Chapter 14: Drinking Party

At 11 AM, the salary was credited.

Fan Xia transferred 30,000 yuan to Wen Jing’s account. Before she could send a message to Wen Jing, Wen Jing had already sent her a voice message: “Thank you, sister-in-law.”

It was a voice message of just two seconds, with an extremely noisy background, making it difficult to hear Wen Jing’s words clearly. Calculating the time, it should be around 4 AM where she was, probably out partying at a bar again.

Fan Xia sent her a message: “This money is for you to buy skiing equipment. Study well over there.”

But Wen Jing never replied to her again. Perhaps she had gone wild with partying and didn’t see the message at all, or maybe she saw it but was too lazy to reply since she had already received the money.

Having been close to the Wen family for so many years, she knew each member of the Wen family like the back of her hand.

When lunchtime arrived, Fan Xia took out the lunch that Wen Lan Sheng had prepared all morning. It was all her favorite dishes, including the seafood soup that Wen Lan Sheng had immediately learned to make after she casually mentioned it was delicious at the Yunding Restaurant last time.

Zhuang Nian was still gnawing on his fat-reducing meal. Looking at Fan Xia’s aromatic and delicious-looking dishes, he inhaled deeply twice, eating his greens with a face full of resentment.

“Why are you still eating this?” Rong Xiu had walked out of his office at some point. He had taken off his suit jacket, revealing a neatly ironed white shirt without a single extra wrinkle. On his arm, he wore a black leather sleeve garter, the faint luster of the material accentuating the firm lines of his arm, exuding an air of abstinence from within.

He leaned lightly against Fan Xia’s desk, his long, beautiful eyes lowered as he looked at the dishes in her lunchbox. Stir-fried vegetables, lightly fried shrimp, and potato stewed beef were all as homely as could be. Perhaps the only fresh item was the seafood soup in the soup pot.

Indeed, Wen Lan Sheng only knew how to do these seemingly virtuous superficial things, actually just going through the motions, not putting his heart into preparing meals for Fan Xia.

“President, you don’t know, being a house husband is not easy. Sometimes it’s like being an old father, knowing what his fiancée likes to eat and making that dish over and over until she doesn’t want to eat it anymore, until she’s tired of it,” Zhuang Nian teased Fan Xia with a glance, joking: “This is also an expression of love!”

This is not love at all, it’s simply not caring.

Rong Xiu’s fair fingers tapped lightly on the desk surface, inconspicuously. How pitiful for her, the same old home-style dishes, eating them for so many years.

If it were him…, he would never bear to do that.

“I ordered lunch from Yun Zhai to be delivered, want to eat together?” Rong Xiu said, looking at Fan Xia.

Fan Xia was slightly stunned, about to refuse.

“I can’t finish it all by myself,” Rong Xiu said lightly, blocking her reason for refusal.

“Alright then,” Fan Xia could only nod.

Rong Xiu hooked the corner of his mouth, a smile of certainty on his lips.

In less than ten minutes, the waiter from Yun Zhai arrived. Seeing their lineup, Fan Xia finally understood why Rong Xiu said he couldn’t finish it all.

There were five or six dishes alone, and they weren’t in ordinary takeout plastic containers, but in fine porcelain plates like in a restaurant, with exquisite presentation.

Zhuang Nian looked at the Yun Zhai dishes, then at the grass salad in his own hand, and ran out of the office in grief and indignation, out of sight, out of mind.

The spacious office was now empty, with only the two of them.

“This is Yun Zhai’s signature slow-cooked beef, simmered over low heat for several hours. It tastes completely different from the usual home-style stewed beef cooked in a pressure cooker. Try some?” Rong Xiu sat down leisurely, his fingertips resting on the pure white tablecloth.

Fan Xia picked up a piece and tasted it.

“How is it?” He glanced lightly at Fan Xia, his long eyes losing their sharpness, showing a kind of nonchalant charm.

“It is indeed different, the texture is more delicate and soft yet still chewy.”

Rong Xiu’s lips curved upwards, his pale gaze falling on the lunchbox Wen Lan Sheng had given her, landing on the potato stewed beef he had made: “Let me taste Lan Sheng’s cooking?”

