Chapter 145: The Spokesperson

I looked at her expression again, and I could already guess seven or eight parts of the truth in my heart. I couldn't help but inwardly curse that fat bastard as worse than an animal, despicable and shameless. Dragging her along with effort, I said, "That makes it even more necessary to go to the hospital. Who knows if taking this kind of drug will leave any sequelae?"

Fan Yunting was so anxious that she immediately squatted down, refusing to move no matter what, and cried, "It's too late! I... I'd rather die than go! Tang Qian, just let me fend for myself!"

I pulled her twice, but she wouldn't budge, so I angrily said, "Are you out of your mind? Someone drugged you, and you're just going to wait to die at home?"

Fan Yunting simply sat flat on the floor, crying, "Even if I die, I won't go! How could I let anyone else see me in such a disgraceful state?"

I was completely helpless! I knew that people wouldn't actually die from taking things like aphrodisiacs; at worst, they would just suffer for a while and return to normal once the drug wore off. Since Fan Yunting stubbornly refused to go to the hospital, I decided to drop the matter, treating it as punishment for her foolish actions tonight.

So I said, "You won't go, is that it? Fine! I can't help you either. Go back to your bed and ride it out yourself!" With that, I forcefully helped her up and dropped her onto the bed. Then I said, "Take good care of yourself!" and turned to leave. Fan Yunting immediately rolled off the bed again, grabbed my hand, and said with a trembling voice, "Don't... don't leave me... Tang Qian! I'm begging you!"

I turned back in frustration and said, "You won't go to the hospital, so what use is it if I stay? I don't know how to cure this!"

Fan Yunting just held onto me for dear life, saying, "I'm scared being alone. If you're here, I'll feel a bit more at ease."

I was torn between laughter and tears, thinking that since she had taken an aphrodisiac, it would be a miracle if she felt at ease with me staying here!

With well-meaning intentions, I said, "Director Fan, being drugged and plotted against by others is nothing shameful to treat at the hospital. Besides, I'm a man; do you think it's appropriate for me to stay here and watch you make a fool of yourself? Listen to me, you really should go to the hospital!"

Fan Yunting shook her head stubbornly, saying, "It's fine. I think I can get through it. I'm just afraid something might go wrong. With you here, at least someone can look after me, okay?"

I made a wry face and said, "But I'm a man! In the state you're in, aren't you afraid of me seeing you?"

Fan Yunting lowered her head, her face turning even redder. In an extremely faint voice, she said, "Anyway, I've already been completely seen by you once before, so seeing me a bit more... doesn't matter!"

Oh, give me a break! This time and last time were different! Last time was accidental, and it was just a fleeting glance. But now you want me to stay here and watch you lust after someone? Heavens! You trust me way too much, don't you?

I shook my head and said, "Director Fan. It's not appropriate for me to stay here. Is there anyone else at home? How about I call Qian Xiaolei to come over instead?"

Upon hearing this, Fan Yunting immediately let go of my hand and said, "No! Do you still want me to be able to face anyone at the company? If you don't care whether I live or die, then... just leave! I... I don't need anyone... to pity me!" With that, she turned, climbed onto the bed, and completely ignored me!

I walked silently to the door, placed my hand on the lock, and hesitated. Hearing the heavy panting and slight moans coming from her on the bed, I could only sigh and take my hand off the lock.

Although I felt awkward, I was not the kind of person who would refuse to help someone facing mortal peril or shirk responsibility. Asking me to truly turn a blind eye and walk away... I just couldn't do it.

I walked into the bathroom, soaked a towel in cold water, turned around, and walked back to the bedside. Sighing, I said, "Director Fan, wipe your face with cold water. Maybe you'll feel a bit better."

Fan Yunting turned her face toward me on the bed, her eyes brimming with a seductive, intoxicating charm. She softly called out, "Tang Qian, don't... go... I'm begging you..."

I sighed and said, "Fine, I won't go!" As I spoke, I placed the wet towel on her face.

After wiping her head and face, Fan Yunting seemed to feel slightly better. Lying prone on the bed, she looked at me with seductive eyes and said in an utterly alluring voice, "Tang Qian, I feel so uncomfortable... Can you... sit by my side?"

