Chapter 117: Keeping a Polite Distance
Chapter 117: Keeping a Polite Distance
Yunlan Lake, Dragon & Phoenix Teahouse.
A light rain had fallen that morning.
Though the rain had now stopped, the sky was still overcast. A faint mist rose from the lake, blurring everything around into a hazy indistinctness.
Qin Jingye stood by the window in the teahouse’s top-floor private room, gazing at the lake view and lost in deep thought.
He was already over forty years old.
But he looked barely past thirty.
He was tall and well-built with thick black hair. His eyes were bright and sharp, his mature and handsome face marked by a look of firm determination.
Calling him a dream guy wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
The attractive female assistant sitting by the tea table occasionally stole admiring glances his way.
But the man in black sitting opposite the assistant seemed restless and uneasy.
This burly man had a square face, a bald head, and fierce, piercing eyes.
He held a teacup in his right hand, while the iron balls he fiddled with in his left hand spun nonstop, betraying his troubled state of mind.
“Damnit!”
Suddenly, the man in black slammed his teacup down hard on the table.
The jolt made tea splash out.
He cursed loudly, “Fifth Brother, aren’t you giving that kid too much respect? You actually came all this way to wait for him! I say we should teach him a lesson first, show him what our Qin Family—”
“What about our Qin Family?”
Qin Jingye abruptly turned around, his expression icy cold. “Do you think this is twenty or thirty years ago? Do you know how many people are watching our Qin Family right now? How many are searching for any excuse to cause trouble?”
“Do you want to hand them ammunition yourself?”
The man in black was instantly speechless.
He rubbed his head resentfully, muttering, “I didn’t mean it like that. I just feel wronged for you.”
“There’s nothing to feel wronged about.”
Qin Jingye’s expression softened slightly. “The things belong to him. Whether he sells them or not is entirely his freedom. Without showing some respect when asking for a favor, why should he give us any face?”
The man answered sullenly, “I just don’t think it’s worth it.”
“Ever since Third Aunt recovered from her surgery the year before last, her health hasn’t been right.”
Qin Jingye spoke almost to himself. “For two years, the old lady hasn’t slept well, hasn’t had an appetite. She has to drink bitter medicine every day, without seeing much effect.”
“Aunt treated me closer than her own grandson. Without her, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
“Shouldn’t I try to show her some filial gratitude?”
The man in black shut his mouth now.
Qin Jingye ignored him and continued, “A while back, I heard about this matter. Swallowing my pride, I begged Ga— treated a bit of wine just for her. After using it, Third Aunt felt much better.”
“So…”
He stared directly at the man in black. “Since you insisted on coming along, I didn’t kick you out. But if you ruin this…”
The man in black shivered involuntarily. He hastily raised a hand. “I’ll just watch! I won’t say a word!”
“Pfft!”
The female assistant beside him couldn’t help but giggle.
Qin Jingye shot her a glance. She blushed and stuck out her tongue sheepishly.
The atmosphere in the private room grew considerably lighter.
Tap tap!
Just then, someone knocked lightly on the private room door. “Mr. Qin, Mr. Gao is here.”
“Please come in,” Qin Jingye called out clearly.
The door opened, and Gao Jing stepped into the room.
Gao Jing had agreed to meet Qin Jingye at 9 AM. He had arrived at the Dragon & Phoenix Teahouse at 8:45 AM.
He had barely set foot inside before someone politely guided him upstairs.
His eyes met Qin Jingye’s as soon as he entered.
Qin Jingye broke into a warm smile and stepped forward, hand outstretched. “Mr. Gao, hello. I’m Qin Jingye.”
“Hello, Mr. Qin,” Gao Jing shook his hand.
As the saying goes, one doesn’t strike a smiling face.
Before coming to the teahouse, Gao Jing had steeled himself for a possible confrontation with the Qin Family.
But with Qin Jingye welcoming him so warmly and politely, could he really just start attacking right away?
“This is my assistant, Fu Meiling,” Qin Jingye next introduced the female assistant who had just stood up.
She gave a slight bow. “Hello, Mr. Gao.”
Gao Jing nodded. “Hello.”
“Please, have a seat.”
Qin Jingye’s attitude truly left nothing to be desired.
Gao Jing was somewhat surprised.
The man before him was a well-known member of the Jiangnan Qin Family, a top figure in the Jianghai Fund which managed over fifty billion.
He wasn’t quite what Gao Jing had expected.
Of course, Gao Jing kept his expression neutral. “Thank you.”
After sitting down, Gao Jing noticed Qin Jingye hadn’t introduced the man in black sitting beside him.
Qin Jingye acted as if he wasn’t even there.
Unavoidably, Gao Jing glanced at the man.
The man in black responded with a fierce glare.
