111: Chapter 111 An Encounter at the Bar

The women had all been busy with their own affairs these past few days.

Chen Mo found himself idle and bored.

Seeing that dusk had arrived, Chen Mo picked up his coat and called out to Old Xu, who was nearby:

"Old Xu, let's go. We're heading to a bar. I've never actually been to one before."

Old Xu drove them all the way to a quiet Lounge in the Jing'an District of Shanghai.

It wasn't too noisy here, the environment was private, and the patrons were generally well-behaved, making it a suitable place to kill time.

Chen Mo found a corner to sit in. Just as he finished ordering his drinks, he saw a woman stumbling toward him from not far away.

The woman wore a simple white dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders, and her eyes were hazy; she was clearly drunk.

Once her face came into focus, Chen Mo's eyes narrowed slightly. It was an acquaintance—or more accurately, Chen Mo knew her, but she didn't know him!

She was none other than Zhao Liying, who in 2014 was still attending social engagements to secure roles.

In order to win the role of Xiao Gu in 'the journey of flower,' she had been dragged out for drinks. Unable to refuse, she had been forced to down quite a lot.

Unable to hold on any longer, she used an excuse to slip out for some air. However, her legs gave way, and she collapsed directly toward Chen Mo.

Seeing this, Old Xu turned his head away expressionlessly.

Chen Mo reached out and caught Zhao Liying firmly.

Zhao Liying lifted her head dizzily, her voice slurred as she spoke:

"S-sorry... I didn't mean to bump into you..."

Seeing she could barely stand, Chen Mo pointed to the seat beside him and said:

"Sit here and rest for a while. Don't wander around anymore."

"Th-thank you..."

Zhao Liying sat down obediently, her head nodding rhythmically. The alcohol was clearly kicking in; before long, she leaned against the sofa, unable to even keep her eyes open.

Chen Mo shook his head with a smile and looked elsewhere, but his gaze suddenly froze.

He saw a girl walking out of the restroom, her hair in a high ponytail, wearing a hoodie and jeans.

She looked exactly like his assistant, Li Yue!

Chen Mo's first thought was:

Didn't Li Yue go to the pharmaceutical company?

Why is she here?

But looking closer, he realized the truth. This girl had a more youthful and innocent temperament; she was clearly a bit younger than Li Yue.

He instantly remembered seeing it in Li Yue's files: she had a younger twin sister named Li Xing.

She was the same girl he had encountered back in South Korea when he went to celebrate Im Yoon-ah's birthday.

Li Xing had been dragged to the bar by her friends. She didn't like these kinds of places to begin with and was looking for a chance to leave when a drunken middle-aged man suddenly blocked her path.

Reeking of alcohol, the middle-aged man reached out to put his hand on Li Xing's shoulder, a greasy look on his face as he said:

"Little sister, have a drink with big brother. I'll give you money—buy whatever you want!"

Li Xing backed away in fright, her face turning pale instantly:

"Don't touch me! I don't know you! Go away!"

Her friends were still in the private room; she had come out to use the restroom and planned to find an excuse to leave afterward.

The people around them glanced over, but no one dared to step forward and stop him.

A waiter in the distance was about to intervene.

However, Chen Mo was faster. His eyes turned cold as he stood up and walked over, pulling Li Xing behind him and looking coldly at the man:

"Get lost."

The man dithered for a moment, then shouted drunkenly:

"You little brat, who do you think you are? Mind your own business! Scram and go play somewhere else!"

Chen Mo didn't bother talking to the drunkard and signaled for Old Xu to handle him.

Old Xu stepped forward. Before the onlookers could even see his movements, a 'crack' was heard.

Old Xu grabbed the drunkard's wrist, twisting and pressing it down while his other hand precisely pinned the man's neck.

The drunkard's face distorted in pain, and he sobered up instantly.

He cried out in agony:

"Hero, let go, let go! Hero, I was wrong, I was wrong!"

Hearing his pleas, Old Xu shoved him away and said coldly:

"Get out."

Knowing he had messed with the wrong person, the man scrambled up and fled without another word.

Li Xing was still shaken, clutching her chest and panting heavily, her 'rabbits' bouncing along with her breath.

Chen Mo, worried they might jump out, asked:

"What are you doing here?"

Hearing Chen Mo's words, Li Xing looked confused:

"You are?"

Chen Mo smiled and said:

"We met in Korea before. I was just in disguise then. I helped you deal with that shady tour guide!"

Li Xing's eyes widened instantly as she said:

"It's you!"

Then she realized and said:

"Thank you! You've helped me again!"

Chen Mo looked at her, nodded, and smiled:

"Why are you here?"

Li Xing pursed her lips aggrievedly and said:

"I was dragged here by my classmates; I didn't want to come at all. My sister has been crazy busy lately, staying at the company every day and ignoring me."

Chen Mo nodded and said:

"Your sister is helping me handle the pharmaceutical company's affairs. She is indeed busy."

Li Xing said:

"So my sister is working for you!"

Then she reacted with a look of surprise:

"Are you that big shot Chen Mo they talk about on the internet?"

Just as Chen Mo was about to reply, he looked back at the booth where he had been sitting;

Zhao Liying was too drunk to support herself and had slid down from the sofa.

Li Xing followed Chen Mo's gaze and was startled: "Oh! What's wrong with that sister?"

Chen Mo walked over and gently helped Zhao Liying back onto the sofa.

Zhao Liying was a total mess, still mumbling softly under her breath:

"I'm not... too drunk... Xiao Gu... I can act it well..."

Li Xing couldn't help but smile:

"She seems to be an actress. Drinking so much, how hard for her."

Chen Mo didn't say anything, but placed a cushion behind her so she could sleep more comfortably.

Li Xing stood by, looking at Chen Mo and then at the passed-out Zhao Liying, and said softly:

"Um... can I stay here with you for a bit? My friends are still partying wildly and I don't want to go back. That man just now was too scary."

Chen Mo gave an 'en' and said:

"Sit down."

Li Xing sat down obediently and asked curiously:

"Why did you come to a bar? You don't look like the type to come for the drinks."

Chen Mo leaned lazily against the sofa and said:

"Boredom. Just out for a stroll."

Li Xing said:

"Oh! My sister works overtime every day. Is your company really that busy lately? My sister said your company is amazing—making phones and medicine."

"It's alright."

Chen Mo responded indifferently.

Li Xing:

"When I saw you in Korea, I felt you were extraordinary, but I didn't realize you were this powerful! Even someone as capable as my sister is working for you, and she has a Master's degree from the Guanghua School of Management in Yanjing."

Chen Mo smiled but didn't pick up the conversation.

At that moment, Zhao Liying stirred on the sofa, whimpering softly before her head tilted and rested directly on Chen Mo's shoulder.

Her breath carried a faint scent of alcohol, and she was in a deep sleep.

The collar of her dress had loosened slightly.

From Chen Mo's perspective...