Chapter 161

The atmosphere in the room suddenly turned ambiguous.

Cheng Chen's slightly drunken gaze instantly sharpened.

Feeling the softness in his hand, his little finger inexplicably curled against her palm.

Sensing the unusual touch, Sun Li's delicate face flushed sharply, and she snatched her hand back as if electrocuted.

When she turned to glare at Cheng Chen, she found him sitting upright, calmly sipping from his wine cup.

Had it just been her imagination?

After all, she was six or seven years older than him, married besides, and this was in public.

He wouldn't dare be so bold!

Sun Li steadied her composure, then heard Cai Yinong's urging voice beside her:

"Sun Li, toast Cheng Zong—he's already raised his cup."

"Oh, oh, right, Chief Cai."

Sun Li snapped back to herself, raised her cup toward Cheng Chen:

"Chief Cheng, let me toast you again."

Cheng Chen smiled faintly, his eyes fixed on Sun Li:

"Sister Li, a toast needs a reason—you can't just toast just because Chief Cai told you to."

The earlier thrill had stirred ripples in Cheng Chen's heart; his words and expression grew subtly flirtatious.

Cai Yinong noticed Cheng Chen's change in demeanor, but assumed he'd simply drunk too much.

The more he drank, the better—it'd loosen his tongue and draw him closer.

"Reason… Chief Cheng, today's wrap party… congratulations, congratulations."

Facing Cheng Chen's blatant gaze, Sun Li stammered out the words.

Though she'd spent years navigating the entertainment industry, ever since meeting her husband Huang Lei at eighteen,

she'd been treated by him as his exclusive possession, protected like a perfect daughter.

Had the boss of Tangren not been a woman, Huang Lei would never have allowed his delicate wife to join any agency.

So this twenty-seven-year-old woman, still overprotected,

felt utterly flustered before Cheng Chen's subtly teasing gaze.

Cheng Chen: "..."

They say pregnancy makes women stupid for three years—but you're not even pregnant yet, why's your thinking so odd?

Still, Cheng Chen raised his cup and said:

"Thank you, Sister Li."

Seeing Cai Yinong lounging casually beside him, Cheng Chen naturally didn't let her off—he kept raising his cup to both women.

Cai Yinong, no doubt a powerful woman, had a drinking capacity equal to any man's.

Seeing their boss take the lead, Sun Li naturally wouldn't just stand there.

She poured wine, toasted, and drank.

The wrap party gradually wound down; those who could drink were now utterly drunk.

Those who couldn't had already left early.

"Xiaoyao Gege, drink less wine…"

Liu Tianxian stood beside her mother Liu Xiaoli, glaring at Cheng Chen as he kept raising his cup.

Cheng Chen put down his cup, gazing dazedly at Liu Tianxian:

"Don't worry, kid—I can still hold my liquor."

Watching Cheng Chen's drunken state, Liu Tianxian worried:

"You're already this drunk—how will you get home?"

"Don't worry, don't worry."

Cheng Chen waved his hand.

"But…"

"Enough, Xixi, let's not disturb Chief Cheng and Chief Cai—they're talking business. Let's go home first."

Liu Xiaoli cut off Liu Tianxian's words, smiling gently at Cai Yinong and Cheng Chen:

"We won't disturb you further. We're leaving now."

"Goodbye, Xiaoyao Gege—call me sometime, and don't forget to go watch the movie I starred in…" Liu Tianxian said reluctantly.

This parting might mean they wouldn't meet again for a long time.

The girl's heart was heavy with sorrow, her entire affection fixed on Cheng Chen.

But Cheng Chen, now half-drunk, was completely oblivious to the girl's feelings.

His attention was entirely on the woman beside him.

They say alcohol emboldens the timid—but Cheng Chen was never timid, yet under alcohol's influence, his state was hazy.

Cheng Chen had never been a gentleman; emotions amplified by alcohol,

compounded by the intoxicating scent beside him, gradually led him to slide his large hand toward Sun Li…

"Mmm…"

Drunken Sun Li emitted a dreamy murmur.

Cai Yinong beside her was equally out of it, clutching her cup and demanding more wine.

She noticed none of Cheng Chen's movements.

The tablecloth was wide, its hem dragging to the floor, and Cheng Chen sat inside it.

So, outsiders only saw the three of them slouching there, completely unaware that Cheng Chen was doing something under the tablecloth!

The silk's texture was truly excellent—smooth and elastic, irresistible…

"Don't move!"

Sun Li suddenly cried out.

Cheng Chen's motion froze abruptly.

