Chapter 025: Quite Tasty?

Chapter 025: Tastes Good, Does It?

“He hung up?”

Mu Qingyan excitedly snatched Xu Mei’s phone, only to quickly look disappointed.

“Yes, he hung up,” Xu Mei nodded, her gaze toward Mu Qingyan tinged with heartache. Seeing Mu Qingyan quietly hand the phone back, Xu Mei couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you going to call him back?”

“No,” Mu Qingyan shook her head, giving a gentle laugh. “If he hung up before I could answer, he must have his reasons. If I call him back, he won’t be happy.”

Xu Mei let out a sigh, looking at Mu Qingyan in silence. She’d always thought herself foolish in her youth, but compared to the girl before her, she was a mere amateur. Mu Qingyan was truly foolish—foolish to a degree that matched her beauty, foolish to the extreme…

“By the way, Aunt Mei, why did he call you? Was there something he needed?” Mu Qingyan quickly pulled herself together, curiosity lighting her face as she looked at Xu Mei.

“Yes, he wanted me to do him a favor…” Xu Mei, hiding nothing, gave a simple explanation of the matter.

“I see. Then Aunt Mei, you should hurry and make arrangements. Don’t keep my husband waiting…” Mu Qingyan urged as soon as she heard.

Xu Mei was left speechless, staring at Mu Qingyan with no words left to say. In her heart, she wanted nothing more than to strangle that bastard Chu Fei. What on earth was so good about him, for Mu Qingyan to be so infatuated, to this degree…

But Xu Mei didn’t show her true feelings. She knew full well that if Mu Qingyan had to choose between her and Chu Fei, the girl would unhesitatingly choose Chu Fei, abandoning the nurse who’d raised her from childhood. This girl was already mad…

“I’ll go now…” Xu Mei sighed, preparing to leave.

“Wait, Aunt Mei, tell Old Wu that aside from that young model, he should work with my husband’s company to establish a deeper partnership. If needed, I can personally endorse their ads…”

“Qingyan, you promised the public you’d never do commercials…” Xu Mei was truly half driven mad by this, and reminded her.

“That’s to the public. Chu Fei is my husband; of course it’s different,” Mu Qingyan replied as if it were obvious.

Xu Mei was dumbfounded.

“Aunt Mei, should I go back in person now? If he won’t see me, I can go find him myself. Now I even have an excuse—it’s for the advertising collaboration…” Mu Qingyan gazed at Xu Mei hopefully.

“Qingyan, you have a fan meeting here tomorrow night…” Xu Mei reminded her, truly at her wits’ end, thinking Mu Qingyan had lost all sense.

“Ah? Really? I forgot.” Mu Qingyan looked a bit embarrassed, then her eyes lit up. “Or Aunt Mei, you could just say I’m not feeling well tomorrow night, and move the fan meeting up to tonight?”

Xu Mei’s face darkened.

She stared at Mu Qingyan, speechless for a long while. You could at least say you’re not feeling well tonight and postpone it, but to say you’re unwell tomorrow and bring it forward? Couldn’t you come up with a more reasonable excuse?

Insane, truly insane—

“No. You absolutely cannot return home before the MV shoot is finished—” Xu Mei, her face stony, delivered this line before striding quickly out of the room. If she stayed any longer, she’d truly go mad…

“Aunt Mei is so annoying!”

Mu Qingyan muttered under her breath as she watched Xu Mei’s retreating figure. But soon enough, she broke into giggles, clearly happy about something… though who could say what.

—

“Chu Fei, it’s already past two in the afternoon. What’s happening with Qingyan Studio? Have they replied or not?” Li Changying walked over to Chu Fei, his tone dripping with sarcasm, his face barely able to hide his smugness. As he spoke, he glanced over at a small bucket not far away.

“There are still two hours left until the end of the workday. What’s your rush?” Chu Fei replied calmly, not the least bit anxious. He was confident Xu Mei would come through.

“Hmph, don’t you dare go back on your word when you lose,” Li Changying sneered. At this point, he felt no worry at all, convinced that Chu Fei was only putting on a brave face.

Chu Fei simply chuckled without replying.

Just then, the phone rang in the office, coming from the area where Group 2 sat.

A ringing phone was nothing unusual; Feilu Media’s business department could receive hundreds of calls on a busy day.

But this time, the commotion was different.

The call was answered by Wen Qian, the leader of Group 2. After hearing just a few sentences, she stood frozen in shock, not even noticing when the phone slipped from her hand and hit the floor. Suddenly she snapped out of her daze and, like a madwoman, dashed out of her cubicle, shouting excitedly, “Sister Nan, Sister Nan, come quick—something big’s happened!”

“What’s wrong?” Su Yanan, head of the business department, emerged from her own cubicle, frowning at Wen Qian’s uncharacteristic behavior.

“It’s a call from Qingyan Studio—they said…” Wen Qian was so excited, her words tumbled out in fragments.

“What did they say?” Su Yanan hurried over to Group 2’s area, her tone urgent. Not just her—everyone who heard Wen Qian’s words turned to look. The entire company was watching the Qingyan Studio situation closely, especially with the wager between Chu Fei and Li Changying; even those who didn’t turn their heads put down their work to listen in.

