Chapter 418 - 431: Having a Meal
Jiang Xia’s question was, naturally, met with an enthusiastic and positive response from Principal Luo.
"Of course you can. It’s not your fault that your time was wasted."
As soon as he said that, An Ning felt like she could see Xiao Yan’s face twitch. She laughed inwardly, not expecting Principal Luo to also be a master of subtlety.
"Thank you, Principal Luo. I’ll start attending classes as soon as possible. I’ll be sure to study hard and make progress every day."
Jiang Xia promised earnestly, then abruptly changed the subject. "I can tour Beijing University some other time. Why don’t we discuss the investment?"
Jiang Xia turned, forcing Xiao Yan to meet his gaze.
Leader Li, who had been the first to greet them, was completely lost, sensing that there was something going on that he didn’t know about.
With a single gesture, a young man backed away a few steps and slipped away from the crowd without a sound.
Jiang Xia stared at Xiao Yan, his eyes holding an emotion that outsiders couldn’t comprehend. His tone was steady, yet carried an oppressive weight as he asked, "I wonder, Comrade Xiao Yan, how have you arranged the rest of our schedule?"
Now that she was called out, Xiao Yan finally understood why a Hong Kong businessman would ask for someone of her insufficient rank to be his host.
But at this moment, the arrow was already on the bowstring; she had no choice but to release it.
"Mr. Jiang, you must be tired from your journey. Why don’t we rest for a bit and discuss things over a meal?"
Xiao Yan wanted to bite her lip until it bled, but she didn’t dare drop her polite facade in the slightest.
"Oh... so that’s the arrangement. I’m a bit of a picky eater. I’m afraid I’ll be a bother to everyone."
Jiang Xia said, feigning difficulty, "Otherwise, how about we just get straight to business? It doesn’t matter whether we eat or not."
Xiao Yan gritted her teeth and forced a smile. "That won’t do at all. A meal is still very important. As the hosts, we can’t be impolite. You must give us this opportunity."
"Comrade Xiao Yan is right. I really should give you an opportunity."
His words laced with hidden meaning, Jiang Xia agreed to go to the meal.
He turned with a smile, and when he spoke to An Ning, his tone and cadence changed completely, adopting the familiar manner of someone speaking to family.
"An Ning, Xiao Shan, you two come along."
Of course, An Ning and Zhou Xiaoshan weren’t going to refuse. A chance to watch a good show like this was rare, and they’d regret missing it for the rest of their lives.
Led by Xiao Yan, the group walked out of Beijing University and boarded a minibus—the kind with a security detail in front and behind.
The vehicle headed toward the city center and began to slow down.
The vehicle came to a steady stop in front of an old-fashioned building. Xiao Yan, who had been wrestling with complicated feelings the entire ride, was the first to stand up. She turned to the others, who had been chatting happily the whole way, and said, "We’re here."
Jiang Xia didn’t respond to her at all, simply gesturing politely for An Ning, Principal Luo, and the others to proceed.
Everyone else walked past Xiao Yan. It was as if she were simultaneously very important and nothing more than a signpost.
Xiao Yan, who was accustomed to being in control and fawned over by her circle, was left with a bitter taste that only she could comprehend.
An Ning gave Jiang Xia a subtle "You’re awesome" gesture. Jiang Xia secretly winked back, a thrill of vengeance coursing through him.
His enemy clearly wished she could kill him, yet because of his status, she could only bow and scrape before him.
He had to admit, the feeling was addictive.
Once everyone had disembarked from the minibus, Xiao Yan once again circled around the group to the front to lead the way.
After the simple, antique doors were pushed open, Xiao Yan was recognized by the staff at the entrance, who eagerly came forward to serve her.
"Miss Xiao, you’ve arrived."
Xiao Yan nodded, reclaiming a faint sense of presence, but this feeling vanished in a puff of smoke the moment Jiang Xia and the others entered.
"Hello. Please take us to the private room we booked."
"Yes, this way, please."
Someone who appeared to be a manager led the way, bringing the group into a spacious, bright, and impeccably clean room.
