Chapter 45: (Revised, Added) Then Why Are You Like This……

Chapter 45 (Revised, New Content Added) "Then why are you looking like..."

"Cheers!" "Bottoms up!!"

The bar’s private room buzzed with noise as everyone raised their glasses in celebration.

"To Cheng Zi’s bright future!!" Qin Yiming’s face was flushed, clearly already drunk, swaying as he threw an arm over his brother’s shoulder. "Honestly, out of all the people I’ve met, all the brothers and sisters, you’re the one I admire most, Cheng Zi. The perfect man. If I were a bottom, I’d totally go for you. Come on, chug it!"

Amid catcalls and jeers, Lin Cheng feigned disgust. "Stop grossing me out. I wouldn’t go for someone like you." He tried to stop him but failed, letting Qin Yiming down half a glass of beer on his own.

"You can’t drink anymore," Lin Cheng said helplessly, smiling. "I’m just resigning, not leaving Jinhai. Just going on a short trip—I’ll be back in a few days. Why are you acting like I’m never coming back?"

"Don’t mind me!" Qin Yiming grinned broadly. "Ever heard ‘a son travels far, a mom frets’? I’m just worried about you, showing you love."

"Cut the ‘mom worries’ BS," Lin Cheng laughed and scolded. "Dad wasn’t enough, now you’re mom too? You’re really wasted."

"Cheng Zi, Qin Yiming warns you—" Qin Yiming was practically draped over Lin Cheng, his drunken eyes barely open.

"Warn me about what?" Lin Cheng really wanted to record this and show Qin Yiming later when he was sober, just to let him see how ridiculous he was acting.

Wobbling, Qin Yiming jabbed a finger at Lin Cheng’s chest. "Your brother... he’s got issues... hear me? He’s definitely..."

"Lin Cheng-ge! Let me take care of Brother Ming for you." Liu Chang wedged in, his small frame easily slipping under Qin Yiming’s other arm, taking some of the weight off Lin Cheng.

Liu Chang’s face was slightly flushed, his amber eyes darting. "He’s drunk. I’ll take him to sober up. You can take a break too." His gaze drifted toward the booth.

Ding Shu sat alone in the corner of the booth, nodding faintly to the beat but clearly not as engaged as the others, like a stray electron.

"Thanks, Yang Yang," Lin Cheng said, handing over the now-babbling Qin Yiming to Liu Chang.

"Lin Cheng-ge, no ‘thanks’—sounds like I’m punching in." Liu Chang struggled a bit, given the height difference and the fact that drunk people always felt heavier. He gritted his teeth. "Just Yang Yang... my friends call me that."

"Got it," Lin Cheng grinned. "Yang Yang."

Liu Chang’s face turned even redder. "Lin Cheng-ge!"

"Yang Yang, I got it, Yang Yang," Lin Cheng repeated twice, as if apologizing. "Go ahead, I’m afraid Qin Yiming might puke here soon."

"Mm." Liu Chang nodded understandingly.

Lin Cheng casually grabbed a handful of snacks from the basket and slid down next to Ding Shu. "Why aren’t you going up to sing?"

Ding Shu caught the chocolate Lin Cheng tossed him, glanced at the wrapper, and clenched it in his hand. "Tone-deaf. I’ll spare everyone."

"Being tone-deaf doesn’t matter. I’m not exactly a great singer either, but I still own the stage." Lin Cheng’s cocky grin was both aggressive and oddly endearing—no wonder people couldn’t help but be drawn to him.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Don’t believe me?" Lin Cheng noticed Ding Shu’s gaze and met his eyes. "How about we pick a duet and sing together?"

"No, it’s fine." Ding Shu rubbed the tip of his nose and looked away. "I’m having fun just like this."

"Fair enough." Lin Cheng chuckled. "Just getting you out here was already a miracle. I wasn’t even expecting it. You do you~"

"That’s not true," Ding Shu said. "Wouldn’t miss your send-off."

"Damn, I rate?" Lin Cheng teased.

"Of course. You’re my friend," Ding Shu said.

Lin Cheng paused, then laughed. "My bad—selling myself short." He lightly bumped Ding Shu’s curled-up hand with his fist.

