The villa area of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee.
In a room on the third floor of Building 2, Xu Qingya and Liu Xinyao were chatting. Although Xu Qingya had a room in the old mansion, she mostly stayed in the villa area of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee when she returned to Beijing. Xu Qingya always felt that the old mansion was too strict, and she had to be careful in everything she said and did, unlike the freedom she felt here.
Xu Qingya looked at Liu Xinyao with a confused expression and asked:
"Xinyao, why do you think my dad changed his mind in the end?"
Liu Xinyao, wearing a light pink loungewear, was nestled in a beanbag chair by the bed, hugging her knees, and tilting her head as she said:
"Maybe my uncle had a change of heart and felt bad about marrying you off to that scoundrel!"
Xu Qingya didn't agree with this view. She knew her father too well. If Xu Zhiyuan would consider her feelings, he wouldn't have even considered the marriage in the first place. Didn't he know what kind of person Fan Zihong was? Xu Qingya frowned and said,
"I feel like this isn't so simple! Xinyao… I have a feeling this… might be related to Chen Yang!"
Liu Xinyao immediately sat up straight, put her feet off the sofa, and said,
"Chen Yang? How could that be! Cousin, you know Chen Yang's situation. Do you think he could persuade Uncle? Why? Just because he's Master Baiyan's disciple?"
Xu Qingya's confused expression deepened. She frowned slightly and said,
"I don't know… maybe it's just a gut feeling!"
Seeing Xu Qingya's conflicted look… Liu Xinyao couldn't help but laugh and say,
"Cousin, why do you care so much? The result is that you don't have to marry that scumbag! At least for now, no one will seduce you, right?"
Xu Qingya chuckled and said,
"That's true, but you know my personality. I can't sleep well if I don't figure this out!"
Liu Xinyao thought for a moment and said,
"Then why don't you go ask him directly? Cousin, tonight my cousin invited some of his cronies to have dinner and karaoke with Chen Yang! How about... we go join the fun?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Liu Xinyao immediately regretted it. She had just wanted to remind Xu Qingya to be careful of Chen Yang! In Liu Xinyao's opinion, Chen Yang's kindness towards Xu Qingya wasn't without ulterior motives; otherwise, he wouldn't have unconsciously called Xu Qingya's name while drunk in the Sanya Hotel room that day!
But Liu Xinyao didn't know how to bring it up. She certainly wouldn't mention that embarrassing scene to anyone. Chen Yang was so drunk he was completely oblivious and had no recollection of the incident; it was Liu Xinyao's top secret.
While discussing Xu Qingya, Liu Xinyao blurted out those words, immediately regretting them. Hadn't she just given Chen Yang, that womanizer, another opportunity to get close to Xu Qingya?
But the words were out, and there was no going back. Xu Qingya, after a slight hesitation, nodded and said, "That makes sense! Xinyao, where are they having dinner tonight?"
...
The Red Era Club in Beijing.
In the "Yan'an Hall" private room, the walls were adorned with poems by the late Great Leader, murals depicting life in the kilns at the foot of Pagoda Hill, and replicas of Red Army-era straw hats and raincoats, creating a sense of stepping back in time to that era of struggle. In fact, the entire Red Era Club was decorated in this style, with statues of the Great Leader everywhere. In the lobby on the first floor, there was even a two-meter-tall bronze statue of the leader, leaning slightly forward, looking straight ahead, as if waving. Even the club's staff were dressed in Red Army-era attire.
Chen Yang was currently sitting in the Yan'an Hall, drinking tea and chatting with Liu Zhengyi and several of his friends. This dinner was arranged by Liu Zhengyi; he and Chen Yang hit it off immediately, and he had specially invited him to meet some of his good friends in Beijing.
This club was a property of the Xu Group and was considered a first-class club in Beijing, but compared to Fan Zijian's Golden Goblet Club, it was inferior in both facilities and customer traffic. However, Liu Zhengyi knew that Chen Yang and Fan Zijian had apparently had a slight unpleasant encounter at the lunch banquet, so he hadn't even considered the Golden Goblet Club.
"Chen Yang, let me introduce you to my three buddies!" After everyone sat down, Liu Zhengyi smiled and pointed to a young man with similar short, neat hair and a muscular build beside him. "This is Xu Haoran, deputy company commander of the Special Operations Brigade of the Beijing Military Region. He just graduated from the Tianjing Army Command Academy this summer. His father is Deputy Minister Xu of the General Armaments Department, Qingya's second uncle."
"Just call me Haoran!" Xu Haoran grinned at Chen Yang, revealing two canine teeth, making him look somewhat youthful.
Chen Yang was naturally very familiar with the men Liu Zhengyi had brought. In his previous life, they were kindred spirits and would often get together whenever they were in Beijing. He hadn't expected to see these buddies again so soon after his rebirth, and Chen Yang felt a pang of emotion.
Liu Zhengyi patted Xu Haoran on the shoulder and said to Chen Yang with a smile:
"That's a good comrade! Their special operations brigade is currently conducting new officer training, and when this kid heard I was back in Beijing, he got a sick leave certificate from the military general hospital without saying a word and then slipped away!"
