Chapter 16 Zhai Shenshen
That night after 8 o'clock, Mr. Yan attended a wine tasting event, which was the first time Gu Qinglan wore a proper Western suit.
The navy blue suit, with a nipped waist and slim fit, was fairly light and comfortable, with a narrow lapel. It was a foreign brand - Ted Baker. The light blue tie complemented it well, giving a light and gentlemanly look. Mr. Yan said it was reimbursable, making Gu Qinglan feel less guilty about it.
The attendant seemed to have tied the tie a bit too tightly, but the introverted Gu Qinglan didn't point it out, so he had to sit upright the whole way and kept wanting to cough.
He wanted to loosen the tie, and Mr. Yan said, "Come here."
Gu Qinglan moved to the opposite seat, and the smooth ride of the car made it feel as if there were no bumps at all.
Mr. Yan turned to him and helped him fix the tie, his fingers nimble and strong. Occasionally, his knuckles would brush against Gu Qinglan's chin, the warmth lightly grazing the edge of his jaw. Gu Qinglan saw Mr. Yan's gaze lowered, completely focused, his eyelashes fluttering slightly.
Gu Qinglan gazed at him, dazed. The tie was just right, when Mr. Yan suddenly reached out and brushed his neck on the left side, right where his scent gland was. Gu Qinglan stiffened a bit.
Mr. Yan's eyes deepened, reflecting the shifting colors outside the window.
Gu Qinglan also touched his neck, but there was nothing there. He had forgotten to wear the transparent scent patch today, narrowly avoiding detection.
Is Mr. Yan suspicious? I'll have to be more careful from now on, Gu Qinglan thought.
He asked Mr. Yan, "Won't a bodyguard wearing such an expensive suit stand out too much?"
Mr. Yan's fingers lightly tapped the dark gray leather upholstery, and he smiled, "Wait until we get there, then you won't say that."
Gu Qinglan didn't understand his meaning - he had simply asked to change the topic.
It was only when they arrived that Gu Qinglan understood Mr. Yan's words. In the upper echelons of society, the elite and the erudite, every detail of their appearance was meticulously designed, and every inch of fabric on their bodies was crafted to the highest level. For him to be dressed appropriately for his status was only natural.
Gu Qinglan's inner self was cowering in the corner, wishing he could slap himself.
The wine tasting was held in a semi-open square, which seemed a bit shabby. It was likely designed to eliminate any external factors that could affect the wine tasting, so the setup was kept as simple as possible. Most of the attendees were gentlemen, gathered in groups of three or four, discussing topics Gu Qinglan didn't understand.
The organizers began serving the first wine, a pale yellow dry white wine, and a new wine was brought out every 15 minutes, progressing from white to red, dry to sweet, light to full-bodied. The various wines were neatly arranged on tables covered with white tablecloths. Gu Qinglan didn't know much about wine, but Mr. Yan hadn't gone to pour any yet.
Gu Qinglan could only wait by a nearby pillar, silently observing. Among them, he saw the most dazzling businessman, or rather, he seemed more like a noble young gentleman of old.
His features were strikingly handsome and refined, his jet-black hair neatly arranged at the temples, exuding a soft luster. His complexion was naturally pale, his slate-gray eyes like a mirror lake just thawed from winter, a mole hidden at the corner of his eye. His thin, narrow lips were pursed, not revealing the slightest emotion. His figure was proportionate, wearing a spotless white suit without the buttons fastened, a pure white inner lining, and a blue striped tie. The light from the crystal lamps made his eyes flicker between visible and hidden, lacking the cunning of a businessman but with an aloof pride, truly the appearance of a noble young master.
Gu Qinglan heard the others addressing him as Mr. Zhai.
Gu Qinglan watched for a while, but the gentleman's expression remained unchanged from start to finish. He didn't join any groups, nor did he chat with the others like they did. He simply held a glass of crimson wine, seemingly unconcerned with the drink in his hand.
When the clock struck the start time of the wine tasting, it had already been going on for 20 minutes.
Many people seemed to be waiting for Mr. Zhong's arrival, and his refined and elegant demeanor immediately drew a number of people to clink glasses and converse with him, as if they were all well-acquainted.
Mr. Zhong's smile was always polite and heartfelt, the curve of his lips changing smoothly and naturally, his tone calm and tranquil, never giving the impression of being contrived or intentionally flattering. Therefore, regardless of whether they had business dealings with AL Company, everyone was happy to interact with him - the most important factor being that he was good-looking.
After arranging accommodations for Jiang Zhige, Mr. Zhong immediately drove here, but before he could even taste the wine, he was surrounded by people. He felt quite thirsty, as the wine selection had already reached six or seven varieties, with each table having little left.
Mr. Zhong hadn't decided which table to choose from when he heard a cold voice say, "This Clairette is quite delectable, you can try it."
Mr. Zhong looked over, slightly surprised: "Thank you."
Although he didn't particularly like sparkling wines, he still picked up a glass of Clairette.
Zhai Shenshen tilted his head slightly and said, "I was just suggesting that you don't have to listen to my arrangement."
Mr. Zhong replied indifferently, "Regardless, all the wines on the table tonight are worth savoring and appreciating."
Seeing Zhai Shenshen's raised eyebrow and sidelong glance, Mr. Zhong knew he was about to make a sarcastic remark. Sure enough, Zhai Shenshen's flat voice said:
"No matter which wine or which person, none can possibly suit everyone's taste. Only you, Mr. Zhong, are truly different, friendly to all and resourceful."
Mr. Zhong seemed to have already gotten used to his sarcasm, just smiling slightly and draining his glass.
Zhai Shenshen also tilted his head back and drained the red wine in his glass, the light shining on the graceful curve of his throat.
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