The punishment was finally over.
Lin Mian sat on the sofa, feeling relieved, as if most of her energy had been drained from her body.
These playboys were really good at playing.
The next round of the game began, with Lu Zhibai still dealing the cards and the others revealing them.
As expected, this time it was Shi Lin who drew the Ace of Hearts.
"Hey, Dr. Shi is in trouble."
Shi Lin casually threw the card on the table, a hint of sharpness flashing in his deep eyes.
"I choose..." His gaze swept around the room, before he spoke, "truth."
"I knew he would choose truth. He's rarely intimate, don't expect him to be affectionate with anyone casually."
Lu Zhibai chuckled a few times, a hint of cunning in his eyes.
Sure enough, his next question exploded directly: "When was the last time you had sex, and how many times in one night?"
Shi Lin rested his chin on his hand, his gaze seemingly drifting to the side, his lips cold and indifferent.
"Last Tuesday, at eleven o'clock at night, five times in one night."
Boom—
Lin Mian's mind exploded, her cheeks burning hot.
He said... it was actually her!
Last Tuesday was the night she was harassed by a drunkard, and also the night she spent the night at Shi Lin's house. She only remembered that he was tireless that night, demanding over and over again.
Until she fell asleep exhausted later, she didn't even remember how many times he did it.
I didn't expect him to remember so clearly.
Lin Mian lowered her eyelids, her eyelashes trembling slightly, trying to avoid his gaze, afraid of accidentally meeting his eyes.
"Dr. Shi, you were quite vigorous. Did you not sleep all night?"
"So many times in one night, what kind of goddess was it, Dr. Shi? Did she sleep so well?"
There was another round of teasing in the private room.
Shi Lin paused in playing with the cards, and with a faint smile, he said, "Indeed, satisfying, but wanting more."
Lin Mian couldn't stand it anymore, got up and said she needed to go to the bathroom, preparing to leave for a while.
Qin Li was a bit drunk, feeling the effects of the alcohol, but when he saw her flushed face, he got up unsteadily and followed her.
"Mianmian, let me show you the way."
He almost fell over because he couldn't stand properly, but Lin Mian quickly supported his arm, with Qin Li leaning his half body on her shoulder.
"Master, you're drunk. I can go on my own."
"It's alright, let's go."
Qin Li leaned against her unsteadily, and the two of them stumbled out of the room.
As the door closed behind them, Shi Lin's brows furrowed visibly, his eyes turning cold and dark.
He picked up the strong liquor on the table and drank it in large gulps, the fiery liquid burning down his throat, unable to suppress the anger surging from the depths of his heart.
In the corridor, Qin Li let go of Lin Mian and stood up straight, the drunkenness in his eyes fading slightly, looking a bit clearer.
"Mianmian, I'm sorry for embarrassing you tonight. Those people are always like that, you'll get used to it."
Lin Mian lowered her head and bit her lip, not understanding why he brought her to such a place, and had to watch him drink and play games with them.
Qin Li sighed, his tone carrying a hint of resignation.
"This is the first lesson I want to teach you in this industry," he looked at Lin Mian and said, "Those of us in this line of work, if we want to design iconic buildings, we have to interact with these circles of people, build relationships with them, and leverage resources, so you can grow faster."
"So Mianmian, you have to learn to be thicker-skinned, you know?"
Lin Mian was stunned for a second, not expecting him to mean this.
It turns out that no matter what top position you reach, you don't have the right to do as you please one hundred percent. Rather than saying they are doing design work, it's more about interpersonal relationships.
Lin Mian lowered her head, feeling a complex mix of emotions in her heart in an instant.
She bit her lip and asked softly, "Master, are the rules for adults all like this, or is it only a minority?"
"All rules are like this."
Qin Li calmly patted her shoulder and said, "You are a child with ambition and determination, with abilities, initiative, and resilience. You are destined for great things in the future, so keep pushing, Cotton. I will pave the way for you in advance and help you adapt."
After a long silence, Lin Mian nodded.
She understood.
Entering society is like this.
She has to learn to adapt and grow.
"Alright, go to the washroom quickly. If you don't like this kind of occasion, you can hide inside for a while. I'll call a driver to take you away later," Qin Li pretended to be drunk again, winked at her, and then turned back to the private room.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Mian rushed into the washroom, splashed her face with cold water, and spent a long time collecting her thoughts before finally coming out.
But as soon as she stepped out, she was pulled into a cubicle by a sudden dark figure, and in a whirlwind of confusion, she found herself pressed firmly against the door by a man with a tall and sturdy physique, his scorching body heat searing her, rendering her completely immobile.
Lin Mian looked up in astonishment.
And then she met the cold, black, and piercing eyes of Ling, straight on!