"I’m really happy you’re resigning," Ding Shu said, clinking his glass against Lin Cheng’s. "What did the company say? When’s the official resignation notice coming?"

"Not sure yet. Just waiting for Qiao Yuhe’s signature. He’ll sign it once he’s back from the set." Lin Cheng took a sip with Ding Shu.

Ding Shu’s eyes widened. "Qiao Yuhe hasn’t signed yet?"

"Relax, he will." Lin Cheng smirked and scoffed. "He’s ghosted me for two weeks, phone disconnected, dodging me like a bullet. He’s probably thrilled I handed in my resignation myself."

"No way?" Ding Shu was shocked. "Why?"

"Who knows? Ask his ass." Lin Cheng gave a wry laugh. "But it doesn’t matter anymore. If he’s willing to wipe out my 100 mil debt, who needs reasons? I should be celebrating."

"Yeah..." Ding Shu had never fully grasped Qiao Yuhe’s personality, so he wasn’t entirely surprised by the situation. "It’s good you’re leaving early. Don’t get stuck like me, sinking deeper and deeper until you can’t get out..."

"Ding Shu." Lin Cheng couldn’t help but ask, "So what exactly happened back then? How did you end up..."

"You mean the thing that almost landed me in jail?" Ding Shu smiled ruefully. "It was actually a huge scandal. Involved over a dozen lives."

Lin Cheng stayed silent, waiting for Ding Shu to continue.

"Ever heard of the Mulberry Leaf Group suicide pact five years ago? The chairman and employees of Mulberry Leaf Co. all jumped from the company rooftop. News got scrubbed instantly—you won’t find a trace of it online now."

Lin Cheng vaguely remembered hearing about it, but he’d thought it was just an urban legend or horror story. Turns out it was real.

"It was a shell company. A few years prior, its directors had made headlines for charity work, boasting about employee benefits. Inside the company, it became a full-blown cult mentality. But in reality, it was a textbook Ponzi scheme. None of that came out until after the bodies were found."

"At first, the police suspected a simple mass suicide, but they leaned more toward money-related murder. They traced the shell company back to a subsidiary connected to the Qiao Group."

"That line was radioactive. Qiao Yunshen tried to use the incident to negotiate with Director Qiao. Madness. And Qiao Yuhe? Same brand of crazy."

"And then you became the scapegoat?" Lin Cheng frowned.

"Not quite a scapegoat." Ding Shu shook his head. "The subsidiary’s top exec jumped to his death the next day. His wife and kids vanished overnight. With the trail dead, someone alive had to take the fall. The company was thoroughly investigated. I was just an intern—I’d signed a report."

"An intern, and they pinned it on you?" Lin Cheng’s frown deepened. "Besides that exec, there was no one else?"

Ding Shu shook his head again. "I was just one of many, all small fish like me. Director Qiao was also using me to punish Qiao Yunshen. And Qiao Yunshen made his choice..."

The answer was obvious—Qiao Yunshen saved himself, striking a deal with Qiao Yuhe to rescue Ding Shu, but not without irreversible damage.

"That stretch was hell. My mom died in an accident during that time—still wonder if it was really ‘accidental.’" Ding Shu smiled bitterly.

Seeing the desolation in Ding Shu’s eyes, Lin Cheng couldn’t help but worry. He patted his shoulder. "Past is past."

"Yeah. That’s why I don’t want you going down the same path." Ding Shu smiled. "At least you’ve broken free."

"Here’s to moving on." Lin Cheng raised his glass.

"Mm." Ding Shu tapped his glass to it.

"Lin Cheng!" Cui Wenjian squeezed through the rowdy crowd and sat down beside Lin Cheng.

Today, Dr. Cui had swapped scrubs for a sweater—a simple cashmere sweater with dark jeans, looking much younger than his usual white-coated self. His hair was styled carefully, giving off serious college heartthrob vibes.

Cui Wenjian smiled and extended a hand to Ding Shu. "Cui Wenjian. The doc overseeing Lin Cheng’s dad, and also Enson’s college classmate."

