<h4>Chapter 131</h4>


    IF Shopping Mall had been open for just half a month, and its sales volume was already among the top three of Jin City’srge shopping malls.


    The celebratory banquet invited all the merchants and partners who had moved into IF Shopping Mall.


    In the banquet hall were long Western-style dining tables decorated with white tablecloths. Under the extravagant crystal chandeliers, the exquisite tableware glimmered brightly.


    Around the tables, guests mingled in groups of two or three, cocktail sses in hand, chatting amiably with one another.


    This was heaven for businessmen and elites.


    But for Li Zhen, it was the prison she hated most.


    As Li Zhen entered the banquet hall, her eyes immediately fell on Yu Sheng, surrounded by a crowd of people. Impably dressed in a tailored suit, he had an aloof and outstanding presence.


    As a sessful elite in society, Yu Sheng was never short of sycophants around him.


    Zhao Yan stood by his side, apanying him.


    Sensing something, Yu Sheng nced in Li Zhen''s direction and beckoned to her coldly.


    Li Zhen frowned and walked over.


    Yu Sheng picked up a ss of wine from a passing waiter''s tray and held it out to her, his tone devoid of warmth. "You''rete."


    Zhao Yan was somewhat surprised. Yu Sheng had said he wouldn''t bring a date tonight.


    How did Li Zhen end uping after all?


    "It''s good enough that I came at all," Li Zhen didn''t take the wine. She asked the waiter next to her, "Which ss has in water?"


    For some reason today, her subconscious just didn''t want to drink alcohol.


    But Yu Sheng''s expression darkenedpletely, a cold glint in his eyes. "I asked you toe, not to stand around looking pretty."


    He put the wine ss in Li Zhen''s hand. The crimson liquid inside swayed slightly. "Today is a celebratory banquet. If you drink water, do you want to offend IF Shopping Mall?"


    As soon as Yu Sheng finished speaking, a female voice sounded beside them. "Mr. Yu."


    Yu Sheng inclined his head slightly. "Ms. Du."


    The neer was the boss of IF Shopping Mall, Du Baifeng. Her gaze candidly looked Li Zhen up and down twice.


    This was the woman who had injured a producerst time because of Yu Sheng. Why did shee again?


    Beside Du Baifeng was a bald man with a potbelly, who quickly raised his ss on seeing Yu Sheng and the two women. "Mr. Yu, long time no see..."


    "It has been a while," Yu Sheng lifted his ss.


    They all drank.


    Only Li Zhen stood at the back holding her wine ss, pretending to be invisible.


    Du Baifeng''s gaze flickered over her briefly. But she couldn''t gauge Yu Sheng''s attitude towards Li Zhen, so although unhappy, she didn''t say anything.


    The bald man, however, frowned. "Thisdy is..."


    Yu Sheng''s voice was indifferent. "A colleague from mypany''s advertising department, mypanion for tonight."


    The bald man suddenly understood.


    So she was brought along to liven up the atmosphere.


    Well, she was quite a looker.


    Women like her brought to such asions were for entertainment after the men were done with serious talk.


    The bald man immediately smiled ingratiatingly. "Miss, why aren''t you drinking? You''re not giving us face."


    "Sorry, I can''t hold my liquor," Li Zhen imperceptibly took another step back.


    "No problem, no need to worry if you can''t drink well. Mr. Yu brought you to build up your alcohol tolerance!"


    "I''m sorry, I..."


    Before Li Zhen could finish, the bald manughed and grabbed her hand, forcing her to down the wine in one gulp.


    He immediately refilled her ss.


    "Cough cough..." The mouthful came too fast, and Li Zhen choked badly.


    Zhao Yan looked at Yu Sheng anxiously.


    But Yu Sheng showed no reaction. Zhao Yan didn''t dare say more, and could only watch as the bald man forcibly poured Li Zhen several more drinks.


    After the bald man left, Li Zhen heavily put down the wine ss. "Yu Sheng, this isn''t how you pressure someone! Do you find it fun watching me being forced to drink?"


    Yu Sheng looked at her, his brows knitted with undisguised coldness. "Without my protection in the future, there are plenty of things even worse than this waiting for you."


    It was a reminder, almost a warning.


    The air fell silent for a moment.


    Zhao Yan averted her eyes, wishing she could vanish on the spot.


    Li Zhen only felt a stone weighing down her chest, making her want to curse.


    An hourter.


    Having been coerced into drinking too much, Li Zhen felt dizzy and unsteady on her feet. She gritted her teeth and headed for the bathroom.


    She had barely walked halfway when her arm was suddenly seized from behind by a hurried figure. "Where are you going?"


    Li Zhen looked back; Yu Sheng''s face was growing blurry before her eyes.


    She shook off Yu Sheng''s grip and leaned against the wall to steady herself. "Mr. Yu! Surely you can''t begrudge your subordinate taking a bathroom break...I feel sick..."


    Li Zhen''splexion was as flushed as if she had just been fished out of hot water.


    Her eyes blinked weakly.


    She was drunk.


    In such asions, a beautiful femalepanion of low status was the favorite ything of men to joke around with and force drinks on after serious talk.


    Today, Li Zhen didn''t know how many people hadughingly poured alcohol down her throat. She was already struggling to remain upright.


    Yu Sheng''s hand involuntarily clenched, but he still mercilesslymanded, "Come out immediately after throwing up."


    The dizziness made everything seem absurd to Li Zhen. "Yu Sheng, you''re not trying to pressure me, you''re trying to kill me!"


    "Can''t take it? Thene home with me." Yu Sheng stood ramrod straight like a cold, emotionless statue.


    Li Zhenughed. "I''d rather die!"


    Yu Sheng could no longer restrain his anger. He barked sharply, "Li Zhen, know your limits!"


    He had pressed her so hard today, yet she was still stubbornly refusing to return home!


    What on earth was she being so stubborn about!


    "What do you mean, know my limits?" Swaying drunkenly, Li Zhen spoke feebly, "I went past my limits toote! That time we went to Find, you didn''t touch me, and I knew something was bothering you."


    Yu Sheng''s body stiffened.


    Li Zhen went on, "I kept guessing - maybe it''s because I pursued you, so you never had much desire for me in bed. Or maybe it''s because those photos of me saving people were leaked, making you ufortable thinking I''m not pure."


    "At first I thought it was fine, we got married, as long as you wanted me once and we had a child it would be okay."


    "But we''ve been married a year, Yu Sheng. Were you really that busy?"


    "What man is so busy he doesn''t even have time to sleep with his new wife?"


    "I..." Yu Sheng''s sharp brows were knitted tight.


    Li Zhen drunkly looked at him.


    But Yu Sheng couldn''t get a single word out.


    Li Zhenughed again. "Later I thought again, it''s fine if we''re together but have no marital rtions or children. But..."


    Li Zhen paused, her voice lowering hoarsely, "But you forbid me from doing what I like, leave me at home waiting desperately for you every day, while you''re openly intimate with other women outside. Can you imagine how I feel being alone at home? I''m like a puppet, put away in the house for you to nce at asionally to relieve your boredom."


    "Yu Sheng, I should have known my limits long ago! I even feel I was toote."


    Each of Li Zhen''s words was like a needle stabbing Yu Sheng''s heart.


    Piercing, unbearable pain radiated through his heart.