Chapter 147: Toasting
Cheng Yuan didn’t say anything, just quietly watched Xu Ke. If Xu Ke didn’t disappoint him, he would give him a huge surprise.
To Cheng Yuan’s relief, Xu Ke rejected Tang Mingcheng directly, without a moment’s hesitation.
"Young Master Tang, I appreciate the kind offer. Young Master Mei is in the top tier of Luocheng’s young scions. A small fry like me isn’t qualified to know him."
Tang Mingcheng’s face turned completely cold. ’Birds of a feather really do flock together. Just like Cheng Yuan, Xu Ke is stubborn and difficult!’
Since Xu Ke was being so disrespectful, he shouldn’t blame him for getting nasty!
Tang Mingcheng couldn’t lash out himself, but his lackey, Pan Gang, had no such reservations. He stepped forward without hesitation and berated Xu Ke, "Young Master Tang wants to work with you; he’s doing you a favor, so don’t be a fool! Believe it or not, Young Master Tang could have your family’s company blacklisted with a single word!"
Xu Ke shot back defiantly, "I admit Young Master Tang is a big shot! But his family makes system doors and windows. They aren’t the client, so how could they blacklist us?"
Pan Gang snorted. "That’s because you don’t know about Young Master Tang’s relationship with Young Master Mei! They’ve been best friends since childhood. You think Young Master Tang doesn’t have any pull?"
Xu Ke’s heart sank. ’Are Young Master Tang and Young Master Mei really that close?’
’I’m screwed!’
But things had already come this far. He couldn’t back down now.
"Even Young Master Mei can’t blacklist us. Xing’an Group isn’t the only developer in Luocheng! Besides, if worst comes to worst, we’ll just stop taking commercial projects. We can survive just fine doing residential work!"
Cheng Yuan nodded slightly. ’Xu Ke is a good man. He didn’t let me down.’
’All that time in college wasn’t for nothing. I finally made a true friend.’
’No more commercial projects?’
Tang Mingcheng let out a disdainful snort. "You can certainly survive doing only residential projects. You’ll just go from being a mid-sized decoration company back to a small one. But hey, as long as our dear classmate Xu Ke is happy."
Now that all pretenses were dropped, Xu Ke couldn’t be bothered to be polite. "You don’t need to worry about my family’s company, Young Master Tang."
Tang Mingcheng was furious, but he didn’t let it show. He gave Xu Ke a long look and said nonchalantly, "Pan Gang, to each their own. Since our classmate Xu Ke looks down on me and doesn’t want to work with me, then we’ll just forget it. Do you know any other decoration companies? Introduce one to me."
Pan Gang knew exactly what Tang Mingcheng was up to. He said with a malicious grin, "There’s a decoration company right across the street from Tengya. I think it’s called Longfa. They’ve always been overshadowed by Tengya. I’m sure they would be more than happy to work with you, Young Master Tang."
At these words, Xu Ke’s face went pale. Longfa Decoration and his Tengya Decoration had been rivals for years. If Longfa got this opportunity, they would soar to new heights and crush his company.
Seeing Xu Ke finally start to panic, Tang Mingcheng’s good mood was completely restored. He cast a casual glance at Cheng Yuan and Xu Ke, then leaned in and whispered something to Bai Xuening in an indulgent tone.
Bai Xuening’s face instantly lit up with joy. She stood up with her wine glass in hand and scanned the room with a beaming smile.
"Everyone, please excuse us for a moment. I’m going with Mingcheng to offer a toast to President Lin."
"Of course, no problem."
"Go right ahead, Xuening."
The classmates chimed in with accommodating smiles.
Bai Xuening shot Cheng Yuan a disdainful look before turning to leave. ’Starting today, I’m a successful professional earning over 100,000 a month. I’m on a completely different level from Cheng Yuan now!’
’I’ll pay him back double for all the humiliation I suffered back then!’
After Tang Mingcheng and Bai Xuening left the private room, the tense atmosphere eased considerably, and the classmates began to whisper among themselves.
