Devil or Angel (GL) - Chapter 18

The welcome dinner was lavish, but Zhiyu hardly got to eat any of the dishes. Instead, she was constantly complimented and offered drinks, until she felt a bit dizzy.

Back when she ran her own company in Hong Kong, she had encountered similar social dinners, but she always knew her limits. Tonight, however, their enthusiasm was almost overwhelming, and she had clearly had too much to drink.

Seeing Zhiyu’s face turning redder, the male employees became even more delighted. She was becoming more beautiful with every glance—a perfect woman in their eyes.

Unable to contain their curiosity, one of them asked eagerly, “Manager Shen, can I ask you a personal question? Do you have a boyfriend?”

All eyes were fixed on her expectantly. Zhiyu, holding her dizzy head, smiled faintly and replied slowly, “What do you think?”

“We all think a talented and beautiful woman like you must have a boyfriend. Even if not, surely many suitors line up for you,” they said.

“Secret!”

“Manager Shen, you’re so sly,” one of the men complained. Not getting a clear answer, they pressed persistently.

Zhiyu, however, continued giving ambiguous responses. With Zhang Guodong nearby intercepting them, the men had no choice but to give up.

“Manager Shen, looks like we won’t get the answer tonight. How about this—you finish the rest of your drink, and we’ll let you off,” they said, eyeing her drink again as the boss left for the restroom.

“Alright!” Zhiyu agreed generously, downing the remaining wine in one go. If she was going to get stuck in this situation, she might as well embrace it.

Once Zhiyu finished, the men stopped bothering her, realizing that learning the personal life of their goddess of a general manager wasn’t going to be easy. Patience was required—they had all the time in the world.

By the time the welcome ceremony ended, it was nearly ten at night. The sky was pitch black. After seeing off the staff at the hotel entrance, only Zhang Guodong and Zhiyu remained.

Seeing Zhiyu a little tipsy and unsteady, Zhang Guodong carefully took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders. He didn’t dare hold her—although they were technically in a relationship, he didn’t want to create unnecessary misunderstandings.

So Zhiyu closed her eyes and leaned against the hotel wall, waiting for the driver with Zhang Guodong beside her, keeping a respectful distance. At that moment, a phone rang, breaking the silence.

“I’m coming right now, wait for me!” Zhang Guodong said into the phone.

Then he quickly turned to Zhiyu. “Zhiyu, I’m really sorry, but I can’t take you home. I have some things to handle. Wait for Liu Shifu; I’ll see you into the car and then leave.”

“Okay! You go handle your stuff,” Zhiyu mumbled lazily.

Soon Liu Shifu’s car arrived. Together, they helped Zhiyu into the back seat. After making sure she was settled, Zhang Guodong left in a taxi in the opposite direction.

Back at the villa, Liu Shifu called Liu Ma, and together they helped the drunken Zhiyu into the living room. After the driver left, Liu Ma brought her a warm towel.

“Zhiyu, why did you drink so much? And where’s the master? Why didn’t he come back with you?”

“Heh, he… had something to handle and left first.”

“Seriously? Leaving a drunk woman to come home by herself… this master really doesn’t know how to care for anyone, even after all these years.”

“Liu Ma, I’m fine. Just resting for a bit. You go to sleep; I’ll go to my room myself.” Zhiyu staggered to her feet and started upstairs.

Seeing her wobbling, Liu Ma reached out. “Look at you. Let me take you up.”

“No, no, I can manage! Really!”

In the end, Liu Ma couldn’t argue with her and only felt relieved after seeing her safely upstairs. Zhiyu swayed into her room, closed and locked the door, and tossed Zhang Guodong’s jacket onto the sofa. Feeling warm, she even removed her dress.

Feeling cooler, she squinted and walked to the bed to fetch her pajamas for a shower—but froze when she noticed someone standing there.

Startled, she then recognized the person and let out a breath, asking coldly, “Miss Zhang, what are you doing in my room?”

Yiyang had been looking through old photos in her room, remembering a bracelet her mother had worn, which should have been on the nightstand. While searching, she unexpectedly walked in and saw a striking scene: Zhiyu, in front of her, was taking off her clothes down to her lingerie.

Yiyang couldn’t help swallowing. Zhiyu’s figure was flawless—curves and slim parts perfectly balanced. She stood there, frozen, as Zhiyu walked past without noticing her.

Zhiyu, seeing the lack of response, became a little annoyed. Emboldened by the alcohol, she pinched the girl’s face: “Little brat, what are you doing here so late? Just like you have privacy, so do I.”

Yiyang’s nose was hit with the scent of wine and perfume, along with pain. She immediately pushed Zhiyu’s hand away. “I’m in my mother’s room. Mind your own business!”

She tried to leave, but Zhiyu grabbed her, and before scolding her, the two of them lost balance and fell onto the bed together.

Yiyang wanted to scold the old woman, but she realized she was now lying on top of her. Zhiyu, partially sobered, met her gaze. They felt each other’s presence.

Bodies intertwined, the air seemed to freeze. Yiyang’s heart raced at the flushed face beneath her, and she didn’t move away—what was happening to her?

Zhiyu, underneath, didn’t push her off either. Her heartbeat quickened, her face heated—was it because she had been seen like this?

They stared at each other, frozen, forgetting to react. Seconds passed. Yiyang’s face instinctively leaned closer to the one beneath her.

Zhiyu widened her eyes as Yiyang’s face came closer, her breathing growing rapid. Her heart was pounding—what was she about to do?

Even Yiyang didn’t know. In that moment, she forgot the person’s identity and felt compelled to do something uncharacteristic.

As their noses nearly touched and lips drew closer, the smell of alcohol enveloped Yiyang. Strangely, she didn’t feel disgusted; instead, she felt an urge to get closer.

Just as they were about to touch, Zhiyu nervously closed her eyes and gripped the bedsheet, unsure of what would happen next. Her heartbeat echoed loudly in the quiet room.

At that moment, Yiyang snapped back to reality. She looked at the beautiful face so close to hers—yet this person was her adversary.

“Old woman, don’t just take off your clothes casually. Even if you’re older, if a thief or pervert came, it could be dangerous. Your reputation aside, it would affect the Zhang family. Understand?” Her lips moved from the near kiss to whisper by Zhiyu’s ear.

Zhiyu’s heart pounded fiercely, betraying her fear, though rationally she knew the woman wouldn’t do anything improper.

Reflecting on her life, Zhiyu had never had a meaningful romance. Focused on studies in youth, then busy with the company, her only two boyfriends couldn’t endure the relationship. She had grown used to being alone. Those past experiences had never stirred her heart.

But now, facing this little brat, her heart raced irregularly—perhaps from fear. Zhiyu tried to understand her reaction, but the whisper by her ear was like a bucket of cold water: a demon was still a demon, never an angel.

Opening her eyes, she used all her strength to push the person off: “Please leave!”

“I was going to anyway! Ugh, disgusting!” Yiyang stood, picking up the bracelet she had dropped, heading for the door.

As she walked, she heard Zhiyu’s hurried footsteps behind her. Glancing back, she saw her dash toward the bathroom. Yiyang shook her head—this was none of her business. Yet, somehow, her feet moved toward her.