Chapter 385: Chapter 234: Caution Sails a Thousand-Year Ship_2

Ah Fang couldn’t help but laugh at his words, “Stop trying to cheer me up. I’m already at this age, how much younger can I get?”

With a hint of melancholy in her tone, she said, “A few more years, and I’ll really become an old maid.”

“How could that be?” Chen Cheng comforted her, “A woman, as long as she keeps a young mindset, is beautiful at any age.”

“What’s the use of being beautiful?” Ah Fang laughed at herself sarcastically, “It still doesn’t keep a man’s heart.”

“That’s because they have no taste,” Chen Cheng said. “Someone like Sister Ah Fang, beautiful and with such a good personality, why worry about not finding a good man?”

Ah Fang gave him a disdainful look, “Stop comforting me. I know what’s what.”

As she spoke, her eyebrows twitched slightly, “How about I come see you later tonight? Give you a discount?”

Chen Cheng was caught between laughter and tears; this woman really did ask everyone.

“I’d rather not!”

“What are you afraid of? Mr. Chen drank so much tonight he definitely won’t be driving.”

Ah Fang stepped closer to Chen Cheng, “Driving must be tiring, let me give you a massage to relieve your fatigue.”

Chen Cheng stepped back to avoid Ah Fang’s touch, smiling, “Sister Ah Fang, stop joking with me. I don’t have the fortune to enjoy your services!”

“What? You look down on me?” Ah Fang asked, pretending to be angry, yet with a teasing tone.

“How could I?” Chen Cheng hurriedly explained, “Sister Ah Fang, you’re so beautiful, how could I look down on you? It’s just…”

“Just what?” Ah Fang pressed.

“The company has rules.”

Mr. Chen controls even this sort of thing?” Ah Fang was surprised.

“Can’t expense it.”

“You see, the richer people are, the more stingy they become.” Ah Fang laughed annoyed.

Chen Cheng continued, “Why don’t you go back in and have some more to drink?”

“Why?”

“If you get Mr. Chen happy from the drinks, then maybe…”

“Right, I’ve been out here for a while!” Ah Fang suddenly remembered something, pinched out her cigarette.

She pulled down her collar a bit, “You lad, miss out on good fortune.”

“Working, can’t help it.”

Ah Fang re-entered through the doors, leaving Chen Cheng alone outside the private room.

As the room door closed, Chen Cheng pondered why a woman he had only met once and who could be brought into this private room by Luo Ziyang, would say so much to him.

The only explanation was that he was testing her, and she was testing his reactions as well.

Thinking of this, Chen Cheng took out his phone and sent three repeated messages to Xu Qiu:

“Done.”

…

…

“Bro, I was really happy drinking with you today.”

Luo Ziyang, swaying as he stood at the door of the shop, said to Li Na, “Some of your views, I hadn’t considered.”

“Don’t flatter me, Mr. Luo.” Li Na still wearing a smile, “I just like to read some books in my spare time.”

“Let’s not drink next time, let’s have tea, and have more conversations.”

Li Na agreed readily, “Sure, I’ll await your message anytime, Mr. Luo.”

The group exchanged pleasantries for a while before getting into their cars.

Chen Donghai habitually walked towards the driver’s seat of the Audi; as he opened the door, he saw Chen Cheng sitting inside.

“Mr. Chen.”

Chen Cheng’s demeanor was calm, “Get in.”

Chen Donghai and two others complied, incredulous that they could ride shotgun in Chen Cheng’s car.

Chen Cheng started the car, and while driving, he said, “Manager Xu, have your people pack up. We’re switching hotels overnight.”

Sitting in the back, Xu Qiu leaned forward, listening to Chen Cheng’s instructions, “Okay, Mr. Chen.”

She took out her phone, “Then I’ll contact our second option right away.”

“We’re not staying in the county, we’re heading to the city,” Chen Cheng decided.

Although Xu Qiu did not know the reason, she responded, “Understood.”

Chen Donghai sat ramrod straight in the passenger seat, not even daring to breathe heavily.

Chen Cheng’s eyes swept over him, “Why so nervous?”

“Mr. Chen, I…”

“You did very well today,” Chen Cheng said earnestly. “Especially the way you handled that bowl of ‘deer blood,’ very gutsy.”

“Mr. Chen, please stop making fun of me. At that time, I had no choice but to swallow my pride.”

“En, I know.” Chen Cheng nodded, “You did well, and you didn’t disappoint me.”