Jiang Xia was seated at the head of the table. He didn’t refuse the honor, but he casually invited everyone to sit, not putting on any airs.
Xiao Yan, who was the last to be seated, took the menu from the waiter and handed it to Jiang Xia. "Please take a look and see what you’d like to eat. The chef here is descended from an Imperial Chef, so his skills are quite good."
Jiang Xia didn’t reach for it, leaving Xiao Yan holding the menu in the air.
"I’m young, so it’s not my place to make the decision alone. Why don’t you bring a few more menus so we can all take a look?"
Jiang Xia’s words were naturally met with agreement from everyone.
Xiao Yan, still holding the menu, said with a stiff smile, "It was my oversight."
"It’s alright. Even the wise are not always free from error. To say nothing of you."
Jiang Xia’s words were a naked slap to Xiao Yan’s face, just short of pointing at her and yelling, ’You’re an idiot! You’re an idiot!’
Xiao Yan met the gaze of Jiang Xia, who was just inches away. His eyes were jet-black pools, revealing none of the hatred she knew was there. But Xiao Yan knew he had come for her.
’He wants revenge!’
"You’re right. Even the wise doze off sometimes. A momentary slip-up, or a moment of triumph—both are perfectly normal."
Xiao Yan’s retort was neither soft nor hard. ’It’s just a stupid job. If it comes down to it, I’ll just quit.’
Jiang Xia showed no surprise. Xiao Yan had never been the type to suffer grievances silently. When this woman was ruthless, she could play Jiang Dongcheng around her little finger from start to finish.
"Miss Xiao, are you dissatisfied with me in some way?"
Jiang Xia said with a troubled expression, "This makes things a bit difficult. I have to discuss matters with Xiao Xian later. I wonder, does Miss Xiao happen to know him?"
"You... Xiao Xian is my older brother. We have the same mother."
The moment she heard Xiao Xian’s name, the sharp thorns bristling from Xiao Yan’s demeanor instantly retracted.
The Xiao Family was a single entity.
She understood even better that without the Xiao Family, the name Xiao Yan was worthless.
"Oh? What a coincidence."
Jiang Xia’s look—as if he were asking a question he already knew the answer to—made Xiao Yan nod politely and ask for several more menus.
The others at the table could feel the unusual, tense atmosphere. Even Leader Li, who wasn’t privy to the backstory, could probably tell that Jiang Xia and Xiao Yan did not get along.
But regardless, the investment still needed to be discussed.
Fortunately, aside from making things difficult for Xiao Yan, Jiang Xia was as generous with the investment as if he were spending Joss Paper.
In his eyes, money didn’t seem to be money at all, just a pile of meaningless paper.
The dishes had all been served, and Xiao Yan was run ragged by the picky-eating Jiang Xia.
Either the tea was too cold or a dish was too spicy.
Then it was a request for a new pair of chopsticks, or a fresh napkin.
In short, throughout the entire meal, Xiao Yan barely had a moment to sit down. She was constantly getting up and sitting down, bustling about.
Whenever Xiao Yan showed a hint of impatience, Jiang Xia would manage to bring up Xiao Xian’s name in a way that was both subtle and natural.
Once Xiao Xian’s name was mentioned, no matter how great Xiao Yan’s frustration, it was suppressed, and she continued to let Jiang Xia order her around.
Over the course of a single meal, the investment was settled. It happened so easily that Leader Li began to wonder if they had dined on dragon’s liver and phoenix marrow. The results were just too good.
After the meal, Jiang Xia didn’t linger. He left with everyone else, saying they should finalize the contract and paperwork first.
This action made Leader Li ecstatic.
At the entrance to the restaurant, Jiang Xia called Xiao Yan’s name one last time. Standing at the bottom of the steps, Xiao Yan turned her head sideways and looked up at Jiang Xia, who stood at the top.
"Miss Xiao, I’ll have to trouble you to pass on a message to Jiang Dongcheng. Tell him that I, Jiang Xia—the ’Xia’ from Xia Qiushuang—am back."