Ding Shu’s eyes lit up at the mention of Qiao Yunshen. He shook Cui Wenjian’s hand. "Dr. Cui—heard a lot. Lin Cheng talks you up. I’m Ding Shu."

"Secretary Ding, hello." Cui Wenjian glanced at Lin Cheng, who was drinking. "Lin Cheng’s talked about you too. What’s the huddle about? Crashing the convo?"

Lin Cheng set down his glass, his neck and chest flushed a noticeable red. From the side, the lines of his neck appeared slender yet muscular, like an elegantly crafted dagger sharp enough to slice jade. "Nah~ just some unimportant things," he said, throwing an arm around the shoulders of the two men beside him. "Come on, sitting around is boring. Let’s join them for a game!"

Liu Chang and Xiao Meng were playing King’s Game with a group of youngsters, while Qin Yiming, who had already thrown up, was sprawled on the sofa, passed out.

As new players joined, the row of glasses in front of them was quickly refilled.

"Didn’t expect this game to still be popular years after graduation," Cui Wenjian remarked.

"Simple and easy to understand," Lin Cheng chuckled, flipping his card—not the King.

"Ah Shu, if you can’t handle it, I’ll drink for you," Lin Cheng whispered to the side.

"Secretary Lin, have you ever had a drink with me before?" Ding Shu smiled.

"Oh?~" Lin Cheng raised an eyebrow. "Secretary Ding, looks can be deceiving, huh?"

"Not that impressive," Ding Shu waved it off. "But you should drink less—your face and neck are already turning red."

"First pair, keep it simple. 8 and 10, drink an arm-in-arm toast," the 'King' announced.

The crowd erupted in cheers, though it had nothing to do with the two of them.

"We came here to drink and have fun, didn’t we?" Lin Cheng said casually.

Lin Cheng had no intention of leaving sober tonight. He needed to get completely wasted to survive this final night before packing up and moving out of the Ying Shan Lake villa tomorrow, cutting off this doomed relationship once and for all.

He should be grateful to Qiao Yuhe for showing mercy and letting him go before things got worse beyond fixing. So he ought to be happy, to celebrate, not mope alone in their shared bedroom, wallowing in misery.

"Number 2, take something off Number J using only your mouth!" the 'King' declared.

"Ah, that’s me," Ding Shu revealed the Jack of Hearts. Liu Chang held the 2.

"Come on, Brother Ding~" Liu Chang grinned excitedly, hopping up from his seat and trotting over. "This is easy—I’ll just take your glasses with my teeth, okay?"

"Sure," Ding Shu nodded.

"Yang Yang, you got lucky," someone teased.

"Can’t help it~ I’m just meant to get close to handsome guys~" Liu Chang swayed smugly.

The glasses retrieval was done in no time. Perhaps because it was the first round and everyone was still getting comfortable, the King’s demands were pretty mild.

Lin Cheng was picked to kiss a girl on the cheek, but she was fine with it. Still, he felt it was inappropriate—men and women should keep some distance—so he opted to take two penalty drinks instead. Not that he minded; he wanted to drink anyway.

As the rounds progressed, things got crazier. Even when not picked, Lin Cheng gladly drank several more glasses.

"Alright, this one! Number 3 kisses Number 9 on the neck, then says, 'Baby, you’re so hot!'" The King this round was Liu Chang, clearly a victim of corny romance clichés.

Lin Cheng raised his card, swallowing his drink. "I’m 9."

After scanning the room, his gaze landed on Cui Wenjian beside him. Cui Wenjian smiled and flipped his card—the 3 of Hearts.

"Wow!! I’ve got the best luck!" Liu Chang cheered, bouncing up. Others joined in the excitement—who wouldn’t enjoy watching two handsome men act out an intimate moment?

"Is this okay?" Cui Wenjian asked.

Just a kiss on the neck—it wasn’t a big deal.

"Go ahead," Lin Cheng swayed as he stood.

Cui Wenjian rose as well, standing a bit taller—around 6'1".

They stood close, the faint woody scent of Cui Wenjian’s cologne now unmistakable. Lin Cheng scrunched his nose a little.

"What’s wrong?" Cui Wenjian caught the subtle reaction.

