bookbashuk Chapter 268 You'd better let me go!
Chapter 268 You'd better let me go!
Shen Li looked at the empty and then full bottles on the table, and then at the several pot-bellied, flushed leaders across from him. He suddenly thought of his second brother—he wondered how much he drank at business dinners and whether his body could handle it.
She secretly made up her mind: she must reach the top of the industry in the future, so top that she would no longer need to deal with these tedious drinking parties and social engagements.
"I'm going to the restroom, you guys drink first." Shen Li couldn't stand the strong smell of cigarettes and alcohol in the private room any longer, so she stood up and suggested.
"Do you want me to go with you?" Ming Xiangyang asked immediately, his eyes filled with concern.
"No need, I haven't been drinking, I'm fine." Shen Li shook her head and refused.
"Then take it easy," Ming Xiangyang advised.
Shen Li pushed open the door and stepped out of the private room, feeling as if she had instantly breathed in fresh air—most hotel private rooms in this era did not have private bathrooms, so she could only walk to the public restroom at the end of the corridor.
The smoke and noise in the private room made her feel uncomfortable, so coming out for some fresh air would help her calm her chaotic thoughts.
She was already planning the next few trivial matters: the first thing to do after taking over the factory was to hire a cashier, and the accountant could be the same as the one from the original factory for the time being—nowadays many factories have not yet separated accounting and cashier, and Rongsheng Machinery Factory should have an accountant available.
However, school was about to start, but the handover of the factory would take at least a month, so she had to ask the school for leave.
Having no one to rely on and having to do everything myself is too much to handle.
In addition, she would need to recruit electronics students to do research at the factory. If Fang Yi was willing to stay and serve as the factory manager, she would also need to find a deputy factory manager who was good at management...
After much thought, she suddenly thought of Yan Xiangcheng—he studied public administration and might be able to recommend a suitable candidate.
When I get back tonight, I can give him a call and ask.
The door to the private room was gently pushed open, bringing with it a touch of coolness from the corridor.
A male waiter in a black uniform bowed as he entered, his gaze quickly sweeping over the mess of cups and plates on the table. He said softly, "A lady at your table said she had to leave due to unforeseen circumstances and asked me to tell everyone to enjoy themselves."
The noise at the dinner table suddenly stopped for a moment, and everyone looked puzzled.
Some people secretly scoffed: Women in business just don't know the rules. The boss hadn't even left yet, but she just left like that.
Sitting next to the head of the table, Feng Quan twirled the rim of his wine glass and said with a half-smile, "It seems that Boss Shen is still not used to business socializing! He's in such a hurry to go home after only a short while."
Ming Xiangyang, sitting diagonally across from him, frowned slightly and glanced at him discreetly: "Not everyone enjoys these kinds of drinking occasions. Boss Feng, there's no need to force it."
While Ming Xiangyang verbally defended Shen Li, he was also inwardly puzzled—Shen Li was always thorough in his dealings; even if there was an emergency, he should have given prior notice.
He recalled the pungent smell of cigarettes and alcohol in the private room, and felt slightly relieved: perhaps she simply couldn't stand the smell and left early.
The drinking session lasted for two hours, until night fell, before everyone finally dispersed, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
As they stepped out of the hotel, a gust of cold wind made many shiver, and they all bowed and said goodbye.
"Boss Feng, let's go! We had a great time drinking today, let's get together again another day!" A slightly tipsy boss patted Feng Quan on the shoulder and said.
With a drunken smile on his face, Feng Quan waved his hand and said, "You guys go back first. I'm too dizzy. I'll just get a hotel room to rest tonight and leave tomorrow."
Ming Xiangyang, who was standing next to him, had also drunk quite a bit, but he had to go to the restroom to vomit once in the middle of the meal, and his mind was still relatively clear at the moment.
The two attendants behind him quickly stepped forward: "Young Master, the carriage is ready, shall we go back?"
"Mm," Ming Xiangyang replied.
It wasn't far from Ming Xiangyang's place; he arrived home in about ten minutes.
Pushing open the door, an old-fashioned telephone on the wall of the main hall suddenly came into view.
Ming Xiangyang paused, hesitated for a few seconds, and then reached out and picked up the receiver.
"Beep— Beep— Beep—"
The phone rang three times before a deep, steady male voice came from the other end: "Hello, this is Licheng Villa."
"I'm Shen Li's classmate. Has she returned yet?" Ming Xiangyang tried his best to make his voice sound calm.
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, followed by a questioning voice: "No, the master went out for a social engagement and hasn't returned yet..."
The person who answered the phone was Butler Chen, who knew exactly where everyone in the family was going.
"She hasn't come back yet?" Ming Xiangyang's heart sank, and a cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.
He practically slammed the phone down while still gripping the receiver, then turned and walked out, his voice barely audible with urgency: "Come with me! To the hotel we just went to!"
The two attendants looked at each other, puzzled as to why his expression had suddenly changed, but they still immediately followed in his footsteps.
Meanwhile, in the front yard of Licheng Villa.
Lu Zhou paced back and forth anxiously. Shen Li had said before leaving that he would come back as soon as the social engagement was over, but it was already past nine o'clock and there was still no news. He couldn't sleep at all, so he came to the front yard to wait for news and happened to run into Butler Chen hanging up the phone.
"Uncle Chen, whose phone is that?" Lu Zhou walked over quickly and asked.
Butler Chen was still pondering the strange phone call from earlier. He shook his head and said, "They said it was the young mistress's classmate, asking if she had returned. I had just said no when they hung up."
Lu Zhou frowned, lost in thought: Classmate, you also know that Sister Li has a social engagement tonight... I don't need to think to know it's Ming Xiangyang.
But they clearly ate together. If Sister Li left normally, why would Ming Xiangyang call to ask?
There's definitely something wrong here!
Lu Zhou suddenly realized—if Shen Li had left the party with them, Ming Xiangyang would never have made this call so suddenly.
His expression changed, and he turned and ran towards the garage: "Butler Chen, if anyone asks, just say I went to pick up Sister Li!"
"Okay!" Butler Chen replied quickly.
Meanwhile, in the hotel suite where the social engagement had just taken place.
Shen Li lay on the soft bed, feeling as if her head was filled with lead, and her temples throbbed.
She raised her hand and pounded her forehead hard, trying to dispel the dizziness, but her limbs were too weak to lift.
"woke up?"
A greasy, middle-aged male voice rang in my ears, filled with undisguised greed.
Shen Li turned her head with difficulty and, by the warm yellow light from the bedside lamp, saw the person sitting on the sofa—Feng Quan.
He was no longer drunk at all; his eyes were frighteningly clear as he stared at her with a half-smile, as if sizing up prey.
"What do you want to do?" Shen Li gritted her teeth, trying to keep her voice from trembling. "Kidnapping is illegal. You'd better let me go!"
Feng Quan chuckled, got up and walked to the bedside, looking down at her: "What we're doing is called flirting, not kidnapping."