Xiao Long put down his wine glass. Because of drinking, his lips were red and his eyes were slightly squinted. Because his facial features were as deep as those of a European, his expression was quite attractive.
"Speaking of which, I have been the director of this hospital for several years."
"Yeah?"
"For the position of dean, my qualifications are not deep enough. However, I have gradually matured and become more calm."
"Regarding your experience," Xiao Long's gaze returned to Cheng Mingxiang's face, "I just recently learned that you have also had a hard time."
"However, I have forgotten the unpleasant past." Cheng Mingxiang lowered his head and said.
"Really?" Xiao Long nodded, "So put all your energy on work."
"Oh, I feel very embarrassed when you say that. My work is not worth mentioning at all."
"In any case, it's not bad to devote yourself to work. Besides, it's not easy for you to live independently in addition to rejecting all kinds of temptations!"
"Oh, you were so good at talking last time that I accidentally told my secret. Please forget about those things. I feel so embarrassed when I think about you still remembering them."
Cheng Mingxiang was chatting with Xiao Long, but she was wondering why Xiao Long came out to her. Could it be that it was just as he said, just to thank her for chatting with him before? This shouldn't be his original intention, there must be something going on inside. The proprietress of "Fangxian Hotel" and Xiao Long seem to have reached some kind of tacit understanding. The matter will not be so simple that the proprietress will agree to her coming just because of Xiao Long's entrustment. There must be some hidden secret in this.
Cheng Mingxiang felt that she was falling into some conspiracy set by Xiao Long. As for what it was, she couldn't figure it out yet. The show seemed to be about to begin. If she didn't wait a moment, the person involved wouldn't be able to find out what happened.
"How is it? Does it taste good?" Xiao Long asked when he found that Cheng Mingxiang only had half a glass of wine left.
"Well, it's very sweet...and delicious."
"Since it suits your taste, would you like another drink?"
"Keep drinking? Won't you get drunk?"
"No way...there is better wine."
"Oh, I'm so lucky to have tasted so many high-end wines."
"You're welcome. If you have time, I'd like to invite you here more often!"
"Thank you! But it's nothing important. It's not convenient for you to treat me here." Cheng Mingxiang took this opportunity to test the other party's purpose.
"Whatever you say, I don't care. This kind of restaurant is a good place to come and relax."
"But won't it delay your work?"
"Although I sit in the position of dean, I also like to take a break from my busy schedule and come here to relax from time to time."
"If I came here often, I would get scolded by the landlady."
"Don't worry about this, I will say hello to the landlady."
There must be something hidden in it. Just now the foreign couple was sitting in the corner of the counter chatting. At this time, the door was suddenly pushed open, and a new customer walked in. He was a man over sixty years old, carrying a large suitcase.
"Welcome!" The two bartenders raised their heads and bowed to him.
"Hi!" The new guest greeted Xiao Long, sat down on the chair next to him, and put the suitcase on the chair next to him.
"Xiao Long, how are you doing?"
Xiao Long walked up to the old man, straightened the collar of his coat, buttoned up the buttons, leaned over and greeted the old man: "You are back."
Cheng Mingxiang looked at the old man. His half-white hair was neatly combed, and his sharp eyes were embedded in the deep eye sockets. His cheekbones were prominent, his cheeks were sunken, and his chin was slightly pointed. Because his head is so big, his face is shaped like a big bowl. Cheng Mingxiang observed the expressions of Xiao Long and the bartender, and intuited that the old man might be a frequent visitor to the hotel. In addition, the other party greeted Xiao Long in a familiar and informal tone. They should be very familiar with each other, and the suit he was wearing was also Very decent.
"Give me the one I always drink."
The old man raised his chin to signal to the bartender, who respectfully took a bottle of cognac from the wine cabinet.
"Xiao Long, is there anything new recently?"
"No," Xiao Long smiled, "Don't I want to ask you something new? Are you still very busy?"
"Busy!"
The old man picked up the hot towel handed by the bartender and wiped his face. He was thin, but his complexion was rosy and his skin was smooth.
