Chapter Sixty: Does Drinking Be a Reflection of Character? No, It's an Assessment of Acting Skills.
The oppressive atmosphere in the kitchen spread all the way to the dining table.
The three dishes and soup were a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate. Xu Jingfei elegantly picked up a piece of steamed fish with her chopsticks, chewed it slowly, and commented: "This fish was a little overcooked, almost half a second too long. The heat control needs to be more precise."
Luo Yan rolled her eyes: "Fifty-five seconds? Can't you even blink in half a second?"
"Just telling the truth." Xu Jingfei glanced at Jiang Sui. "Mr. Jiang, you can't even accept this little bit of feedback, can you?"
Jiang Sui smiled and said, "Auntie is right. I'll improve next time."
Xu Jingfei tasted the scrambled eggs with tomatoes again and frowned: "Too much sugar. We're promoting low-sugar, healthy eating these days." Next was the winter melon meatball soup. "The meatballs weren't kneaded well enough, and the starch ratio was wrong."
Luo Yan slammed down her chopsticks: "Ms. Xu, are you here to eat or to cause trouble? Take it or leave it!"
“It was made by President Jiang himself, so we have to finish it to show our respect, right?” Xu Jingfei smiled flawlessly and turned to Jiang Sui, saying, “Don’t mind me, I’m just a straightforward person.”
Jiang Sui responded positively: "No, criticism is the only way to improve."
Luo Yan felt she couldn't eat this meal. Xu Jingfei had come here specifically to cause trouble, every word she uttered was aimed at Jiang Sui's sore spots, yet he just acted like he didn't care, like a gentle breeze brushing the mountain. No one knew what he was thinking.
Halfway through the meal, Xu Jingfei suddenly stood up and took out several wine glasses and two bottles of baijiu from the paper bag she had brought.
Luo Yan's expression changed: "What are you doing?"
"It's no fun eating without drinking." Xu Jingfei set out the glasses, took a small glass for herself, then arranged three glasses of increasing size in order, picked up the wine bottle, filled the largest glass without hesitation, and pushed it in front of Jiang Sui.
"President Jiang, this is our first formal meal together, so I'd like to offer you a toast." Xu Jingfei raised her small wine cup, gestured, and then drank it all in one gulp.
Jiang Sui looked at the glass of liquor in front of him, which was comparable to an "alcohol bomb," but didn't touch it.
"What?" Xu Jingfei raised an eyebrow. "Is President Jiang not giving me face?"
"He's going to drive later!" Luo Yan tried to stop him.
"Easy, just call a designated driver!" Xu Jingfei scoffed. "Could it be that President Jiang can't hold his liquor and chickened out?"
Jiang Sui looked up at Xu Jingfei, then at Luo Yan who looked worried, smiled, and picked up the glass of wine: "I must drink the wine offered by Auntie." After saying that, she tilted her head back, her Adam's apple bobbing, and downed the glass without changing her expression.
Luo Yan tried to stop it, but it was too late. She was terrified. It was a large glass of strong liquor!
Xu Jingfei then filled the second largest cup to the brim: "Good things come in pairs, have another one!"
Jiang Sui did not refuse and toasted again.
The third cup, the smallest one, was filled to the brim with great enthusiasm by Xu Jingfei, who exclaimed, "May the three yangs bring prosperity!"
"Ms. Xu!" Luo Yan exclaimed anxiously, "That's enough! That's enough!"
"Whether a man is capable or not, the test is at the dinner table." Xu Jingfei ignored her and stared at Jiang Sui. "This is nothing, President Jiang, please continue!"
Jiang Sui didn't speak, picked up the third cup, drank it all again, her cheeks began to flush, but her eyes were still relatively clear.
Xu Jingfei seemed to be getting into a fight, and picked up the largest glass to pour more wine, but Luo Yan grabbed the bottle and said, "Xu Jingfei, if you keep doing this, I'll call Lao Luo!"
"Don't even try!" Xu Jingfei shook off her hand. "It's no use calling anyone today!"
"Since Auntie is in the mood, I'll drink with you until you're satisfied."
Jiang Sui took the wine bottle and poured wine for Xu Jingfei and himself, saying, "Cheers first."
One cup after another, and then another.
Luo Yan couldn't stop him. She watched helplessly as Jiang Sui's eyes went from clear to blurry, his posture changed from upright to swaying slightly, and finally, he held his forehead and whispered, "Sorry... I'm a little dizzy." Then his head lolled to the side and he slumped onto the table.
Xu Jingfei finally put down her wine glass, gave a satisfied hum, and looked at the dumbfounded Luo Yan with flushed cheeks. She slowly and methodically lectured, "Your drinking manners reflect... your character. If he drinks too much and doesn't make a fuss but just passes out, then his... basic manners... are passable." She stood up unsteadily, let out a burp, and asked, "Tell me... what do you like about this guy?"
"He's handsome," Luo Yan replied dismissively, not bothering to acknowledge her at all.
"Hehe..." Xu Jingfei patted Luo Yan's shoulder, "Luo Muyang was much more handsome when he was young... I have better taste than you... hiccup!"
Luo Yan quickly grabbed Xu Jingfei, took out her phone and dialed Luo Muyang's number, "President Luo, your goddess and your beloved general have been drinking and both passed out. Come and clean up this mess... hurry up!"
When Luo Muyang rushed over, he saw Xu Jingfei with a "I won" expression and Jiang Sui lying on the ground, and instantly understood. He exclaimed in anguish, "Feifei, how could you drink like this? It's so bad for your health!"