"Haha! That's really something! Hello, Haoran!" Chen Yang extended his hand to Xu Haoran, and the two shook hands firmly.
Xu Haoran was Xu Qingya's cousin. In his previous life, he and Chen Yang were very close; one was an elite special forces soldier in the army, and the other was an ace pilot in the air force, so they had a lot in common. Liu Zhengyi then pointed to a young man next to Xu Haoran, wearing a Givenchy t-shirt and engrossed in his phone, and said:
"This is Luo Bin, the son of Deputy Director Luo of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. He's my childhood friend... Luo Zi! Stop playing around! I'm introducing you!"
Luo Bin quickly looked up, smiled amicably at Chen Yang, and said:
"Hello! Brother Zhengyi's friends are my friends. Just call me Luo Zi, that's what all my friends call me!"
Chen Yang suppressed a laugh and nodded in greeting to Luo Bin, thinking to himself: I didn't expect Luo Zi to still be the same!
In his previous life, Chen Yang and Luo Bin were also good brothers. Although Luo Bin's father was a vice-ministerial level official, and in charge of audio-visual product publishing and distribution at the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, if Luo Bin had started an entertainment company like Gu Xuejun, the business would definitely have been very successful. However, Luo Bin was more like a tech geek, only interested in electronic products, showing little interest in the power struggles of officialdom or the deceit of the business world. He could accurately recite all the specifications of a Nokia phone released eight years ago, but he didn't even know how many deputy directors were in his father's workplace.
Therefore, his friends in the circle jokingly called him "Expert Luo."
Then Liu Zhengyi pointed to the last young man, dressed in Versace casual wear with an elegant smile, and said:
"This is Chu Xiaobai, the boss of Chutian Culture Media Co., Ltd. Minister Chu of the Ministry of Culture is his father!"
"Chen Yang, hello! I've heard Zhengyi mention your fight against robbers and your emergency landing. I think it's excellent movie material. Chen Yang, would you be interested in playing the lead role in this movie? You'd be perfect to play yourself!"
Chu Xiaobai always brought up his old profession.
"Brother Xiaobai, thank you for your kindness, but… I really have no interest in acting. I'm afraid you'll have to find a suitable male lead!" Chen Yang replied half-jokingly. "Alright, you've all gotten to know each other now. We're all good friends, so stay close in the future," Liu Zhengyi said, clapping his hands with a smile. "Chen Yang, that kid, is quite something..."
Then, Liu Zhengyi vividly described how Chen Yang had thoroughly humiliated Fan Zijian and his group during the wine tasting at the banquet, then stole the show during the gift-giving segment, and finally even managed to get the VIP guest, Master Bai Yan, to join him.
Xu Haoran had come directly from the military to the Red Era Club and hadn't attended the banquet. Luo Bin and Chu Xiaobai, although present, were unaware of what had transpired, so they all listened with great interest.
Those present were all people who disapproved of the Fan family's arrogant and domineering style, and their fathers weren't cadres in the Fan camp—otherwise, they wouldn't have become good friends with Liu Zhengyi. Therefore, hearing Liu Zhengyi's words, they were all delighted, and their gazes towards Chen Yang became even warmer.
"By the way, Haoran, I heard your Xu family is going to become in-laws with the Fan family?" Chu Xiaobai asked with a smile.
Xu Haoran pouted, displeased, and said:
"Who knows what my uncle is thinking! That scoundrel Fan Er, he actually has his eye on him! If my cousin marries him, she'll be incredibly unlucky!"
Just as Xu Haoran finished speaking, a clear, cold voice came from the doorway:
"Xiaoran, who are you saying will be unlucky?"
Then the door to the private room was pushed open, and two beautiful women, Xu Qingya and Liu Xinyao, stood gracefully in the doorway. Xu Qingya's bright eyes were fixed on Chen Yang, a half-smile on her face.
"Sister Qingya!" Chen Yang exclaimed in surprise.
"Qingya, Xinyao, what brings you here?" Liu Zhengyi was slightly surprised; they had just been talking about Xu Qingya, so a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face. "Why can't we come?" Xu Qingya walked into the private room, her gaze landing on Xu Haoran. She asked casually, "Haoran, what were you two talking about? It sounded quite lively!"
"Sister..." Xu Haoran chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head. "We...we were just chatting! Nothing much!"
The name Fan Zihong was practically a taboo subject for Xu Qingya; Xu Haoran dared not provoke him.
"Oh...why do you seem so unwelcoming?" Xu Qingya asked with a teasing smile.
"How could that be! It's not much fun for a few grown men to drink. We're overjoyed that you guys came!" Liu Zhengyi quickly said. "Come on in! Come on in and sit down! The food's just starting to arrive!"
"That's more like it!" Xu Qingya nodded and walked over.
The Yan'an Hall was a large private room in the Red Era Club, with tables that could easily seat over a dozen people, so Chen Yang and the others were seated rather spread out. Xu Qingya and Liu Xinyao walked over to Chen Yang and sat down on either side of him, almost simultaneously.
Everyone's eyes immediately fell on Chen Yang—this guy's got some lucky ladies!