Chairman Husband, Too Boorish - 186

Chapter 186 : A hint of confession in Liang Xi Cheng's eyes

Seeing this, someone nearby immediately came up to greet Yan Liang. Distracted, Yan Liang was overjoyed. She turned around and greeted each of the strangers, a faint yet polite smile on her face from beginning to end.

Liang Xi Cheng watched, his deep gaze momentarily lost in thought.

The little woman he once protected under his wing had truly grown up. Compared to a year ago, when he first met her, she was occasionally a little reserved in social situations, but now, she was completely different.

Liang Xi Cheng felt gratified.

Although she no longer bore his label, in his heart, she would always be his woman. He saw her changes and was delighted.

After a series of pleasantries, everyone took their seats.

Zhuo Hui was the second son of the Zhuo family, a prominent and influential family in City C. Lati Architectural Design was a company personally set up for his second son by the Zhuo family patriarch. Zhuo Hui only requested the position of general manager because he was rather lazy and didn't enjoy managing such a large company; the title of president still belonged to his older brother.

However, this time, he personally intervened and won over Yan Liang, naturally at someone else's request.

Of course, Liang Xi Cheng and Zhuo Hui knew this, but the other people in City C qualified to cooperate with Lati were completely unaware.

The cold dishes were almost all served on the round table in the private room, and everyone began to take their seats. Yan Liang stood next to Zhuo Hui, her eyes lowered the entire time, her mind a jumble of emotions, unable to calm down.

She always felt a pair of burning eyes staring at her intently, but when she occasionally raised her head seemingly unintentionally, she couldn't find that gaze at all.

Liang Xi Cheng only glanced at her face when Zhuo Hui was introducing her; afterwards, he seemed not to look at her again.

Yan Liang frowned, subconsciously clenching her hands at her sides.

A nameless sense of loss lingered in her heart. She knew why; she never denied her feelings for this man, even after 13 months, even knowing that for those 13 months he had lived as another woman's husband, even after countless self-torturing thoughts of them doing things day and night, her heart breaking ...

So this is how love hurts. That saying is absolutely true.

So when she saw him again, shock, surprise, panic, unease—none of it compared to the fierce longing deep within her heart.

Yes, she missed him, so much, so very much ...

But, to Liang Xi Cheng, was she, Bai Yan Liang, truly just a title away—"Miss Bai"—and "President Liang"?

"Director Bai, please sit next to me."

Zhuo Hui pulled out a chair, acting very gentlemanly. From beginning to end, he seemed quite protective of Yan Liang, after all, she was someone he had brought up. His demeanor drew even more attention to the woman from the others.

In City C, who didn't know Zhuo Hui, the young master?

How rare! He brought a design director, seemingly parachuted in from nowhere, and now he was protecting her like this. These shrewd people probably assumed she was Zhuo Hui's mistress, and that he must have some feelings for her. So, from the very beginning of the meal, everyone "presumptuously" began to fawn over Yan Liang.

"... Director Bai? I just introduced myself. My surname is Li. You graduated from SGA and returned; you're truly a promising talent. I hope we'll have more opportunities to collaborate in the future. Here, this drink is for you."

A middle-aged man held out a wine glass to Yan Liang.

Yan Liang wasn't a heavy drinker, but in this situation, she couldn't refuse. She glanced instinctively at Zhuo Hui, who sat there with a slight smile, making no attempt to refuse. Yan Liang sighed inwardly. Oh well, since she was there for a business dinner, a few drinks were unavoidable.

She reached for the glass, laughed heartily, and said, "Mr. Li, you're too kind and modest. Cheers!"

She tilted her head back and downed the white liquid in one gulp. A sour, spicy taste rose in her throat. Yan Liang swallowed, put the glass down, and tried to regulate her breathing.

To her left sat Zhuo Hui, and to her right sat Liang Xi Cheng.

He was probably the most important person there, hence the central seat. Yan Liang had been placed next to Zhuo Hui, so it was a coincidence that Liang Xi Cheng was sitting beside her.

She didn't know if Zhuo Hui was doing it on purpose, but then she thought she was probably overthinking it.

She worked for Lati Company, which meant she was essentially Zhuo Hui's person. In this kind of situation, she naturally had to sit next to him.

"Great! Director Bai, impressive drinking capacity!"

The CEO across from her clapped and cheered, also taking a drink. This kind of man was a regular at these kinds of dinners, drinking like it was tea. One drink was never enough; usually, a toast started with three.

He finished his drink, refilled his glass, and handed it to Yan Liang, smiling broadly, saying, "Director Bai, you really have a great capacity for alcohol! Come on, let's have another drink! Let's wish each other a pleasant cooperation!"

Yan Liang's smile froze slightly. Another drink?

This drink had a high alcohol content. Her tolerance was extremely low, and in the past year or so, she had practically never touched a drop. Drinking like this, she wouldn't even need three drinks before she was completely out of it.

Wouldn't that be too embarrassing?

Yan Liang frowned, forcing a stiff smile, "... Mr. Li, actually, my alcohol tolerance is quite average."

