The host asked, "So, Mr. He, what are the attractive features of this product?"
He Siyu replied calmly, "Let’s have our project manager introduce it to everyone."
With that, Zhang Liang stood up nervously, took a deep breath, and stepped onto the stage. He opened the PowerPoint and began the official product presentation.
He Siyu stepped down and was soon surrounded by a crowd. Attending such public events inevitably involved these kinds of business interactions.
Meanwhile, Zhang Liang completed the demonstration flawlessly, and the product launch concluded successfully.
The event seamlessly transitioned into the evening banquet.
"Cheers!"
Everyone at the table raised their glasses and clinked them together.
Ye Qian was exhilarated. "Here’s to our product’s successful launch and massive profits!"
"Absolutely!" Sang Ning downed a glass of beer in one go.
The project team members were all fired up with enthusiasm.
Ye Qian teased Zhang Liang playfully, "You did great! I was worried you’d freeze up today, but you nailed it."
Zhang Liang scratched his head. "I was so nervous. I practiced for days—thankfully, I didn’t mess up."
"You were amazing, boss! Another toast to you!" one team member raised his glass again.
Sang Ning joined in. "Yes, absolutely amazing!"
Zhang Liang flushed with embarrassment. "I should be the one toasting all of you."
The dinner table buzzed with lively chatter.
Suddenly, someone asked, "Hey, Sang Ning, do you have a boyfriend?"
Sang Ning froze for a moment.
Ye Qian rolled her eyes. "Don’t even think about it. What’s it to you?"
"Hey, I was just asking. It’s tough being in this monk’s den," the guy joked.
The whole table burst into laughter.
Apart from Ye Qian and Sang Ning, the entire project team was male.
"Either way, you’ve got no chance," Ye Qian said bluntly. "Don’t even try to climb above your station with our major shareholder."
"Alright, alright, I surrender!"
They were all long-time colleagues who could take a joke, so the topic was quickly brushed aside with more laughter.
He Siyu had been seated at a table with other industry leaders. After wrapping up the formalities, he excused himself and left.
As he walked through the banquet hall, he spotted the project team’s table.
Their atmosphere was completely different—like a casual team celebration, full of noise and cheer. His gaze immediately landed on Sang Ning, her cheeks flushed, smiling as she listened to others and raising her glass in response to their teasing.
His brow furrowed.
He turned to Assistant Yan. "Go get Sang Ning for me."
"Yes, sir."
Assistant Yan promptly approached the table.
The group greeted him warmly. "Hey, Assistant Yan! Come join us for a drink!"
Assistant Yan smiled. "Maybe later. I have something to take care of first."
He looked at Sang Ning. "Miss Sang, there’s a contract matter that needs verification. Could you come with me for a moment?"
Sang Ning set down her glass and nodded. "Of course."
She stood up, and Zhang Liang immediately followed suit. "Should we come too?"
Ye Qian yanked him back down. "Mind your own business!"
Zhang Liang blinked in confusion. "Isn’t it related to us?"
After all, they had all signed the contract together.
"If it were, they’d call you," Ye Qian hissed in warning.
"Oh…"
Sang Ning followed Assistant Yan out of the banquet hall. They pushed open the glass doors and stepped onto the balcony, where He Siyu was already waiting.
His suit jacket was unbuttoned, his tie loosened, and the top two buttons of his shirt undone. His dark eyes were stormy, making the meticulously composed He Siyu from the stage seem like an illusion.
"Mr. He, Miss Sang is here."
Assistant Yan delivered her and immediately retreated without a second’s delay.
Sang Ning met his intense gaze, her alcohol-slowed mind taking a moment to register. She greeted him politely. "Mr. He."
He frowned at her flushed face. "How much have you had to drink?"
"Not much," she replied slowly. "Everyone was drinking."
"And you just drank because they told you to?"
Sang Ning answered earnestly, "I didn’t want to ruin the mood."
He scoffed. "How considerate of you. Funny how you’ve never been this accommodating with me."
Her brow furrowed. When had she ever been inconsiderate toward him?
He was clearly picking a fight.
But she always believed in avoiding unnecessary conflict.
She nodded politely. "Noted. I’ll be more considerate in the future."
He Siyu: "…"
He gritted his teeth. "Are you mocking me?"
She looked at him with clear, innocent eyes. "No."
"…"
He took a deep breath, forcing down his frustration. "That table is full of men, and you just drank recklessly? Even if you’ve known them for a while, you shouldn’t drink so casually. What if someone had ill intentions?"
It took her two seconds to process before she replied, "I’m not drunk."
"You call this not drunk? Look at yourself in a mirror!"
Her delayed reactions only aggravated him further as he waited for her response.
She defended herself seriously. "I just flush easily."
Then, after a pause, she looked at him. "Besides, you’re here too."
His gaze froze, his heart skipping a beat.
Her cheeks were rosy, her eyes glazed yet shimmering as she lifted her head to look at him—as if he was all she saw.
His eyes trailed from her gaze down to her lips. He remembered how soft and sweet they tasted.
His throat tightened, and before he could stop himself, he leaned in. He wanted to kiss her.
It had been too long.
Just then, neon lights outside flickered on, flooding the dim balcony with brightness. Sang Ning winced and lowered her head, rubbing her eyes.
The lips that had been so close suddenly retreated. He stiffened, his grip tightening on the railing, a fleeting look of disappointment flashing in his dark eyes.
When Sang Ning adjusted to the light and looked up again, she saw He Siyu’s unnatural expression. "What’s wrong?" she asked, confused.
He straightened immediately, masking the turmoil in his eyes with forced composure. "Nothing."
Sang Ning studied him hesitantly. "Oh."
As if sensing her doubt, he said stiffly, "What else could it be? Sang Ning, we’ve already broken up. Do you think I can’t even distinguish basic facts?"
She stared at him blankly.
His hand clenched at his side, realizing how much his words sounded like overcompensation.
After another slow two seconds, she finally murmured, "Then what should I do?"
When he met her clear, earnest gaze, his heart clenched.
She looked at him seriously, her bright eyes shimmering like gemstones.
"I think… I still really like you."
