The morning's forum opening ceremony and activities proceeded very smoothly, with leaders, experts, scholars, and international law researchers from various countries gathered together. Xu Wendong, Director of the State Oceanic Administration of China, presided over the opening ceremony. Geng Zihua, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and State Councilor of China, delivered a keynote speech entitled "Working Together for Sustainable Peace within the Framework of International Law," reiterating China's position of resolving disputes based on international law and primarily through consultation and negotiation, and reaffirming China's consistent principle of peaceful development and never seeking hegemony, which won enthusiastic applause.
After Geng Zihua's speech, leaders from countries including the United States and Japan also delivered keynote speeches, and the morning's activities concluded in a harmonious atmosphere.
Zheng Zuxin, who had been anxiously following the progress of the event, was even more dismissive of the measures proposed by Chen Yang and Professor Yan at the morning meeting.
Wasn't this just creating trouble out of nothing? The representatives from the Kingdom of Bero sat obediently in the audience. After Geng Zhengju finished his speech, Minister Lopez applauded the most enthusiastically! "He doesn't seem like he's planning anything underhanded," Zheng Zuxin muttered to himself.
However, the measures discussed in the morning meeting had already been implemented. Since he, Director Zheng, didn't need to personally carry them out, Zheng Zuxin didn't think much of it. After all, Chen Yang was a very mysterious young man, and even Fang Xu, the Third Young Master, was so close to him. Zheng Zuxin didn't want to offend him needlessly.
As the morning activities drew to a close, Zheng Zuxin's mind was no longer in the meeting room. He was constantly thinking about what to pay attention to during the lunch reception: would the food from Qiongzhou suit Fang Shao's taste? Were all the waitresses in the private room young and beautiful? What kind of wine should be served at lunch…?
In Mayor Zheng's eyes, serving Fang Xu well was a thousand times more important than this so-called forum. Even if Geng Zhengju held a high position and wielded great power, it wouldn't be Zheng Zuxin's place to curry favor—he was already overwhelmed with meetings with the main leaders of the Qiongzhou Provincial Party Committee and the Sanya Municipal Party Committee! The Fang family, however, could potentially be his biggest backer in the future.
Zheng Zuxin understood the priorities perfectly.
Around noon, in the most luxurious Tianya VIP room of the Haojue Hotel, Zheng Zuxin rushed over immediately after finishing his business at the venue. He personally inspected the room's setup, the placement of the place cards, the menu, and other details, and instructed the hotel to send its most capable reception manager to oversee the room.
Meanwhile, Chen Yang and his group were on their way back to their rooms from the main forum venue on the second floor. Fang Xu had arranged to meet them at noon, and Chen Yang planned to change his clothes first. While the Armani suit looked good, it was too formal; for a private gathering like this at noon, more casual attire would be more comfortable.
In the elevator, Professor Yan said to Liu Xinyao:
"Xinyao, Chen Yang and I are attending a luncheon at noon. Why don't you come along?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Xinyao shifted her questioning gaze to Chen Yang. Chen Yang inwardly groaned. He was now somewhat afraid to be around Liu Xinyao. He had a feeling that what happened last night wasn't as simple as Liu Xinyao had made it out to be, especially since he had secretly observed her several times that morning. He noticed that twice Liu Xinyao was also looking at him. When their eyes met, Liu Xinyao quickly looked away, a slight blush creeping onto her face—extremely abnormal behavior for such an icy beauty.
Professor Yan really knew how to rub salt in the wound! But since Liu Xinyao was already looking at him, Chen Yang had no choice but to nod and say:
"Yes, Fang Xu is also in Sanya. He's treating us to lunch."
Both were from political families and lived in Rongcheng, so Liu Xinyao naturally knew Fang Xu. Therefore, Chen Yang didn't need to explain his identity further.
Liu Xinyao sensed Chen Yang's gaze and lowered her head slightly, saying,
"Oh...okay! Fang Xu is a big spender, he'll definitely treat us to a lavish meal!"
She finished speaking with a childlike smile. Chen Yang sighed inwardly, but said aloud,
"That's great! Go back to your room, wash up, and change your clothes. We'll meet at the Tianya VIP room at the hotel at noon!"
Liu Xinyao noticed the slight hint of embarrassment on Chen Yang's face. Hearing his insincere words, she found it amusing, but her expression remained calm. However, this change altered Chen Yang's image in her mind considerably. He now acted like an awkward child, completely lacking the air of a playboy.
Which one was the real him? Liu Xinyao felt a pang of confusion.
...
Tianya VIP room, Haojue Grand Hotel. The private room was decorated in an antique Chinese style, the entire room exuding a classic charm. The walls were adorned with calligraphy and paintings. In the center of the room stood a replica of an old-fashioned round table, behind a screen beside it, where a young woman in traditional Chinese attire sat playing the zither.
On the east side of the room was a set of mahogany benches, with a large root-carved tea table in the center. Fang Xu sat in the middle, opposite him a beautiful young woman, also dressed in traditional clothing, diligently preparing tea.
