Chapter 56: Gu Ran's Muddled State

Inside the luxury private room of the Blue Moon Five-Star Hotel, the crystal chandelier refracted a brilliant light, making Gu Ran feel a wave of dizziness.

After departing from the hotel, they had traveled without pause to the agreed-upon restaurant.

Today's client was an old business partner of her Gu Clan, and because he was rather difficult to deal with, she had no choice but to bring people along personally.

"Miss Gu, the old rules: if you're late, you must punish yourself with three cups!"

Just as she walked in with Ye Feng, a slightly rough voice reached their ears.

Gu Ran forced a smile and looked at the middle-aged man with a fleshy face sitting inside.

This middle-aged man was her business partner for this occasion, Wang Mingtao of the Wang Group.

Wang Mingtao squinted his eyes; seeing Gu Ran remain unmoved, he reached out and pushed three cups of white liquor in front of her, saying with a squint, "Is President Gu saying she doesn't want to cooperate?"

Hearing this, Gu Ran's fingers trembled slightly.

She knew her own alcohol tolerance best; if she downed three cups of white liquor, she feared she wouldn't even be able to stand steady!

But thinking of the business cooperation, she still picked up the wine glass.

"President Wang is right; it was my discourtesy."

After saying this, she tilted her head back and downed it in one gulp.

The spicy liquid instantly scorched her throat, causing her facial expression to twist.

Ye Feng stood behind her, his brows tightly locked.

He clearly saw that the roots of Gu Ran's ears were already visibly red; this girl, it's gone to her head!

"Good! Miss Gu is straightforward!"

Seeing this scene, President Wang clapped and cheered, though his gaze kept wandering over Gu Ran: "Come, two more cups!"

Just as Gu Ran was about to decline, President Wang had already leaned over with the wine glass.

His thick, fatty palm brushed against the back of Gu Ran's hand inadvertently, and his greasy smile made Gu Ran feel vaguely nauseated.

"President Wang, about the cooperation..."

Gu Ran endured the discomfort and downed it in one gulp.

"We can talk about the cooperation after we finish drinking; no rush!"

President Wang interrupted her, and as he spoke, he brought over the final cup: "Miss Gu is so beautiful, what's wrong with having a few drinks with an old man like me?"

"Come, come, come, the last cup!"

Gu Ran waved her hand and did not take the glass.

At this moment, she felt only dizzy and lightheaded, and her stomach was churning; if she drank any more, she would lose half her life even if she didn't die!

But President Wang's hand had already rested on the back of her chair, and he leaned his whole body in, staring at Gu Ran intently like a hungry wolf.

"President Gu is feeling a bit unwell; I will drink this cup on her behalf!"

Just then, Ye Feng stepped in, and while blocking Wang Mingtao for Gu Ran, he took the glass and downed it in one go!

Seeing this, Wang Mingtao's expression instantly turned gloomy; he pointed at Ye Feng and frowned, "President Gu, who is this?"

But before Gu Ran could speak, Ye Feng took the lead and said, "I am President Gu's driver!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Mingtao became directly enraged: "Since when is a driver qualified to drink with me!"

"President Gu, is this how your Gu Clan treats business partners?"

Seeing this, Gu Ran hurriedly forced herself to stand up: "President Wang, please calm your anger; it was my ignorance."

Then, she poured another cup of wine and downed it in one gulp: "I will drink these three cups myself!"

Afterward, she endured the discomfort, pulled on Ye Feng's sleeve, and whispered, "Quickly apologize to President Wang!"

Hearing Gu Ran's words, Ye Feng pursed his lips, a flash of anger crossing his eyes.

But under Gu Ran's pleading gaze, he still lowered his head: "Apologies, President Wang."

Wang Mingtao snorted coldly: "For the sake of Miss Gu, I'll let it slide this time."

Seeing this, Gu Ran breathed a sigh of relief; by now, the alcohol was slowly hitting her, and the sense of dizziness was becoming increasingly intense.

