Facing the contemptuous gazes and sarcastic tones of executives like Tian Guofu, Wan Dongming felt somewhat awkward. He stood frozen, holding his wine glass, unsure whether to advance or retreat.
After all, it was natural for magnates of Huadu City's top corporations like Tian Guofu and Wei Renxin to look down on Wan Dongming, a live-in son-in-law.
However, just as Fang Yanxi was about to step forward to ease the situation for Wan Dongming, Kang Hongwen beat her to it. He proactively raised his wine glass, clinked it with Wan Dongming's, gently patted his shoulder, and said with a smile, "Dongming, you've done very well. You've stabilized the Wang Corporation so quickly and successfully put it on the right track. You have a keen business sense. Let's have a drink."
"Yes, yes, thank you, President Kang. Please, go ahead."
Wan Dongming was thrilled. Although he knew Kang Hongwen was making the move because of his third brother, he still felt immensely honored. He quickly lowered himself, held his wine glass with both hands to clink with Kang Hongwen's, and then downed the drink in one go.
This move piqued the curiosity of Wei Renxin, Tian Guofu, and others. Why was Kang Hongwen proactively engaging with this live-in son-in-law?
"Mr. Wan, a toast to you," Fang Yanxi also raised her wine glass, smiling at Wan Dongming.
"No, no, Ms. Fang, it should be me toasting you tonight."
Wan Dongming took another glass of wine and said to Fang Yanxi with a smile, "Congratulations on becoming the executive president of Chaoting Group."
"Thank you."
Fang Yanxi smiled gently, clinked her glass with Wan Dongming's, and finished the remaining wine.
"Come, Dongming, let's sit and chat."
Kang Hongwen, regardless of how Wei Renxin and Tian Guofu viewed Wan Dongming, pulled him over to the nearby sofa and began talking with him.
This made Wan Dongming very happy. Knowing Kang Hongwen was on good terms with his third brother, he hadn't expected it to extend to an offer of cooperation. Kang Hongwen even offered guidance on some business issues regarding the company's development.
Fang Yanxi also sat nearby and listened for a while. However, upon seeing some familiar executives approaching to offer toasts, she had to get up and attend to them, exchanging pleasantries and toasts. Thus, she finished her wine in three gulps.
Fang Yanxi also kept glancing at her watch. Over twenty minutes had passed, and the man still hadn't arrived, which made her sigh helplessly.
"Miss Fang, here you go."
Just as Fang Yanxi was about to fetch more wine from another table to continue toasting the executives, Jerry, holding two glasses of wine, handed the one in his left hand to Fang Yanxi. He then pointed to Bart beside him and said, "We'd like to offer you a toast. May we?"
Bart was quite gentlemanly, unlike Jerry who openly revealed his true nature. He smiled at Fang Yanxi and said, "Miss Fang, you are someone chosen by Jiang, so we just wanted to get to know you."
Fang Yanxi held great respect for Bart, a prominent figure in Wall Street's financial circles. However, she did not accept the wine Jerry offered in his left hand. Having been warned by Han Yuze before, she absolutely would not accept a drink from a stranger now, especially from Jerry.
"Please wait a moment, Mr. Bart. I'll go get the wine."
Fang Yanxi said this and turned to go to another table to get wine. Jerry immediately called out, "Wait, Miss Fang, this is your wine!"
Seeing Jerry extend that glass of wine again with his left hand, Fang Yanxi's expression remained impassive. She slightly shook her head and smiled, "Mr. Jerry, this is your wine!"
Jerry immediately raised the wine glass in his right hand and said to Fang Yanxi with a smile, "Miss Fang, this is my wine, and this glass here is one I just got for you. Please, don't be polite."
However, Fang Yanxi still shook her head and smiled, "Mr. Jerry, you didn't understand what I meant. I want to have two drinks with you, so this glass of wine is still yours!"
Jerry was stunned. He looked at the wine glass he held in his left hand, which Fang Yanxi had pushed slightly, and couldn't react for a moment.
"Waiter, two glasses of wine, please."
The quick-witted Fang Yanxi skillfully resolved the issue of refusing Jerry's offered wine. She flagged down a passing waiter carrying a tray of wine and asked for two glasses of champagne. "Thank you..."
