Chapter 1610

Chu Jingnan placed his wine glass down on the bar counter. The exquisite liquid rippled lightly in the Bohemia crystal glass, gently licking the sides of the glass and leaving dark red stains.

He watched Xia Ruya quietly.

She was just as poised and lovely as before, the quintessential lady of high society!

But she still lacked behind Wen Xinya in terms of elegance, talent, and strength of character.

He retrieved his gaze and said with an aura of debonair, “Oh? It looks like Miss Xia is very confident of her inside information.”

It was true he desperately wished to know the inner workings of the Zhishan Club. Nevertheless, it did not mean he would allow himself to be manipulated by Xia Ruya.

Xia Ruya was a poisonous lotus. Even Wen Xinya was highly guarded against her. He could not be without vigilance.

He must first understand Xia Ruya’s true motive for this partnership.

“Don’t you wish to know how Zishan Club and Lanxin Company are really linked?” Xia Ruya raised her eyebrows in faint surprise. She never expected Chu Jingnan to remain stubborn even as she dangled her bait right before his eyes.

Hence, she chose to point out directly what she had to offer.

She didn’t believe Chu Jingnan would really be able to hold fast.

As expected, Chu Jingnan looked very interested. “I naturally wish to know that. However, it depends on whether Miss Xia is willing to be generous and tell me.”

To be a high-level investment manager, one must first learn how to negotiate. He must always maintain complete control during the entire negotiation process and force the counter-party into a passive position. Only then would he be able to achieve a greater share of the benefits. Only then would the negotiations yield true success.

Chu Jingnan was obviously an old hand at this.

Interested but not flustered.

Xia Ruya was somewhat dejected. She felt like she had just delivered a limp punch into a bunch of cotton wool. “Tell me, should I call you Senior Chu or Mr. Chu?”

Xia Ruya was not someone who would easily compromise. Since Chu Jingnan had shown an ability to withhold, she could definitely match him breath for breath.

Although she didn’t know the art of negotiation, she instinctively knew how to manipulate people.

Chu Jingnan’s eyes flashed as he smiled nonchalantly. “Of course I hope that you can call me Senior Chu. This proves that we share a past together. Regardless of the circumstances, the friendship card can always be used. Perhaps Junior Xia is willing to show magnanimity in view of our past friendship?”

After so many years apart, Xia Ruya appeared to be even more crafty and secretive than before. She was one to watch out for.

Xia Ruya couldn’t help applauding Chu Jingnan’s cunning. She smiled warmly. “In that case, I shall call you Senior Chu, alright?” She leaned toward Chu Jingnan until their noses were nearly touching. “Senior Chu, the insider information I possess has to do with Wen Xinya!”

Her melodious, lilting voice had a teasing quality.

Chu Jingnan could almost detect a faint sickly sweet scent from the breath expelled through her lovely lips. A crack finally showed through his passive, jade-like face.

Xia Ruya knew she had won this fight. “It looks like even after so many years, Senior Chu remains devoted to Wen Xinya. I am so jealous!”

Her tone was gentle as if she was just making a joke.

But she herself knew it was no joke.

She was truly jealous of Wen Xinya.

Wen Xinya already had someone as formidable as Ninth Si by her side. But even after so many years, Zhong Rufeng continued to pine after her. Xu Zhenyu remained devoted to her. And now Chu Jingnan was also still obsessed with her!

Meanwhile, Xia Ruya had no one at all!

Zhong Rufeng was someone completely out of her reach. She admired him, but it never went beyond that.

Xu Zhenyu was someone she had always looked down upon. However, this guy had now become Country Z’s youngest colonel with a limitless future ahead of him.

Ninth Si was the man she wanted. She was willing to cast aside her pride and status to ingratiate herself to him. However, he treated her coldly, while directing his love and affections to Wen Xinya.

And now Chu Jingnan. He was someone she used to like and tried to win over at all costs. But he had fallen for Wen Xinya instead!

It was like in this world, all the great men would only have eyes for Wen Xinya. It was like any guy she liked and admired would eventually fall in love with Wen Xinya.

Wen Xinya could easily snatch away everything from her and leave her with nothing!

In fact, Wen Xinya had even destroyed her face and body!

Xia Ruya fell into a deep funk, completely unable to draw herself back out.

It had been eight whole years, and Wen Xinya had become a thorn so deeply embedded in her heart that it could never be plucked out.

Chu Jingnan observed her changing expressions and raised his brows in question. “Since Miss Xia wishes to work together, then please offer some sincerity.”

Over the course of this negotiation, the mention of Wen Xinya had thrown his heart into chaos and put him on the losing end.

In the end, the usually shrewd and astute Chu Jingnan was taken down by his feelings for a woman and agreed to cooperate with a poisonous lotus flower.

Chu Jingnan’s mood was grim.

Xia Ruya gradually snapped out of her dark cloud and smiled the gracious smile of someone who had won. “Does this mean Senior Chu is willing to cooperate with me?”

Xia Ruya’s dewy eyes were fixed on Chu Jingnan as if she was trying to see through to his soul.

Chu Jingnan was still devoted to Wen Xinya?

Ha…

She suddenly discovered that she was once again interested in Chu Jingnan!

Chu Jingnan steadied his flustered heart and said calmly, “Although it is a good suggestion for us to work together, I must first see how valuable Miss Xia’s inside information is.”

He might have sounded ambiguous, but Chu Jingnan had already revealed his willingness to cooperate.

This was Chu Jingnan’s biggest compromise.

Xia Ruya was also a smart person and knew not to push it. “Everyone knows Lanxin Company’s recipes all come from Du Ruo. But few people know Wen Xinya and Du Ruo have a very close relationship. Du Ruo more or less listens to everything Wen Xinya says. Moreover, Wen Xinya joined the Zhishan Club eight years ago.”

Wen Xinya joining the Zhishan Club—she had always kept this information close to her heart.

Although she didn’t know why Wen Xinya never told that Grampy of hers of her entry into the club, she was certain that Wen Xinya’s reputation would grow by leaps and bounds once news of this leaked out.

She was afraid of this secret being exposed, as it would prove to everyone that she had lost to Wen Xinya, and would never match up to her.

This was something she could never accept!