62: Chapter 62 Alcohol for Courage

The low-pitched engine roar of the porsche 911 echoed through the underground garage, finally coming to a steady stop in a spacious marked parking spot.

Manager Chen Danni sat in the passenger seat, glancing through the window at the familiar sign outside, her heart skipping a beat involuntarily.

Ping An Finance Centre Mall.

"We're coming here?" Manager Chen Danni turned to look at Zhang Qi, her tone revealing an undisguisable sense of unease.

Upstairs was the office area for Zhisheng Finance.

In this mall, there were her colleagues, peers, and those acquaintances from the financial circle she saw constantly.

She was currently wearing a tight, hip-hugging leather skirt and black stockings; compared to her usual style, it could practically be called flashy.

If she were bumped into by acquaintances from the company, she, the Analysis Department Manager known for being cold and capable, would have her reputation completely thrown into the Pacific Ocean.

If her subordinates saw her mingling with a recently resigned employee, her life's reputation would be utterly ruined.

"That's right, we're eating here." Zhang Qi pulled out the car key and pushed open the car door, his tone matter-of-fact.

"The house you bought is closest to here, so it's most convenient to go back after eating."

Manager Chen Danni was left speechless by this statement.

At the time, the reason she spent a huge sum of money to buy the house at Yinhu Residence was precisely because it was close to the company, making the commute convenient.

But who could have imagined that after living there for such a short time, the house would become someone else's.

Now, not only did the house belong to Zhang Qi, but even she herself, to cover that five-million hole, had to prepare to sacrifice herself.

The former convenience had now become the biggest hidden danger.

Manager Chen Danni sighed silently in her heart and bit the bullet, pushing open the car door to get out.

She was now asking for favors, so she had no qualification to refute Zhang Qi's decision.

She could only pray silently in her heart, hoping for good luck today and that she wouldn't run into anyone she knew.

The two took the elevator that went straight to the mall and arrived at the top floor.

Zhang Qi led Manager Chen Danni with familiarity into a high-end fusion restaurant with a very stylish decor.

This restaurant was quite famous in the high-end dining circles of Shenzhen.

When he used to work at the company, Zhang Qi often heard the big shots in the Business Department bragging about how exquisite the dishes were and how private the environment was.

But back then, with the meager fixed salary he earned every month, he didn't even dare to take more than a glance when passing by.

Now that he was worth tens of millions, he naturally had to come and experience this so-called top-tier enjoyment.

Especially since he was accompanied by the once high-and-mighty female boss.

Presumably, this meal should be quite an experience...

As soon as they entered, a welcoming waiter in a proper uniform smiled and approached them.

The waiter had a sharp eye.

Although Zhang Qi was wearing high-end casual wear without obvious logos, the Patek Philippe on his wrist catching the light, combined with that composed aura of his...

...and the top-tier beauty with a cold, glamorous temperament and a stunning figure following him.

This was definitely a high-end customer with real power.

"Hello, sir. Do you have a reservation?" The waiter bowed slightly, his attitude extremely respectful.

"No reservation. I want a quiet private room." Zhang Qi said casually.

The waiter looked troubled, but maintained a professional smile as he offered a reminder.

"Sir, I'm terribly sorry, but our restaurant's private rooms have a minimum consumption standard, starting at ten thousand."

"No problem, lead the way." Zhang Qi didn't even blink.

Seeing this, the waiter immediately beamed with joy, made a gesture of invitation, and led the way.

Manager Chen Danni followed at Zhang Qi's side, walking in her high heels with her head down, trying to minimize her presence as much as possible.

Fortunately, the environment of the top-floor restaurant was indeed private; they didn't run into any acquaintances along the way.

The two were led into an extremely elegant private room.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the bustling night view of Shenzhen was in full view.

Zhang Qi sat down in the main seat and took the tablet menu handed over by the waiter.

In this kind of high-end restaurant, it wasn't actually too difficult to order ten thousand yuan worth of food.

But with only two people eating, to reach that amount, he had to pick some substantial dishes.

Zhang Qi was still a pragmatic person at heart and didn't intend to order those flashy dishes that looked good but weren't worth it.

He flipped through the menu, his gaze falling on a signature dish.

"Wild large yellow croaker, bring one, pick a big one."

The wild large yellow croaker here was priced at nearly two thousand per jin; just picking one that was over two jin immediately used up half the quota.

Next, he ordered a few portions of premium abalone, a serving of caviar, and several exquisite side dishes.

He looked at the total price; it was still a little short.

Zhang Qi's finger swiped across the drink menu, ordering a bottle of aged yellow wine.

"That's it, check out."

Zhang Qi handed the tablet to the waiter.

The waiter quickly checked the bill.

"Sir, your total consumption is ten thousand five hundred and sixty yuan. Would you like to scan the code or swipe your card?"