"It seems like my old bones still have to run around!"
"This is great! People are blessed if they are healthy and busy."
"Maybe."
"Where did you go today?"
"I have a difficult matter to deal with today, so I went to the industry club to understand the situation..."
While the man was speaking, his sharp eyes were still looking at Cheng Mingxiang, who was lowering his head next to Xiao Long from time to time.
"Handling difficult problems is your best skill." Xiao Long agreed.
"Oh, Xiao Long, did you bring your female companion today?"
"Yes. She is my friend..." Xiao Long turned to look at Cheng Mingxiang with a smile, "This gentleman... how should I introduce him? He is Mr. Xiao Wenbin, my uncle, and he is very popular in the business community. of."
Cheng Mingxiang stood up and saluted Xiao Wenbin. Xiao Wenbin was still sitting on the chair, just nodded and said: "I often come to this restaurant to discuss business."
He picked up the glass full of wine handed to him by the bartender and slowly brought it to his lips.
"By the way, what time is it now?" Xiao Wenbin asked.
The bartender rolled up his sleeves and looked at his watch and said, "It's almost ten o'clock."
"Who did you make an appointment with?" Xiao Long asked.
"Well, a jeweler is coming soon, and he will inevitably have to sell me something again."
Xiao Long said to Cheng Mingxiang, "My uncle is very satisfied with this hotel and often comes here to discuss business. He also has a great appreciation of jewelry and antiques."
"Hey, Xiao Long," Xiao Wenbin said while holding a wine glass filled with brandy, "Don't lift me up to the sky, and then throw me to the ground."
"I'm serious."
As soon as he finished speaking, the door of the restaurant was pushed open again, and a thin man in his mid-thirties with slightly darker skin walked in carrying a black suitcase. The man noticed Xiao Wenbin's figure and immediately came forward with a respectful attitude.
"Sir, I'm here."
"Oh, did you bring it?"
"Yes, please take a look..."
"Wait a minute, don't ramble on and want to stuff me with something else."
"No, sir. These are all the treasures you want. You will never find them in other jewelers."
"Take it out and see."
The jeweler also nodded to Xiao Long and took out a velvet square box from his suitcase. He placed the box on the counter, clicked the lock, and opened the lid. There were about ten rings embedded in the black box.
"Sir, this is what you want."
The jeweler took out a ring for Xiao Wenbin to look at, but it was completely invisible from Cheng Mingxiang's perspective. Xiao Long and the bartender's eyes fell on the ring.
"What a beautiful ring, sir." Xiao Long looked at it and said.
"Even Mr. Dean praised it, Mr. Xiao, this is definitely worth buying."
"What kind of gem is this?" a bartender asked.
"This is a ruby star. Now, hold it under a lamp and look at it. The center of the gem will reflect a dazzling light like starlight."
The bartender carefully picked up the ruby ring, looked at it under the lamp, and couldn't help but exclaimed: "It's true, the reflected light is like the starlight at night."
"Would you like to come over and take a look?" Xiao Long turned around and asked Cheng Mingxiang.
"But I don't understand." Cheng Mingxiang replied.
“Oh, I’m not buying it anyway, so it’s good to appreciate it!”
Xiao Long took the ring from the bartender's hand and placed it in front of Cheng Mingxiang. Mr. Xiao still propped his elbows on the bar and sipped the brandy nonchalantly.
Cheng Mingxiang picked up the ring and admired it - an oval ruby embedded in a platinum ring, surrounded by diamonds. The ring was about five carats, and under the light, it glowed like the Southern Cross. She admired the precious ring with fascination. However, this precious thing has no connection with me.
"What do you think?" The jeweler stood behind Cheng Mingxiang and asked.
"Wearing this thing on your hand, no matter where you go, you will look very stylish."
"Yeah, it's pleasing to the eye just to look at."
Cheng Mingxiang handed the ring to Xiao Long. Xiao Long put the ring on his palm, played with it, and then handed it back to Mr. Xiao next to him.
