When I saw Liu Zai Xi again, she seemed surprised.
Actually, I hadn't expected Jiang Xue Er to be the boss of this place either.
"This is my sister," Jiang Xue Er pulled Liu Zai Xi over and introduced her to me. "This is Brother Lao Zhao's friend. Xiao Xi, you'll have to entertain him well later."
Liu Zai Xi glanced at me and smiled, "Okay, Sister Xue Er."
After Jiang Xue Er settled us in, she left the private room, and I didn't know what she was going to do.
Liu Zai Xi sat next to me, smiling, "I thought we wouldn't meet again."
I said, "How could that be?"
"Thank you for your trouble that night," Liu Zai Xi said.
"What trouble is that? It was just a small favor," I replied.
Liu Zai Xi poured me a glass of wine, seeming hesitant, as if she wanted to say something but stopped herself.
Seeing her like this, I said, "Are you wondering how I know your boss?"
She smiled slightly, "I'm just a little curious."
"Actually, I only met them today."
As I spoke, I glanced at Liu Zai Xi and asked thoughtfully, "You've known President Jiang for a long time, haven't you?"
Liu Zai Xi smiled, "I've been working here for over four years, and Sister Jiang has always taken care of me."
I nodded, "So, you must know her quite well?"
Liu Zai Xi raised an eyebrow and looked at me, "What do you want to know?"
I smiled, "I just want to know about President Jiang and her husband."
Liu Zai Xi hesitated for a moment, picked up a glass of wine, and handed it to me. "Sister Xue Er owns many bars and nightclubs in our area. As far as I know, there are about eight. Besides entertaining some important clients, she rarely comes here herself… As for Brother Zhao, I heard he's in the antique business. I haven't seen him many times either."
I nodded thoughtfully.
"Sister Xue Er also used to work in nightclubs back then. It was only after meeting Brother Zhao that she started her own business," Liu Zai Xi added.
No wonder Jiang Xue Er was so adept at handling people; she had climbed her way up from the nightclub scene.
Earlier in Zhao Family Village, Zhao Wei had to look at Jiang Xue Er's expression for every decision he made. It seemed that Jiang Xue Er was not just his wife but also his strategist.
"When my mother was hospitalized, if it weren't for Sister Xue Er's help, I might not have even been able to pay the medical fees," Liu Zai Xi said slowly. "She is my benefactor..."
"It seems President Jiang is a person of character," I smiled and said, "How is your mother doing now?"
"It's the same as always. She's on medication and needs a lot of imported medicine every month," Liu Zai Xi sighed.
After drinking at the nightclub, Liu Zai Xi changed into casual clothes. She said that Jiang Xue Er had instructed her and another girl to take me and Fatty to rest.
At first, I didn't realize what "rest" meant. When the car stopped in front of a star-rated hotel, I understood.
The room had already been booked. Although I wasn't very drunk, my head still felt a little heavy.
Liu Zai Xi helped me into a suite, and her expression became somewhat unnatural.
"If you don't want to stay here, you can go back first," I said with a smile.
I didn't mean anything else by this, but she frowned, "Are you trying to send me away?"
"I didn't mean that," I said. "I know why President Jiang asked you to bring me here. It's really not necessary."
Hearing me say this, Liu Zai Xi, who had been frowning, suddenly relaxed her brow. She looked at me with a smile, then swayed her hips and walked towards me.
Her nose was almost touching mine, and her expression became more alluring, making me feel instantly dry-mouthed and hot.
"It was indeed Sister Xue Er's idea to have me bring you. I could have refused and let someone else come instead…" She smiled slightly at this point, "But I didn't."
As she spoke these words, I felt myself getting hotter.
Liu Zai Xi was definitely a beauty. While her figure might not be as good as Wu Ting Xiu's, she possessed a more alluring temperament than Wu Ting Xiu, especially her eyes. I didn't know if they were naturally that way or formed over time, but they were incredibly captivating.
As a normal man, I admit I had some impure thoughts, but I also knew very well that lust was a sharp blade.
This Liu Zai Xi was far from as simple as she appeared. Jiang Xue Er asking her to accompany me was nothing more than a way to keep me occupied.
"Why didn't you refuse?" I feigned composure, sat on the sofa, lit a cigarette, and slowly took a drag.
I deliberately tried to act like an experienced player in the game of love, exhaling a puff of smoke.
Liu Zai Xi sat down in front of me. After a long hesitation, she said, "Sister Xue Er rarely entertains guests like this… If I'm not mistaken, she must have something she needs from you. Is she trying to get you to help Brother Zhao with his antiques?"
"Mm," I nodded, continuing to smoke with a blank expression.
"I know this might be sudden… I have a humble request, and I'd like to ask President Xiang for help," she said, her clear, watery eyes fixed on me.
I smiled, "As long as I can help, please don't hesitate to ask."
Liu Zai Xi said, "I want to ask you to be my consultant."
"Consultant?" I was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding what she meant.
"I'm participating in an auction…"
"You mean, you want to buy something at the auction, you're not sure about it, so you want me to appraise it for you?" I asked.
Liu Zai Xi nodded, "As long as President Xiang is willing to help me, I can agree to any conditions."
When a beauty says "I can agree to any conditions," it's a very potent statement.
Although this Liu Zai Xi worked in the nightlife industry, based on what I knew of her so far, she wasn't the type of person who could be bought with money.
If she were that type, she wouldn't be living in such a run-down place.
Of course, I had no ulterior motives towards her. After all, I knew that the more beautiful a woman is, the greater the price one has to pay to win her over.
I already had plenty of my own troubles in Guangbei, and I didn't want to add more.
However, it wouldn't hurt to help her appraise things. If I helped her this time, perhaps she could help me in the future.
With that in mind, I said, "Miss Liu, I can help you appraise things. As for the reward…"
I paused at this point. Liu Zai Xi looked as if she had given up everything, seemingly prepared for any demand I might make.
"I want to sleep well tonight, so my reward is very simple. You'll have to put up with sleeping on the sofa tonight."
Saying that, I stood up and stretched. Under Liu Zai Xi's incredulous expression, I added, "I'm going to bed now."
Taking off my shoes, I lay down on the bed.
I was already tired from the day, and I had drunk so much at night. As soon as I lay down, a strong wave of sleepiness washed over me. Before I could fight it, I surrendered, closed my eyes, and fell asleep.