Chapter 688: Massive!

After she finished asking that, Ning Xue regretted it and hurriedly lowered her head again.

Ning Xue clenched the hem of her clothes with both hands, her cheeks burning hot, almost about to ignite.

Her heart went "thump-thump-thump" nonstop, she didn't even dare to breathe.

She feared…… Lin Yuan would laugh at her, and also feared getting a negative answer.

The atmosphere in the washroom grew increasingly thick……

Their breaths intertwined, so quiet they could clearly hear each other's heartbeat.

Lin Yuan…… looked at her shy and nervous appearance, his eyes showing helplessness.

Lin Yuan had no trace of teasing, lightly nodded, choosing to speak the truth.

"Yes, it's really fragrant, not lying to you at all."

Lin Yuan's voice wasn't loud, but carried enough sincerity.

He seemed to be stating an indisputable fact, instantly dispelling Ning Xue's inner unease.

Hearing Lin Yuan's affirmative answer, Ning Xue's heart jumped again.

Her flushed cheeks…… grew more intense, even her earlobes reddened to the point of almost dripping blood.

Ning Xue slightly lifted her head, her gaze darting…… not daring to look directly at Lin Yuan.

Her long eyelashes…… trembled lightly, like a startled fawn.

Ning Xue, with a barely perceptible tremor and shyness.

After hesitating for a long time, she finally mustered the courage and whispered:

"Then…… can you help me stop the bleeding again? I…… I still hurt a bit."

When she said those words, Ning Xue almost buried her head in her chest, her pretty face flushed to the extreme, her voice as faint as a mosquito.

She felt both shy and confused inside——

She never imagined she would proactively make such a request.

But the faint pain from her ankle, and also, her heart^^…… that inexplicable throb……

It made her unable to resist, wanting to feel Lin Yuan's tenderness and care again.

Lin Yuan, hearing that, was first stunned.

However, Lin Yuan had no hesitation, lightly nodded.

Lin Yuan said gently: "Okay, don't rush, I'll help you again, it won't hurt soon."

Saying that, Lin Yuan slowly squatted, carefully supporting Ning Xue's arm.

He let Ning Xue slowly lean against the wall of the sanitary partition, trying to make her as comfortable as possible.

Then, Lin Yuan had no extra words.

His movements remained gentle…… as if treating a rare treasure.

Lin Yuan, again carefully…… lifted Ning Xue's foot wearing stockings.

His fingertips lightly brushed over her ankle wound.

Lin Yuan's gaze was serious, with no distracting thoughts, only pure care remained.

In the washroom's sanitary partition, the atmosphere…… grew even thicker.

Their breaths tightly intertwined……

Lin Yuan's warm fingertips, gentle movements, and Ning Xue's flushed cheeks, rapid heartbeat……

They formed a picture of tenderness and ambiguity.

Lin Yuan slightly lowered his head, again…… lightly approaching Ning Xue's scraped ankle……

It was still that gentle force.

He patiently helped Ning Xue "stop the bleeding".

Every movement of Lin Yuan…… was especially careful, afraid of hurting her.

Ning Xue leaned against the wall, her whole body slightly tense, yet she no longer struggled.

She closed her eyes, letting Lin Yuan care for her.

Ning Xue's cheeks remained flushed, her inner shyness…… gradually faded a bit.

What replaced it was her inner…… a hint of indescribable warmth.

Lin Yuan's tenderness spread from the ankle to the whole body, even the pain seemed to become insignificant.

The partition was very quiet.

Only the sound of their breaths remained, plus the faint sound of Lin Yuan's gentle movements.

The outside clamor…… seemed to be shut out.

Here, only the two of them remained, each other's heartbeat and tenderness.

This sudden ambiguity, like a small stone, rippled layers in their hearts, long unable to subside.

Just as this tenderness and ambiguity…… spread.

A sudden burst of urgent phone ring……% suddenly rang, breaking the quiet of the partition——

It was Ning Xue's phone.

On the screen flashing, it was exactly her ex-boyfriend's number.

This sudden ringtone was like a bucket of cold water, instantly sobering the two immersed in the present atmosphere.

Ning Xue's delicate body stiffened, as if struck by electricity.

She instinctively pulled back her foot.

Her flushed cheeks…… instantly faded a bit, replaced by a hint of panic and embarrassment.

Ning Xue hurriedly reached out…… pulled out her phone from her pocket.

She stared at the glaring number on the screen, her brows knotted tightly, fingertips trembling slightly, even her breathing became rapid.

Before the phone rang for the third time, Ning Xue pressed the hang-up key.

Her eyes were filled with impatience and disgust.

Ning Xue muttered under her breath: "So annoying, why are they calling again..."

She felt both ashamed and annoyed, regretting her ex-boyfriend's persistence and embarrassed that the scene just now was interrupted.

Her pretty face flushed red then turned pale.

Lin Yuan, standing nearby, also stopped his motion and slowly straightened up.

