CHAPTER 389: CHAPTER 324: NIGHT AT THE POOL

Then the waiter brought drinks for each of them, of course, with an extra charge.

Li Jing was not particularly fond of drinking, and he knew even less about foreign liquor.

After glancing at the drinks menu, he randomly picked a bottle of Macallan 18-year-old single malt Scotch whiskey, with an alcohol content of 43%.

Huang Qin chose a bottle of Hennessy XO cognac from France, around 40% alcohol.

After the waiter poured their drinks, Huang Qin toasted Li Jing with a smile and said, "First, thank you, President Li, for your hospitality. How do you plan to compete in this drinking contest?"

After clinking glasses, Li Jing took a sip. The taste was rich and complex, with a long-lasting finish and a hint of citrus and wood aroma.

Then he said, "Anyway, we have plenty of time and no rush to leave. How about we drink slowly? Whoever can’t keep up loses."

Huang Qin nodded, as this was her preferred way as well.

She really disliked drinking in a hurry, gulping down liquor, which was neither elegant nor respectful to the drink.

From there, they ate and chatted, chatting and drinking at the same time.

They had set out in the afternoon, and now the sky was completely dark, with the entire music festival venue gradually lighting up with vibrant colors.

The energetic music and drumbeats from the main arena could be heard from afar.

This was the rehearsal for the music festival, with the official performance taking place tomorrow.

So most people were not attending the performance, but like Li Jing, were dining here or wandering around other areas.

Even without the music festival arrangements, the scenery of this small island far surpassed most popular photo spots in the city.

With the sound from the main stage resonating as background music in the night sky, the whole island was immersed in a lively and exciting atmosphere.

Inside the tent in the dining area, Li Jing and Huang Qin had each drunk more than half a bottle.

Given the size of the bottles, approximately 700 milliliters, that meant about 1.4 jin (700 grams) per bottle.

Having consumed more than half a bottle, both of them had drunk about 8 liang (400 milliliters) of strong liquor.

This amount is not small on a regular dining table, as most can manage only 5 or 6 liang and are considered to have good tolerance.

Now that Li Jing finished the last sip in his glass, he still maintained a slight smile. Although his body felt a bit warm, his mind was clear, showing no signs of dizziness.

This was an extra benefit brought about by his improved physical condition.

Compared to Li Jing, Huang Qin’s reaction was much more obvious.

After finishing her last sip, a blush had appeared on Huang Qin’s fair cheeks, and her bright eyes were now veiled with a faint layer of bewilderment, glistening with moisture.

"President Li, you hold your liquor well."

Leaning back with a hint of intoxication, Huang Qin’s slender neck arched slightly, revealing graceful lines and an enticing snow-white complexion, exuding a sense of laziness and liberation that was absent before.

Seeing that she was already a bit tipsy, Li Jing put down his glass and decided not to continue competing, since they were still at the music festival and it wouldn’t be good to get her completely drunk.

He smiled lightly and said, "As a man, I naturally have an advantage over President Huang in terms of drinking capacity.

President Huang’s drinking capacity is indeed impressive. Why don’t we call it a draw today?"

"A draw?"

A hint of surprise flashed through Huang Qin’s blurred eyes, and she asked with a hint of confusion, "Does that mean President Li doesn’t want to hear my story anymore?"

"A story must be willingly told. Even if you win by drinking, you won’t hear a good story if the storyteller is unwilling, right?"

Hearing this, Huang Qin looked at Li Jing’s gentle and calm eyes, paused for a moment, then smiled slightly, exuding charm, "It seems President Li is quite adept in matters of the heart; your tactic of pretend retreat almost won me over."

Since she said she was almost won over, Li Jing knew that she was certainly not, which surprised him even more about her wariness and guard towards others.

He truly did not expect that a woman with such a warm and approachable exterior would be so guarded internally towards others.

Though this was normal. If Huang Qin had truly developed feelings for him so easily, given her social circle, she would have had many potential suitors.

So instead, Li Jing found himself more interested in Huang Qin, a woman who had just turned thirty and exuded the charm of a mature woman.

The key reason, of course, was her beauty and charisma.

While Sophie had exceptional legs, in terms of captivating allure and the charm of a mature woman, even the widely acclaimed beauty Shi Yang couldn’t compare to Huang Qin.

Subsequently, Li Jing stood up and said, "Whether it’s a tactic or genuine intent, I can tell that President Huang’s story involves personal privacy, and I won’t press for it.

Since we’ve finished eating, it’s time for the next activity. President Huang, would you like to continue with me, or shall we go our separate ways?"

After all, Huang Qin wasn’t really a guide, and she had spent a hundred thousand on tickets for entertainment. Li Jing couldn’t expect her to stay with him all the time, hence he brought it up proactively.

Seeing that he intended to leave, Huang Qin seemed a bit surprised, then scrutinized Li Jing’s eyes, seemingly wanting to discern his thoughts.

However, Li Jing’s eyes remained as calm as a lake, showing no other emotion.

Finally, Huang Qin returned to her light smile and said, "The evening activities should be what you all enjoy most, so I won’t disturb President Li’s mood. The butler will take you next."

Knowing she would not stay with him all the time, Li Jing nodded and turned to leave.