Big Data Cultivation

Chapter 195: Not to Harm You

Upon receiving Wu Limin’s veiled hint, Manager Chang pondered briefly before making up her mind: just let nature take its course.

She had already extricated herself from that life, but since she was still dependent on the world of entertainment for her livelihood, inevitably, there were things beyond her control.

For instance, now, faced with Wu Limin’s insinuation, even if she was unwilling, it was not appropriate for her to outright refuse.

Of course, there were ways to phrase things to convey the sentiment “I don’t fundamentally object.”

She pretended not to understand the hint and said with a smile, “Then I’ll try my best to keep up with President Feng’s drinking. Whatever happens will happen.”

On hearing this, Wu Limin sneered inwardly: This sly vixen… She has never been this agreeable when drinking with me.

He felt a pang of jealousy, yet forced a smile and said, “Then, I’ll have to trouble Sister Chang. I’ll remember this favor.”

Manager Chang continued to play dumb, responding with a smile, “Wu Shao, you speak as if we’re strangers. Since you’ve called me ‘sister,’ I must live up to your elevation. Don’t you think?”

While they were speaking, Feng Jun returned. His face was expressionless, and he sat down beside Manager Chang. “Shall we drink?”

Manager Chang hadn’t planned on dealing with him in any specific way—just go with the flow.

Therefore, she didn’t flirtatiously sell herself but simply kept raising her glass, which, of course, added a touch of intimacy to her every move.

Feng Jun was preoccupied and didn’t notice this slight change.

However, to Wu Limin, who was watching this unfold, it was a cause for urgency: This level of intimacy… wasn’t enough.

Could it be that Manager Chang, like Xiao Bing, seemed agreeable on the surface, but would play dumb in the end?

Wu Shao was an old hand at this, weathered by numerous encounters, but he often used money to pave his way, and he couldn’t quite grasp Manager Chang’s tactics.

In fact, even if the situation were handed to someone as experienced as Li Qiang, they might not be able to guess what Manager Chang was really thinking—a woman’s heart is a deep ocean of secrets, and it’s not like a college entrance exam; there’s never been a standard answer.

After drinking for a while longer, Wu Shao saw that Manager Chang was becoming more lucid with every drink, which made him anxious: Couldn’t you pretend to be drunk, rub against Feng Jun a little, or cast a coquettish glance or something?

No, in times like these, I must do something! Wu Limin picked up his beer, and as he drank, he resolved: Anyway, I’ve signalled you, this wouldn’t count as me intentionally harming you.

Behind the cover of the beer glass, he stealthily reached into his purse, and pulled out a small paper packet…

Manager Chang was chatting happily with Feng Jun—mainly because she was the one trying to find topics of conversation, and he seemed willing to listen.

In the midst of their talk, she felt a bit thirsty. She reached for the beer bottle, only to find it empty.

“Sister Chang, here,” Wu Shao said with a grin, offering a newly opened bottle of beer.

Manager Chang took the beer and was about to drink it when a woman stepped into their seating area—around one hundred and seventy centimeters tall, elegantly cold with a hint of high-class allure, and exuding an extremely powerful presence, wearing pants with a strong sense of drape.

Wu Shao’s lackeys wanted to stop her, but the woman said coldly, “I’m looking for Feng Jun.”

On seeing her, Feng Jun immediately stood up, smiling as he spoke, “Sister Hong… why have you come in person?”

“How could I not, when Boss Feng calls?” Sister Hong raised her eyebrows, a hint of a smile in her voice, then sat down next to Manager Chang, “You seem to have a rich night life… Aren’t afraid of getting hit by another car?”

Manager Chang, realizing this was the renowned Sister Hong, quickly stood up and said with a forced smile, “Sister Hong, it’s an honor to meet you. It’s our first meeting, please take care of me… What can I get you to drink?”

Sister Hong glanced at her casually and asked, “Is Boss Tian here?”

Despite her recent congenial behavior around Feng Jun, small jokes and all, her status and presence remained formidable, commanding over the majority of people—a position not everyone could claim in society.

Manager Chang was overawed and, upon hearing the mention of “Boss Tian,” could only continue apologetically, “Boss Tian isn’t here. Is there something you would like me to pass on?”

While responding, she had already mentally crossed off certain possibilities—uncontrollable forces had arrived, making it impossible to let things take their natural course.

“It’s not necessary, you take a seat as well,” said Sister Hong lightly. She managed Hongjie Clubhouse and, although she seldom joked and laughed, she wasn’t harsh with service industry workers—everyone had their struggles.

Manager Chang definitely couldn’t keep sitting beside Feng Jun, so she took a seat on the other side of Sister Hong.

This arrangement left Feng Jun and Sister Hong without anyone between them, and the distance… barely more than half a meter.

Feng Jun had been drinking the whole time, first with the old man and now continuing here, which made him a bit less restrained. He shifted a little closer and leaned in towards Sister Hong to whisper, “Any news?”

He had just made a call to her because he had to make sure that Xiao Luo’s death was truly an accident.

He didn’t have contacts in Donglin, but Sister Hong did. Last time, she made a phone call and, through the local forces of Donglin, had Wang Weimin fished out of an entertainment venue.

