187: Chapter 187 Two Women Make a Drama

As several glasses of red wine were slowly consumed, the atmosphere in the private room relaxed completely, shedding the inherent restraint and professional politeness of the workplace.

Outside the window, the evening breeze swept through the courtyard branches, bringing with it a faint scent of greenery and the light fragrance of late-blooming flowers amidst the rustling leaves.

Inside, exquisite delicacies emitted curling steam, their fresh aroma slowly diffusing through the air, while the mellow scent of wine lingered in threads around the table.

Warm, soft light spilled down from the ceiling, gently brushing over the features of the three people, softening the sharp edges of business negotiations and the rigidity of workplace interactions, leaving only a relaxed and peaceful sense of domesticity.

Shen Xi had always been the best at managing the mood; she never sought to be the center of attention, but she would never let the atmosphere turn cold.

She took the initiative to start a conversation, choosing light, relaxed topics unrelated to business.

They talked about everything from a newly opened independent humanities bookstore in Jiang City to the signature desserts of a trending tea shop, and then touched upon lifestyle topics like women's daily health and fashion styles.

Her tone was gentle and calm, her speech poised and measured. She struck the perfect balance, guiding the rhythm of the conversation without ever stealing anyone's spotlight, quietly acting as the ideal mediator at the table.

"Manqi, seeing how outstanding and elegant your figure and temperament are, you must pay a lot of attention to the finer things in life in your private time, right?"

Shen Xi asked casually with a soft voice, a faint smile on her lips as she raised her hand to gently pour half a glass of red wine for Lu Manqi.

By now, a hint of tipsy softness had colored Lu Manqi's features. The wine slowly permeated her body, washing away her usual efficiency and coldness.

Hearing this, she curved her lips slightly, her slender fingertips unconsciously stroking the wall of the crystal goblet. A woman's gentle tenderness flickered in her eyes.

"Sister Shen, you flatter me too much."

Her voice was soft and melodic, carrying a hint of post-drinking silkiness.

"I'm usually too busy with work. When I do have free time, I just like to find a quiet place to clear my head and read a book; it's hardly what I'd call 'finer living.' On the contrary, it's you, Sister Shen—managing so much yet keeping your life so exquisite. I'm the one who should be asking you for advice."

"That's actually quite true."

Jiang Chen, who had been sitting in the main seat listening quietly to their chatter, finally spoke up. His gaze inadvertently brushed over Lu Manqi's gentle and beautiful profile. His tone was casual, yet it carried a hint of sincere praise.

"The pace of the finance industry is too fast. There aren't many people who can truly settle their hearts. Manqi has a sense of inner peace, which is very rare in this industry."

Caught off guard by Jiang Chen's direct public praise, Lu Manqi's heart suddenly grew warm, as if a heated undercurrent was slowly rippling through her soul.

An uncontrollable flush crept onto her cheeks. It was hard to tell if it was the red wine taking effect or if she was secretly shy from his blunt compliment.

She turned her head slightly to meet Jiang Chen's calm, steady gaze. A soft smile rippled in her eyes, and her voice became even gentler than before, carrying just the right amount of humility and admiration.

"President Jiang, you're overpraising me; I'm still far behind you. No matter how busy things get, you always handle everything with composure and ease. That's true vision. I'm just following behind you, quietly watching and learning, slowly building myself up."

Jiang Chen held his wine glass, his fingertips lightly stroking the glass as he listened quietly to her sincere words.

After she finished, the corners of his lips curled into a faint arc. He didn't say much more, but simply raised his glass toward Lu Manqi in a subtle gesture that was both casual and undeniably warm.

Lu Manqi understood the gesture immediately. She raised her own red wine glass, her slender, fair wrist moving slightly.

The rims of their glasses touched softly. A crisp, faint clink echoed quietly in the silent room, like a wordless agreement or a signal of unspoken rapport.

Through this back-and-forth, their conversation became naturally harmonious. There was no forced flattery or deliberate distancing; they slowly drew closer through their casual talk.

Sitting to Jiang Chen's left, Shen Xi took everything in. Her mind was clear and perceptive, yet her expression remained gentle and calm.

She listened quietly to their chatter, occasionally interjecting with a well-timed word to bridge the conversation, subtly keeping the focus on Jiang Chen and Lu Manqi to deliberately leave them plenty of space for interaction.

She stopped leading the conversation and instead focused on serving them food, refilling their wine, and pouring tea. Her movements were skilled and elegant, every action reflecting her perceptiveness and tact.

Time slipped away amidst the chatter and the clinking of glasses. Before they knew it, three rounds of drinks had passed.

The bottle of Burgundy on the table was already empty, and the prepared moutai was half-gone. The aroma of alcohol in the air grew richer and more mellow.

Lu Manqi's tolerance wasn't particularly high to begin with. In her usual professional social settings, she mostly just took sips. She had never drunk so freely, mixing red and white spirits.

After several rounds of toasting, the alcohol gradually went to her head, spreading through her veins to her entire body.

