Moral Blackmail Me? I Have No Morals!

Song Shi'an tugged at the corner of his mouth and smiled. "It's my duty."

There was another knock on the door. This time, Tang Ruan entered carrying a pot of tea.

When she saw Song Shi'an, she explained, "Assistant Song, I saw that you had guests, so I specially made some tea."

Jiang Churan followed the sound with her gaze. When she saw Tang Ruan's face, her eyes narrowed slightly as she scrutinized her with undisguised hostility.

Tang Ruan carried the tea toward Jiang Churan.

Song Shi'an quietly took a few steps back.

The female lead was famously clumsy and unsteady on her feet.

He was afraid Tang Ruan would spill the water all over him.

Fortunately, Tang Ruan set the tea down on the table quite steadily this time.

After pouring them both tea, Tang Ruan politely asked, "Is there anything else you'd like to eat? I can go get it for you."

"No need. You can leave first." Jiang Churan waved her off.

Tang Ruan turned and left.

Once Tang Ruan had gone, the smile on Jiang Churan's face faded considerably. Her eyes darkened as she looked at Song Shi'an and asked, "I heard before that Mingyu's assistants and secretaries were all men. Who was that?"

"She's a newly hired secretary's assistant, Tang Ruan," Song Shi'an explained.

Jiang Churan's fingertips tightened slightly, and her smile was extremely forced. "How many women are there in your Executive Office?"

"Only Tang Ruan," Song Shi'an answered.

At first, Lu Mingyu had not been against hiring female secretaries and assistants.

But after spending long periods working together, coupled with the fact that Lu Mingyu was still single,

many of them had started getting improper ideas.

Some had even tried to climb into his bed during business trips.

They had frightened Lu Mingyu so badly that he had turned the Executive Office into a monks' temple.

It was nothing but men.

Tang Ruan was the only exception, forced in by Old Madam Lu, and she had remained there ever since.

After hearing this, Jiang Churan lowered her gaze slightly. A vicious glint flashed through her eyes as she asked, "Are Mingyu and her close?"

"Not particularly close," Song Shi'an replied.

Jiang Churan assumed Song Shi'an was covering for Tang Ruan, and the chill in her eyes deepened.

Heavens knew he had not lied at all.

Ever since Tang Ruan arrived, Lu Mingyu had suffered so many mishaps that he avoided her like the plague.

If not for Old Madam Lu, he would have fired Tang Ruan long ago.

The office door was pushed open yet again. Fortunately, Lu Mingyu was finally the one who entered this time.

When Lu Mingyu saw Jiang Churan, he only asked, "What brings you here?"

The chill on Jiang Churan's face vanished instantly, replaced by a gentle expression. "Didn't we say we'd get together tonight? I happened to have nothing to do, so I came to find Tingting."

Lu Mingyu carried some documents to his desk and nodded. "Mm. Go with Tingting first. I'll come over once I'm done here."

Jiang Churan asked, "Should I wait for you here?"

Lu Mingyu said, "No need. I'll need a little more time. Have Tingting take you there first."

Jiang Churan still wanted to say something, but Lu Tingting had already grabbed her. "Sister Churan, you've been abroad for so many years and haven't been back in ages. I'll take you out for a look around."

"My brother's a workaholic. Once he's done with work, he'll come over himself. We don't need to worry ourselves over it."

Jiang Churan knew that being too eager would not be good either.

So she nodded and left with Lu Tingting.

After the two left, Lu Mingyu looked at Song Shi'an. "I'm getting together with them tonight. I probably won't be returning to the apartment tonight."

Song Shi'an: "??"

Why was Lu Mingyu suddenly explaining this to him?

It sounded like a husband reporting in advance to his wife that he would not be coming home.

Lu Mingyu seemed to realize that his explanation sounded somewhat ambiguous. He covered his lips and coughed lightly.

Song Shi'an tactfully gave him an out. "All right, I understand, President Lu."

After saying that, he turned and left the office.

At quitting time, Tang Ruan suddenly came over. "Assistant Song, thank you for taking care of me during this time. May I treat you to dinner tonight?"

What was this supposed to mean now?!

Why was the female lead inviting him to dinner?!

Song Shi'an did not want to get involved in the matters between the male and female leads, so he tactfully declined. "It wasn't anything worth mentioning. I have some things to do tonight, so it wouldn't be convenient."

The moment she heard his refusal, Tang Ruan's tears fell with a swish.

Good grief, there was not even any buildup this time. She just started crying outright.

Her voice was thick with sobs. "Assistant Song, do you... not like me either... Do you think I'm stupid and can't do anything right...?"

Song Shi'an: "..."

"I don't."

"If you don't, then why won't you go with me?" Tang Ruan looked at him with reddened eyes.

Fine, fine, fine. Was she morally blackmailing him?

Fortunately, he had no morals.

"Miss Tang, I'm very busy. I don't have time to accompany someone I barely know to dinner," Song Shi'an said bluntly.

He catered to Lu Mingyu's every request because Lu Mingyu paid his salary.

Who the hell was Tang Ruan?

"Just as I thought. No one likes me. Ever since I was born, my parents said I was a money-losing burden. Even now that I'm grown up, no one likes me."

As she spoke, Tang Ruan staggered back several steps. "If no one likes me, I might as well just die!"

Song Shi'an, who had already walked several steps away, came to an abrupt stop.

He had only refused a meal. How had it become a matter of life and death?!

If the female lead died, then he would be a criminal!

"Miss Tang, it's only a meal..." Song Shi'an tried to dispel her absurd idea.

"Assistant Song, my life is already so bleak. If you can't even agree to such a small request... I... I'd rather die!" Tang Ruan cried.

Fine. He had been successfully morally blackmailed.

He had no choice. The female lead's future was closely tied to his own future promotions and raises.

Besides, she was the female lead. She definitely could not be a bad person.

"Then let's go together." Song Shi'an relented.

Tang Ruan turned her tears into a smile and wiped the corners of her eyes. "Thank you, Assistant Song."

The two got off work together. Song Shi'an drove Tang Ruan toward a nearby restaurant for dinner, but Tang Ruan had already picked a place.

"That place is close to where I work part-time at night. After we eat, I can go straight to work," Tang Ruan explained.

What else could Song Shi'an do? He could only compromise.

When they arrived, he discovered that it was Sea City's famous red-light district.

"You work here?" Song Shi'an asked curiously.

Tang Ruan lowered her eyes and nodded. "Yes, I sell alcohol. Only this way can I earn more money to save my mother."

Tang Ruan looked at Song Shi'an, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. "Assistant Song, do you look down on me? Do you think that working in a place like this makes me unclean?"

How could he possibly dare?

Tang Ruan had nearly died in front of him just because he refused dinner.

If he said he looked down on her now, would she not hang herself right in front of him?

"No." Song Shi'an shook his head.

The two got out of the car, and Tang Ruan led him through a maze of turns into a bar.

It was not evening yet, so there were not many people in the bar.

Song Shi'an found it strange. "Why did we come here? Weren't we going to eat?"

Tang Ruan smiled as she explained, "I work here, and the kitchen staff know me. Their fried potatoes are delicious. I'll take you to try them, Assistant Song."

As he followed Tang Ruan farther inside, Song Shi'an felt inexplicably uneasy. He had the feeling that there was something strange about Tang Ruan today.