As she spoke, she subconsciously glanced at Zhuo Hui, that despicable man, who clearly ignored her pleading gaze. Yan Liang was on the verge of tears. At the same time, she suddenly noticed another deep gaze. Almost instantly, she realized something and instinctively turned her face, meeting the gaze of the man beside her, leaning back in his chair, his posture languid, yet also watching her.

Liang Xi Cheng probably hadn't expected her to suddenly look at him.

Her heart skipped a beat, even her gaze flickered.

The orange light enveloped his head, and when his gaze shifted, Yan Liang's heart pounded heavily.

She truly thought she was seeing things … because it was that unreal feeling again. In the blink of an eye, he had already reverted to his cold and distant demeanor.

It was as if their past was just a dream, truly just a distant, unattainable dream. In the end, it seems the one who cruelly shattered her dream was herself, and therefore, the one still trapped in that dream is herself.

Yan Liang bit her lip, took a deep breath, lowered her eyes, and after a moment, raised them again, meeting Liang Xi Cheng's gaze. She smiled, the curve of her lips exceptionally smooth, and stepped forward, looking down at the elegant yet languid man. "Chairman Liang, having come all the way from City A to City C, I think everyone should toast you a few times. Besides, Chairman Liang is, in a way, my mentor in architectural design. So, Mr. Li, one drink is enough for me; let me toast Chairman Liang the rest."

With Liang Xi Cheng involved, how could Mr. Li dare to act recklessly again?

He must have really lost his mind just now; how could he possibly ignore Liang Xi Cheng? Just looking at a woman, and this is it …

President Li was secretly annoyed, but quickly plastered a smile on his face, saying cheerfully, “… Yes, yes, Director Bai, you’re so thoughtful, it’s my pleasure, it’s my pleasure … Director Bai, please go first, I … I’ve overstepped my bounds …”

Liang Xi Cheng remained expressionless, raising his eyes to look at Yan Liang, his gaze calm. He looked at the wine glass she offered, his thin lips slightly pursed, and he raised an eyebrow, “… Miss Bai, you’re too kind, but do you know the customs at this dinner table? Offering me a drink so casually, have you considered the consequences?”

“…”

Yan Liang’s hand holding the wine glass trembled slightly.

Zhuo Hui, who had remained calm throughout, twitched at this moment, suppressing the urge to laugh—what were these two doing?

Liang Xi Cheng … he’s really something else!

He'd missed her for so long, waited for her return, laid so many traps, just waiting for her to fall into them. Knowing she couldn't go back to City A, he spent a fortune to come to City C and start developing his business here. Now that she was actually standing right in front of him, he remained remarkably calm.

Yan Liang didn't know what Liang Xi Cheng meant. Was he reminding her of something, or ... was there some kind of custom at this dinner table?

She frowned, a hint of resentment lingering in her heart, but she couldn't show it in front of so many people. After a moment's hesitation, she finally spoke, "Chairman Liang, what do you mean?"

"... It doesn't really mean anything, it's just ... that in C City, if a table of people is eating and drinking, and there's only one woman who stands up to toast the first man—then it means that this woman has feelings for this man ..."

His deep voice paused deliberately at this point. Everyone at the table remained silent. They were all completely confused by what Liang Xi Cheng had just said. Did this "legend" exist in C City's dinner parties?

Why were they, who frequented these dinner parties every day, completely unaware of it?

The key point was, toasting—what did that mean, that woman had feelings for this man?

Zhuo Hui pursed his lips, almost unable to suppress a laugh!

Yan Liang's heart sank slightly. Her gaze, which had been so unwavering as she met Liang Xi Cheng's eyes, flickered. But she was already standing on the edge of a cliff; how could she back down? She wouldn't allow herself to retreat.

She tightened her grip on the blanket and pressed, "... What does that mean?"

Liang Xi Cheng smiled, his unparalleled handsome face, with that slight smile, almost blinded. He was still so outstanding; every gesture, besides his innate kingly aura, possessed a magic that could easily bewitch hearts …

Liang Xi Cheng … Liang Xi Cheng …

Don't smile at me …

"It means …"

Liang Xi Cheng spoke in a deep voice, deliberately drawing out the last two words. His long, well-defined fingers tapped lightly on the table. After a pause, he said, "This means this woman really likes this man; she's almost confessed her feelings."

"…"

"Miss Bai, it's been almost a year since we last saw each other, hasn't it? Miss Bai, now you feel … this way about me, right?"

Yan Liang, "…"

Zhuo Hui finally couldn't help but chuckle, but thankfully the sound wasn't loud enough for the embarrassed Yan Liang, who didn't know how to respond, to understand. Everyone at the table, however, looked confused. Some of the more astute among them probably realized something—

Was their assumption wrong?

Look at Zhuo Hui, who hadn't uttered a sound from beginning to end, while Liang Xi Cheng … had mentioned some unheard-of "rules" that had left Bai Yan Liang completely bewildered. Could it be that … Chairman Liang had taken a liking to Director Bai?

Chapter 185        |        TOC        |        Chapter 187