Seeing Jiang Cheng shoot an icy glance toward Wen Ang.
Qin Fen immediately sidled over, slung an arm around Jiang Cheng's shoulder, and whispered, "Old Jiang, that look of yours could kill. What exactly is going on with you and Sister An? Every time I see you two making eyes at each other I get anxious for you—have you two already… in private…?"
Jiang Cheng gave a helpless smile. "Hey, hey—no rumors, no belief in rumors."
He issued the warning with perfect seriousness, then added with a grin, "Sister An and I are friends, at least for now."
Hearing the second half, Qin Fen shoved him in exaggerated disbelief. "Pfft—as if I believe that."
Wang Zheng chimed in, "You think Old Jiang's as unserious as you?"
"What's wrong with me? I'm still better than a lecher like you—look in the mirror before you talk."
After a quick exchange, the two tactfully turned the teasing back on themselves.
Although An Xin wasn't Jiang Cheng's woman yet, if he showed interest, a buddy's Girl was off-limits for jokes.
Otherwise it would be a slap to Jiang Cheng's face.
Jiang Cheng glanced at the Girl who had warmly wrapped her arms around Wang Zheng's neck.
Only a few drinks in and she's already nibbling his ear?
He couldn't help beckoning Wang Zheng over.
Wang Zheng reluctantly stood up and leaned in. "What's up?"
Jiang Cheng paused two beats, then said bluntly, "Old Wang, there are plenty of Girls here—how about we swap?"
Wang Zheng's grin froze on his face.
He suddenly remembered their last group bet.
After losing, he'd delivered milk tea to Jiang Cheng for a whole week.
Surely it couldn't be that freaky again?
"Old Jiang, you mean this is another white-top-black-bottom?"
Qin Fen caught on at once and burst out laughing.
"I say, Old Wang, just get married and spare Little Mushroom any future grief."
Chen Hao, leaning in, couldn't stop chuckling. "Old Wang, I see why your family keeps pushing marriage."
"Shoo, shoo—I'm super careful every time, and I get checked monthly."
Seeing Wang Zheng's life-is-meaningless expression, Jiang Cheng patted his shoulder. "Plenty of good Girls here—trust me, switching won't hurt."
Truth was, Jiang Cheng wasn't sure either; the privacy stat counted people, not frequency.
What if someone had a low body-count but sky-high total rounds?
He'd mulled over the bug for ages.
Still, fewer partners meant lower cross-infection odds.
Wang Zheng badly wanted to test fate.
But he feared spending the night depressed.
When that Girl had accidentally flicked his ear with her tongue, he'd been pretty satisfied with her skill.
"Old Jiang, how can you even tell? Give me some pointers. Oral talent's great, but if the rest can't keep up, the fun's half gone."
While the three muttered, Wang Congcong and Qi Yuan wandered over.
"Not drinking—what are you whispering about?"
The guys huddled together, giggling like schoolgirls, bursts of laughter erupting… After three rounds of drinks, Wen Ang came over to say goodbye before leaving.
He had a sexily dressed woman tucked under his arm.
Tipsy, he boasted, "By the way, when An Xin and I hold our wedding banquet, you'd all better show up."
Though he addressed the group,
his eyes were locked on Jiang Cheng—clearly the taunt was aimed at him.
Meeting Wen Ang's hostile stare,
Jiang Cheng suddenly found the man toxic.
Before Jiang Cheng could speak, Qin Fen cut in: "Buddy, sorry—don't know you well. I'm stingy; no gift for strangers."
Chen Hao laughed. "Haha, Brother Jiang and I share the same taste."
Qi Yuan was blunter: "Drunk? Then roll home. We're not close—who are you showing off to?"
Wen Ang wanted to retort to Qin Fen and Chen Hao, but Qi Yuan had spoken.
Everyone knew Qi Yuan's face; even Wen Ang didn't dare snap back.
Yet if he couldn't challenge Qi Yuan, that didn't mean he couldn't target Jiang Cheng.
Although a few insiders knew about the earlier clash between Jiang Cheng and Wang Hao,
to limit fallout it hadn't been widely circulated in their circle.