My face grew hot, and instead, I took a step back, saying, "I... I'd better go get some more cold water for you!" Without daring to look at her any longer, I hurriedly rushed back into the bathroom.

I splashed cold water on my face first, warning myself, "Tang Qian! Even though the temptation here is overwhelming, you must keep yourself under control. Director Fan is currently under the influence of an aphrodisiac, and everything she says and does is involuntary. You must never do anything to harm her! Besides, Jingjing loves and trusts me so much; if I can't resist this temptation, I truly won't have the face to face her ever again!"

Calming my mind, I filled a basin with cold water and walked back to the bedroom. The sight of Fan Yunting on the bed instantly left me dumbfounded!

At this moment, her pure nature was inflamed, and her clothes were in disarray. She had wedged a pillow between her legs and was twisting and turning incessantly. Her blouse was unbuttoned, her bra had been pushed up by her own hands, and one hand was rubbing her erect breast while her eyes were tightly closed, seemingly lost in pleasure...

My face flushed a fiery red, and I nearly dropped the basin of water in my hands to the floor. I knew that even cold water was useless now!

I quickly turned my head away, feeling both helpless and amused. What was I supposed to do in a situation like this?

Unwilling to let her disgraceful state be exposed right before my eyes, I hurriedly set down the basin, walked over, unfolded the blanket, and covered her up. Knowing that she was also helpless against her own body, I figured it was best to let her resolve this intensely private matter on her own.

I turned around, intending to exit the room, when suddenly Fan Yunting reached out, grabbed me, and pleaded seductively, "Tang Qian... I'm begging you... help me..."

This was truly fatal!

Clenching my teeth, I said, "You'll just have to endure it yourself!" With that, I shook off her hand, strode out into the living room, and took a deep breath to calm myself down. Why did such wretched luck always fall on me?

In the bedroom, Fan Yunting's moans grew louder and louder. Even with my superior willpower, I couldn't help but feel my blood boiling and my body growing restless and hot. At that moment, I desperately wanted to light a cigarette to cool myself down. This kind of scenario was simply too much for any man to endure!

Thinking of this, my long-dormant nicotine addiction suddenly flared up. I had no choice but to rush back into the bathroom and douse my head under the cold water tap. Only then was I able to slightly suppress all the surging desires and wicked thoughts at the bottom of my heart.

In the bedroom, the sounds grew increasingly bizarre. Afraid that something might happen to her, I didn't dare close the door, nor did I dare spare her a single glance, so I could only pace back and forth endlessly in the living room.

The potency of this aphrodisiac was fierce indeed. Fan Yunting thrashed and struggled for a full two hours before letting out a sharp cry and suddenly falling silent. Startled for a moment, I called out, "Director Fan!"

There was no response from inside. I called out again, "Director Fan, are you alright?"

Still no reply. Panic set in; could something have happened to Fan Yunting? Throwing caution to the wind, I immediately rushed into the bedroom.

I saw Fan Yunting lying flat on the bed, completely naked and covered in sweat. The blanket and her clothes had fallen onto the bed, and moisture was smeared all over the sheets.

With no time to worry about propriety, I first picked up the blanket and covered her back up. Parting her messy, tangled hair to check if she was breathing normally, I saw that a satisfied smile still lingered on her face as she had fallen into a deep sleep.

Sighing, I realized she had satisfied herself and had fallen asleep from sheer exhaustion. Seeing that she was soaked in sweat, I knew that if she slept like this, she would definitely fall ill by tomorrow. With no other choice, I had no choice but to play the role of caretaker.

I went back to fetch a basin of warm water, soaked a towel, wrung it out, took a deep breath, focused my mind on self-discipline, and forcefully banished any impure thoughts. Then, lifting the blanket, I gently wiped her body dry with the warm towel.

Fan Yunting's figure was truly flawless; I hadn't seen it clearly during that fleeting glance in Jinghong, but examining her closely up close now, I realized how breathtakingly beautiful she was.

My heart suddenly calmed down, as if the living, breathing flesh of a woman before my eyes was not a body of desire, but a precious work of art. My mind held only appreciation and tenderness, and the towel in my hand wiped her skin even more gently, as if I were polishing a priceless jewel.

