Chapter 78: Crackling

Trying to set me up? You’re still way too green for that!

After pouring a glass for Ye Fei, Wan Jun filled glasses for Chen Yu and himself as well. But just as Wan Jun was about to raise his glass, Ye Fei suddenly stared past him, eyes wide with dramatic shock. “Damn!”

His expression was exaggerated to the extreme.

Both Wan Jun and Chen Yu were startled and instinctively followed Ye Fei’s gaze over their shoulders. In that moment, Ye Fei swiftly flicked two fingers, effortlessly swapping his own glass with Wan Jun’s. The movement was so fast it happened in the blink of an eye.

Wan Jun and Chen Yu, seeing nothing unusual in the direction Ye Fei had indicated, turned back to him in confusion.

Ye Fei grinned broadly. “I just spotted a French beauty—her figure is out of this world! If only I could take her home as my wife.”

Wan Jun was speechless.

Under the table, Chen Yu, fuming, reached out and gave Ye Fei’s waist a sharp pinch.

Ye Fei winced in pain, shooting her a look. Chen Yu responded with a cold little snort, feigning innocence.

“Come, Brother Ye, I’m really glad to meet you today. Let’s have a toast—drink as you like!” Wan Jun lifted his wine glass with a languid smile.

They clinked glasses and both downed their drinks in one go.

As soon as he finished, Ye Fei refilled his glass, raised it to Wan Jun, and said, “Come on, little Wan, another round!”

Wan Jun was dumbfounded. What was this supposed to mean? They’d just finished a glass—couldn’t he get a break?

With a forced chuckle and not wanting to seem weak, Wan Jun filled his own glass and, after clinking with Ye Fei, downed it with a frown.

“Impressive, little Wan, you’re a real drinker!” Ye Fei filled his glass again and raised it. “Come on, let’s keep going!”

Wan Jun was at a loss for words. That last glass had already filled him to the brim, and now Ye Fei wanted yet another toast!

Wan Jun was ready to curse. This was a French restaurant, and they were drinking wine—not beer! Did Ye Fei think this was some street-side food stall?

“Brother Ye, maybe… we should slow down?”

At this point, Wan Jun felt a little lightheaded—mainly because that last glass had gone down too fast, and his stomach, unaccustomed to alcohol, couldn’t keep up. Besides, this was red wine from 1998. Who could handle that?

“Little Wan, I’ll drink first—up to you what you do!”

Ye Fei drained his glass once more, not giving Wan Jun any time to recover.

Wan Jun was baffled. How could Ye Fei drink so much, treating red wine like water?

Not to be outdone, Wan Jun forced himself to gulp down the wine as if it were poison. The moment he finished, his stomach felt queasy—though he managed to swallow it back, a faint dizziness washed over him.

Only those who have been force-fed liquor could understand this feeling.

Wan Jun was seething inside, but the thought of the laxative soon taking effect on Ye Fei lifted his spirits.

Let’s see how long you can last!

Ye Fei kept raising his glass for toast after toast, leaving Wan Jun feeling wobbly, the world spinning around him.

Clinging to his last shred of awareness, he glanced at his watch, calculating that the laxative should be kicking in any moment. He began to smirk inwardly.

But then—

Very soon, Wan Jun felt a sudden tightness in his abdomen, followed by an overwhelming urge. “Damn… I need to use the restroom…”

Reeling from the alcohol, clutching his belly, he staggered to his feet. But after only two steps, a wave of dizziness hit him—his legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor, knocking over his chair.

The next instant—

A loud, unmistakable noise erupted from Wan Jun’s lower half, and an unbearable stench filled the air.

Many eyes turned toward him; those sitting nearby pinched their noses in disgust.

“Wan Jun, what’s going on?” Chen Yu, frowning with concern, stood up to help him, only for Ye Fei to catch her cool, delicate hand. “Sister Yu, if you don’t want to get caught up in this, don’t help him.”

Just then, another noisy outburst came from beneath Wan Jun, and a foul-smelling liquid could be seen trickling down his pant leg.

“Oh my god, little Wan, how could you do something like this in such a high-end restaurant—and in front of all these people, too?” Ye Fei sighed loudly.

Though Wan Jun was dizzy and weak, his mind was still partly clear. Hearing Ye Fei’s words, he wished he could turn into an ostrich and bury his head in the sand.

Damn it! Wasn’t the laxative in Ye Fei’s wine? Why was it happening to me? Why!?

“Sister Yu, call an ambulance—dial 120, or he might keep going like this forever!” Ye Fei winked at Chen Yu. “After all, he’s one of your company’s people; this doesn’t look good!”

Chen Yu shot Ye Fei an exasperated look. Even a fool could tell this had something to do with Ye Fei, but how could she blame him? She had no choice but to take out her phone and dial 120.

Seizing the opportunity, Ye Fei pulled out his own phone, turned on the video recorder, and captured a short clip of Wan Jun’s predicament.

Soon, the ambulance arrived. With all eyes on him, Wan Jun was lifted onto a stretcher and taken to the hospital.

Chen Yu had no choice but to leave with Ye Fei, resigned.

“I’ll drive,” Ye Fei said, snatching the car keys and sliding into the driver’s seat.

Chen Yu bit her lower lip but said nothing.

“Worried Wan Jun might resign at such a critical moment and delay Spring and Autumn’s development?” Ye Fei asked as he turned the steering wheel. “Don’t worry, he wouldn’t dare.”

“You’re so sure?” Chen Yu’s eyes widened, gazing straight at him.

“Believe it or not, even if he quits, I can find someone even better for you,” Ye Fei replied. “But enough about that. Let me take you somewhere nice to make up for our ruined dinner.”

At last, Chen Yu smiled and turned her face toward the bustling streets outside.

During the drive, Ye Fei used his spiritual energy to evaporate every drop of wine from his body, his flushed face returning to normal.

He drove the two-million-yuan Maserati to a night market he remembered from before, parked by the roadside, and chose a lively barbecue stall to sit down.

At Chen Yu’s look of disbelief—“Is this your idea of a good place?”—the two ordered a few bottles of beer and dug in.

The night market barbecue stall truly lived up to its reputation as the king of late-night snacks. Even the pampered, refined Chen Yu abandoned her usual restraint, popping piece after piece of succulent pork belly into her mouth. The greasy, savory flavor and tempting aroma instantly won over her palate.

“Well? Didn’t I tell you?” Ye Fei burped. “Isn’t hanging out with me a thousand times better than being with that snob?”