Huayu 2021: Isn’t he in the technology field?

Chapter 461 Perhaps... I did it voluntarily?
In the private room.

Jiang Qing lightly tapped the glass with her fingertip, producing a crisp sound that was particularly jarring in the deathly silence.

His gaze calmly fell on Yu Zheng's fat face, which was covered in sweat.

Yu Zheng felt that gaze was so real, it felt like it was pressing down on his spine and making him feel like it was about to break.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, his voice trembling.

"President Jiang, I... I was truly confused for a moment, blinded by greed! I assure you, there will absolutely be no next time! There will never be any more false rumors about you or your friends online! All of Huanyu's advertising channels are willing to cooperate with your needs!"

He made the promise almost through gritted teeth, which meant he wouldn't even dare to think about riding on Jiang Qing's coattails anymore.

Upon hearing this, the egret quickly came to its senses and chimed in.

"President Jiang, Teacher Yu has truly realized his mistake this time. He was just anxious and afraid that I would be outshone in the drama, so he did something foolish. Do you think we could give him another chance?"

As she spoke, she picked up the serving chopsticks and placed a piece of tender fish on Jiang Qing's plate.

"Try this first, it's their signature dish."

Jiang Qing's gaze shifted from the wine glass to Bai Lu's pleading face, then swept over Yu Zheng, who wished he could bury his head in the ground. A trace of coldness melted from Jiang Qing's expression.

He didn't touch the fish, but instead gently placed the wine glass on the table, making a crisp "tap" sound.

"Competition within the industry depends on individual ability."

Jiang Qing spoke slowly, her voice returning to its usual calm.

“A brilliant role and audience recognition are the result of an actor’s own strength and good fortune. Using such despicable means may succeed temporarily, but it will never be respectable and will not go far.”

"Yes, yes, Mr. Jiang is right! I was short-sighted and narrow-minded!"

Yu Zheng responded repeatedly, nodding his head like a chick pecking at rice.

"The evidence is there, and public opinion has already taken hold."

Jiang Qing continued speaking to himself, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"The necessary clarification and apology are indispensable. You should know who the recipient is."

Yu Zheng immediately understood and quickly made a promise.

"Understood! Understood! I will arrange it immediately to issue a public apology statement in the name of the company and myself, sincerely apologizing to Ms. Chen Duling and clarifying all false rumors!"

"besides."

Jiang Qing thought for a moment and then spoke again to add to the discussion.

"I don't want to see any more of your or Huanyu's underhanded tactics. Once is enough for this kind of smear campaign."

"Absolutely not! I promise!"

Yu Zheng quickly raised his hand, almost as if he were swearing an oath to the heavens.

"From now on, we will prioritize cooperating with any resources from Huanyu Entertainment that Ms. Chen Duling needs! Without hesitation!"

Jiang Qing nodded slightly, picked up her wine glass again, turned her gaze to the dishes on the table, and softened her tone.

"The food is getting cold."

Yu Zheng and Bai Lu both breathed a long sigh of relief.

The egret's face immediately broke into a smile again, and it greeted the customer warmly.

"Yes, yes, let's eat first. Mr. Jiang, please try this, it tastes really good."

She secretly rejoiced that although Jiang Qing had a strong aura and seemed difficult to talk to, he ultimately did not really go after her.

Of course, she knew perfectly well that this was not because Jiang Qing was particularly kind, nor did she think it was her achievement.

In her opinion, Jiang Qing simply felt that this kind of thing wasn't worth his attention.

If Huanyu Entertainment hadn't been targeting Chen Duling this time, this common practice of putting people down in the industry wouldn't have piqued his interest at all.

Thinking about this, she was actually a little envious of Chen Duling, who had someone like Jiang Qing as her support and didn't have to worry about anything.

Yu Zheng felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He quickly returned to his seat, his back still damp with cold sweat, but his anxiety was finally relieved.

He quickly picked up the bottle, poured himself a full glass, and held it up with both hands, looking respectful.

"President Jiang, thank you for your magnanimity! This glass of wine is a toast to you, an apology! I'll drink it all, please feel free to drink as you please!"

After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.