The sheets were ruined and couldn't be slept on, so I searched for a clean set, laboriously shifted her around, and remade the bed. Throughout the entire process, she didn't wake up at all, sleeping soundly and sweetly like a baby. I tucked her in properly, threw the soiled sheets and other items into the bathroom, tidied up everything else, turned off the lights, and finally left the place.

I overslept the next morning. Rushing into the company, I headed straight for Director Fan's office. The reason for my tardiness was that I had spent the entire night thinking, and I had concluded that Director Fan had been willing to trade even her own body for funding—she had exhausted every possible means for the sake of the company. Although her methods were wrong, it filled me with shame. If I continued to be so selfish, I truly wouldn't deserve to be a part of the company. Therefore, I had decided to share my thoughts with Fan Yunting.

Entering her office, I saw Fan Yunting drinking water while discussing something with Qian Xiaolei. I blurted out, "Director Fan, there's something I'd like to discuss with you!"

With a snap, the cup in Fan Yunting's hand dropped straight to the floor. She hurriedly stood up, her face red and flushed, not daring to meet my eyes. Qian Xiaolei scolded playfully, "Vice President Tang, what are you doing? You scared the life out of us!"

I replied, "What did I do? Why would I scare you?"

Fan Yunting hastily said, "Qian Xiaolei... you go outside first. Vice President Tang has something... to discuss with me."

Bending down to pick up the fallen cup, Qian Xiaolei cast a puzzled glance at the unusually bashful director and then at me, before turning and leaving.

Fan Yunting leaped two steps to the door, immediately closed it, and locked it from the inside. Then she turned around, leaned her back against the door, and lowered her head so much that it almost touched her chest.

Naturally understanding the reason behind her embarrassment, I spoke up first to break the ice: "Director Fan, regarding the advertising campaign, I have a suggestion I'd like to report to you."

Only then did Fan Yunting raise her head. "You... what suggestion do you have?"

I said, "Superstar Xu Shu is Hua Jingjing's high school classmate. Through Jingjing, I got to know Xu Shu. I think we can leverage this relationship to persuade the superstar to become our product spokesperson. Such immense celebrity influence would have an immeasurable impact on promoting our company's products! I believe our Ye Jian Xiang tea beverage will become an overnight sensation because of this and be rapidly accepted and loved by the vast consumer base. Director Fan, what do you think?"

Fan Yunting's expression shifted slightly, and instead of answering directly, she asked, "Do you... really like Hua Jingjing?"

Taken aback for a moment, I replied, "Of course! But what do you think of this idea?"

Fan Yunting lowered her head again and remained silent for a long time. Assuming she was still feeling shy about last night's events, I said solemnly, "Director Fan, I know you're a woman who can let go of the past and move forward. Some things don't need to be dwelt upon. I have long since forgotten what happened between us last night, and I will never think of it again in the future. Right now, the company is at a critical juncture in its development, so you need to pull yourself together!"

Fan Yunting raised her head again, stared at me for a long time, and suddenly smiled. "I know, but as far as you're concerned, I've completely lost face. Seeing you now, I don't even dare lift my head. In the future, is it you who calls the shots in the company, or is it me?"

I answered, "Of course it's you! The company was founded entirely by your own hands; who would dare contend with you for the top position?"

Fan Yunting said softly at first, "You certainly could! If you're willing, I'll gladly hand over the reins!" Then she laughed and added, "But I know you wouldn't do that. By the way, you mentioned earlier that you had a suggestion to make. What was it?"

Oh, give me a break! To think I had been talking for half an hour, and she hadn't heard a single word!

I invited the director back to her desk, sat down, and explained my proposal all over again. Frowning, Fan Yunting said, "Right now, our company account balance—even including the fifty thousand loan that hasn't come through yet—is at most six hundred thousand. Even if superstar Xu Shu decides to do us a favor as a product spokesperson for your sake, you know her rates; how on earth could we possibly afford that?"

I replied, "I've already considered that. I can try asking her to lower her endorsement fee, and ideally defer payment until after the products sell. If sales are good, I believe this is entirely feasible."