"Huh? Nothing." Lin Cheng couldn’t admit he disliked the cologne—they didn't know each other well enough for that.

He was picky about scents, especially on people.

The only scent that had ever drawn him in was Qiao Yuhe’s, though Qiao Yuhe claimed he never wore cologne. So if Lin Cheng ever missed it too much, he could only rely on remembering.

The thought suddenly made him sad.

"Shall I begin?" Cui Wenjian asked tentatively.

"Yeah, go ahead." Lin Cheng lifted his chin slightly, exposing his flushed, slender neck.

"Hurry up, Dr. Cui!" someone teased. "Any longer and Brother Lin Cheng will be too drunk to stand!"

"Don’t talk nonsense. I’m not that drunk," Lin Cheng waggled a finger playfully. "Or I’ll come after you next."

The crowd burst into laughter.

Cui Wenjian hesitated, hands resting on Lin Cheng’s shoulders, unsure whether to bend or stoop.

The others noticed his awkwardness and cheered him on.

Lin Cheng turned his head slightly, looking at the man before him.

For some reason, the sight of Cui Wenjian’s hesitant nervousness—clearly born from affection—irritated him. His fists clenched involuntarily, his expression almost changing.

Dr. Cui was handsome, accomplished, polite, and came from a good family.

Even if he wasn’t Lin Cheng’s usual type—an aloof, delicate pretty-boy—under normal circumstances, Lin Cheng would’ve been up for some fun. It was just a game, after all. Weren’t adults supposed to enjoy some playful teasing?

So why was he reacting like this?

Why was he suddenly so turned off?

As Cui Wenjian leaned in, his breath warming the sensitive skin of Lin Cheng’s neck, Lin Cheng tensed, jaw tightening, a jumble of resistance flooding every inch of him.

It’s just a kiss. No problem, Lin Cheng told himself.

But as the strange warmth neared, it felt like a blade pressing against his throat. The discomfort was unbearable.

It’s just a game. He’s just kissing you. Lin Cheng, what’s wrong with you?

Would you react this way if it were Ding Shu? Why is Cui Wenjian different?

Cui Wenjian just likes you. He’s always kept his distance, never demanding anything in return. So what are you afraid of?

Is this resistance because of someone else? Are you fooling yourself into believing you belong to that person, that no one else can touch where he’s touched you?

How pathetic.

Lin Cheng suddenly shoved Cui Wenjian away, his face darkening.

Everyone froze, looking at each other in confusion.

Cui Wenjian also looked at him in surprise.

"Sorry, my stomach’s acting up." Lin Cheng made a quick exit.

"I'll go check on him." Ding Shu followed after a brief delay.

Lin Cheng entered the restroom, turned on the faucet, and splashed water on his face. The sound of running water finally helped calm his pounding heart.

Staring at his flushed reflection in the mirror, Lin Cheng felt disoriented.

What had he just done? Had he lost his mind? Still thinking about Qiao Yuhe at this point? Had he no shred of dignity left?

Damn it. With a loud crack, Lin Cheng punched the sink.

Knock, knock—the restroom door was tapped twice.

"Lin Cheng, are you okay?" Ding Shu's voice came from outside. "Did you throw up? Do you need me to come in and help?"

"I'm fine, didn't throw up," Lin Cheng replied immediately. "Just give me a moment. I’ll pull myself together."

After two seconds of silence, Ding Shu outside said, "Alright, I'll wait for you out here."

Lin Cheng, get a grip. Lin Cheng looked at his reflection and shook his head.

When Lin Cheng and Ding Shu returned, the VIP room was still lively.

"Sorry, everyone, I killed the vibe earlier," Lin Cheng said with a smile, back to his usual self.

"Why apologize, Brother Lin Cheng~" Xiao Meng teased.

"Yeah, come join us again!"

Lin Cheng walked over and sat back down beside Cui Wenjian.

"Sorry about earlier," Lin Cheng paused. "For pushing you. Mostly worried I might puke on you."

"It's fine, no need to apologize," Cui Wenjian smiled. "We’ve all been there." But seeing Lin Cheng pick up his glass again, he asked with a chuckle, "Still drinking?"

