Water and Fire~Chapter 98.1: How Can You Do This?

 

Chapter 98.1: How Can You Do This?

That evening, after get off work, everyone headed straight for Haidilao.

Tonight, Ren Yan sat at the head of the table, with Chu Qianmiao to his left and Qin Qianyu to his right. However, Qin Qianyu, feeling depressed over Liu Lifeng's failed exam, showed great humanity by giving up his seat next to Ren Yan to Liu Lifeng and taking the seat next to him. The remaining guests—Sun Yi, Lu Zhonger, Wang Sian, and Yan Yunqiang—sat down one after another.

Ren Yan asked the waiter to bring the order form. Then, knocking on the table, he beckoned Chu Qianmiao, "Come and see what you like to eat."

Chu Qianmiao: "..."

He let her order, but refused to give her the order form, holding it tightly in his hand.

Chu Qianmiao had no choice but to lean over to him.

She and Ren Yan then fell into ordering food together. As she scrolled through the screen, she looked up and thoughtfully asked everyone what they liked to eat or have hot pot, and she helped them order.

Qin Qianyu ordered cabbage, and Liu Lifeng ordered mugwort stalks. After ordering, Chu Qianmiao scoffed at them. "Look at how accomplished you two are! We go to hotpot to eat meat, not grass."

Qin Qianyu and Lifeng exchanged a cold smile, saying it all. "Try drinking six bottles of Moutai in one hotpot meal. Try throwing up with your mouth full of the taste of undigested lamb. I wonder if you'd ever want to eat meat again?"

While Ren Yan and Chu Qianmiao were taking orders, Liu Lifeng leaned over to Qin Qianyu and whispered, "Old Qin, you're being so self-deprecating. Why did you choose hotpot? Didn't President Ren tell you to pick any place you like?"

Qin Qianyu, feeling aggrieved, didn't bother to say anything more. He switched his phone to the WeChat call screen with Ren Yan and held it in front of Liu Lifeng's eyes, letting him see for himself.

Ren Yan later messaged Qin Qianyu after entering the office, "How about we have hotpot tonight?"

Followed by another message, "You all love hotpot, right?"

Liu Lifeng's throat tightened at the sight of these words. They used to love it, but after two bouts of Maotai, they couldn't love it anymore.

He saw that Qin Qianyu had subtly protested in his reply to Ren Yan.

Qin Qianyu, "Boss, how about we try something else tonight?"

Ren Yan replied, "Sure."

Qin Qianyu then sent, "So, what do you think of barbecued pork?"

Ren Yan, "Yeah, barbecued pork is fine. Then Haidilao."

But, Boss, Haidilao isn't barbecued pork, you're mistaken. It's still hot pot.

Liu Lifeng looked up at this and exchanged glances with Qin Qianyu. Qin Qianyu's eyes read, "Do you understand me?" while Liu Lifeng's eyes read, "I understand you." Both of them were a little overwhelmed.

"So you see, somehow, Boss just wants to eat hot pot. What can I do about it?" Qin Qianyu whispered, hands spread out.

Liu Lifeng frowned, his face full of thought. "Do you think Mr. Ren has an obsession with hot pot?"

After the meat and vegetables arrived and the pot boiled, everyone began to dig in enthusiastically, grabbing the meat like a scramble, and no one remembered the smell of vomiting earlier.

As they ate, everyone congratulated Qin Qianyu and Chu Qianmiao on passing the insurance agent exam. Then they congratulated Qin Qianyu individually, calling him "Mr. Qin" and saying that after the Liya project successfully went public, he would become an official sponsor representative, his position would be promoted from senior manager to business director, and his office would be moved from the public area into the office.

After Litong's Beijing investment banking department moved to Financial Street, the space was spacious and the office space was ample. Generally, anyone who could register as an official insurance agent could move in. However, except for insurance agents at the managing director level like Ren Yan, who had their own office, most insurance agents had two people to share an office.

