Chapter 700: I want to be lovers with you!

Lin Yuan froze in place, his cheeks slightly flushed.

Su Monong watched his flustered appearance, the corner of her mouth lifting with a hint of a smile.

Her fingertip..., she idly turned the wine glass on the table, her eyes full of teasing.

Ning Xue, sitting beside them, noticed nothing at all.

Ning Xue…… only saw Lin Yuan frozen in place, his complexion odd.

Ning Xue, she thought he was feeling unwell.

Ning Xue hurriedly put down her chopsticks and asked concernedly:

"Director Lin, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere, or did the shattered wine glass just now scare you?"

Lin Yuan snapped back to his senses, quickly suppressing the panic in his heart.

Lin Yuan's face…… forced calm, he lightly shook his head.

His voice a little hoarse, he said: "It's fine, nothing, I just slipped my hand accidentally, no problem."

Lin Yuan, while speaking, subtly shifted his body.

But Su Monong…… seemed to have seen through his thoughts.

Lin Yuan, even his breathing became cautious.

The atmosphere at the dining table…… instantly turned strange.

Ning Xue continued to eat her food simply, occasionally exchanging a few words with Su Monong.

Su Monong…… then, while dealing with Ning Xue, …

In Su Monong's eyes…… full of amusement……

And Lin Yuan, meanwhile, was restless, his heart tormented.

This meal is making me overly anxious!

Halfway through the meal, Su Monong suddenly lifted her wine cup.

Su Monong, continuously pouring wine for Ning Xue…

Su Monong's face still bore a gentle smile, her tone affectionate as she said:

"Little Xue, you made a great contribution in this cooperation, drink more, just consider it a celebration, don't be polite."

Ning Xue originally couldn't hold her liquor…… but facing Su Monong's enthusiasm, she found it hard to refuse.

Ning Xue could only drink cup after cup…

Not long after, Ning Xue's cheeks…… turned red like a ripe apple.

Her gaze also became hazy, obviously she'd drunk too much, her whole body feeling somewhat weak.

After drinking another cup, Ning Xue really couldn't hold on…

Ning Xue hurriedly pressed down Su Monong's hand that was pouring wine, speaking indistinctly:

"Director Su, I…… I can't drink anymore, I'm a bit dizzy, I'll go to the restroom."

Su Monong smiled and nodded, feigning concern as she said:

"Alright, walk slowly, don't fall, we'll wait for you to come back."

Ning Xue responded with a sound, holding onto the table…

Ning Xue staggered to her feet, her steps unsteady as she walked out of the private room.

Obviously, Ning Xue was already quite drunk.

The private room's door had just closed……

Lin Yuan's composure on his face…… instantly faded.

Lin Yuan's eyes…… filled with coldness and vigilance.

His body leaned slightly forward, staring directly at Su Monong.

Lin Yuan asked in an icy tone: "Director Su, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Su Monong's actions had long exceeded the normal superior-subordinate boundaries.

Su Monong, hearing this, set down the wine cup in her hand…

The corner of Su Monong's red lips curled up with a bewitching smile…… also tinged with a hint of calculation.

Su Monong's body…… leaned slightly against the chair back.

Her posture languid, her charm abundant, she lightly laughed and said:

"What else can I do? ……"

Su Monong paused, her gaze ambiguous as it swept over Lin Yuan.

Su Monong's tone…… carried a hint of teasing:

"She, isn't she already become your woman?"

Lin Yuan furrowed his brows, doubt and anger intertwining in his heart.

In Lin Yuan's tone, there was a hint of incomprehension and resistance:

"Su Monong, isn't this enough? What else do you want?"

Su Monong lifted her wine cup, lightly sipping a mouthful of red wine…

A flicker of obsession flashed in Su Monong's eyes, she lightly laughed: "Of course it's not enough."

Setting down the wine cup, Su Monong's body leaned slightly forward, her gaze…… becoming forceful.

Su Monong said word by word:

"I want to make her obedient enough."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yuan was completely bewildered.

Lin Yuan's pupils constricted slightly, his face full of disbelief.

He stared at Su Monong, his tone full of shock:

"You… you really…"

Lin Yuan never imagined that Su Monong……would actually have such an absurd and obsessive thought.

Su Monong……paid no heed to his reproach at all, instead laughing alluringly.

Su Monong's brows and eyes were full of allure, her tone languid……with a hint of provocation:

"Sis has always been like this, you only notice now? Too late……"

Su Monong said, picking up the red wine glass on the table, tilted her head back and took a big gulp.

Finally, Su Monong crawled under the wide dining table.

The dining table……was covered with a long tablecloth, just enough to completely conceal the space underneath……

Just then……the private room's door was gently pushed open.

Ning Xue, wearing high heels, staggered in……

Ning Xue's face……still bore the flushed red of drunkenness.

Ning Xue's gaze remained hazy, her steps unsteady.

