Chapter 108: Chapter 8: This Is Impossible!

Chu Chengxi’s mocking words reached his throat, only to be abruptly choked back. His face stiffened, filled with disbelief.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" he thought. "How could a reckless nouveau riche know more about these fine wines than I do!?"

However, facts spoke louder than words. It was even more impossible for Zhong Zimo to play along with Zhang Yan in a staged act. As a player who had correctly guessed three bottles of wine himself, Chu Chengxi knew that Zhang Yan’s answers were likely genuine.

But no matter how he thought about it, it didn’t make sense. Whether based on his own deductions or Si Mingxin’s judgment, Zhang Yan shouldn’t have been someone capable of playing the fool to hide his true strength.

"Could we all have misjudged him?"

He felt somewhat irritated, his gaze suddenly landing on Xia Xiqing, who had been standing quietly beside Zhang Yan.

"Could it be her?" he wondered. "Was the request Zhang Yan made at the beginning because... No, that doesn’t make sense either. She had no opportunity to tell Zhang Yan the answers with so many people watching!"

Unable to make sense of it, he knew there was nothing else he could do. He could only pull his female companion along and quietly retreat to the back of the crowd, unwilling to watch Zhang Yan bask in his smug triumph.

"I’ll just let you be smug for a little longer!" he thought.

After Zhong Zimo finished announcing Zhang Yan’s answers to the crowd, he instructed the attendants to fetch five exquisite gift boxes. They walked over to Zhang Yan and Xia Xiqing together.

"I don’t believe I’ve caught my friend’s name yet," Zhong Zimo said. "You wouldn’t mind making friends with me, would you?"

"You’re too polite, Eldest Young Master Zhong. My name is Zhang Yan. It’s my first time here, so I hope you’ll look out for me in the future."

"Don’t call me Eldest Young Master Zhong. If you consider me a friend, just call me Zimo or Brother Mo! My favorite thing is making friends with people who love and understand wine as much as I do!"

As Zhong Zimo spoke, he cast a meaningful glance at Xia Xiqing. Zhang Yan immediately understood—this Eldest Young Master Zhong had probably seen through their trick.

"Haha, I won’t stand on ceremony then," Zhang Yan replied. "I’m definitely making friends with you, Brother Mo."

"Zhang Yan, these are the little gifts I promised.

"A 2015 Chateau Lafite Rothschild,

"a 2016 Sassicaia,

"a 2010 Opus One,

"and a 2010 Penfolds Grange. They’re just small gifts, not worth much."

After introducing the four famous wines packaged in the gift boxes, Zhong Zimo paused briefly before presenting the final box, which looked exceedingly rustic yet elegant.

"Finally, there’s this 1990 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. It’s from my personal collection, but I’m giving it to you as a surprise gift!"

Zhang Yan naturally knew nothing about wine, but since they were being given away by Zhong Zimo on such an occasion, they had to be worth a fortune. However, giving them to Zhang Yan was like casting pearls before swine.

"You’re too kind, Brother Mo. But I can see that everyone here has been eyeing your collection. Happiness shared is better than happiness kept to oneself. I say, why don’t we just open these four bottles right here? Anyone who wants can come and enjoy a glass!"

"Haha, wonderful! Zhang Yan, you really are a fascinating person!"

With Zhong Zimo hosting, the opened bottles were naturally in high demand. While the wine decanted, people gradually began approaching to "make friends." Even if it was just putting faces to names, it indeed helped Zhang Yan take that crucial first step into this exclusive circle!

"Zhang Yan, I have some upcoming interactive segments to host. Another day, I’ll invite you and Miss Xia to tour my wine cellar. Let’s add each other on WeChat."

Zhang Yan naturally agreed to Zhong Zimo’s invitation without hesitation. "I’ll definitely be there!"

Although Zhong Zimo left, his obvious display of goodwill and desire to befriend Zhang Yan was noticed by everyone, making the ensuing greetings noticeably warmer.

