More and more people gathered around. Everyone looked eager to try the game, and a few tables even started their own rounds, with laughter filling the room.
But only their table felt tense, like things could explode at any moment.
The alpha nervously reached out, staring closely at Song Wangzhuo.
“Three, two… one, look here!”
Song Wangzhuo turned in the direction the alpha pointed.
Before the alpha could get excited, a tray blocked all the wine right in time—
not a single drop landed on Song Wangzhuo.
Shen Yuqing put down his wine glass, hiding his skill and pride.
The alpha was so angry he clenched his teeth.
“Your turn, Sui!”
Lin Sui said, “Why don’t we switch places and let you do the pouring?”
The alpha had already gotten splashed many times.
They had opened five bottles of wine, and at least four of them had ended up on his face and clothes.
Only one had been blocked and spilled elsewhere.
The two switched seats.
Lin Sui’s luck was much better than the alpha’s—
he and Song Wangzhuo were almost evenly matched.
The wine the alpha poured was mostly blocked too, though he did land one or two splashes.
His mood improved, and he smiled more brightly.
He waved his hand and said, “Let’s open five more bottles!!!”
He was clearly enjoying the game too much.
Song Wangzhuo wiped his face with a towel.
This game was really addictive.
He hadn’t expected Shen Yuqing to be this skilled—
he was good at both pouring and blocking.
Actually, Song Wangzhuo had noticed that those one or two splashes that hit him were done on purpose by Shen Yuqing—
just to let the alpha win a bit.
It was obvious.
The alpha’s face had looked so sour when all his wine was blocked.
Now, after splashing Song Wangzhuo twice, he looked much happier.
Song Wangzhuo lowered his eyes.
He knew the alpha probably wouldn’t pick on him anymore.
The next round of the game started, and Lin Sui won again.
But before he could celebrate, he got splashed.
He screamed, “Shen Yuqing! I won!”
Shen Yuqing quickly apologized, “Sorry, Lin Sui, I got used to splashing and didn’t react in time.”
Got used to splashing.
What a show-off way to say it.
Song Wangzhuo was also soaked again.
He changed towels over and over.
Shen Yuqing then said, “It’s getting late. I have to go back now.”
It was already past 9 p.m.
Since his fiancé was now staying at the Shen house, Shen Yuqing had a curfew.
Lin Sui checked the time and said,
“That’s true. You should head back, or someone will complain again.”
Shen Yuqing stood up, not wanting to ruin their fun.
He called over the other friends who were drinking and, at the same time, pulled Song Wangzhuo out of the game.
He said, “Tonight’s bill is on me. I’m leaving now.”
He received a bunch of compliments for being such a generous young master.
Song Wangzhuo stood off to the side.
His shirt was soaked and had become see-through, clinging to his body—
clearly outlining his chest, abs, and…
Shen Yuqing quickly looked away.
He noticed that now, many people’s eyes were on Song Wangzhuo again.
An alpha beauty with no power or background—
he was too easy to become someone else’s prey.
【Corruption Level: 80, Favorability: -50】
Shen Yuqing looked at the dropped stats.
Just as he was about to feel happy, the numbers moved again.
【Corruption Level: 81, Favorability: -50】
Song Wangzhuo hated those stares,
but he was helpless.
He knew all too well how dangerous it was to be powerless.
As he lowered his eyes in thought, a jacket landed on his shoulders.
A fresh scent of soap filled his nose.
It smelled better than any pheromone.
And for some reason, the scent felt familiar—like he had smelled it before.
He looked over and saw that Shen Yuqing was now only wearing a T-shirt.
Then he heard Shen Yuqing say lazily,
“It got some wine on it. Take it.”
It was Shen Yuqing’s jacket.
No wonder—
they had been close to each other all evening, so of course the scent was familiar.
Shen Yuqing seemed to have no other intentions.
After putting the jacket on him, he swaggered away.
When others saw that Song Wangzhuo was wearing Shen Yuqing’s jacket, they lost interest.
They didn’t know Shen Yuqing personally,
but they had all seen how that game played out.
Clearly, everyone favored Shen Yuqing.
None of them wanted to make enemies over an alpha.
Song Wangzhuo didn’t put on the jacket,
but holding it helped cover up a bit.
He quickly went downstairs and returned to the locker room.
Luckily, he still had a fresh set of work clothes in his locker.
He had planned to take them home and wash them after his shift.
Now they came in handy.
After changing, he put the dirty clothes into a bag.
But when it came to Shen Yuqing’s jacket, he hesitated a bit.
He looked it over—
there were no wine stains like Shen Yuqing had said.
It only got stained when he hugged it earlier.
So that meant…
Shen Yuqing had covered for him on purpose.
Song Wangzhuo felt a little conflicted.
But it reminded him of something—
The night he first got hired at the bar, he had a dream.
He dreamed that he was kneeling in front of Shen Yuqing,
and Shen Yuqing stepped on him while laughing wildly.
Everyone just stood by, watching him get humiliated.
At the time, he thought it was just a dream and didn’t take it seriously—
until today, when he met Shen Yuqing.
But instead of being stepped on like in the dream,
he was actually helped.
He thought about the wine game just now and felt a headache coming on.
Forget it.
He was just a low-level worker—
he couldn’t control how the rich played.
Song Wangzhuo put the jacket in a bag.
He planned to wash it and return it later.
He didn’t really want to get involved with Shen Yuqing.
When he came out of the locker room, a coworker said to him,
“Song Wangzhuo, the boss wants to see you.”
Song Wangzhuo nodded and walked toward the manager’s office backstage.
After just two steps, he heard that coworker sneer,
“What’s he acting all high and mighty for? Just because he looks good and got noticed by those rich guys—he thinks he’s something?”
Song Wangzhuo stayed calm and ignored it.
The boss didn’t call him in for anything bad.
Thanks to Shen Yuqing’s wine game, other tables had also ordered many more bottles,
and the sales were better than expected.
The boss gave Song Wangzhuo a bonus,
as a reward for helping keep the guests entertained.
He even told him to go home early and take the night off with full pay.
When Song Wangzhuo returned to the locker room,
his phone in the locker buzzed.
He checked it—
it was the bonus the boss had promised.
He looked at the amount and felt complicated.
In a way, he had gotten lucky because of Shen Yuqing.
As for Shen Yuqing, he didn’t care about Song Wangzhuo anymore.
After all, it was no longer part of the plot,
and Song Wangzhuo wouldn’t run into any strange trouble.
He got into an empty car, then rubbed his arms.
【Host, why did you give Song Wangzhuo your jacket just now?】
The system suddenly spoke.
Shen Yuqing finally remembered the system was still around.
It hadn’t said a word earlier when he completed the plot point.
He replied,
【Just showing off a little.】
It had felt good to act cool earlier—
but now, he was freezing.
The weather difference in Slinor was way too much!
【……】
The system was speechless.
At the same time, the stats updated again.
【Corruption Level: 78, Favorability: -45】
Shen Yuqing took a deep breath.
Good.
All that showing off wasn’t wasted!