Then, Fang Yanxi turned back and looked at Jerry, who was still holding two glasses of wine and appeared dazed. With a polite smile, she said to Bart first, "I'm sorry, Mr. Bart, but I'll toast Mr. Jerry first."
"Wow."
Bart, standing beside them, seemed somewhat surprised by Fang Yanxi's sudden change of demeanor, thinking Jerry had succeeded. He took a small step back and raised his hand, smiling at Jerry, who was still dazed with the two glasses of wine, "Jerry, you have to drink these two glasses!"
Fang Yanxi smiled, raising her wine glass in her right hand. "Mr. Jerry, I'll drink mine first."
With that, Fang Yanxi downed the champagne in her glass. This bold act naturally drew the attention of the surrounding guests, who turned to look. Seeing Fang Yanxi finish the wine in her right glass, she then raised the glass in her left hand, signaling to Jerry, who had just come back to his senses, and drank it in one gulp.
"Ms. Fang has good drinking capacity..."
Upon witnessing this, other executives around them began to applaud. They all assumed Fang Yanxi was challenging Jerry to a drinking contest, prompting them to egg them on, "Mr. Jerry, you can't lose..."
"Mr. Jerry, you represent us Americans."
A foreigner also called out to Jerry, further inciting the crowd. The scene became very lively, even catching the attention of Kang Hongwen and his wife, as well as Wan Dongming, who were seated nearby.
However, Jerry, holding the two glasses of wine, felt extremely flustered. He looked at the glass in his left hand with a very unnatural expression. Facing the surrounding cheers, he was reluctant to drink.
Catching Jerry's expression, a hint of coldness flashed in Fang Yanxi's eyes.
Indeed, he was scum!
Seeing Jerry's prolonged hesitation to drink, Bart raised an eyebrow, seemingly realizing something. He looked at the wine in Jerry's left hand, feeling increasingly angry and anxious. But faced with the incessant cheers from the crowd, Jerry was in an impossible situation, unsure of what to do.
"Mr. Jerry, don't you gentlemen value chivalry? Are you going to lose to a woman like me?"
Fang Yanxi, suppressing her anger, maintained a smile on her face. With her slender jade fingers, she pointed to the glass in Jerry's left hand and said with a smile, "If Mr. Jerry is unable to hold his liquor, then you can drink this glass!"
"As for this glass of yours, I'll consider it a gift to Mr. Bart, and we'll drink it together."
Saying this, Fang Yanxi took the glass in Jerry's right hand and, with a smile, turned to Bart, whose expression had also changed, and said, "Mr. Bart, I'll treat you."
Bart looked rather unnatural, but he still managed a forced smile and raised his glass towards Fang Yanxi. The two then drank.
At this moment, Jerry was completely panicked. He knew what had been put into the glass in his left hand and the consequences of drinking it. He was furious and cursing inwardly, never having expected Fang Yanxi to pull such a move.
"Mr. Jerry, why aren't you drinking yet? Ms. Fang and Mr. Bart have already finished."
The surrounding crowd, unaware of the problem with the wine in Jerry's left hand, continued to egg him on, "That's right, if you don't drink, you're not a man..."
Seeing Jerry's darkening face and increasingly angry eyes, Fang Yanxi remained composed, maintaining a polite smile. She simply watched Jerry, waiting to see if he dared to drink that glass of wine.
"You!"
Finally, unable to withstand the jeers, Jerry knew that if he didn't drink the wine, he would lose all face. So, steeling himself, he angrily pointed at Fang Yanxi and said fiercely, "I'll remember you."
With that, Jerry downed the wine in his glass, shoved the glass at Bart beside him, gave Fang Yanxi another fierce glare, and turned to run out of the ballroom.
Fang Yanxi's red lips curved into a cold smile.
The surrounding crowd, confused, had no idea what had happened to Jerry.
"Miss Fang, I apologize on behalf of Jerry. I'm truly sorry." Bart sincerely apologized to Fang Yanxi.
"Mr. Bart, I do not need your apology."
Fang Yanxi's expression was cold as she said calmly, "Please pass on a message to Jerry for me: do fewer despicable and shameless things, or one day, heaven will punish him!"
Bart paused and nodded, "Alright, I will convey your message to Jerry."
Fang Yanxi nodded expressionlessly. Bart then nodded apologetically and turned to chase after Jerry, but just then, Wan Yunting arrived, and the two almost collided.