Hua Ru Bing gently lifted her glass, taking a delicate sip. The wine, with its refreshing fragrance, slipped smoothly down her throat. Though she wasn't a connoisseur of wine, she couldn't help but praise it.
"This wine tastes amazing. It's so smooth," she remarked, and Guan Xing, still holding his own glass, swirled it gently, watching the crimson liquid cling to the sides. After a brief moment, he took a sip, his face calm.
"It's decent," he commented lightly.
Despite the 1982 vintage being considered one of the finest wines, this particular bottle wasn't the best Guan Xing had ever tasted. Back in his old life, he'd kept some of the world's most renowned wines in his room, drinking them almost like water. Aside from quenching his thirst, he had learned to distinguish between different types of wine.
The three women stared at his long fingers, noticing how his hands held the glass with an effortless elegance. They hadn't realized a man's hands could be so refined, so stylish, and so full of wisdom.
Cheng YunYa raised her glass, taking a modest sip. After a moment, she seemed to remember something and burst into laughter.
"Haha, sorry, I was thinking of something funny," Cheng YunYa said, her cheeks flushing slightly, her voice still soft with amusement.
Qin YunLu, always the curious one, asked, "What's so funny, Manager Cheng?"
Cheng YunYa's laugh was quite improper for a refined lady like her, but since they all knew each other well, no one minded.
"I'm sorry. I was just thinking about something that happened the other day. But also, like Ru Bing said earlier, it's making me laugh even more," Cheng YunYa said, her face still tinged with a shy blush. "Ru Bing, did you know this bottle of wine is more expensive than the entire meal? Can you believe that?"
Clink. Hua Ru Bing put her glass down on the table, stunned by Cheng YunYa's comment. Cheng YunYa, as if deliberately teasing her, added, "A bottle of 1982 wine like this one isn't the absolute most expensive, but it's definitely a gem. Even if it's not top-tier, it still costs around fifty thousand yuan."
"Fifty thousand?!" Qin YunLu gasped. Although her salary wasn't bad and she was considered an upper-class professional, fifty thousand for a bottle of wine was beyond her wildest imagination. Most women, unless born into great wealth, wouldn't indulge in such extravagant luxuries. The rich could afford such indulgence, but it was definitely out of reach for most people.
"Fifty thousand?" Hua Ru Bing echoed, now wide-eyed. She hadn't expected this bottle to be so expensive.
Guan Xing chuckled at the women's reactions, reassuring them, "Don't worry, I'm not going to be short on money. Let's eat. But remember, next time, if you want to drain my wallet, you might not get such an opportunity."
With that, Guan Xing picked up some freshly cooked perch and placed it onto Hua Ru Bing's plate. The tender, fragrant fish was a real treat. It had the fresh taste of lake water, truly an exquisite dish, and once again, Cheng YunYa's taste was impeccable.
"Well, it looks like Guan Xing is the big target tonight. No one should let such a fat lamb go to waste," Cheng YunYa teased, recounting the car-buying incident with Guan Xing the other day, which made both Hua Ru Bing and Qin YunLu blush, their faces glowing with warmth.
After laughing, the three women relaxed and stopped worrying about Guan Xing's ability to pay for the meal. They began eating without holding back. However, Hua Ru Bing occasionally glanced back at Guan Xing with a mixture of shy happiness, making Guan Xing hesitate to look at her. A woman's tender, blossoming heart was the most beautiful but also the most entangling. Guan Xing felt a twinge of fear, unsure if he could handle it.
The three women at the table were undeniably beautiful. Guan Xing wouldn't refuse any one of them if they came to him. But, being an Eastern man, he understood that these women weren't just looking for a fleeting night of passion. They sought lasting love and commitment, something he wasn't sure he could offer them.
As the dinner progressed, their table became the center of attention in the restaurant. Every time the three women shared a quiet, flirtatious laugh, almost every man in the room had their eyes drawn to them. These women, each with their distinct charm, were a tantalizing vision of beauty.
Just then, a man, unable to resist, stood up and walked over. He couldn't hide the hunger in his eyes as he approached.
"Ladies, may I have the honor of being your friend?" he asked, his voice smooth with an almost predatory charm. It was obvious that he wasn't someone who could keep his composure in the face of such beauty.
The three women froze, taken aback by the man's boldness.
"Excuse me, but we're not interested in meeting you," Cheng YunYa interrupted with an icy glare. "It's very rude to interrupt someone's meal."
The man, clearly undeterred, immediately offered, "Then allow me to make amends by buying you all dinner. What do you say?"
For a man like this, throwing money around was his go-to tactic for getting a woman's attention. It was almost always effective.
However, he had met his match with these women. Hua Ru Bing's eyes turned cold, and she shot him a look that clearly said, "I'm not interested." Her icy demeanor made it clear that she wasn't someone to be swayed by money.
Qin YunLu also looked at the man with growing annoyance. She hadn't expected to encounter such shameless behavior in such an upscale restaurant.
"This gentleman," Guan Xing interjected, his voice calm but firm, "seems to have misunderstood. We're not interested in talking to you. Please leave us to our meal."
As soon as he spoke, two more men stood up behind the first, one lean and the other stocky, exuding an intimidating aura. The skinny man, with a sneer, spoke first, "Do you know who you're speaking to? This is Mr. Qian, the president of ShengTian Group. If he says so, you won't have a place to stand in Kyoto anymore."
The burly man next to him added, his voice low and threatening, "Mr. Qian just wants to make a few new friends. You should be grateful."
Hearing the name ShengTian Group made the three women pause. They knew the group's reputation in Kyoto, even if they weren't exactly familiar with its full scope.
Guan Xing was undeterred. "You're welcome to enjoy your meal, but this man's presence here is unwelcome. He should leave."
Cheng YunYa, hearing the mention of ShengTian, understood the situation and knew it wasn't something Feiyang could handle. She held her temper, but her voice was still laced with frustration. "Let's go, Guan Xing. It's not worth the trouble."
Hua Ru Bing also spoke quietly, "Let's go. Don't waste time with these people."
As Hua Ru Bing wrapped her delicate arm around Guan Xing's, the gesture was one of tenderness, but it also served as a protective move. She was concerned that Guan Xing's impulsive nature might cause trouble.
But her gentle, intimate gesture only seemed to enrage Qian Bao, who watched the two closely. His jealousy burned as he imagined what could be his.
With a smirk, Qian Bao said, "You three really have no respect. Leaving just like that? How can I save face?"
It was clear now—this man wouldn't stop until he had what he wanted. He'd already decided that tonight, these three women were going to be his prize.