"Zhang Yan, you’re really something," one of them said. "I didn’t expect you to know so much about red wine."

"If you ask me, he definitely guessed it! Haha."

"Not necessarily. You all underestimate Zhang Yan. He hides his true depths very well."

Hua Wenbin, Ren Junfei, and Huo Shaoqi arrived together. After greeting Zhang Yan, they took the opportunity to introduce him to the others who had come over for a drink. With these three familiar faces easing the way, Zhang Yan’s integration into this social circle progressed much faster.

Just then, Si Mingcheng, who had been missing the whole time, finally returned. He looked somewhat exhausted yet simultaneously exhilarated. However, with so many eyes and ears around, he naturally wasn’t going to discuss anything important with Zhang Yan.

"Zhang Yan, do you know that those bottles combined are worth thirty to forty thousand?" Si Mingcheng whispered. "You just gave them away so casually. Just because they drank your wine doesn’t mean they’ll appreciate the favor."

"Brother Cheng, you know me. To me, those things hold about as much value as horse piss. If giving them away earns me the goodwill of one or two people, then it’s worth it."

"That does sound like your personality. Hey, Junfei, what did you just call him?"

Ren Junfei was taken aback. Although he sensed a hint of malice in his frenemy Si Mingcheng’s gaze, he had no idea what was going on. He just bit the bullet and said, "I called him Zhang Yan. Why?"

Si Mingcheng chuckled mischievously. "That won’t do! Doesn’t that mess up the seniority?"

"Seniority? What seniority? Did you adopt him as your godfather?"

"Haha, Junfei, I’m not joking with you this time. Your father associates with Zhang Yan as a peer. He usually calls him Younger Brother Zhang."

Ren Junfei’s eyes widened as he looked at Zhang Yan in disbelief. "I don’t believe a word of it! Zhang Yan, Brother Cheng is pulling my leg, right?"

He naturally knew Si Mingcheng’s personality, meaning this was likely true, but he found it a bit hard to accept.

Having suddenly been bumped up a generation, Zhang Yan mimicked Si Mingcheng’s mischievous chuckle. "It’s actually true, but you can call me ’Uncle’ while I call you ’Brother.’ We’ll just keep our terms of address separate!"

***

"Hmph!"

Chu Chengxi returned to Si Mingxin’s small circle, his face livid once again. Si Mingxin looked at him with an impassive expression.

In truth, the moment Zhang Yan invited Xia Xiqing onto the stage, Si Mingxin had already anticipated this outcome. As a woman he had once planned to pursue, he had naturally investigated every aspect of her life. Aside from her mysterious background which he hadn’t been able to uncover, Si Mingxin knew her habits and areas of expertise like the back of his hand.

But it was too late by then. After all, Zhang Yan’s "cheating" hadn’t yet occurred, and speaking up prematurely would have made him look like he was making a mountain out of a molehill. Furthermore, letting Chu Chengxi form a grudge against this Zhang Yan was to his benefit anyway. So, in the end, he didn’t warn Chu Chengxi to abort his plan.

"Chengxi, why get angry at a reckless kid?" Si Mingxin said. "He’s just a mutt that sneaked into a pack of wolves. One day, he’ll reveal his true colors."

"You’re right, Brother Xin, but I just can’t stand it!"

"Tch." A sudden scoff drew everyone’s attention to the young man on Si Mingxin’s left. "He’s just a newly minted nouveau riche, yet he’s made you look like a fool multiple times. Chu Chengxi, you’re really losing your touch."

"Dai Yanfeng, what do you mean by that?"

"Nothing. I’m just not an idiot like you, jumping into the fray only to end up covered in mud. Just wait and see. During the dance segment later, I’ll make a few arrangements to ensure that nouveau riche makes a fool of himself."

"Hmph, then I’ll wait and see."

Si Mingxin took a sip of whiskey, turning a blind eye to the verbal sparring between the two men beside him.

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