Ji Hanxing walked straight to the lobby of the Grand Prosperity Hotel in one go. Glancing back slightly and seeing that Yan Jinyue had not followed, he finally slowed his pace. Xue Hui jogged to catch up.
Someone was already waiting at reception: Jiang Yuzhuo's assistant, Assistant Li. He had just hung up when he saw Ji Hanxing and Xue Hui walk in. Putting his phone away, he immediately greeted them with a smile:
"Welcome, President Ji. It's an honor to have you here."
Xue Hui quietly reminded Ji Hanxing, "This is President Jiang's assistant, Assistant Li."
"President Jiang is already waiting at the Moonlight Pavilion. This way, please."
Assistant Li pointed out the way, inviting Ji Hanxing and Xue Hui to follow.
Without looking to either side, Ji Hanxing walked in the direction Assistant Li indicated. After a few steps, he paused and asked Assistant Li a seemingly casual question:
"Besides me, who else did President Jiang invite today?"
Assistant Li gave Ji Hanxing a discreet, appraising glance and smiled. "President Jiang arranged today's gathering specifically to apologize to you. There's no one else."
Ji Hanxing said nothing and continued forward.
Assistant Li could not help marveling to himself. Thank goodness he had answered Fu Fangxi's call just now. Fu Fangxi had told him over the phone that Yan Jinyue would not be attending today's banquet and asked him to pass that on to Jiang Yuzhuo.
He had only just finished calling Jiang Yuzhuo when President Ji arrived.
The Grand Prosperity Hotel's Moonlight Pavilion was a renowned upscale building for private banquets. Anyone who could book a banquet here was either rich or powerful in City A.
For today's banquet with Ji Hanxing, Jiang Yuzhuo had chosen the Moonlight Pavilion's most luxurious hall-the Vermilion Bird Hall.
The hall doors stood wide open, and Jiang Yuzhuo, who was waiting inside, spotted Ji Hanxing's party as soon as they appeared.
At his first sight of Ji Hanxing, a flicker of surprise and an unusual look flashed through Jiang Yuzhuo's eyes.
Jiang Yuzhuo had also been studying abroad and had only recently returned. Before going abroad, his social circle had been limited to the children of City A's four most prominent families and those who did business with the Jiang Family.
The Ji Family fell into neither category. In the past, "Ji Hanxing" had also been aloof and withdrawn because of his family circumstances and had rarely associated with those young people.
Jiang Yuzhuo and Ji Hanxing were not close. More precisely, this was the first time Jiang Yuzhuo had met Ji Hanxing so formally.
This rising star of the business world, who had emerged during Jiang Yuzhuo's years abroad, truly surprised him.
His abilities were plain for all to see. Not only had he brought the Ji Group back from the brink, he had even taken it to greater heights.
Jiang Yuzhuo had not expected his looks to be first-rate as well. He would not have paled beside any celebrity, and he could even give Brother Yan a run for his money.
Jiang Yuzhuo could not help thinking, Sure enough, Brother Yan was the one who got the better deal.
But looking at Ji Hanxing's cool, austere face, Jiang Yuzhuo felt that today would not go so smoothly. This man looked difficult to get along with.
Jiang Yuzhuo was already feeling intimidated. He had only managed to take over Grand Prosperity with Yan Jinyue's help. How could a little rookie like him handle this business prodigy who had made a name for himself in City A at such a young age?
Then he remembered the messages Yan Jinyue had just sent him, saying he was in the hall next door.
Jiang Yuzhuo instinctively straightened and went on full alert. Yan Jinyue had his assistant notify him that he would not attend the banquet, only to message him afterward saying he was in the next hall. Was that not enough to show how much importance he placed on Ji Hanxing?
He would have to entertain President Ji with care.
Ji Hanxing inclined his head slightly, his dark eyes fixed on Jiang Yuzhuo. "Young Master Jiang, meeting you is better than hearing about you a hundred times. I've long heard of your reputation."
At that form of address, both Xue Hui's and Assistant Li's eyelids twitched.
