Plied with liquor

The lobby of the Shangri-La was dazzlingly opulent. Crystal chandeliers hung from a ceiling three stories high, their light almost blinding.

Thick carpeting covered the floor, soft beneath her feet.

Zhang Xiu'e asked at the front desk and found the private dining room Wang Dahai had booked.

The room was well soundproofed; not a sound escaped from inside. She hesitated outside the door for a few seconds, then pushed it open and went in.

The room was spacious, with a large round table that could seat more than a dozen people. A lazy Susan stood in the middle, already laden with several cold dishes.

Three people sat near the window.

Wang Dahai sat on the left in a floral shirt, his belly straining against the buttons.

Li Yan sat beside him. She had changed into an even shorter skirt, leaving both legs fully exposed.

On the other side sat a man in his fifties with a long, thin face and slicked-back, glossy hair. He wore a polo shirt with the collar turned up.

This was Sun Deming, the HR director of Dacheng Electronics.

Zhang Xiu'e had heard of him.

Everyone in the recruitment business knew the old bastard was a hopeless lecher who couldn't budge once he spotted a pretty woman.

The moment she entered, Sun Deming's eyes lit up.

His gaze slid from Zhang Xiu'e's face to her chest, then down to her waist and finally her legs.

Sun Deming licked his lips, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

Zhang Xiu'e felt a wave of nausea.

"Oh, Xiu'e's here!"

Wang Dahai stood up, his smile creasing his entire face.

"Come, come, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Sun Deming, the HR director of Dacheng Electronics."

Sun Deming stood and held out his hand.

"Miss Zhang, I've heard so much about you."

Zhang Xiu'e reached out and shook his hand. His palm was hot and clammy, and he wouldn't let go. His thumb even stroked the back of her hand.

Zhang Xiu'e had to tug hard to pull free.

Wang Dahai hurried to smooth things over.

"Mr. Sun, this is our company's star sales representative, Zhang Xiu'e. She may be young, but her abilities are first-rate."

"I can see that. I certainly can." Sun Deming smiled, his gaze still roaming over her.

Li Yan stood up, took Zhang Xiu'e by the arm, and steered her toward Sun Deming.

"Xiu'e, sit beside Mr. Sun. It'll be easier to discuss business."

Zhang Xiu'e wanted to refuse, but Li Yan's grip was strong, and Wang Dahai chimed in.

"Yes, yes, sit beside Mr. Sun and have a good chat."

Sun Deming had already pulled out the chair beside him and was smiling at her.

Zhang Xiu'e had no choice but to sit down.

Wang Dahai returned to his seat, picked up the liquor bottle, and poured a glass for Sun Deming, then another for Zhang Xiu'e before suggesting:

"Come on, Xiu'e. Start by offering Mr. Sun a toast."

Zhang Xiu'e waved her hand. "Manager Wang, I can't hold my liquor. I really can't drink."

"Oh, it's your first meeting. You have to have at least one glass," Wang Dahai urged.

Li Yan joined in from beside him. "Exactly. Mr. Sun doesn't come here often. Show him some respect."

Holding his glass, Sun Deming looked at Zhang Xiu'e with a broad smile.

"Miss Zhang, I'm a straightforward man. You can judge someone's character by how they drink. Have a glass, and we'll consider our partnership off to a good start."

Zhang Xiu'e hesitated.

She raised the glass and took a sip.

"Oh, that won't do," Wang Dahai said. "Mr. Sun finished his, and you only took a sip? Come on, drink it all."

Zhang Xiu'e glanced at Sun Deming. He had indeed emptied his glass and was watching her with a heated gaze.

She tipped her head back and gulped down the liquor.

The baijiu burned like a trail of fire from her throat straight down to her stomach, making her whole body shudder.

"Excellent!" Wang Dahai applauded. "You can really drink, Xiu'e!"

Sun Deming clapped too, his eyes shining even brighter.

Li Yan quickly refilled Zhang Xiu'e's glass.

After that, they urged her to drink round after round.

Wang Dahai offered a toast. "Xiu'e, this one's for you. Thanks for all your hard work."

Zhang Xiu'e drank.

Li Yan offered a toast. "Xiu'e, let's have one together, just us girls."

Zhang Xiu'e drank again.

Sun Deming offered a toast. "Miss Zhang, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Zhang Xiu'e drank yet again.

She drank slowly, but their toasts came fast. Every time she put down her glass, someone else offered another toast.

The three worked in perfect harmony, playing good cop and bad cop. Wang Dahai coaxed her, Li Yan goaded her, and Sun Deming smilingly played along.

Zhang Xiu'e tried to refuse, but they always found a reason.

"Xiu'e, if you don't drink this one, you're disrespecting me."