“Nothing much—they said they wanted to speak to the business director.” Wen Qian felt awkward, realizing she’d gotten too worked up over Qingyan Studio’s call.

“Is that so?” Su Yanan shot Wen Qian an exasperated look, then picked up the phone herself, smiling as she introduced herself, “Hello, this is Su Yanan, business director at Feilu Media…”

Whatever was said on the other end was inaudible.

“Yes, I understand. I’ll relay your message to our boss as soon as possible.”

The call was brief, lasting less than two minutes before Su Yanan hung up and stepped out of the cubicle. But she soon stopped, turning to look at Chu Fei, her expression deeply conflicted.

Li Changying, who had lingered nearby after mocking Chu Fei, heard Wen Qian’s call and stopped in his tracks. He’d felt a jolt of nervousness as Su Yanan answered, but now, seeing her complex look toward Chu Fei, he broke into a wide grin.

He was about to resume his ridicule when Su Yanan spoke up: “Just now, the director of Qingyan Studio called to apologize for the young model’s breach of contract. They’ll arrange for the model to return and finish filming the commercial as soon as possible. And as compensation, Qingyan Studio also plans to establish a deeper partnership with our company. Everyone, get ready to make preparations. I’ll go report to the boss first…”

With that, Su Yanan shot Li Changying a helpless glance and strode away.

Boom—

The entire office erupted in excitement.

Not only was the issue with the young model resolved, but Qingyan Studio wanted a deep collaboration with the company. This was incredible news.

But soon…

The office fell silent again, deathly quiet. All eyes turned to Li Changying, who stood there utterly stunned, his expression indescribable.

Li Changying was completely dazed. Su Yanan’s look at Chu Fei had made him think the matter had failed, but now these words had blindsided him.

It had actually worked?

Not only had it worked, but Qingyan Studio wanted to collaborate further?

How could this be possible?

Li Changying’s mind buzzed, leaving him standing stiff and motionless. Suddenly, a gentle voice broke the silence.

“Group Leader Li, you lost,” Chu Fei said with a cheerful smile.

“No, that’s impossible,” Li Changying snapped back to attention, staring at Chu Fei and raising his voice.

“Are you questioning the department director’s word?” Chu Fei asked, arching an eyebrow.

Li Changying was speechless. He had no doubts about Su Yanan; he just couldn’t accept reality.

“Or do you want to go back on your word?” Chu Fei pressed.

“I—”

“If you admit in front of everyone that you’re not a real man, you won’t have to honor the bet,” Chu Fei added, giving Li Changying’s own words right back to him.

“Chu Fei, don’t push it…” Li Changying’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head.

Chu Fei said nothing more, simply gazing at Li Changying with calm indifference. Push it? You brought this on yourself—what’s it got to do with me?

Unable to meet Chu Fei’s eyes, Li Changying slowly looked around. Almost everyone was staring at him, their expressions varied—some with pity, some with resignation, but most beaming with schadenfreude, eager for the spectacle.

Those looks made his face go even paler.

Li Changying knew he was finished today. He slowly averted his eyes, glared murderously at Chu Fei, then gritted his teeth and walked toward the small bucket.

His thinking was simple: drink it, so what if it’s disgusting? Better to feel sick than be seen as a sore loser or called less than a man.

Facing the bucket, which looked even more “splendid” than it had that morning, Li Changying took a deep breath, shut his eyes, and grabbed it with both hands.

Glug, glug—

The entire office was dumbfounded.

Even Chu Fei was stunned; he’d been certain Li Changying would renege. If their positions were reversed, he’d never drink that stuff—too revolting.

Li Changying gulped down several mouthfuls, then paused, smacked his lips, and turned to Chu Fei. “Not bad, actually. Chu Fei, want to try some?”

Urgh—

Chu Fei quickly turned away, nearly retching on the spot.

Urgh—ugh—

Not everyone had Chu Fei’s composure.

A dozen or so colleagues who witnessed the scene rushed out of the office, hands clamped over their mouths, unable to hold back their nausea. Murong Wei was the first out the door, her face pale as a sheet, staggering as she pressed both hands to her mouth. She had been the closest, saw every detail, and was most thoroughly disgusted.

Seeing his colleagues fleeing in revulsion, Li Changying felt no shame. Instead, he let out a couple of triumphant laughs. He’d done it on purpose—if he had to be sick, everyone else could suffer too.

Besides, though it was disgusting, the taste wasn’t as awful as he’d imagined—or so he told himself.

Then, under the stunned gazes of dozens of people, Li Changying picked up the bucket again and took another big swig.

But…

Urgh—bleargh!

About a third of the way through, Li Changying finally couldn’t take it and retched violently, the sound echoing through the office. Clutching the bucket, he bolted out the door like a hurricane.

Clearly, self-reassurance was no match for reality’s disgust.

“Damn, and here I thought you really didn’t mind the taste,” Chu Fei muttered through gritted teeth, his face ashen. He, too, had been thoroughly nauseated by Li Changying’s display.