“Lan Sheng’s skills certainly can’t compare to Yun Zhai’s chefs, you’d better not eat it,” Fan Xia said softly.

Rong Xiu chuckled, his voice low and gentle: “I’m not that picky.”

He picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of beef from the lunchbox, putting it in his mouth. His thin lips pursed slightly, and in a place where Fan Xia couldn’t see, his expression revealed arrogance.

It really wasn’t very good. How could someone stew beef to be so dry? Even though it was soaked in soup, it couldn’t hide how difficult it was to chew. The beef wasn’t tender, but the potatoes were almost stewed into mashed potatoes, showing that Wen Lan Sheng hadn’t grasped the correct order of putting the two ingredients into the pot.

Rong Xiu had never eaten such unpalatable potato stewed beef in his life.

Taking care of Fan Xia for so many years, yet his cooking skills were so terrible.

Rong Xiu secretly clenched his chopsticks, his gaze cold and deep. How could such a person deserve Fan Xia?

“Actually, Lan Sheng’s cooking skills are not bad. If only the beef could be stewed a bit softer, and not put the potatoes and beef together in the pressure cooker just to save time, it would be fine,” Rong Xiu slowly put down his chopsticks, the curve of his mouth contemptuous.

“It seems you not only know how to cook, but you’re very good at it,” Fan Xia smiled, seeing Rong Xiu comment in such detail.

Rong Xiu’s long eyes lifted slightly: “I’m not just all talk. I went to a private all-boys high school, and the cooking classes were taught by master chefs. I’ll have the chance to cook for you sometime, I hope you won’t dislike it.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Fan Xia laughed.

A hint of a smile passed through Rong Xiu’s cold eyes: “Then it’s settled. But will Lan Sheng be angry if you eat my cooking?”

“He definitely won’t be.” Before Fan Xia could answer, Rong Xiu continued: “You and Lan Sheng have been together for so many years, and you’re about to get married. He surely isn’t such a jealous person, right? He definitely won’t get upset just because you have a meal with me.”

Rong Xiu’s words left Fan Xia not knowing how to answer.

Although Wen Lan Sheng acted very generous in public, he was actually the most delicate in private.

“And you can invite him over too, the three of us can have a meal together.”

Fan Xia looked at him in surprise: “Is that okay?” If so, Lan Sheng probably wouldn’t make a fuss with her, after all, it would be the three of them eating together.

“Of course,” Rong Xiu rested his chin on his hand, smiling faintly. The wine-red mole under his left eye corner was too dazzling to look at directly: “It’s also a good opportunity for me to teach him some new dishes, so you don’t have to always eat the same old things.”

“Alright then,” Fan Xia agreed readily.

Rong Xiu smiled as he looked at Fan Xia, hiding a surging fire in his eyes: “Eat up, I have an appointment with Rong Yan tonight.”

The appointment with Rong Yan was to persuade her to voluntarily sell the remaining 5% of Shanhai Group’s shares she held. This way, Rong Xiu’s position in Shanhai Group would be even more unshakeable.

But 5% of Shanhai Group’s shares was no small amount. Just the annual dividends alone were considerable, a veritable money tree. Rong Yan definitely wouldn’t let go unless Rong Xiu offered extremely generous terms.

“Shanhai Group was left to me by mother. Rong Xiu, you’re nothing but a usurper, and now you even want to take back the 5% shares I have left. You’re too greedy,” Rong Yan gritted her teeth, glaring at Rong Xiu hatefully.

“I owe my current position to you, sister. If it weren’t for your bribery, I wouldn’t have become chairman so quickly,” Rong Xiu said carelessly, swirling his wine glass.

“If you called me here just to mock me, I think we’re done talking,” Rong Yan made to leave.

“Miss Rong, please don’t be angry. We’re all family, let’s sit down and talk it over,” Fan Xia quickly stopped her. Although Fan Xia also knew that Rong Yan had no intention of leaving at this moment – if she really didn’t want to negotiate with Rong Xiu, she wouldn’t have come to this drinking party in the first place.

