001
It rained heavily.
The city was shrouded in darkness, the air pressure low, and the haze made everything seem especially eerie. Taxis were stuck in a long queue on the overpass, not moving for a long time.
The driver adjusted his seat and leisurely played a game, occasionally observing the reaction of the customer behind him. He was a young man, not short, a college student? He had been in a daze since he got in the car.
After I finished a game of Candy Crush, the phone rang. It was a customer.
"Mr. Xu, where are you? I'm not rushing you, but Mr. Xi has been clamoring to see you and won't give anyone a second thought. Where are you? If that doesn't work, I'll send someone to pick you up."
The young man straightened his back, his face expressionless: "No need."
"Mr. Xu, how long will it take you to arrive? You know Mr. Xi's temper. Once he's drunk, we can't stop him. Can you give me a call when you arrive? I'll pick you up."
There was no emotion in his voice: "Okay."
The phone was hung up.
As if by some kind of intuition, the traffic, stuck for a long time, moved a few times, but soon it was blocked again. The driver put down his phone and advised the customer behind him: "It's raining heavily tonight, and it may not stop for a while. If you are anxious, I will show you the road ahead."
Xu Yu didn't say anything.
The assistant who had just spoken to him sent him a photo. In the photo, Xi Jiang was half-bent on the sofa, wearing dark home clothes from Xi Jiang's favorite brand. The face was still outstanding even at the weird angle.
Xi Jiang drank.
It's rare for me to get drunk.
He exited WeChat and asked the driver, "How's the road ahead?"
The driver answered honestly: "I asked the guy in front of me, and he said it will take a long time. The rain is so heavy that the road seems to be flooded."
Xu Yu looked far ahead, thinking for a moment. The phone rang again. It was his assistant, urging him again.
He waited for the call to automatically hang up, scanned the price on the meter, picked up the umbrella at his feet, and got out of the car.
"Trouble."
The driver hurriedly stopped him: "The rain is too heavy, hey hey hey, you can't handle it..."
The advice was locked inside the car door.
The slanting raindrops rolled around Xu Yu's body. The wind was very cold, and the rain flowing on the ground squeezed into the soles of his feet. After walking for a while, his socks were wet.
He could hear water in his shoes, which made a squeaking sound when his feet stepped on them. It was unpleasant and very inconvenient.
After walking off the overpass, Xu Yu was soaked. He wiped his face and began walking towards the tallest and flashiest building in the city.
My middle pocket kept ringing, either a phone call or WeChat.
He has known Assistant Xi Jiang for several years. The calm adult's face is always filled with frustration. It's not because of his poor work ability, but because Xi Jiang is too difficult to serve.
The assistant wanted to resign several times, but because of the generous salary and benefits, he chose to accept it silently. Ever since he knew Xu Yu, he often sought Xu Yu's help in solving Xi Jiang's problems.
When he reached the hotel entrance, Xu Yu took out his cell phone and called his assistant.
The call didn't go through this time.
He entered the hotel and shook his umbrella, his whole body wet. The lobby was air-conditioned and the temperature was not too cold. Before he could ask Xi Jiang at the front desk, he saw Jiang Dan at the corner of the retro stairs.
Xi Jiang's half-sister.
Jiang Dan was saying something when he noticed Xu Yu.
"Jiang Dan?"
Jiang Dan looked pitiful: "Brother Xiao Xu, you're finally here—are you caught in the rain!?"
Xu Yu sneezed at an inopportune moment: "The rain is too heavy."
Jiang Dan asked the front desk for a towel: "Brother Xiao Xu, I originally came here to play today. I heard that my brother was here, and then I saw Assistant Zhao calling you anxiously. I will take you to the room to change clothes, so you don't catch a cold."
Xu Yu touched his forehead with his hand: "Where is Xi Jiang?"
Jiang Dan opened and closed his mouth, repeating twice: "Someone is discussing business with my brother now."
Xu Yu could sense the word "take care of" and naturally guessed that Xi Jiang couldn't take care of him right now: "Why would he talk about business in his situation?"
