Chapter 77: I Will Take Responsibility for You

Xiao Na covered her face, her shoulders beginning to shake.

"S-sorry... Qin Ze... I... I misunderstood..."

"I thought you, you asking me to buy alcohol was because of that!"

Seeing her state, Qin Ze's anger subsided by more than half.

"Alright, stop crying."

He pulled out a tissue and handed it to her.

"Put your clothes back on first."

Xiao Na took the tissue, wiped her face, and frantically pulled her clothes back into place.

In the process, she caught sight of the condoms and medicine box on the coffee table, her face flushing with heat again as she quickly swept them into her bag.

"Qin Ze, I really... I really don't know how to apologize to you..."

"I just wanted this investment so badly, afraid you wouldn't invest, that's why I... why I let my imagination run wild..."

Qin Ze sighed.

"I've reviewed the project; it indeed has potential. I intended to invest anyway; it has nothing to do with you personally."

"Besides, we are classmates. Back when the class committee handled affairs, if I wasn't doing it, you were! If there's a door, we'll kick it open together!"

"How could I have those kinds of thoughts about you?"

"What kind of person do you take me, Qin Ze, for!"

Xiao Na lifted her head, her eyes red and swollen.

"Then... then will you still invest in me?"

"Invest!"

Qin Ze spoke with absolute firmness!

"But we must follow the proper procedures. After all, with an investment like this, if I'm not cautious, you won't feel reassured, right?"

"Tomorrow, bring all the documents and come to the hotel again; we'll sign the formal contract."

"While you're at it, bring the other key personnel of this project along too, so we can meet and discuss ideas!"

Xiao Ya nodded vigorously.

"Okay! I will definitely have everything ready!"

Qin Ze glanced at the time; it was already 6:40.

"I have other matters to attend to; you can go back first. Come over tomorrow afternoon at two o'clock sharp."

Xiao Na stood up and bowed deeply to Qin Ze.

"President Qin, regarding today's events... I am truly sorry."

"I, I will take responsibility for you."

Leaning against the sofa, Qin Ze looked at Xiao Na's serious expression and couldn't help but laugh.

"Take responsibility? How exactly do you plan to take responsibility for me?"

"I..." Xiao Na stammered, her face turning crimson, "I..."

She lowered her head, her fingers twisting together.

"I just feel that today I was the one who initiated it, I misunderstood your intentions, and even... even I..."

Xiao Na couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence.

Qin Ze waved his hand.

"Alright, don't overthink it. In the end, today you were the one who suffered the loss."

"If anyone should be taking responsibility, it should be me taking responsibility for you."

Qin Ze knew that acting had its limits!

If he continued pretending, he would be exposed!

"Just now, accidentally, your clothes got torn!"

"I'll transfer some money to you; go buy a few new outfits."

Voice just fell, the notification sound of a WeChat transfer rang out.

Xiao Na took out her mobile phone to look, her eyes widening.

Sixty thousand.

A full sixty thousand yuan.

"President Qin, this... this is too much..." Xiao Na hurriedly waved her hands, "I can't accept this..."

"Just take it if I tell you to," Qin Ze said in an unquestionable tone, "People under me, Qin Ze, cannot dress shabbily."

People under me, Qin Ze?

Xiao Na's pupils trembled; instantly she understood Qin Ze's meaning!

But recalling everything that had just happened fueled by alcohol!

Her inner heart quickly made a decision!

With her and Qin Ze, the wood had already become a boat!

Having reached this step, what harm was there in taking a few more steps forward!

Xiao Na bit her lip, hesitated for a few seconds, and ultimately clicked to accept.

"Thank you, Qin Ze..."

She glanced at Qin Ze once more, words catching in her throat.

"Qin Ze, I... I really am not that kind of casual woman. Today's events, I have never done such a thing with anyone else..."

"I know." Qin Ze nodded, "If you really were that kind of person, I wouldn't invest in you."

Xiao Na breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes turning red again.