She was obviously still not fully sober.

Ning Xue walked and, speaking indistinctly, said: "Director Su, Director Lin, I'm back……"

Su Monong under the table, hearing Ning Xue's voice, not only showed no panic……

Su Monong, instead, simply stayed put, quietly hiding under the table……

Lin Yuan instantly became extremely tense, his heart pounding nonstop.

Lin Yuan's forehead even beaded with fine cold sweat, and he couldn't help but blurt out a curse:

Damn! Why did she have to come back at this exact moment!

Lin Yuan didn't have time to think, hastily reaching out to pull down the tablecloth at the edge of the table.

Lin Yuan firmly covered Su Monong's hiding spot, making it completely concealed……

He feared Ning Xue would notice even the slightest clue.

It might even cause more trouble.

Ning Xue staggered to the table, leaned on the chair, and slowly sat down.

Ning Xue's gaze……unconsciously swept over the area around the table.

Huh?

Ning Xue realized she didn't see Su Monong's figure.

Ning Xue's face……showed a hint of doubt, she asked indistinctly:

"Hmm……Director Su, why don't I see her?"

Lin Yuan's heart……instantly rose to his throat, his palms breaking out in cold sweat.

Lin Yuan forced himself to appear calm……avoiding Ning Xue's gaze.

Lin Yuan's tone was a bit awkward……and he stammered: "Um……she, she also went to the restroom; not long after you left, she went."

Ning Xue froze for a moment, blinked her hazy eyes.

Ning Xue thought it over carefully, then said:

"I didn't see her in the restroom just now; I was the only one in there."

Ning Xue's tone……carried a hint of confusion.

Lin Yuan's heart lurched, he quickly sought an excuse to cover the lie, his tone growing increasingly unnatural:

"Maybe……maybe she went to another restroom upstairs or downstairs; this restaurant is big, there are many restrooms, perhaps we just missed each other."

Ning Xue……was already drunk and a bit muddled, her mind not entirely clear.

At that moment, hearing Lin Yuan say that, she didn't think much of it.

Ning Xue lightly nodded, picked up the wine glass on the table, and took another sip.

Ning Xu's gaze grew ever more hazy, she still simply assumed……Su Monong really went to another restroom.

And Su Monong under the table, hearing their conversation, a flicker of amusement crossed her eyes.

Lin Yuan sat in the chair, as if sitting on pins and needles.

At the table, Ning Xue still held the wine glass, occasionally taking a sip.

Ning Xue's intoxication……grew stronger, her words……also gradually increased.

Ning Xue, taking the initiative to chat with Lin Yuan, mostly about trivial work matters……

And also, her everyday little worries.

Your tone……was vague yet affectionate.

Lin Yuan answered absentmindedly.

His gaze……occasionally flicked toward the underside of the table.

Lin Yuan's whole body's nerves remained tense……

After chatting a while, Ning Xue lifted the wine cup and took another sip.

Ning Xue's gaze……grew ever more hazy.

Ning Xue unconsciously……glanced at the empty chair.

Her face showed a hint of surprise, she asked indistinctly:

"Director Lin, why hasn't Director Su come back yet? Going to the restroom taking this long—could something have happened?"

Lin Yuan's heart sank sharply, just about to find an excuse to cover the lie……

Su Monong hid under the table, one hand……gently pulling out the phone hidden on her person.

Su Monong's fingertip……swiftly slid across the screen.

She, under the table, secretly……sent Ning Xue a WeChat message.

Throughout, Su Monong made no sound, for fear Ning Xue would notice.

The WeChat message read: 【Xiao Xue, I have something to do at home tonight, I'm heading back first; Dan, I've already bought it, you and Lin Yuan continue eating, no need to wait for me.】

A few seconds later, Ning Xue's phone, placed at the corner of the table, lightly vibrated once, and a faint notification tone sounded.

Ning Xue, puzzled, picked up her phone, unlocked the screen, and saw it was a WeChat from Su Monong Fa.

Ning Xue's face showed a hint of helplessness; she lightly sighed and said, "Turns out Director Su has something at home, she's heading back first, and also said Dan has already bought it, letting us continue eating."

Saying that, Ning Xue handed the phone to Lin Yuan, so he could see the WeChat from Su Monong Fa.

Lin Yuan leaned over to take a look, somewhat speechless.

Lin Yuan's heart……couldn't help muttering: "This Su Monong, what on earth is she trying to do?"

She is clearly hiding under the table, yet she dares to send a WeChat to put on an act, deliberately deceiving Ning Xue?

Is she intending to stay hidden down there just to watch my joke?

Lin Yuan suppressed the doubt in his heart, forcing a calm expression on his face.

Lin Yuan, with a somewhat embarrassed tone, replied: "Um, since Director Su has something at home, let's just continue eating, don't waste all these dishes."

This dinner, Ning Xue ate with particular satisfaction……

At this moment, only she and Lin Yuan remained.

