Meeting Liu Yan

The unexpected little incident did nothing to dampen anyone's spirits. They continued chatting, laughing, and teasing one another.

After eating and drinking his fill, Chen Hao checked the time, said a word to Chu Jinliang, and left the private room.

When he reached Liu Yan's room, V110, Chen Hao did not go straight in. Instead, he sent her a message. "Still eating? I'm outside your room."

There was no reply to the message, but Liu Yan soon came out.

Liu Yan wore a fitted black blouse that beautifully outlined her exquisite figure. The alcohol had brought an alluring flush to her fair cheeks, and the moment she stepped out, Chen Hao's eyes lit up.

Damn, no wonder she's the woman connected to me by a marriage thread. She's so sexy and alluring.

Chen Hao indulged in happy fantasies, his eyes fixed on Liu Yan. He was practically drooling.

Seeing Chen Hao standing there in a daze, Liu Yan smiled. "Chen Hao, are you all right?"

Only then did Chen Hao snap out of it. He wiped the corner of his mouth. "Fine, I'm fine."

Liu Yan covered her mouth and laughed, looking utterly enchanting. "I still have to thank you for what happened today."

Completely spellbound by her beauty, Chen Hao chuckled foolishly. "Nothing to thank me for. A hero saving a beauty—that's my favorite pastime."

Chen Hao made Liu Yan laugh. She rolled her eyes at him. "You're never serious."

As they chatted, the door suddenly opened, and a man with a greasy face appeared. He smiled at Liu Yan. "President Liu, come back in. Mr. Wang is still waiting for you."

"All right, I'll be right there." Liu Yan turned to answer him, then said to Chen Hao, "Are you free later tonight? If you are, I'll treat you to a late-night snack."

Chen Hao nodded. "Sure."

Liu Yan gave him a faint smile, turned around, and went back into the room.

For some reason, Chen Hao felt a little pang of disappointment.

But before Liu Yan could return to her seat, the door opened again, and Chen Hao walked in.

Everyone immediately turned to look at him.

Liu Yan was startled at first to see Chen Hao, but a bright smile soon spread across her face. "Let me introduce you all. This is my friend, Chen Hao. This is Mr. Wang."

Originally, Chen Hao had never intended to come in. He was interested in Liu Yan, not her friends.

But when Liu Yan opened the door and he saw that all five people inside were men, he could no longer stay calm.

Liu Yan was his future wife, after all. Dressed as sexily as she was, how could he let other men take advantage of her?

Out of respect for Liu Yan, Chen Hao stepped forward after the introductions and offered his hand. "Hello, Mr. Wang."

But the greasy, balding middle-aged man had no intention of showing Chen Hao any courtesy. He did not even look at him, simply picking his teeth with a toothpick, his face full of disdain.

Chen Hao smiled, withdrew his hand, and sat down beside Liu Yan.

The moment he sat down, one of Mr. Wang's lackeys started shouting. "Who the hell are you? Did anyone tell you to sit?"

Chen Hao smiled, not the least bit angry. "I'm Liu Yan's boy... male friend. What, am I not welcome?"

The man had no intention of showing anyone any respect. "No, you're not. Get the hell out right now."

Looking at the man's arrogant face, Chen Hao really wanted to slap him and teach him how to speak properly.

But that only puzzled him more. What exactly was Liu Yan's relationship with these people? They were not showing her any respect at all.

Then Mr. Wang suddenly spoke. "Xiao Li, since this Chen-whatever is Liu Yan's friend, let him sit if he wants."

"Yes, sir."

Feeling rather awkward, Liu Yan could only raise her glass. "Thank you, Mr. Wang. Come on, let's all have a toast."

Mr. Wang did not pick up his glass. Instead, he said snidely, "Ms. Liu, earlier you were alone, and since you're a woman, we went easy on you during the toasts. Now that your friend's here, shouldn't he make a little gesture?"

His intention to put Chen Hao on the spot could not have been clearer.

But was Chen Hao the kind of man who feared trouble?

"A little gesture is no problem. I'm just afraid you gentlemen won't be able to handle it," Chen Hao said provocatively.

Xiao Li, the man who had shouted earlier, jumped in again, slapping a whole bottle of Wuliangye onto the table. "What's that supposed to mean? However you want to do this, we'll take you on."

Chen Hao smiled without answering. He got up, went to the serving table, and fetched a wineglass for each person. They would do this with wineglasses.

Once he sat back down, Chen Hao began showing off.

"I don't have many hobbies. I just like a little drink now and then. And when I drink, I don't like taking tiny sips like some woman. I like downing whole glasses." As he spoke, Chen Hao opened a bottle of Wuliangye and began pouring himself a drink.

These glasses were meant for wine. Filled to the brim, each held roughly half a liter.