Jiang Dan was helpless: "My brother is just like that. Work always comes first. Besides, the client came to him on his own. He must be too busy to come until now."
"How long?"
"About forty minutes."
Xu Yu wiped his hair, his face expressionless. It was twelve o'clock in the evening, and the rainstorm on his phone was at its peak.
"I'm a little worried about him, so I asked Assistant Zhao to accompany him. Brother Xu, you should rest first. I'll contact you if anything happens."
Xu Yu shook his head: "Who is it?"
"Huh?"
"Who is Xi Jiang meeting?"
After getting on the elevator, Xu Yu changed into home clothes in the room Jiang Dan mentioned. The piles of clothes were all the colors that Xi Jiang had picked out and didn't like.
His feet felt itchy after stepping into the water, so he changed into disposable slippers, washed his clothes and socks with hotel soap, and threw them into the dryer together with the socks.
There were a few real-time news items on my phone, covering local finances. The Vanlai Group was undergoing restructuring, with the new president resolving internal conflicts and acquiring a number of brands on the verge of bankruptcy. Under his leadership, all of these businesses doubled in value within a year.
He looked through the news about President Wan Lai and found no photo reports.
Jiang Dan's words were still ringing in his ears. It seemed that Xi Jiang came to see President Wan Lai today on purpose. He had been there from morning to night, and only showed up now.
In Xu Yu's impression, Xi Jiang would not drink that much. He often said that he had poor self-control and would behave abnormally when drunk.
The other party is of equal status to him, Xi Jiang should take him more seriously, so why did he get himself drunk?
This means we are not discussing cooperation.
"Hurry up and get rid of it, hurry up."
There were sounds coming from the corridor, accompanied by rustling and collisions, and many footsteps began to move closer.
Just as Xu Yu sat down, the door opened and Assistant Zhao panicked: "Mr. Xu, Mr. Xi is... drunk and crazy, and now he's sleeping with the client."
Drunk and crazy?
Xu Yu couldn't associate it with Xi Jiang.
The VIP room corridor was in chaos.
There were paper boxes, watches, bracelets scattered all over the floor... and there were also many exquisite small boxes with diamonds in different design styles.
The staff were helping to find the other scattered parts. Assistant Zhao opened the door in front and said, "Mr. Xu, come in this way."
The situation in the room was similar to that outside.
There were several people standing in the living room, including security guards and subordinates in suits.
Xu Yu moved his gaze towards the middle and saw a capable, tall, and thin figure.
"I'll send someone to guard President Xi."
The man hummed.
He picked up his watch and put it on, then looked up and their eyes met.
The other person had an elegant and easy-going face, with slightly curly hair that suited his face. He wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses on his high nose bridge, and his pupils under his thin eyelids were like obsidian.
If you are not careful, it will be like falling into a swamp.
"Who is this?"
Assistant Zhao immediately introduced: "Mr. Zhu, this is Mr. Xu who is here to take care of Mr. Xi."
Xu Yu: "Hello."
In the few seconds he was distracted, the other party had already looked him over.
This seemingly aloof young man has a delicate appearance, a thin face and a slightly pointed chin. His eyes are slightly raised, clearly showing affection, but there is no trace of tenderness in his gaze.
Maybe it's because I'm too young and lack the baptism of time, so I don't have that strong charm.
Such a young person appeared here, and came for Xi Jiang. The man guessed what their relationship was.
The man extended his hand: "Hello, Zhu Wenxu."
He has a captivating, bass-like voice, and speaks at a leisurely pace. His eyes are bright, and when he looks up, he feels an oppressive presence.
Xu Yu could understand that he was using his eyes to intimidate others and show his high status, but he couldn't quite understand where the aggression came from.
Having been by Xi Jiang's side for many years, he had seen high-ranking officials talking with Xi Jiang. Most of them, when they knew that Xi Jiang had a special relationship with him, their words and expressions were full of sarcasm.
