1051 Perplexed and Smitten 111 (2/2)

\”Ms. An is here.\” A man speaking fluently in a foreign language stood up.

This was a successful man wearing a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles. He looked ordinary, but his body was fit and well maintained. It seemed as if he worked out quite often.

An Xiaoning replied to him in the foreign language fluently, \”Nice to meet you, Mr. Benson.\”

\”Take a seat.\”

\”You too.\”

An Xiaoning had wanted to begin discussing the business deal with him, but she did not expect him to say, \”Ms. An, let's chat and drink first. It's not too late to talk about business later. Let's first have a drink.\”

She took the drink from him but did not drink it. Instead, she replied, \”Mr. Benson, let's finish talking business first before we drink. That way, I'll feel much more assured. What do you think?\”

The smile on his face faded. \”How about this, let's have two or three glasses first, okay?\”

An Xiaoning nodded and thereafter proceeded to open the bottle of wine that was unopened. Raising the bottle, she simply drank two mouthfuls from it.

Upon the sight of this, Benson complimented, \”People who can drink from the bottle must be able to hold their liquor well.\”

\”Not really.\” She placed the wine bottle down and went on, \”I can't really hold my liquor well, that's why we have to talk business while I'm still sober. If not, I won't be able to do so anymore when I'm drunk.\”

Upon hearing that she could not hold her liquor well, Benson's eyes sparkled and he raised his glass and said, \”Come, drink some more.\”

An Xiaoning clinked his glass before drinking another two mouthfuls. She then decided to stop drinking.

Thereafter, when the two were discussing the business deal, they both had no problems with it.

\”Mr. Benson, since you have no complaints either, I've brought along the contract. You can sign it, and we can continue drinking. What do you think?\”

\”I'll sign it, of course I will. It's just…\” He got up and went to sit directly beside An Xiaoning. With his mouth reeking of alcohol, he said with a wide grin, \”Ms. An, I have something I don't quite understand. I wonder if you could answer a question of mine?\”

\”What question?\”

\”You and Jin Qingyan are already divorced, but why are you running the Jin Corporation? I'm not the only one concerned about this, many people are curious as well. Can you tell me the reason?\”

\”You and many other people are curious. Doesn't that show that if all of you were Jin Qingyan, not only would you not let your ex-wife wield power over the company, but you will also give her as little of your assets as possible?\”

\”That's why we're all curious. What exactly is the reason?\”

\”It's a pity because I won't tell you. Business is business. If you want to know about even the internal affairs of other companies, that's quite silly, don't you feel? So what if you know or don't? Don't tell me that if you know the reason, it'll allow your company to reap huge profits? Mr. Benson, I don't think that's the case, right?\”

\”Of course. I'm just curious personally.\”

An Xiaoning flashed him a grin and pointed to the contract on the table. \”Then, Mr. Benson, you should probably sign it quickly, right?\”

\”Ah, you're so boring.\” He leaned against the sofa with both his arms resting on it as well. With one arm placed behind An Xiaoning, he remarked, \”I heard you're a woman with quite a character, but after interacting with you for some time, I feel like that's not the case, is it?\”

\”Whether I'm a woman with quite a character or not has nothing to do with our business cooperation. Mr. Benson, we met here tonight to discuss business, not to explore other issues. If Mr. Benson thinks that I'm boring, please make a trip to Jin Corporation tomorrow and I'll send someone else to discuss with you. What do you think?\”

Her words had just landed when the arm Benson had placed behind her suddenly landed on her shoulder. \”Women shouldn't be too domineering. If you're docile like a little lamb, men will like you more. Our negotiation can also proceed more smoothly.\”

An Xiaoning turned her head to her side, her gaze landing on her right shoulder.

\”Take it off.\”

Not only did he not take off his hand, he even tightened his grip on her shoulder. \”What's the big deal with a hug?\”

She immediately stood up and shrugged his hand away, turning her head to cast a stern glance at him. With her tone turning colder, she remarked, \”Not everyone is for you to hug.\”

Benson stood up as well and sneered, \”It's not like you're still a seventeen or eighteen-year-old virgin. Why're you acting all high and mighty?\”

An Xiaoning detested these words he said and raised her hand to give him a slap on the face. There was a look of alarm on the man's face instantly.

He was obviously well trained in martial arts and easily pushed An Xiaoning down onto the sofa, thereafter picking up the bottle of wine that An Xiaoning had barely drank.