As they got into Yang Chen's car, Liu Mingyu was somewhat surprised. "I didn't realize it was you. You're the one who drives the BMW every day to buy breakfast for our office colleagues. You really are something, a rich kid."
"I'm not a rich kid," Yang Chen replied, unfazed. "Actually, this car belongs to my wife." He didn't feel embarrassed about it. "You can just think of me as a kept man, supported by a wealthy woman."
"You're not exactly fair-skinned," Liu Mingyu chuckled. "And besides, you're far more useful than a typical kept man."
As they bantered, Yang Chen started the car and they hit the road. After a while, Yang Chen asked, "Mingyu, what do you plan to do with the recorded video and the taken photos?"
Liu Mingyu fell silent for a moment before responding, "You can keep them or throw them away, it's up to you."
"Don't you want them?"
"What's the point? I hope after this incident, Minister Ma won't have any more delusions. I'm just an ordinary employee, and I don't want to invite more trouble. As long as nobody intentionally harms me again, that's enough." There was a hint of resignation in her tone, but she spoke the truth.
Yang Chen anticipated her answer and nodded without much surprise. He didn't press the matter further and changed the topic, asking, "So, as a token of gratitude for treating me to lunch, where would the lovely lady like to eat?"
Liu Mingyu hesitated and touched her forehead. "Let's head towards Famous Scenic Road. There are a few nice restaurants there."
"You seem a bit tired. Are you feeling sleepy?" Yang Chen noticed Liu Mingyu's small gestures.
"Yeah... the effects of the medicine haven't completely worn off," Liu Mingyu admitted, not hiding anything. She indeed felt like falling asleep.
Yang Chen frowned. "Then let's not go for a meal just yet. I'll take you home and you can rest first."
"Thank you..." A warm feeling washed over Liu Mingyu as she realized the caring side of the man beside her. "Actually, let's go for a meal. I'm just a little sleepy, but I'm more hungry."
Following Liu Mingyu's suggestion, the two of them quickly arrived at a stylish Cantonese restaurant. It appeared to be a chain establishment, not particularly high-end but catering to the fast-paced dining habits of the urban dwellers.
They had barely sat down when the food arrived promptly. Yang Chen hadn't eaten a proper breakfast in the morning, having dealt with all those dangerous situations alongside Liu Mingyu, so his stomach was growling with hunger. He eagerly started devouring his meal.
"Can't you pay a little attention to your appearance? You're eating like you haven't had a meal in three years," Liu Mingyu couldn't help but laugh.
"Appearance is something reserved for those who have expectations. I'm already married, so my appearance doesn't hold much value," Yang Chen replied, munching on his food with gusto.
As they were engaged in casual conversation, a man and two women suddenly approached from behind Liu Mingyu. The woman was dressed in a striking and glamorous outfit, petite in stature, and trailed by two men in suits who clearly seemed to defer to her.
"What a coincidence! I didn't expect Miss Liu Mingyu to be dining here with a man," the woman said playfully, glancing at the two of them and smiling.
Liu Mingyu's expression turned slightly peculiar, but she quickly stood up with a radiant smile. "Miss Wang, the same goes for you. And you have two gentlemen accompanying you as well."
"They're just my assistants. We were discussing business at a nearby company and decided to have a meal together. May I ask how we should address your boyfriend, Miss Liu?" the woman asked.
Yang Chen reluctantly put down his chopsticks and smiled, "My name is Yang Chen."
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Yang. I'm Wang Yue," she said, extending her hand with a confident smile.
After exchanging a brief handshake with Wang Yue, Yang Chen sat back down and resumed eating.
Wang Yue cast a disdainful glance and sneered, "I wonder what kind of relationship Mr. Yang has with Miss Liu. Could it be that Mr. Yang is Miss Liu's new 'capable assistant'?"
Liu Mingyu didn't back down, her flirtatious smile intact. "Yang Chen is just my colleague. We're out here for work. If we're talking about 'capable assistants,' I'm sure Miss Wang's two assistants don't measure up. Besides, they are tall and well-built, definitely capable of satisfying Miss Wang."