Yes, “fished out” was the word that left a strong impression on him, so he remembered that a person named Xiao Wen, despite using rather brazen language, did manage to have someone brought out in minutes.

However, he had only asked Sister Hong to help inquire, so how had he ever expected her to come directly over?

“The message hasn’t come through yet,” Sister Hong answered softly, then glanced at Manager Chang and spoke lightly, “Trouble you for a bottle of mineral water… not purified water.”

“Sure,” Manager Chang smiled and nodded, ready to stand and call a waiter—now was the time she needed to be proactive.

“Sister Hong, have a beer,” Feng Jun spoke up. He was well aware of Sister Hong’s tolerance for alcohol, “It’s late at night and we’re free, so let’s relax.”

“Wait a bit, I just had a round. I need to hydrate first,” Sister Hong waved her hand, then looked at Manager Chang again, “Mineral water.”

“Of course,” Manager Chang nodded, stood up, and summoned a server, commanding loudly, “Go to my office and get two bottles of Caiyun Mineral Water, and hurry.”

Caiyun Mineral Water was a luxury item, not displayed at the bar; she had some in her office.

Sister Hong glanced at her and said pleasantly, “Manager Chang, could you get it?”

Manager Chang was taken aback at first, but quickly realized that it wasn’t about bossing her around; there was something else to discuss, and it wasn’t appropriate for her to stay.

She smiled and nodded, “Alright, I’ll be right back,” and then left briskly.

Once she had left, Sister Hong looked at Wu Limin, “Wu Shao, right? I’m Zhang Weihong, currently a business partner with Boss Feng.”

“I know that,” Wu Shao smiled and nodded, slightly reaching out his right hand, but upon realizing she had no intention of shaking hands, he casually picked up his beer, feeling slightly dull.

But how to put it? Despite both being beautiful women, he might secretly disdain Manager Chang, but he definitely wouldn’t dare to confront Sister Hong’s assertiveness.

In fact, he didn’t even dare entertain the thought of targeting Sister Hong. He was very clear in his mind: despite barely qualifying as a rich second generation, some figures simply couldn’t be provoked.

Sister Hong simply nodded, remarking nonchalantly, “Hmm, good that you know.”

Her words seemed superfluous. With the Wu Family’s situation with Feng Jun as it was, wouldn’t they investigate his background?

But that was exactly why she had to repeat it, a formality without any threatening words, yet clearly laying out her stance.

Threatening a bratty kid? She truly disdained to do so, and if it all turned out to be a misunderstanding, her words wouldn’t cause any trouble.

And yet, how could Wu Limin handle such pressure? He could only force a bitter smile, “Sister Hong, it really is a misunderstanding.”

Zhang Weihong didn’t want to waste words on a bratty kid, so she casually gestured, “You need to choose the right person to talk to, there’s no need to tell me.”

Seemingly intent on boosting Feng Jun’s image, as soon as she saw Feng Jun pull out a cigarette, she promptly held the lighter with both hands to light it for him.

Just then, Manager Chang came back with the mineral water. Seeing this scene, she felt even more strongly that there was no need to let things take their own course—after all, the distinguished Sister Hong was lighting a cigarette for President Feng.

Sister Hong, though influential, was unpretentious. She opened the mineral water, lifted the bottle, “Let me toast everyone with water in place of alcohol.”

The others had to play along, right? Manager Chang had no alcohol at hand, so she glanced at the opened beer bottle in front of Sister Hong, silently opened another one for herself, and picked it up.

Soon enough, Sister Hong had drunk more than half of the mineral water and then hardly touched the bottle again.

Manager Chang, adept at reading the room, quickly pushed the beer bottle closer to Sister Hong, smiling and saying, “Sister Hong, have a drink. This one’s just been opened; no one has touched it.”

What she didn’t notice was that Wu Limin’s eyelids drooped, and his head dipped slightly upon seeing this.

Zhang Weihong, of course, knew the beer bottle was full and indeed no one had drunk from it since she arrived. So, she picked up the beer bottle, “Alright, I’ll have a couple of beers with you youngsters today… Let’s do it in style, half a bottle at a time.”

All four raised their bottles. How much could half of a 330 ml beer bottle be?

But to chug half a bottle in one go was quite a challenge, and after putting the bottle down, Sister Hong’s complexion seemed a little off. She took a couple of quick breaths and turned to look at Manager Chang, “This beer… ”

“Sister Hong, rest assured, our club’s alcohol is all genuine,” Manager Chang stated with pride, “I can’t speak for other bars, but everyone who comes here is a friend!”

Sister Hong paused, then nodded, “Oh, I see… Just felt a bit strong.”

Sister Hong was known for her hearty drinking, finishing a bottle in two gulps and then Manager Chang opened another bottle and passed it to her.

At that moment, Sister Hong’s mobile phone lit up, a WeChat message had come in.

She swiped open the phone and glanced at it, then lifted the beer again, taking a light sip.

Afterwards, she turned to Feng Jun, speaking softly, “Boss Feng, I’m leaving, what about you?”

(Updated, calling for monthly tickets.)