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Chapter 49: The Last Time He Gave Yan Man a Way Out
What did Yan Man attending a party have to do with him?
It had already been three full days since Sunday night.
In those three days, it was like Yan Man had vanished from the internet—no messages at all.
She seemed to have forgotten she still had a boyfriend.
Was the filming crew too busy? Or did she simply not want to explain?
Thinking about Lin Yiyang, who was clearly interested in Yan Man, Tan Qishen felt his anger flare again.
Yan Man didn’t want to go public, and Tan Qishen had tolerated that. But if another man was trying to pursue his girlfriend, that he couldn’t tolerate.
Wen Bo carefully watched Tan Qishen’s mood. He hesitated and asked, “So… should I decline Mr. Chen’s invitation?”
Tan Qishen narrowed his eyes, the cold glint in them intense. He simply looked at Wen Bo without speaking.
Wen Bo wiped the fine sweat from his forehead.
Neither of them spoke for a while. The air was heavy and silent, like time had frozen. The only sound was of Tan Qishen lighting a cigarette.
The lighter clicked, a flame flared up, and smoke curled from the tip of the cigarette.
Wen Bo anxiously waited for a response. Several minutes later, the cigarette burned out. Tan Qishen stared at the black, gold-embossed invitation card in Wen Bo’s hand. His voice was low and hoarse: “Put it down.”
Wen Bo instinctively asked, “Hmm?”
Tan Qishen shot him a cold look, his tone more forceful: “The invitation.”
This, he thought, would be the last time he gave Yan Man a way out.
If she saw him and still didn’t explain, then he would block her on everything.
After all, she was the one who lied first.
He wouldn’t be blamed for not keeping his promise.
Evening.
A stretched Bentley drove out from the film crew and headed toward a luxury winery in the western suburbs.
The ‘Huayi’ Group was hosting a party there.
As soon as the Bentley arrived at the front of the winery, staff came forward to open the doors.
Hu Suling stepped out with Yan Man and Lin Yiyang.
Yan Man wore a wine-red mermaid gown. With a deep-V halter neck and open back design, it was sexy yet elegant. As a former model, she had a tall and slender figure that perfectly showcased the dress’s glamour.
The moment she stepped out, all the media cameras pointed directly at her.
Lin Yiyang wore a black tailcoat. Handsome and refined, the two of them stepping out of the same car only caused the media frenzy to intensify.
A party hosted by a major entertainment company like this attracted countless directors and stars—basically a red carpet event in disguise.
Inside the venue, bright lights, luxurious clothes, and crystal chandeliers made for a dazzling scene. Yan Man and Lin Yiyang walked beside Hu Suling.
As soon as Hu Suling entered the door, she was surrounded. Many directors and actors greeted her warmly, showing her status in the industry.
Not long into the mingling, a man in his fifties wearing a white suit approached from afar. Everyone around him greeted him respectfully as “President Chen.”
“Director Hu?” he said.
The man shook hands with Hu Suling, who nodded politely and replied, “President Chen.”
After some small talk, President Chen shifted his gaze to the two behind her—Yan Man and Lin Yiyang. Smiling with a hint of meaning, he said, “Director Hu rarely brings people to this kind of event.”
Pointing at Lin Yiyang, he said, “He looks familiar. I think I saw him at a dinner party last month.”
Lin Yiyang stepped forward respectfully to shake his hand. “Hello, President Chen. I’m Lin Yiyang. We had dinner together last month at Mr. Lin’s gathering.”
President Chen stroked his beard and smiled. “I knew I wasn’t mistaken.”
Then his gaze fell on Yan Man. He looked at her for a few seconds and then shook his head. “But this young lady doesn’t look familiar to me.”
Hu Suling personally introduced her. “This is Yan Man, a model under ‘Senlai,’ and now my leading actress.”
President Chen raised his eyebrows and looked at Yan Man again, assessing her. “Oh? So she’s with ‘Senlai.’”
Yan Man stepped forward and shook hands. “Nice to meet you, President Chen. I’m Yan Man.”
President Chen was a gentleman, only lightly touching her fingertips. He casually said, “I have a good relationship with your Mr. Tan.”
Hearing the word “Tan,” the smile on Yan Man’s face froze. A thought suddenly crossed her mind:
Could Tan Qishen be attending too?
She had been too focused on agreeing with Director Hu last night and forgot that an event of this level would definitely send an invitation to Tan Qishen.
But then she reassured herself—Tan Qishen had always disliked these kinds of occasions. Nine times out of ten, he would refuse.
The chances of him coming were very slim.
With that, Yan Man finally felt a little relieved.
If she did run into Tan Qishen… she really didn’t know how to face him right now.
President Chen didn’t notice her reaction. After speaking, he turned back to Hu Suling and gestured politely. “Director Hu, please go ahead.”
Hu Suling nodded. “Please carry on.”
Director Hu introduced them to a few familiar directors. After exchanging contact information, she let the two go mingle on their own.
Yan Man glanced around at the clusters of people chatting. But she didn’t recognize anyone. Most of her friends were models, and few of them would attend an event like this.
Feeling bored, she drifted toward a corner, clearly distracted.
It wasn’t long before a foreigner approached her. The man was muscular—he looked like an action star from overseas. He spoke fluent Chinese. “Hello, I’m Andrew. Are you an actress? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”
Yan Man replied politely, “Yes, I’m an actress.”
Andrew praised her without holding back, “You’re the most beautiful Chinese woman I’ve ever seen.”
Yan Man smiled. “Thank you.”
Andrew raised his glass and invited, “Maybe we could share a drink together?”
Yan Man raised a delicate brow—no reason to refuse. She wasn’t holding a drink, but a nearby waiter’s tray had several glasses. The liquid inside looked like clear liquor—probably baijiu.
She glanced at it briefly, then picked up a glass without hesitation. Just as she was about to drink—
She heard someone call out to Andrew from not far away.
Looking up, Yan Man saw—it was Lin Yiyang.
Lin Yiyang and Andrew embraced like old friends.
After a few casual greetings, Lin Yiyang introduced, “I worked with Andrew on a film a year ago.”
He then turned to Andrew and suggested, “Let us two drink, don’t make her drink.”
Andrew looked at Lin Yiyang, then at Yan Man, and chuckled. Teasingly, he said, “Mhm, in Chinese, wouldn’t you call that a ‘hero saving the beauty’?”
“….”
Yan Man didn’t know where Andrew had learned his Chinese—it sounded all mixed up.
Not wanting to owe anyone, she smiled slightly and clinked glasses with both of them. “It’s fine.”
The liquor slid past her red lips as she took a sip. As she lowered her glass, she instinctively looked up.
Just one glance—and she froze.