001, Ruining the Banquet

September in Rong City had yet to shed its summer heat; even at night, the air pressed down with a stifling, restless warmth.

At this moment, outside the private room of the Splendor Hall, a young girl stood with her head bowed, enduring a scolding.

She was about one meter sixty-five, dressed simply in a white shirt and jeans, her feet in a pair of plain white sneakers. Yet, even in the most modest attire, her natural beauty was impossible to conceal.

Her features were striking—delicate brows and eyes, a straight nose, full lips—a face that could take one’s breath away without the need for embellishment. But right now, those bright eyes were clouded with resistance and helplessness.

“Lin Mi, do you even want to keep this job? If not, just get lost!” The man’s angry rebuke was accompanied by a wagging finger that nearly jabbed her forehead.

As the department director’s spit flew with his words, Lin Mi swallowed her anger, her fingers clenched tightly at her side.

Seeing her silent compliance, Huang Wei only grew more enthusiastic. “Let me remind you, Lin Mi, if you mess this up tonight, don’t even think about becoming a permanent employee. You’ve only got half a month left in your probation! You need to realize that a big company like ours is never short on new hires. Bringing you to host such an important client is a mark of the company’s trust in you, understand? So when you get inside, be sweet. I hear a major figure is coming tonight, so you’d better perform well.”

With that, Huang Wei didn’t bother to see how she reacted; he simply pushed open the door and strode inside.

Lin Mi’s lips twisted in a wry, disdainful smile.

Such righteous-sounding words—how utterly revolting!

It was obvious: he saw her as an intern from a small county town, with no background or connections, and so he singled her out as his target.

She understood all too well, but had no choice but to endure. After all, he held her job and her future in his hands.

This was reality.

Lin Mi took a deep breath, forcing down her irritation. She would have loved nothing more than to fling her resignation letter in her loathsome boss’s face, but then she thought of her bank balance—barely two thousand left.

Alas.

She simply didn’t have the confidence to be reckless or willful.

For the sake of her future, she could only grit her teeth and bear it.

Steeling herself, Lin Mi pushed open the heavy wooden door.

Inside, the private room was already a scene of lively revelry—clinking glasses, laughter, and the din of conversation filling the space, all set against a backdrop of lavish décor.

Looking around, Lin Mi’s gaze immediately landed on Wu Qian, the department’s renowned socialite.

Tonight, Wu Qian wore a deep red dress that hugged her curves, her makeup flawless, her lips a sultry crimson. She elegantly navigated a group of middle-aged men in suits, her laughter sweet, every gesture brimming with allure.

Her practiced ease was a stark contrast to Lin Mi’s own awkwardness and plain clothes at the door.

“Oh my, our department’s beauty is here! Come, sit down—President Li and the others have been waiting ages for you!” Wu Qian, ever sharp-eyed, spotted Lin Mi the moment she entered. She flashed a warm smile and, before Lin Mi could react, took her by the arm and led her to an empty seat beside the main table.

That seat was right next to a middle-aged man with a round belly and murky gaze—none other than the “important client” the director had mentioned: President Li.

Almost instinctively, Lin Mi tried to pull her arm free, but Wu Qian’s grip was firm.

“Lin Mi, what are you standing there for? Sit down and pour President Li a drink!” Director Huang’s face darkened, his tone impatient and openly threatening.

Wu Qian, still smiling, pressed Lin Mi into the chair beside President Li. “Hurry up, everyone’s waiting for you. Don’t be shy—President Li is so kind, especially to newcomers like you.”

After seating her, Wu Qian turned to President Li, teasing, “Isn’t that right, President Li?”

“Yes, yes, I’m very easygoing. I can’t stand seeing young ladies like you having a hard time.”

President Li’s round face was split by a wide smile, which, paired with his oily features, came off as lecherous despite his attempt at friendliness.

“Lin Mi, pour President Li a drink and toast him,” Wu Qian said, all too familiar as she thrust a wine bottle into Lin Mi’s hand.

Lin Mi gripped the bottle tightly, anger simmering in her chest.

They said women shouldn’t make things harder for each other, but Wu Qian was truly over the line.

The last project Lin Mi had worked so hard on had ended up credited to Wu Qian because the client was signed over drinks—Lin Mi hadn’t even complained. After all, Wu Qian was a senior employee, already secure in the company’s hierarchy and favored by Director Huang. Lin Mi, as a newcomer, had no ground to compete.

She had already yielded so many times, wanting only to do her job and make a living, yet here she was, dragged into this smoky, chaotic scene, targeted for no reason.

What had she ever done to offend Wu Qian?

But now wasn’t the time to fall out with her. She was just a recent graduate, and Huanyu was the best company she’d had any hope of joining.

She’d endure for now, find an excuse to leave as soon as possible.

Suppressing all emotion, Lin Mi managed a stiff smile, mechanically picked up the wine divider, and poured small glasses of red wine for President Li and herself.

“President Li, a toast to you. Thank you for supporting our work.”

“Oh, you’re too polite, Lin!” President Li’s eyes narrowed to slits as he openly appraised her lovely face and graceful figure.

He raised his glass to clink with hers, and in that moment, his greasy fingers “accidentally” brushed the back of her hand.

The slick, repulsive touch made Lin Mi flinch as though shocked. She paused, forced down her disgust, and threw back her wine in one gulp.

Disgusting old creep.

Emboldened by his initial success, President Li grew bolder still. With Huang Wei and Wu Qian’s tacit encouragement, he urged Lin Mi to drink glass after glass, his remarks growing increasingly suggestive.

“Your skin is so lovely, Lin—how do you maintain it?”

“With such beauty, your boyfriend must be quite something, right?”

Lin Mi replied with awkward smiles, her thoughts a chaotic jumble. Just as she raised her glass, intending to down it and escape as soon as possible, a warm hand suddenly slid under the table, brazenly reaching for her thigh.

Her fingers clenched around her phone, her expression darkening.

In that instant, all her forbearance and retreat evaporated.

To hell with it.

She was done playing along.

If all they wanted was a pretty face to fill a seat and pour drinks, she could tolerate that for a while. But that didn’t mean she was there to be pawed and toyed with.

There were some lines she would never allow to be crossed.