The Cool CEO’s Ultra-Sweet Boyfriend - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Merely Making a Fool of Oneself

Around 5:30 PM, Xu Nanxin followed Jiang Yiyuan down to the underground parking lot. Ji Li was already in the car, sitting in the front passenger seat with the window rolled down. He turned his head and glanced at the two of them.

Seeing Ji Li, Xu Nanxin still greeted him obediently, “Hello, President Ji.”

He didn’t dare let his eyes meet Ji Li’s. Ever since discovering that Ji Li was actually Mr. Z, his nerves became more tightly strung every time they crossed paths.

“Mm.” Ji Li nodded slightly. “Let’s head out.”

Jiang Yiyuan seemed to notice Xu Nanxin’s tension. He patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, “Loosen up, don’t be so nervous.”

Has this kid been so traumatized by Ji Li that he’s got a psychological shadow? Why does he look terrified every time he sees him?

Fortunately, Jiang Yiyuan had his own car, so Xu Nanxin could ride with him. Otherwise, he would have felt like he was sitting on a bed of needles the entire way.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, Xu Nanxin followed closely behind Jiang Yiyuan as the waiter guided them to a private dining room on the second floor.

Once everyone met, they shook hands, exchanged a few pleasantries, and sat down together. The CEO from the opposing company had also arrived. He looked to be in his late thirties, of average height, and slightly plump, which actually gave him a rather prosperous and affluent appearance.

Accompanying him were the manager and the person-in-charge who handled direct communications with their team.

“Nanxin, this is President Yue,” Jiang Yiyuan introduced the CEO with particular emphasis. As for the other two, Xu Nanxin had likely met and dealt with them when he went out with the senior employees before, so there was no need for another introduction.

“Hello, President Yue.” Xu Nanxin stood up and greeted him politely.

“Ah, the people in your company really are all young and promising!” President Yue smiled, but his gaze only brushed past Xu Nanxin superficially. It was obvious that in his eyes, Xu Nanxin was nothing more than a minor assistant brought along for the ride.

“He’s just starting out, he can’t compare to your talented people, President Yue.” Ji Li replied to the compliment flawlessly, giving the other party plenty of face.

As toasts were exchanged around the table, Xu Nanxin was made to down several glasses of alcohol before they finally got down to business. Even so, it was much better than in the past. Usually, whenever they went out, they would have to drink past the point of tipsiness before formally diving into work matters.

Before this, Xu Nanxin had only tagging along to learn the ropes. Aside from occasionally needing to down a couple of glasses, he could act like a ghost most of the time. However, he had seen the seniors who came with him sneak off to throw up in the restroom multiple times.

He had fully prepared himself psychologically for this dinner, even stashing a few cartons of yogurt in his bag to prevent himself from feeling miserable if he drank too much.

To his surprise, the evening went much smoother than expected. Ji Li invisibly held complete control over the entire situation. He and President Yue appeared to be having a wonderful conversation, and only occasionally did he have the subordinates propose a toast. It unexpectedly gave off a profound sense of security.

Xu Nanxin couldn’t help but think of Mr. Z again. He remembered asking Mr. Z about it before, and the man had mentioned that he didn’t like alcohol and barely touched it in private, though it was unavoidable in professional settings.

Yet, as Xu Nanxin looked at Ji Li now—watching him lightly swirl the red wine glass with a cold, indifferent expression, tilting his head back slightly as the beautiful crimson liquid flowed into his mouth, his Adam’s apple bobbing with the swallow… Xu Nanxin subconsciously averted his gaze, his chest inexplicably tightening with a strange warmth.

The way Ji Li drank was detached yet alluring, carrying a kind of aesthetic restraint. It was as if alcohol to him was no different than water, not affecting his absolute sobriety in the slightest.

You really can’t tell that this person dislikes drinking at all! Xu Nanxin began to feel bewildered. Between Mr. Z and the current President Ji, which side was the real Ji Li?

Xu Nanxin’s gaze lingered on Ji Li far too obviously. Perhaps he was the only one who believed he was hiding it well, whereas Ji Li had actually noticed it from the very start. Though he pretended not to care, he felt it was time to give Xu Nanxin a warning.

Regardless of what intentions the youth might hold.

By the time the dinner banquet concluded, it was nearly 9:00 PM. Aside from Ji Li’s chauffeur, everyone else had consumed alcohol.

Jiang Yiyuan called for a designated driver and asked Xu Nanxin if he needed a ride back. Seeing that Jiang Yiyuan had also drunk quite a bit and that they lived in opposite directions—and it was quite a long way from here back to his own place—Xu Nanxin smiled and said he would just hail a cab.

After Jiang Yiyuan left, Ji Li also got into his car. Xu Nanxin let out a sigh of relief, just about to casually offer a “Drive safely, President Ji,” when Ji Li spoke first.

“Get in. I’ll drop you off.” His voice was cool and indifferent.

Xu Nanxin lifted his eyes, looking at Ji Li in surprise. Is the sun rising from the west today? But why did he get an inkling that nothing good would come of this? The man in the passenger seat was as cold as jade, his features handsomely sculpted, yet Xu Nanxin subconsciously took two steps back.

“Thank you, but I won’t trouble you, President Ji. I can just take a taxi back myself.” Xu Nanxin didn’t dare step foot into Ji Li’s car.

“I have something to talk to you about. Get in,” Ji Li said directly, completely bypassing any pleasantries.

Hearing the words “something to talk about” made Xu Nanxin’s scalp tingle. But since Ji Li had phrased it that way, it wasn’t right to refuse again. He could only steel himself and climb into the car.

Inside the vehicle, no one spoke a word after Xu Nanxin gave his address. He felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

Ji Li had claimed he had something to discuss, yet after getting into the car, the man remained entirely silent. He simply leaned back slightly against the seat, lightly pressing a hand to his forehead with a deep furrow between his brows, looking even more unapproachable than usual.

Observing him like this, Xu Nanxin found himself starting to believe that the man truly didn’t like to drink.

“I have some yogurt in my bag. Would you like some, President Ji? It might make you feel a bit better.” Xu Nanxin’s tone carried a hint of involuntary concern. Although he thoroughly disliked Ji Li, the moment he remembered that this man was Mr. Z, his heart would ache for him.

Humans truly were contradictory creatures sometimes.

Ji Li turned his head, lifting his eyes slightly to glance at Xu Nanxin, and declined the offer with an indifferent tone, “No need.”

Xu Nanxin: “…”

Fine, see if I ever poke my nose into your business again. Thus, he kept quiet and didn’t utter another word.

The car drove all the way until it stopped beneath Xu Nanxin’s apartment building. Unbuckling his seatbelt, Xu Nanxin said hesitantly, “President Ji, I’ve arrived. I’ll head out first.”

He couldn’t fathom what Ji Li meant. The man insisted he had something to talk about, yet hadn’t said a word the entire ride. Could it be he just wanted to be kind enough to send him home and merely fabricated an excuse?

To his surprise, just as he stepped out of the car, Ji Li followed him out. “Alright, we can talk privately now.”

Beneath the streetlights, their shadows stretched out long. The lights in this area weren’t particularly bright, and there was no anyone else around the building. As a gust of wind swept past, it inexplicably sent a shiver down Xu Nanxin’s spine.

Xu Nanxin had no idea what Ji Li wanted to discuss with him. Stripping away the hidden identity of Mr. Z, they weren’t familiar with each other at all; they were just ordinary superior and subordinate, and a rather estranged pair at that.