Lin Yuan casually picked up a nearby tissue and gently wiped the corner of his mouth.

Lin Yuan didn't ask further, simply standing quietly aside, giving Ning Xue ample space to compose herself.

Ning Xue took a deep breath, striving to calm the panic and shyness welling up inside her.

She lifted her head, looked at Lin Yuan, her eyes holding a hint of apology and gratitude.

Ning Xue's voice… still carried a hint of drunken softness as she spoke softly: "Director Lin, sorry to trouble you again, thank you…"

Her voice was soft, yet full of sincerity.

The flush on Ning Xue's cheeks… rose again quietly…

Recalling the scene just now, she couldn't help but feel her heart race.

Lin Yuan gently shook his head and said in a mild tone:

"It's nothing, just a small effort; your wound should be much better. Let me help you out, so we don't keep the people in the private room waiting."

Saying this, he carefully reached out, supporting Ning Xue's swaying body, fearful she might fall again.

Ning Xue leaned against Lin Yuan compliantly, her whole body still weak, steps unsteady.

She, letting Lin Yuan support her, walked out of the restroom step by step…

The two walked through the corridor and returned to the banquet private room…

…

As soon as the two entered the room, the noisy chatter of the private room surged over them.

The clinking of glasses and the hum of conversation intertwined, forming a stark contrast to the quiet of the restroom just moments before.

As soon as the two entered, everyone's gaze flicked over to them.

The leaders' gazes varied—some teasing, some curious, some with ill intent.

The pharmaceutical factory boss laughed, stood up, and joked: "Director Lin, Secretary Ning, you're finally back—we've been waiting anxiously; come on, keep drinking!"

As soon as his words fell, several leaders from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce and the city… raised their glasses again.

The leaders gathered around, their gazes still brazenly scanning Ning Xue.

The leaders urged in an ambiguous tone:

"Secretary Ning, you left in a hurry just now—this drink needs to be made up; come, let's toast you!"

"Exactly, Secretary Ning, don't be polite—such a beautiful girl surely can hold her liquor; have another!"

They didn't notice Ning Xue's discomfort at all, nor did they pay any heed to Lin Yuan's presence.

Everyone continued to take turns plying Ning Xue with alcohol.

The leaders' lust showed plainly in their eyes.

Obviously, this group of leaders intended to take the opportunity to get Ning Xue dead drunk so they could exploit her.

Ning Xue's face remained flushed, her gaze still hazy, her body weak.

She looked at the glass being offered, her expression troubled, yet she didn't know how to refuse.

Lin Yuan watched this scene, and anger flared instantly in his chest, unbearable any longer.

Lin Yuan instinctively shielded Ning Xue behind him.

Lin Yuan reached out… blocking the glasses being passed over.

His tone was firm yet gentle, but carried an irresistible aura: "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm truly sorry, but Secretary Ning has had too much to drink today—she's drunk; any more would harm her, so I'll drink for her."

As his words fell, the chatter in the private room fell silent for a moment.

The smiles on everyone's faces froze.

Everyone obviously hadn't expected… Lin Yuan would step forward to block the drinks.

Lin Yuan showed no hesitation, his gaze calm as he regarded the crowd.

Lin Yuan's expression was resolute, his eyes full of protective intent—

He would never allow Ning Xue to be plied with drink again.

After a brief silence, the faces of several leaders gradually darkened.

The leaders, looking at Lin Yuan, now held in their eyes a touch of displeasure and provocation.

In their view, Lin Yuan's action was meddlesome and ruined their fun.

Since Lin Yuan wanted to play the hero saving the beauty, they would instead seek to blunt his spirit.

"Director Lin, isn't that wrong?" said the Bureau of Industry and Commerce's Leader Wang, speaking first with a hint of sarcasm.

"We're toasting Secretary Ning to give her face, and also to give face to the Su Group; by blocking us, you're not putting us leaders in your eyes?"

As soon as his words fell, other leaders chimed in, their tones full of dissatisfaction:

"Exactly, Director Lin, Secretary Ning can drink—why bother protecting her so much?"

"Director Lin, you're not giving us face—today's drink must either be taken by Secretary Ning or you drink for her; there's no third option!"

Saying this, over a dozen leaders raised their glasses and crowded around Lin Yuan…

Each person with a glass, they took turns plying him with alcohol.

The leaders' expressions brimmed with rivalry; clearly they were determined to get Lin Yuan drunk.

They had a clear calculation in mind:

As long as they get Lin Yuan drunk, stripping him of the ability to resist...

By then, without Lin Yuan's obstruction, Ning Xue, a drunken woman, would hardly be anything but at their mercy?

Thinking this… the leaders' gazes toward Ning Xue… grew increasingly greedy.

These leaders, in their minds… even began to fantasize about the scene of taking Ning Xue…

Thinking of those scenes, the leaders… unconsciously curled the corners of their mouths with a lewd smile.

The leaders' urgency in plying him with drink grew even more pressing.

