Kyoto kisses her

Chapter 30 Aren't you afraid your older brother will slap you?
"This is called a two-way connection."

Li Li gave a light hum and then asked Xu Erhan, "When are you coming back from Shanghai? Will you be able to make it back for my birthday?"

Li Li's birthday is the 20th day of the fourth month in the lunar calendar, which is exactly three days later on Saturday.

Xu Erhan looked away from the cold light emanating from the computer screen, raised her hand to gently adjust her glasses, exuding a rational demeanor. "It's almost finished, and we expect to return to Beijing tomorrow night."

Seeing her clear-headed and rational appearance, Su Ruoyun became a little gossipy and asked, "Did you go to Shanghai for business or to cultivate your relationship?"

"..." Xu Erhan.

Have you ever heard the saying,

As she asked her question, she leaned slightly forward, her long fingers resting lightly on the rounded handle of the teacup. She steadily lifted the cup, took a slow and graceful sip, and then added, "Villains die from gossip."

Su Ruoyun didn't mind her friend calling her a villain; instead, she keenly noticed the mistake in her friend's words, "Aren't you talkative?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Erhan put down her cup and said with a forced smile, "You know you talk too much."

"..." Su Ruoyun.

A coughing sound came from the phone receiver; Li Li had choked on the red wine.

"Goodbye, and goodbye forever." Su Ruoyun said this and then hung up the video call.

……

Day and night alternated, and two days passed in the blink of an eye. It was Friday, and the weather in Beijing was exceptionally hot and humid.

Qi Zhiwen was rushing around under the scorching midday sun. After meeting with a client at the law firm, he hurried to the Bank of China. As he stepped inside, a cool breeze instantly swept over him, and he let out a long sigh of relief.

Upon entering Huo Jingcheng's office, he didn't stand on ceremony with his friend. He picked up the untouched cup of tea on the desk, held the glass in his right hand, tilted his head back, and poured the cool tea down his throat. The aroma of the tea filled the air, dispelling the heat and fatigue, and he gradually felt more relaxed.

Huo Jingcheng reacted too late to stop Qi Zhiwen and could only watch helplessly as he drank his tea in one gulp.

After finishing a cup of tea, the aroma lingers, rich in tofu fragrance, with a hint of floral and fruity notes, sweet yet refreshing.

Qi Zhiwen raised his arm slightly, lifted the glass, and looked into it, gazing at the slender, pointed, and lustrous green leaves. He asked, "Where did you get such fine tea?"

"Bought from the 'Yichuan Tobacco' teahouse."

Qi Zhiwen had heard of this teahouse that was all the rage in high society circles.

"It's the teahouse that Su Mingyan's pet, Xiao Xing'er, runs."

Upon hearing the name "Xiao Xing," Huo Jingcheng frowned almost imperceptibly, but recalling Su Ruoyun's words of advice before she left a couple of days ago, he ultimately remained silent and offered no explanation.

Qi Zhiwen put down his teacup, strolled to the sofa area, and leaned back lazily in the leather chair. "So Zheyan was right after all."

Huo Jingcheng slowly released the mouse with his large, well-defined hands, then casually placed his hands on the armrests of his office chair, leaning back in a relaxed and nonchalant manner. "What did he say?"

He said Su Mingyan stole your project, and you're trying to steal his woman.

Huo Jingcheng bent his long finger and pinched the bridge of his nose, a hint of helplessness appearing between his brows and eyes.

This 'absurd' idea has already taken root in Young Master Chen's mind.

Before he could explain to Qi Zhiwen, Lin Cheng knocked on the office door and then pushed it open, saying, "President Huo, President Tang has arrived."

Qi Zhiwen had also come about the contract. Upon hearing this, he took out the documents from his briefcase and placed them on the coffee table. A short while later, President Tang walked into the office.

The negotiations had taken a while and missed lunchtime. The minute hand of the clock on the white wall swung around more than halfway. "Mr. Huo, I won't take up any more of your time. I'll have the legal department draft a new contract when I get back."

As President Tang closed the document in his hand, he stood up and shook hands with Huo Jingcheng and Qi Zhiwen.

"Okay, I'll have my assistant arrange a specific time another day when I'm free." Huo Jingcheng lowered his eyes and glanced at the steel watch on his left wrist. "How about we have lunch together?"

Mr. Tang smiled and declined, "No, I have something to attend to. I'm going to have some tea."

"Drinking tea at this time?" Qi Zhiwen asked, puzzled.

He explained, "The teahouse is very busy. I made a reservation almost half a month in advance, and it was only with great difficulty that I managed to get this private room. I had no choice but to go over and have a drink at noon."

Hearing what President Tang said, Qi Zhiwen's interest was piqued, and a guess formed in his mind: "Which teahouse?"

Beijingers are known for their open-mindedness and straightforwardness. When Qi Zhiwen asked, they simply told the truth: "Isn't this the 'Yichuan Tobacco' that everyone's talking about? They say it's owned by General Manager Su of Hengfeng..."

He chuckled and brushed off the key words, saying, "So I thought I'd leave my name there."

Qi Zhiwen closed the document and handed it to Lin Cheng, saying casually, "I haven't been there either."

Sensing his unspoken meaning, President Tang quickly said, "If President Huo and President Qi don't mind, why don't we go over for a drink together?"

Qi Zhiwen's lips curled into a smile, "Then we'll accept it without hesitation."

The three of them went out together.

When President Tang left, he specifically instructed his secretary to order food; he couldn't possibly let Huo Jingcheng and Qi Zhiwen go hungry while drinking tea.

Huo Jingcheng and Qi Zhiwen lagged behind.

With his right hand in his trouser pocket and his left hand hanging at his side, Huo Jingcheng asked his friend as they walked, "What do you want to do at the teahouse?"

"Go and broaden your horizons," Qi Zhiwen said, drawing out the last syllable of his voice.

……

Inside the "Yichuan Tobacco" teahouse.

The secretary politely approached the front desk staff, gave her name, and added, "I booked the Ruyuan private room."

After Xiao Hu registered his information, an employee led them there.

After the person left the front yard, Xiao Hu and Xiao Li exchanged a glance. Xiao Li asked, "Since Mr. Huo is here, should we send the tea server over, or...?"

Xiao Hu gave her a suggestion, "Go ask the boss lady."

At this moment, Su Ruoyun was in the main room. Xiao Li stepped into the room, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over the figure in military green standing by the bookshelf, before shifting her eyes to Su Ruoyun. "Boss lady, Mr. Huo is here, in the Ruyuan private room. Would you like to go over there, or..."

Su Ruoyun stopped what she was doing, lifted her eyelids to look at Xiao Li, "Is he alone?"

Xiao Li said, "No, the private room at Ruyuan was booked by Mr. Tang from Hetai, and Mr. Qi was also with him."

"That's official business," Su Ruoyun replied. "Just follow the schedule."

Having received a reply, Xiao Li went out and quietly closed the door.

Hearing a soft click of the door closing, the man who had been standing by the bookshelf turned around and leaned against the rosewood zither table behind it. "Sister, you still dare to entertain that President Huo? Aren't you afraid that your older brother will slap you to death?"

(End of this chapter)