Ivy Holden looked at him, puzzled. "You came here alone?"
"What's wrong? Can't I come for a drink by myself?"
"Aren't you afraid of running into paparazzi or fans and getting cornered here? Hmm... I've already thought up the headline for them: 'Superstar Jensen Morrison Drowns His Sorrows at a Late-Night Bar...'"
Jensen Morrison chuckled and shook his head. "A headline like that won't make it to the top of the trending charts. I think they'd go with something like: 'Jensen Morrison Hooks Up at a Bar. First Love or Secret Mistress?'"
Ivy Holden raised an eyebrow, then broke into a grin. She leaned forward, draping her arm over Jensen Morrison's shoulder. "Well, aren't you a wild one? Even throwing around words like 'first love.' It's a real shame you're not a content planner for some tabloid."
Jensen Morrison chuckled softly, his warm gaze sizing up Ivy Holden with a hint of playful ambiguity.
"What are you looking at? Never seen a beautiful woman before?" Ivy Holden lifted her chin, squinting at Jensen Morrison. 'This man has always kept a spotless reputation. In my past life, I never heard a single scandal about him, right up until the day I died. To think I'd have to get to know him all over again after being reborn.'
"You're like a completely different person," Jensen Morrison said, his dark eyes as cool and placid as a deep abyss.
Ivy's heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained perfectly composed. She narrowed her eyes, a bewitching smile playing on her lips, and was just about to fire back a retort when she heard a woman behind them ask in a low, chiding tone, "Jensen, why haven't you gone in?"
A pang of guilt, like she'd been caught red-handed, shot through Ivy Holden, and she quietly removed her arm from Jensen Morrison's shoulder.
"And who are you?" Diana Dunn frowned at Ivy Holden, her expression like she was looking at a pig trying to dig up her prized cabbage.
Jensen Morrison immediately came to Ivy's defense. "Diana, this is a friend of mine."
"A friend?" Diana Dunn shot Jensen Morrison a glare sharp enough to kill. "You're already getting dragged through the mud by some psycho fans. Are you trying to make things worse? Can't you just give me a break for once!"
Jensen Morrison laughed. "Don't worry, the company bought you a health insurance policy with double coverage."
"I'd like to live a few more years, thank you very much!" Diana Dunn turned to stand between Jensen Morrison and Ivy Holden, studying the latter thoughtfully. "You look familiar. Have we met somewhere before?"
"Mr. Dunn, it is an honor to meet you." Ivy Holden wasn't offended by Diana Dunn's reaction and gave a polite, small bow.
"Ah! It's you! The beautiful author who won that... what was it... the Online New Vanguard Literary Award right before the new year!" Diana Dunn's demeanor instantly warmed. "Have you sold the rights to your book yet? Are you interested in working with our company?"
"My apologies, Mr. Dunn. I intend to manage the rights myself. However, I would look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with your company." Ivy knew that Jensen Morrison didn't technically work for any entertainment company—he *was* the largest shareholder of Celestial Entertainment. 'He's just always been too proud and disdainful of schmoozing to ever appear in public in that capacity.'
Diana Dunn immediately pulled out her phone. "Then let's exchange contact information. I have very high hopes for your work."
"Ms. Dunn," Jensen Morrison interrupted. "She's my friend. I'll be the one to discuss this with her."
"Jensen, you're my boss at the office, but out here, I'm your manager. When it comes to corporate decisions, I listen to you. But in a public setting like this, you listen to me. Those were the terms of our partnership, were they not?" 'Diana Dunn was truly a top-tier manager; she'd even chew out her own boss.'
Jensen Morrison shot a cool glance at Ivy Holden. "Collaborating with Miss Holden is a corporate decision. Therefore, I will handle the negotiations personally."
Diana Dunn rolled her eyes and scoffed, "Never seen you take such a personal interest in a girl before!"
"She's my friend," Jensen Morrison said, his expression completely serious.
"I barely know him," Ivy Holden shot back, raising an eyebrow mockingly at Jensen Morrison.
"?!" Diana Dunn looked as if she'd just seen a ghost.
Jensen Morrison remained perfectly calm as he prompted her, "Don't you have a meeting with Mr. Cheney and Director Yorke from Dawnlight? You should get going. They're both major figures in the industry; it's not good to stand them up."
"But... didn't we agree to meet them together?" Diana Dunn demanded, trying to suppress her rising panic. "You're not planning on standing them both up, are you? The board already approved our collaboration with them!"
Jensen Morrison's expression suddenly shifted. He clutched his stomach. "I just had one drink, and now my stomach is killing me. Just tell Mr. Cheney and Director Yorke that I'll make it up to them. I'll treat them to a game of golf next time."
"You..." 'When did you become such a drama queen?' Diana Dunn thought.
"You're taking me to the hospital," Jensen Morrison said, grabbing Ivy Holden by the hand and pulling her toward the exit. He didn't forget to call back over his shoulder, "And remember to cover our tab!"
Dazed, Ivy Holden let Jensen Morrison pull her out of the bar. The blast of cold night air instantly cleared her head. She shook his hand off and demanded impatiently, "What do you think you're doing?"
"Get in the car." Jensen Morrison nudged her into the passenger seat.
As she was getting in, Ivy's sharp senses made her glance back, and she spotted a figure holding a camera. "We're being photographed," she warned with a frown. "Be careful they don't accuse you of drunk driving."
"I don't care." Jensen Morrison shut her door and walked around to get into the driver's seat.
Ivy hadn't intended to get involved, but curiosity made her glance toward a dark corner of the lot. Her hearing, which had become exceptionally sharp since her rebirth, kicked in. She could clearly make out a girl's pained whimpers, muffled as if someone's hand was over her mouth. The heart-wrenching sounds could only escape through her nose. In a rush of indignation, Ivy pushed the car door open and got out.
"What are you doing?" Jensen Morrison asked, annoyed.
Ivy Holden didn't answer him. Clutching her handbag, she strode quickly toward the dark corner of the parking lot.
Jensen Morrison had a bad feeling, but he couldn't just follow her. He cursed in frustration, then pulled out his phone to call for backup.
Before Ivy even reached the shadows, she heard a lecherous laugh. "Hey, sweetie. Just be a good girl and do what I say. I promise I'll make you feel so good you'll think you've died and gone to heaven..."
"Mmph... mmph..." It was the girl's furious, muffled struggling. The sound was clearly being stifled by a hand over her mouth.
"Well, look at this. This little chick's got some guts, coming over here all by herself." The man holding the camera had already spotted Ivy Holden, but he wasn't the least bit intimidated.
Ivy's lips curled into a seductive smile. "Gentlemen, what's the fun in pestering a little girl who hasn't even blossomed? Let her go. I'll play with you instead."
The man gripping the girl's shoulder laughed. "Heh! Now this one's more my style."
The man with the camera quickly warned him, "Careful. This one might have thorns. I just saw her come out of the bar with Jensen Morrison."
Ivy turned her head to the cameraman, a dazzling smile on her face. "And here I thought you were just a paparazzi goon who specializes in scandals. Turns out you're just a coward who's all lechery and no guts."
"Hey! You've got a sharp tongue on you!" The cameraman put away his camera, looking like he was about to make a move.