Feeling uncomfortable from someone's stare, Ji Weixi woke up then, straightening her back, rubbing her neck and slowly opening her eyes.

She found Jiang Cong staring at her without blinking, his eyes s.h.i.+ning from the illumination of the lights outside.

Startled, Ji Weixi stood up, completely forgetting that someone was on her lap.

"Are you trying to scare me to death?!"

Meanwhile, Li Shaoling promptly crashed to the floor. He opened his eyes with an empty, dispa.s.sionate gaze and a dark look.

Both of them were staring at Jiang Cong disgruntledly.

He shuddered and said meekly, "Well… it's time to get off work."

Ji Weixi then remembered the gathering later which Tian Miaomiao had mentioned, and asked Li Shaoling, "Are you going to the dinner tonight?"

"No!" Li Shaoling coldly declined, having been left very irritated by his rough waking-up.

"Boss never joins those things," Jiang Cong added.

"Oh. Well, you should go home with Jiayu—I'm going to the gathering with Miaomiao."

Li Shaoling pulled her then. "Do you have enough money?"

"I can give you if you don't."

"I have enough. Don't forget to bring your son home, I'm off." Ji Weixi refused his money since she wouldn't accept it anyway, and was a little embarra.s.sed from his pampering stare.

"You're not allowed to drink."

"Okay."

Li Shaoling pulled at her again with a complaining look. "Ask me if I'm sick."

…Was there anyone who would so purposefully tell someone to ask if they are sick?

He must be the first.

Still, he was clearly not sick given how he had the strength to stare daggers at Jiang Cong right after he woke up.

However, Ji Weixi decided to smile drily to satisfy President Li. "Are you still sick?"

Li Shaoling grinned, having got what he wanted. "Yes, I need your hugs to recover."

Jiang Cong felt his body hair standing on end and shuddered.

'Oh my, President Li is really such a spectacle when he's clingy…'

On the other hand, Ji Weixi felt her temper being grinded away by him.

Nonetheless, she spread her arms.

Li Shaoling went up and hugged her, even giving her a kiss. "Think of me."

"Okay, okay, I'll miss you!" Ji Weixi replied half-heartedly.

"Go." Li Shaoling patted her head, his eyes showering a myriad of affection. "Call me when you want to come home, I'll come to give you a ride."

Ji Weixi nodded while blus.h.i.+ng. "Well, I'm off."

"Okay."

Li Shaoling watched as she left with a loving, inseparable look.

Jiang Cong approached him, glancing at him and then at the doorway. "Boss… are you two in love?"

As he withdrew his gaze, Li Shaoling face grew turned cold immediately. "What do you care?"

'Then why do you care if I asked?' Jiang Cong retorted inwardly.

***

Outside the office, Ji Weixi b.u.mped into Tian Miaomiao who was just about to enter.

The little one was with her, and he gestured for Ji Weixi to crouch.

"What is it?"

He gave her a peck on her cheek. "Come home early, Mommy. I'll wait for you with Daddy at home!"

Li Shaoling saw that.

He walked to them with a long face. Gathered Ji Weixi into his arms, he kissed her as if there was no one watching.

Ji Weixi pushed him away indignantly, but he had already left. "Go."

With that, he looked down provokingly and cheekily at the little one.

Ji Weixi looked uncomfortable between them. "Behave, you two."

The little one quickly responded by hugging Li Shaoling's leg. "It's okay, Mommy. We are very close, right, Daddy?"

Li Shaoling feigned a smile. "Yeah."

Father and son then watched as Ji Weixi left and promptly pulled away in disgust.

***

Around thirty people were partic.i.p.ating in the CBS gathering.

Most of them were from the top echelons of different departments, and were important figures even if some weren't rich.

w.a.n.g Sicheng, the organizer, had reserved a huge private box at Sheng Huang Hotel ahead of time.

Both Ji Weixi and Tian Miaomiao were late. They could hear the merrymaking inside when they arrived at the box.

Nonetheless, when they opened the door, everyone's smiles froze when they saw Ji Weixi's face, leaving the room in silence.

It was an awkward scene.

Rumors had swirled around Ji Weixi when she first joined CBS.

Coupled with her young age and good looks, she was envied by female colleagues and coveted by the men.

Tian Miaomiao tugged at Ji Weixi's hand a little fearfully then.

After all, most of those seated were geniuses, and the box was basically a gathering place of bosses.

Ji Weixi simply took her seat, looked around and said calmly, "Why's no one talking? Surprised to see me?"

As soon as spoke, some of the men quickly replied, "No, no! It's our honor to have dinner in your presence, Lady Ji!"

w.a.n.g Sicheng quickly stood up and poured her some beer. "Cheers, Miss Ji. It's the first time we met, so let me introduce myself—I'm w.a.n.g Sicheng, vice-chief for sales."

"Go hide yourself in a corner, sales. Miss Ji, I'm Zhang Nan, a.s.sistant manager of operations. Come, let's drink—we're friends now, so come to me if you have any problems!"

The men who loved to put up a show were falling over themselves to have Ji Weixi drink to the point a fight broke out.

Be that as it may, although they were getting acquainted with Ji Weixi on the surface, everyone was aware of what it actually meant at work.

While they would privately spread the word saying that Ji Weixi belonged to Li Shaoling, everyone knew that relations.h.i.+ps at the workplace were nothing more a voluntary and equivalent exchange of profits.

In other words, so what if Ji Weixi was Li Shaoling's girl?

If CBS was an empire, Li Shaoling would be the emperor.

And since ancient times, there had been many ladies who would pander to the emperor. How many of those monarchs could withstand the temptation?

That was why everyone saw Ji Weixi as nothing more than Li Shaoling's toy.

She would be thrown away when the time comes.

And when they thought about it, it would be quite exciting to get their hands on the woman their superior played with.

Be that as it may, a glance was enough for Ji Weixi to tell that the men pouring drinks for her were around thirty-five and somewhat balding. Their faces looked oily under the light too, although w.a.n.g Sicheng fared better.

Ji Weixi felt a little proud then—Li Shaoling was almost thirty, but was more good-looking than some of those kids in their early twenties.

Especially his form…

Slim when dressed, muscular when undressed.

So… something.

Meanwhile, as Ji Weixi simply sat and said nothing, everyone could not help turning their eyes towards her.

Still, they stayed silent, waiting for her to speak.

Tian Miaomiao felt even more awkward then. What could she be thinking about!

"Xixi…" She discreetly nudged Ji Weixi with her elbow, prodding her softly.

Ji Weixi recovered, and found the men still holding aloft the gla.s.ses of beer they were offering her.

She smiled calmly. "Sorry, I don't drink."

She never had been alcohol-tolerant.

"Oh, it'll be fine," the one called Zhang Nan waved her off nonchalantly. "This beer has the lowest alcohol content, it's best for people who don't drink like you."

"That's right, Miss Ji," w.a.n.g Sicheng added. "You've only joined CBS recently, let's make this a welcome dinner for you."

Someone parroted as soon as he finished. "Everyone, let's welcome Miss Ji to CBS, alright?!"

The crowd joined in, "Alright!"

Ji Weixi found herself between a rock and a hard place right then.

It seemed that those men are going to force her to drink.