Chapter 27 Pouring Wine
"Yujingxuan" is a famous private restaurant in northern Beijing, with elegant decor and excellent privacy.
As Ruan Yao pushed open the door to the private room, a lively atmosphere of conversation and laughter immediately greeted her.
The atmosphere in the private room was lively. Her parents were chatting enthusiastically with the Shen couple. Ruan Sheng was sitting next to them. When he saw her come in, he immediately gave her a wink.
"Oh my, Yaoyao is here!" Madam Shen, Zhou Qin, was the first to see her and waved enthusiastically. "Come over here and let Auntie see. Our Yaoyao is at work now, and she looks so different."
Ruan Yao walked over with a smile and greeted everyone politely: "Dad, Mom, Uncle Shen, Aunt Shen."
Zhou Qin took her hand and made her sit down next to her, looking her up and down while showering her with praise.
"You're getting more and more beautiful. Is work hard? I heard that the requirements at Huo's company are high. I hope it's not too tiring for you."
Ruan Yao shook her head and agreed to each one.
She had already drawn a clear line between herself and Shen Yu, but she had no objection to Shen's uncle and aunt.
She could tell the difference between the love and kindness of her elders from childhood to adulthood.
Sitting opposite her, Ruan Sheng secretly winked at her, his lips silently gesturing: "Confess and you will be treated leniently."
Ruan Yao gave him an "I understand" look, but in her heart she was thinking about how to start the conversation.
While the elders were ordering food, Ruan Sheng moved next to Ruan Yao and nudged her with his elbow.
"What's going on? Can they hold on?"
"Don't worry," Ruan Yao replied softly, "I know what I'm doing."
"You know what's going on?" Ruan Sheng looked unconvinced. "You and that Huo Yanzhi are barely on the verge of marriage, and your parents are already practically ready to pack you up and hand you over to the Shen family."
“Who said it’s only a hint?” Ruan Yao’s ears burned as she recalled everything that happened in the hospital corridor. “My relationship with Huo Yanzhi is progressing very smoothly.”
She said firmly, "Brother, I've made up my mind. I won't consider anyone else."
Ruan Sheng looked incredulous: "Smoothly? Just because he agreed to let you hitch a ride? He's too easy to please."
Ruan Yao glanced at him, then leaned close to Ruan Sheng's ear and dropped a bombshell: "He was injured and bled today while protecting me."
Ruan Sheng stared in shock, his mouth agape, before finally managing to utter two words.
"...Awesome."
As the dishes were served one after another, the four parents chatted even more enthusiastically.
Looking at the table laden with dishes, and then at the doorway, Mr. Shen asked with some surprise, "What's wrong with Shen Yu? Hasn't he arrived yet?"
Mother Shen was also puzzled: "Yes, I called him before I left home, and he said he would definitely not be late. I'll call again to ask."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Zhou Qin's phone rang.
She glanced at the screen and answered with a smile, "Hello, son, have you arrived yet? The whole family is waiting for you..."
After hearing something said on the other end of the phone, Zhou Qin's smile gradually froze, finally turning into a hint of helplessness and understanding.
"A project came up suddenly? So urgent? Okay, okay, you go ahead and get back to work, we won't wait for you."
After hanging up the phone, Zhou Qin smiled apologetically at everyone: "I'm so sorry, a big client suddenly came to the company. There's a very important project to discuss, so Xiao Yu can't come."
Ruan Minghui and Su Wanqing repeatedly said it was alright, work was the priority.
The Shen couple, however, began to have doubts.
They know their son's job well. They deliberately chose the evening when he was least free. How could such an important project suddenly appear?
But Shen Yu has always been steady and reliable, so if he said that, it must be something really important.
Looking at the table full of food, Ruan Yao felt even more confused than the Shen couple.
In the previous life, wasn't Shen Yu present?
Although the main character was absent, the atmosphere of the dinner party was not greatly affected.
The conversation at the dinner table inevitably swirled back to the two children.
Zhou Qin picked up a piece of shrimp that Ruan Yao loved to eat and said jokingly, "Xiao Yu is just too career-oriented. I wonder when he'll settle down. If it weren't for Yao Yao by his side all these years, I would have suspected that he doesn't like girls anymore."
Su Wanqing laughed along, "That's right, they grew up together and have the best relationship."
Father Shen looked at Ruan Yao with gentle eyes: "Back when you were just little kids, we joked that we should just arrange a marriage between you as children."
