Chapter 13: Standing Up for Her

“Mr. He, I’m just an employee, and the terms my company offered are set. Please don’t put me in a difficult position.” Shen Ling wore an expression of helplessness; haggling over prices was simply part of business, and even if she had a say in the matter, she couldn’t afford to act recklessly.

Mr. He’s beady eyes, half-hidden in folds of flesh, flicked subtly toward Bo Jinkan, trying to gauge his attitude. Stroking his chin, his tone grew even more oily, “How about we talk further after the banquet at the Mirage Bar?”

Of course Shen Ling understood what he was implying. She declined with a genial smile, “Meeting privately, bypassing the company, wouldn’t be appropriate, would it?”

Seeing that Bo Jinkan remained impassive, seemingly indifferent to the conversation, Mr. He grew bolder, stepping closer.

“At least a dance, then? We can talk as we dance!”

Shen Ling masked her distaste, adjusted her shawl, and quietly stepped back a few paces. “I’m sorry, Mr. He, but I already have a partner this evening.”

Mr. He persisted, inviting her again and again, only to be repeatedly rebuffed. His expression darkened, and he threatened through clenched teeth, “You won’t drink the wine, you won’t even honor me with a dance—Shen Ling, are you saying you don’t want this deal?”

Shen Ling felt a headache coming on. Mr. He was not someone she could afford to offend, so she lowered her head and tried to placate him. “Mr. He, our company has spared no effort for this project. Perhaps the higher-ups can arrange a meeting another day, and we can discuss things more thoroughly then?”

Mr. He grew even more arrogant at her conciliatory attitude. “It makes things very difficult for me when you won’t cooperate.”

Suppressing her annoyance with a dry cough, Shen Ling was forced by her role to keep the peace. She put on a perfect professional smile. “Mr. He, I assure you, I am not being uncooperative.”

Before she finished speaking, Mr. He took a glass of wine from a passing waiter, his tone now carrying a veiled threat.

“At the very least, you can have a drink with me, can’t you?”

Though Shen Ling didn’t want to drink, refusing every request would only embarrass him and hinder future business. She had no choice but to pick up the glass and swirl it. “Then allow me to apologize to you, Mr. He.”

She downed the wine in one gulp, turning the glass upside down between her fingers to show not a drop remained.

“One glass isn’t enough—if you’re apologizing, three is only proper.” Mr. He handed her another glass, a lascivious glint in his greasy gaze.

Shen Ling knew all too well that the more she retreated, the more he would press, making ever more unreasonable demands. She feigned tipsiness, pressing a hand to her forehead. “Mr. He, my tolerance is low. It wouldn’t do to get drunk at an event like this.”

To her relief, Mr. He did not insist further. He set the wineglass on a passing waiter’s tray, then slid his oily right hand around her waist, drawing close with a sly smile. “At least one dance.”

The music in the hall shifted to a slow foxtrot just then, and Mr. He pressed his body against hers, clearly intent on a close, intimate dance.

Suppressing a wave of nausea, Shen Ling struggled to break free, but his right hand held her fast, and his left was already reaching for her exposed shoulder where her shawl had slipped.

At that moment, Bo Jinkan suddenly intervened, gripping Mr. He’s wrist and twisting it sharply behind his back.

Whatever strength he used, Mr. He staggered, his fleshy face contorted with pain as he cried out several times, “Ow! Ow!”

But Bo Jinkan showed no sign of letting him go, the temperature around him dropping with icy menace.

Mr. He had no doubt that this man, whose eyes were cold as death, would crush his hand without hesitation.

As cold sweat streamed down his face, Bo Jinkan abruptly released him.

Mr. He’s legs buckled, and he nearly collapsed to the floor.

Bo Jinkan’s face remained expressionless, but his voice grew glacial and threatening. “If there’s a next time, don’t expect to keep that hand.”