Jiang Qing only took a symbolic sip.

The atmosphere at the following dinner was no longer as tense as before, but it wasn't exactly relaxed or pleasant either.

Yu Zheng was still shaken and spent most of his time being cautious, not daring to say much.

Bai Lu tried her best to liven up the atmosphere, occasionally finding topics to chat with Jiang Qing about, from the fun things that happened during the recording of "Running Man" to some details of filming on set, showing her familiarity and intimacy with Chen Duling.

Jiang Qing mostly just listened, occasionally responding with a few words. Her attitude wasn't particularly warm, but she maintained basic politeness.

He ate slowly and deliberately, a stark contrast to the awkward Yu Zheng beside him.

Looking at his serene profile, Bai Lu couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion.

This man, at such a young age, has reached a height that countless people can only dream of, yet he is remarkably unlike the greasy arrogance of the wealthy businessmen she has encountered. Instead, he is calm and reserved, which makes him very likable.

Jiang Qing left a very good impression on her after their three meetings.

Yu Zheng carefully observed Jiang Qing's expression. Seeing that Jiang Qing's face was calm and he seemed to have no intention of pursuing the matter further, Yu Zheng rolled his eyes, glanced at Bai Lu, and immediately had a new plan in mind.

He put on an even more ingratiating smile, stood up, and gave Jiang Qing a slight bow.

"Mr. Jiang, there's an urgent matter at the company that I need to go back to handle. I'm really sorry I can't keep you company any longer. Please let Lulu stay here and continue your meal. Make sure you enjoy yourself."

As he spoke, his gaze turned to the egret.

"Lulu, you stay and keep President Jiang company."

"Okay, Teacher Yu."

The egret naturally understood his thoughts and readily agreed.

If it were anyone else, she would have turned around and left immediately, but since it was Jiang Qing, it was a different story.

Jiang Qing could easily see through his little scheme, and casually waved her hand.

Yu Zheng felt as if he had been granted a pardon and immediately bowed.

"Okay, okay, Mr. Jiang, please enjoy your meal. I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, he almost tiptoed out of the private room, giving Bailu a knowing look before leaving, and then gently closed the door.

In the blink of an eye, only Jiang Qing and Bai Lu remained in the private room.

Jiang Qing picked up a napkin to wipe her hands, then looked up at Bai Lu, who was sitting opposite her. Bai Lu's expression was slightly embarrassed by Yu Zheng's actions, but she quickly recovered and a smile of interest appeared on her lips.

"Miss Bailu, your boss... is really not a good person."

Instead of getting angry, Bai Lu chuckled. She picked up her wine glass, took a small sip, shrugged, and acted as if she didn't care at all.

“I knew what kind of person he was all along. He’s shrewd, pragmatic, a chatterbox, and willing to do anything for profit.”

A complex emotion flashed across her eyes, but her tone remained cheerful.

"However, on the other hand, without him bringing me into the industry and supporting me, there would be no Bailu today. For that reason, I remember his kindness."

Jiang Qing gave her a deep look, somewhat surprised that she would say that. He then nodded and did not continue to comment on Yu Zheng. He just thought that this girl in front of him, who seemed carefree, was actually very clear-headed and had a clear sense of right and wrong. He found her quite interesting.

After Yu Zheng left, the atmosphere in the private room actually relaxed.

Bai Lu was clearly much more relaxed. She no longer limited herself to chatting about trivial matters within the industry, but instead turned her curious gaze entirely to Jiang Qing himself.

She rested her elbows on the table, leaning slightly forward, seemingly oblivious to the expanse of white skin in front of her that Jiang Qing could see. Her large, exquisitely made-up eyes sparkled with keen interest.

"President Jiang, I've always been very curious. I heard that you were a top student when you were in school, a double PhD from the University of Science and Technology of China! So, is it particularly easy for you to learn? You can learn it at a glance? I also watched Peach Blossom Village. Your cooking skills are also so good. How do you do it?"

Jiang Qing was amused by her rapid-fire questions and became quite talkative, briefly recounting some of her experiences from her school days.

The egrets listened with great interest, occasionally letting out exclamations of surprise or raising new questions.

