Chapter 112: Chapter 111: The Key to Not Being Controlled

A red BMW sports car sped along Binhai Avenue.

Miaomiao was driving, on the phone with Hou Chengjin.

"President Hou, Brother Lin agreed. He said to have me deliver it to him at the hotel. Wanhao Hotel, the presidential suite."

Her voice sounded a little faint and languid.

Hou Chengjin laughed. "Good. Raise an army for a thousand days to use it for a single moment. I’m counting on you. If you handle this well, you might just land the leading role in a mini-series. President Lin is looking to invest, you know. It’s just a matter of him saying the word."

She let out a soft sigh.

"Am I just delivering the watch, or am I delivering... something else?"

Hou Chengjin’s voice was calm. "Doesn’t that depend on you? Figure out what you want. We’re partners here. It’s not like I’ve made a move on you. I’ve treated you well, giving you first dibs on an opportunity like this."

’Bullshit!’

’You just can’t bear to part with Moon!’

Miaomiao complained silently but didn’t dare say it out loud.

The company was run fairly respectably. The boss was lecherous, of course, but he only picked on the easy targets. ’He probably thinks I’m not easy to control.’

She even had a feeling the two men were coordinating with each other.

’They’re playing that game of "a rabbit doesn’t eat the grass by its own burrow, but you can eat my grass, and I’ll eat yours."’

President Hou had hinted at wanting to sleep with her before, but he was just too short. She didn’t feel the slightest bit of attraction to him.

As a major streamer with over two million followers, she could still make money and was valuable to the company. After a few fruitless back-and-forths, he had gradually given up on the idea.

So...

Now, she was being "sacrificed."

’Men.’

"Well, I can’t stream tonight, so shouldn’t I get some kind of compensation?"

She thought for a moment, then said in a softer voice.

Hou Chengjin laughed. "Sure. I’ll have the ops team tell your fan groups that you’re sick. Play the pity card, act cute. We still have those sick photos from last time, right? Let’s get the fans to make some donations. It won’t be much less than what you’d make streaming."

Miaomiao: ...

’You dog!’

’Heartless boss!’

’Be human for a change!’

"I’m in a bad mood. Hanging up. Bye."

Gritting her teeth, she hung up the phone.

She looked at the road ahead, a mix of light and shadow, just like her future.

There was light from the headlights and streetlights, but it was dark out, and the night was still dominant.

...

By the time she reached the hotel lobby, Miaomiao had already composed herself, putting on her most cheerful and energetic face. After a moment’s thought, she went to the front desk and booked a room for herself first.

This was her escape route.

If anything unexpected happened, she’d have a place to retreat to.

Then she sent a message to Lin Chu: "President Lin, I’m at the hotel. Should I come up and find you now?"

It was already 11:30 PM.

But, with her own room booked, she felt a strange sense of security and dignity. ’I’m a guest, not... something else.’

The room was only about two thousand yuan, but it made her feel much more at ease.

’Isn’t this the whole point of making money?’

’A woman has to make her own money to spend.’

’Getting close to men is just for making money, anyway.’

"Sure, come on up."

Lin Chu replied quickly.

At that moment, Lin Chu was in the living room chatting with Zhang Peng. He was very satisfied with Zhang Peng’s arrangements. All the staff had been sent away, and Dai Pingchuan had also left for a separate room booked for him.

"It’s too late tonight, so I’m staying here too. I booked a room. Why don’t you come over to my place instead? We can have a couple of drinks."

Miaomiao stood by the elevator, choosing her words carefully before sending the message to Lin Chu.

Lin Chu: ?

’Well... that’s rather unexpected.’

’Interesting.’

He had a vague idea of what she was thinking. ’Is she afraid I’ll secretly film her or something?’

A smile touched Lin Chu’s lips. This was the curse of fame and fortune. A well-known streamer, afraid of her image collapsing?

Still, this piqued Lin Chu’s interest.

The women who had nothing to lose were the most frightening.

This type, on the other hand, felt a bit more... appropriate.