Ruan's parents smiled along with them, and the atmosphere was peaceful.
Ruan Yao put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth with a tissue, and a perfectly appropriate blush appeared on her face.
She first looked at her parents, and then turned to her father.
"Uncle, please stop joking with me."
"I've always considered Brother Shenyu as my own brother."
The atmosphere at the table fell silent for a moment.
Zhou Qin's smile froze for a moment.
Ruan Yao didn't give them time to react, pressing her advantage with a soft, gentle voice tinged with shyness.
"and……"
She lowered her head slightly, as if she were a little embarrassed, and her voice was barely audible.
"I already have someone I like."
*
At the same time, on the top floor of "Dihao", the most exclusive club in northern Beijing.
Shen Yu pushed open the heavy door of the private room, and loud music and a strong smell of alcohol hit him.
His assistant followed behind him, somewhat bewildered by the extravagant scene before him.
Inside the huge private room, several scantily clad women were playing drinking games and laughing around a group of men.
Huo Yanzhi sat casually on the sofa, his injured left arm draped to the side. He was wearing only a white shirt with two buttons undone at the collar, exuding a nonchalant yet oppressive aura.
He was surrounded by several women with exquisite makeup, and on the other side was Manager Wang from Huo's project department, who was smiling and talking to someone.
This setup doesn't look like a business meeting; it looks more like they're having fun.
"Mr. Huo, you have quite the refined taste." Shen Yu walked straight over with his usual gentle smile, seemingly oblivious to the oppressive atmosphere in the room.
Huo Yanzhi didn't speak, but simply raised his chin to indicate the position opposite him.
Shen Yu calmly sat down, his gaze falling on Huo Yanzhi's injured arm.
"I heard that Mr. Huo had a bit of an accident today, is he alright?"
"It's a minor injury," Huo Yanzhi finally spoke, his voice flat.
He picked up a document in front of him and casually pushed it towards Shen Yu.
"Mr. Shen should be very interested in the Dongchang project."
Shen Yu's breath hitched for a moment.
He followed the Dongchang project for half a year; it was the most important step in the expansion of the Shen Group's empire.
But recently, for some reason, the Huo family has been setting up obstacles everywhere, blocking all his paths.
Now, Huo Yanzhi has casually placed the contract he has been dreaming of in front of him.
"Mr. Huo is too kind. Who wouldn't be interested in such a big project?" Shen Yu sat down on the sofa opposite him. "Our Shen Group is very sincere."
"Sincerity?" Huo Yanzhi chuckled softly, slowly picking up the wine bottle on the table and filling the empty glass in front of him.
The transparent liquid shimmered with an alluring light in the crystal glass.
He extended his intact right hand, pointed to the wine on the table, and spoke bluntly.
"If you want to do business, you have to show some sincerity."
Shen Yu looked at the strong liquor on the table, enough to knock anyone out of bed, and his smile faded slightly.
In the entire northern part of Beijing, only Huo Yanzhi dared to humiliate him like this.
"Is Mr. Huo's sincerity just to have me drink?"
Huo Yanzhi toyed with the wine glass in his hand and said casually, "Getting the Huo family to concede profits is not such a simple matter."
He raised his eyes and looked at Shen Yu.
"President Shen, you won't let me down, will you?"
“However, the doctor said I can’t drink alcohol because of my arm injury, so I’m afraid I won’t be able to drink with President Chen today.” Huo Yanzhi raised his left arm, which was in a sling.
He looked at Manager Wang next to him and said, "Manager Wang, you drink with President Chen."
Manager Wang, known for his enormous capacity for alcohol, immediately stood up with a smile, raised his glass, and said, "President Shen, I'd like to toast you."
Shen Yu's assistant turned pale and wanted to say something, but Shen Yu stopped him with a look.
He knew this was Huo Yanzhi's way of showing his power.
The recent business setbacks and the changes in Ruan Yao, one after another, are all thanks to the man in front of us.
But he had no choice.
Shen Yu picked up an empty glass and poured himself a full glass of amber-colored whiskey.
He raised his glass to Huo Yanzhi, his smile impeccable.
"Since Mr. Huo wants to see my sincerity, then I will accompany you today, even at the risk of my life. Let me first toast Mr. Huo and wish him a speedy recovery."
After saying that, he tilted his head back and downed the entire glass of strong liquor.
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