"Who's drunk? Lu Huaijin, if you can't handle the game, don't host it. You call me over and then boss me around, how annoying."
The game continued.
Perhaps it was coincidence, or perhaps someone was playing a prank, but the spinner landed on Lu Huaijin again.
He stared at the punishment on the spinner, secretly resolving to seize the opportunity to get closer to Tiantian and deliberately spun towards the result he wanted.
As it turned out, he succeeded.
"Hug the person to your right and do 20 squats."
Tiantian was sitting to his right. Lu Huaijin pushed his cup aside.
"Didn't you say I can't handle it? Watch me now! Come on, 20 squats, jump up yourself!"
Tiantian glanced at him and deliberately looked at Chen Dongyang with an ambiguous tone.
"That won't do. I just had a cross-cupped wine ceremony with Engineer Chen. Everyone says we're a couple. If you want to hug me, you have to get his permission. Engineer Chen, do you agree to him hugging me?"
Chen Dongyang naturally disagreed and also said it in a joking tone.
"Since we're already a couple, then it's definitely not okay. Mr. Lu, how about I do this punishment for you?"
Although he knew it was a joke, Lu Huaijin was still a little displeased.
"How did you two become a couple? Whatever they say goes? I say we're a couple too. Don't be a sore loser, Tiantian, come on."
Tiantian was precisely being a sore loser and deliberately playing coy.
"20 squats is so boring. If you have the guts, hug me and do 200, okay?"
"If you can do 200, I'll officially agree to be your girlfriend right here in front of everyone today."
The atmosphere immediately became even more electric.
Everyone started egging them on: "You can do it, Mr. Lu! Mr. Lu, mighty! 200, 200! Go, Mr. Lu!"
Even though Lu Huaijin wanted her to be his girlfriend, he knew he couldn't possibly do 200 squats.
Was this even a joke?
"Tiantian, you're being mischievous. Doing 200 squats would exhaust anyone. What's the use of having a boyfriend who's a wreck? You'll just be a useless boyfriend."
"Only 200 squats and you're exhausted? That can't be right. If you can't do it, let Engineer Chen try. I think he can."
Those who enjoy a good show and don't fear trouble immediately turned their attention to Chen Dongyang.
Chen Dongyang smiled faintly and looked at Lu Huaijin.
"I think I can try. Mr. Lu, are you willing to yield?"
Lu Huaijin refused to believe it.
They were about the same build, and Chen Dongyang was four years older than him. Could he really hug someone dozens of pounds heavier and do 200 squats? He wasn't afraid of being embarrassed!
"It seems true that great rewards make brave men. Since Engineer Chen isn't afraid of making a fool of himself, I'll give you a chance. Don't say I'm bullying you, 200, not a single one less."
Everyone cooperatively pulled the coffee table back to make space. Chen Dongyang walked to Tiantian, picked her up effortlessly in a princess carry, and began to squat.
Amidst everyone's cheers, he started.
"One, two, three..."
By the 50th squat, everyone was dumbfounded.
Engineer Chen looked thin, but how was he so strong? Fifty squats in one go, without even panting.
Tiantian hugged his neck, met his gaze, and a smug smile played on her lips.
It was as if she had "My boyfriend is awesome" written all over her face.
Lu Huaijin found it unbearable to watch. He couldn't wait until 200 and interrupted them.
"Alright, alright, stop. We're just playing games to relax, yet you're taking it so seriously. If you really did 200, you wouldn't be able to work for a month. What would you eat or drink without Engineer Chen? You people just love to egg people on. Stop, stop, stop, let's change games."
Everyone pushed the coffee table back. Chen Dongyang placed Tiantian back on the sofa, sitting down next to her.
They changed games to rock-paper-scissors.
Tiantian didn't know how to play and stopped participating, watching Chen Dongyang play with others.
Chen Dongyang played rock-paper-scissors with one hand, resting the other on his leg.
Tiantian deliberately crossed her legs, her knee brushing against his. Her hand also rested on her leg, their hands making almost imperceptible contact in the air.
This subtle, covert flirtation was incredibly intoxicating.
After finishing a table of drinks, they still weren't satisfied. Someone suggested that Mr. Lu and Engineer Chen show off and sing a song.
This was finally Lu Huaijin's strong suit. Wanting to impress Tiantian, he sang "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" with deep emotion.
Tiantian laughed so hard that tears almost came to her eyes.
"Lu Huaijin, you're so cheesy. You're so greasy I feel like I'm going to throw up my leftovers."
Seeing Tiantian's happy laughter, Lu Huaijin was also happy.
"This song of mine is famous for being a 'thousand-person slayer' in KTV, always getting praised. Tiantian, don't pick on me. If you don't like it, how about we sing 'Hiroshima Love Song' together?"
Tiantian said, "Who's singing 'Hiroshima Love Song' with you? It's more like 'Let's Break Up Nicely'."
Tiantian and Lu Huaijin sang "Let's Break Up Nicely" together.
Chen Dongyang realized this girl was truly outstanding in every aspect; her singing was exceptionally good.
What a shame, though, that she had to partner with Lu Huaijin. It lowered her standards.
After they finished singing, they received unanimous praise. Lu Huaijin handed the microphone to Chen Dongyang.
"Engineer Chen, show us what you've got."
It was Chen Dongyang's first time singing in front of Tiantian, so he naturally chose his best song.
He sang an English song by the Backstreet Boys.
His authentic pronunciation and magnetic tone almost turned it into a personal concert.
Even the two girls from the finance department were captivated by him.
Lu Huaijin watched Tiantian's entranced face and regretted hosting this gathering.
Why was this Chen Dongyang so amazing in every way?
He had truly been upstaged today!
After the song ended, as he was about to call on someone else to sing, Tiantian stood up and invited Chen Dongyang.
"Engineer Chen, your singing is so good. I'd like to sing a duet with you. Would you do me the honor?"
That was, of course, acceptable.
Chen Dongyang asked her what she wanted to sing. Tiantian said "Hiroshima Love Song."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Chen Dongyang also smiled, "I don't know how to sing 'Hiroshima Love Song.' How about 'A Perfect Union'?"
As the two of them were "flying wing to wing" and singing about "a perfect union," Lu Huaijin was so angry he buried his forehead in his hands on the sofa.
He couldn't help but feel like there was something going on between them. Could it be that he had been a pawn, and this gathering was actually arranged for the two of them?
Everyone continued to laugh and have fun until past two in the morning when they finally dispersed.
As they waited for their designated drivers outside the club, having all had drinks, Lu Huaijin deliberately moved closer to Tiantian to assert his claim.
"I'll take you home."
Tiantian leaned closer to Chen Dongyang. "No need. Let Engineer Chen take me. We've already made plans."
"He's taking you? You've made plans?"
Tiantian smiled. "Yes. I've fallen for your designer, Chen. Mr. Lu, thank you for arranging this gathering for us today. When we're together, you'll be the first to get our wedding candy."
Lu Huaijin almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
"You, you, you, you..."
Tiantian then boldly linked her arm with Chen Dongyang's.
"I kissed him four hours ago. Do you understand now? I fell in love with Engineer Chen at first sight. Thank you for being the matchmaker. Chen will send you a big red envelope later."
Lu Huaijin: "?!"