CHAPTER 774: CHAPTER 633: AOYAMA XIU XIN: NO ONE KNOWS GIFT-GIVING BETTER THAN I DO

The place Annie arranged to meet was at her home.

A standalone villa located in Chiyoda District.

Opening the door for Aoyama Xiu Xin was a housekeeper in her fifties, Japanese. She obviously knew Aoyama Xiu Xin, helped with the slippers, and bowed respectfully, saying, "Minister Aoyama, Lady Annie is waiting for you in the study, first room on the second floor."

"Hi! Thank you, ma’am." Aoyama Xiu Xin smiled politely and bowed slightly in return, then turned around and took the ancient painting from Jin Yucheng’s hands, signaling to him with his eyes, and then turned back, putting on slippers as he entered.

The housekeeper bowed slightly to Jin Yucheng out of politeness and was preparing to close the door. Without Annie’s orders, she dared not let anyone but Aoyama Xiu Xin in.

"Please wait." Jin Yucheng suddenly spoke up. In the housekeeper’s puzzled gaze, he turned and ran to the car, opened the trunk, and sorted through things inside. Moments later, he returned to the door with a small gift bag, "This is a little token from the Minister; please be sure to take good care of Miss Annie."

Many people gave gifts to Aoyama Xiu Xin, and he had a pile of tea leaves, coffee, and other items in the trunk.

"I... I can’t accept this. Taking my boss’s salary already means I’ll take good care of her. I can’t take things from Minister Aoyama without merit." The housekeeper was an honest person, and she waved her hands repeatedly in refusal, fearful.

Jin Yucheng persistently gave it to her, his normally stern face forcing out a smile. "It’s nothing too expensive, please don’t refuse. Minister is very concerned about Miss Annie. If you feel embarrassed, you could occasionally update the Minister on Miss Annie’s recent situations; this is my phone number."

With that, he took out a business card and offered it with both hands.

"This..." The housekeeper glanced at the gift bag she was holding; inside was a gleaming bracelet, and her heart skipped a beat. Ultimately, she accepted Jin Yucheng’s business card, "Minister Aoyama and Lady Annie are a perfect match, made in heaven; I’m happy to help."

She thought Aoyama Xiu Xin wanted to pursue Annie through her, which wasn’t entirely wrong because Aoyama Xiu Xin did want to keep tabs on Annie through her, aiming to please her accordingly.

"Please, if Minister and Miss Annie come to fruition, there would be heavier gifts." Jin Yucheng painted a picture and advised, "You must ensure Miss Annie doesn’t find out, or she would be displeased with the Minister, and you couldn’t bear that consequence."

"Hi!" The housekeeper was startled and nodded repeatedly.

Aoyama Xiu Xin arrived at the study and raised his hand to knock on the door.

"Knock knock knock."

"Come in."

Aoyama Xiu Xin pushed the door open, his face wearing a bright smile, "Hi! Miss Annie, it’s been some time. You are even more radiant now!"

Because it was the morning and she was at home, Annie was still wearing a nightdress, her blonde, slightly curly hair loosely draped behind her. The blue strap nightdress accentuated the alluring curves of her body, the lace-edged collar slightly low, revealing two fair and tempting mounds.

It’s said that white people have more body hair and larger pores.

But from Aoyama Xiu Xin’s perspective, Annie didn’t seem to have this issue, as her skin was white like snow.

"Please sit." Although Annie didn’t like this traitor Aoyama Xiu Xin, she forced herself not to let personal feelings affect her work, pointing to the small sofa opposite the desk. "The tea on the table is for you."

"I am honored." Aoyama Xiu Xin smiled slightly and sat on the sofa, picked up the steaming tea, took a sip, and praised, "Good tea, worthy of being brewed by Miss Annie. I can even taste a hint of exotic flavor, making me reluctant to finish it."

Annie nonchalantly rolled her eyes, without mentioning that it was made by the housekeeper, sitting upright, the heavy mounds pressed and deformed by the desk, "Let’s not waste time. Why did Minister Aoyama seek me out?"

"Actually, it isn’t much." Aoyama Xiu Xin put down his teacup, picked up the slender embroidered box on the table, and said with a smile, "I happened to acquire a painting by the Chinese artist Xu Wei, but I do not truly understand it. I heard from Richard that Miss Annie is an expert in this field, so I specially brought it for Miss Annie to give me some advice."

"Xu Wei? Xu Wei of the Ming Dynasty?" Annie’s beautiful eyes widened as she confirmed once more, already standing up.

Aoyama Xiu Xin shrugged, "If there aren’t other painters named Xu Wei, then it should be him."

"Oh my gosh!" Annie exclaimed, directly stepping out from behind the desk, "Let me see it, quickly."

Aoyama Xiu Xin instinctively fixed his gaze on her long legs—so white, so tender, her bare feet on the carpet looked downright edible.

"Sure." He withdrew his gaze, opened the box, took out the ancient painting, and laid it out on the table.

As the scroll unfurled completely, a landscape painting emerged before their eyes, full of artistic conception. Even though Aoyama Xiu Xin did not understand it, he felt it was beautiful and evocative.

Annie was even more entranced; she murmured, "Each time I see it, I can’t help but marvel at the beauty of Chinese paintings and Chinese characters."

"So, Miss Annie, please tell me if this painting is real or fake?" Aoyama Xiu Xin bowed.

