Chapter 109: The Jiang Family in a Golden Age

Chapter 109: The Prosperous Jiang Clan

Late at night, in the suburbs, the interior of the Pepsi Club was buzzing with restless energy. No one was asleep. People gathered in small groups or sat alone, all fixated on one thing: the newcomer.

What kind of charm or mysterious background did he possess to make the beaten young master, Duan Rulong, lower his pride and invite him for tea?

It seemed mysterious to the extreme.

Among the crowd, there were those like Manager Zhou Kang and Supervisor Zhang, who were sitting on pins and needles, others like Li Gang and He Mingming, who felt bitter and uneasy, and many more who were secretly delighted and ready to stir up trouble.

Regardless, everyone was waiting—waiting for Jiang Chuxue to return with him.

At this very moment, Jiang Chuxue had already used her connections to enter the Zuiyue Pavilion. Despite her impressive status as a wealthy woman, this was her first time visiting such a place. As for Jiang Ke’er and Zhao Xue, they were even more out of their element, having no prior dealings with these nouveau-riche tycoons.

The dazzling array of antiques and calligraphy, the opulent, gilded decor, and the bustling, enthusiastic crowd in the middle of the night left the three young women stunned and deeply moved.

Following the man who had been sent to invite them from the bar, they reached the third floor and entered the Hanting private room.

At a single glance, they were frozen.

Li Xin was chatting and drinking with four prominent socialites, standing on an equal footing with them as if he were their peer, showing no sign of being inferior.

Before this, even though the man had personally stated that Duan Rulong had invited Li Xin for tea, the three women had remained highly skeptical. Given Duan Rulong’s reputation and temper, he wouldn't easily bow down or swallow his pride. Could this tea invitation have been a trap?

The word "invite" was used with subtle irony.

Although the situation had indeed started that way—with Li Xin accepting a challenge from a master the moment he arrived—the outcome carried deep implications, and fortunately, he had seized the opportunity.

As the three women entered, the five men turned to look. Li Xin gave a nod to indicate he was fine.

Jin Hua’s eyes lingered on Jiang Chuxue, and he said with surprise, "Miss Jiang, what wind has blown you here?"

"Young Master Jin, you took away my guest; naturally, I had to come and bring him back," Jiang Chuxue replied with a gentle smile, though her tone held a sharp, aristocratic edge.

Hearing this, Jin Hua looked at Li Xin, lost in thought. Then, he glanced at Duan Rulong, his gaze seemingly questioning.

Duan Rulong awkwardly shrank his neck; he realized that hiding the fact that Li Xin was a member of the Pepsi Club had been a misstep.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Jiang Chuxue took Li Xin and left.

"Old Duan, what is the meaning of this?" She Shiyu immediately asked with displeasure. Had he revealed this information earlier, they wouldn't have risked offending Jiang Chuxue.

"I... I..." Duan Rulong’s expression was awkward and evasive, as he pondered how to explain.

"Jiang Chuxue, who is this guy?" Sun Yang asked suspiciously. He didn't care for esports and hadn't been paying attention. In his view, the vice president of a gaming club couldn't possibly compare to someone of their stature.

Yet, the way Jin Hua and the others acted was baffling.

Jin Hua smiled, shaking his head. He pointed toward the north and said softly, "Sun Yang, have you ever heard of the Prosperous Jiang Clan?"

"The Prosperous Jiang Clan?" Sun Yang froze. Of course he knew of such a colossal powerhouse. But what did that have to do with Jiang Chuxue?

Wait!

The Jiang Clan... Jiang Chuxue!

Sun Yang was struck by a sudden realization. He remembered a rumor that had long circulated in high society.

Looking at the expressions of Jin Hua and She Shiyu, Sun Yang understood everything. A cold sweat broke out on his back.

On the road.

Inside the spacious and comfortable Land Cruiser, there was silence. Li Xin didn't speak, and the three women didn't dare to ask.