The two women engaged in a battle of wits, their eyes like icy blades, causing Yang Chen, who was eating, to feel a drop in the room's temperature by several degrees.
"Liu Miss, you're too kind. I see Mr. Yang here has quite the appetite, indicating he must possess great strength to assist you in your endeavors. By the way, Mr. Yang seems quite famished. Could it be that he has exerted himself too much?" Wang Yue's expression showed surprise. "It seems Liu Miss requires Mr. Yang's help in many matters."
"Even though one person may have a good appetite, it doesn't compare to the strength of two individuals. Besides, two people can accomplish things that one person cannot. Don't you agree, Miss Wang?" Liu Mingyu retorted without holding back.
As they bickered, Yang Chen couldn't help but feel exasperated. Why was he dragged into their argument? It's not easy for a woman to behave so provocatively in broad daylight. The world is truly difficult to navigate, he thought.
"Miss Wang, forgive me for being straightforward, but you bear a striking resemblance to an actress I admire," Yang Chen looked up and said earnestly.
No woman dislikes being praised for her beauty, especially a young and renowned professional like Wang Yue. Upon hearing Yang Chen's words, she displayed a hint of arrogance, pretending not to care. "Oh? Who might that be? Mr. Yang, please don't overestimate me. I can't compare to the famous Liu Mingyu."
Yang Chen carefully examined Wang Yue, murmuring in admiration, "The more I look, the more similarities I see. I often watch that actress's films. I believe her name is Kaede Matsushma（Japanese ex-AV actress）. Have you heard of her, Miss Wang?"
Wang Yue's face instantly changed, going from proud to enraged. She coldly huffed, "Mr. Yang, you're quite the joker. I have no idea who that actress is."
"Not knowing is normal," Yang Chen sighed. "I'm quite familiar with that Sister Song Dao. When I saw you earlier, I thought you resembled her, but I didn't immediately recognize you. After some careful consideration, I've figured out the reason why. The main reason I didn't recognize you at first sight is because, well, you were wearing clothes!"
Wang Yue's face turned pale and green, her anger evident. She stomped her foot and glared at Yang Chen before swiftly leaving the restaurant with her two assistants.
Finally unable to contain herself, Liu Mingyu covered her face and burst into laughter. "You're truly wicked, putting Wang Yue and a Japanese AV actress in the same category. She probably won't be able to sleep tonight."
"She brought it upon herself. What business did she have interrupting my meal?" Yang Chen complained.
"She's a PR representative from another company, and we often come across each other. Many of the clients she handles end up being snatched away by me, so she always wants to argue with me," Liu Mingyu explained.
Yang Chen said with great interest, "No wonder Mingyu, you're the top performer every year. Being beautiful is indeed a valuable asset."
Liu Mingyu didn't deny it. She tidied her smooth, flowing hair and smiled. "That's just how the industry works. But don't get any wrong ideas. When negotiating with people from those big companies, the most they might do is flirt with us a little. If they try anything more, we don't even need to intervene because their higher-ups would take severe action. Unless they want to ruin their own careers, they wouldn't dare to do anything inappropriate. Reputable companies place great importance on their reputation and industry perception. Unfortunately, there are still many prejudices against the PR profession in the outside world, but we can't change that. For instance, when I took away Wang Yue's business, if I told someone that I didn't provide any special services, would they believe me?"
Yang Chen nodded and then mischievously said, "By the way, I didn't expect Mingyu to also know about Miss Matsushima. It seems you've done your research in that area too."
"In such matters, it takes two to tango. If only men are involved, what can women do? If women don't understand anything, how can they make men happy? Women knowing about AV actresses, is there anything inappropriate about that?" Liu Mingyu retorted without a trace of embarrassment.
Yang Chen couldn't come up with a clever response. He simply gave Liu Mingyu a thumbs-up and continued to focus on his meal.