Chapter 34: What official could withstand such a test!

Even late at night, Hengdian has plenty of restaurants open. Many film crews are still shooting in the evenings, and the local eateries cater specifically to them, keeping their doors open until the early hours.

Ji Yu drove through a couple of streets before finding a hot pot restaurant. It wasn't crowded, but there were two or three tables occupied—likely extras or crew members who had just finished their shifts. There is nothing more satisfying than hot pot in this weather.

"What kind of broth would the three of you like?" the owner asked with a smile, holding the menu.

"Spicy broth!"
"Mandarin Duck pot!" (x2)

Ji Yu and Fan Bingbing exchanged a smile. Le Jiatong, being a Sichuan girl, had no choice but to compromise. For those from the Sichuan-Chongqing region, the Mandarin Duck pot is the ultimate concession.

The broth arrived quickly. Le Jiatong volunteered to mix the dipping sauces, insisting on letting them taste an authentic Sichuan-style oil dip. She was determined to make them experience the charm of Sichuan-Chongqing hot pot. Before long, she returned with three bowls of sauce. Fan Bingbing looked at the oil in her bowl and instinctively touched her face, feeling like she would gain weight just from eating this. Ji Yu, not being so particular, took a sniff and gave Le Jiatong a thumbs-up. It was truly fragrant.

Once the broth began to bubble, a spicy aroma wafted through the air. Ji Yu couldn't wait and dropped the beef in. He was starving! Le Jiatong, meanwhile, didn't rush to use her chopsticks; instead, she turned and asked the owner for a bottle of liquor.

"Still drinking? Aren't you cold?" Ji Yu asked, eyes fixed on the churning beef, showing no interest in the alcohol.

"It's Baijiu. You can't drink since you're driving, but Bingbing and I will."

Fan Bingbing felt a bit annoyed and didn't really want to talk to Le Jiatong. The reason was simple: Le Jiatong was a protégé of Qiong Yao, touted as the "sixth-generation Qiong Yao ingenue." However, since Le Jiatong was being so generous, Fan couldn't afford to appear petty. It was just a bit of drinking; it wasn't a big deal.

Watching them clink glasses, Ji Yu couldn't help but swallow his saliva—alright, he did want a drink after all.

"Don't even think about it! You're driving! Just eat your beef!"

"I'm not eating the beef!" Ji Yu huffed and turned his attention to the mutton instead. In the winter, mutton was a treat—nourishing!

After the two women finished their first round of drinks, the conversation began to flow. They talked about typical women's topics, and since Ji Yu couldn't get a word in, he simply focused on devouring the hot pot. By the time he finished the last piece of frozen tofu, he patted his stomach in satisfaction.

"Burp~~"

Ji Yu let out a long breath and looked over at the two women, noticing they had nearly polished off the whole bottle. Their tolerance was impressive; they had each had at least four taels of liquor, yet they didn't seem particularly drunk. They could outdrink most men.

"Are you two full? Need to order more?" Ji Yu glanced at the owner, who was clearing nearby tables; the restaurant would be closing soon.

"No more, we're stuffed!" Le Jiatong divided the last of the liquor, raised her glass, and said, "I'm so glad to have met you both. Let's have one final toast!"

Ji Yu raised his glass of cola, clinking it against theirs with little dignity. He belonged at the children's table!

After the final drink, their faces finally flushed red. Walking out of the restaurant, the wind hit them, and their steps became slightly unsteady. Ji Yu held one in each hand, fearing they might trip. When they reached the car, Fan Bingbing clawed at the passenger door, insisting on sitting in the front. Ji Yu shoved her into the passenger seat and helped Le Jiatong into the back.

"Don't you dare throw up; this isn't my car," Ji Yu cautioned while fastening his seatbelt. He glanced at the dazed Fan Bingbing and reached over to buckle her in as well. The belt pulled tight, and Ji Yu suddenly realized that Fan Bingbing was actually quite shapely.

In the back, Le Jiatong started acting up, shouting that she wanted to go to karaoke. Fan Bingbing chimed in, agreeing. Ji Yu wouldn't hear of it; current karaoke bars were more expensive than nightclubs. Only a fool would go and get ripped off. They were going back to the hotel to sleep!

Ji Yu drove, occasionally glancing back, worried they might get sick. If Jiang Qingqing found out, she would surely kill him. Jiang Qingqing was also from the Sichuan-Chongqing region and was trained in traditional opera; her combat skills were definitely superior to Le Jiatong's. She might just kick him to death.

Ji Yu turned the car's air conditioning to its highest setting so the heat would reach Le Jiatong in the back. The warm air blowing directly at Fan Bingbing made her feel hot, and she couldn't help but unzip her down jacket. Inside was a white, form-fitting plush sweater with a V-neck that exposed her collarbones. Because of the alcohol, her fair skin was flushed, and her chest rose and fell with each breath. The black seatbelt pressed against her chest, accentuating her soft, white curves.

Ji Yu caught a glimpse of Fan Bingbing, then looked in the rearview mirror at Le Jiatong, who was lying in the back with her legs propped up against the car roof. Her long legs were pressed together, looking all too easy to hoist over one's shoulders.

Ji Yu exhaled, feeling the air conditioning was a bit too hot—he felt stifled! Why were these girls so unguarded around men? He only played a "good, honest man" in his acting roles; he wasn't actually one! What official could withstand such a test? It was incredibly frustrating to be able to look but not touch!

When Ji Yu arrived at the hotel's underground parking garage, he shouted, "We're at the hotel, wake up!"

But the two ladies didn't respond at all. Once hit by the warm air of the car, they had fallen straight asleep. Ji Yu’s head throbbed; he couldn't possibly carry both of them up. He tried calling the assistant director, Sun, but the phone went unanswered. Why turn off your phone to sleep? Did middle-aged life really have to be so regimented?

Ji Yu decided not to rush. The car was warm enough, and since it was nearly three in the morning, he would just make do here. However, as they breathed, the car filled with the scent of alcohol mixed with their perfume—a smell that felt decadently erotic.

Ji Yu stepped out of the car and leaned against it to smoke. Just as he finished one cigarette and prepared to light another, the rear window rolled down. Le Jiatong stuck her head out and reached out a finger. Ji Yu looked at her and lit a cigarette, handing it to her. Le Jiatong didn't mind; perhaps her mind was too dull to care.

She took a drag, exhaled softly, and said, "You're a good man."

"Get lost," Ji Yu replied with a roll of his eyes.

Le Jiatong laughed happily, flicking the ash, and said, "You aren't pretending to be honest; you're just a coward."

Ji Yu muttered to himself, "But I'm..." His courage was indeed small; his bright future had only just begun, and he didn't want to throw it all away.

After finishing the cigarette, Le Jiatong pushed the door open and got out. "I can go up on my own. You carry Bingbing up."

"Oh."

Ji Yu helped Fan Bingbing out and locked the car. When he looked up, Le Jiatong was gone. Where did this woman go? Was she intentionally creating an opportunity? Or was she up to some mischief? Was she trying to get Fan Bingbing drunk and throw her at a man, and then... was this Qiong Yao's doing?

Ji Yu looked around suspiciously, but saw no paparazzi. Forget it, he would just take Fan Bingbing up first. She lived next door anyway; he would just drop her off and go back to his own room to sleep.