Chapter 120: I Cough When I Drink Anything Else

Northern City, Huaxia! As evening fell, the setting sun peeked half shyly over the horizon, its flushed cheeks casting a warm glow over the eastern land it had illuminated all day.

At that moment, Xue Tian’ai stood before a hotel, his lips twitching as he pointed to the elegant four characters above the entrance—“Lishui Longxuan.” He turned to Su Jiaqi, who stood by his side, and asked in a tone of disbelief, “We didn’t come to the wrong place, did we? Are you sure this is it?”

“This is definitely the place!” Su Jiaqi smiled brightly and nodded. “We even parked the car right here—how could it be wrong?”

Lishui Longxuan Grand Hotel was renowned even to someone like Xue Tian’ai, who had been away from Huaxia for a long time. It was one of the top luxury hotels in Northern City, with a reputation that stretched across all of Huaxia.

Had he known two hours earlier that tonight’s dinner would be at Lishui Longxuan, Xue Tian’ai would have wholeheartedly agreed. But now, his mood was quite different.

Because tonight, the dinner had become his treat. As punishment for teasing the three ladies, he had unexpectedly turned from guest to host—and Su Jiaqi had chosen this very hotel.

“Could we maybe go somewhere else…” Xue Tian’ai forced a bitter smile and addressed the three women, “I know some other restaurants, all world-famous, with excellent cuisine. Maybe we could eat there instead?”

“No, this one for sure!” Su Jiaqi shook her head, dismissing his suggestion with a knowing tone. “Your ‘world-famous’ spots are probably just KFC, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, those sorts of fast food chains!”

Xue Tian’ai felt a sudden urge to spit blood. Was Su Jiaqi a character planted by fate to torment him? How could she always see right through his thoughts?

“Hahaha, that’s not true… I’m not that kind of person, really…” he chuckled nervously.

Qin Mengxue, watching Xue Tian’ai’s embarrassed expression, secretly chuckled to herself. She knew exactly what “world-famous” restaurants he meant—he had used that trick to fool Cen An’an before. Now, fate was turning the tables.

“President Qin, President Gan, what do you think about this place?” Su Jiaqi didn’t reply to Xue Tian’ai but instead looked to Gan Bingning and Qin Mengxue.

Two Porsche 918s worth tens of millions sat parked without a flicker of hesitation. This man was undoubtedly wealthy and shrewd. Opportunities to openly spend his money like this were rare and not to be missed.

“I think it’s great!” Qin Mengxue nodded in agreement before adding, “I heard the head chef here is the owner of the hotel.”

“Then this it is!” Gan Bingning beamed. “How could we refuse an invitation from Assistant Xue?”

Xue Tian’ai twitched involuntarily and cursed inwardly.

“This place isn’t cheap. What if I don’t have enough money later?” he asked quietly.

“Don’t worry. If you run short, just leave a deposit here!” Gan Bingning smiled mischievously, emphasizing “handsome Assistant Xue” with a hint of jealousy from earlier with Qiu Zhiruo.

“No worries, even if you don’t leave a deposit, I’ll help you pay!” Qin Mengxue added beside him.

“See? You really need a boss like her!” Xue Tian’ai’s eyes sparkled with gratitude as he looked at Qin Mengxue.

Before he could lavish more praise in his mind, Qin Mengxue quickly added, “Of course, I’ll deduct it from your salary.”

Xue Tian’ai was momentarily stunned, then, as if resigning himself, he sighed, “Fine! Let’s go here! I’m curious to see what this restaurant’s food tastes like!”

With that, he strode confidently toward the grand golden entrance of Lishui Longxuan, his silhouette evoking the somber resolve of a warrior setting off on a perilous journey.

The three women exchanged knowing glances and stifled laughter before briskly following him.

Inside, magnificent crystal chandeliers were embedded in a ceiling painted with golden splendor, casting a soft glow that made the entire hotel interior elegant and serene.

