You Don't Like Him at All, Do You?

"These past few days, we've caused you a lot of trouble. I booked a table at Qingjing Garden," Zhang Yang said, unusually polite. "We'll still be working together in the future, so I'd like to treat everyone to a meal and get to know each other better."

Li Yu chimed in as well, telling everyone not to leave.

"Zhang Yang signed on for the remaining episodes. Do me a favor and have a meal together so everyone can get acquainted. No excuses, all right? It's just a meal."

Since the director had put it that way, the others naturally had to give him face.

Gu Shiyan and Chu Tian did not make any special arrangements either. They went along with everyone, wanting to see what Zhang Yang was plotting this time.

Only after they arrived at Qingjing Garden did Zhang Yang admit that he had prepared two tables today.

One was for the staff of Soul Shocker, while the other was for several producers and investors.

In Zhang Yang's words, he had only just returned to the country and wanted to reenter the entertainment industry, so he had to reconnect with and maintain his old contacts.

The others expressed their understanding. No one noticed the blank expression on Chu Tian's face in the corner.

Putting together everything that had happened recently, Chu Tian finally realized what was wrong.

At the last dinner, Qian Feihe had been sent away. Li Yu, who had originally been planning something against Gu Shiyan, should have still been there, which was why Chu Tian had been so anxious when he discovered that Li Yu and Gu Shiyan had disappeared at the same time.

He had been tied up by Wen Lan's situation and had not had the time to deal with it. Then Gu Shiyan had appeared on his own afterward, causing Chu Tian to forget about the matter entirely.

Yet after all those twists and turns, although there had been some deviations in the course of events, the plot's predetermined nature had not changed.

"Don't drink today," Chu Tian said, tugging on Gu Shiyan's sleeve. "Even if you can't refuse, drink as little as possible. Don't let your glass leave your sight, and definitely don't go anywhere with the director. Got it?"

Gu Shiyan did not ask why and nodded as instructed.

Chu Tian let out a breath of relief at that, but he could not truly put his mind at ease. He could only secretly decide to keep a closer eye on Gu Shiyan and stay on guard.

Just as Chu Tian expected, Li Yu immediately began trying to get everyone drunk at the dinner table. He kept offering toasts about their bright futures and wishing everyone success, and before long, Song Qiang and the others were thoroughly drunk.

With something weighing on his mind, Chu Tian only took tiny sips whenever he drank, merely going through the motions. He was still fairly clear-headed.

Li Yu and Zhang Yang kept pressing drinks on Gu Shiyan. After several glasses in a row, Gu Shiyan's face turned slightly pale.

Chu Tian was so worried that he could barely sit still. He tried several times to cut in, but never found the chance.

Song Qiang, who was drunk beside him, clung to Chu Tian's shoulder and insisted on becoming sworn brothers with him.

Chu Tian had to soothe the drunkard while also keeping watch to make sure Gu Shiyan was not set up. Before long, he was sweating all over from the effort.

Then, in the brief moment he looked away, Gu Shiyan and Zhang Yang had both vanished from the private room.

Alarmed, Chu Tian shot to his feet. Song Qiang, who had been hanging onto him at an angle, was caught off guard and grabbed at empty air, smacking his head against the back of a chair with a loud bang.

Unfortunately, Chu Tian had no time to worry about him. He rushed out of the private room to search for Gu Shiyan.

As he passed the emergency stairwell, he seemed to hear Zhang Yang's voice.

Chu Tian stopped in his tracks and made out the conversation beyond the door.

"Brother Shiyan, I really do like you. I had my reasons back then," Zhang Yang said, sounding as though he were sobbing. "I came back this time because I want us to get back together. Can you forgive me?"

Silence fell outside the door.

"You and Chu Tian aren't right for each other. A spoiled young master who throws his weight around because of his family background isn't your type," Zhang Yang said excitedly. "He must know about your current situation and be using something to threaten you into being with him. You don't like him at all, do you?!"

