Or maybe she had tried to lift her hand, only to find herself completely powerless.

Am I drunk?

I suppose I am drunk...

Looking up at the chandelier on the ceiling, shrouded in darkness except for its outline, Qu Peining thought.

Otherwise, why would I be here, enduring such filth?

In her daze, she seemed to return to the night at Magic City Building No. 9, where she was helpless, unable to resist her feelings.

Fully aware that it was all wrong, knowing that the other person was insulting and deceiving her, yet unable to break free, or maybe... unwilling to break free.

...

Zhou Wang felt as if he were dreaming too.

He passed the three or five minutes with great care.

Yet the dopamine frantically secreted in his brain granted him a joy that transcended time.

At the final moment, he was unwilling to be so hasty, so he made a daring move.

That was to reach out and found the switch on the wall, pressing it with a "click".

There were multiple switches on the wall, but Zhou Wang didn’t turn on the chandelier in the center of the room, just the hallway light near the door, which wasn’t very bright.

However, compared to the previous darkness, even the small hallway light seemed bright enough.

At least within the few meters near the door, everything was fully revealed.

Yet in Zhou Wang’s eyes, he saw neither the disheveled, bizarre expression of Jiang Mubai, nor the scattered buttons and broken high heels on the floor. He could only see the face of Qu Peining, who was raising her head.

Under the sudden glare of the light, she squinted her eyes uncomfortably at first, then let out a "humph," glancing askance at Zhou Wang with some reproach.

Her cheeks were flushed, like a maple leaf drifting by the lakeside; her face, usually full of spirit, now showed a bit of naive charm, yet her eyes were marked with traces of tears, resembling raindrops on banana leaves, capturing a morbid beauty in unbearable humiliation.

Especially in her seven-tenths bewildered state, when she looked up at Zhou Wang, it was like brewing the most beautiful spring water in the world, mixed with resentment, unwillingness, and a barely perceptible obsession.

Zhou Wang felt an impulse akin to that of Edison Chen.

He wanted to lift a camera and forever capture on film an expression that no professional actor could ever replicate.

...

The most astonished person was, in fact, the seeming initiator of all this, who was at the moment leaning blankly against the corner wall - Jiang Mubai.

She swore to the heavens...

This really wasn’t her intention!

She initially acted out of resentment, thinking she couldn’t let Qu Peining leave so easily, or rather wanted to shatter the inexplicable arrogance that Jiang Mubai perceived in her, so she pulled Qu Peining down.

She merely wanted her to open her eyes wide and see how true emotions played out between men and women, but she had never expected Zhou Wang to act on a whim and directly treat Qu Peining as a substitute.

No, describing Qu Peining like this seemed off...

Because from Zhou Wang’s current eyes, only the other’s image remained; Jiang Mubai herself seemed more like the substitute.

In any case, Jiang Mubai watched helplessly as the opportunity she painstakingly created for solitude with Zhou Wang was hijacked by Qu Peining.

Yet Jiang Mubai couldn’t break out; when she saw the intimate scenes finally conclude, she hurried to stand up, found a wet wipe from her Hermes purse, and went forward to help.

But Zhou Wang refused her, merely pointing at the still coughing Qu Peining, instructing Jiang Mubai to assist Qu Peining.

At this moment, Jiang Mubai felt a bit bitter.

She felt she was truly the "boiling sheep" - the fifty-third card... the full-color joker.

Though fleeting thoughts crossed her mind, Jiang Mubai obediently complied, quickly supporting the slightly dazed Qu Peining to her feet and heading straight for the bathroom.

Jiang Mubai already realized this girl truly seemed clueless; if it were her, she wouldn’t shed so many tears!

...

Another ten minutes later, in the VIP lounge, Zhou Wang looked at the seemingly unconscious Qu Peining lying in bed and somewhat uncertainly asked Jiang Mubai:

"Are you sure she’s drunk?"

It wasn’t unreasonable for Zhou Wang to ask, because earlier, Peining seemed relatively sober.

Or perhaps someone like her, even after drinking too much, would have that thread in their brain tightly strung, not easily allowing herself to collapse.

Therefore, as Zhou Wang smoked alone in the lounge earlier, he was still pondering how to handle things next.

Mainly, he didn’t know what state Qu Peining would be in, nor was he sure of her mindset at the time...

Unexpectedly, Jiang Mubai returned with the sleeping Qu Peining.

While this seemed more convenient, Zhou Wang still had some doubts.

"She probably is, because she vomited in the bathroom..."

Saying this, Jiang Mubai glanced strangely at Zhou Wang.

Zhou Wang felt some embarrassment, as Jiang Mubai’s implication was clear: originally, Qu Peining might not have vomited, but Zhou Wang was the cause.

Recalling earlier, Zhou Wang remembered that Qu Peining did exhibit some gag reflex symptoms in that last moment, cough cough...

So she might not have been that drunk; it was me that made her vomit?

Learning that Qu Peining was genuinely drunk, Zhou Wang felt somewhat relieved.

Although he had prepared himself mentally, if Peining were to sober up, Zhou Wang still might find himself a bit overwhelmed.

One could say that in the saint mode for a dog-like man, he’s truly remorseful at this point.

"Mr. Zhou, what should we do now?"

Jiang Mubai asked at this point.

Zhou Wang tapped his fingers a few times, looking around; although this lounge wasn’t used much, it was well-equipped, even with a ready bedroom...

"Do you have any plans tonight?"

Zhou Wang looked at Jiang Mubai.

"Huh?"

Jiang Mubai’s heart leaped with joy, immediately replied bashfully: "I... I have no plans, I’m off tomorrow too!"

"Great, then stay and take care of her."

"?"

Jiang Mubai was taken aback, "This..."

"What’s wrong, unwilling?"

"Not at all... Why would I be unwilling?"

Jiang Mubai could only muster a forced smile, "As long as it’s Mr. Zhou’s instructions, no matter what it is, I’m willing."

These words, Zhou Wang already grew tired of hearing, merely patted her buttocks perfunctorily, then told Jiang Mubai to wait in the room while he walked out and called the marketing manager.

By this time, Zhou Wang naturally revealed his cards; upon learning Zhou Wang was the biggest behind-the-scenes shareholder of their store, the marketing manager was shocked but then instantly relieved.

He knew it; rich people are tricky as hell; no one quickly throws out tens of thousands just for show...

If it’s a shareholder, then it’s perfectly normal.

Don’t doubt it; this is also part of the marketing strategy.

Once Zhou Wang revealed his identity, requisitioning the lounge became simple.

Later, when Xiao Bo brought two female salespeople to deliver toiletries and new bedding sets, they looked at Zhou Wang with reverence mixed with eagerness.

Zhou Wang patted his shoulder, though without specific gesture, it was enough for Xiao Bo to feel excited all night, unable to sleep when he got home...

Once everything was settled, looking at the peacefully sleeping Qu Peining on the silk bed, Zhou Wang felt as though his intoxication had almost faded.

He kissed Qu Peining’s smooth forehead, then was about to turn and leave when a soft body clung to him from behind.

"Mr. Zhou, I haven’t had my fill yet; can you stay a bit longer?"

Even though separated by clothing, Zhou Wang could clearly feel that at this moment, Jiang Mubai, who emerged again to stir things, seemed to be completely unclothed.

With righteous intent, Zhou Wang initially wanted to refuse, but Jiang Mubai started whispering in his ear in a hoarse voice calling him "BB"...

Immediately Zhou Wang found his steps difficult to take.