The Secretary - Chapter 10

“While he says he is apologizing, he doesn’t really feel sorry,” Wei Wan thought, watching the manager usher them into the new room. It was located in a corner of the hallway and was noticeably smaller than their previous suite.  The decor wasn’t as refined either.

 The manager, looking apologetic, followed them in. “This room belongs to our boss personally. As a token of apology, we’ve added a bottle of premium liquor and discounted your meal by 20%.”

Wei Wan suppressed her anger, thinking, *A personal room is this lackluster? What kind of excuse is that!* She dismissed him and went to make tea for Xie Ting.

Xie Ting sat with his legs crossed, one hand resting on the armrest of the sofa, gazing out the window. Turning back, he said, “There’s no need to be upset.”

His words sent a jolt through Wei Wan, her hand trembling slightly, nearly spilling the hot water. Xie Ting reached out and gently tugged her sleeve, sending a strange tingling sensation up her arm. 

Wei Wan couldn’t meet his gaze, feeling a mixture of shame and helplessness. How could she be upset while he, her superior, was trying to comfort her?

“I…”

“It’s nothing,” Xie Ting interrupted softly, “Sit down, we have time.” He looked at the wall mural across from them, a Song Dynasty painting depicting flying cranes. “Perhaps you think I can’t handle this because of your position,” he said, his voice calm but penetrating, “But regardless of where you stand, don’t take yourself too seriously. Dignity is important, but there are times when it’s better to let go.”

Wei Wan understood. This was the harsh reality of power dynamics.  She couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Xie Ting. A man who commanded respect in their province, here he was treated with such blatant disrespect by someone completely out of his league. It wasn’t easy to remain unfazed. 

Xie Ting smiled faintly. “You wouldn’t be feeling sorry for me, would you?”

Wei Wan’s heart skipped a beat. Her face flushed, her normally articulate tongue felt thick and useless.  

After an hour-long wait, at half past eight, the guests finally arrived. They were five or six men, led by a man with a short flat head, a stern countenance, and thick eyebrows. He exuded an air of boisterous confidence as he shook Xie Ting’s hand. 

The warmth felt insincere; it was almost suffocating.

 “It’s fate that we bumped into each other at the door,” he boomed, his voice echoing through the room. “A few more people won’t make a difference.” 

This wasn’t fate. It was a deliberate act to humiliate Xie Ting. Wei Wan soon learned the man’s name was Pei Yuan, an old classmate who had thrived in the capital and was now using his influence to assert dominance.

The rest of the evening unfolded like a meticulously choreographed humiliation.  Pei Yuan constantly reminded everyone of their shared history, subtly highlighting how far he’d come compared to Xie Ting. He ordered several bottles of high-end liquor and pressured Xie Ting into drinking, even though it was clear he wasn’t comfortable.

“What’s a dinner party without some beautiful women?” Pei Yuan announced, gesturing for the hotel’s PR manager to bring in her assistants.

The room erupted in laughter, all eyes on Wei Wan. The PR manager gave her a knowing wink. “Such a sweet girl, taking good care of her leader.” 

Pei Yuan approached Wei Wan, holding a bottle of liquor. “Xiao Wan, you look lovely,” he said, pouring a generous amount into her glass. He was about to raise it when Xie Ting firmly grasped her wrist.

“Let me take care of this one,” Xie Ting said, his voice calm but firm, placing a hand on Pei Yuan’s shoulder. “I’ll have a few drinks with you guys tonight, but I can only handle so much before I need someone to carry me back.”  

The room fell silent as everyone realized the subtle message behind Xie Ting’s words. 

Wei Wan couldn’t decipher her own emotions. She felt a surge of anger, helplessness, and a strange protectiveness for this man who was being treated so unjustly.