"Threw it all up, so of course I need to drink more," Lin Cheng said.

"Alright." Cui Wenjian sighed helplessly and clinked glasses with Lin Cheng. "Let's drink till we're satisfied."

"Bottoms up!" Lin Cheng laughed.

The revelry continued. Lin Cheng reached that sweet spot of drunkenness—body loose but mind sharp—and it felt fantastic.

Then suddenly, the VIP room door was flung open with a bang, and a dark figure appeared in the doorway.

Everyone froze in shock, but the figure quickly stepped aside, making way for a man in a black overcoat to enter. His skin was deathly pale, his hair slicked back, and his height nearly scraped the doorframe.

It was Qiao Yuhe.

Lin Cheng's heart hammered in that instant. Was he drunk enough to hallucinate? He almost didn’t dare believe it—why was Qiao Yuhe here?

Those narrow, cold eyes curved slightly at him, devoid of warmth. "Quite the party."

The room went tomb-silent, the air freezing over. Even the music tactfully cut to an ad, as if sensing the tension. You could hear a pin drop.

Everyone Lin Cheng had invited from the company recognized Star CEO Qiao instantly. They were so stunned they didn’t know how to react. Even those who hadn’t met him in person knew what their celebrity boss looked like.

Except for Cui Wenjian, who was eyeing this uninvited threat with confusion.

Lin Cheng’s body moved before his mind could react. He strode steadily toward Qiao Yuhe and let his fist fly.

Qiao Yuhe raised a hand—not to block the hit, but to signal his bodyguard not to intervene.

The star’s head whipped sideways from the impact. After a pause, Qiao Yuhe turned back, smirk intact, though a trickle of blood slowly appeared on his pale skin.

Lin Cheng had been wearing a ring.

"What are you doing here?" Lin Cheng panted, his eyes bloodshot.

But Qiao Yuhe only saw an angry kitten that had just taken a swipe at him.

"You resigned and threw away the phone I gave you." Qiao Yuhe reached out, but Lin Cheng tilted his head away—clearly furious.

"Shouldn’t you be happy I resigned?" Lin Cheng wanted to laugh in frustration. "That phone had a GPS tracker. Was I supposed to keep it so you could monitor me?"

Lin Cheng had no idea why Qiao Yuhe had suddenly appeared, but all the heartache and anger he thought he’d moved past came surging back, leaving him shaking with fury, limbs numb. Combined with the alcohol, the tell-tale signs flared up.

Qiao Yuhe studied him, letting out a dark chuckle.

"Get out." Lin Cheng struggled to breathe, jabbing a shaky finger at the door.

"No." Qiao Yuhe smiled. "You don’t mean that."

"Stop being so full of yourself. Get lost!" Lin Cheng gritted his teeth, his vision tunneling. Already unsteady from drinking, he was hanging by a thread.

*"Don’t be angry~"* Qiao Yuhe stepped closer, trapping Lin Cheng’s outstretched hand, nearly pressing against him.

The man caged him in, the overhead light casting shadows. Those upturned, narrow eyes glinted like a snake’s, fixed on him with dangerous intensity.

"Telling me to leave—are you sure that’s what you really want?"

"Lin Cheng." Qiao Yuhe’s palm slid to the heated nape of his neck, cool fingers drawing lazy circles. "Then why this face, like you’re about to cry?"

"Qiao Yuhe, listen to the bullshit you’re spouting..." Lin Cheng refused to back down, but his world tilted uncontrollably, his limbs weakening. "You better never show up again, or I swear I’ll kill you—"

Finally, everything went black, and he collapsed.

"There we go." Qiao Yuhe caught the fainting Lin Cheng, stroking the mussed hair pressed against his chest. Gently tilting Lin Cheng’s chin, he studied that face—furrowed brows, trembling eyelids, flushed cheeks, even the exposed skin at his collar reddened. Pathetic and charming.

"Secretary Lin isn’t feeling well. I’ll take him back first," Qiao Yuhe said lightly to the stunned crowd. "Keep enjoying yourselves. Liu Chang, tell the owner to charge it to me." With that, he scooped Lin Cheng up and walked out of the VIP room.