Jiang Yuzhuo had been fighting with his older brother, Jiang Yujing, for years. Because he was younger, people had always called him "Young Master Jiang," leaving him a notch below his brother's "Young President Jiang." Now that he had taken over Grand Prosperity, anyone with any sense had long since changed their form of address to "President Jiang."
Jiang Yuzhuo himself was pleased with that title. It even put him a notch above Jiang Yujing.
Yet Ji Hanxing had opened with "Young Master Jiang." Was it unintentional, or...
A trace of anxiety appeared on Xue Hui's face. He was just about to speak when he saw Jiang Yuzhuo smile and invite Ji Hanxing inside, not minding in the slightest:
"President Ji, please come in."
Ji Hanxing's expression remained unchanged as he went inside and took a seat. Jiang Yuzhuo smoothly sat down beside him.
Once seated, Jiang Yuzhuo tipped his chin at Assistant Li, who looked at Xue Hui. "Assistant Xue, shall we go out for some tea?"
Xue Hui looked toward Ji Hanxing, who nodded. "Go ahead."
Only Ji Hanxing and Jiang Yuzhuo remained in the Vermilion Bird Hall.
Jiang Yuzhuo personally poured Ji Hanxing a cup of tea and offered it with both hands, his tone sincere:
"I invited you here today, President Ji, to express my apologies."
"This really was an oversight on Grand Prosperity's part."
Ji Hanxing rested his fingers against the side of the cup without drinking.
"Young Master Jiang..."
"Why call me Young Master Jiang? That's so distant." Jiang Yuzhuo interrupted Ji Hanxing as soon as he began. "You're a year older than me, President Ji, so I'll call you Brother Ji. Just call me Yuzhuo."
Ji Hanxing lowered his brows, his gaze fixed on the pale green tea in the cup. Then he raised his eyes to Jiang Yuzhuo. "All right, Yuzhuo."
Jiang Yuzhuo beamed. "Brother Ji, have some tea."
He gazed sincerely at Ji Hanxing, with unmistakable anticipation in his eyes.
Seeing Jiang Yuzhuo like this, Ji Hanxing pictured a little dog wagging its tail to show someone friendliness.
He fought to keep the corners of his mouth from lifting and picked up his tea as if to hide it, taking a small sip.
Seeing Ji Hanxing drink the tea, Jiang Yuzhuo felt a little thrill of delight. Looks like sincerity really is the ultimate weapon, every time!
As the tea entered his mouth, its astringency and bitterness made Ji Hanxing somewhat uncomfortable. He rarely drank tea.
Ji Hanxing put down the cup, his brows slightly furrowed, making Jiang Yuzhuo's heart sink.
He ventured, "Your injury this time really was Grand Prosperity's fault, Brother Ji. We admit that."
"How would you like to handle this matter, Brother Ji?"
Ji Hanxing's face betrayed nothing. He lowered his gaze slightly, concealing the emotions in his eyes.
Inside, however, he was tied in knots. He had only understood the surface meaning of the old man's words. He knew that Jiang Huai, the current head of the Jiang Family, was wary of both his adult sons, and that Jiang Huai had deliberately let Jiang Yuzhuo take over Grand Prosperity so that he and Jiang Yujing would compete against each other.
But what came after that?
What could he do with this information? Ji Hanxing felt as though his mind was a tangled mess.
Yet Ji Hanxing's demeanor scared Jiang Yuzhuo half to death.
Something so serious had happened to Ji Hanxing at the Grand Prosperity Hotel. Not only had he been drugged, but he had also...
He had even been struck in their hotel corridor on his way out and ended up hospitalized. Given this business prodigy's wily abilities, would Jiang Yuzhuo not have to pay so much in compensation that he would have no pants left to wear?
Ji Hanxing was saying nothing. He must have been calculating how to fleece him!
Jiang Yuzhuo instinctively looked at the wall adjoining the next hall, misery on his face. Brother Yan would not help him either.
He could only turn back resignedly. The moment he did, his eyes met Ji Hanxing's.
The two stared at each other, seemingly each harboring his own schemes, but in truth, they were just two rookies pecking at each other.