As he poured, Chen Hao swept a contemptuous gaze over everyone. "I just wonder whether any of you have the guts to make that little gesture."

The men Mr. Wang had brought were all seasoned drinkers with impressive tolerances. Any one of them could easily drink several average drinkers under the table.

Yet for all their experience, none of them had ever seen someone down baijiu from a wineglass.

Beside him, Liu Yan sensed that this was getting out of hand. Afraid Chen Hao would go too far and leave them unable to salvage the situation, she hurriedly tugged at his shirt and shook her head. "Chen Hao!"

Chen Hao understood what she meant and gave her a faint smile.

Although Xiao Li could not quite figure Chen Hao out, he was not worried in the slightest. There were five of them—surely they had nothing to fear from Chen Hao alone. He immediately copied him and began filling his wineglass.

With someone taking the lead, the others followed suit.

The corner of Mr. Wang's mouth twitched. Damn it, I never expected this Chen Hao to be such a wild card. He doesn't play by the rules at all.

But now he had backed himself into a corner. He had started this, and refusing to join in would only make him look scared.

Sighing inwardly, Mr. Wang pretended to be completely unfazed and poured himself a full glass.

Once everyone had filled the wineglass in front of them, Chen Hao finally raised his glass and smiled. "Then let me toast you all on Liu Yan's behalf!"

With that, Chen Hao lifted his glass and gulped down every last drop of baijiu.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, looking at one another and then at the full glasses of baijiu before them. Suddenly, they felt overwhelmed.

Mr. Wang was the first to speak. He laughed loudly, slipping a wandering hand onto Liu Yan's shoulder and leaving her feeling helpless.

"You've certainly got guts, young Chen!"

At the sight, Chen Hao's eyes turned cold. "Cut the crap. If you don't dare drink, just say so."

Stung by Chen Hao's words, Mr. Wang immediately lost his temper. He slapped the table and picked up his glass. "Like hell I'm scared of you!"

Seeing Mr. Wang take the lead and start drinking, his lackeys did not dare hesitate. They followed his example and forced the liquor down.

Not everyone could down half a liter of baijiu in one go. After a single gulp, two of them choked and gave up, sitting back down and waving their hands in surrender.

One of them seemed genuinely impressed by Chen Hao's courage and secretly gave him a thumbs-up. You're a badass.

In the end, only Mr. Wang and Xiao Li managed to finish, but half a liter of baijiu would leave anyone half-dead.

Mr. Wang braced a hand on the table and spent a long time burping. After taking quite a while to recover, he looked up, ready to run his mouth, only to find Chen Hao holding another glass. "You..."

Before he could finish, Chen Hao's next words left him utterly stunned with fear. "Mr. Wang, I'll make another little gesture. You gentlemen can do the same."

Everyone stared at Chen Hao with wide eyes and open mouths, frozen in place until he finished his second glass of baijiu.

They had seen strong drinkers before, but nobody drank like this. Half a liter at a time, downed in one go—who the hell could take that?

Ignoring the dumbstruck men around him, Chen Hao put the empty bottle aside and prepared to look for more. "Is there any more liquor?"

Only then did everyone snap out of it. Mr. Wang in particular was so frightened that he could barely get his words out. "Hey, hey, hey! Stay right there! Xiao Li, hurry up and stop him!"

Xiao Li's face was flushed from drinking, and he could barely stand. He grabbed Chen Hao, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "Bro, I give up. You're a badass."

Chen Hao shoved Xiao Li away, then addressed Wang. "Listen, Wang. Stop looking down your damn nose at people."

With that, he took Liu Yan's hand and headed outside.

The instant Chen Hao's warm hand closed firmly around hers, Liu Yan froze.

Although her instincts told her she absolutely could not leave with Chen Hao like this, or today's business negotiations would end in complete failure, her body followed him involuntarily, as though he possessed some peculiar magic.

Seeing them about to leave, Mr. Wang suddenly barked coldly, "Stop right there!"

Xiao Li and the others immediately got up and blocked the doorway.

Chen Hao gave a cold smile. "What's this? Are you planning to keep us here by force, Mr. Wang?"

"Listen here, you little punk. I call the shots here. Never mind keeping you here by force—I could beat the shit out of you, and you wouldn't dare make a peep." Mr. Wang lit a cigarette and narrowed his eyes as he blustered.

Hearing such arrogant words piqued Chen Hao's interest. He sat back down with Liu Yan. "Oh, I get it. You're saying you're the biggest shot around here, Mr. Wang. By that logic, I suppose you don't even think much of Zhonghai City's mayor?"

"Ha!" Mr. Wang sneered, as arrogant as ever. "Who gives a damn about the mayor? Why don't you ask around and find out what kind of standing I have in Zhonghai City?"