But face still had to be given. After all, she was Rong Xiu’s elder sister. She had to be given a way out, and since Fan Xia wasn’t part of the Rong family, just a president’s assistant, it was most appropriate for her to make the plea. This way, both sides could save face.

Sure enough, Rong Yan just snorted, not even bothering to rebuke, and sat back down following the台阶 Fan Xia had given her.

“So what else can we talk about now?” Rong Yan sat with her legs crossed, her demeanor aggressive.

“Then I’ll get straight to the point. I already know about your secret cooperation with the Newman Group,” Rong Xiu took out a stack of documents and tossed them in front of Rong Yan. The flickering red wine cast a dark red light in his eyes, like that of a bloodthirsty person. He seemed casual, but was actually full of oppression and aggression. This was Rong Xiu’s true face; at the drinking table, his sharp edge was fully exposed.

Seeing the irrefutable evidence before her, Rong Yan was momentarily speechless.

“Actually, I don’t care about your cooperation with the Newman Group. 5% of the shares pose no threat to Shanhai Group at all,” Rong Xiu’s long eyes showed undisguised arrogance. This high and mighty attitude was more hurtful to Rong Yan than a direct slap to the face.

“Then why did you call me here? To mock me?” Rong Yan suppressed her anger.

“Indeed, that was part of the intention,” Rong Xiu hooked the corner of his mouth in a contemptuous smile. “But after all, we are family. Selling that 5% of shares to the Newman Group is not the best choice for you,” Rong Xiu suddenly changed his tone after provoking Rong Yan’s fury.

“What do you mean?”

“Why not sell to me instead? We’re family, I won’t treat you unfairly,” Rong Xiu said with a meaningful smile.

“Huh!” Rong Yan snorted coldly. “You’d be so kind-hearted?”

“Miss Rong, when we found out about your private contact with the Newman Group, the company had already formulated a complete set of countermeasures. Even if the Newman Group has strong financial strength and can acquire enough shares through over-the-counter transactions and the secondary market to threaten the chairman’s position, we can adopt a poison pill strategy to prevent hostile takeovers, and even turn around to acquire the Newman Group. But in that case, what benefits would you get?”

Fan Xia took out the pre-prepared targeted documents for Rong Yan to see. Rong Yan’s face immediately turned ugly.

“Moreover, Shanhai Group is your mother’s life’s work. Can you really bear to see it fall into the hands of outsiders?” Seeing that Rong Yan was starting to waver, Fan Xia pressed her advantage, appealing to her emotions: “The chairman knows you have your own revenge, so these are the terms we’re offering you.” Fan Xia took out the assets they had prepared to give her after discussing with Rong Xiu, her voice gentle yet seductive: “This cash is enough to exceed the terms offered by the Newman Group, and the two large plastic surgery hospitals located in the core business districts of S City and A City will also be yours.”

Rong Yan looked at these assets in front of her, unable to believe it: “They’re really all mine?”

Rong Xiu nodded casually, swirling his wine glass.

Fan Xia smiled: “Although the chairman has a cold personality, blood is thicker than water after all. He still has feelings for you.”

Rong Yan looked at Fan Xia with a low laugh: “Pretty boy, you sure know how to talk… No wonder Rong Xiu keeps you by his side… Fine, I’ll sign.”

Fan Xia smiled, ignoring Rong Yan’s teasing, and took out the documents and pen that had been prepared in advance.

“Wait,” Rong Yan suddenly looked at Rong Xiu, her gaze deep: “After I sign, I’ll have nothing to do with Shanhai Group anymore. I was outmaneuvered back then, I admit it. Before I leave, I’ll drink to you.”

Rong Yan poured ten glasses of alcohol, not red wine, but strong white liquor.

She looked at Rong Xiu: “As long as you drink these, I’ll sign.”

Rong Xiu raised his eyes slightly.

“The chairman has quit drinking. Miss Rong, I’ll drink on his behalf,” Fan Xia said. Then she picked up the wine glass and downed ten glasses of strong white liquor one after another. The fiery alcohol burned her throat and stomach, and her fair face instantly turned as red as if it had been set on fire.

“Who told you to drink that alcohol?” Rong Xiu suddenly stood up from his chair, supporting the swaying Fan Xia. Rare anger appeared in his cold eyes.