The waitstaff widened their eyes, their professional composure barely holding as they instinctively swallowed.
Before the wine even touched their throats, their senses were completely engaged.
Seeing the look of surprise in Grace Wang's eyes, Ethan Xu felt quite pleased.
"Come on, let's drink!" Ethan Xu eagerly poured some for Grace Wang.
Leon Chen wasn't shy and filled his own glass to the brim.
As soon as the wine hit their throats, the suite was filled with satisfied sighs.
Leon Chen clicked his tongue in amazement. It truly was an incredible vintage.
"This hotel has such good wine and never mentioned it. They really don't know business," Ethan Xu praised, downing his glass and already feeling quite intoxicated.
"Don't drink too much!" Grace Wang leaned in to whisper to Leon Chen. She sipped her wine carefully, closing her eyes to savor the elegant taste that spread from her tongue to her heart, looking every bit the connoisseur.
She cast a sidelong glance at Leon Chen, who was downing glass after glass. Grace Wang quickly slapped his hand away and said lightly, "Leon Chen, if you get drunk, I'll leave you on the street!"
"I'm not drunk yet," Leon Chen teased.
Grace Wang shot him a look. If you really get drunk, I'll make sure to do it!
Leon Chen did get drunk. The men at the table were all taken down by the Blood of Corruption. Grace Wang looked at her glass of red wine, a mysterious smile on her face.
The unexpected dinner ended with Grace Wang elegantly finishing her meal alone.
Suddenly recalling something, Grace Wang walked over to Kevin Xie. A sharp light flashed in her eyes as she patted his cheek and said coldly, "Kevin Xie, was the 'Heavenly Red System Firewall' incident your doing?"
"What? What?" Kevin Xie was bewildered in his drunken stupor.
Grace Wang, fanning the faint scent of alcohol, continued, "Tell me about the eighteen companies that used our firewall and ended up with their systems crashing and losing all data! I designed Heavenly Red myself; it couldn't possibly have any flaws. I've thought about it for a long time, and if there were issues, it had to be the chief designer tampering with it!"
"Hehe." Kevin Xie laughed foolishly. "I installed software in their companies long ago. When Heavenly Red was activated, the virus triggered. Hehe..."
Hatred flared in Grace Wang's eyes. She almost wanted to punch this man's head in for his betrayal.
"Why did you do it?" She struggled to control her anger.
"See, I'm much better than you. A little trick and I've beaten you, the high and mighty Grace Wang. Hehe," Kevin Xie laughed foolishly.
Grace Wang slapped him hard, knocking him out, and then walked over to Ethan Xu.
Ethan Xu, president of Tianwei Software, had always had designs on her and aimed to swallow her company to make her his subordinate. After the Heavenly Red incident, Ethan Xu had repeatedly tried to take over, knowing her company would face bankruptcy due to compensation and loss of reputation. Grace Wang's company was doomed.
"Ethan Xu, how much did you pay to buy off Kevin Xie, the chief designer at Empress Software?"
Grace Wang's tone was very calm, so calm she couldn't believe it herself.
"Grace Wang, you're so beautiful. I really want to possess you..." Ethan Xu's words made Grace Wang frown. Ignoring the nonsense, she asked again.
In a daze, Ethan Xu seemed hypnotized. "A million dollars to defeat you, Grace Wang. In the business world, you're still too naive. Hehe... you're out of options..."
All the answers were out. Grace Wang let out a cold laugh.
Although she had known the incident was unusual, discovering the truth made her unexpectedly calm. There was no anxiety, no frustration, not even the urge to beat them up.
In the business world, you are indeed too naive.
Grace Wang felt very tired. She grabbed her black handbag and prepared to leave. At the door, she looked back; Leon Chen was still sleeping soundly.
Though she had said she would leave him on the street, she couldn't help but walk over. His sleeping face was exceptionally cute. Grace Wang usually hated drunk men; they lacked decorum. But looking at Leon Chen, she didn't find it as repulsive.
For helping me today, I'll make an exception. Grace Wang called the manager to have Leon Chen carried to the car. The manager obliged without complaint.
Grace Wang knew it was all thanks to the Blood of Corruption wine. She couldn't help but laugh, imagining Ethan Xu's exaggerated reaction when he saw the bill. But for now, she had no mood for it.
Grace Wang rubbed her temples and took a deep breath.
"I never let drunk men in my car, Leon Chen. You're the first exception," she muttered to herself. "Whether you helped me on purpose or it was just luck, I owe you this time..."
The sports car's engine roared to life. Grace Wang looked coldly at the hotel. The apology dinner had indeed not been in vain!
As the cool breeze blew, Grace Wang gazed at the sky, occasionally hearing murmurs of Ethereal Snow in her dreams.
Such pure happiness, Grace Wang sighed enviously.
