan naturally took in all of Yu Yuchu's actions, but he, who was usually so eloquent and easy to talk to, found himself unable to utter a single word now, as if some magical emotion had locked up his vocal cords.

After a long while, Mu Chuan gave a light cough to disguise his hoarse voice:

"We're here."

"We're here?"

Yu Yuchu looked up, exchanged a few parting words with Pei Jiayin, and put her phone away.

"Looks like your relationship is going pretty well."

Mu Chuan got out of the car and walked with Yu Yuchu toward the designated private dining room.

"Naturally."

Yu Yuchu patted Mu Chuan on the shoulder. "Comrade Mu Chuan, you should work harder to get yourself off the singles market, too."

Mu Chuan returned Yu Yuchu a fake smile. "Thanks, but I'm straight."

"You completely misinterpreted my meaning!"

Yu Yuchu briefly imagined what Mu Chuan would look like if he came out of the closet, and it was surprisingly amusing... but she quickly straightened her expression. Better not provoke this little demon walking beside her.

"Yuchu, you guys are here! Come sit over here."

Cui Jing waved at Yu Yuchu, catching her eye instantly.

How could she not notice? Out of an entire team—neither too big nor too small—Cui Jing was the only one with an empty seat on both her left and right. It would take a miracle not to notice.

Mu Chuan made a deadpan remark, "Actually, Sister Jing can be quite an airhead sometimes."

Yu Yuchu expressed her agreement.

How could someone be so deeply unpopular and yet remain completely oblivious to it...

Before long, Yu Yuchu and Mu Chuan reached Cui Jing's side.

Mu Chuan smiled faintly. He figured he now understood why Cui Jing had such poor social standing, because he had just been mentally battered by her.

Clearly, he and Yu Yuchu had walked in together, yet Cui Jing, while declaring, "Tonight, don't think of me as your superior; we're all friends," directly split the two of them apart, making them sit on her immediate left and right.

Didn't she feel awkward at all?

Mu Chuan glanced past Cui Jing to look at Yu Yuchu, only to find that she also wore a completely normal expression, seeing nothing wrong with the arrangement and chatting merrily away with Cui Jing.

Well, what do you know—he was the only one feeling uncomfortable.

Outwardly keeping his cool, Mu Chuan waited until Cui Jing reached out to pick up some food during dinner, then "accidentally" spun the lazy Susan, or snatched a dish just as her chopsticks hovered over the very last piece. Then, under Cui Jing's astonished gaze, he would pretend to eat with intense concentration, acting completely unaware of what he had just eaten.

To top it all off, Mu Chuan would raise his wine glass and call out "Sister Jing" every chance he got.

He had an adorable appearance, and whenever he smiled and raised a toast, his little canine teeth would flash. Though the meal left Cui Jing feeling somewhat out of sorts all over, she never once suspected Mu Chuan.

Before long, Cui Jing was flushed with alcohol from the toasts coming from all directions.

Yet, the ultimate mastermind behind it all was none other than Mu Chuan.

Despite being just an intern, his skills in getting people to drink were seasoned and smooth. From Yu Yuchu's observations, of everyone at the table, Mu Chuan had consumed the least amount of alcohol.

The most infuriating part was that even though he drank very little, he gave off the impression that he was drinking heavily, and within no time, he was acting like sworn brothers with half the table.

His sheer presence was simply unmatched.

Yu Yuchu shrank her shoulders, attempting to lower her own profile. Now *that* was a true master—using the safest possible method to avoid getting forced into drinking.

However, Mu Chuan flashed a mischievous smile.

Did she really think she could escape unscathed just by staying quiet?

"Yuchu, how is it that the project's little star contributor has been so quiet?"

Mu Chuan had clearly transformed into the god of death at the dining table; whoever he called out was destined to drink.

Yu Yuchu shrank back, Mu Chuan's words sounding like a demon's whispers.

Within just a few words, Yu Yuchu was successfully coaxed into drinking a cup by Mu Chuan.

"I surrender, I surrender! Mu Chuan, please, no more."

Mu Chuan smiled as harmlessly as a domestic animal. "Don't blame me for your drinking."

Just as Yu Yuchu resignedly prepared to take a second cup, another voice cut in, blocking the alcohol for her.

Everyone present, whether sober or tipsy, turned their heads in unison.

"I'll drink this cup for Yuchu. Mu Chuan, why are you giving Yuchu a hard time?"

Wan Ninghe was clearly also quite intoxicated by now; her cheeks were flushed bright red, and her eyes shimmered with a watery gloss.

Yu Yuchu: ?

Since when are we close, Big Sister?

"I'll drink this cup for Yuchu to make amends. Even though she didn't forgive me this afternoon, I believe that if I keep trying persistently, I'll surely win Yuchu's approval."

Why on earth did this woman always have to stir up trouble? Would it kill her to just stay quiet and behave?

By this point, Yu Yuchu was thoroughly numb. Before Wan Ninghe could down the drink in her hand, Yu Yuchu directly grabbed Wan Ninghe's arm.

"Wan Ninghe, by no logic or reason should you be drinking this cup."

Wan Ninghe, however, took this as a sign that Yu Yuchu was softening up and flashed a gentle smile. But the very next moment, her smile froze on her face.

"Because I have no intention of forgiving you."

"Yuchu..."

"Also, don't call me Yuchu. Save your green-tea routine for someone else; do you have any idea that you've ruined my good mood for the entire day?"

Wan Ninghe was left looking teary-eyed, resembling a delicate white flower caught in a fierce storm—pitiful, helpless, and utterly heartbreaking.