The exquisite purple clay tea set was neatly arranged. The young woman's slender hands picked up a kettle filled with freshly boiled spring water and poured it into the purple clay teapot. A rising steam released a delicate aroma of tea into the air.
Fang Xu watched the young woman's tea-making movements with great interest. Beside him, Zheng Zuxin stood with his arms clasped, the vice mayor of a prefecture-level city looking every bit the follower.
A gentle knock sounded on the door of the private room, and a welcoming waiter led Professor Yan and his entourage in. Seeing this, Fang Xu quickly stood up to greet them, smiling and saying,
"Professor Yan, Chen Yang... Oh? Xin Yao is here at Sanya too! Come in and sit down!"
A hint of surprise flashed across Fang Xu's face when he saw Liu Xin Yao, but it disappeared in an instant. He quickly and warmly invited them into the private room.
"Come, come! Have some tea before dinner!" Fang Xu said with a smile. "I originally wanted to try some local Qiongzhou green tea, but Lao Zheng said that most of the green tea here isn't high-grade. I was worried that Professor Yan wouldn't like it, so I contributed some of my stock!"
Chen Yang sniffed, a look of surprise on his face, and said,
"Da Hong Pao! And it's picked from those three trees! Absolutely authentic, top-quality Da Hong Pao! We're in for a treat today!"
"Wow! You have a pretty discerning nose! You can even smell this!" "Come out!" Fang Xu glanced at Chen Yang with some surprise, then said smugly, "This is the old man's ration, only a few taels a year. Last time I went back to Beijing, the old man was in a good mood and gave me some; it's all here!"
Liu Xinyao, being a discerning person, said with some disbelief:
"Really from the old man? You didn't secretly take it yourself, did you?"
Chen Yang, knowing Fang Xu's character well, wholeheartedly agreed with Liu Xinyao's words and looked at Fang Xu with suspicion as well. "You don't believe me? Why can't the old man give me tea leaves..." Fang Xu cried out in grievance. Seeing that Chen Yang and Liu Xinyao remained unmoved, he said dejectedly, "Fine! Fine! I just took it..."
"You're too bold! Don't you value your life?" Chen Yang was shocked. He knew the old man's temper best, and Old Master Fang loved tea dearly. If he found out Fang Xu had stolen his tea leaves, Fang Xu would be in serious trouble.
"Don't misunderstand! Even if I had a million lives, I wouldn't dare to steal from the old man!" Fang Xu quickly waved his hands and said, "This was given to my father by the old man. I took it from Secretary Fang!"
"I knew it! You couldn't possibly have that kind of heroic spirit!" Chen Yang suddenly realized. Professor Yan, a rather witty fellow, chuckled and said,
"Children, never mind where these tea leaves came from. They're already brewed, so what are we waiting for?"
"Professor, you're right!" Chen Yang immediately burst out laughing. "Come on! Let's enjoy the treatment of a national leader!"
Zheng Zuxin, watching from the side, was dumbfounded. Seeing Chen Yang and Fang Xu speaking so casually, he became even more convinced that Chen Yang's identity was extraordinary—Fang Yang was notoriously bad-tempered, and most people wouldn't dare joke with him.
After Professor Yan sat down, he picked up the small teacup in front of him, downed the tea in the purple clay cup in one gulp, and savored it for a long time before praising it:
"Truly excellent tea! The aroma is elegant, the aftertaste is smooth, and there's a hint of floral and fruity fragrance in the smoky flavor. Da Hong Pao truly lives up to its name!"
Seeing that Professor Yan liked the tea he brought, Fang Xu also smiled broadly, feeling very happy. That's just his personality. Although he hadn't interacted much with Chen Yang, he felt an instant connection, a natural affinity. So Fang Xu treated Chen Yang like a brother; his principles were that simple.
It was precisely because of this personality that Fang Xu was taken advantage of and suffered a considerable loss in his previous life.
Today, he was treating Chen Yang to dinner. Professor Yan was Chen Yang's teacher, so he naturally attached great importance to him.
After a few cups of tea, everyone took their seats at the central table in the private room. Fang Xu naturally offered the highly respected Professor Yan the head seat in the center, and following the principle of ladies first, he seated Liu Xinyao to Professor Yan's right, while he and Chen Yang sat to the professor's left.
Zheng Zuxin obediently sat at the end of the table opposite Professor Yan, his face full of fawning, a stark contrast to his demeanor in the hotel lobby that morning.
Because today's luncheon was personally arranged by Zheng Zuxin, and his secretary, Xiao Wu, was even stationed at the entrance of the private room to coordinate, the dishes were served remarkably quickly. In the blink of an eye, the ladle was overflowing with various dishes. The luncheon mainly featured seafood, including lobster, sea cucumber, and abalone.
"Come on! Everyone has come all the way from Rongcheng to the beautiful Sanya. It's fate that we're gathered here. Let's raise a glass together!" Fang Xu said with a beaming smile.
"Cheers!"
Everyone, including Zheng Zuxin, drank their first glass of wine. Liu Xinyao took a sip of her beverage to rinse her mouth, glancing at Chen Yang intentionally or unintentionally, thinking: "Is this guy going to get drunk and cause trouble again...?"