Among the crowd, Ding Lingdao and Wang Lingdao quietly slipped to the side.

The two senior leaders lowered their voices and began to confer in secret…

Their eyes… occasionally flicked toward Ning Xue, who was not far away, limp and glazed.

In the two leaders' tones… there was nothing but sleaziness.

Ding Lingdao furrowed his brow, his tone tinged with concern:

"Old Wang, there are so many people in this private room, everyone's eyes on Ning Xue; even if we get Lin Yuan drunk, it wouldn't be easy to make a move—we can't just assault her in front of all these people, can we?"

Wang Lingdao, hearing this, curled the corner of his mouth into a sinister, cold smile.

Old Wang leaned in to Ding Lingdao's ear, using a voice only the two could hear… and whispered:

"What's there to fear? Once we get Lin Yuan drunk, we'll find an excuse, say we're sending Secretary Ning to rest, and then carry her straight to a nearby hotel. As for the others, they're all in the know—everyone wants a taste, so… let's all go together."

After saying that, the two exchanged a glance, a hint of lewdness flashing in their eyes…

The two old lechers secretly broke into an evil grin.

Ding Lingdao's tone was full of excitement and anticipation: "Hahaha, you've thought this through well—this way we won't be discovered, we'll get our fill, and it'll be so thrilling!"

Their whispered conspiracy wasn't heard by Lin Yuan and Ning Xue in the distance…

But it was faintly caught by the Pharmaceutical Factory Director not far away… and his face instantly turned grave.

After the two finished their discussion and returned to the crowd, they pressed even harder to ply Lin Yuan with drink.

The other leaders, as if their interest had been ignited, took turns one after another…

The liquor, cup after cup, was handed to Lin Yuan.

The leaders' mouths… kept chanting, "Director Lin can hold his liquor," "Director Lin, don't be polite,"…

In reality, each of their cups was deliberately meant to make things difficult for him.

Lin Yuan raised his cup and drank, cup after cup.

The fiery alcohol slid down his throat, a burning sensation spreading through his body.

The leaders watched Lin Yuan drink cup after cup, the smugness in their eyes growing ever more pronounced.

The leaders silently calculated in their hearts:

After a few more cups, this kid will surely pass out…

By then, Ning Xue will be theirs for the taking.

They even secretly mocked in their hearts: "Want to play hero and save the beauty? Ha, how overestimating yourself—today we're going to take you down!"

The Pharmaceutical Factory Director nearby… watched this scene, his face growing uglier.

The Director knew… these leaders' intentions, and he was clear that if this continued, Lin Yuan would surely be drunk and Ning Xue would come to harm.

The Pharmaceutical Factory Director hurried forward, putting on a fawning smile, trying to intervene:

"Gentlemen, gentlemen, please show mercy, please show mercy! Director Lin has already drunk quite a bit; if he drinks more, his body won't take it. Let's just enjoy ourselves today, don't ruin the harmony."

Yet the Director's obstruction, before these leaders… already addled by lust, appeared especially feeble and powerless.

One leader impatiently shoved him aside, barking sternly: "Stop meddling here! When we're drinking with Director Lin, when does it become your turn to chime in? Get out of the way, don't spoil our fun!"

The other leaders likewise chimed in, their tones full of impatience.

Someone even deliberately bumped into the Director, signaling him to mind his own business.

The Pharmaceutical Factory Director was shoved, staggering…

The Director looked at these imposing, greedy leaders before him, his face full of helplessness and dilemma—

He was merely a factory boss, utterly unable to offend these power‑wielding leaders.

The Director could only watch helplessly… as they took turns plying Lin Yuan with drink.

The Director no longer dared to step forward to intervene.

The atmosphere in the private room once again became tense and eerie.

The clinking of cups, the leaders' jeers… mingled with Lin Yuan's suppressed coughs, making hearts uneasy…

And Ning Xue remained limp, her eyes glazed, utterly unaware of the danger looming over her.

But these leaders, their heads addled by lust, had no idea that Lin Yuan's alcohol tolerance already far exceeded that of an ordinary person…

Their efforts to ply him with drink in turns were utterly futile.

Cup after cup of 53‑degree Flying Goose Maotai went down, the fiery alcohol seeming no more than an ordinary beverage.

Lin Yuan's motion of raising his cup… remained composed, his expression unchanged, showing not a trace of intoxication…

Even his gaze… remained clear…

In contrast, the leaders who had been taking turns toasting already sported heavy flushes on their faces, their eyes growing unfocused.

Time trickled by…

Lin Yuan drank cup after cup without pause.

The empty bottles on the table grew ever more numerous…

Just by himself, he had already consecutively consumed four bottles of high‑proof Flying Goose Maotai…

As Lin Yuan's Adam's apple bobbed, he still showed no change in expression.

He didn't even have a hint of the haziness that the alcohol's scent would bring^

It was as if what he had drunk was not strong liquor, but clear water……