77: Chapter 77 A Feast of Wine
Zhou Zhengtao had a bit to drink, and the floodgates of conversation opened. He patted the armrest of the sofa and spoke.
"Jiang Chen, although you're mainly in Jiang City, you should still build up your network here in Lanbei. Doing business these days, it never hurts to have a few more paths open. If anything comes up in Lanbei later, or if you want to expand this way, just come find us brothers."
As he spoke, his eyes narrowed behind his glasses, carrying a hint of sincerity.
Zhao Yong nodded from the side.
"Brother Zhou is right. While Lanbei isn't as big as Jiang City, its spending power isn't bad."
Chen Jianguo also joined the conversation, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop.
"Jiang Chen, I've been in real estate for so many years, and my biggest realization is that in the end, business isn't about the product—it's about the people."
"You're here today to get acquainted; from now on, we're all on the same team. Lanbei is neither too big nor too small. If we look out for each other, everything becomes easy to handle."
Jiang Chen nodded and raised his glass.
"Brother Zhou, Brother Zhao, President Chen, I toast to you all. I'll likely be troubling the three of you in the future, so please guide me."
The four clinked glasses and drained them in one go.
After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere in the private booth relaxed completely.
Everyone began to get comfortable, and no one stayed idle.
Su Xiaoxi sat quietly by Jiang Chen's side the whole time.
Her professional training told her that when a guest is socializing with important friends, the best companionship is silence.
Don't interrupt, don't do anything to draw attention; just refill drinks, hand over tissues, or simply smile along at the right moments.
But she could feel that as the alcohol took hold, the sense of aloofness around Jiang Chen was melting away bit by bit.
He no longer felt like he was separated from the rest of the room by a pane of glass, as he had when he first entered.
His laughter was low and a bit husky, like sandpaper soaked in alcohol.
Listening to his voice, Su Xiaoxi's heart skipped another beat.
She remembered what her 'seniors' had said during training.
"When a guest is tipsy, that's when they need someone most. You can't wait for him to come to you; you have to take the initiative. Don't be afraid; being reserved is worthless in a place like this."
She bit her lower lip and spent three seconds mentally preparing herself.
Then, she moved.
She inconspicuously shifted a few inches closer to Jiang Chen until her shoulder was almost touching his arm.
She picked up the bottle and refilled his drink.
After pouring, she didn't immediately sit back. Instead, she remained slightly leaned over, very close to his arm—close enough to feel the warmth radiating from his sleeve.
Her voice was kept very low, with a soft, sweet tone, like a secret meant only for him.
"Mr. Jiang, please drink a little less. It's bad for your stomach."
Jiang Chen turned his head and glanced at her.
This was the first time tonight he had looked at her seriously.
It wasn't the scrutiny one gives a piece of merchandise, nor was it a condescending look from above. It was an equal gaze, filled with a touch of curiosity, as if he were looking at something that had suddenly piqued his interest.
His gaze fell on her face, moving from her slightly trembling eyelashes to her small, upturned nose, and then to her lips, which were slightly pursed from nervousness.
Su Xiaoxi felt the tips of her ears burning under his gaze, but she didn't look away.
She met his eyes with a look that was part timid and part stubborn.
"What is your name?" Jiang Chen asked.
This was the first time tonight he had taken the initiative to speak to her.
"Su... Su Xiaoxi." Her voice was very soft, as if she were afraid of disturbing something.
"Xiaoxi."
Jiang Chen repeated the name. The corners of his mouth curved up slightly—a small gesture, but Su Xiaoxi saw it.
Su Xiaoxi's heart rate went completely haywire.
"How old are you?" Jiang Chen asked again.
"Twenty," she answered honestly.
Jiang Chen nodded and said nothing more, but his hand slid down from the back of the sofa and naturally rested on her shoulder.
His fingers gave her rounded shoulder a gentle squeeze. Through the thin fabric, his palm felt dry and warm.
Su Xiaoxi's body stiffened for a brief moment.
She knew that at this moment, she should relax, be soft, and melt into his embrace like water.
But when it actually happened, she was still so nervous that her fingertips turned cold.
She took a deep breath, forced her shoulders to relax, and then leaned in, her back pressing against his chest.
She could feel his heartbeat—steady and powerful—a sharp contrast to her own chaotic pulse.
Jiang Chen's hand slid from her shoulder to her side, his fingers resting on her slender waistline.
Then, he continued to explore along her waist...
When Jiang Chen applied a bit of pressure, Su Xiaoxi let out a soft moan.
Her breathing also began to quicken, but she didn't pull away or resist.
Instead, she tilted her head slightly, resting her chin gently in the hollow of his shoulder, her nose almost touching his neck.
She smelled the faint scent of alcohol on him, mixed with a crisp, woody fragrance like cedar or sandalwood—a scent so clean it didn't seem to belong in a place like this.
"Mr. Jiang..." Her voice was muffled, sounding like a coy plea or a subtle probe.
"Hmm?" Jiang Chen looked down at her, his chin nearly brushing the top of her head.
"You smell so good."
When she said this, her ears were so red they looked like they were about to bleed.
Jiang Chen paused for a moment, then let out a low chuckle. The sound vibrated from his chest and into her eardrum, carrying a tingling itch.
"You're not bad yourself," he said.
Su Xiaoxi buried her head even deeper. Her face was burning intensely, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up.
The sofas on the other side were also gradually becoming lively.
Zhou Zhengtao had his arm around the intellectual and elegant girl next to him. Their heads were close together as they spoke in low voices.
The girl would laugh from time to time—a smile that was appropriate yet intimate.
But Zhou Zhengtao didn't seem satisfied with this 'standard' interaction. His hand slid from her shoulder to her waist, and then from her waist to her thigh, rubbing it unhurriedly.
The girl's body tensed for a split second before relaxing again, her face still wearing that proper smile.
However, as she smiled, her eyes no longer looked at Zhou Zhengtao; instead, she stared at the crystal ashtray on the coffee table, as if counting the patterns on it.
Zhao Yong's side was much quieter.
The cool, mature woman sat by his side with a dignified posture, pouring drinks and handing over water and tissues with smooth, natural movements, like a well-trained personal assistant.
Chen Jianguo's side was a different scene altogether.
He leaned back on the sofa while a bright and beautiful girl peeled lychees for him, feeding them into his mouth one by one.
While chewing on a lychee, Chen Jianguo chatted with Lin Hao about the recent land auction market in Lanbei. Occasionally, he would lean down to say something to the girl, and she would purse her lips and smile in a sweet, obedient way.
"Old Chen, you sure are living the life," Zhou Zhengtao teased, looking up from the girl's thigh with a smile.
"You bet."
Chen Jianguo swirled his glass smugly.
"Life is short; you have to enjoy it while you can. Oh, right! That Mutant Chinchilla of Jiang Chen's—Haozi made it sound so incredible, I'll have to see it for myself later."
He pulled out his phone and turned toward Jiang Chen.
"Come, come, let's add each other on WeChat. Send me a photo of that chinchilla later, and I'll forward it to a few interested friends."