"It must have been tough when you first started your business, right? I heard there were only a few of you in your dorm at the beginning?"

"How did you feel when 'The Beginning' aired? Suddenly you became the male lead of a hit drama?"

"When filming 'Lighter and Princess Dress,' did you and Jingyi feel particularly compatible? The candid photos of you two together are so sweet."

"In the period leading up to the release of Vientiane, did you feel pressured by the overwhelming negative public opinion?"

Her questions jumped around, from entrepreneurship to acting, and then from technology back to life, and the atmosphere of their communication was surprisingly harmonious. Jiang Qing found that although Bai Lu had many questions, she was not offensive; she was straightforward and easy to talk to.

Before I knew it, quite a bit of red wine had been downed from my glass.

Jiang Qing's alcohol tolerance was average. He felt his cheeks getting hot and his head starting to feel slightly tipsy and dizzy, so he put down his glass and checked the time.

"It's getting late, let's call it a day, I should head back."

Bai Lu was in slightly better condition than him, with a rosy blush on her cheeks, but her eyes were still clear.

Seeing Jiang Qing stand up, she immediately stood up as well.

Perhaps because she had been sitting for too long, or perhaps because of the effects of the alcohol, Jiang Qing swayed slightly when she stood up.

The egret standing next to him reacted quickly, immediately reaching out and firmly supporting his arm.

"President Jiang, please be careful."

Jiang Qing subconsciously looked up, and Bai Lu also looked up at him with concern.

Their faces instantly drew very close, so close that they could clearly see their own reflections in each other's eyes and feel their warm breaths mingling together.

The soft lighting in the private room shone on the two of them, and the air was filled with the aroma of alcohol.

Bai Lu looked at the face that was suddenly so close to hers, her cheeks flushed, and a strange impulse welled up in her heart.

Jiang Qing was also taken aback by this sudden close contact and was stunned for a moment.

Immediately, to defuse the awkward moment, he raised the corners of his lips and revealed a slightly joking smile.

"Haven't we already agreed on everything? We don't need to use the honey trap anymore, do we?"

As he spoke, he tried to use a joke to naturally step back slightly, creating a distance that was too ambiguous.

However, as soon as he moved his arm, Bailu's hand holding him not only did not loosen, but tightened its grip.

Instead of backing away, she suddenly reached out her other arm and nimbly hooked it around Jiang Qing's neck at this extremely close distance. At the same time, she slightly tiptoed and brought her soft lips close to his ear.

The warm breath, carrying the slight intoxication of alcohol, gently caressed his sensitive ear like the fragrance of orchids in bloom.

Her voice was low and deliberately hoarse, each word clearly penetrating Jiang Qing's ears.

"Perhaps... I did it willingly?"

Jiang Qing's body stiffened slightly. He could clearly feel the strength of her arm around his neck and the graceful curves of her body that were almost pressed against his side.

The subtle fragrance emanating from her body was now relentlessly assaulting his senses.

He turned his head to the side and looked down at her, who was so close to him.

The egret was also looking up at him, its bright eyes now devoid of their usual hearty laughter, instead filled with a hazy, watery light, bold, direct, and slightly provocative, meeting his gaze without any hesitation.

Eyes facing each other.

The air inside the private room seemed to ignite at that moment.

The relaxed atmosphere of their previous conversation vanished, replaced by a silent yet rapidly escalating tension that spread and pulled between them.

The dim lighting, the slight intoxication, the warmth of skin touching, and the arm that clung to the back of the neck without letting go all silently conveyed a dangerous invitation.

Jiang Qing's gaze suddenly darkened, and the relaxed aura she had been in due to being slightly tipsy instantly tightened, transforming into an extremely oppressive stare.

He didn't push Bailu away immediately. Instead, he leaned down, following her clinging force, until their noses almost touched and their breaths could be heard.

"I remember……"

Jiang Qing spoke slowly, her voice lower than before, carrying a questioning tone.

"Aren't you and Dudu friends?"

His warm breath brushed against her lips as he spoke, their proximity dangerously close.

"Is this... appropriate?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Lu tightened her grip on his neck, her bright eyes glistening with tears, revealing not guilt, but a bold and straightforwardness fueled by alcohol.

