Chapter 946: Perplexed and Smitten (6)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Staring at Jin Qingyan’s mobile number, He Yi could not help but burst into laughter and said in amusement, “You’ve got such an impressive mobile number. It’s a whole string of 8’s. How much did you have to spend to get it?”
Jin Qingyan answered vaguely, “I had to spend quite a bit. After all, such numbers are unique and one-of-a-kind.”
An Xiaoning interjected, “I heard from Qingyan that you travel all around the globe. Is that your profession?”
Shaking his head, He Yi answered, “No, I just can’t seem to stay put in one place. Hence, I decided to travel around the world instead. I feel like I’m continuously enriching and fulfilling my life when I travel. Hence, I’m a nomad now.”
“I don’t believe it, how could you travel around without a steady income or a job?”
He explained, “Well, I do work some odd jobs wherever I go and when I’m on the road. I can’t possibly roam around without a job. That’d be so pointless.”
An Xiaoning asked softly, “I heard from Qingyan that you’ve investigated the rustic life of villagers in V Nation before. Is that true?”
“Do you know about the situation in that nation too, Ms. An?” he asked in astonishment.
“I’ve been there once personally.” She took two sips of beer before placing it onto the table. She then continued, “Hence, I do know a little bit about the situation there. I wonder if you’re willing to share with me the bizarre incidents you’ve encountered during your time there? I’d like to know about some things that I don’t already know.”
He Yi scanned his surroundings and said, “It’s not that convenient for us to talk here.”
“How about you make a trip down to Wei Ni Estate tomorrow?”
“Sure.”
“It’s settled, then.”
He Yi nodded.
“Lele, you’re not getting any younger. When do you plan to get married and settle down?” asked the female monitor, who had gotten married and given birth early. Her children have all grown up too. She had always been concerned about her unmarried classmates, for she felt that women ought to get married and conceive earlier so that their bodies can recover better from childbirth.
“I want to settle down too, but I must find a man before I can do that. I’m already in my thirties and what awaits me is the big four. How could I compare to those young girls in their twenties? I no longer have the right to choose who I want to marry. I can only wait for someone to choose me,” Wen Lele said with a look of dejection.
“Look how far ahead of yourself you’re getting. You take such good care of your face and you practically still look like a teenager. Is He Yi attached yet? If he isn’t, why don’t we set you two up together?”
Upon hearing her words, Wen Lele said bluntly, “Please don’t. I would rather stay alone than be with someone who’s always traveling around the world aimlessly. There’s no security being with a nomad at all. CEO Jin, oh wait, I mean, Chairman Jin, introduce me to a man who could be my prospective husband. I trust your taste.”
Pursing his lips, Jin Qingyan said, “You don’t even fancy such a promising youth like He Yi, how could you possibly be interested in the men I introduce you to?”
“He’s a promising youth?” Wen Lele scoffed and sneered, “You’ve really flattered him. Did he brag and boast to you again? He Yi has already gone around the globe so many times before, yet he doesn’t even make enough for himself to survive. He’s already in his thirties and he doesn’t even own a house. Which woman would want to date him? Go ask him if he’s had any girlfriends before.”
He Yi continued to sip on his beer quietly instead of retorting to her snide remark.
To An Xiaoning’s surprise, she realized that He Yi did not seem to be in the least bit angry or upset at all. In fact, An Xiaoning had begun to feel rather repulsed by Wen Lele’s attitude.
Jin Qingyan instructed the waiter to serve a crate of premium-quality liquor that, of course, came at a hefty price tag. Truth be told, he simply could not get used to drinking cheap alcohol.
“It’s my treat. Drink to your heart’s content.”
Seeing how generous he was, everyone began complimenting him enthusiastically, though he was not at all impressed or pleased. Instead, he kept a straight face in response to their superficial praises, which were rather pretentious by his standards.
He initially thought that Wen Lele would drop the subject. To his surprise, she brought it up again and urged, “Jin Qingyan, you haven’t answered me. Are you going to introduce me to a man or not?”
“Sorry, but I don’t like matchmaking for others,” Jin Qingyan said, after which he grabbed the fruit knife and began peeling an apple.
The smile on Wen Lele’s face stiffened. She then remarked, “How petty of you. There are so many brilliant men around you, why don’t you introduce them to me, your old classmate? Let us enjoy some of your glory too.”
Jin Qingyan glanced at her and said, “The time it would take to introduce you to a man is enough for me to clinch several business deals. I’m not interested in doing you this favor at all. Why do you look different from when we were in high school?”
“Girls tend to become prettier the older they get.”
“That’s true.” He handed the peeled apple to An Xiaoning calmly.
Noticing how aloof he was toward her, Wen Lele walked away in disgruntlement to catch up with the others.
Everyone continued to chat merrily with each other, except Jin Qingyan, who was entirely focused on the woman beside him.
The premium-quality liquor that Jin Qingyan had ordered was higher in alcohol content. Hence, the male classmates soon began to get tipsy within just half an hour’s time.
Alcoholic men would often get out of hand once they start getting drunk.
Alcohol would also give them the courage to spout nonsense without filtering their words.
“Jin Qingyan, you’re such a joke,” one of the male classmates said in a drunken stupor while burping from the alcohol.
“How am I a joke?” Jin Qingyan raised his voice and asked coldly.
At the same time, he switched off the deafening music.
A sudden silence filled the room.
As soon as he sat down, the male classmate answered, “Look at you… you’re considered to be the most successful amongst all of us. You’re so wealthy and powerful. Did you know? At least ten of our classmates who have a little bit of cash to spare all get young girls to be their mistresses. You’re the only one who doesn’t have a kept woman, and you even married An Xiaoning twice. Not to mention, she was a divorcee when you married her. You two are even back together again now. Don’t you think you’re a joke? It’s as if she had put a hex on you…”
Everyone stopped talking instantly and kept their eyes fixed on Jin Qingyan.
“Is that very funny? Will I only be normal if I’m like everyone else and have a young girl as my mistress? What twisted logic is that? Who are you to comment about who I marry? Who do you think you are?”
Despite the harsh rebuttal, Jin Qingyan did not sound angry at all.
Yet, the tipsy classmate did not seem to realize that he was about to flare up. Thus, he continued, “You’re mistaken. I’m not saying that you have to be like those classmates of ours. I just find you rather peculiar. You have an endless amount of money to spend, and you can get any virgin you want. Why do you have to be with a woman like her? Buddy, I’m just feeling wronged for you.”
“Shut up!” Jin Qingyan hollered, glowering at him. A deafening silence filled the room immediately, such that one could hear a pin drop.
Maintaining her composure, An Xiaoning threw her finished apple into the dustbin and rose from her seat. She then walked toward the male classmate. No one knew what she was planning to do.