Finding this increasingly entertaining, Chen Hao hurried to egg him on. "Liu Yan, just who is this great Mr. Wang? Introduce him properly."

Liu Yan had originally thought Chen Hao was a man with backbone. Now, seeing him turn flattering after just a couple of threats from Mr. Wang, her opinion of him immediately dropped.

Liu Yan answered coldly, "Mr. Wang is the current chairman of Kang'ai Technology and the president of the Zhonghai City Medical Association."

Paying little attention to the change in Liu Yan's expression, Chen Hao said, "Oh," and gave Mr. Wang a thumbs-up. Then he asked, "Mr. Wang, let's get straight to the point. What will it take for you to let us leave today?"

Mr. Wang exhaled a light puff of smoke, growing even more overbearing. "President Liu invited me to dinner today. It was bad enough that you barged in halfway through and interrupted us. Now you're trying to drag her away? Who the hell do you think you are?"

As he spoke, Xiao Li and the others behind him all moved a little closer to Chen Hao.

Seeing this, Chen Hao immediately pretended to back down and raised a hand. "Hey, hey, hey, don't do anything rash. Let's talk this out."

Seeing Chen Hao cower, Mr. Wang laughed contemptuously. "Look at you, you coward. What happened to all that bravado you had while drinking?"

Beside him, Liu Yan was speechless too. Her gaze shifted away, unwilling even to look at Chen Hao.

Chen Hao gave a dry laugh and pretended to be afraid. "Mr. Wang, how about this? I'll call someone over to offer you an apology."

"Just a verbal apology?" Mr. Wang raised an eyebrow smugly.

Chen Hao's eyes shifted. "Of course he won't come empty-handed. I'll compensate you for your emotional distress. Would a hundred thousand be enough?"

Given Mr. Wang's current status, a hundred thousand naturally did not interest him. He rolled his eyes at Chen Hao. "Hmph, a hundred thousand? Do you think I'm a beggar?"

Seeing Mr. Wang's greed grow, Chen Hao was delighted. He smiled and kept egging him on. "Then what would be appropriate? Name your price."

Mr. Wang considered it. A six-figure sum might not interest him, but seven figures were another matter. "Let's make it a nice round number. One million."

After naming his price, Mr. Wang actually felt uncertain. Chen Hao did not look wealthy in any way, and even if he demanded that amount, the man might not be able to produce it.

Besides, even if Chen Hao really had money, as long as he was remotely sane, why would he pay whatever Mr. Wang asked?

But to Mr. Wang's utter surprise, the moment he named his price, Chen Hao agreed without a second thought. "All right. One million."

"What?!" Mr. Wang was completely bewildered, choking halfway through a drag on his cigarette.

Beside him, Liu Yan pressed a hand to her forehead, utterly speechless. In just a few short minutes, the fairly good impression she had of Chen Hao had completely collapsed.

"Mr. Wang, give me a moment to make a call." Grinning, Chen Hao picked up his phone and dialed.

Mr. Wang and his men all stared at Chen Hao as though he were an idiot. They were not worried in the slightest that he might call the police or summon help. As far as they were concerned, they had connections on both sides of the law at the Ancient Sovereign. Whoever came, they had nothing to fear.

While Chen Hao was dialing, Mr. Wang grinned at Liu Yan. "President Liu, look at the sort of friends you have. Just look at that coward. Not a shred of backbone."

Liu Yan kept a stiff expression and shook her head in disappointment.

Then Chen Hao's call connected. "Hello, Jia Zhengyi? Come over to room V110. I need your help with something. Don't disturb the old gentleman and the others. Just come by yourself."

"Jia Zhengyi?" Hearing the name, Mr. Wang immediately furrowed his brow. Wasn't Jia Zhengyi the name of Zhonghai City's mayor?

But after thinking it over, Mr. Wang felt absolutely certain that it was just a coincidence. Nothing about Chen Hao suggested that he could have had any contact with the mayor.

As they waited, there was suddenly a knock at the door.

Xiao Li impatiently opened it and saw a middle-aged man in a black Zhongshan suit standing outside. "Excuse me, is Mr. Chen Hao—"

Before the man could finish, Xiao Li snapped with a stern face, "Chen who? There's only Mr. Wang here."

The middle-aged man's expression immediately turned cold at Xiao Li's attitude. But remembering that Chen Hao was inside, he did not dare lose his temper. He could only answer patiently, "Oh, someone called me over. Sorry for the trouble, but could you ask for me?"

Realization immediately dawned on Xiao Li. So this man had come to deliver the money. He quickly opened the door wider. "Go in."

The moment the middle-aged man entered the room, Mr. Wang, who had been sitting there looking perfectly relaxed, sprang to his feet. "M-Mayor Jia!"