The hotel door was pushed open by a waiter.
Su Qianqian walked in first, with Ling Wei and Fang Qing flanking her on either side.
The waiter, holding a small camera, took the opportunity to stand by without leaving.
The lively chatter and clinking of glasses in the private room came to an abrupt halt.
Li Jinfu, holding a wine glass, froze momentarily when he saw the trio enter—especially Su Qianqian at the forefront.
His smile stiffened for a split second, a flicker of displeasure flashing in his eyes: Why did she bring two assistants? Annoying!
But the next moment, he had no room for further thoughts.
His murky eyes were glued to Su Qianqian.
And it wasn’t just him—the deputy director, Wang Hai, and several other men in the room were staring shamelessly, their gazes brimming with undisguised lust and greed.
A soft, sharp inhale came from someone.
"My god, she’s stunning!" another voice gasped in awe.
"Producer Li, is this the new talent from Shen Corporation?" Wang Hai’s voice was hoarse, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets.
Their lecherous stares crawled over the girl like slime:
Her face, flawlessly pure yet enchantingly delicate, was almost unreal in its beauty.
Her waist, so slender it seemed it could snap with a touch, contrasted with the full curves of her chest and the tempting swell of her hips.
And those legs—what a sinful delight it would be to have them wrapped around a man’s waist.
Li Jinfu’s throat bobbed violently, his mind consumed by a single depraved thought: If only I could get her into bed…
Tsk. Just imagining it makes my bones melt!
His smile widened, oozing with exaggerated warmth as he hastily stood up.
"Ah! Miss Su! We’ve been waiting for you! Please, come in, come in!"
His voice dripped with false hospitality, his eyes practically peeling off her dress.
"And these two are…?"
Su Qianqian suppressed the nausea churning in her stomach, forcing a timid, obedient smile onto her face.
"Producer Li, these are my assistants, Ling Wei and Fang Qing."
Her demeanor was polite, tinged with the nervousness of a newcomer.
Yet, when her clear almond eyes swiftly scanned the room, she noted not just Li Jinfu and Wang Hai, but several other unfamiliar men whose lecherous gazes marked them as anything but decent.
A chill shot up Su Qianqian’s spine.
Damn Lin Shu! Damn Qiao Xi!
Not only had they set her up, but they’d also made sure to invite a whole pack of wolves to the feast?
If it weren’t for her secret weapon—007, and Gu Chengyu’s backing—she wouldn’t dare imagine how a real rookie would survive this den of predators.
She was this close to losing it.
"Ah, assistants! Of course, of course!"
"A beauty like Miss Su definitely needs protection," Li Jinfu chuckled, throwing a meaningful glance at the others.
They immediately caught the hint, rising with plastered-on smiles as they swarmed Ling Wei and Fang Qing.
"Ladies, you must be exhausted! Come, take a seat—no need to stand!"
"Exactly! Have a drink with us!"
"Miss Su is in good hands with Producer Li, don’t worry!"
They herded Ling Wei and Fang Qing toward empty chairs, their words dripping with fake hospitality while their bodies subtly blocked the assistants from reaching Su Qianqian.
"Apologies, but we’re on duty. We don’t drink," Ling Wei said coldly, her body tense as a coiled predator.
If not for the risk of disrupting Su Qianqian’s plans, she would’ve already thrown hands.
Fang Qing pressed her lips together, her anxious eyes darting toward Su Qianqian.
Meanwhile, Li Jinfu personally pulled out the chair beside him, gesturing grandly.
"Miss Su, no need to be shy! Sit, sit!"
"Let’s chat over drinks—get to know each other better!"
He emphasized know with a repulsive undertone.
Su Qianqian maintained her façade of innocent obedience as she sat, though every fiber of her being screamed to leave.
Damn Gu Chengyu. If he doesn’t show up soon, I’m going to puke.
If any of these creeps laid a finger on her, he’d better deal with the fallout.
Her eyes flicked to the 007 tracker on her phone—Gu Chengyu’s dot was already at the building’s entrance.
Her phone had been buzzing nonstop, but she refused to answer.
Hmph.
She’d endure two more minutes.
She wanted him to see this.
"Come, Miss Su! A toast to our first meeting—may our collaboration be fruitful!"
Li Jinfu downed his wine in one gulp, then fixed her with a predatory stare.
Wang Hai chimed in from across the table, shouting over Ling Wei’s protests: "That’s right! Producer Li finished his drink—you should show some sincerity, Miss Su!"
"Plenty of actresses are eyeing this role. You wouldn’t want to miss your chance."
Ling Wei and Fang Qing were being harassed by two other men, unable to intervene without escalating the situation. "Miss Su doesn’t drink," Ling Wei snapped.
Su Qianqian stared at the glass of liquor in front of her, then at Li Jinfu’s greasy, lust-filled face, her fingers turning icy.
She lowered her head slightly, feigning shy hesitation. "Producer Li, I really don’t drink…"
"Oh, don’t be modest! Just a sip—for goodwill!"
Li Jinfu’s grin widened, his body edging closer.
His stubby, sweaty fingers slithered under the table, inching toward the outside of Su Qianqian’s thigh.