Seeing the road signs, Grace Wang thought for a moment and finally drove to the "Maple Leaf Apartments."
Isabella Xiang sat on the sofa, watching a classic American movie on the 65-inch screen. The subtle, serene plots did not interest her.
Isabella Xiang was distracted. For the first time, she was so troubled by the relationship between two people. Of course, it wasn't love; it was just that person's identity was too special.
The sound of a car engine brought her back to reality. Isabella Xiang looked outside.
The white BMW had returned.
Before she could collect her thoughts, she saw Grace Wang helping a young man out of the car. That worried expression—who wouldn't believe they were a couple?
But Isabella Xiang believed it. Grace Wang couldn't possibly have any connection with Leon Chen. She walked over calmly.
"Sorry, Xiang. This guy has terrible drinking habits. Just a few glasses and he's drunk." Grace Wang cautiously watched Isabella Xiang's expression, which remained icy.
"It's troublesome to send him back to school now. Can he stay here for one more night?" If anyone else saw Grace Wang's respectful attitude towards Isabella Xiang, they would be shocked.
Isabella Xiang hesitated for a moment and then nodded.
As they helped Leon Chen upstairs, his hand accidentally brushed against Grace Wang's chest. Her face turned red, almost wanting to throw him down the stairs. "Men always like to take advantage of us. This guy is no different..."
Isabella Xiang said nothing.
"Ethereal Snow!" Suddenly, Leon Chen murmured in his sleep.
Isabella Xiang paused.
Grace Wang asked, "By the way, Xiang, is Scarlett coming back tonight? We need to tell her there's a rogue here..." Grace Wang was surprised at herself for joking even after just discovering the truth about the betrayal.
Isabella Xiang, focused on Leon Chen, didn't notice this. "She called and said she had something to do at home and won't be back tonight."
"Good." Grace Wang sighed in relief. Isabella Xiang's cold personality wouldn't lead to any assumptions, but Scarlett would have a lot to say, especially since Leon Chen kept mentioning her name in his sleep.
They threw Leon Chen onto the bed. Grace Wang wiped the sweat off her forehead, took off his jacket, and used a damp towel to wipe his face.
Isabella Xiang watched the whole process from the door.
"Why are you so good to Leon Chen?" Isabella Xiang finally asked.
Grace Wang thought Isabella Xiang might misunderstand, so she explained, "Xiang, don't get me wrong. He happened to help me tonight. Consider it a thank you."
"What happened?" Isabella Xiang frowned.
Grace Wang smiled and briefly recounted the hotel incident. After hearing it, Isabella Xiang was moved, her eyes flashing coldly.
"Do those traitors need punishment?"
Grace Wang laughed, feeling a weight lifted off her shoulders. "Thank you, Xiang, but I don't need the Xiang Army's help this time. This is a lesson for me."
"But these people ruined your dreams. You've been mocked for this dream." Isabella Xiang's usually cold face showed rare emotion.
Grace Wang shook her head and smiled at her friend, a smile that mixed the satisfaction and frustration of pursuing a dream. "Dreams mocked have value in practice. Even if I fall, I'll fall grandly!"
Isabella Xiang was silent.
Do people like us need dreams?
She really didn't know.
Later, Isabella Xiang learned about Grace Wang and Leon Chen's relationship. They had only met a few times and talked twice, not very deep friends, yet it felt natural for them to be friends.
Grace Wang joked—it must be Leon Chen's good-natured face that did it.
Isabella Xiang returned to the living room and resumed watching the movie.
At that moment, a classic line from the movie deeply moved Isabella Xiang—"Some birds are not meant to be caged, their feathers are just too bright..."
...
In the West Capital, in a villa on Luke Road.
In Robin's room, two men were examining an unconscious Robin, their actions like those of scientists studying a lab rat. Their figures were cold in the night.
"The power of the blood clan has disappeared..." A man in a white coat spoke in a low voice.
"A Saint Hunter can do this? Restoring human bloodline while leaving the person alive?" The other voice was filled with deadly intent.
The man in the white coat replied, "I don't know! More details need to be asked. It seems his body suffered from cold and electrical damage, his mind is chaotic, and with the bloodline gone, his words might not be reliable."
"The only thing we know is that trouble is watching us."
"I will report to the 'Organization' to find this trouble!"
"What about him?"
Silence hung in the air for a moment.
"Continue to implant the blood clan's power in him; he still has value!"
The man in the white coat nodded. Suddenly, his eyes glowed blood-red, his sharp fangs appearing as he bit into Robin's neck, letting out a cruel growl as he transferred his blood breed into Robin.
Robin's body convulsed, emitting painful groans, causing concern for Luke Road outside.
After a while, Robin's body gradually calmed down.
The night fell into silence.