Zhang Qi took out his phone, brought up the payment code, and with a beep, the payment was successful.

At the very moment the payment was successful.

In Zhang Qi's mind, that familiar mechanical voice rang out as expected.

The system notified him that the double cashback had been triggered.

Immediately after, the phone in his pocket vibrated once, and a bank notification message arrived.

Over twenty-one thousand yuan easily landed in his card.

Zhang Qi didn't look at it, casually throwing his phone onto the dining table.

Manager Chen Danni, sitting opposite him, had watched the whole process of Zhang Qi ordering and paying.

A meal costing over ten thousand yuan was paid for with a scan of the code, so nonchalantly.

He didn't even blink.

Manager Chen Danni couldn't help but click her tongue silently in her heart.

As the Analysis Department Manager of Zhisheng Finance, her monthly salary plus bonuses easily exceeded one hundred thousand.

In the eyes of ordinary people, she was definitely considered a high-income elite.

But even she would never dare to spend over ten thousand yuan on a casual meal for two.

This way of spending was completely detached from her understanding of money.

She couldn't help but calculate in her heart.

With Zhang Qi's speed of spending, if it were her, unless she had a net worth of one billion, she would never dare to squander money like this.

What kind of earth-shattering luck did this kid stumble upon to be able to accumulate such terrifying wealth in such a short time?

However, shock was shock.

Manager Chen Danni actually felt a trace of relief in her heart.

The stronger Zhang Qi's strength was, and the more generous he was with his spending, the better it was for her.

This meant that the five-million hole was really just a small sum of money in Zhang Qi's eyes.

As long as her efforts tonight could satisfy Zhang Qi.

As long as she could put down that pathetic pride of hers and serve this young former subordinate well enough to please him.

She would definitely be able to get through her crisis.

Thinking of this, Manager Chen Danni slightly loosened her tightly clenched fingers.

She glanced at Zhang Qi sitting across from her.

Young, handsome, and looking physically fit.

Instead of letting those greasy, pot-bellied old men in the financial circle take advantage, it would be better to let this kid in front of her have his way.

Manager Chen Danni comforted herself in her heart.

Soon, the door of the private room was pushed open.

The waiter pushed a dining cart and served the exquisite dishes onto the table one by one.

The steamed wild large yellow croaker was cooked to perfection; the fish meat was as white as snow, emitting an enticing, fresh aroma.

The abalone was plump, and the sauce was rich.

Finally, the waiter placed the bottle of aged yellow wine on the table, helped pour it into a decanter, and then respectfully retreated, closing the door of the private room.

Zhang Qi picked up his chopsticks, picked up a piece of fish, and put it into his mouth.

The taste was indeed excellent; there was a reason why it was expensive.

"Aren't you going to drive later? Why did you order wine?" Manager Chen Danni asked casually as she looked at Zhang Qi.

"Just to meet the minimum order, I didn't intend to drink." Zhang Qi said.

Manager Chen Danni looked at the bottle of yellow wine, her red lips parting slightly, breathing out like an orchid.

"Since you've ordered it, it would be a waste not to drink it."

"This wine... give it to me."

Her voice was not loud, revealing a sense of composure that she was forcing.

Zhang Qi stopped his chopsticks and scanned his gaze across Manager Chen Danni's face.

This woman's current state was clearly not right.

Usually, when Manager Chen Danni held meetings at the company, she was decisive and swift; when she scolded people, her words were crisp and clear, and her aura was fully unleashed.

But now, although she was trying hard to maintain her poise, her beautiful eyes revealed an undisguisable panic.

Her fair fingers were gripping the chopsticks, her knuckles slightly straining.

Zhang Qi wasn't very sensitive in this regard, but even he noticed Manager Chen Danni's peculiarity at this moment.

However, he didn't say anything; he was acting just like a scumbag right now.

Neither initiating nor refusing.

He didn't expose Manager Chen Danni's disguise, just leaned back in his chair and made a gesture of invitation.

"Sure, then you have some."

"Mm."

Manager Chen Danni hummed softly, stretched out her fair arm, picked up the decanter, and poured herself a small glass full of the amber-colored yellow wine.

She didn't sip it slowly like one would when tasting wine.

Instead, she tilted back her slender neck and drank the liquid in the glass in one gulp.

The action was crisp and decisive, even carrying a hint of desperation.

The aged yellow wine, while mellow upon entry, had quite a strong kick.

The pungent wine flowed down her throat, making her cough lightly twice.

On her cold, exquisite face, a flush of enticing redness instantly climbed up.

Manager Chen Danni put down the wine glass and lowered her head slightly.

At work, she could strategize and be decisive.

But in this regard, she was completely a novice with no experience.

She didn't know how to take the first step, nor did she dare to.

She could only rely on alcohol to build up her courage first!