Chapter 131: A Post-Dinner Stroll and a Special Barbecue Set

The dinner was a success, with both host and guest thoroughly satisfied. Chen Luo and Wen Wan saw Chen Rui off at the entrance of the restaurant. Slightly tipsy, Chen Rui boarded the private car provided by Wen Wan and headed toward his hotel.

"Phew!"

Taking a deep breath, Chen Rui leaned back against the seat and loosened his tie. He had just made a decision that could potentially determine the life or death of his company, and the pressure was immense. However, his years of business instinct told him that this partnership might be a rare, golden opportunity.

He pulled out his phone, hesitated for a moment, and decided to call his vice president. The company's vice president was a 33-year-old powerhouse named Su Qiang. Although she was a stunning, mature beauty with a fiery physique, she had poured all her energy into her career, remaining single at her age. It wasn't that she didn't want a partner, but between her busy schedule and her high standards, she preferred to remain lonely rather than settle for less.

"Hello, President Chen? Calling me so late, is there something important?"

"Yes. Take the earliest flight tomorrow morning and bring the key staff from the operations department to Hangzhou immediately. I'll be waiting for you here."

"Huh? President Chen, is there a major project?" Su Qiang keenly sensed the gravity in Chen Rui’s tone.

"Exactly. We are going to enter into a partnership with Wanluo. Every project involved is of great significance. I'll explain everything once you arrive."

"Wait, the Wanluo Group? The same Wanluo Group belonging to the Wen family that I’m thinking of?"

"Yes!"

"Thud!" A muffled sound of a chair falling over came from the other end of the line.

"Hello! Su Qiang, are you alright?"

"I'm fine! President Chen, I’ll assemble the team right away. We'll be in Hangzhou by 10:00 AM tomorrow. Wait for me!"

"Beep, beep, beep!"

Listening to the busy signal, Chen Rui briefly thought about criticizing her lack of composure, but then he realized he hadn't fared much better when he first encountered this situation.

"What a terrifying young man," he mused.

Chen Rui himself was only in his thirties, and having built such a large enterprise, he was considered an industry leader. He had always harbored a sense of pride, but today, that pride had been shattered by Chen Luo, a young man not yet twenty.

"Looking back at the entire negotiation, I was essentially following his rhythm the whole time. It was a seamless trap, and I had no choice but to jump right in."

"However, the more I think about it, the less worried I feel. This is genuinely a desire to cooperate, rather than a forced takeover. After all, the capital he holds could crush me in an instant."

Chen Rui put his phone down and looked at the night view of Hangzhou outside the window. "I hope everything goes smoothly. A choice made when there is no other choice is perhaps the best choice."

***

At the entrance of the White Horse Hotel, Chen Luo patted his stomach and caught a whiff of the lingering scent of alcohol on his clothes. It had been a long time since his rebirth, and he wasn't quite used to such socializing. He looked at Wen Wan beside him and gently took her hand, their fingers interlacing.

"Wan'er, shall we take a stroll to digest?"

"Sure! Come to think of it, we haven't had a proper walk together yet." Wen Wan gripped his hand tightly, her face beaming with joy.

They walked along the sidewalk without a specific destination, chatting about mundane topics. From the cars speeding by and ignoring traffic rules to the subjects Chen Luo was studying and which ones were the most difficult, the atmosphere was surprisingly ordinary and warm. There was no scheming, no calculating of interests—just pure, unadulterated relaxation. They didn't let go of each other’s hands, laughing and talking as they walked an unknown distance.

"Ah!" Behind a bus stop, Wen Wan suddenly cried out and tipped to the side.

"Careful!" Chen Luo caught her. Looking down, he saw that the heel of her shoe had gotten stuck in a gap in the sewer grate, which had almost caused her to fall. Wen Wan rarely went out for walks like this, and having been distracted by their conversation, she hadn't paid attention to the ground.

Chen Luo crouched down and checked her ankle. It was slightly red, clearly sprained.

"Chen Luo, it's okay, it's just a small twist. I can still walk." Wen Wan sounded anxious. Normally, she would have called Mo Lan and the others to pick her up, but she didn't want to lose this precious opportunity. She didn't know when she would get another chance to roam the streets so leisurely with him.

"Alright, stop acting tough," Chen Luo said, slowly moving in front of her.

A look of disappointment flickered in Wen Wan's eyes, but she couldn't bring herself to protest. She lowered her head to hide her emotions, only to see Chen Luo squatting in front of her.

"Come on, hop on my back. We’ll keep going."

"Hehe, okay!"

Wen Wan jumped onto his back. A sudden, voluptuous sensation pressed against him, and Chen Luo nearly stumbled. Regaining his balance, he stood up, holding her high heels in his left hand while reaching back with his right to gently flick her nose.

"You could be a little lighter, you know. My back nearly gave out."

Wen Wan rested her head on his shoulder, feeling a sense of peace. "Hehe, it’s my first time being carried by you. I was just too excited!"

"Don't worry, I'll make sure to nourish your waist when we get back."

"Off we go! Giddy-up!"

Wen Wan started bouncing on his back as if she were riding a horse. The stunning, rhythmic sensation made Chen Luo’s heart flutter, and he quickly gripped her thighs to keep her from slipping.

"Alright, alright. Your 'steed of a thousand li' is starting up. Just remember to feed me enough fuel, dear."

"Don't worry, once we're home, there will be plenty of fodder for you. I'll make sure you're satisfied."

"Got it! Fasten your seatbelt, we're taking off!"

"Haha! So fast! Run! Keep running! Or I'll spank you!"

Chen Luo jogged quickly along the sidewalk with Wen Wan on his back. Their laughter filled the air. Passersby glanced at them frequently, but the two ignored the attention, continuing to play recklessly.

It was nearly 11:00 PM when they finally took a car back to the villa.

"Come on, my horse. I've prepared some special fodder for you."

"Uh, this is what you're feeding me?" Chen Luo stared at a table full of garlic oysters, grilled kidneys, leeks, and rows of energy drinks and Red Bull, falling into deep thought.

Wen Wan hugged him from behind, wearing a smile like a weasel eyeing a chicken, and patted his waist twice.

"Eat up. It's for your strength. You have a second journey to complete later tonight."

"It really is going to be a very challenging journey, isn't it?"

"That's why you need to eat more. The energy expenditure might be quite high."

Wen Wan let go of him, picked up an oyster, and held it to his lips with an expectant look.

"Eat! I'll eat! I'll eat it all!"