Is it a little wrong of to get a female subordinate drunk? Yi Anguo wondered.
"How about we just forget it?" he suggested after a mont’s thought. "If you want more experience, I can have Assistant Chen assign you so dostic tasks. We’ll see how you do."
"I don’t need you to look after . I can do anything Assistant Chen can do," Zhou ngdie said stubbornly.
"Alright! You asked for this, but I did give you a chance," Yi Anguo said with a nod.
For a woman in the business world, drinking was often unavoidable. This was especially true in China, where many deals were closed over drinks. So, if a woman couldn’t hold her liquor, it was difficult for her to get by in the corporate world.
Yi Anguo had, more or less, always looked out for Zhou ngdie. Whenever he brought her to an event, if she insisted on not drinking, no one would ever pressure her or make things difficult. Because she always refused, he assud she was a lightweight who got drunk easily, which made him even more protective.
But today, she was the one who had thrown down the gauntlet, challenging him to a drinking contest. It was strange.
Strange as it was, Yi Anguo didn’t take her seriously, believing he could have her under the table in minutes. He was confident in his own tolerance. He could handle a pound of baijiu without getting too drunk—at least, he wouldn’t be blacking out and would still have a clear head. As for beer, that was harder to predict. It all depended on his mood. Sotis two bottles might knock him out, while other tis he could down twenty and still be fine.
Tonight, however, he felt he was in good form and could probably drink quite a bit.
Munching on fried peanuts, the two of them quickly polished off five 500ml cans of beer each.
Yi Anguo was still perfectly clear-headed; five beers weren’t nearly enough to get to him.
He glanced over at Zhou ngdie. Other than a flush on her cheeks, she seed perfectly normal.
"Can you still drink?" he asked.
"Boss! Do I look drunk to you?" she retorted. "Or could it be that you can’t drink anymore? Does that an I’ve already won?"
"You’ve got to be kidding. I’m not even feeling a buzz yet. You really think you can outdrink ?" Yi Anguo laughed.
"Then let’s just keep drinking. Enough talk!"
With five cans of beer in her, Zhou ngdie’s courage had swelled. Her tone no longer held the deference of an employee to her boss.
"Fine! Let’s keep going. We’ll see how many more you can handle!"
Yi Anguo didn’t mind, and they continued to drink.
"Boss! Why are you so handso and so rich?"
With a bit of alcohol in her system, Zhou ngdie beca much more talkative and bold than usual.
"Am I handso? I don’t really think of myself that way," Yi Anguo said, puzzled. He then countered, "So why are you so beautiful and cute?"
"Really? Do you actually think I’m beautiful and cute?" she asked.
"You are. That’s obvious. I’m sure everyone thinks so," Yi Anguo said with certainty.
"Then, Boss, do you like ?" Zhou ngdie asked boldly.
"Like you? Of course, I do. Why else would I make you my assistant?" Yi Anguo nodded.
"Boss, you made your assistant because you like ? And here I was, thinking it was because of my capabilities!" Zhou ngdie said, her voice laced with disappointnt. "So you’ve just been treating like a pretty vase. No wonder you started giving Assistant Chen important work as soon as she arrived. I’ve been by your side for years, and you’ve only ever given insignificant tasks."
"I just think you’re too innocent," Yi Anguo explained. "And who said I only see you as a vase? The things you do are important. At least you aren’t calculating. I trust you. I feel at ease letting you handle things for . If you were just a pretty face with no ability, why would I have kept you around? I don’t need a vase."
"Then why are you so willing to give Assistant Chen so much responsibility? She’s pretty, too. Do you like her as well?" Zhou ngdie pressed.
"There are different kinds of ’like’. I just feel she has excellent ability and talent in certain areas, so I’m giving her a chance to shine," Yi Anguo said.
"So, when all is said and done, it’s still because Assistant Chen is more capable, isn’t it? I’m not as good as her, so I can only stay by your side and play the part of a decorative vase," Zhou ngdie said dejectedly.
"If I really saw you as just a vase, do you think you’d still be here untouched? I would’ve plucked this flower of yours long ago," Yi Anguo joked.
"That’s because you don’t have the guts!" she retorted, emboldened.
"Why wouldn’t I? Do you believe I could pluck this flower right here, right now?" he threatened.
"I’m not scared of you. You have so many won around you. Aren’t you afraid they’ll gang up and teach you a lesson?" Zhou ngdie said without a hint of worry.
"Why would they gang up on ?" Yi Anguo asked, curious.
