Eating and drinking are essential, and so is the entertainment after a hearty meal.
Lying in the club’s SPA room, Chen Cheng enjoyed the warm and silky sensation on his back.
"Mr. Chen, are you satisfied with the arrangement?"
Chen Cheng pretended to be drunk, "Lao Zhao, I think you don’t need to think about any new tricks. Just find a few massage therapists. Those old men, absolutely comfortable!"
Zhao Liangyou’s voice came from the side, full of flattery, "Such small activities are definitely essential."
Chen Cheng closed his eyes, appreciating the skilled techniques of the masseuse, and casually responded.
He knew Zhao Liangyou’s politeness was false, probing for information was the real intent.
Throughout the day, Zhao Liangyou had been indirectly asking a lot about Wen Shulin and CGG, and though Chen Cheng had skillfully avoided them, he could sense Zhao Liangyou’s persistence.
Too much talking leads to mistakes, Chen Cheng understood this principle well.
"What time is it?" Chen Cheng asked.
The massage therapist behind him checked the watch, "It’s almost ten o’clock, sir."
Chen Cheng patted the massage therapist on the arm, and after the therapist wiped off the essential oil with a tissue, Chen Cheng sat up.
"Lao Zhao, let’s call it a day."
Upon hearing Chen Cheng was about to leave, Zhao Liangyou also temporarily interrupted his own enjoyment, "No way, Mr. Chen, there’s still more to come."
Chen Cheng put on his clothes, smiling, "There are still two people waiting outside."
"Mr. Chen values relationships!" Zhao Liangyou gave a thumbs up.
"Ah, having too many relationships is also quite tiring," Chen Cheng patted Zhao Liangyou on the shoulder, "You should head back early as well, thank you for today."
A smile plastered on Zhao Liangyou’s face, though inside he felt somewhat reluctant.
His purpose tonight was to extract some internal information about Wen Shulin and CGG from Chen Cheng, ideally to find out any potential collaborations.
Unfortunately, Chen Cheng was tight-lipped, leaving him no opportunity to start.
"We are what we are, Mr. Chen is being too formal," Zhao Liangyou politely said, "Let me escort you."
Zhao Liangyou accompanied Chen Cheng to his car, then folded back to the club.
Meanwhile, Tong Jialu and Xia Yubing had been waiting in the back seat for a long time, just as they were in the room in the afternoon, one on the left and one on the right.
"Brother Cheng, do you want to come to our place to sober up?" Tong Jialu asked.
Chen Cheng shook his head, "I’ll drop you two off, I should head back as well."
"Ah? It’s ending just today?"
Chen Cheng pinched her chin, "The two-billion contract is also signed, what more do you want?"
"I just... want to spend more time with you..."
Xia Yubing, who was aware that this sudden date was about to end, also felt somewhat disappointed.
After all, both sisters were well aware of their limits and dared not hope for more.
"Then, honey, take care of yourself when you go to Japan, don’t overwork yourself," Xia Yubing said sensibly.
Chen Cheng held her hand, smiled, and nodded, "A few more days. I’ll make time to see you again."
"What about me? What about me?" Tong Jialu eagerly asked.
"You too, you won’t miss out on any visits," Chen Cheng teased her nose.
Da Lao headed towards the city center, Chen Cheng held the two beauties, he hadn’t expected that a routine transaction would reveal some unexpected news from Zhao Liangyou’s mouth.
However, the truth of the matter still needed to be discerned.
After dropping off the Xia sisters, Chen Cheng returned to the courtyard house.
This time, he hadn’t pretended to be drunk, though his heart was uneasy, he still walked in with a firm stride.
Before he could walk through the hanging-flower gate, Chen Cheng heard voices coming from the front courtyard.
He stopped in his tracks, perked up his ears, and listened.
The voice was very familiar, but the tone was strange.
"What’s going on here?" he wondered, quickening his pace.
Walking through the hanging-flower gate, the scene Chen Cheng saw left him dumbfounded.
Under the moonlight, Meng Wanning, wearing a light house robe, was teaching Xiao Meier how to sing opera in a very structured manner.
Xiao Meier, also in pajamas, clumsily mimicked Meng Wanning’s movements, singing in a hesitant and discordant manner, sounding absolutely like "ghosts wailing and wolves howling."
Meng Wanning stood with one hand on her hip, the other gesturing orchid fingers, looking seriously and continuously correcting Xiao Meier:
"No, no, senior sister, your body is too stiff, it needs to be softer, even softer! And your eyes, they need to be charming, full of tender feelings! Your expression looks like you’re about to kill someone!"
Xiao Meier could not stop laughing, "This is too hard, my hands and feet seem to have a mind of their own, not listening to me. And, I really can’t control my gaze..."
"Senior sister, look at me..."
Chen Cheng, standing by the hanging-flower gate, couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the comical scene before him.
The laughter startled both women, Meng Wanning and Xiao Meier turned their heads towards Chen Cheng.
Seeing that Chen Cheng had returned, a flicker of panic crossed Meng Wanning’s face, hastily lowering her orchid fingers.
Xiao Meier smiled awkwardly, "You’re back?"
With a suppressed smile, Chen Cheng walked up to them, "Yeah."
"This time you’re not drunk, that’s progress." Xiao Meier smiled satisfactorily, "What did you eat today?"
Chen Cheng sat on a stone bench, "Nothing much, it’s far inferior to our restaurant."
He casually picked up Xiao Meier’s water cup and took a sip, "What are you two doing here?"
Xiao Meier beamed, "I asked Xiao Meng to teach me how to sing opera! You know, it really is a minute on stage, ten years off stage!"
"My body and voice really can’t handle it."
Saying this, she exaggerated a few gestures, causing Chen Cheng to burst into laughter.
"It’s too late to enlighten senior sister, and..."
Meng Wanning took the opportunity to analytically chip in, completely in the manner of a professional opera teacher,