Receiving Chen Cheng’s affirmation, Chen Donghai finally felt relieved.

Chen Cheng continued asking, “Xiao Li, did you get any useful information from Luo Ziyang?”

Li Na was also feeling dizzy from drinking, but she tried hard to stay clear-headed:

“Mr. Chen, that Mr. Luo seems a bit off.”

“Off in what way?” Chen Cheng slowed down the car’s speed.

Li Na gathered her thoughts, “I always feel that he isn’t really interested in doing business with you.”

“Go on,” Chen Cheng prodded.

“He asked a lot about Mr. Jin Baogen, indirectly inquiring about the company’s background and if there are any powerful backers behind it.”

The usually reticent Chen Donghai nodded as well, “Yes, Mr. Chen. Luo Ziyang asked many things about Mr. Jin.”

“Just as I thought, he is probing us,” Chen Cheng stated.

“Probing?”

Chen Cheng explained, “The reason why we switched hotels overnight is that Ah Fang came asking for your room number, Mr. Chen.”

Everyone was shocked.

“I feel they want to catch us in a trap,” Chen Cheng revealed his concerns, “using a woman to bridge the negotiating gap.”

“And I feel that Ah Fang is not as simple as she appears to be; on one hand, she badmouths Luo Ziyang to gain my trust, while on the other, she frequently tests my intentions.”

“Being in a small town, even if I don’t tell the room number, they could still find out who is staying in which room through other channels.”

“To be cautious, I decided to leave first and come back when it’s time to talk business,” Chen Cheng patted the steering wheel.

The three in the car nodded in unison.

“By the way, Xiao Hai.”

“You said, Mr. Chen.”

Chen Cheng smiled faintly: “How does it feel to act as Mr. Chen?”

“Mr. Chen, please don’t tease me. Isn’t this just setting me on fire?” Chen Donghai felt uneasy.

“I guess you won’t be able to sleep alone tonight?” Chen Cheng joked, “With that big bowl of deer blood you had, how can your heart not be restless?”

“Mr. Chen, please… stop joking about it…”

“I’m not joking, When we enter the city, I’ll give you a break. I don’t care where you go, just stay safe,” Chen Cheng stepped on the gas.

Sitting in the back, Xu Qiu and Li Na couldn’t help but laugh.

Everyone being adults, understood what Chen Cheng meant.

The Audi drove toward the Nanjiang Hotel under the night sky, Chen Cheng was not sure if he was being overcautious, but on his first trip for this task, he realized one thing:

Being cautious is never a mistake.

…

…

On the other side, Luo Ziyang with the smell of alcohol, asked Ah Fang, “Did you find out? Which room is Mr. Chen staying in?”

“Are you even a man? I’m not your wife, but at least I’m with you…”

“Enough, no need for so many words,” Luo Ziyang raised his hand to interrupt, “Can you get it?”

“Get what? That driver’s lips are sealed tight, no matter how I tried, he wouldn’t tell.”

Luo Ziyang took out a cigarette, lit it, and with a frown said, “This Mr. Chen and that little driver, they are not simple at all!”

Ah Fang also lit a cigarette, seductively blew a smoke ring, and said:

“Lao Luo, I think you should stop bothering. This big boss from Beijing isn’t easy to fool.”

“You’re a woman, what do you know?”

Luo Ziyang grew impatient, “If I can push for a few more points, wouldn’t my promotion and entry into the big courtyard be hopeful? By then, would you still need to stick to that rundown clothing store?”

Ah Fang scoffed, muttering, “As if you would take responsibility for me.”

“Enough, stop the nonsense.”

Luo Ziyang took a deep drag of his cigarette, threw the butt out of the car window, and told the driver, “Xiao Wang, after you drop me off, take her to the Nanjiang Hotel front desk to ask, the Mr. Chen Donghai from Beijing, which room he is staying in.”

“Okay, Mr. Luo.”

Luo Ziyang took one more look at Ah Fang beside him, snatched the cigarette from her hand, “Stop smoking, would a big boss like that fancy the smell of cigarettes?”

He then pulled down her off-shoulder neckline a bit, “Show your advantages, understand?”

Ah Fang rolled her eyes at him and said nothing, but silently took out a lipstick from her bag and started touching up her makeup.

Luo Ziyang leaned back in the seat, holding his forehead, lamenting:

“That Li Na, she can really drink! If I had such a capable right-hand woman, what couldn’t be accomplished!”