"They could all team up to ignore you. No matter who you turned to, nobody would give you the ti of day. What would you do then?" she said with a giggle.
"If they all ignored , I’d just ignore them back. I’d check into a hotel and we’d see who gets anxious first!" Yi Anguo said with a laugh.
"What if they get the kids to ignore you, too? What then?" she asked.
"Let them try," Yi Anguo said confidently. "The kids adore . They wouldn’t listen to them."
"And you still wouldn’t dare lay a finger on . If you did, I’d call the police. See if you’re scared then," Zhou ngdie continued fearlessly.
"Oh, really? If I wanted to make a move, do you think I’d give you a chance to call the police?" he replied with a smile.
"I don’t care. You just don’t dare touch . You wouldn’t do anything to ," she said, starting to act spoiled and completely unintimidated. "If you dare touch , I’ll tell Director Ding you bullied ."
Yi Anguo shook his head helplessly. "Alright, you win. We’re done drinking. I’ll get soone to take you ho."
He was getting worried. If they kept drinking, sothing was bound to happen. His love life was already a ss, and he had more than enough won in his life. He shouldn’t go around provoking others. Although his young assistant was beautiful, he couldn’t give her the kind of relationship or marriage she might want, so it was best not to lead her on and cause harm. He knew he wasn’t the most responsible man, but he still wanted to at least try to be.
Any later, and his young assistant’s family would probably start calling to look for her.
Just as the thought crossed his mind, Zhou ngdie’s phone rang.
She hesitated for a mont before picking up and answering the call from her mother.
"Mom! I’m all grown up; I’m not a child anymore. Can’t you give so space?
"Do I have to go straight ho after work every day? Am I not allowed to make friends? Can’t I go out for drinks with them?
"You’re always saying I’m so old but still not dating or finding a boyfriend. How am I supposed to find a boyfriend and date when you don’t even give any ti?
"What’s wrong with drinking? I’m an adult. Isn’t it normal to have a few drinks?
"Don’t you and Dad often have a drink when you’re together?
"I’m out drinking with friends. You don’t need to worry about . I don’t want to co ho tonight."
...
After her speech, Zhou ngdie hung up and promptly pulled the battery out of her phone.
Yi Anguo was left a bit speechless. Was she drunk, or wasn’t she?
"Sorry! Was I a bit rebellious just now?" she asked, looking embarrassed.
"Ever since I was little, I’ve been the good kid in my parents’ eyes, always listening to them. They raised very well.
"I’ve always been ’that other family’s kid’ that all the parents talk about, with grades that were always in the top three of the entire school.
"Even during sumr and winter breaks, my parents would schedule all sorts of cram schools and hobby classes for : piano, violin, painting, calligraphy. It was like they wanted to learn every talent imaginable.
"I finally made it through high school, and I thought I could at last get away from my parents and live the life I wanted.
"I wanted to go to university in the capital. With my grades, getting in would have been no problem. But my parents, using my safety as an excuse, forced to apply to Shenzhen University. They said it was right on our doorstep, so I wouldn’t have to live on campus and could co ho for als and to sleep every day.
"Honestly, I know they were just afraid that if I went to university in the capital, I’d fall in love and get duped by so guy.
"They’ve always treated like a child who never grew up. They didn’t want dating in college, and they were even more terrified I’d marry soone and move far away.
"I worked so hard on my English because I wanted to study abroad and finally break free from them, but they refused. They said an undergraduate degree was enough, and if I wanted to pursue a master’s, I could do it here in the country; there was no need to go abroad.
"I worked so hard to beco the person my parents wanted to be, but this isn’t the life I want for myself.
"Before, they were scared of dating and didn’t want to marry early. But now, they’re getting anxious and trying to push into marriage. And because they’re pushing, I have no desire to date or get married at all.
"I’m twenty-six years old. I’m an adult. Why should I have to live by their every command? When they told not to date, I didn’t. Now they want to get married, so I’m just supposed to get married?
"My dad has always wanted to work where he does, but I stubbornly refuse.
"My mom and dad want to set up on blind dates, but I refuse to go."
Yi Anguo waited until Zhou ngdie had vented all her frustrations before trying to reason with her. "Your parents’ control over you is indeed a bit too strict—maybe even excessive—and they haven’t considered your feelings.
"But they care about you deeply. They love you, and everything they do, they do for your own good.
"You could try talking to them more, with a little more patience. But there’s no need to be defiant just for the sake of it, and you definitely shouldn’t be taking out your phone’s battery. When they can’t reach you, they’ll get extrely worried and anxious."
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