She steadied herself against the table and stood up: "President Wang, I'm going to the restroom."

Having said that, she turned and walked out of the private room, leaning against the wall with a pale face.

Her footsteps were already somewhat unsteady, and only her hand firmly gripped the wall as she struggled to maintain her last bit of sobriety.

Ye Feng supported her shoulders and could feel her entire body trembling slightly.

"Are you alright?"

Ye Feng asked in a low voice, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.

Gu Ran shook her head, and then, she took a deep breath and said, "Ye Feng, I know you mean well, but this cooperation is too important for the company..."

"So you just let that old pervert take advantage of you?"

Ye Feng's voice carried suppressed anger; today, Gu Ran was truly somewhat muddled.

Gu Ran bit her lip, her eyes reddening: "Perhaps, that was unconscious!"

"He's already like that, and you call it unconscious!"

Ye Feng was somewhat annoyed; this girl, she was about to be sold and was still helping them count the money.

"Alright, stop talking!"

Ye Feng wanted to say more, but was directly interrupted by Gu Ran.

At the same time, inside the private room, President Wang was staring at Gu Ran's wine glass, a sinister smile appearing on his fat face.

He carefully took a capsule from his suit's inner pocket, then slowly poured the white powder inside into Gu Ran's wine glass.

The powder quickly dissolved into the amber liquid, leaving not a trace.

Then, he stood up and walked to the mirror, adjusting his tie: "A chaste woman? Tonight, I'll let you have a taste of what I'm capable of?"

On the other side, in the restroom, Gu Ran splashed cold water on her face, trying to make herself sober up a bit.

Afterwards, she turned to Ye Feng and said, "When we go back in a moment, don't be impulsive again; the cooperation is what's important, don't anger Wang..."

Before she could finish her sentence, a wave of dizziness struck her, and she stumbled.

Ye Feng hurriedly went over to support her, his brows locked in a frown: "You really cannot drink any more."

"I'm fine."

Gu Ran forced a smile, then broke free from Ye Feng's support and returned to the private room on her own.

Ye Feng shook his head and hurriedly followed after her.

This woman is truly stubborn!

Returning to the private room, Wang Mingtao had already restored the smile to his face, and he raised his wine glass: "Miss Gu, it was my lapse in composure just now; drink this glass of wine, and I will sign the contract!"

"Come, cheers to our cooperation!"

Gu Ran reached out to take the wine glass and said with a smile, "Cheers!"

At this moment, Ye Feng suddenly pressed down on her hand: "Wait."

Wang Mingtao's expression instantly turned gloomy: "President Gu, what is the deal with this assistant of yours? Does he not want to cooperate with my Wang Clan?"

Hearing this, Gu Ran frowned tightly, looked at Ye Feng, and asked, "What is it?"

Ye Feng ignored Gu Ran and instead carefully examined the wine glass in her hand.

Under the lights, he noticed a trace of imperceptible cloudiness at the bottom of the glass.

Immediately after, he said coldly: "There is a problem with this wine; you cannot drink it!"

"What problem?"

Hearing this, Gu Ran was stunned right where she stood.

Ye Feng continued, "This wine has been drugged!"

Hearing this, cold sweat instantly seeped from Wang Mingtao's forehead, but he forced himself to remain calm: "President Gu, what exactly is the deal with your driver?"

"It's one thing to not understand the rules, but he actually dares to frame people!"

"In my opinion, this contract might as well not be signed!"

Saying this, he prepared to stand up and leave this restaurant.

Seeing this, Gu Ran became anxious: "President Wang, don't, I'll drink it!"

This cooperation was very important to her Gu Clan, and she could not care about so much anymore; after saying this, she drank it all in one gulp!

"That's more like it!"

Seeing Gu Ran finish drinking, Wang Mingtao breathed a sigh of relief and sat back down.

"Have your driver go out first; he is truly an eyesore here!"

Then, he looked at Ye Feng, a sinister smile flashing across his face.

Gu Ran nodded: "Ye Feng, you go out and wait for me first!"