Jiang Chuxue was driving, lost in thought. She knew Li Xin’s background. In the past, given his fame, people might have given him some face. But it wasn't a given; after all, no matter how great a celebrity was, in the eyes of top-tier tycoons, they were still just blades of grass. Now that he was living under an assumed name, stripped of his former glory, anyone would think his situation was even worse.

Yet, he had gained the recognition of Jin Hua and the others. It was utterly perplexing.

Zhao Xue, in the passenger seat, and Jiang Ke’er, in the back, were also frowning in contemplation—one completely in the dark, the other with only a vague understanding.

Suddenly, Li Xin spoke.

"Manager Jiang, you’ve crossed the line; you’re about to drive into a ditch!"

Jiang Chuxue started, snapping back to reality. The car was indeed veering into the emergency lane, and just a meter or so further lay a deep, several-meter-high trench. Breaking into a cold sweat, she quickly corrected the steering and offered an awkward smile.

The atmosphere grew slightly warmer, and the four began to chat idly.

As for what happened inside the Zuiyue Pavilion, they maintained a tacit silence.

Suddenly, a phone rang. It was Wang Xiaoqian.

"Hey, why are you calling in the middle of the night?" Li Xin asked with a laugh.

"You went out without even telling me," Wang Xiaoqian’s dissatisfied, spoiled voice came through the phone, immediately catching the attention of the three women in the car.

"Forget it, I’m the one who took on this job, so I won't come looking for you. I just got off the game; I successfully completed the Naples mission." Wang Xiaoqian was quite broad-minded.

"One more thing to tell you: the game version is undergoing maintenance again. The announcement says it's to adjust and optimize the timing."

"I won't keep you, I'm too sleepy. I'm going to bed. Oh, and by the way, since you're already there, show them what you've got, be brave, and try to win them over. Who knows, heh heh, maybe you'll come back with a beauty in your arms."

Wang Xiaoqian rambled on before hanging up. In the dead of night, the three women heard everything clearly, each harboring her own thoughts.

"Brother Li, is that your girlfriend?" Jiang Ke’er asked tentatively.

"She’s not my girlfriend," Li Xin replied with a wry smile.

"Oh, come on, just admit it. What’s there to be shy about? You’re at such an age now, you really should find a partner."

"Er..."

"By the way, Brother Li, what do you think of the three of us? Do we look good? Any of us catch your eye?" Jiang Ke’er, the loose-lipped girl, spoke without restraint.

Immediately, she was scolded by the two women in the front, and Li Xin just smiled bitterly, turning his gaze toward the window.

When they returned to the Pepsi compound in the suburbs, it was already past 1:00 AM. As soon as the car stopped, a group of people poured out of the building, led by Manager Zhou and Supervisor Zhang.

Seeing that Li Xin was safe and sound, their moods soured even further. It seemed the tea had been quite a success.

"Oh my, Brother Li," Jiang Ke’er suddenly called out in a dramatic, feigned voice.

"Brother Li, was the tea with Jin Hua and Duan Rulong good? Was it fragrant? What year was it?"

The crowd was shocked. It was clear that Jiang Ke’er was setting the stage to put them in their place.

"It was alright, Xinyang Shitai Maojian tea picked in early autumn," Li Xin said with a faint smile, fully aware of Jiang Ke’er’s little performance.

"Wow! Picked in early autumn!" Jiang Ke’er shrieked even louder.

"Picked in early autumn, then pan-fried and baked—it only just hit the market. Xinyang Shitai Maojian, that’s top-tier tea. Hmm... let me think, I heard a friend mention it once, it’s something like ten thousand per liang, right?"

Upon hearing this, the crowd was astonished. Some immediately pulled out their phones to check Baidu.

Sure enough: Xinyang Shitai Maojian price: 9,380 yuan/liang.

There was no need to say or ask anything more. There was no need. This newcomer, Li Xin, would soon be famous in the upper circles of HZ City.