Sensing the hostility immediately, Gao Jing’s eyes narrowed. An almost tangible pressure radiated from him, crashing back towards the man!
The man in black froze completely.
“Mr. Gao, please enjoy some tea.”
Qin Jingye personally poured Gao Jing a cup of hot tea. “The Provincial Capital has genuine pre-rain Dragon Well tea only at the Dragon & Phoenix Teahouse.”
He had completely missed the brief, invisible clash that had just happened between Gao Jing and the man in black.
But Qin Jingye’s female assistant seemed to have noticed something.
“Thank you,” Gao Jing said, picking up the cup and taking a sip. “Excellent tea.”
He kept his words sparse, determined to stay calm and watch how things unfolded this time.
Qin Jingye also took a sip of his tea.
Then he spoke bluntly: “Mr. Gao, frankly, I really need your Hundred-Fruit Wine right now. Name your price. Anything within reason can be negotiated.”
“Additionally…”
He said very sincerely, “Although I can’t represent the Qin Family, within the provincial capital, I know quite a few friends. If you ever encounter any trouble in the future and I can help, I absolutely won’t refuse!”
Gao Jing felt surprised again.
Because Qin Jingye was practically saying outright: Let’s be friends!
Though he clearly wanted something in return.
But at least his attitude was sincere, not a dishonest trick.
Seeing Gao Jing expressionless and silent, Qin Jingye quickly added, “Mr. Gao, please don’t misunderstand, I absolutely don’t mean any threat.”
He genuinely worried that Gao Jing might take it the wrong way; that would be really troublesome.
Fu Meiling, beside him, was stunned.
All along, Qin Jingye had been her idol.
Not only was Qin Jingye handsome and impressive in appearance, but his talent and abilities were also first-rate.
As a descendant of the Qin Family, he was proud too.
Even facing those of higher status, he remained respectful yet confident.
Fu Meiling had never seen Qin Jingye act towards anyone else as he was towards this man… like now…
This… extremely humble?
She couldn’t help but glance at the man in black, worried he might fly into a rage.
Instead, the man in black’s eyes were blank.
He sat completely motionless.
Assistant Fu felt something was off, but couldn’t pinpoint it.
Something was just plain weird.
Meanwhile, Gao Jing snapped out of it and smiled slightly. “Director Qin, I understand what you mean. Actually, the reason for meeting you this time was exactly to talk it over in person.”
He paused, then continued: “Because many people are requesting the Hundred-Fruit Wine, it puts me in a difficult position. My team has decided that going forward, we’ll auction off at least ten bottles of the wine every year.”
“So, I cannot promise you anything specific. Please understand this.”
Given the mounting interest in the Hundred-Fruit Wine, putting a portion up for auction…
…this was the best solution Gao Jing could currently think of.
On one hand, it diverted others’ attention; on the other, it maximized the benefits from the Mountain Ape Wine.
Qin Jingye was momentarily stunned.
He hadn’t expected this outcome.
But thinking about it, it seemed incredibly logical. If it were him, he’d probably do the same.
An auction is all about strength; it’s fair for everyone, young or old.
Qin Jingye asked decisively: “Then, when will this first auction begin?”
“In a few days.”
Gao Jing’s answer was perfectly smooth: “Once the auction house and date are confirmed, I’ll notify your office immediately.”
Qin Jingye’s eyes flickered. “Here locally?”
Gao Jing smiled. “Huhai (Magic City).”
Qin Jingye choked back his words.
The Qin Family commanded great prestige in Jiangnan.
But in Magic City (Shanghai), that name didn’t carry the same weight.
Huhai (Magic City) was a place of hidden depths and formidable players—countless forces rivaled the Qin Family, with many even stronger or bigger.
If he harbored any schemes against Gao Jing, carrying them out in Magic City would definitely be much harder.
Of course, Qin Jingye had no intention of playing tricks.
He just felt a bit… sour.
Gao Jing picked up his teacup and drained it. “Director Qin, thank you for the hospitality. We’ll meet again in Huhai.”
He had no interest in becoming friends with someone like Qin Jingye.
The internal workings of powerful families like the Qin were incredibly tangled—they could be very tricky.
Qin Jingye seeking to buy the Mountain Ape Wine probably involved its own complex history.
Why would an outsider like him dive headfirst into that murky water?
Better to admire it from a distance!
As for the Mountain Ape Wine?
Simple: just bid for it himself!
“Goodbye.”
Qin Jingye had no reason to hold Gao Jing back. He ushered him out, feelings in turmoil.
Returning to the private room, he found the man in black still sitting stiffly in the same spot.
It immediately struck him as odd. “Old Seven?”
The man in black managed to force out a smile—uglier than crying. “F-f-fifth brother. I’m fine.”
Qin Jingye: “…”
However he looked at it, the man did not seem fine.