Chapter 266: The Cocktail Party (Part Two)

Zheng Qian observed that Song Yaxian's Favorability toward him was plummeting.

Must admit, she was actually quite cute when she was angry.

"Are you jealous?" Zheng Qian was nonchalant; these things were easy to explain.

It was just that Song Yaxian's attitude toward this matter made Zheng Qian feel a bit intrigued.

Someone like her would actually get jealous over him?

Haha.

"You…"

Song Yaxian pointed at Zheng Qian, unable to vent her anger.

She really was jealous.

Anyone with eyes could see it!

But Zheng Qian had just laid it out like that, which really made her lose face.

She was such a strong-willed person; how could she be bothered by matters of love?

No, this didn't fit her persona.

"Hmph!"

"If you don't want to talk about it, then don't. I'll just take your silence as an admission."

As she spoke, Song Yaxian prepared to leave Zheng Qian's suite and return to her own room.

Zheng Qian saw that he had pushed it far enough; if he teased her any further, there might be trouble.

"Oh my, I was just joking with you. Why are you sulking?"

"Hehe."

"Who's sulking with you!"

Song Yaxian snorted coldly.

Zheng Qian was speechless.

If this wasn't called sulking, what was?

She might as well have had the word 'sulking' engraved on her face in bold, black letters!

"Things aren't what you imagine."

"These gossip entertainment news outlets just love spreading rumors and creating hype."

"You know Jiang Yanran's status in Jiangnan; spreading rumors about her is what sells and generates traffic!"

"I have absolutely no relationship with her. Even if I did, it would be at most as business partners. You can ask anyone, and you'll find that out clearly."

Zheng Qian explained that he simply didn't want to reveal his upcoming cruise ship operation plans, which was why he used the method of gifting a cruise ship to Jiang Yanran.

But he hadn't expected Jiang Yanran's popularity in Jiangnan to be so high, causing such an uproar.

"That was a miscalculation on my part."

Zheng Qian stated that Asia Shipping was a leader in Kyushu, and even more so, a leading enterprise in the Jiangnan region and the head of the Five Shipping Alliance.

Through decades of operation, Jiang Yanran had inherited and mastered a massive network of connections.

Cooperatng with Asia Shipping in the future would lead to prosperity.

Zheng Qian explained with a straight face.

This was indeed his true thought.

Song Yaxian was moved by Zheng Qian's sincerity.

Immediately, she nodded, indicating she understood.

"Forget it, forget it. Between these unscrupulous media outlets and you, I choose to believe you."

Song Yaxian's Favorability toward Zheng Qian increased a bit, but it was nowhere near as high as before.

No wonder there were always internet trolls active online.

Even if there was really nothing going on, it would still lower Favorability.

However, for Zheng Qian… it could also be considered a good thing.

After all, the lower the Favorability dropped, the more opportunities Zheng Qian had to farm cash rebates, and the more room he had to operate.

"Oh, right."

"The agency for the Heavenly King called me, inviting me to attend a cocktail party tomorrow night."

"It's said that the Heavenly King will also be there, so I accepted. You should prepare in advance, and I'll take you with me."

A cocktail party?

Song Yaxian seemed very excited.

But she still had work to attend to!

She couldn't go.

"You already requested a song for me before and let me perform on stage with the Heavenly King; I'm already very grateful to you."

"Let's forget about the cocktail party; I still have work to do."

"Work or no work, you can handle it in a few days." Zheng Qian thought to himself that if it weren't for Song Yaxian, he wouldn't have agreed either.

Social occasions like cocktail parties were either gatherings for showing off or places to pick up girls; they were extremely boring.

"That won't do."

"You've bought three cruise ships in a row, and there are all sorts of legal documents to process. You're very busy, so I really don't have time."

"I can't let the Heavenly King interfere with my work and life."

Song Yaxian explained.

In her understanding, an idol was just an idol. She might occasionally chase stars, buy an album or two, or attend a concert, but it would absolutely not affect her work or life.

Someone like the Heavenly King was, to her, always ethereal and out of reach.

Being able to sing a song on stage with the Heavenly King meant she had no regrets in this life.

From now on, she should focus on her own life.

"Alright then."

Zheng Qian didn't pressure Song Yaxian.

"But I've already promised them; I can't flake out, right?"

"It's fine, you can just go yourself."

"By the way, help me get an autograph from the Heavenly King!"

…

The next evening.

Inside a magnificent and high-end club in Jiangnan.

A man with broad shoulders, a sharp, chiseled face, wearing a custom-made Italian suit, and a refined build, swirled the champagne glass in his hand.

Beside him was a girl wearing a white gown that dragged to her ankles.

Her figure was tightly constricted by the gown, creating a striking visual effect that made one's eyes drawn not to her artistic face, but to her collarbone area at first glance.

Standing together, they looked like a prince and princess from the Middle Ages, very much like a couple.

At this moment, a waiter in a tuxedo carrying a tray walked over.

He bowed slightly to Tang Xingyu, performing a gentleman's salute.

Then he asked: "Sir, would you like to pour a glass of wine for your girlfriend?"

Shanshan looked shyly at Tang Xingyu.

Tang Xingyu did not meet Shanshan's gaze, only glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

Immediately after, he smiled, picked up the champagne, and poured it into an empty glass.

"Sir, Miss, please enjoy."

The waiter left after speaking.

Shanshan had attended many such high-end occasions since she was young and knew some basic etiquette.

Only for men and women recognized as a couple would a waiter come over and ask the man to pour wine for the woman personally.

If the relationship hadn't been confirmed, or if it were just friends wanting a drink, the waiter would generally pour it for them.

And just now, she and Tang Xingyu had been identified as a couple.

Tang Xingyu did not correct the waiter's address, and even poured the wine himself.

Was this… an admission that she was his woman?

Their relationship?

Seemed to have taken a step closer?

No, no, no!

Tang Xingyu, you could at least confess your feelings!

Taking advantage of someone like this, what is that supposed to mean!

Shanshan still smiled and took the glass of champagne from Tang Xingyu's hand.

On the other side of the cocktail party.

A man about 1.8 meters tall, holding a glass of champagne, was walking toward a bright, dignified, and cold-as-a-snow-mountain woman.

The quality and expense of the clothes he wore were no less than Tang Xingyu's, if not higher.

"Ranran, why are you alone?"

"Come, have a drink with me."

Jiang Yanran glanced coldly at the man who had come to offer her a drink.

This person was named Young Master Zhu Zhicheng, whose father was the chairman of Kewan The Group, the son of the richest man in Jiangnan!

Relying on his father's power, he dared to do anything in Jiangnan.

Recently, he had set his sights on her, wanting to make Jiang Yanran his girlfriend.

"I don't drink."