It was just like those guys in the Thief Cao’s Group always say—at the end of all the debauchery, you still want a proper lady.

Ptooey.

"Sure, let’s have a drink."

Seeing the room number she sent, Lin Chu wrapped a bathrobe around himself, slipped on some slippers, and headed for her room.

...

Hearing the knock, Miaomiao slowly opened the door to see Lin Chu in a bathrobe. She had just gotten into her room and hadn’t changed yet.

She was still wearing the same outfit from dinner.

A white shirt, black stockings, and high heels. Her long hair was draped over her back, giving her the look of a professional woman. Her makeup was light, making her appear almost plain and elegant.

"President Lin, please come in. One moment, I’ll get the watch for you."

She said softly, then walked to the bed. She took the watch, sealed in a transparent bag, out of her purse, returned, and handed it to Lin Chu with both hands as if it were nothing.

But her posture was that of someone who had completed her task and was now asking him to leave.

This push and pull, this back-and-forth testing—for her, it had clearly become an instinct.

Lin Chu’s brow furrowed. He could naturally guess her entire thought process and felt an instinctive revulsion.

He looked down at her, looked right at her, and took the watch, giving her another chance. "What, you didn’t get enough to drink at dinner? Insisted on having a drink with me?"

"Is that okay?"

Her slender eyelashes fluttered twice. With an alluring gaze, she glanced at the table where a bottle of red wine and two glasses sat, freshly brought up.

Lin Chu raised an eyebrow. "I suppose that’s fine. But it’s a bit boring with just two people. There’s another girl upstairs. I’ll call her down to drink with us."

She... was completely and utterly stunned.

Utterly shocked, she looked up at Lin Chu.

’This...’

But Lin Chu’s words were vague, subtle. He only said the three of them would drink together, not that they would do anything else.

And his eyes were clear, sharp, with a hint of a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, giving off a very teasing vibe.

She: ...

’My mind went blank.’

’Seriously, my mind is blank.’

’This guy’s games are too wild. I really can’t handle it.’

"I... I think I’m a little tired."

She hesitated and murmured softly. This was too absurd; she really couldn’t accept it.

"Then go to sleep if you’re tired. Also, go back and tell your President Hou that I’m not interested in other people’s leftovers. If he really wants to send me a woman, he should pick more carefully."

Lin Chu gave her a deep look. His tone was calm, but his words were intensely humiliating. Then he turned and left.

’Who are you trying to fool, putting on an act for me?’

’Besides, who wants someone else’s sloppy seconds?’

’It’s not like I have to fall for Hou Chengjin’s honey trap.’

’I’m not lacking for options.’

’To be honest, she’s not that attractive anyway.’

Hearing this, Miaomiao’s face turned beet red. She felt her blood pressure spike with anger. Even Hou Chengjin had never humiliated her like this. At the same time, she instantly understood that President Lin had misunderstood.

"I haven’t!"

"I’m not!"

"He couldn’t get me into bed, so he’s making things difficult for me, making me come here to deliver the watch!"

Her voice cracked as she yelled, full of shame and indignation.

Lin Chu’s steps faltered. He glanced back at her and let out a long, meaningful "Oh?" "What are you yelling about? Is this something to be proud of? You think you’re so pure and wronged? If you didn’t want to, you didn’t have to come. But you came, you got a room, you offered drinks... What’s with this virgin-whore act?"

She: ...

She was stunned silent by his rebuke.

Lin Chu didn’t bother giving her another look and left.

BANG!

The door slammed shut.

Once outside, Lin Chu casually sent a message to Hou Chengjin: "What’s the meaning of this?"

Hou Chengjin: "??? What’s wrong?"

Lin Chu didn’t reply. He silenced his phone, turned, and walked into the elevator, heading back to his room.

His heart was like a rock.

If he decided to sleep, he slept.

If he decided not to, he could stay awake.

’If a man doesn’t even have that much self-control, what the hell kind of man is he?’

’As long as you’re not controlled by what’s in your pants, what else can control you?’

...

...