{I watched her take care of other men with my own eyes. 1}

Had Zhao Buhui entered quietly without “meddling,” he might have looked like he was stepping into his own jazz age. As he entered, dashing and poised, people naturally turned to look at him, listening to his grand statement.

Zhao Buhui, surprisingly, seemed to have developed some empathy—for an employee his father had personally hired, no less.

Unbothered by the attention, he made a bold entrance, bringing a gust of cold air from outside with him. Yet, that chill hadn’t shaped him; he remained as casual and unrestrained as ever, unconcerned about whether this was a formal occasion.

“I’ll drink for her,” he announced. Anyone who knew a bit about his capriciousness couldn’t help but suspect that he was not indifferent to Qian Xu.

Men, in particular, are sensitive to the significance of stepping in to take a drink on behalf of someone else. Few would dare do it for anyone other than a close partner, yet Zhao Buhui, seemingly without a care, made it look effortless.

Those in business realized they didn’t want to be misunderstood by Zhao Buhui. Although he himself was unimportant, his father Zhao Tian’s status was always on their minds.

People quickly chimed in: “Buhui, we weren’t forcing her to drink.”

“That’s right, we’d never stoop so low as to make Miss Qian drink with us.”

Zhao Buhui thought their excuses sounded the same, as if they were merely trying to cover for themselves. He ignored them and downed the drink in front of everyone.

“No worries. I drank for her; it’s all the same.”

Even though he knew little about the company’s operations, he understood that Qian Xu was about to start her first project soon. It wasn’t hard for him to understand why she had to “socialize” at occasions like this.

Zhao Buhui seemed like someone naturally free from internal conflict. He never questioned himself. If it had been a different company executive at the event, would he have noticed? He didn’t think that mattered.

He cared only about what he chose to care for. If something bright yet fragile caught his attention, he would step forward. It fit his logic.

Good.

He praised himself inwardly, without letting smugness show. He felt he was simply doing what he ought to do.

Yet, the woman’s expression… Shouldn’t her eyes be filled with gratitude toward him? Why did she look exasperated, as if blaming him for interfering?

He didn’t understand the whims of women.

Until Qian Xu, gritting her teeth, muttered under her breath, “You’re absolutely ridiculous.”

The brandy was still burning in his stomach, but he continued, undeterred by her unusual reaction, “No need to make things difficult for yourself. Leave this to me in the future.”

He placed the empty glass, upside down, on the coffee table, perhaps as proof that his drinking ability exceeded that of someone like her. “I understand that you want to prove yourself; ambition isn’t a bad thing. But drinking harms your health—let me handle it.”

Qian Xu was left momentarily speechless: “…”

The tipsy gentleman reclined on the sofa, repeatedly recounting his accomplishments. The remaining half-bottle of brandy stood prominently on the European-style fireplace, drawing everyone’s attention.

Everyone noticed that remarkable scene just now. Zhao Buhui drank the brandy with an air of triumph, completely disregarding Qian Xu’s shocked expression.

Some of the attendees wanted to clarify, but Mr. Li stopped them. He saw through the situation without needing to explain. It was obvious that Zhao Buhui usually didn’t care much for rules, and his relationship with his father was complicated. Initially, many assumed there would be friction if his father brought Qian Xu in as a manager. But, in this instance of “blocking a drink,” it seemed Zhao Buhui could be rather chivalrous.