"Then I'll head back first; I'll be here on time tomorrow afternoon at two."

"Mm."

Xiao Na picked up her bag, glanced again at the half-empty bottle of red wine on the coffee table, and hesitated for a moment.

"This wine..."

"Take it," Qin Ze said. "I won't need it tonight."

Xiao Na dared not say another word; she grabbed the wine bottle along with another unopened one and hurried out of the room.

The door closed.

Qin Ze leaned back against the sofa and let out a long breath.

What kind of mess was this?

He shook his head; just as he was about to get up for a shower, the system's alert suddenly rang in his mind.

【Ding! Host has spent sixty thousand yuan on SSS-rated target Xiao Na, triggering Special Cashback!】

【Reward: One entire floor of the Jiang City Center Building office tower! Land area: 830 square meters.】

【Property has been automatically transferred to the Host's name; a dedicated representative will contact the Host shortly to handle the relevant procedures!】

Qin Ze froze.

Jiang City Center Building?

That was the most bustling commercial hub in all of Jiangcheng! The lower eight floors housed a high-end shopping mall, while the dozens of floors above were all premium office spaces—a place where land was worth its weight in gold!

He had previously been worried about having no place to operate once the company was registered; now, problem solved—he'd been gifted an entire office floor!

And it was the thirtieth floor of Jiang City Center Building!

With Xiao Na as an SSS-rated woman, the Cashback she triggered was truly incredible!

Qin Ze took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

With this office floor, whether he launched a game company with Xiao Na or started his own security firm, the venue issue was now resolved.

He checked the time.

Six fifty.

Time to head out and pick up Jiang Xin.

Qin Ze walked into the bathroom, quickly showered, and changed his clothes.

Before leaving, a question occurred to him.

Previously, everyone's wishes had been concrete.

Shen Jingshu wanted a divorce; Lin Xiaoxi wanted to escape Wu Hao...

But Jiang Xin's wish was abstract.

"To obtain redemption."

What did that mean?

For someone to seek redemption, the premise was that the person had fallen into depravity.

So how exactly had Jiang Xin fallen?

Depression certainly wasn't the sole cause.

While waiting for the elevator, Qin Ze opened Jiang Xin's WeChat Moments.

Scrolling down a few posts, besides bank product promotions and event notifications, there were a few other things mixed in.

A photo of a church, captioned:

"Lord, please forgive my sins."

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

There was also a photo of a nightscape of the streets, with a very brief caption:

"Wanting to drink again."

Qin Ze now had an idea.

This Jiang Xin was a Christian.

In the mouths of Christians, redemption often meant feeling oneself dirty, sinful, and in need of cleansing.

So why would Jiang Xin feel herself dirty?

Furthermore, Qin Ze also intended to recruit Jiang Xin to work under him!

Because now he was launching two companies at once!

He indeed lacked a trusted insider who understood finance among his subordinates!

And he needed to ensure this person's loyalty to him!

Therefore, Qin Ze wanted to test this Jiang Xin!

Qin Ze stepped out of the elevator and, while walking toward the garage, called Jiang Xin.

The phone rang four or five times before being answered.

"Hello, President Qin?" Jiang Xin's voice sounded somewhat nervous.

"I'm coming to pick you up now; where are you?"

"I... I'm at home." Jiang Xin paused. "Shall I send you the address on WeChat?"

"Sure."

After hanging up, a location pin soon arrived via WeChat.

An old residential compound in downtown Jiangcheng City, about a twenty-minute drive from Fusheng Hotel.

Qin Ze started the car and merged into the evening rush-hour traffic.

Twenty minutes later, Qin Ze parked the car at the entrance of the residential compound.

It was an old-style compound with no underground garage; the roadside was packed with cars. The building looked aged, its exterior walls mottled, and the lights in the hallway flickered on and off.

Qin Ze dialed Jiang Xin's number.

"I've arrived, at the compound entrance."

"Please wait a moment; I'll come down immediately!"

A few minutes later, the unit door opened.

Jiang Xin walked out.

