Water and Fire~Chapter 50.1: Gaining Presence

 

Chapter 50.1: Gaining Presence

This high-end gathering was held at a club. When Tan Shen parked his car and led Chu Qianmiao inside, he was surprised to see her calm and composed expression.

"Have you been here before?" he asked.

"No," Chu Qianmiao said. "What's wrong?"

Tan Shen almost blurted out the words.

—When I brought other girls here before, they weren't as calm as you. They all looked as curious as Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden.

"Is it because, compared to the girlfriends you've dated, I'm too slow to react to extravagance, too unimpressed, that you've lost some of the fun of being a spectator?"

Tan Shen instinctively replied, "No, no, no, it's not that I've lost some of the fun. On the contrary, your disregard for money makes me even more interested!" He paused, then suddenly felt like he'd been tricked.

"I haven't had those 'girlfriends'. Speak properly!" Tan Shen yelled.

Chu Qianmiao smiled nonchalantly.

She had actually been a bit taken aback when she first entered the club. The waiters who greeted them were dressed like secret agents, all tall and handsome, or fair and beautiful, greeting them with "Hello, Mr. or Ms." as they headed to the meeting room.

For a moment, she wondered what she had done to deserve such ostentatious respect. She thought for a moment, and decided that perhaps this was the so-called allure of money. Such ostentatious respect wasn't so much about respecting people as it was about respecting money.

The more money-oriented a place was, the more she didn't want to lose. She straightened her back, remained calm and composed, and tried not to act like an ignorant little girl, intimidated by the grandeur of this magnificent building. Then, when she met the people in the party room, she would be intimidated before they even spoke.

Only when your back is straight will others look up to you. If your back is bent, the looks they receive won't be pity or compassion, but only indifference and contempt.

With a feeling of being treated differently, Tan Shen led Chu Qianmiao into the party room.

Chu Qianmiao listened as he greeted people along the way, and was also greeted by them. They called each other English names, with names like James, Steve, Jackson, and Vivian flying everywhere.

These James, Steve, Jackson, and Vivian were all elite, their outfits replete with designer labels.

Chu Qianmiao thought that if someone were to block the door and yell "robbery," just asking these elites to take off their clothes and watches would be enough for the robbers to make a fortune for twenty years.

What a world of decadence.

She smiled beside Tan Shen, listening to him greet people and then introduce them to her, including the people he had just greeted and their responsibilities at the financial institution. Those people held prestigious titles and were involved in big business. She listened to all these titles and big deals, smiling calmly and composedly. Her composure amazed Tan Shen. "When I first entered the industry and met all these bigwigs, I couldn't help but get a little fussy. How come you're so calm?"

Chu Qianmiao made up a lie, "Ah, I don't understand you guys speaking English."

Tan Shen smiled like a demon. "You've got your English back? Don't worry, I've got you covered."

Suddenly, he saw Chu Qianmiao's expression change as she stared straight ahead. That once calm and composed smile suddenly morphed into one of surprise, frozen at the corners of her mouth and eyes.

He was puzzled and a little resentful. He'd brought her to so many influential figures, and she'd remained unfazed. Now, who had the magical power to shatter her composure?

He followed her gaze, gnashing his teeth. He saw Ren Yan sitting at a small round table on a high stool not far away.

Next to him sat Li Tang.

Chu Qianmiao looked up and saw Ren Yan sitting on a high stool not far away. Her first reaction was to doubt her judgment. Didn't he usually avoid socializing?

But after a closer look, she was certain it was indeed Ren Yan.

Sitting on the high stool next to him was a woman.

She looked a little older than her, about the same age as Tan Shen. She had an elaborate bun and wore a pure white suit. Her features and demeanor were both cool and striking, giving her the appearance of a cold beauty.

As she studied the cold beauty, she heard Tan Shen say, "Hmm? Isn't that Senior Ren and Li Tang?"

Her heart skipped a beat.

Li Tang.

That cool, elegant demeanor, and that cold man, what a perfect match!

"Come on, let's go over there and say hello!"

Tan Shen pulled her over and without a word, without even giving her time to prepare herself.

Tan Shen dragged Chu Qianmiao over to Ren Yan and Li Tang, greeting them with a "Hi, Senior Ren, Hi, Li Tang."

Ren Yan looked up at him, his expression impassive.

But when he saw Chu Qianmiao standing next to Tan Shen—and Li Tang could see it clearly from the side—his face shifted dramatically in a split second.

Surprise, amazement, confusion, and finally, all of those emotions returned to calm.

A sense of crisis suddenly crashed through Li Tang's heart like a surging wave.

She calmly glanced at the girl who, in a split second, had stirred so many emotions in Ren Yan.

She was young, beautiful, and very capable and dashing. Her clothes weren't from any of the luxury brands she was familiar with, but they were well-cut and fitted, perfectly complementing her demeanor and making her appear calm and composed.

But even with her composure, it couldn't hide her youthfulness. Her composure and dashing demeanor must have been forced.

How could such a girl have caused such emotional fluctuations in Ren Yan? What was their relationship?

Li Tang straightened her back and raised her chin.

The moment she met Li Tang, Chu Qianmiao's mind raced with thoughts.

This woman was truly beautiful, a cold and noble beauty. This kind of aura was so captivating to men, it was truly infuriating.

This woman was so perfectly dressed, it was impossible to find any fault. It was infuriating.

This woman...sitting with Ren Yan, the cold him and the cold her, they were a perfect match. Chu Qianmiao suddenly felt a bit drained of energy.

Tan Shen took four glasses of red wine from a passing waiter carrying a tray, handing one to Chu Qianmiao and the other two to Ren Yan and Li Tang.

After distributing the wine, he shook his glass at Ren Yan: "Thank you, Senior Ren, for sending us off that day!"

Li Tang followed suit, raising her glass and saying to Ren Yan: "Yes, I never got around to thank you. Then I wanted to have dinner with you, but you were busy. So, since Tan Shen brought it up, I wanted to say thank you too, Ren Yan!" As she said thank you, she tilted her head and smiled.

Chu Qianmiao thought Li Tang's voice was pleasant, its coolness tinged with a hint of gentleness that she possessed towards Ren Yan.

Ren Yan also raised his glass, glanced at Li Tang, then at Tan Shen, and said simply: "You're welcome."