Chapter 2962

After everyone had been served their drinks, Old Han raised his glass and said, "Mayor Xin, let's have a drink together. I hope we can cooperate happily this time!"

Old Han downed that glass of wine in one gulp. Xin Jing took a sip of tea, and Su Xinghui smiled slightly before also downing the wine in his glass in one gulp.

Old Han said, "Eat, eat."

After everyone had eaten a few bites, Old Han raised another glass of wine and said to Su Xinghui, "What is this little brother's surname?"

Su Xinghui said, "My surname is Su."

Old Han said, "So it's Brother Su. Let's have a drink together. Strangers become acquaintances after the first meeting; I hope we can become friends in the future."

Su Xinghui then drank that glass of wine with Old Han.

At this moment, Cheng Kaibin raised his glass to toast Xin Jing: "Mayor Xin, come, let me toast you."

Xin Jing picked up her teacup and nodded at Cheng Kaibin. Just as she was about to drink, Cheng Kaibin said, "Mayor Xin, are you really just going to drink tea? Isn't that being a bit too disrespectful? Wouldn't it be alright for you to drink some red wine?"

Xin Jing said, "Young Master Cheng, I am truly allergic to alcohol; I cannot drink it."

Cheng Kaibin said, "What if I insist that you drink today?"

Xin Jing's pretty face immediately stiffened. Su Xinghui smiled and said, "How about this, Young Master Cheng, I will drink a glass with you on behalf of Mayor Xin."

Cheng Kaibin already felt he had lost face, and now this "secretary" who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth wanted to drink with him on behalf of his leader. He immediately flared up: "And what kind of thing are you? What qualifications do you have to drink with me?"

Xin Jing's expression changed instantly. Just as she was about to flare up, Su Xinghui touched her hand lightly, telling her to stay calm. He was neither hurried nor annoyed, and said with a smile, "I certainly am not a 'thing'; I am a person. I suppose you, Young Master Cheng, are a 'thing'."

Cheng Kaibin's expression changed drastically. He stood up with a start, ready to fly into a rage. Old Han stood up, grabbed Cheng Kaibin's arm, and said with a smile, "Young Master Cheng, sit down, sit down. If Mayor Xin cannot drink, it's fine to let this Brother Su drink for her."

Old Han knew that if Cheng Kaibin really flared up, the project this time would definitely be ruined. Moreover, it was indeed Cheng Kaibin's fault this time; Cheng Kaibin had been the one to use harsh words first. Now that they were doing business, they couldn't just rely on power to suppress others.

Xin Jing was, after all, the Vice Mayor here, and the Vice Mayor in charge of urban construction at that. These projects all had to pass through her hands. As the saying goes, a local official is more important than a distant one. Even if Cheng Huangong had power, it was hard for him to reach here. If Xin Jing insisted on not giving them the projects, what could they do?

Judging by Xin Jing's expression just now, she was very concerned about this Secretary Su, and the behavior between Secretary Su and Mayor Xin was quite intimate. It seemed he was someone who could not be offended.

Although Cheng Kaibin was overbearing, he didn't know how to do business. Before coming to Baozhou this time, Cheng Huangong had told him to listen to Old Han in everything and not to mess things up. Therefore, since Old Han had said so, he could only sit back down indignantly.

However, he hated Su Xinghui to the bone. When had he, Cheng Kaibin, ever suffered such indignity?

Moreover, he had also seen Su Xinghui's action of touching Xin Jing just now. When she was touched by him, Xin Jing was as obedient as a little kitten, which made Cheng Kaibin burn with jealousy.

Although Xin Jing was nearly twenty years older than Cheng Kaibin, Cheng Kaibin loved this kind of mature woman the most. Xin Jing was both mature and beautiful, possessing a charm that young girls lacked.

Cheng Kaibin had been somewhat captivated by Xin Jing the moment he saw her today. His life had been too smooth; no matter what kind of woman it was, they would automatically throw themselves into his arms. Thus, he had fantasized about gaining both wealth and beauty in Baozhou. He hadn't expected to encounter Xin Jing's cold shoulder, which gave him a deep sense of frustration.

Cheng Kaibin looked at Su Xinghui coldly with a sinister gaze. In his mind, with his father's power, dealing with a little secretary like Su Xinghui would be as easy as crushing an ant, wouldn't it?

Old Han acted as if nothing had happened. He drank with Su Xinghui, which counted as an apology. Su Xinghui didn't take offense and drank with Old Han casually.

With his experience, it was naturally impossible for him to get angry at a spoiled brat like Cheng Kaibin, so he appeared very calm and composed.

Su Xinghui's calm and composed demeanor made Old Han feel that something was unusual. He felt that this young man's identity wasn't that simple; he feared he wasn't just a secretary. However, he didn't ask directly, just drinking with Su Xinghui and having his own subordinates toast him.

After three rounds of drinks, the private room door was knocked on, and then pushed open. It turned out to be Li Shuangli, the owner of the Baozhou Hotel, who had brought a bottle of wine to toast them. This was Li Shuangli's habit; for any guest who booked such a luxury private room, he would come to toast them.

Li Shuangli said with a smile, "Excuse me, I've come to toast everyone."

Before he even reached the table, he saw Xin Jing, and he quickly said, "Mayor Xin is here too."

Immediately after, he saw Su Xinghui sitting beside Xin Jing. His expression stalled for a moment and looked a bit ugly, but he immediately piled on a smile and said, "So Mayor Su is here too."

Xin Jing and Su Xinghui both nodded at him indifferently. After all, Li Shuangli was also a member of the Municipal CPPCC, and since he had come to toast them, the two couldn't be too arrogant.

Li Shuangli's address of "Mayor Su" made the expressions of Cheng Kaibin and Old Han change. This young man was actually a mayor? Of course, he couldn't be the Mayor, but a Vice Mayor was shocking enough. He looked to be at most around thirty years old.

Li Shuangli walked closer to the dining table, holding his wine glass, and said, "You are all honored guests. My capacity for alcohol is limited, so I will have one drink with everyone. I will finish mine, and you all please drink as you wish."

The waiter who came in with him introduced his identity. Old Han was a businessman, and upon hearing that Li Shuangli was the owner of this Baozhou Hotel, he didn't dare to be negligent. He stood up and drank a glass with Li Shuangli.

Xin Jing and Su Xinghui also stood up and took a casual sip. Of those present, only Cheng Kaibin remained sitting there carelessly, touching his lips to the glass without drinking.

After Li Shuangli finished toasting, he said with a grin, "Please enjoy your meal, everyone. I will have the kitchen send over two more signature dishes."

After Li Shuangli went out, Old Han said, "So you are Mayor Su. We have been disrespectful. Come, let me toast you again."

Su Xinghui smiled faintly and said, "I was the one being presumptuous today. I came here uninvited."

Old Han felt a bit awkward. In fact, logically speaking, seeing Su Xinghui come with Xin Jing, he should have asked about Su Xinghui's identity. However, he had made a preconceived judgment; seeing Su Xinghui so young, he felt Su Xinghui must be Xin Jing's secretary, so he hadn't asked.

Now, he could only try his best to make up for his discourtesy toward Su Xinghui.