Novel Full Chapter 72: Chen Xiao is Very Capable
Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Chen Xiao is Very Capable
Gao Yue and Li Xiao laughed. "Miss Xu is in a different league from us when it comes to spending!"
Xu Wu added, "You two can’t drink at lunch, can you? You have to work this afternoon!"
She knew both of them could hold their liquor—they could each put away half a liter of baijiu and still be standing. She couldn’t outdrink them, and more importantly, she didn’t want to spend the money. So, she tried to find an excuse for them not to drink.
Li Xiao laughed. "Look at how we’re dressed. Do we look like we have to work? We both took the day off just so we could have a proper get-together with you this afternoon!"
Gao Yue chimed in, "That’s right. We’ll have a few drinks with you at lunch!"
Seeing she couldn’t get out of it, Xu Wu forced a smile. "Alright then, red wine, or...?"
Li Xiao said, "Let’s have baijiu. This is a Chinese restaurant; they won’t have any good red wine."
Xu Wu secretly rolled her eyes. ’You want the good stuff, too? With your tolerance, a few bottles of Wuliangye would set me back several thousand yuan. My heart aches just thinking about it!’
But she was in a bind, so she stood up. "I’ll go to the front desk and see what they have."
In reality, she could have just called for a waiter. However, the restaurant’s liquor prices were much higher than retail. If she went out to the front display, she could choose based on price. If she stayed in the private room and they happened to pick an expensive bottle, it would be awkward for her to say no.
Ugh. Only someone pretending to be wealthy knows the pain of actually being broke.
Chen Xiao watched their mind games from the sidelines, inwardly amused. He had a pretty good grasp of the situation: today was all about Xu Wu putting on a show.
And her two "friends" were here to feel her out, to see if the so-called elite Qingbei graduate was the real deal or just an empty facade.
Chen Xiao stood up. "I’ll go with you."
Gao Yue teased, "My, you two are practically inseparable!"
After the two left the private room, Li Xiao said to Gao Yue, "A sales director... how much could she possibly make? Do you really think she can afford to eat here regularly?"
Gao Yue replied, "Maybe it’s on the company’s dime."
"No way. Even on an expense account, you wouldn’t order those signature dishes for a regular client. It’s way over the standard entertainment budget!"
"Mm, let’s make sure we get some good liquor out of her. She’d better not come back with some cheap baijiu that only costs a few hundred yuan."
"Heh, you’re so wicked. You’re going to make her spend another few thousand."
Xu Wu looked at Chen Xiao, who had followed her out. "Chen Xiao, sorry you had to see that."
Chen Xiao just shook his head. ’What a tedious class reunion.’
Xu Wu was just making herself suffer to keep up appearances. If this were Zhao Xiangjun, she probably wouldn’t have even entertained them. Zhao Xiangjun was clear about who she liked and disliked, and she wouldn’t waste a single breath on people she couldn’t stand.
She couldn’t care less what others thought of her; she just focused on being herself and doing what she felt was right.
"Don’t bother with the front desk. Go get the baijiu from my car."
Xu Wu froze, then quickly said, "But I’m the one treating! How can we use your liquor?"
"Stop making yourself suffer just to save face. A meal like this will wipe out your entire salary!"
Xu Wu reflexively retorted, "Who are you looking down on? I have money!"
But then she remembered that he knew exactly what she was worth, and she couldn’t keep up the act in front of him.
"Enough nonsense. Go get the liquor."
Xu Wu pouted, feeling completely humiliated as she followed him. He opened his trunk and pulled out a whole case of Maotai.
She gasped. "You’re letting them drink something this expensive? Isn’t that a waste?"
Chen Xiao didn’t even bother to look at her. "And your 800-yuan-per-person meal isn’t expensive? At least this liquor is worth the price. The money you were about to spend would have been a complete rip-off."
When they returned to the room, Gao Yue and Li Xiao were stunned to see him carrying in a full case of Maotai.
"Miss Xu, you’re treating us to Maotai? How generous!"
Xu Wu gave an awkward smile, not sure how to respond. After all, she hadn’t paid for the liquor. With the real owner standing right there, she was too embarrassed to take the credit.
Chen Xiao spoke up. "Please, ladies, don’t hold back. She keeps a few cases of this stuff in her trunk year-round. Just drink it like it’s mineral water."
Xu Wu stared at him, shocked. ’He’s so good at bullshitting!’
Gao Yue and Li Xiao exchanged a look. ’Seriously? Is she really that loaded?’
Chen Xiao added, "She’s just used to drinking this. She can’t handle other kinds of liquor. One sip and she’ll throw up."
That wasn’t just throwing up; that was a "rich bitch" problem. The two women were actually intimidated.
After a moment, Li Xiao asked, "So, handsome, what do you do for work? Our Miss Xu is constantly surrounded by rich and handsome men, but we’ve never seen her bring one out before!"
"Me? I’m just a salesman."
’Was he telling the truth? A sales director bringing along a salesman... well, that didn’t seem out of place.’
Li Xiao could only force a laugh. "Well, you two must be great partners, both in life and at work!"
Xu Wu chimed in at the perfect moment, "Yes, Chen Xiao is very capable!"
Li Xiao and Gao Yue’s jaws dropped. When did Xu Wu get so bold? They had just called them "partners in life."
And now she’s saying he’s *very* capable? How capable? And for how long?
Chen Xiao nearly spat out his tea. ’I *am* very capable,’ he thought, ’but how would *you* know?’
As an innocent young woman, Xu Wu had no idea how many X-rated images had just flashed through their minds.
The two women felt they were losing this battle. Ever since they arrived, Xu Wu had stolen the show. She was tired of the signature dishes, she only drank Maotai, and her man was "very capable"!
Li Xiao said sourly, "Wow, I had no idea sales paid so well. My boss is always gaslighting me, saying my salary of 20,000 a month as the chairman’s secretary is already considered very high in Jiangzhou!"
Gao Yue chimed in, "Tell me about it! My income in real estate is considered pretty high, but it’s still only a few tens of thousands a month. I’d never dare to spend money like Miss Xu does!"
Xu Wu quickly tried to be modest. "No, no, I’m nothing special. My income isn’t much higher than yours."
She felt a pang of guilt, and when she noticed Chen Xiao looking at her, her heart grew even more uneasy.
She was even starting to think she shouldn’t have brought Chen Xiao along today. This was so humiliating. She’d never be able to face him again!
"You know," Li Xiao continued, "we all thought it was a waste of talent for a brilliant Qingbei graduate like you to be in sales. Several of our classmates from second-tier colleges who studied economics are now working at investment banks or hedge funds. They have prestige, and they have money! We actually felt sorry for you."
Xu Wu replied, half-sincere and half-acting, "Who wouldn’t want a great job like that? I just didn’t have a choice."
"Stop being so modest. Just the other day in the alumni chat, people were saying several investment banks have extended you an olive branch, but you’re still considering your options!"
Xu Wu’s face flushed red. Against her delicate features, it made her look exceptionally captivating. Chen Xiao watched her, a thoughtful expression on his face.
She didn’t dare look in Chen Xiao’s direction. She had never been so humiliated in her life!
’All the lies I’ve told are being exposed, one by one, right in front of him. This is mortifying!’
But unexpectedly, Chen Xiao chimed in, "I agree that sales isn’t the right fit for you. Playing with capital is more in line with your professional training."
She was furious but couldn’t show it. ’She knew that when Chen Xiao said she wasn’t a good fit, he was referring to her limited abilities as a salesperson!’
But to Gao Yue and Li Xiao, it sounded like Chen Xiao was saying that being in sales was a waste of her talent.