Chapter 299: Cheng Yuan, You’re Guzzling It
Xiao Yating was genuinely a little angry. She left Cheng Yuan behind and strode after Yan Liming.
If she hadn’t grown up with Cheng Yuan, Xiao Yating would have wanted nothing to do with him at this point.
Surrounded by his entourage, Yan Liming arrived at the front desk.
The receptionist asked politely, "Sir, do you have a reservation?"
Yan Liming replied in a slightly arrogant tone, "Yes, we do. The Qingyun Ascending Hall!"
The Qingyun Ascending Hall?
Hearing this, the lobby manager, Wang Haiyan, enthusiastically came forward to greet them. It was obvious she had received instructions from Gao Qingyuan.
"This way, esteemed guests."
Wang Haiyan personally escorted the group into the Qingyun Ascending Hall. She then retrieved two bottles of red wine from the wine rack and said respectfully, "This is the Romantic Condi from our President Gao. Please, enjoy."
Wang Haiyan deferentially placed the two bottles of red wine on the table, then tactfully excused herself.
Romantic Condi?
That’s the number one red wine in the world!
Everyone immediately started sucking up to him.
"I can’t believe how well-connected Brother Liming is! To even have a connection with President Gao!"
"I heard a rhyme once: ’Luocheng belongs to the City Lord by day, and to Qingyuan by night!’ Brother Liming is incredible! To be on good terms with a powerhouse like that!!"
"No wonder Brother Liming is getting promoted. With connections this solid, who else would get ahead but him?"
"Brother Liming, could you introduce us to President Gao sometime? If we could get connected with him, we’d be set for life!"
Xiao Yating gazed at Yan Liming with utter adoration. ’I can’t believe my man’s network is this powerful! He’s on such good terms with a top-tier powerhouse like President Gao!’
Yan Liming was a bit bewildered. ’I don’t know Gao Qingyuan that well. What’s going on?’
’Wait, a while back, I asked Young Master Mei to deliver a gift to President Gao’s eldest son, Gao Zhisheng.’
’Could these two bottles be a return gift from Gao Zhisheng?’
’It must be!’
Yan Liming cleared his throat. "Actually, I’ve only met President Gao once. However, I’m very familiar with his eldest son. These two bottles must be a gift from him."
Xiao Yating said with an adoring expression, "Just knowing the eldest son is an incredible feat! Liming, your future is so bright!"
As she spoke, Xiao Yating shot a meaningful glance at Cheng Yuan, her expression seeming to say, ’Brother Yuan, you still dare curse Liming’s future?’
’Liming has such formidable connections; he’s destined to soar. How could he possibly face prison time?’
Cheng Yuan felt a headache coming on. ’This Yan Liming really has some nerve, taking credit like that. This wine was obviously sent by Gao Mingyuan for me, so how did it become a gift from Young Master Gao to him?’
’Whatever. Yan Liming is just a grasshopper in late autumn—he won’t be hopping for much longer.’ Cheng Yuan couldn’t be bothered to expose him.
Everyone took their seats at the table.
Yan Liming sat imposingly at the head of the table, while Xiao Yating sat to his right like a dutiful wife.
The others nearly came to blows fighting for the seat to Yan Liming’s left. Only Cheng Yuan couldn’t be bothered to compete, calmly taking the seat directly across from Yan Liming. Cheng Yuan didn’t want to be tainted by Yan Liming’s bad luck.
In the end, Jiang Hu snatched the spot to Yan Liming’s left, his face flushed with excitement. He diligently opened the wine and poured a large, full glass for Yan Liming.
Yan Liming gently swirled his glass and said admiringly, "Romantic Condi truly lives up to its reputation as a million-dollar wine. Look at this color, look at the legs. Everyone, have a taste! Jiang Hu, pour a glass for Cheng Yuan."
Jiang Hu reluctantly poured a glass for Cheng Yuan. "Cheng Yuan, you’d better thank Brother Liming properly. If it weren’t for his prestige, you’d never get to drink a fine wine like Romantic Condi in your entire life! Go on, drink it. Savor it, sip by tiny sip! After all, a single small sip is worth a normal person’s annual salary!"
Cheng Yuan rolled his eyes, speechless. When he became the successor for the Hu and Zhu Families, he’d drunk several bottles of this stuff at the celebration banquet.
He’d had even better wine at the Cheng Mansion Banquet. What was a little Romantic Condi?
Cheng Yuan raised his glass and downed it in one gulp.
Cheng Yuan’s action made everyone cringe.
The crowd immediately attacked him for it.
"Cheng Yuan, you’re chugging it like a cow drinking water!"
"Cheng Yuan, that’s a huge waste! Chugging it like that, what can you possibly taste?"
"It’s like the pig in the story who ate the Ginseng Fruit—a complete waste! There are only two bottles, which is barely one glass per person. You’ve had your share, so don’t you dare ask for more later!"
...
Cheng Yuan calmly set down his glass. Watching everyone take tiny, meticulous sips, he couldn’t help but shake his head.
’Such a bunch of posers.’
’Are you all professional Wine Tasters? Can you really tell the difference?’
Cheng Yuan hadn’t eaten breakfast and was getting hungry. He shouted, "Waiter, hurry up with the food! I’m starving!"
Everyone was speechless. They’d never seen someone as shameless as Cheng Yuan. ’Brother Liming is the host, what right do you have to order everyone around?’
The food arrived quickly.
The two bottles of Romantic Condi were quickly finished, so the group opened a few more bottles of red wine that cost around fifty euros each.
In Europe, red wine at this price point was already the best a normal person would serve to honored guests.
But after having just had Romantic Condi, this red wine suddenly seemed bland.
Yan Liming smacked his lips a couple of times. "Comparison is the thief of joy. I used to think this kind of wine was pretty good, but now it feels really average. But we’re celebrating today, so drink up, everyone!"
"To Brother Liming’s meteoric rise! A toast to you!"
"May Brother Liming and Yating grow old together!"
"May Brother Liming soon become the Director-General of Luocheng!"
"Brother Liming, don’t forget about us brothers after you get promoted!"
...
Amidst the chorus of flattery, Yan Liming was beaming and accepted every toast. He could hold his liquor well; after several rounds, he was perfectly fine.
As the hostess, Xiao Yating was also a primary target for toasts.
Xiao Yating was a lightweight and quickly became a bit tipsy.
Xiao Yating stood up and looked at the group apologetically. "Excuse me, I’ve had a little too much to drink. I need to use the restroom."
Huang Liping, who was sitting next to her, smiled. "Yating, I’ll go with you."
The two women supported each other as they left the private room.
A moment later, Huang Liping burst back through the door, her face pale with panic. She shouted, "Trouble! Yating’s been cornered by some thugs!"
Yan Liming flew into a rage.
’Xiao Yating is my girlfriend! I haven’t even laid a hand on her yet; I can’t let some random thugs take advantage of her!’
"What happened? Where is Yating?"
Huang Liping spoke in a rush, "Just now, outside the restrooms, some guy groped me. Yating stood up for me and slapped him! He got angry and had his buddies grab Yating. I managed to run back and get help in the chaos!"
Yan Liming slammed a glass down hard and roared, "Fuck! They dare lay a hand on Yating?! They’re courting death! Let’s go, brothers! Time to teach those little bastards a lesson!"
With a great clatter, everyone shot to their feet.
Cheng Yuan was the fastest to react. He thought of Xiao Yating as a little sister!
’If even a single hair on Xiao Yating’s head is harmed, every last one of them will die!’