Chapter 171: 171. Chapter 171: A Thorough and Complete Defeat

171. Chapter 171: A Thorough and Complete Defeat

"I don't agree."

Shen Huai's voice was so cold it lacked a shred of warmth.

He gave a forceful tug, pulling Lin Yeman to his side.

He domineeringly wrapped an arm around her waist, took the playing cards from her hand with his other hand, lowered his head, and kissed her.

The soft sensation, carrying a faint trace of perfume, instantly spread between their lips and teeth.

Lin Yeman's body stiffened visibly.

She never expected that Shen Huai would suddenly pull such a stunt.

The others present were also stunned, eyes wide, mouths open wide enough to fit an egg.

"General Manager Shen, you..." Yuanyuan was the first to react, stammering, "This, this isn't very appropriate, is it?"

"The rules of the game—who said you can't swap people?" Shen Huai raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of provocation.

He released Lin Yeman and tossed the playing cards onto the table, a playful smile curling the corner of his mouth: "Besides, how could I let someone else do the work for Director Lin's punishment?"

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

The villa was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone had their eyes wide open, their mouths shaped into an "O," as if they had seen something unbelievable.

Shen Huai's kiss was domineering yet gentle, carrying a hint of punishment, mixed with intense possessiveness.

Lin Yeman's mind went blank; she even forgot to struggle, merely passively enduring this sudden kiss.

The necktie slipped away, and light flooded back into Lin Yeman's field of vision.

She saw Shen Huai's handsome face close at hand, and the profound emotions in his eyes, so complex she could not decipher them.

The surrounding air seemed to have frozen, quiet to the point of terror.

A few seconds later, Yuanyuan finally reacted, letting out an exaggerated shriek: "My God! General Manager Shen, you... you..."

The others also came to their senses, and the sounds of discussion and exclamation rose again, like a pot boiling over.

"General Manager Shen, didn't you say you weren't interested in Director Lin?" a male colleague asked boldly, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.

Shen Huai let go of Lin Yeman, a wicked smile curling his lips: "When did I ever say that?"

Lin Yeman's cheeks were flushed, her heart beating like a drum.

She glared fiercely at Shen Huai, only to find that her gaze didn't hold much blame, but rather a hint of... sweetness? "Alright, game over!"

Shen Huai announced, then took Lin Yeman's hand and walked toward the outside of the villa, "You all continue playing; I have something to discuss with Director Lin in private."

Leaving everyone behind to look at each other in dismay, whispering among themselves.

"It seems there really is something between General Manager Shen and Director Lin..."

"I told you so, a talented man and a beautiful woman, how could there not be sparks!"

"Do you think Director Lin came here because she was chasing after love?"

"Hey, now that you mention it, that's very possible~"

Su Meng, Luo Xiaoya, and Liu Shishi sat in a corner, holding wine glasses, but unable to take a single sip. Their gazes drifted toward the villa entrance from time to time, their expressions complex and unreadable.

That scene from just a moment ago played back in their minds repeatedly, like a slow-motion film.

Shen Huai's domineering kiss, Lin Yeman's shy expression, and the indescribable ambiguous atmosphere between the two all stung their eyes deeply.

Su Meng gripped her wine glass tightly, her knuckles turning white.

She had always thought that she was Shen Huai's first love and the one most likely to end up with him.

But now, she finally realized.

There was now an uncrossable chasm between her and Shen Huai.

Luo Xiaoya's expression was also very ugly.

She had always felt she was a favored daughter of heaven, the object of every man's dreams.

But now, she realized that in Shen Huai's eyes, she had long since become a thing of the past. Liu Shishi stood to the side, strangely quiet.

She held a glass of champagne, the golden liquid shimmering under the lights, reflecting the complex light in her eyes.

She didn't make a fuss like the others, nor did she show obvious disappointment like Su Meng and Luo Xiaoya.

Her gaze was calm, even carrying a hint of relief.

"Shishi, you... aren't you surprised?" Su Meng asked cautiously, fearing she might touch a sensitive nerve.

Liu Shishi took a light sip of champagne, a faint smile curling her lips: "Surprised by what? Isn't this something to be expected?"

Su Meng and Luo Xiaoya looked at each other, seeing confusion in each other's eyes.

"Director Lin is so outstanding, isn't it normal for General Manager Shen to like her?"

Liu Shishi set down her wine glass, her tone as flat as if she were discussing the weather today, "Didn't you notice? The way Director Lin looks at General Manager Shen is different from us."

Su Meng and Luo Xiaoya were stunned.

They carefully recalled every little detail from this period of time.

The way Lin Yeman looked at Shen Huai, and the way Shen Huai responded, were both different from them.

Their eyes were filled with desire and ambition, while Lin Yeman's gaze was more like... appreciation? Or perhaps... a contest between equals.

Thinking of this, Su Meng suddenly laughed at herself.

She had actually naively thought she still had a chance.

But now it seemed she was like a clown, presumptuously guessing at others' thoughts, only to find in the end that she was the most foolish one.

She had lost, lost thoroughly.

Not only to Lin Yeman, but also to her own self-righteousness.

"Actually, Director Lin has taken good care of me during this time,"

Liu Shishi broke the silence, her tone carrying a hint of gratitude, "She taught me many things and also introduced me to many big shots in the industry. She... she really is an excellent woman."

Su Meng and Luo Xiaoya both understood what Liu Shishi meant.

For some time now, because of company projects, Liu Shishi, as the Chairman's Secretary, had often been busy running around behind Lin Yeman.

Lin Yeman had indeed taken special care of Liu Shishi.

Not only did she provide her with much guidance at work, but she also frequently took her to various important occasions, giving her the opportunity to come into contact with higher-level networking resources.

She had seen a broader sky, a world she might never have seen if she had worked in the New Media Department for her entire life.

Liu Shishi was very clear about this.

Her current sense of loss was not because of jealousy, but because she clearly recognized the gap between herself and Lin Yeman.

She knew that no matter how hard she tried, she could never reach Lin Yeman's height.

This gap was not one of ability, but of perspective, of vision, and of that confidence and composure that radiated from the very bones.

She was convinced of her defeat.

Shen Huai pulled Lin Yeman into a secluded corner, his tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction: "Were you deliberately testing me just now?"

Lin Yeman raised an eyebrow and retorted: "What? Are you jealous?"

Shen Huai did not deny it; he pulled Lin Yeman into his arms, held her tightly, and whispered in her ear: "Lin Yeman, you are playing with fire."

Lin Yeman did not struggle; instead, she wrapped her arms around Shen Huai's waist, tilted her head back, and blew a light breath into his ear: "I like playing with fire, are you afraid?"

Shen Huai's eyes instantly turned dark.

He lowered his head and kissed Lin Yeman's lips; this kiss was more intense and more domineering than the one before, as if he wanted to devour her whole.

Lin Yeman responded passionately as well.

Like a blooming poppy, she radiated a fatal temptation that left Shen Huai unable to stop. (End of chapter)