The elevator doors opened slowly with a ding. Compared to the spacious and bright banquet hall downstairs, the second-floor side hall had a secluded corner. Tan Yuchen used the more than 200-square-meter sunroom as a bar area. There were few lights in the room, but the special glass automatically absorbed the light from outside, and the soft light floated up along the lakeside, giving the viewer the feeling of fireflies in summer.
Xu Yanzhi glanced at him with admiration, "The Third Young Master's taste has always been impeccable."
"These are all small workshops that don't cost much. How can they compare to Young Master Xu's extravagance in spending thousands of dollars to buy a mine?"
They politely declined each other's invitations and then laughed.
Tan Yuchen bumped into something, and the glass window automatically rolled down, letting in a mountain breeze along the lakeside, mixed with laughter from downstairs. Several bottles of red wine were chilling in an ice bucket, already decanted, and the servants slowly poured them into glasses.
Xu Yanzhi took a shallow sniff, his nose twitching slightly.
"1990, Petrus."
Tan Yuchen sipped his drink and lazily curled his lips, "Nice nose."
"Wouldn't that be a terrible waste?"
This is Château Petrus's top vintage, rarely seen even at auctions, mostly held in private collections.
"That depends on who you're entertaining."
Tan Yuchen leaned back in his chair, fiddling with the lighter in his hand. "If Young Master Xu is interested in wine, I happen to own a winery and would be happy to serve you."
Xu Yanzhi looked at him with a sly smile, "Are you and Cen Dong impersonating me? You're trying to do all the business with me."
Tan Yuchen chuckled softly and said, "But isn't it a bit inappropriate to talk about these things with someone who has just returned from a long and tiring trip?"
His perfectly timed banter made one wonder if he was truly exhausted from his journey, yet his Airbus A319 business jet, registered in the Cayman Islands, was always with him—
That was a coming-of-age gift from Xu's father, worth over 70 million US dollars.
"Young Master Xu isn't interested in buying or selling the winery, so how about another business, like—"
Tan Yuchen raised his eyes, light surging into his deep black eyes, "Controlling stake in Xindao Steel."
Xu Yanzhi looked at him, his gaze completely different from before, as if someone had trespassed on his territory, carrying a faint scrutiny.
Tan Yuchen was the same; there was no trace of his former frivolity left in his deep, dark eyes.
The wine glass bumped against his at an angle, making a slight clinking sound. He gave Xu Yanzhi enough time to consider it slowly.
In recent years, the Xu Group has been expanding rapidly in Europe, developing into a business empire that integrates multiple industrial chains such as healthcare, real estate, hotels, and technology. However, Mr. Xu's ambitions go far beyond this, and he has already set his sights on the automotive industry.
With Asia’s largest steel production capacity, Xindao Steel is a must-have for any company looking to expand its automotive business.
Xu Yanzhi's return to China this time was also because of this matter, which Tan Yuchen clearly guessed.
“Your uncle is absolutely certain about Xindao Steel, I thought you would support him,” Xu Yanzhi said.
The uncle he mentioned was from a collateral branch of the Tan family. Starting with Tan Yuchen's maternal grandfather, the automotive and communications businesses were separated and taken over by his grandfather's younger brother. Over the years, there has been no business competition among the different branches of the Tan family, and they have maintained a superficial peace.
There was no extra time to answer his questions. Cen Dong and several other friends stepped into the side hall and scolded Tan Yuchen for neglecting one thing and another, saying that the host was actually hiding here to take a break.
The previous topic came to an abrupt end.
Most of the people in this circle have known each other since childhood, have close relationships, and talk about everything.
“I remember those two years at Cambridge were miserable like a dog. The professors kept saying that it had been a long time since a Nobel Prize had been awarded, and the atmosphere was like they were on steroids. All I could think about was not to extend my studies any further and to just get out of here.”
The speaker was Meng Xing, whose family owned a law firm. He and Xu Yanzhi were alumni. "Not only did this guy minor in natural sciences, but he also managed to find time every now and then to go to Oxford to tutor his girlfriend—"
Before he could finish speaking, Cen Dong gave him a wink, and he realized he had said the wrong thing.
Xu Yanzhi remained so composed that it was impossible to tell whether he minded or not; instead, he spoke in a gentle and refined manner.
"You seem to know a lot about time management."
Meng Xing is a playboy who treats love as a game of dating abroad, and it's not uncommon for him to be with several people at the same time.
"I was just being gentle and considerate, okay? I couldn't bear to see my sister who loves me sad."
Everyone was laughing. Xu Yanzhi had just returned to the country and was taking on most of the criticism, with questions being thrown at him one after another.
He was somewhat overwhelmed, shook his head and chuckled, feeling a bit helpless, before getting up to smoke to the side.
The blue flames illuminated his deep-set eyes and brows, then vanished in an instant, followed by inquiries from others behind him.
"If you really don't want to be my matchmaker, I'll pursue her myself."
Xie Youze, still harboring ulterior motives, asked this question indirectly, fearing that Tan Yuchen's true intentions lay elsewhere. After all, a sister with no blood relation, yet possessing unparalleled beauty, would naturally attract unwanted attention.
Cen Dong said, "This Miss Meng is quite capable; she's captivated you after just one meeting."
Amidst all the teasing, Tan Yuchen remained silent, toying with the wine in his glass, the pale red bubbles clinging to the glass as it swayed gently.
The UFO lights obscured the emotions in his eyes, only a faint smile could be seen at the corner of his mouth.
It cannot be called laughter.
Meng.
The smoke drifted like wisps, blurring Xu Yanzhi's face; certain words always seemed to evoke memories—
Things I don't usually think about, I won't deliberately look for.
But like a strange scent floating in the air, it always feels familiar when you smell it again.
A voice, distinct from delicate and refined, yet soft and gentle, suddenly entered Xu Yanzhi's mind.
"My name is Meng Jiuyi. Meng from Mencius, the number nine, and Yi, which is similar to iron."
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