Chapter 150: I'll Take You Home

"Indeed, absolutely." Xu Yang and the others nodded vigorously.

As long as He Haoxuan could help them boost their sales performance, what did they have to fear?

He Haoxuan smiled and said nothing.

A mere twelve hundred yuan was practically pocket change in his eyes.

If Xiao Yu and the others insisted on paying, so be it; there were quite a few of them, coming out to about five hundred yuan per person, and he could simply return the money to them later on.

He Haoxuan knew that closing sales came with commissions, and a salesperson's primary source of income lay in those performance bonuses. As long as he properly assisted these people, there would certainly be no issues.

"Come on, brothers and sisters, let's have a drink," He Haoxuan said with a smile.

Seeing that Xiao Yu had already settled the bill, Xu Yang and the others instantly lifted their spirits, eager to taste the fine wine once more. "Hey, Xiao Lin, stop drinking so much and leave some for me! I hardly had any a moment ago," Xu Yang yelled in exasperation.

"Oh come on, Xu Yang, don't you usually not drink much? It's bad for you to have too much," Xiao Lin retorted, refusing to let Xu Yang have any more.

At eight hundred and eighty-eight yuan a bottle, they had never tasted anything like it before.

Since the money was already spent, it would be a crime not to drink.

Seeing how much these sales associates enjoyed the wine, He Haoxuan smiled and said, "Since you all like it so much, that's easy enough. Waiter, bring me two more cases. No, make it four more cases—two bottles for each person."

"Ah, no, please don't!" Xu Yang and the others cried out in fright.

Goodness gracious, those two previous cases of red wine were already giving them a stomachache just thinking about the cost.

Xiao Yu also hurriedly chimed in, "Yes, Brother Xuan, we've had just about enough. Please don't order any more red wine. You still have to drive back."

"I'm not worried. I can always call a designated driver," He Haoxuan dismissed the concern nonchalantly.

However, Xiao Yu was not about to let He Haoxuan order more red wine; her heart had been bleeding when she paid the bill just moments ago.

After the meal, everyone dispersed. Since he hadn't consumed much wine, He Haoxuan decided to drive himself.

Xu Yang and the others tactfully went their separate ways, while Xiao Yu lingered by He Haoxuan's side.

Noticing this, He Haoxuan had no choice but to ask, "Xiao Yu, where do you live? Let me give you a ride home."

"Yes, please!" Xiao Yu cheered happily. She had been waiting a very long time for that exact sentence.

And so, He Haoxuan and Xiao Yu walked out of the hotel.

As soon as they stepped outside, they saw two young men grabbing Xu Yang by the collar and cursing, "Damn it, punk, you bumped right into me while walking! Pay up right now."

"You guys bumped into me, not the other way around," Xu Yang said with a bitter expression.

When they first came out, the other colleagues had already hailed cabs and left. Because his route home differed from theirs, Xu Yang had stayed behind to catch a taxi by himself.

He never expected that while waiting, two heavily intoxicated, swaying men would approach from behind.

They had walked right into Xu Yang; Xu Yang hadn't fallen, but the two men had tripped and tumbled to the ground instead.

Now, these two men were claiming that Xu Yang had knocked them down and were demanding ten thousand yuan in compensation.

Forget ten thousand yuan—even if it were one thousand, Xu Yang wouldn't have given them a single cent.

Consequently, an argument broke out.

"Xu Yang, what's going on?" Sensing something was amiss, Xiao Yu immediately ran over.

"Oh? This little chick isn't half bad. Petite and delicate—I wouldn't mind holding her for a bit of fun," the leading young man leered at Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu flushed with anger and snapped, "Show some decency!"

"Hah, you dare curse at us?" The young man sneered coldly. "Do you even know who we are? We're wealthy guys who drive Mercedes and run companies. Look at you lot, hailing a cab like commoners—do you think you can afford to mess with us?"

Xu Yang urged Xiao Yu, "Don't bother arguing with them, let's just go."

"Go? Do you think you can just walk away? Stay right where you are!" The young man lunged forward and grabbed Xiao Yu's wrist, blocking her path.

"Help! Someone help!" Xiao Yu screamed in terror.

To everyone's shock, the young man's audacity knew no bounds; he forcefully shoved Xiao Yu to the ground and moved to tear at her clothes.

"Don't you dare!" Xu Yang rushed forward to rescue Xiao Yu, but the second young man threw a punch, sending him crashing straight to the ground.

"Humph, I'll make this clear right now: whoever crosses us dies," the first young man continued, reaching for Xiao Yu's clothing.

Before the thought could even finish, a figure soared through the air, hurtled straight toward the young man, and delivered a flying kick that sent him hurtling several meters away.

"Agh, that kills me!" the flying young man shrieked in agony.

Meanwhile, the other youth who had struck Xu Yang was likewise kicked down by the incoming figure—none other than He Haoxuan.

"Damn it, how dare you lay a hand on my people? You must have a death wish," He Haoxuan growled as he continued to kick the youth.

In He Haoxuan's mind, both Xu Yang and Xiao Yu were his subordinates, which made them his people to protect.

To Xiao Yu's ears, however, the words carried an entirely different meaning. She assumed He Haoxuan had fallen for her and now considered her his woman.

At that moment, Xiao Yu's face was flushed red and her heart felt wonderfully sweet.

"Oh please, master, spare us, don't hit us anymore!" the two youths wailed in panic.

"Humph, realize your mistake now? Get lost!" He Haoxuan scolded angrily.

He had simply intended to retrieve his car, never imagining that Xiao Yu would be bullied right in front of him.

Not daring to linger a moment longer, the two youths scrambled up and fled pell-mell.

Xu Yang limped over and said sheepistically, "Brother Xuan, thanks for watching my back just now."

"It's nothing. Just be more careful from now on," He Haoxuan shook his head. "Where do you live? I can drop you off."

"No need, my ride-share is already here." Xu Yang wasn't about to act like a third wheel and ruin the mood; otherwise, Xiao Yu would surely despise him forever.

Xu Yang hopped into the summoned vehicle and departed.

Turning back to Xiao Yu, He Haoxuan said, "Come with me to get the car, Xiao Yu. What would happen if you ran into other thugs?"

"Don't worry, Brother Xuan, I'll be fine," Xiao Yu said with a smile.

Despite her reassuring words, she stuck closely to He Haoxuan's side.

She had been genuinely terrified a moment ago; the young man's breath reeked of alcohol as he frantically ripped at her clothes. If He Haoxuan hadn't appeared in the nick of time, something truly dreadful might have happened to her.

He Haoxuan drove and brought Xiao Yu to the alley near her rented apartment.

Noticing that the alley ahead was pitch dark with no streetlights, He Haoxuan frowned and said, "Xiao Yu, it's not safe for you to live in a place like this."

"It's not that bad. I usually don't go out at night; tonight was just an exception," Xiao Yu said, sticking out her tongue in a remarkably adorable gesture.

He Haoxuan parked the car by the roadside, pushed open the driver's side door, and announced, "I'll walk you to your building. In this kind of situation, I wouldn't have peace of mind leaving you alone."

"Thank you, Brother Xuan." Xiao Yu's body quivered slightly as she felt herself floating on air; He Haoxuan's image in her heart grew taller and more commanding by the second.

Though she had only met He Haoxuan yesterday and interacted with him properly for the first time today, a woman's sixth sense was exceptionally keen, and she was a firm believer in love at first sight. Consequently, her fondness for He Haoxuan surged exponentially.