So everyone said Qin Qianyu wouldn't have to worry about being lonely after moving into the office. He'd wait until Chu Qianmiao worked on an IPO or private placement project, and after that, she'd become a full-time agent and move in with him.

Qin Qianyu's face was beaming with joy. He thanked everyone for their well wishes and said to Chu Qianmiao, "Brother, I'm waiting for you inside."

Chu Qianmiao was amused, laughing as she continued, "Okay, I'll definitely bring you more steamed bread inside."

After laughing, she felt a little surreal. If she could sign off on the next project, she'd be able to move into the office after it was completed. She'd also be addressed as "President Chu."

Thinking of that two-character title, she felt a bit dreamy. But then she thought, when she and Ren Yan were working on the Hanhai Home Textiles project, she was only 23, and Ren Yan was 29. Time flies by so fast, like it's a grudge, racing forward. In the blink of an eye, she's already 27. So, thinking carefully, it's about time she achieves this kind of accomplishment. Otherwise, by 29, how could she compare to 29-year-old Ren Yan?

At 29, Ren Yan was already masterminding the Hanhai Home Textiles project.

The dreamlike feeling gradually faded, and reality returned. After checking her test scores, she had been feeling smug and relaxed, as if she'd never have to study again.

But now, her nervousness returned.

Yes, she couldn't afford to relax. She'd said she wanted to be like Ren Yan. Therefore, the years 27 and 28 were crucial for her. She had to work hard so that by 29, she could stand shoulder to shoulder with Ren Yan at 29.

She punched her right palm with her left fist, encouraging herself.

Turning around, she saw Ren Yan leering at her. His eyes were asking her what was so beautiful about that person.

She grinned, not intending to tell him that she was beautiful. Having just accomplished one goal, she immediately found a new one. There was nothing more fulfilling than living with purpose, so of course she felt beautiful.

After everyone had blessed Qin Qianyu and Chu Qianmiao, the boisterous cheering began.

They all knew that Liu Lifeng and Chu Qianmiao had made a bet about the exam, so they took advantage of the meal to coax Liu Lifeng into fulfilling the bet and becoming his "Big Brother." They also urged him to be a man and do it now, instead of being so awkward.

Liu Lifeng's face flushed red, but he couldn't resist the taunting, and he stood up with his eyes bulging.

"Bye!" He glared at Chu Qianmiao and raised his teacup to her. After a long pause, he finally managed to utter, "Chu, drink this tea and from now on you're my big brother."

Chu Qianmiao beamed, waving her hands. "No, no, I won't drink tea for something this serious. We need wine instead."

Qin Qianyu had previously been clamoring that whoever made him drink during this meal would be the first to die. As soon as Chu Qianmiao finished speaking, he was the first to jump up and agree. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, the atmosphere has reached this point. It's no fun not drinking. I'll go get some wine. Everyone, drink up!"

Chu Qianmiao looked at Qin Qianyu and felt that perhaps all men in this world were born with a penchant for sultry s*x, and it couldn't be changed.

Before calling the waiter, Qin Qianyu turned to Ren Yan and asked, "Boss, how many bottles would you like?"

Ren Yan replied, "You guys drink. I'm not drinking tonight. I'm driving."

Qin Qianyu was momentarily overcome with mixed emotions. He felt that Ren Yan's decision to stop drinking had saved them a lifeline, but Ren Yan's resolute refusal to drink also left him feeling a bit disappointed.

But once the wine arrived and the waiter filled everyone's glasses, that disappointment faded.

Liu Lifeng bowed again, this time raising his glass to Chu Qianmiao, saying, "I accept the bet and accept defeat. From now on, you are my big brother."

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Chu Qianmiao. That look was very different from his usual one, almost like a farewell.

Chu Qianmiao wondered if he was saying goodbye to his freedom.

She shuddered.

This guy was really into the role. Did he really think she would exploit him like the big brother exploited the little brother?

While her thoughts were wandering, Liu Lifeng had already tilted his glass back and downed the full two liang of wine in one gulp.

Chu Qianmiao was stunned. He was treating her, his older brother, too much like a brother.