The polished floors reflected a gentle reddish warmth, while the walls displayed masterpieces of calligraphy and painting, each framed in exquisite gilded borders, their corners intricately carved.

Soft saxophone and piano melodies filled the dining hall like ethereal smoke, easing guests’ restless and tense hearts. Lishui Longxuan truly lived up to its reputation as one of Northern City’s finest, rivaling even top establishments across Huaxia.

As the four entered the lobby, impeccably dressed attendants greeted them warmly and led them to the second-floor dining area.

Initially, Qin Mengxue had wanted a private room, but at this busy evening hour, despite the steep prices, all private rooms were occupied. So the group settled for a relatively secluded window seat.

Xue Tian’ai sat beside Qin Mengxue, while Su Jiaqi and Gan Bingning faced them. Anyone else surrounded by three beauties like this would be ecstatic. Yet Xue Tian’ai felt only a faint sorrow and a painful ache.

He recalled how this morning, Shen Xinyi had tricked him and cost him a car, and now tonight, he was being tricked into footing the dinner bill. Truly, today was no day to be out and about.

The three women showed no mercy, especially Su Jiaqi, who seemed to bear a grudge against Xue Tian’ai, ordering almost every expensive dish on the menu in one go.

“Ah, ladies… the country is cracking down on waste. Maybe we should order less? What if we can’t finish it all?” Xue Tian’ai interjected, watching the women chatter about what else to order.

“No worries. If we can’t finish, we’ll just pack the leftovers. Enjoying food and wasting it are two completely different things!” Su Jiaqi shook her head confidently.

“Waiter!” Qin Mengxue gently beckoned.

“Yes, miss. May I take your order?” the waitress hurried over attentively.

“Bingning, Jiaqi, can you both drink some red wine?” Qin Mengxue asked.

“Sure!” both nodded.

“Then bring a bottle of 1982 Lafite!” Xue Tian’ai suddenly interjected.

The waitress was momentarily stunned. “Sir, are you sure about the 1982 vintage?”

Not only the waitress but also the three women looked at Xue Tian’ai in surprise. How had he suddenly become so generous? Lafite was a noble wine, and the 1982 vintage was its crown jewel—rare even at a place like Lishui Longxuan. Such a bottle was beyond the reach of most wealthy patrons.

“Absolutely. Just bring it,” Xue Tian’ai said casually.

“Very well. The dishes and wine will be prepared shortly. Please be patient,” the waitress said respectfully before retreating.

“Xue, why the sudden generosity?” Su Jiaqi asked, surprised.

“I’ve been generous all along! If generosity were a contest, I’d be first, no one second!” Xue Tian’ai boasted loudly.

The three women all wanted to retort. If his skin were peeled off, it could serve as a bulletproof vest—no rocket launcher could pierce it. But since they all knew Xue Tian’ai was wealthy and used to his shamelessness, they said nothing.

The dishes and wine soon arrived.

Xue Tian’ai lifted the exquisite stemmed glass, his long fingers gently swirling the crimson liquid. The soft light reflected off the wine’s velvety surface, revealing its supreme smoothness and nobility.

He nodded with satisfaction, brought the glass to his lips, raised his palm slightly, and took a delicate sip.

Though the 1982 Lafite was extremely expensive, for Xue Tian’ai it was commonplace. At his European base, such vintages were not abundant but certainly never lacking.

Yet the three women couldn’t help but stare in awe at his elegant sipping. It was the first time they saw a man drink wine not with roughness or aggression, but with such grace, wisdom, and charm.

Especially Xue Tian’ai’s slender fingers holding the sparkling glass and the perfect lips lightly touching the wine—truly flawless.

“Damn! Wine really has to be French. Anything else makes me cough!” Xue Tian’ai said smugly, smacking his lips.

The three women exchanged dark glances at his sudden plunge from refined elegance to arrogant buffoonery.