The dinner table fell silent for two seconds.
Li Xiude put down his wineglass and unhurriedly tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Forget it," he said. "Xiaoliang, I understand if you don't believe me."
He said it so casually that it was a little disconcerting. One hundred million-the whole table had frozen when he mentioned it earlier, and now he brushed it aside just like that, as though it were merely a number, nothing to do with money, just something he had mentioned in passing.
Wang Xiaoliang held his teacup without speaking.
"Our group's Hong Kong listing is moving forward," Li Xiude continued. "On the day we go public, Xiaoliang, if you're interested, we can sit down and talk again. There's no rush."
There was something behind those words. Wang Xiaoliang heard it, but did not take the bait.
"All right," Li Xiude changed his expression and raised his glass. "Why talk business? It's been ages. Come on, everyone, another toast."
The switch came too quickly for anyone to respond. Glasses clinked sporadically around the table, the lively atmosphere picked up again, and the tension from moments before eased away.
After finishing that drink, Li Xiude stood up and braced both hands on the table.
"Tonight, I'm treating everyone to the Three-Wash Pavilion. It's my place. We'll go there for round two and relax a little. I hope you'll all do me the honor."
"The Three-Wash Pavilion?!" Li Xiaoman cried in surprise. "You own that place? I was just there yesterday!"
Li Xiude smiled without denying it.
"Jun," Li Xiaoman reached out and clapped him on the shoulder. "That place of yours is really good. I went yesterday. It feels so upscale, and the service is faultless. One word: comfortable. But the prices are terrifying. Even a basic bathing