This, is a perfect two-person world.

Ning Xue, drinking cup after cup of alcohol.

She grew more and more intoxicated, her cheeks reddening to the point of almost dripping blood……

Ning Xue's gaze……also became increasingly hazy.

Midway through the meal, Ning Xue set down her wine cup, her body leaning slightly forward.

Ning Xue's gaze……straightly fixed on Lin Yuan……

At this moment, Ning Xue, carrying a touch of drunken shyness.

Ning Xue, her voice slurred……yet astonishingly clear, asked:

"Director Lin, so……then, what is our relationship now?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yuan's body instantly stiffened, completely stunned.

Lin Yuan's chopsticks in his hand^……instantly froze mid-air.

In Lin Yuan's eyes……full of panic and helplessness.

Lin Yuan instinctively glanced under the table……Su Monong was still hiding there^

At this moment, how should he respond?

If he spoke the truth, he would surely be disrupted by Su Monong^……

If he spoke a lie, ……

Lin Yuan also feared……hurting the drunken Ning Xue before him.

After hesitating for a long time, Lin Yuan could only grit his teeth, avoiding Ning Xue's fervent gaze.

Lin Yuan, his tone somewhat unnatural, said: "We, we are just colleagues……"

Lin Yuan's heart……filled with helplessness and guilt.

How could he not know Ning Xue's feelings?

But Lin Yuan, from the very beginning……never thought……of getting overly entangled with Ning Xue.

Although, he and Ning Xue……had a relationship on that night in Ning City……

But Lin Yuan clearly knew……he could not give Ning Xue any future.

Lin Yuan, moreover, did not want to harm this pure and kind girl.

Lin Yuan knows himself too well.

Around him, there are too many women, and his interpersonal relationships are overly complex……

Lin Yuan, long since no longer in a state where he can calmly date and provide a stable life for someone.

Ning Xue, is a good woman, clean and pure……

She ought to have found a reliable person, to marry and have children.

She ought to have had……a bright future of her own……to live out her life in peace……

Rather than being harmed by a person like Lin Yuan.

Once, boarding Lin Yuan's ship, Ning Xue……this lifetime would probably be completely ruined.

But just as Lin Yuan finished speaking, Su Monong under the table, seemed dissatisfied with his answer……

Ning Xue quickly asked with concern: "Director Lin, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

Lin Yuan hastily shook his head, enduring the severe pain in his shin.

Lin Yuan's face……forced out a strained smile, his tone somewhat stammering as he said:

"No, no, it's just……just that I accidentally bit my tongue, it's fine."

Ning Xue……looking at his slightly pale complexion, although somewhat doubtful, did not press further.

Only, at this moment, the light in Ning Xue's eyes……gradually dimmed.

In Ning Xue's beautiful eyes……a hint of undisguisable loss and weariness surfaced.

Obviously, Lin Yuan's earlier remark "just colleagues" was not the answer she wanted.

Ning Xue's inner expectation was instantly doused by a bucket of cold water.

Ning Xue fell silent for a few seconds, biting her lower lip.

Ning Xue, her tone tinged with grievance and reluctance, asked softly:

"So we, uh... just... merely colleagues?"

Lin Yuan looked at her like that, his guilt growing deeper...

But Su Monong under the table...... gave him no chance to hesitate.

Under the table, Su Monong's fingertips...... pinched his calf, the force growing stronger...

Obviously, Su Monong was forcing him, not allowing him to placate Ning Xue any further.

Lin Yuan was utterly helpless.

On one side, it was Su Monong's coercion......

On the other side...... was Ning Xue's aggrieved gaze......

Lin Yuan could only steel himself, speaking awkwardly, stammering:

"Um, Xiao Xue, actually… we… are not just colleagues……"

Ning Xue, upon hearing this, her eyes lit up instantly.

Ning Xue raised her head in surprise......

Her bright, beautiful eyes...... fixed tightly on Lin Yuan......

In the depths of Ning Xue's beautiful eyes...... a clear hint of anticipation and hope flickered......

At this moment, Ning Xue...... even her breathing became hurried......

She clenched the corner of her clothes tightly, waiting for Lin Yuan's next words.

Lin Yuan...... avoided her scorching gaze, his heart filled with turmoil,

Lin Yuan paused, then slowly said:

"We're still just good friends, right?"

He could only placate with the term "good friends"......

This both dealt with Su Monong's coercion......

and he dared not give Ning Xue too much hope.

Lin Yuan, fearing he would delay her.

The anticipation on Ning Xue's face faded a bit instantly......

But she did not give up, taking a deep breath.

Ning Xue suddenly bit her teeth, summoning all her courage......

She looked at Lin Yuan with a determined gaze, her tone...... tinged with a bit of shyness, yet utterly serious as she said:

"Director Lin, I don't want to be just friends with you...... I want, I want to be your lover......"