13: drunk

Jiang Yuan reached into his pocket to pull out his cigarette case, intending to light one up, only to realize that, without him noticing, he had finished the entire pack.

"Brother Jiang, I have some here. I bought two cartons for you, but I hadn't had the chance to give them to you yet."

Ya Ya saw this and quickly pulled two cartons of exquisitely packaged gold cigarettes from her small bag, handing them to Jiang Yuan with a smile of anticipation, as if seeking praise.

"You're really generous."

Jiang Yuan took the cigarettes and saw the "Nine-Five" label printed clearly on the packaging; he knew immediately that these were high-end cigarettes costing a thousand yuan per carton.

He usually smoked soft Yuxi, which cost only twenty-one yuan a pack; Ya Ya had undoubtedly spent a small fortune this time.

"Brother Jiang, you sent me so much money, it wouldn't feel right for me to keep it all. I didn't know what you liked to smoke, so I just went to a tobacco shop and asked for the best two cartons they had."

Ya Ya smiled happily, then deftly opened a pack, pulled out a cigarette, and handed it to Jiang Yuan, a hint of small pride in her eyes.

Gu Xinyu, standing nearby, didn't want to be outdone. She quickly pulled a lighter from her bag, stepped forward, and lit the cigarette for Jiang Yuan with skilled and thoughtful movements.

Jiang Yuan took a deep drag and slowly exhaled a perfect smoke ring. Watching the curling smoke rise, he signaled to the two women, "You two should move aside; aren't you afraid of choking?"

After all, he could never bring himself to subject beautiful women to secondhand smoke.

So, he simply stood up and walked over to the massive floor-to-ceiling window. Looking at the silhouette of Mount Tai gradually disappearing into the darkness outside, he began to puff on his cigarette, enjoying this moment of tranquility.

Before long, several waitresses dressed in qipao brought dish after dish of delicious, fragrant food to the table. At the same time, a small door behind the screen on one side of the private room opened, and several young women dressed in Hanfu walked out.

One of them played the zither in the corner, the music melodious, while the others danced gracefully nearby, adding a touch of classical elegance to the dinner.

Jiang Yuan returned to the dining table and picked up a piece of Braised Intestines to taste. The moment it entered his mouth, the rich, savory fat blended perfectly with the intense sauce, leaving a lingering fragrance on his lips and teeth that was truly unforgettable. This flavor was far superior to any intestine dishes he had eaten before; it was simply on a completely different level of enjoyment.

He didn't say anything more, focusing instead on enjoying the food while clinking glasses and exchanging drinks with the two women.

The two women also occasionally served him food, then raised their glasses to toast with Jiang Yuan. The atmosphere seemed exceptionally harmonious amidst the zither music and dancing.

"Fine wine, delicious food, and beautiful company—this is the life!"

Jiang Yuan drank several glasses of red wine in a short time. Whether it was because he was in such a good mood or some other reason, he, who could usually handle a dozen beers, now felt a bit dizzy, which was why he couldn't help but exclaim like that.

It could be said that the wine didn't make him drunk, but he made himself drunk; after all, with his body strengthened, he should only be able to drink more, not less.

Gu Xinyu and Ya Ya watched Jiang Yuan's slightly tipsy state, smiles on their faces.

Ya Ya found him genuine, while Gu Xinyu felt a rare sense of closeness because of his relaxed state.

"Brother Jiang, since you're so happy, why don't we toast you again!"

Ya Ya raised her glass, her eyes sparkling.

"Yes, Mr. Jiang, thank you for bringing us to experience such a wonderful night."

Gu Xinyu also raised her glass, her voice gentle.

Jiang Yuan laughed heartily and raised his glass to clink with theirs, the crisp sound of the glasses echoing in the private room.

He finished the wine in his glass, feeling the warm intoxication spreading through his body. That unprecedented sense of relaxation made him feel incredibly comfortable.

"Good, today is a happy day, let's continue."

Jiang Yuan waved his hand grandly, looking quite heroic.

As they exchanged drinks, time slipped away unnoticed, and the moon was already hanging high in the night sky.

That bottle of romanee-conti red wine, worth seventy-three thousand yuan, had long been finished by the two women, while Jiang Yuan himself had boldly downed a dozen bottles of Qingdao craft beer.

Surprisingly, however, at this moment, not only was he not drunk at all, but he felt clearer than ever, his mind sharp and lucid.

Meanwhile, Gu Xinyu and Ya Ya were both flushed with intoxication as the alcohol hit them.

Ya Ya was completely passed out, her eyelids so heavy she could barely keep them open, as she drifted in and out of consciousness in her chair.

Gu Xinyu was slightly better off, but her eyes had become unfocused, and her cheeks were flushed a seductive crimson. That tipsy, adorable vulnerability was a stark contrast to her usual cold demeanor, making her exceptionally captivating.

Jiang Yuan lit a cigarette, the smoke curling up from his fingertips. He gently raised his hand to summon the waiter waiting nearby and asked in a calm tone, "How much?"

"Sir, your total consumption is 88,467 yuan. Considering you are a valued guest, we have rounded it down to 88,000 yuan. How would you like to pay?"

The waiter respectfully presented the bill.

"Card."

Jiang Yuan casually pulled out that black-gold private bank card from his pocket and handed it to the waiter without a second thought.

The waiter took it, immediately swiped it on the POS machine, and then respectfully returned the card and the receipt to Jiang Yuan with both hands.

Jiang Yuan didn't even glance at the detailed receipt; he just tossed it aside as if it were a piece of worthless scrap paper. He didn't care at all about the amount on it, fully displaying his extravagance and nonchalance.

"You guys take this young lady back to her residential complex, and then find me a designated driver."

Jiang Yuan pointed to Ya Ya, who was completely asleep, and instructed the waiter, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Very well, sir, I will arrange it right away."

The waiter immediately replied, then bowed and retreated to make the arrangements.

Before long, two petite young women came over to Ya Ya with light footsteps, carefully lifted her up, and escorted her to a business van already waiting outside.

"How is it, can you still walk?"

Jiang Yuan turned around and looked at Gu Xinyu, who was unsteady on her feet and swaying slightly. He asked softly, with a hint of thoughtful concern in his eyes.

"I... I'm fine, Brother Jiang. Don't... don't worry about me."

Gu Xinyu was slurring her words, her voice tinged with intoxication.

She hadn't expected to get drunk unknowingly today. This was an unprecedented situation in her many years of professional career, which made her feel a mix of annoyance and embarrassment.

"Alright."

Jiang Yuan replied, then followed beside her, carefully walking towards the exit.

Just as she crossed the threshold, Gu Xinyu lost her balance, her body lurching forward violently, and she was about to fall to the ground.

Fortunately, Jiang Yuan was quick-witted and agile; almost instinctively, he reached out and pulled her, causing Gu Xinyu to fall into his arms unexpectedly.

He held her slender waist tightly, preventing the beauty from falling in a sorry state; otherwise, that impact would surely have bruised her face and left an ugly scar.

"Mr. Jiang! I'm sorry! Excuse me!"

Gu Xinyu's body stiffened instantly. She broke free from Jiang Yuan's embrace, quickly stood upright, and apologized to him with a flushed face. She even eagerly reverted her address back to "Mr. Jiang," clearly feeling extremely embarrassed by her drunken loss of composure.

After all, in a professional setting, this was a serious lapse in her duties.