She hurried to follow suit, but Ren Yan stopped her mid-sentence.

He held half of her arm through her shirt sleeve, the warmth of his palm caressing her through the fabric.

"Half a cup is fine," he said, releasing her hand.

Chu Qianmiao nodded, but when she tilted her head back to drink, she couldn't help herself and gulped it down in one gulp.

There was nothing she could do; her whole life was about righteousness.

Liu Lifeng gave her a thumbs-up and sat back in his seat. He rubbed his face and then his eyes.

As he lowered his hand, he turned to look at Ren Yan. He was watching him too.

He thought Ren Yan must have seen the redness in his eyes clearly, otherwise he wouldn't have patted his shoulder. It was a kind of comforting gesture between men that was understood without needing to be told.

He quickly smiled at Ren Yan and said, "Boss, the wine's a little harsh on my eyes, but it's okay."

He had just been paying his respects to that silly girl, so she must have no idea what he was saying goodbye to.

For the rest of the meal, everyone drank more and ate less meat.

Drinking together is always the most enjoyable, and it seems no matter how much you drink, you never get drunk easily.

As they drank, everyone started to chat and toast each other. Qin Qianyu came over, clinked glasses with Chu Qianmiao, and whispered something to her.

After Qin Qianyu left to drink with others, Chu Qianmiao turned to look at Ren Yan, who, because he didn't drink, was left alone among the drinking group. She asked, "Boss, Brother Qin and the others asked me to ask you if you have a passion for hot pot."

Ren Yan half-turned his head, glanced at her sideways, and said with a half-smile, "I thought we were having barbecue today."

Chu Qianmiao recalled the conversation Qin Qianyu had shared with her between him and Ren Yan.

" But isn't Haidilao a restaurant company?" she suddenly said, her eyes widening. "No way, you don't think Haidilao is just for barbecued meat, do you?"

Ren Yan nodded faintly.

"Yeah."

Chu Qianmiao: "..."

After a while, after Chu Qianmiao and Sun Yi had a drink, she still hadn't given up and turned to Ren Yan, "Boss, do you really not know what Haidilao serves?"

This time, Ren Yan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as he glared at her. "Search for a stock code, hk6862¹."

¹Haidilao International Holding Ltd

Chu Qianmiao took out her phone and found Haidilao.

She realized she'd been completely fooled by Ren Yan. After all, as the managing director of a prestigious investment bank, he must be very familiar with which domestic companies have listed on the A-share, US, and Hong Kong stock markets.

"Boss, you're teasing us," Chu Qianmiao muttered.

Ren Yan smiled with the corner of his mouth raised. "You're just too stupid."

Chu Qianmiao looked at Ren Yan as he called them stupid. She wondered if her drunken eyes had cast a soft light filter over Ren Yan. She felt that Ren Yan tonight was different from usual. His usually calm and indifferent gaze seemed to evoke a strange tenderness today.

Chu Qianmiao took a sip of water and chuckled, "So you chose Haidilao on purpose. You really do have a thing for hot pot."

Ren Yan looked at the others. They were all in groups of two or three, chatting and drinking happily. Seizing this moment of inattention, he turned to Chu Qianmiao and gave her a sideways smile. "I'm not obsessed with hot pot itself." He paused, "I'm more interested in who I'm eating it with."

The alcohol had dulled Chu Qianmiao's nerves somewhat. She blinked, trying to process his words, but Qin Qianyu called out to her from the side, asking her to come over for a drink.

She quickly stood up, her glass in hand, and quickly forgot what he had said.

The meal was happily and happily consumed, and everyone drank just enough. No one vomited, and everyone could find their own home.

When the banquet was over, Chu Qianmiao wanted to go to the bathroom. Before she left, Ren Yan reminded her, "Don't rush off. I'll wait for you outside. I have something to tell you."

Chu Qianmiao nodded in agreement and ran to the bathroom.

After emerging relaxed, she found everyone had already left. When she stepped out, only Ren Yan was standing by his car, waiting for her under the moonlight.