Just like other women who loved Xi Jiang often warned him before, no one could take Xi Jiang's place.
It's different now.
Zhu Wenxu, who held the same high position as Xi Jiang, broke the rules that Xi Jiang had long adhered to.
Drunk and crazy.
Is this person warning Xu Yu to take a closer look at their relationship?
Xu Yu stretched out his hand: "Xu Yu."
He raised his head, neither servile nor arrogant, his face and eyes polite. His hand loosened, and the atmosphere remained frozen in its previous low pressure until someone knocked on the door. Jiang Dan spoke calmly, "My brother has caused trouble for Mr. Zhu. I've prepared some food and coffee to apologize."
Xu Yu should have stepped past Zhu Wenxu to take care of Xi Jiang, who was unconscious on the bed, but he suddenly became interested and wanted to know the relationship between Zhu Wenxu and Xi Jiang. He moved his feet and asked, "Can I go?"
Jiang Dan nodded happily: "Of course, you must have worked hard to come here. I will leave my brother to Assistant Zhao for now."
Assistant Zhao smiled awkwardly: "Leave it to me."
"Trouble."
As you walk out of the corridor, a light comes on at every step. The hotel has a constant temperature, and the temperature is the same indoors and outdoors.
Zhu Wenxu and his assistant walked in front, and Jiang Dan deliberately slowed down his pace to walk with Xu Yu.
Xu Yu looked at the man's back and asked Jiang Dan, "Brother, why did you get so drunk?"
Jiang Dan lowered her voice and said, "I don't know. He was drunk when I arrived. When I went to see him, he was on the phone the whole time, calling him 'Mr. Zhu' all the time."
The second half of the sentence was even softer.
"This business seems to be very important."
"That's right! This is a collaboration with Wan Lai!"
When they arrived at the lounge, Jiang Dan helped to serve coffee while Xu Yu sat beside her and ate a biscuit.
Zhu Wenxu sat on the sofa. He took the contract from his assistant and signed it gracefully. He took the coffee, took a sip and slowly put it down.
Jiang Dan had grown up in the Xi family for many years, and she was quicker at reading people's expressions than anyone else. She quickly picked up Zhu Wenxu's cup of coffee and said, "Is it too weak? I'll ask someone to make you a new cup."
Zhu Wenxu did not deny it: "It's troublesome."
Jiang Dan went out with the coffee cup. Only two people were left in the room, and the sound of the air conditioner fanning the air could be heard.
Zhu Wenxu maintained his previous posture: "Mr. Xu."
Xu Yu looked up.
"How long have you been with Xi Jiang?"
Are you trying to find out about their relationship?
"Seven years."
Perhaps because he didn't expect it to take so long, Zhu Wenxu was silent for a moment.
Xu Yu took the initiative to answer: "But Mr. Xi and I are just companions."
Zhu Wenxu: "Companionship?"
No matter who heard it, they would think it was ridiculous. How could it be possible for one person to accompany another for seven years without any problems?
Even though Xu Yu said this thousands of times and no one believed him, facing the possibility that he was really Xi Jiang's beloved, he would insist on repeating it countless times.
"Seven years ago, I received a favor from Mr. Xi. He saved me and has always kept me by his side. He has always been my psychological comfort. He always said that he could never truly fall in love with anyone, and that saving me was a way to accumulate virtue. Since it is a way of accumulating virtue, it cannot violate morality."
Zhu Wenxu: "Mr. Xu told me this. Do you want to argue that Mr. Xi is a trustworthy person?"
Xu Yu took a sip of bitter coffee: "Yes."
"Aren't you afraid that I'll betray you?"
"Many people betrayed me, and I dare to take responsibility for what I say."
The atmosphere quieted down, and Zhu Wenxu rubbed his long knuckles: "Why do you think I have a relationship with Mr. Xi?"
Zhu Wenxu is not that cheap. If he really likes someone, he will never let go. If he doesn't like someone, he will definitely not waste time and turn around and leave.
Xu Yu looked at Zhu Wenxu's brooch: "Diamond."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
