After sitting down, everyone started chatting enthusiastically, creating a harmonious atmosphere. As for Jiang Zaifeng, who always had to make himself known, either by flattering or by offering cigarettes and tea, everyone was used to it.
“Also with the surname Jiang, who are you?” Zhao Louyue asked casually after listening to Jiang Zaifeng’s passionate self-introduction.
“Son of my uncle.”
“I see.”
Zhao Louyue’s way of chatting was so natural. When he wanted to get close to someone, his skillful and friendly manner was simply irresistible, not to mention he had a reliable demeanor that seemed capable of holding up the sky if it fell.
He casually pointed at a dish of steamed pumpkin and said to Jiang Shen, “This tastes good, with a bit of Atractylodes powder, it’s good for the stomach.”
Jiang Shen didn’t refuse and tried it, finding it indeed sweet and delicious.
“If you guys come up with a design, just show me the general location, and I’ll get the super large naked-eye high-tech CBD screen that Fu Cheng wants!”
The last sentence carried a personal emotion, almost saying “Fu Cheng is such a pain.”
Jiang Shen chuckled, “Alright.”
With Jiang Zaifeng, the troublemaker, around, drinking was inevitable. Among them were a few who were particularly fond of alcohol, and the first two bottles were almost empty within ten minutes. Jiang Zaifeng eagerly mingled among the people, his face flushed, and his words and actions became increasingly inappropriate.
Today, they were staying at this venue, not changing places, so naturally, they drank to their heart’s content.
Jiang Zaifeng started calling another company’s executive his brother, not noticing the mocking look on the other’s face.
Zhao Louyue held an unlit cigarette in his mouth, “Indeed, not everyone in the Jiang family can be like you.”
Jiang Shen: “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Of course.”
The seating wasn’t narrow, but Zhao Louyue couldn’t stretch out comfortably. He leaned back against the chair, spreading his legs slightly, and accidentally touched someone else’s leg.
The moment their knees touched, Zhao Louyue paused, and Jiang Shen stopped his tea-drinking motion.
Jiang Shen waited for Zhao Louyue to move away, but he didn’t.
With no other choice, Jiang Shen pulled his legs together.
As soon as he did this, Jiang Shen inexplicably felt a sense of “losing.”
They’re all grown men, touching knees is nothing, but his cautiousness made Zhao Louyue seem more open and generous.
The hotel food was just so-so, but Jiang Shen did eat quite a bit of the pumpkin Zhao Louyue recommended.
Midway, Zhao Louyue called a waiter over and whispered something, which Jiang Shen didn’t catch.
At this moment, Jiang Zaifeng suddenly staggered over to Jiang Shen, reeking of alcohol, and wrapped his arm around Jiang Shen’s neck from behind. Perhaps he was too drunk to control his strength, making Jiang Shen quite uncomfortable.
“Let go,” Jiang Shen said.
But Jiang Zaifeng seemed not to hear, his face flushed, laughing wildly, “Vice President Jiang! My cousin, the real young master our Jiang family recognized, you all know that, right?”
Some people were already starting to feel embarrassed for him.
“Let…”
“He told you to let go,” Zhao Louyue said in a calm voice. He stood up, grabbed Jiang Zaifeng’s arm with one hand, and the man immediately showed a pained expression. Zhao Louyue gave a forceful shove, and Jiang Zaifeng almost fell as he staggered back.
He steadied himself against a table, not showing anger, but more confusion.
Jiang Zaifeng had been putting his arm around everyone, but he didn’t dare approach Zhao Louyue, because even in his foolishness, he understood that this person was untouchable.
With Jiang Shen, it was purely because of their familial connection and his own jealousy and dissatisfaction.
“Mr. Zhao,” Jiang Zaifeng seemed to sober up a bit.
Mainly because no one helped him, and the atmosphere quieted down.
Zhao Louyue smiled lightly, “What, can’t tell the difference between the big and small kings when you’re drunk?”
Jiang Zaifeng awkwardly pointed at Jiang Shen, “He really is my cousin.”
Zhao Louyue: “I asked you, is this the place to claim relatives?”
Jiang Zaifeng was speechless.
Jiang Shen looked up, feeling that Zhao Louyue’s current demeanor was indeed quite intimidating. Although he was smiling, his eyes were full of seriousness and coldness. The space illuminated by the lights seemed cramped, pressed down by his tall figure, and the sense of oppression hit instantly.
Everyone thought it was because Jiang Zaifeng had inappropriately disrupted Zhao Louyue’s mood, and because he was so tactless and unlikable, he got scolded.
Jiang Zaifeng returned to his seat and finally quieted down.
The three-hour dinner ended without Zhao Louyue in sight. Jiang Shen hesitated for a moment, guessing that Zhao Louyue had left early. The urge not to wait around aimlessly surged again, prompting him not to become the “lower party” in a relationship. So Jiang Shen picked up his phone and left as well.
But just as he reached the hotel entrance, a call came in.
There was no note, but Jiang Shen answered, “Hello?”
“Where are you?” Zhao Louyue’s voice was clear, softened a bit by the phone’s static, making Jiang Shen’s eardrums tingle.
“At the entrance.”
“Alright, wait for me two minutes.”
Not long after, Zhao Louyue came out of the elevator carrying a delicate paper bag.
As he approached, he handed the bag to Jiang Shen, “I saw you liked the pumpkin, so I packed some for you. There’s also a special dessert from this place that Zhao Xiangting couldn’t stop praising. I think you two have similar tastes.”
Jiang Shen stared at the bag for two seconds but didn’t take it.
In response, Zhao Louyue chuckled deeply, “Come on, Jiang Shao, still mad?”
“Not mad,” Jiang Shen said truthfully.
“Jiang Shao is generous. Since it’s all in the past, we can be friends, right? There will be plenty of cooperation with Mingxi Building in the future. If Jiang Shao keeps avoiding me, it’ll be quite awkward,” Zhao Louyue said.
His words were gentle, yet they inexplicably urged Jiang Shen. He took the bag, feeling its weight, and after thinking for a moment, he said, “It’s not avoiding, I’m just slow to warm up.”
Zhao Louyue raised an eyebrow, “Then it’s my problem. Once I take a liking to someone, I want to make friends.”
Jiang Shen was amused, and at the same time, a certain tightly wound emotion in his heart suddenly loosened. His psychological defenses, after Zhao Louyue’s several sincere hints, finally moved back half an inch.
To be honest, making friends with someone like Zhao Louyue was all gain, no loss.
Jiang Shen lifted the bag slightly, “Thanks.”
Zhao Louyue: “Mm, you have a driver, right? Be careful on the way back.”
“Okay.”
On the way back, the autumn rain had lessened, pattering against the window.
For some reason, Jiang Shen suddenly thought of the moment when his knee touched Zhao Louyue’s.
Jiang Shen’s emotions were always restrained. Even if the sky were falling, he would think of a solution. However, at this moment, with no one around, the empty environment made it easy for his thoughts to wander. Belatedly, Jiang Shen felt a warmth in his heart.
It was as if the most genuine feeling from that time was now surging back.
Just as a certain thought was about to break through the fog, Jiang Shen promptly pushed it back.
He didn’t like anything that bordered on losing control.
Jiang Shen closed his eyes and opened them again, regaining clarity. After getting home, he took a comfortable hot shower. When he came out, he was just hungry, so the food Zhao Louyue packed came in handy.
While enjoying it, Jiang Shen rarely thought that Zhao Xiangting’s life was indeed comfortable. With a brother like Zhao Louyue, everything was well arranged.