"Zhang Yang," Gu Shiyan finally spoke, his voice full of warning. "You've had too much to drink."

"I haven't had too much to drink!" Zhang Yang said madly. "Brother Shiyan, tell me the truth. Are you with him because you're forced by the Chu family's power? If so, I can help you. As long as you want to leave him, I'll definitely help you!"

Zhang Yang waited expectantly for Gu Shiyan to give an affirmative answer, while Chu Tian, separated from them by only a door, also strained his ears and held his breath.

Second by second, time passed, but Gu Shiyan gave no answer.

Chu Tian's heart sank, and he silently backed away.

Gu Shiyan's voice had sounded clear. He did not seem drunk at all. Chu Tian had worried too much.

Chu Tian pressed his lips together and mocked himself. It seemed he had always overlooked an important fact. Only after hearing Zhang Yang's words had he suddenly realized it.

His relationship with Gu Shiyan seemed to have been something "he" had forced from the very beginning.

Whether it was the original owner using a variety show slot to force Gu Shiyan into being with him, or Gu Shiyan producing a dating agreement due to the circumstances after the surveillance footage was exposed, it seemed none of it had ever had much to do with willingness.

Putting himself in Gu Shiyan's shoes, if he had gone through all that, he probably would have hated the person who had plotted against him to the bone.

Chu Tian returned to the private room in a daze. Song Qiang was slumped in his chair, clutching the large bump on his head with a bewildered look on his face.

On the other side, Wen Lan and Tian Qianqian had gotten carried away with drinking and were rolling up their sleeves to play rock-paper-scissors.

Chu Tian silently returned to his seat, picked up a glass, and drained it in one gulp.

The high-proof liquor was sharp and burning. After one glass, tears welled in Chu Tian's eyes.

"L-little brother," Song Qiang slurred, grabbing at Chu Tian. "Look at your big brother. D-does my head have a hole in it? Is it... is it letting in wind...?"

Without a word, Chu Tian filled his glass again and drained it in one gulp. His bold way of drinking caught Song Qiang's attention.

"Good!" Song Qiang grabbed the bottle and poured himself a glass too. He was so drunk that he saw double and had to reach for the glass twice before picking it up, yet he still insisted on clinking glasses with Chu Tian. "Come on, cheers!"

Chu Tian lightly clinked his glass against Song Qiang's and tipped back another drink.

After three consecutive glasses of liquor, Chu Tian's face had turned red all the way down to the base of his neck, and his eyes were glazed.

By the time Gu Shiyan finally got rid of Zhang Yang and returned to the private room, he saw that Chu Tian had no idea how much he had drunk and was slumped sideways in his chair with vacant eyes.

Song Qiang had an arm locked around his neck beside him, muttering something incomprehensible. He was clearly not sober either.

Gu Shiyan frowned tightly and strode over. He pried Song Qiang's iron-hard arm away and rescued Chu Tian.

Whether from drinking too much or nearly being choked, Chu Tian's cheeks were flushed and his eyes dull. No matter what Gu Shiyan said to him, he gave no response.

"Why did you drink so much?"

Gu Shiyan sighed helplessly and gently helped Chu Tian up, letting him lean against his shoulder. Then he called Little Cai, who was waiting in the car, and told him to come upstairs and help.

While they waited for Little Cai, Zhang Yang returned to the private room as well. His gaze flickered when he saw Chu Tian drunk in Gu Shiyan's arms, and he struggled to suppress the jealousy in his heart.

"Director Li asked you to go to the private room next door," Zhang Yang relayed casually, pretending nothing was wrong. "He said he wants to introduce you to a few producers. It'll help with your future career."

Gu Shiyan looked at him quietly without saying anything.

Zhang Yang's scalp went numb under his gaze, his heart nearly leaping into his throat. He thought his plan had been discovered.

The next moment, he heard Gu Shiyan respond softly.

"Okay."