A bright crimson flushed her cheeks, and her eyes were veiled in a hazy, moist mist. The sharp efficiency of a professional elite had completely faded; she had shed all her professional armor, revealing the gentle, relaxed charm in her bones.

A faint daze colored her features, and her tone became increasingly soft and melodic.

She propped her elbow on the edge of the round table, resting her chin in her palm. With her head slightly tilted, her gaze—filled with the innocent curiosity of someone tipsy—rested quietly on Jiang Chen.

After watching him for a moment, she suddenly couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

That smile was clean and pure, carrying the unique frankness and boldness of intoxication. With her eyes curved like crescent moons and her gaze shimmering, she was a completely different person from the calm, restrained, and professional Manager Lu in the conference room earlier that day.

"President Jiang."

She spoke softly, her voice mellow with the casual intimacy of being slightly drunk. Though she still used his formal title, her tone no longer held any of the cold, business-like distance; instead, it had the familiarity of a private chat.

"What are you actually like... outside of work?"

Hearing this, Jiang Chen looked up slightly. He leaned back in his chair in a relaxed, lazy posture, turning his head to look at her flushed cheeks and hazy eyes. A half-smile played on his lips, and his tone carried a hint of casual amusement.

"Then you tell me, what counts as 'outside of work'?"

"It's..."

Lu Manqi tilted her head slightly, thinking seriously about how to describe it. Her slender fingers made a small gesture in the air, a movement that carried the clumsy innocence of wine, making her seem all the more genuine and unmasked.

"When you don't have to sit in a conference room signing contracts, or look at complicated reports on a computer, or sit at a negotiation table playing games with people."

"When you're just alone, shedding all your titles and statuses, and quietly being yourself—what are you like then?"

This question had already crossed the boundaries of a simple professional partnership. It carried a deep personal curiosity that struck at the heart, far beyond polite social pleasantries.

Shen Xi's fingertips, holding her teacup, paused slightly. Her gaze quietly shifted between Jiang Chen and Lu Manqi, a hint of realization flashing in her eyes. However, she remained seated quietly, not interrupting, silently giving them the space to talk.

Jiang Chen was silent for a brief two seconds. His gaze fell deeply on Lu Manqi's tipsy, earnest face. Then, he let out a low chuckle, his tone relaxed and carrying a rare touch of honesty.

"Actually, it's nothing special. I'm just an ordinary person. When I'm alone in my free time, I simply shut out the outside world, listen to some soothing music, brew a pot of aged tea, and sit in a daze. Occasionally, I'll play games to pass the time. I'm not as profound or otherworldly as people imagine."

"I don't believe you."

Lu Manqi shook her head gently, her tone carrying the stubborn innocence peculiar to the intoxicated as she stared straight at him.

In her gaze was unhidden admiration, intense curiosity, and a soft emotion she herself hadn't even noticed, quietly swirling in her eyes.

"You must have many sides that people don't know about. Someone who can sit in your position can't be as simple as just listening to music and drinking tea."

Jiang Chen was lightly amused by her blunt and stubborn words. He took a small sip of wine, his eyes gentle and his tone carrying a hint of light teasing.

"Then in your eyes, what should I be like?"

"Hmm..."

Lu Manqi lowered her eyes in thought for a moment, then looked back at him, seriously studying his calm features. After a moment, she smiled faintly.

"I think you're a very gentle person at heart. Not the superficial politeness, but true gentleness. Looking at your attitude toward Professor Chen, I felt that you never put on airs with people who deserve respect."

Such a delicate and unique evaluation was completely beyond Jiang Chen's expectations.

The hand holding his wine glass paused for a moment before he set it down. His gaze toward Lu Manqi deepened. After a while, he spoke, his voice softer than before.

"That is certainly a fresh perspective."

"It's not a fresh perspective; it's my sincere feeling."

Lu Manqi shook her head gently. The wine had diluted her usual reserve and restraint, making her expression exceptionally frank and direct, without any concealment.

"All these years at the bank, I've seen all sorts of business figures. Too many people, once they hold a bit of power or an advantage, become overbearing and bully the weak, wishing they could grab every bit of profit for themselves without yielding an inch."

"But you're different. The more confidence and strength you have, the more easygoing and humble you become. You know how to give people dignity and leave them some room. After being around people for a long time, I can still distinguish between good and evil, and the quality of one's character."

As she spoke these heartfelt words, she unconsciously leaned forward slightly, narrowing the distance between her and Jiang Chen.

The faint, elegant scent of her perfume, mixed with the mellow aroma of red wine surrounding her, drifted over with the evening breeze. In the warm, quiet light of the private room, it brewed a sense of ambiguity and sincerity that was just right.

Jiang Chen looked quietly at her flushed cheeks and the unadulterated sincerity and softness in her eyes. A gentle smile slowly spread across his lips.

He didn't say anything more. He simply picked up the red wine bottle beside him and skillfully poured half a glass into her nearly empty cup.

The action was quiet and natural, yet it carried more warmth than any words could.