He Ningning said with deep envy, "It’s just depressing to compare. Here we are, worrying about internships that pay three thousand a month, and look at Xue Ning. She’s about to become an intern Antique Appraiser at Yuanxi Auction House, starting at a hundred thousand a month. She’s effortlessly joining the ranks of top-tier professionals."
’Yuanxi Auction House?’
A peculiar expression crossed Cheng Yuan’s face.
"He Ningning, the Yuanxi Auction House you’re talking about... is that the one in Futai Square?"
He Ningning gave Cheng Yuan a surprised look. "Cheng Yuan, you follow the antiques world? You even know where Yuanxi Auction House is? Are you a fan of Teacher Zhang, too?"
Cheng Yuan rubbed his nose. "You could say that."
After a pause, Cheng Yuan asked, "As far as I know, Yuanxi is incredibly popular right now. People are lining up for a chance to work there. How did Bai Xuening manage to become an intern Antique Appraiser? Does she know Teacher Zhang?"
He Ningning smiled and shook her head. "Of course she doesn’t know Teacher Zhang. It’s all thanks to Young Master Tang’s connections. He knows President Lin of Yuanxi. He even attended their inaugural auction to show his support."
’Tang Mingcheng?’
Cheng Yuan froze for a second.
’Was Tang Mingcheng there for the inaugural auction?’
’I don’t remember that at all!’
’Ah, that’s right. After greeting the VIPs from the Provincial City, I left with Shen Youchu to focus on Cultivation. I didn’t stick around to greet the less important guests who arrived later.’
’I suppose Tang Mingcheng’s family must have been among those less important guests.’
...
Tang Mingcheng was very familiar with the Hilton Hotel and led Bai Xuening straight to the Evergreen Pavilion.
There were only three people inside the Evergreen Pavilion.
Lin Ruoxi sat at the head of the table. In the seat of honor was Mr. Dong Zhengjian, a renowned expert on antique culture in Dragon Country and the owner of two private museums. Zhang Zhigang was also present, keeping them company.
The three of them were deep in a pleasant conversation, having just reached a preliminary agreement to cooperate.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
There was a knock at the door.
Lin Ruoxi recalled the scene from the lobby and asked in a low voice, "A casual acquaintance has come to offer a toast. You don’t mind, do you, Mr. Dong?"
Dong Zhengjian said with a smile, "President Lin, you’re being too formal. Any friend of yours is a friend of mine. Please, let them in."
Only then did Lin Ruoxi give a slight nod and say, "Come in."
CREAK. Tang Mingcheng pushed the door open and walked in, followed by a somewhat nervous Bai Xuening.
Tang Mingcheng smoothly raised his glass. "President Lin, I hope I’m not interrupting. I came to offer you a toast. I’ll drink first, to show my respect!"
GULP. Tang Mingcheng downed the drink in one go.
Lin Ruoxi took a delicate sip and said amiably, "You’re too kind, Young Master Tang. You’re not interrupting at all."
After a pause, Lin Ruoxi made the introductions.
"Teacher Zhang, Teacher Dong, this is Young Master Tang from Dawn System Doors and Windows. Young Master Tang, you’ve already met Teacher Zhang. This is Teacher Dong, one of the leading authorities in Dragon Country’s antique culture circle."
Bai Xuening’s face flushed with excitement, and the arm holding her wine glass trembled slightly.
’Teacher Zhang?’
’And Teacher Dong?’
’Between the two of them, they represent half of the entire antiques world!’
’I never expected President Lin’s connections to be so incredible. Her guest of honor is Teacher Dong!’
Tang Mingcheng didn’t know much about the world of antiques, so he managed to act quite naturally. He poured a glass of wine and raised it to them. "Teacher Zhang, Teacher Dong, a toast to you."
Beside him, Bai Xuening very respectfully raised her glass. "Teacher Zhang, Teacher Dong, my name is Bai Xuening. You’re both my idols! It’s because of the influence of you two masters that I decided to pursue the study of antique culture."