CHAPTER 144: CHAPTER 144: IS IT LOVE OR OBSESSION? (14)

Tang Yanqi’s eyes flashed a hint of discomfort, but it was just for a moment before she returned to normal: "Hello, Mr. Xu."

Xu Muyun put his arm around the woman beside him, the only one Tang Yanqi didn’t know, and introduced her: "Lin Duo, my wife."

"Hello, Mrs. Xu."

"Hello, Miss Tang, Miss Tang, you’re really beautiful."

Tang Yanqi maintained her smile and didn’t say much, while Zhou Chengze over there was already noisily inviting everyone to sit down: "We’re all familiar here, why be so formal? Come on, take a seat, Brother Nan is late, we’re starving."

Tang Yanqi obediently sat beside Sheng Jianan, with Zhou Chengze on her other side, attentively handing the menu to Tang Yanqi: "Sister-in-law, take a look, what would you like to eat?"

Tang Yanqi felt a bit awkward, with so many people present, she wasn’t the only woman, wasn’t it inappropriate to give the menu only to her?

Before she could say anything, Lin Duo on the other side had already kindly noticed Tang Yanqi’s discomfort and said with a smile: "We’ve all ordered already, just didn’t know what Miss Tang likes, so we didn’t make the decision."

Hearing this, Tang Yanqi’s expression relaxed a little as she closed the menu: "I’m fine with anything, you all decide."

Soon the dishes were served, the men chatted about the recent stock market and venture capital. Tang Yanqi’s one hand hung down, the other held chopsticks, slowly eating from her bowl.

Sheng Jianan was speaking with Xu Muyun about the current trends in the international economy, yet his gaze swept over Tang Yanqi’s bowl several times. Five minutes ago, there were two bean sprouts left in her bowl, now one remained.

Taking five minutes to eat one bean sprout, even a snail would be faster than this woman, or was it not to her taste?

Sheng Jianan hadn’t said anything yet, but Zhou Chengze beside him had already spoken up: "Sister-in-law isn’t using her chopsticks much? What is it? Not to your liking?"

His sudden words focused everyone’s attention on Tang Yanqi, making her somewhat awkward as she looked up and smiled: "No, I eat slowly, chewing deliberately is good for health."

Her explanation was flawless, but too forced, and she awkwardly smiled before getting up: "Sorry, I need to use the restroom."

Her straight back suddenly bent as she left the private room, and Tang Yanqi’s calm little face frowned, one hand against the wall, staggeringly heading to the restroom, where she slipped into a stall and slumped onto the toilet lid. She felt weak, as she had all along.

She knew she had been drugged. Earlier, she just felt a lack of strength, but the further it went, the sleepier she became.

Pulling up her skirt, Tang Yanqi looked at the left side of her thigh, which she had pinched to the point of bruising, blending with the other lingering scars on her body. It was relying on this pain-induced stimulus that she had endured until now, which was why she had no appetite and didn’t talk much.

After sitting on the toilet lid for quite a while, Tang Yanqi came out. She had makeup on and couldn’t wash her face with cold water. Standing at the sink, frowning, she washed her hands and then let a few drops of water fall directly into her eyes. The stinging pain brought tears, and the sudden jolt made Tang Yanqi feel a bit better.

Looking at her pale little face in the mirror, Tang Yanqi smiled self-deprecatingly. She ought to thank that despicable professor. Though she didn’t know what kind of drug he had given her, at least it probably wasn’t the kind that would cause humiliating acts. It was likely some sort of sleeping aid, and since she hadn’t drunk much water, she could just barely hold on.