The instant Qin Ze saw her, he paused for a moment.

That afternoon at the bank, Jiang Xin had worn a dark blue professional suit skirt, looking capable and proper.

Now, Jiang Xin had completely changed her style.

She wore a tight black dress with a neckline cut very low, exposing large patches of fair skin and deep cleavage.

The dress featured a hip-hugging design, tightly wrapping her rounded buttocks, with a hem reaching only mid-thigh, revealing a pair of long, straight legs.

On her legs, she wore thin black stockings that shimmered with a faint luster under the streetlights.

On her feet were a pair of stiletto heels, the heels at least eight centimeters high.

Her hair was let down, cascading over her shoulders.

Her face bore heavy makeup; eyeliner outlined a charming curve, and her lips were painted with bright red lipstick.

Her entire person radiated a mature, sexy charm, making her look like a completely different person from the dignified Jiang Xin of the afternoon.

Yet her eyes darted about somewhat, daring not to meet Qin Ze's gaze directly.

"President Qin..." Jiang Xin approached the car and greeted him in a soft voice.

"Get in." Qin Ze unlocked the car doors.

Jiang Xin pulled open the door and sat in the passenger seat.

Qin Ze directly set the navigation for Cloud Bar!

Cloud was one of the most high-end bars in Jiangcheng, located on the top floor of the Jiang City Center Building.

This was also what Qin Ze had just seen while searching for office buildings!

Checking the group-buy deals, the consumption was not low, and both the view and atmosphere were first-class.

It just so happened that he also wanted to go see that floor of office space he had just acquired.

The car drove toward the city center.

All along the way, Jiang Xin remained silent, only occasionally stealing a glance at Qin Ze before quickly shifting her gaze away.

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped in the underground parking lot of the Jiang City Center Building.

Qin Ze and Jiang Xin took the elevator straight to the top floor.

When the elevator doors opened, the scene before her eyes made Jiang Xin widen her eyes.

The entire bar occupied the whole top floor; all four sides featured massive floor-to-ceiling glass windows, offering a panoramic view of Jiangcheng's night scenery.

Behind the bar was an entire wall of wine cabinets, displaying various famous liquors.

Macallan, Yamazaki, Hennessy, Louis XIII...

Just looking at them, one knew the prices were exorbitant.

A waiter dressed in a black suit approached politely.

"Good evening, sir. Do you have a reservation?"

"No, two people. Find us a quiet spot."

"Certainly, please follow me."

The waiter led them to a private booth by the window.

The sofa was spacious, with a low glass coffee table in front. After sitting down, the view aligned perfectly with the river scenery.

The waiter handed over the wine list.

Qin Ze glanced at it, then passed it to Jiang Xin.

"What would you like to drink?"

Jiang Xin took the wine list; inside was a handwritten menu of drinks, with prices frighteningly high.

A single cocktail cost three or four hundred, while a bottle of red wine easily reached tens of thousands.

She hesitated for a moment, then said softly:

"I... I'm fine with anything, President Qin, please order."

Qin Ze did not decline, saying to the waiter:

"Bring a bottle of Yamazaki 18 Year, on the rocks first. Then bring a few assorted snacks; you decide!"

"Very good, please wait a moment."

After the waiter left, only the two of them remained in the booth.

Outside the window lay a brilliant nightscape; inside, soothing music played under warm yellow lighting.

Jiang Xin placed her hands on her knees, sitting upright like an elementary school student in class.

"Relax." Qin Ze smiled. "We're just having a drink and chatting; no need to be so nervous."

"Mm..." Jiang Xin nodded, but still remained tense.

The alcohol arrived quickly.

Once the waiter had left, Qin Ze raised his wine cup.

"Come, let's clink glasses first."

Jiang Xin hastily lifted her wine cup, clinked it against Qin Ze's, then tilted her head back and took a large gulp.

The spicy bite of the whiskey slid down her throat, making her frown involuntarily.

"Drink slowly."

"This liquor has a high alcohol content."