Fan Yunting laughed and said, "Is that so? Superstar Xu Shu is merely your girlfriend's classmate. What makes you so confident she'd take such a huge loss for you?"

I said, "How will we know if it works unless we try? Even if it fails, we have nothing to lose, and we can just plan something else!"

Still incredulous, Fan Yunting shook her head and said, "You, oh you! You might be a genius at developing products, but when it comes to doing business... well, you're even more whimsical than Qian Xiaolei. What celebrity would be foolish enough to turn down easy money and actively ask to lower their own fee?"

I insisted, "Just let me try. We'll know immediately whether it works or not."

Unconvinced, Fan Yunting shrugged dismissively and said, "As you like. Do whatever you want."

I stood up, preparing to return to work, when Fan Yunting called out, "Wait!"

Stopping in my tracks, I waited for her to speak. After hesitating bashfully for a moment, Fan Yunting said, "You... saved me last night, and I need to properly thank you. I'll treat you to dinner tonight, and you must come!"

I declined, "There's no need for that. It wasn't a big deal."

"What? Am I... that unimportant in your mind? You call this not a big deal?"

I could only shake my head; when a woman decides to be stubborn, you truly have no words left to argue. So I conceded, "Alright, alright! I'll come. Where are we eating?"

Fan Yunting smiled happily and said, "I need to make the arrangements. I'll let you know when work ends this afternoon."

Leaving the office, I immediately set to work on contacting Xu Shu. Since Xu Shu had gone to the United States to shoot a film a month ago, I first dialed Xu Jian's phone number. After chatting for a while, I asked for Xu Shu's contact information in the US. Xu Jian didn't have it on hand, but he said his parents knew, and he would call me back as soon as he got it from them.

Before long, Xu Jian called back and gave me an international mobile number. Checking the time, I realized it was currently evening in the United States. I hurried over to the telecommunications bureau and dialed the international long-distance number.

After ringing a few times, the call connected, and the voice of an unfamiliar woman answered, "Hello? Who is this?"

Cautiously, I asked, "Excuse me, is Miss Xu Shu available?"

"Who are you calling for? Miss Xu is currently busy. Is there a message I can pass along for you?"

I... my name is Tang Qian. Please tell her that I have something to discuss with her—something important! Please ask her to call back, thank you!"

"Alright, your name is Tang Qian, correct? I'll pass the message along. May I ask—hey! Miss..."

From the other end of the line, Xu Shu's voice immediately rang out: "Tang Qian, is that you? Hold on, let me find a quiet place to talk to you."

A moment later, Xu Shu's voice returned: "It's good now. Speak, what do you need?"

I chuckled and asked, "How is your filming going? Are you getting used to things in the US?"

"Hmph! You care about me? You're probably just calling to fish for news about Jingjing, aren't you?"

A wave of emotion stirred in my heart, and I couldn't help trembling as I asked, "You've seen Jingjing?"

"Yeah. I knew you wouldn't be calling out of the goodness of your heart, hmph!"

My tears suddenly welled up, and I choked up, unable to speak coherently for a long time before finally managing, "Tell her... I'm here, and I miss her so much I'm going crazy..."

"...I really can't handle you guys; I've got goosebumps all over. Fine, fine, fine! I'll tell her. Do you have anything else?"

Thousands of words crowded my mind, but not a single one made it to my lips. Pondering for a moment, I asked, "When... when will I be able to talk to Jingjing on the phone? I have so many things I want to tell her."

"That... I'm afraid is not possible. If her old man finds out, all of Jingjing's hard work will go down the drain. She gave me strict instructions: no matter how agonizing these three years are, she will never break her vow. She wants to prove herself to her father and leave him with no reason to oppose the two of you ever again. You... just need to be a bit more understanding toward her!"

With a heavy heart, I said, "Is that so? I... will. Tell her that I'll keep waiting for her, and three years from now, I eagerly await the day we reunite."

"Mhm, is that all? Then... I'm hanging up!"

Only then did I remember my original purpose, and I hastily blustered, "Wait! There's one more thing I need your agreement on."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Well, our company has just developed a new tea beverage, and I want to invite you to be our product spokesperson. Would that be alright?"

"Oh! Talking business with me now, are you? Great! Then go talk to my manager; I don't have time!"