Right now Wen Ang saw Jiang Cheng as just another Second-generation rich kid from Chengdu.
As for the others?
Although Wen Ang was a bit drunk, he still kept some of his senses.
He glared at Jiang Cheng with a fierce look.
"Jiang Cheng, right? My name's Wen Ang. I've got nothing against the rest of them, but you—I really can't stand you. Remember that."
As soon as Wen Ang finished, Chen Hao, who was sipping Ace of Spades, couldn't help but spray it everywhere.
"Sorry, sorry, couldn't hold it in—just found it kind of funny."
Wang Zheng also shook his head helplessly: "Didn't expect such a hilarious scene tonight."
Jiang Cheng said helplessly to them, "Come on, do I really look that easy to bully?"
Qi Yuan looked at Wen Ang with exasperation: "I think there's something wrong with his head. Maybe, Boss Jiang, you should copy Old Wang and dye your hair white—might look fiercer."
Wang Congcong chuckled, "You're just too low-key, not as cocky as this guy Qi Yuan."
"These days pretending to be a pig to eat tigers is out of fashion. Still, Old Jiang, you've only been in Shanghai a short while; it's normal people don't know you. Just smack a few faces and your name will spread."
"Exactly—at first we all thought you were some hillbilly," Chen Hao added.
"Hey, hey, that's too much. Chengdu may not be as big as Shanghai, but it's hardly the boonies."
"Right, right, my bad—too much to drink, got carried away. I'll punish myself with three glasses."
Everyone chimed in; nobody took Wen Ang seriously.
It was a civilized society now, and they were all highly cultured rich folks.
Of course they wouldn't walk up and slap him just because of a couple of sentences.
Especially when the guy was a drunk nutcase.
Seeing no one respond, Wen Ang's face grew paler.
From their chatter it sounded like they held Jiang Cheng in high regard.
Could there be some benefit in Jiang Cheng that they absolutely had to curry favor with?
Now Wen Ang hesitated.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, Jiang Cheng spoke.
"Hold it. You've had your say and now you want to walk away?"
One sentence wouldn't drive Jiang Cheng to violence, but he wasn't a pushover either.
Wen Ang was annoyed to hear Jiang Cheng speak.
Yet he sensed Jiang Cheng's real status might differ from what he'd investigated.
To play it safe he decided to back down for now.
"Sorry, I was drunk and talking nonsense."
Jiang Cheng wasn't angry; he stood up. "Since you apologized, I'll let it go. But you came over twice tonight just to have some fun, right? Here, two bottles of baijiu on the table—on me. Drink up before you leave."
"You… I've already had too much, I can't."
Qi Yuan understood Jiang Cheng's intent and rose. "Boss Jiang's easygoing, but don't refuse his toast. Remember, not everyone gets to drink with him—seize the chance."
"Yeah, this is your opportunity, buddy—don't waste it," Wang Congconn added.
Qin Fen agreed with a smile: "Old Jiang just doesn't like bullying people. Next time watch your tongue; finish up and go sleep it off."
Wen Ang glanced at Qi Yuan's hand and then at the others, hesitating.
He knew he was outnumbered. He might disregard Qin Fen, Wang Zheng, and Chen Hao individually, but if their families ganged up, his own would suffer.
He drew a resigned breath; he had to yield for now.
He cursed his own rashness.
If not for the alcohol, the ever-cautious him would never have made such a mistake.
He grabbed a bottle and started chugging straight from it.
Inside he swore viciously: if tomorrow he found out they'd been bluffing, he'd make Jiang Cheng pay.
After two bottles of baijiu, Wen Ang had to be helped outside.
"Young Master Wen, don't bother with those roughnecks. Come on, tonight I'll show you a real good time."
"Who asked for your opinion? That shoe of a single mom with a kid actually fancies a punk like that—sooner or later I'll make them regret it."
Their words still reached Jiang Cheng's ears word for word.
As for An Xin, Jiang Cheng had no particular designs on her for now.
He just felt sorry for the naughty child.
With a stepfather like that,
she might really end up a missing person.
Watching Wen Ang leave with his arm around the woman, Jiang Cheng quietly used the Bad Luck Card from his system backpack on him.