"Husband, I'm feeling awful!"

"Phew, so she's mistaken me for her husband."

Cheng Chen secretly exhaled a sigh of relief.

Sun Li mumbled something under her breath and kept sleeping face-down on the table.

But, whether it was his imagination or not, Cheng Chen always felt that Sun Li's earlier shout carried a hint of anger.

Does she yell at her husband all day at home?

"Drink! I toast you, Manager Cheng!"

Cai Yinong's sudden words startled Cheng Chen again.

He turned to see Cai Yinong holding a glass in each hand, clinking them together before downing two in quick succession.

"Manager Cheng, you've got an endless capacity! Endless… hehehe."

Cai Yinong was lost in her own rambling, clearly very drunk.

After being startled by the two women, Cheng Chen immediately became somewhat sober.

Looking at the two drunken women on either side, thinking of his own momentary madness, he couldn't help but smile wryly.

Still, to be fair, Sun Li's sleeping posture was rather elegant—her cheek pressed against her arm.

Her delicate face was flushed red, looking both demure and subtly alluring.

Just as Cheng Chen, unable to resist the temptation, prepared to make another move on Sun Li—

"Ding-ding-ding!"

A shrill ring suddenly sounded, and Cheng Chen grew instantly furious.

What's going on? Did I forget to check the almanac today? Every time I try to act, something always interrupts me!

!

The source of the phone ring was the phone beside Sun Li; Cheng Chen picked it up and saw the contact label:

Husband.

It was Huang Lei calling.

Cheng Chen was about to answer, but then he thought: if Huang Lei saw his beloved wife drunk like this…

He might harbor resentment—after all, which man wouldn't feel uneasy seeing his wife drinking with another man in such a state?

Besides, Cheng Chen had definitely taken more than his fair share of liberties with Sun Li.

Now the victim was calling, and he felt guilty!

But Sun Li was already passed out on the table, and he couldn't wake her.

So he placed Sun Li's phone beside Cai Yinong, who was still playing with her glass, and pressed the answer button.

"Honey, are you done over there? I'm finished here—should I come pick you up?"

Huang Lei's voice came through the speaker.

Close call—thank goodness I didn't answer the call; otherwise, Huang Lei in Hengdian would've stormed over in seconds.

"Who's your wife? How dare you take liberties with me? Do you think I won't beat you to death!"

Hearing Huang Lei's words, Cai Yinong, still dazed, shouted drunkenly.

"Manager Cai? Are you with Sun Li right now? Are you drinking together?"

Huang Lei's surprised voice came through.

He knew his wife had come from Jingcheng to attend the wrap party for Immortal Sword I.

He also knew she'd come at Cai Yinong's invitation, and coincidentally, he had business to attend to in Hengdian.

So they'd agreed to meet after the event—but now it seemed his wife was drinking with Cai Yinong.

And she'd clearly drunk a lot, or else Cai Yinong wouldn't be the one answering the phone.

"Ah, Sun Li… come on, Sun Li, drink! Drink!"

At the mention of Sun Li's name, Cai Yinong immediately shouted it out.

"Alright, I see you've had your share too—I'm coming over now."

Huang Lei hung up. Originally, hearing his wife had been drinking made him worried.

But then he thought: she was drinking with Cai Yinong, a woman—nothing serious would happen…

After hanging up, Cheng Chen thought for a moment, then stood up.

He staggered over to Cai Yinong's assistants at another table and slurred:

"Your boss is drunk—wait here a bit; Teacher Huang Lei will come pick them up. I—I'm leaving now…"

"Yes, Manager Cheng, take it easy—shall I see you home?"

The assistant was also Cheng Chen's little fan; seeing her idol drunk, she immediately offered to help.

"N-no! I—I'm a thousand-drink champion!"

Cheng Chen patted his chest proudly.

In reality, he could barely walk straight—there was no sign of sobriety left.

"Then take it easy, take it easy!"

The female assistant said with a look of regret.

……

Leaving the hotel entrance, the evening breeze blew across his head, and Cheng Chen suddenly became much clearer-headed.

His fingertips still seemed to retain the slippery sensation from just now, and his heart was filled with deep emotion.

In youth, one doesn't know the value of a married woman; one mistakes a little girl for a treasure.

That was a bit thrilling!

Cheng Chen flagged down a taxi and headed toward his residence.

As he got in, he happened to see a hurried figure rushing toward the hotel.

Upon closer look, it was none other than Huang Lei…

When Huang Lei arrived at the hotel lobby, he immediately spotted Cai Yinong playing with a wine glass.