She tilted her head back and whispered almost to his lips, her voice carrying a hint of deliberate provocation.

"I was just curious... After filming the show that day, the next day when Dudu came out of her room, she could barely walk..."

She paused, then tilted her head slightly, her eyes like little hooks, looking directly into his eyes without any hesitation.

"I was just wondering... just how amazing is President Jiang?"

These words instantly shattered the last veil of ambiguity.

Jiang Qing stared at her, his eyes as deep as unyielding ink, churning with unfathomable emotions.

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled very softly.

"as you wish."

He uttered those four words almost right next to her earlobe, the warm air penetrating her eardrum and bringing a tingling sensation.

Before the words were even finished, and before Bailu could fully grasp the meaning behind those four words, she felt the large hand on her arm suddenly tighten its grip. In a dizzying moment, she was turned around by a powerful force, her waist was firmly held in place, her upper body leaned forward uncontrollably, and as her skirt fluttered, her hands instinctively braced themselves on the cool edge of the table.

Behind her, Jiang Qing's tall body pressed tightly against her, completely enveloping her in his presence, leaving her no way to escape.

"Hmm~"

A short, suppressed moan escaped from Bailu's throat uncontrollably. She subconsciously bit her lower lip, her fingers curling slightly as she gripped the edge of the table.

Jiang Qing also let out a long sigh of relief at this moment, as if a string that had been stretched to its limit had finally been relaxed for a moment.

Time seemed to be stretched out and distorted inside the private room.

After the initial adjustment period, a kind of unspoken understanding quietly developed.

The suppressed breathing gradually became rapid and intertwined, accompanied by the occasional muffled groan that escaped from between the lips and teeth.

Although no one should suddenly barge into the private room, the environment still amplifies the senses of both of them.

The edges of the tablecloth were crumpled into messy wrinkles by her fingers. The dark-colored long dress that Bailu had carefully chosen was no longer smooth, and the hem had long since lost its original elegant shape in the chaos, becoming wrinkled and unrecognizable.

I don't know how much time passed, maybe an hour, maybe longer.

With a short, uncontrollable sob, the egret slid down the cold windowpane, completely exhausted, like a cat whose strength had been drained. She curled up on the heavy carpeted floor, only her violently heaving chest a testament to her presence.

Her long, coiled hair was now disheveled, with a few strands of sweat-dampened hair clinging to her flushed cheeks. Her eyes were unfocused as she stared into the void, panting heavily.

Not far away, Jiang Qingshen leaned back in a soft chair, his chest heaving, his hair damp with sweat, a few strands falling loosely.

He tilted his head back slightly, closed his eyes, and tried to calm his erratic breathing.

The private room was a mess, filled with the lingering smell of alcohol and an indescribable, ambiguous atmosphere.

Silence spread between the two, with only the sound of their gradually calming breaths.

After a long while, Jiang Qing slowly opened her eyes.

He stood up, bent down to pick up the clothes scattered on the ground, put them on one by one, and straightened the slightly disheveled collar of his shirt.

After getting dressed, he walked over to Bailu, who was still curled up on the carpet, squatted down, and reached out to help her sit up.

His gaze fell on her still flushed face, his tone tinged with amusement.

"Is it still possible to walk? Or... should we go somewhere else?"

Bai Lu felt extremely weak all over and could barely muster any strength. He could only sit up by supporting himself with his arms.

Upon hearing this, she raised her eyes and gave him a reproachful look, her eyes moist and tired, yet naturally exuding a charming allure.

"Now I finally understand..."

Her voice was soft and intermittent.

"That day, Dudu...why did it...turn out like that..."

Although she said that, she did not refuse Jiang Qing's suggestion to "change the location". She simply leaned her slightly weak body more against the arm that was supporting her.

"Ha...this is nothing yet. The night is long, and it's too early to draw conclusions."

Jiang Qing wrapped his arms around her soft waist, chuckled softly, and led her toward the door of the private room.

The egret's heart trembled at his words, and feeling her sore legs, she suddenly felt a little scared.

true and false?

Is this for real?!

(End of this chapter)