Annie did not answer him, leaned closer to carefully observe the painting, occasionally using her hands, not realizing her conscience was almost slipping out from her collar.

After watching and picking it up again, she finally looked at Aoyama Xiu Xin with a complex expression and said, "It’s probably real. Mr. Aoyama, you really have good luck."

"Really? That’s good. I’ll keep it at home and hang it in my study to maintain some semblance of elegance. Otherwise, if someone recognizes it’s a fake, it would be so embarrassing!" Aoyama Xiu Xin laughed heartily, speaking casually.

Annie was going crazy inside. Aoyama Xiu Xin’s attitude toward this painting made her feel it was a pearl thrown before swine. Such a treasure in his hands is purely a waste, what a pity.

She opened her mouth, wanting to speak but eventually held back. However, seeing Aoyama Xiu Xin casually rolling up the painting, she couldn’t help it, "Please be careful, Mr. Aoyama, don’t damage it."

"If it’s damaged, it’s damaged. I’ll just buy another one. I don’t play with these things anyway," Aoyama Xiu Xin said indifferently.

Fuck! Do you think this is a big cabbage?

Annie couldn’t endure any longer and said somewhat embarrassed, "To tell the truth, I really like this painting. Mr. Aoyama, could you part with it? Of course, I’m willing to pay for it at market price."

Aoyama Xiu Xin squinted his eyes slightly. Xu Wei’s painting should be worth a lot, right? Annie could afford it, meaning she must be very wealthy. Luckily, Richard had told him about her interests. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have known how to get closer.

"Buy it? Miss Annie, you’re too formal. If you like it, I’ll just give it to you." Aoyama Xiu Xin openly stuffed the scroll into Annie’s arms.

Afraid the painting might fall to the ground, Annie instinctively gripped it tightly and said, "How can this be? How can I accept such a precious gift from Mr. Aoyama for nothing?"

"Miss Annie, you don’t lack money, and I don’t need this bit of money. Offering money would just insult me," Aoyama Xiu Xin said, pretending to be displeased: "Either I give you this painting, or I keep it for myself, but I definitely won’t sell it to you."

"This...this..." Annie lightly bit her lip and looked down at the painting in her hands. She couldn’t bear to return it, her face flushing with embarrassment as she softly said, "Then I thank Mr. Aoyama."

"Miss Annie, you’re too polite. I have a bunch of such genuine ancient paintings at home. I’ll bring you a few more next time," Aoyama Xiu Xin laughed heartily.

Annie felt very ashamed. She realized now that Aoyama Xiu Xin had specifically come to give her a gift, but he had hit right where it mattered, making her unable to refuse!

Mock Richard, understand Richard, become Richard, surpass Richard...

"Please sit tight for a moment, Mr. Aoyama, while I change my clothes," Annie took a deep breath and said.

Richard was right; the more people like Aoyama Xiu Xin there are, the better the development, and the more beneficial it is for the United States.

She shouldn’t let personal emotions affect her demeanor towards him. Accepting his gift will make him trust her more and be more helpful in pulling him closer to the country.

After all, in their interactions, representing the United States, she held the upper hand. If Aoyama Xiu Xin did propose something excessive, she could simply reject it.

Annie found herself a perfectly justified reason for accepting the gift, then left the study with the painting.

Watching her hurriedly departing figure, Aoyama Xiu Xin smirked. He knew best how to corrupt a bureaucrat step by step because he himself was an expert in this field, a seasoned corrupt official.

About half an hour later, Annie returned.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Aoyama."

She had changed her nightgown into a suit, shirt, short skirt, black stockings, a golden-haired OL-style uniform beauty, her demeanor also much more competent, "Mr. Aoyama, the CIA provides funding every year for overseas talents worth nurturing like you, although you probably don’t need it..."

"Need it! Need it!" Aoyama Xiu Xin interrupted Annie abruptly. He never lacked money, but money from the U.S. government was different; after all, it represented something else.

Taking the money means truly being considered one of them.

"Alright, I’ll apply for you." Annie was taken aback for a moment but then continued, "What’s your brother Aoyama Sosuke’s attitude towards us in the United States?"

Suzumasa Aoyama, at the age of thirty, had become the fourth key figure in the Cabinet’s most important department, the Ministry of Finance, and also Aoyama Xiu Xin’s brother, warranting the CIA’s attention.

"Miss Annie, let me put it this way, my brother’s attitude doesn’t matter. My attitude is his attitude." Aoyama Xiu Xin leaned back on the sofa, crossing one leg over the other, and said easily.

Annie was taken aback once again. If Aoyama Xiu Xin could directly make decisions for Aoyama Sosuke, then his value for the United States’ united front would undoubtedly increase further.

She involuntarily straightened her posture, placed her long legs wrapped in black stockings together, and asked with her hands on her legs, "Then is there anything Mr. Aoyama needs?"

"What I want, you’ve already given me." Aoyama Xiu Xin, evaluating her graceful posture, said with a playful smile.

Annie was somewhat angry, but she didn’t let it show and instead said with a deeper meaning, "As long as Mr. Aoyama contributes enough to the United States, we can give you whatever you want, so please continue to work hard."

"Such as?" Aoyama Xiu Xin raised an eyebrow; he heard the implication in Annie’s words, wondering what she wanted him to do.