And the figure slumped over the table was his wife, Sun Li.

"Chief Cai, why did you drink so much?"

Huang Lei frowned, sniffing the heavy scent of alcohol filling the lobby.

Looking at his wife, unconscious from drink, he asked with an unhappy expression.

"Ah, Huang Lei, you're here! Sit down, let's keep drinking!"

Seeing the tall, handsome man before him, Cai Yinong invited him warmly.

Huang Lei shook his head and turned to his assistant beside him.

"You're Chief Cai's assistant, right? Quickly take her back to her place—I'll take Sun Li home myself."

"Yes, Teacher Huang."

The female assistant nodded.

Huang Lei supported Sun Li as they left the hotel, heading toward his own residence.

When they arrived, Huang Lei first helped her take off her shoes, then poured a glass of water and placed it on the bedside.

After about half an hour, Sun Li slowly woke up.

"Awake? Why did you drink so much? Thirsty? Here, drink some water!"

Sitting at the bedside reading, Huang Lei held the glass to his wife's lips.

"Mmm…"

After downing the water, Sun Li's flushed face gradually returned to normal.

"Thank you, husband."

Feeling the care and thoughtfulness in Huang Lei's words, Sun Li smiled.

"Was it just you and Chief Cai drinking tonight? I saw many empty bottles beside you—how much did you drink?"

Huang Lei frowned.

"Mmm… Just me and Chief Cai."

Sun Li paused, then added.

"When I got there, the whole venue had only the two of you and Chief Cai's assistant—where was everyone else?"

Huang Lei asked.

"Mmm… Everyone else… probably left already. Chief Cai was in high spirits today, so I drank a few more glasses with her."

"Jian Lai"

"Hehe, don't worry, husband. With Chief Cai around, no one dares to force me to drink."

Sun Li said with a smile.

She deliberately omitted Cheng Chen's presence—in fact, most of the alcohol she consumed tonight came from Cheng Chen's pouring.

As if recalling something embarrassing, she decided not to reveal that Cai Yinong had asked her to drink with Cheng Chen.

"This can't go on forever, wife. Last time I suggested you temporarily leave the entertainment industry—"

"Stay home, enjoy life—what do you think about it now?"

Huang Lei suddenly asked.

Hearing Huang Lei's words, Sun Li's smile froze. She spoke slowly.

"Husband, didn't we agree not to bring this up again? I'm still young—I want to do what I love. Once we have children, I won't be able to act anymore!"

Sun Li had graduated from Beijing Film Academy in 1999.

She married her teacher Huang Lei in 2004.

In the original timeline, their first child was born two years after their marriage.

It was then that she stepped back from the entertainment industry and turned to starring in stage plays.

She devoted more of her time to family, raising and caring for her children.

In truth, this decision involved Sun Li's compromise.

She loved acting, but her husband had an extremely strong possessive streak and disliked her appearing in public.

Even when starring in stage plays, they only performed as husband and wife—could Huang Lei's protective attitude be a bit excessive?

Some say female stars must quit the industry after marriage, but in reality, many women continue their careers after marrying.

Like Sun Li, who shares a similar name, or Da Mimi, Zhao Lirong, Ma Yili…

Of course, all these women eventually ended up divorced…

Seeing his wife was upset, Huang Lei promptly dropped the subject and said to her:

"Let's not talk about this anymore. I've drawn your bath—go relax and wash up."

When Sun Li stepped out of the bathroom, Huang Lei looked up.

After Sun Li stepped out of the bathroom, Huang Lei looked up.

All she saw was Sun Li's gentle, pure face, like a snow lotus, glowing with the lustrous sheen of warm jade.

Her straight nasal bridge, upturned tip, and lovely nostrils fluttered softly.

Her delicate lips formed a perfect arch, their color faintly pale, evoking deep pity…

Huang Lei watched, swallowing saliva, remembering Sun Li's earlier words about leaving the entertainment industry if she became pregnant.

A surge of excitement rose in him; he stepped before Sun Li and spoke with emotion:

"Wife, let's have a child!"

Perhaps it was the word "child," or perhaps it was the memory of that mischievous hand at the dinner table.

Sun Li turned her head and softly refused:

"I drank too much wine tonight; my stomach feels unwell. Honey, let's wait another day."

Hearing this, Huang Lei thought little of it, only nodding sadly…

In truth… she remembered every detail of what happened at the dinner table, including Cheng Chen's boldness.

By the time she realized it, Cheng Chen had nearly breached her defenses; she had to speak sharply to stop him from acting further…

…