"Xiu'e, Mr. Sun's been holding up his glass for ages. How can you keep him waiting?"

"Miss Zhang, drink this one and we'll sign the contract."

One glass after another.

Zhang Xiu'e's face burned fiercely, and her head began to spin. She braced herself against the table, seeing double as she looked at the glasses in front of her.

Her unease kept growing!

Zhang Xiu'e thought of Chen Yuan. She decided to excuse herself to the restroom and secretly send him a message.

She stood, swayed, and quickly grabbed the edge of the table.

"I need to use the restroom."

Wang Dahai's eyelid twitched, and he glanced at Li Yan.

Li Yan immediately stood up. "I'll go with you."

Zhang Xiu'e waved her off. "No need. I can go by myself."

"Oh, you've had too much. It's not safe to go alone." Li Yan came over and hooked her arm through hers. "I'll help you."

Zhang Xiu'e wanted to shake her off, but she had no strength left in her arms.

"I really don't need help. I can manage."

"Don't be so polite. Come on, let's go." Li Yan supported her as she steered her outside.

Zhang Xiu'e looked at Wang Dahai. "Manager Wang, Li Yan doesn't need to come with me. I can..."

"Let Li Yan go with you," Wang Dahai said with a smile. "You've had quite a bit. I'd worry if you went alone."

Li Yan had already pulled her to the door.

Zhang Xiu'e glanced back.

Sun Deming held his glass and watched her with a smile, his gaze clinging to her like a fly.

Wang Dahai was smiling too, but the sight of that smile made her sick.

Li Yan pulled Zhang Xiu'e out of the room.

Li Yan gently closed the door.

The private room fell silent for a few seconds.

Wang Dahai and Sun Deming exchanged a look.

Sun Deming set down his glass, leaned back in his chair, and licked his lips.

"Wang, this Zhang Xiu'e is quite something!"

Wang Dahai chuckled. "As long as you're pleased, Mr. Sun."

"Pleased? Very pleased!" Sun Deming rubbed his hands together. "Now, about our partnership..."

"No problem at all." Wang Dahai refilled his glass. "Just give me the opportunity, Mr. Sun, and I'll handle all of Dacheng Electronics' recruitment."

Sun Deming raised his glass and clinked it against Wang Dahai's.

"Wang, you know how to do things right!"

Wang Dahai smiled so broadly that the flesh on his face bunched together.

"Mr. Sun, let me tell you, Zhang Xiu'e usually acts so high and mighty. Plenty of men at the company pursue her, but she ignores them all."

Sun Deming smiled. "High and mighty is good. Those women have more flavor."

"Exactly!"

Wang Dahai leaned closer.

"Mr. Sun, I've already booked a room upstairs. Once she's drunk enough, I'll have Li Yan help her up there."

Sun Deming's eyes lit up. "You've got everything arranged?"

"Everything."

Wang Dahai lowered his voice.

"Don't worry. I've got experience with this. When she wakes up, she won't remember a thing. Even if she does, a little money will shut her up. Women like her are afraid of the shame. They won't dare make a fuss."

Sun Deming patted his shoulder. "Wang, you're a man I can count on."

"Of course!" Wang Dahai raised his glass. "Come, Mr. Sun. Let me offer you another toast."

They clinked glasses and drained them.

Wang Dahai set down his glass, feeling immensely pleased with himself.

Zhang Xiu'e, oh, Zhang Xiu'e. That'll teach you to act so high and mighty, to put on airs with me. Once Mr. Sun's had a taste, I'll have mine too. Let's see how defiant you are then.

He had done this more than once.

Give them a little money, throw in a couple of threats, and every one of those women falls into line. How many dare call the police? How many dare tell anyone?

They couldn't bear the shame!

Wang Dahai chuckled and refilled Sun Deming's glass.

Out in the hallway, Li Yan helped Zhang Xiu'e toward the restroom.

Zhang Xiu'e's head swam, and her steps were unsteady. She took out her phone to message Chen Yuan, but her hands shook badly, and she couldn't make out the words on the screen.

"Xiu'e, are you all right?" Li Yan's voice sounded beside her ear.

"I'm fine... I just want to send a message."

"What message?" Li Yan reached over and took her phone. "Don't fiddle with your phone when you're drunk. Send it when we get back."

Zhang Xiu'e reached for her phone. "Give it to me. Just one message."

"No, no. Your hands are shaking so badly you might drop it."

Li Yan slipped the phone into her own bag.

"Come on. Let's get you to the restroom first. Wash your face and you'll feel better."

Zhang Xiu'e let herself be pulled along, her steps growing more unsteady.

The thoughts in her head grew hazier too.

She knew she was in danger.