Chapter 55 Did I talk to you?

In the private dining room of the restaurant, all the cold dishes were served, but no one touched their chopsticks.

President Jin glanced at his watch. Although the dishes had been on the table for over forty minutes, he didn't dare to rush things. After some consideration, he filled two cups with wine, handed one to Zhao Yanan, and smiled, saying, "President Zhao, since President Chu hasn't arrived yet, we can't just let the atmosphere cool down, right? Come on, let me first offer you a toast, wishing for a more successful cooperation between our two companies!"

Zhao Yanan accepted the wine cup with both hands and forced a smile at this important client. Even though she found baijiu—no matter how high-end or expensive—extremely hard to swallow, she still tilted her chin and downed the cup in one go.

In contrast, President Jin seemed to thoroughly enjoy it, eagerly pouring himself another cup, saying excitedly, "As they say, good things come in pairs. President Zhao, how about another drink?"

Alcohol and culture are closely intertwined. Even those who are otherwise ignorant can become eloquent on a drinking table. They'll come up with phrases like "three goats bring prosperity," "four seasons of wealth," "everything going smoothly," and "perfection in all things," all just to get you to drink more.

Zhao Yanan knew that this could go on indefinitely, but she didn't want to hurt President Jin's feelings. After all, he had lowered himself to offer her a toast. If she kept refusing, it would seem pretentious and ungrateful.

After three consecutive drinks, this ice-cold beauty felt her stomach burning, and her cheeks were flushed.

President Jin stopped there, made a few jokes, and then turned to Gao Ning, saying, "Gao Ning, you should also offer President Zhao a toast. Business is business, and friendship is friendship. There's nothing that can't be talked out."

Gao Ning stood up, smiling lightly as he extended his hand. "President Zhao, I was too impulsive before and have offended you. Borrowing President Jin's words, business is business. I hope we can handle Xia Zhu's matter peacefully. What do you say?"

Zhao Yanan hesitated for a moment, gently touching Gao Ning's fingertips. It seemed that even a brief physical contact with someone else was something she found extremely uncomfortable. She quickly released his hand, lifted her wine cup, and said, "President Gao, you overthink it. I, Zhao Yanan, never mix business with personal matters."

Gao Ning put on a humble face, lowering his wine cup. "I should be the one to toast you, and also to toast Qingya."

At that moment, there was a knock on the private room's door. A waiter pushed it open, and Chu Yuxuan strode in.

Xia Zhu, who had been wearing a perpetual expression of being owed a million dollars by the world, looked even more displeased upon seeing her ex-husband. She lowered her head, stiffened her neck, and clearly didn't want to look at him again.

Gao Ning, holding his wine cup aloft, froze in place, his smile stiffening as well. "President Chu, you've arrived."

"Ah! Brother Chu, you finally made it!" President Jin stood up, greeted him, and called out to the waiter, "Quick, serve the hot dishes. I want to give my good brother a proper welcome!"

From the moment he entered, Chu Yuxuan ignored the three of them entirely. His gaze softened as it fell on Zhao Yanan's flushed face. Without saying a word, he poured her a glass of water and handed it over.

At that moment, Zhao Yanan's appearance could be described as radiantly beautiful. She had already relaxed internally, feeling some comfort in the presence of this man, even if he often annoyed her.

"You're here," she said.

Chu Yuxuan responded with a question of his own: "Your face is so red. How many drinks did you have?"

Zhao Yanan suddenly had a bad feeling and didn't dare to answer.

"Brother Chu!" President Jin said cheerfully. "Don't take it to heart. You know I'm a bit of a drinker. Since you weren't here yet, the atmosphere in the room was really dull, so I just had a few small drinks with President Zhao. Come on, you did a great deed for Jiangcheng the other day. I heard you just got out of the detention center today. You've been through a lot, my brother. Let me toast you a few drinks!"

"Indeed, President Chu is truly noble!" Gao Ning chimed in, but there was a hint of insincerity in his tone.

Chu Yuxuan ignored him, smiled at President Jin, and said, "You flatter me." He then looked at the table, picked up a wine glass, and filled it with baijiu. "President Jin, last time you visited Qingya, I didn't entertain you properly. Today, let me make up for it. Since you enjoy drinking, let's do it properly—let's use the big glasses."

President Jin forced a smile, saying, "Brother Chu, I'm almost fifty years old. Drinking like this might be too much for me!"

"No respect?" Chu Yuxuan smirked. "Or are you saying I should punish myself with three cups first, hmm?"

"There's no need for any self-punishment! That's just a bad habit from drinking parties. We're close friends; there's no need for that at all!" President Jin, trying to be sophisticated, diffused the tension with laughter. He switched to a larger glass and filled it with wine.

Gao Ning followed suit, filling his own large glass, and said with a smile, "President Chu, let me also welcome you back."

But the second-generation rich kid still ignored him, simply clinking glasses with President Jin and downing his drink in one go.

President Jin, taking two sips to finish his, quickly reached for his tea cup to help settle his stomach.

Gao Ning, slightly embarrassed, set his glass on the table but did not sit down.

Xia Zhu, concerned for her Ning Ge'er, tugged at his sleeve and shook her head.

Gao Ning smiled back at her without saying a word.

"President Jin, let's go again," Chu Yuxuan said, his face calm as he filled another glass. "You toasted my wife three times; it's only fair I return the favor with three drinks of my own, don't you think? Otherwise, it would seem impolite of me."

President Jin, ever the good-natured man, forced a bitter smile and said, "President Zhao, see here, your husband is holding me accountable! Couldn't you say something on my behalf?"

Zhao Yanan handed Chu Yuxuan a cup of tea and said, "Drink less."

Chu Yuxuan nodded, but then immediately clinked glasses with President Jin. "Cheers!"

President Jin had no choice but to drink another cup.

Gao Ning interjected, "President Chu, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

Ignoring him, Chu Yuxuan calmly opened a new bottle of baijiu and began pouring.

Zhao Yanan noticed Gao Ning clenching his fist and felt something was off. She thought to herself, "What's this fool planning now? Does he really think bringing in President Jin will intimidate Chu Yuxuan? President Jin might be a notable figure, but in terms of power, influence, and status, he doesn't even compare to Gao Zhensheng. He just knows a lot of people. Does he really dare to go against Chu Yuxuan?"

The two who had been toasting as friends finished their third drink. At this point, Chu Yuxuan showed slight signs of being tipsy, his cheeks a bit flushed. As for President Jin, the rapid and excessive drinking had left him gasping for breath, looking as though he was suffering.

Zhao Yanan gently nudged Chu Yuxuan and whispered, "That's enough..."

Chu Yuxuan nodded. "Alright, as you wish."

Just as he was about to sit down, Gao Ning spoke up again, seemingly unaware of the danger. "President Chu, it seems you handle your liquor well. How about—"

"Did I ask you to speak?!" Chu Yuxuan suddenly roared, startling Zhao Yanan, who flinched involuntarily. She recalled the last time Chu Yuxuan said these words to Gao Ning, back in the underground garage of Xia Zhu's home. Back then, Chu Yuxuan was a simple, unremarkable man, while Gao Ning was arrogant, even telling Chu Yuxuan to write any amount he wanted on a check... But now... Gao Ning couldn't help but laugh at his past self.

Stunned by the outburst, Gao Ning seemed to freeze in place, unable to respond.

Chu Yuxuan picked up the tea cup in front of him and hurled it at Gao Ning, fixing him with a cold stare. "You have two days. Three million, not a penny less! Otherwise, Xia Zhu can forget about breaking her contract for the rest of her life. I said it!"