"Why didn't he just call me directly if he wanted to see me?" Chen Xiao asked.
Wu Feier pouted and said aggrievedly, "Without your permission, how could I dare to give out your phone number?"
Chen Xiao chuckled sheepishly, "Alright, then tell him now... Never mind, just give me his phone number and I'll call him."
"Okay."
Wu Feier left Zhao Xiaobo's phone number and then went off to attend to other matters.
Chen Xiao dialed the phone number and called Zhao Xiaobo.
"Hello, may I ask who's calling?" Zhao Xiaobo's voice came through the phone, sounding inquisitive.
"Hello, old classmate, it's Chen Xiao," Chen Xiao replied.
"Chen Xiao? Finally, I've found you!" Hearing Chen Xiao's voice, Zhao Xiaobo was overjoyed.
Chen Xiao asked him, "I heard you had something to look for me for? What is it?"
"Well, I do have something very important to discuss with you, but it's not convenient to talk about it over the phone. Old classmate, do you have time now? How about we go out for a cup of tea?" Zhao Xiaobo asked tentatively.
"Sure, where do you plan to treat me?"
"Let's go to Qingcheng Clubhouse."
"Alright, wait for me there, I'll be there soon."
After finishing the call with Zhao Xiaobo, Chen Xiao took a taxi to Qingcheng Clubhouse.
Qingcheng Clubhouse was located in a secluded area on the outskirts. As Chen Xiao got out of the car, he saw that the place was surrounded by trees, exuding a lush green aura. The mottled walls were covered with ivy, and the ground was paved with bluestone slabs. A vermilion gate with dark gold studs stood tall, and at the entrance, a line of Jiangnan beauties dressed in plain qipaos stood guard. A melodious and gentle Pingtan tune drifted softly from within.
Zhao Xiaobo was waiting for Chen Xiao at the entrance, having apparently been waiting for a while. As soon as he saw Chen Xiao, he hurried over.
"Old classmate, you're so low-key, coming here by taxi..." Zhao Xiaobo's face showed a hint of forced politeness, and it was evident that he was not particularly eager to interact with Chen Xiao unless absolutely necessary.
Chen Xiao smiled, ignoring his comment, and asked, looking at the clubhouse entrance, "Old classmate, this place isn't cheap, is it? You've gone to such great lengths to invite me today, what's it all about?"
Zhao Xiaobo gave a sheepish smile and said, "Old classmate, to be frank, it's not really me looking for you. I'm merely acting as a go-between. There's someone else who wants to meet you."
"Oh? And who might that be?" Hearing Zhao Xiaobo's words, Chen Xiao's expectations grew stronger.
"Allow me to keep it a surprise. You'll know once you go in. In any case, it's something good!" Zhao Xiaobo gestured for Chen Xiao to enter.
Since he was already there, Chen Xiao followed Zhao Xiaobo into a room in the clubhouse. As soon as they entered, a waitress offered them cushions. The room was also extremely elegant, decorated in a Tang Dynasty style, with several black sandalwood low tables in the center. A set of exquisite tea ware was placed on the tables. The thin porcelain bowls looked fragile enough to shatter with a touch, clearly the work of a master craftsman. Opposite the tables sat a peculiar middle-aged man. He was peculiar because, despite being a foreigner with flaxen hair, blue eyes, and chiseled facial features, he had styled his hair into a topknot and was wearing a traditional Chinese robe.
"Mr. Chen, please sit!" The peculiar foreigner gestured for Chen Xiao to sit and then proceeded to brew a pot of tea with fluid movements. Chen Xiao was surprised that such a man, with his large, hairy hands, could perform such delicate work, and do it so skillfully.
"Premium Da Hong Pao, paired with spring water from Yu Wu Mountain, and Jingdezhen's Jun porcelain tea set. Only in China can you find such conditions, and only tea brewed this way can truly be called the Way of Tea." The foreigner spoke fluent Chinese and knew quite a bit about it. He picked up a small white porcelain bowl, sniffed it, and wore an expression of intoxication.
Then, he placed the small bowl in front of Chen Xiao and gestured again, "Mr. Chen, please have some tea!"
"Thank you," Chen Xiao accepted the tea, his expression calm, as if everything before him was commonplace. Little did he know that Zhao Xiaobo, who was still standing respectfully to the side, was filled with envy.
At this point, the foreigner slowly introduced himself, "Hello, Mr. Chen. My name is Parro Schmidt. I am the Global Vice President of Kangxing Company. I apologize for the intrusion in inviting you here today. I hope you don't mind!"
In fact, Chen Xiao had already guessed that the man was from Kangxing Company even without the introduction. He just didn't know where this Global Vice President ranked within the company.
Chen Xiao chuckled, "I don't mind at all. However, I wonder why Mr. Schmidt invited me here. It's not just for a cup of tea, is it?"
Upon hearing Chen Xiao's words, Schmidt's expression visibly paused. Perhaps he hadn't expected Chen Xiao to be so direct. In his experience, Chinese people were generally indirect, keeping their emotions hidden, and often speaking in a roundabout way. Chen Xiao, being so straightforward, was someone he had never encountered before.
"Hahahaha, Mr. Chen, you're a man of few words, and I like that about you!" Schmidt said with a hearty laugh, expressing his admiration. Although Chen Xiao knew that the phrase "I like you" didn't carry any special hidden meaning, it still made him feel uncomfortable. He remained silent, waiting for Schmidt to continue.
Schmidt finally stopped his incessant posturing and asked, "Mr. Chen, I heard you have a miraculous acupuncture technique that can treat cancer. Is that true?"
"Oh? Who told you that?" Chen Xiao narrowed his eyes and asked Schmidt. He actually knew the answer without asking; it was likely Zhao Xiaobo, as he had been present when Chen Xiao treated Wu Feier's mother.
"Chen Xiao, I told Mr. Schmidt," Zhao Xiaobo said proudly, winking at Chen Xiao as if he had done him a great favor.
"So, Mr. Chen, you admit that your miraculous acupuncture technique can indeed treat cancer? Mr. Chen, would you be able to demonstrate it for me on the spot?" Schmidt's eyes still held a hint of doubt, clearly not fully believing Chen Xiao's claims.
Chen Xiao scoffed, "Mr. Schmidt, what makes you say that?"
Schmidt looked bewildered, as if he hadn't understood Chen Xiao's words. Chen Xiao then calmly stated, "Whether my acupuncture technique can treat cancer is none of your business. Whether you believe it or not is also irrelevant to me." With that, Chen Xiao's face showed a mocking expression, and his tone became more forceful. "And you want me to demonstrate it on the spot? I'm sorry, my medical skills are for healing, not for performance. Therefore, your suggestion is foolish to the point of being laughable!"