She goes crazy, he'll cover for her; the darling of the group is someone no one dares to mess w

The cold lights in the billiard room cast a long shadow of Lu Jie. His fingers, which were gripping the hem of his shirt, paused for a moment, then he suddenly lifted it up.

The rustling sound of cotton fabric rubbing against the skin was particularly clear in the deathly silent room. As the shirt fell to the ground, the smooth lines of the shoulders and back and the firm waist and abdomen were exposed to the air.

The marks of years of fitness training are clearly outlined under the light, revealing distinct muscle contours, while a shallow scar on the side of the waist adds a touch of wildness.

"Wow……"

Someone let out a soft cry, and was immediately pinched hard on the arm by their companion.

The female colleagues' reactions were the most interesting.

The younger assistants blushed and lowered their heads, but their fingers couldn't help twisting their skirts as they stole glances.

Several veteran producers maintained an air of superiority, but their eyes were honestly glued to Lu Jie out of the corner of their eyes.

Even the usually carefree Wen Yang stroked her chin and whistled, only to be subtly silenced.

Han Xi frowned slightly, his well-defined knuckles covering Fang Li's eyes, the palm of his hand carrying the slightly rough texture of billiard cue powder, blocking all vision.

Listening to all sorts of noises and sounds from the scene.

Fang Li blinked in his palm, her eyelashes brushing against his skin like a restless butterfly.

She could imagine what Lu Jie looked like at this moment. The renowned young master Lu was considered elegant and charming by the noble ladies of the capital, and his figure was naturally outstanding as well.

His usual high spirits have now turned into an embarrassing gamble.

"Mr. Han, Mr. Lu, do you think it's good enough?"

The director, wiping the sweat from his brow, squeezed in, still clutching a half-finished glass of wine. "It's all a joke, why take it so seriously?"

Jing Sen also tried to smooth things over. He and Lu Jie did know each other before, so he couldn't just watch him make a fool of himself: "There are so many female colleagues here, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to take his clothes off any further. Let's stop here."

Hearing the two people's advice, many others in the audience chimed in to agree.

Lu Jie twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a mocking smile.

As he bent down to unbuckle his belt, the metal buckle made a soft "click," like a hammer striking everyone's heart.

"I am willing to admit defeat."

His voice was calm, but his fingertips trembled slightly. "If Han Xi dares to make this bet, I dare to accept it."

"Since I accepted the challenge, I must keep my word if I lose!"

The sound of the belt being pulled off the trouser loops caused gasps of shock to rise and fall throughout the room.

Several older investors had already turned their faces away and raised their glasses to thin air.

The cameramen held up their phones, the screens shining like stars; if this were posted, it would definitely be tomorrow's headline.

Fang Li sighed softly in Han Xi's palm, her voice so low it was almost a whisper: "Han Xi, let's leave it at that."

Han Xi's fingers paused.

"A small punishment is enough to deter others."

Her eyelashes brushed against his palm again, carrying a soft, ticklish sensation. "If you really let him take his clothes off, Xingli Films will be labeled as 'bullying others' tomorrow, and 'The Dream Never Ends' will be ruined before filming even begins."

Han Xi remained silent for a moment, then slowly removed his hand.

Fang Li had just adjusted to the light when she saw Lu Jie's hand already on the zipper of his trousers, the metal buckle gleaming coldly under the light.

"That's it."

Han Xi's voice suddenly rang out, not loud, but with a power that penetrated people's hearts.

Lu Jie froze, and when he looked up at him, his eyes still held an undiminished arrogance.

"But, the port project in Tianjin."

Han Xi's gaze swept over his bare upper body and finally landed on his face. "I hope Young Master Lu can keep his word."

After saying that, he didn't look at anyone else, and turned to leave with Fang Li in his arms.

As Fang Li passed by Wen Yang, she didn't stop, only hurriedly saying, "The banquet will continue, and the lucky draw will proceed as planned."

Wen Yang immediately understood, patted her chest and made a "leave it to me" gesture, then turned around and put on her most enthusiastic smile.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the betting is over! Let's continue eating, drinking, and playing, and see who will win the jackpot tonight—"

The crowd's attention was quickly drawn to the lucky draw, and the chatter gradually shifted to the newly announced prizes.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the director and Jing Sen grabbed Lu Jie from both sides and draped his shirt, which had been thrown on the ground, over his shoulders.

"Young Master Lu, take my advice and put it on first."

Jing Sen lowered his voice, "There are media people here."

Lu Jie didn't struggle, letting them carry him out of the billiard room.

The wind in the corridor carried the scent of osmanthus blossoms. He suddenly looked down and chuckled, his voice carrying an indescribable meaning: "Do you think I'm particularly stupid?"

The director patted him on the back without saying anything.

Some stumbles you only learn how painful they are after you've actually fallen.

The stone-paved road outside the guild hall was washed white by the moonlight.

Lin Mo had already parked the black Bentley at the end of the corridor, its headlights off, like a lurking beast.

As Han Xi helped Fang Li through the carved archway, she subconsciously adjusted her suit jacket, which still retained his body heat and the refreshing scent of cedar.

"Where?"

Once inside the car, Fang Li belatedly asked.

The soft leather seat sank into a shallow dent, and she could feel Han Xi sitting beside her, his breath brushing against her ear.

Han Xi didn't answer directly, but reached out to fasten her seatbelt, his fingertips brushing against her wrist, the touch slightly cool: "You'll know when we get there."

Lin Mo glanced at the back seat through the rearview mirror and kept the engine noise extremely low when starting the car.

The Bentley slowly merged into the night traffic of Kunming, and the neon lights outside the window, like melting syrup, cast long trails of light on the glass.

Fang Li leaned back in her chair and turned her head to look at Han Xi.

He was looking out the window, the lines of his profile appearing particularly soft in the dim light, his long, thick eyelashes casting a small shadow under his eyelids as they fell.

"What are you thinking about?"

Han Xi suddenly turned his head and met her gaze.

Fang Li smiled, turned her head to rest her head on his shoulder, and looked down at their clasped fingers: "It's nothing."

Han Xi chuckled softly, didn't press further, and simply took her hand quietly.

His palms were warm, enveloping her hand completely, his fingertips caressing the diamond ring on her ring finger.

After the car drove out of the town, the streetlights gradually became sparse.

About half an hour later, the Bentley turned onto a winding mountain road, its tires making a slight sound as they rolled over gravel.

Looking out the car window, Fang Li could only see the thick, impenetrable darkness of the night, with a few scattered lights flickering in the distance, probably the lights of the mountain villagers' homes.

"Where is this?" she couldn't help but ask again.

"Coming."

Han Xi's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible anticipation.

Ten minutes later, the car stopped on a wide, flat area.

Lin Mo turned off the engine and opened the car door. A mountain breeze carrying the fragrance of grass and trees rushed in, along with the unique coolness of the mountains.

Fang Li was helped off the car by Han Xi, only to find herself in front of a cluster of bamboo houses.