"I'm not drunk!" Xu Jingfei stood up, her steps still steady, but her eyes darted around. "I'll help you... check the goods! I'm leaving!" She waved her hand casually and walked out first.
Luo Muyang quickly helped her up and turned to Luo Yan, saying, "Yanyan, Dad will take your mother home first. Xiao Jiang... please take care of him!"
"Hey... at least help me get him to bed, I can't carry him!"
Before Luo Yan could finish speaking, Luo Muyang had already dragged Xu Jingfei away and disappeared in a flash.
The room fell silent.
Looking at the motionless Jiang Sui, Luo Yan felt both heartache and annoyance, and nudged him: "Hey, are you still alive?"
No response.
She sighed and went to get him a hot towel, but as soon as she turned around, her wrist was grabbed.
Luo Yan was startled and turned around to see Jiang Sui looking up at her. Although he looked tired, his eyes were clear and he was smiling.
"You're not drunk?!"
Jiang Sui sat up straight and rubbed her temples. "I'm almost done drinking. I really can't drink any more."
Luo Yan quickly looked him up and down: "Were you... faking it just now?"
"Hmm." Jiang Sui tugged at the corner of his mouth. "You need to let your mother calm down, otherwise she'll keep fussing until dawn, and it'll be even more troublesome later."
Luo Yan recalled how he had been drinking one glass after another without changing his expression. "Just how much can you drink?"
"It's alright," Jiang Sui said casually, "but people don't usually drink like this; it's bad for your health."
"..."
Luo Yan didn't know whether to be angry or laugh.
That scoundrel's acting is absolutely flawless.
The next day at work, Luo Yan was still worried about Jiang Sui's condition. She sent him a WeChat message asking if he had a headache. After waiting for a while without receiving a reply, she was just about to call him when she heard Director Zheng's angry voice coming from the corridor outside.
"Zhou Jiaqi, come here!"
Luo Yan looked up and saw Zhou Jiaqi with his head down, following Director Zheng, who had a displeased expression, into the main office.
Director Zheng held a document in his hand. "How many times have I told you! Reported data must be accurate! Keep two decimal places. Look at what you wrote! 'Approximately' and 'estimated'? This is a report to be submitted to the province! How can it be so ambiguous?!"
Zhou Jiaqi whispered in defense, "The data was provided by the scenic area; they said the final calculations haven't been completed yet..."
"Why didn't you clearly indicate that it was provisional data before it was even available? Does having a high level of education guarantee this kind of work attitude?"
Director Zheng's voice was loud, and everyone in the office held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
"Can work be done 'good enough'? How can I entrust you with more important tasks when you're like this?"
Zhou Jiaqi lowered his head even further, his fingers tightly gripping the hem of his clothes.
At this moment, Luo Yan stood up and walked over, a smile plastered on her face: "Director Zheng, why are you so angry? How long has Xiao Zhou been here? Don't you remember? I remember when I first came here, I printed out the report to Director Zhao on both sides, with the cafeteria menu on the back. Director Zhao even asked me if I had any objections to his weight loss results."
Director Zheng's anger subsided somewhat after being interrupted by her, and he glared at her irritably: "How dare you say that? Is that a menu? That's Liu Suji's diet plan!"
A low chuckle rippled through the office.
Luo Yan picked up the report and looked at it. "I've looked into this matter. The scenic area's finance department only finished organizing the original documents yesterday afternoon. Xiao Zhou urged them three times, but they still didn't give us the exact amount. How about this, we'll call Director Wang directly and ask them to make sure the data is verified and sent over today. We'll guarantee to have the revised report on your desk before you leave work this afternoon, and we won't delay submitting it tomorrow."
Director Zheng frowned as he looked at Luo Yan, his anger still not completely subsided.
Luo Yan poured Director Zheng another glass of water: "Director Zheng, please calm down. Xiao Zhou is just not familiar with things yet. He has a very strong sense of responsibility. At the last wetland park coordination meeting, the background materials he prepared were more detailed than those provided by the scenic area. You even praised him, didn't you?"
Director Zheng's expression softened a bit. He took the water glass, glared at Zhou Jiaqi, and said, "Alright, this is the last time. I need to see an accurate report by tomorrow."
"Yes!" Zhou Jiaqi nodded repeatedly, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon.
Director Zheng snorted and took his water glass back to his office.
Zhou Jiaqi breathed a long sigh of relief, looked at Luo Yan, and said with gratitude in his eyes, "Sister Luo, thank you so much just now!"
"It's okay," Luo Yan patted his shoulder, "I wasn't as good as you when I first came here, go and urge the data."
Zhou Jiaqi nodded, turned around and quickly returned to his workstation, immediately picking up the phone.
When Luo Yan was leaving get off work, she noticed that Jiang Sui still hadn't replied. She looked at her phone anxiously and walked out absentmindedly. She wasn't paying attention to her footing and almost fell, but luckily someone caught her in time. When she turned around, she saw Zhou Jiaqi.
"Thank you, Xiao Zhou." Luo Yan stopped and put away her phone.
"You're welcome, Sister Luo. I really owe you a lot today, otherwise I wouldn't know what to do." Zhou Jiaqi said sincerely, "How about I treat you to dinner tonight?"
Luo Yan smiled and waved her hand, "Thanks, but I have something to do. Maybe next time."
Across the street, Yang Xin was holding up her phone, the camera pointed at them, a twisted and gleeful smile on her face.
"Luo Yan, you're really something! Not content with Jiang Sui, you're also relentlessly haunting my husband, and now you've hooked up with someone at work! A civil servant? I'll ruin your reputation!"
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