Seeing that Jiang Cheng ignored him, the expression on Xu Zhi's face instantly froze.
He lowered his head to conceal his grim expression. After gritting his back teeth, he took a sip of wine.
The people in the booth looked curiously toward Jiang Cheng and his group when they saw Xu Zhi's actions.
"Little Xu, do you know them?"
"Who is that person in the middle? I don't recognize him, but isn't that Shen An next to him?"
Being called Little Xu by two people younger than himself, Xu Zhi was not only unfazed but replied with a hint of flattery: "The one in the middle, I only know his name is Jiang Cheng. I heard he has a significant background in Kyoto."
That's right. Ever since Jiang Cheng messed with him last time, Xu Zhi had been trying to dig up Jiang Cheng's identity, but unfortunately, his rank wasn't high enough, and no matter how much he checked, he couldn't find any real information.
By bringing it up now, he actually wanted to use the two people present to gain some information about Jiang Cheng.
After all, these two were considered second-generation elites with some background in Kyoto.
As soon as Xu Zhi said this, both people simultaneously turned their attention back to Jiang Cheng.
However, after staring for a couple of seconds, neither of them recognized Jiang Cheng.
Whether they recognized him or not, they were all people with deep composure and didn't let any expression show on their faces.
Seeing that Shen Shuang's expression was unpleasant when she saw Xu Zhi, Jiang Churan immediately leaned over and whispered, "Sister Shuang, are you okay? If this is difficult, maybe we should leave first?"
Jiang Churan knew that Shen Shuang's family relied on the Company for a lot of business. She worried it would affect Shen Shuang when she refused Xu Zhi last time, and seeing the situation repeat, she grew even more concerned.
Shen Shuang glanced at Xu Zhi again and said helplessly, "It's fine. He wouldn't dare come over, and besides, I'm sitting right next to the Big Boss. What can he possibly do to me?"
"So that's the guy who asked Chu Ran out to a hotel before??" Xu Yan looked over and continued, "He looks pretty normal. I thought he was some middle-aged man. But normal is normal, he still can't compare to Jiang Cheng. Chu Ran, it's a good thing you held back then."
Hearing this, Shen Shuang joked, "Haha, if Xu Zhi hears that, watch out, he might ask you out to a hotel tonight. Your chest is too eye-catching..."
Hearing this, Xu Yan immediately covered her chest tightly.
The conversation reached this point, and Xu Yan suddenly changed the topic, turning to Ranran and asking, "Ranran, I'm really curious, what does it feel like to be a woman?"
Seeing Xu Yan suddenly ask such a question, Jiang Churan's face instantly flushed. She quickly glanced at Jiang Cheng and shyly replied, "It just hurts a little..."
Hearing this, Xu Yan's expression grew even more gossipy: "Wow, besides the pain, what other feelings are there?"
"Aiya, Yan Yan, if you want to know, why don't you try it yourself..."
"I'd like to, but who am I supposed to try it with?"
While the girls were chatting happily, Xu Zhi walked over, holding a glass of wine, wearing an impeccable, even slightly humble smile.
"Brother Cheng." He greeted, keeping his posture very low.
However, when his gaze inadvertently swept over Jiang Churan, who was sitting right next to Jiang Cheng, the smile on his face froze at a visible speed.
His pupils slightly contracted in shock, and the fingers gripping the wine glass tightened subconsciously.
He never expected to see the woman he once coveted but could never obtain, here and in this manner again.
And her current identity was clearly Jiang Cheng's female companion.
A mixture of jealousy, embarrassment, and fear suddenly seized him.
Strictly speaking, Jiang Churan was the first woman who truly defeated him regarding the 'woman' issue.
That's why Jiang Churan left an extremely deep impression on Xu Zhi.
Although today was a coincidence.
But for a narrow-minded person, at this moment, he only felt that everyone present was acting against him.
A sense of offended indignation uncontrollably surfaced.
To prove his own thoughts, his gaze immediately fixed sharply on Shen Shuang's face, like a cold probe.
Locked onto by Xu Zhi's scrutinizing and oppressive gaze, Shen Shuang's back instantly straightened.
The previous ease was completely gone from her face, replaced by obvious panic and distress.
She subconsciously avoided Xu Zhi's direct gaze, her eyes flickering, her lips slightly parted as if she wanted to explain something, but she couldn't utter a single word.
The hands resting on her knees unconsciously clenched the hem of her skirt, and her entire demeanor revealed the immense pressure of "not being able to offend either side."
Xu Zhi was an extremely shrewd man. Shen Shuang's timid, hesitant manner, and her refusal to meet his gaze, actually made him feel a little better.
The fact that Shen Shuang still feared him indicated that the lingering prestige of his Xu Family, the former richest family, remained.
And Jiang Churan being able to sit next to Jiang Cheng was definitely not something Shen Shuang could influence; it could only be Jiang Cheng's will.
The atmosphere in the booth subtly froze for a moment.
Fu Yang and Jiang Xin exchanged glances, and neither of them took the initiative to greet Xu Zhi.
Shen An, meanwhile, watched him with a forced, insincere smile.
Jiang Cheng didn't stand up; he merely raised his eyelids lazily and glanced at Xu Zhi.
He then picked up his wine glass, casually gestured with it, and took a small sip, an action full of condescending disregard.
Being treated so lightly, the smile on Xu Zhi's face stiffened for a moment, but he immediately recovered, tilted his head back, and drained the wine in his glass.
Then, wearing a humble smile, he bowed and left Jiang Cheng's booth.
However, after leaving, he did not return directly to his own seat. Instead, pretending to take a call, he subtly moved behind a decorative pillar not far from Jiang Cheng's booth.
The reason he didn't leave was that just before going, he heard Jiang Cheng seem to be discussing Love Book and a certain topic with them.
From this angle, he could faintly catch snippets of the conversation over there.
In the booth, Jiang Cheng watched Xu Zhi's retreating back.
He deliberately remained silent for a few seconds, creating the atmosphere that serious matters could only be discussed after Xu Zhi left.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he spoke to Shen An in a seemingly casual tone, but with a volume loud enough for anyone listening closely to hear:
"An-zi, we were just talking about Love Book... Their 'Metaverse' strategy, scheduled for the day after tomorrow, will be released early, before the market opens. What do you think about this?"
Shen An caught the look Jiang Cheng gave him and immediately understood.
He immediately played along, adopting a tone of worry and skepticism:
"Brother Cheng, I was just about to talk to you about this! I feel like something's off. This news came too suddenly. Could it be a smokescreen released by the other side? Just to lure us in, then drive up the stock price when the market opens and liquidate us short sellers? The risk is too high!"
At this moment, Fu Yang, who was nearby, also opportunely joined in to enhance the atmosphere:
"That's right, Brother Cheng. An-zi makes sense. The market is too tense right now. What if it's a trap?"
Listening to their words, Jiang Cheng curled his lips into a confident, slightly arrogant smile.
"Hmph, what is there to be afraid of? In the financial market, it's all about the thrill! The bold get rich, and the timid starve!"