Chapter 409: Festive Gatherings and Gifts

Chairman Xu announces a raffle for 100,000 yuan in cash, sparking waves of excited cheers and applause.

After Xu Zhiquan’s generous speech, host Wu Feifei turns her gaze toward Xu Chen.

She’s clearly trying to cue the young president for a few words on stage.

Xu Chen looks at Wu Feifei with a pleading expression, begging for mercy.

Wu Feifei chuckles happily and shifts the topic to Fei Jie.

Nie Fei stands up with a smile:

“I won’t say much…

I just discussed it with Young President Xu, and we’re adding another raffle round.

I’ll provide two Sony laptops, and Young President Xu will offer five Nokia phones…”

The announcement triggers another burst of cheers and applause.

Wu Feifei glances at Gu Xinxi and says in a playful tone:

“Your company’s perks are way too good!

With fewer than ten people, you’ve got a 100,000 yuan cash raffle, plus two laptops and five phones…

So, when I graduate in four years, are you still hiring?”

…

The big raffle gets postponed for later.

That sense of anticipation builds excitement, making everyone even happier.

Under the hosts’ guidance, they first move to the planned gift exchange segment.

It’s done by random draw, pairing people up to swap gifts.

When Xie Bingran steps up to draw, the crowd buzzes with expectation.

Everyone clearly wants to snag Bing Ge’s gift.

It’s not about the gift’s value, but the rare significance of something from an Asian Games champion.

When Xie Bingran calls out the name, Xu Chen can’t help but suspect the draw is rigged.

“Su Rong…”

Hearing her name from Bing Ge, Su Rong nearly jumps for joy.

She even lets out a excited “meow” like a playful kitten.

Well.

It’s actually kind of cute.

Bing Ge and Su Rong grab their gifts from under the Christmas tree and swap them.

Xie Bingran’s gift is the iPod she picked with Xu Chen.

Su Rong’s gift is a cute Sony headphones set, a Doraemon collaboration—adorable and fun.

Su Rong clutches Bing Ge’s gift, beaming as she hugs Xie Bingran tightly.

This display of affection makes the real Xu Chen feel a twinge of pressure.

…

The gift exchange continues.

The one who draws Young President Xu is Teacher Aimi.

Sun Aimi adjusts her round glasses, clearly thrilled to get the boss’s gift.

Xu Chen’s gift is, of course, a brand-new iPod.

Sun Aimi hands over a new Fuji Instax instant camera model.

Xu Chen likes it a lot and thinks it will be perfect for taking photos on the Kun City trip with Bing Ge…

Miss Wu is over the moon because she drew Nie Fei and got a Marshall mini speaker.

Her gift to Fei Jie is a Starbucks Christmas limited-edition gift box.

…

The group keeps laughing and chatting.

Xu Chen glances over and sees Su Rong helping Xie Bingran unwrap her gift.

Bing Ge holds the Sony headphones, and Su Rong watches with eager anticipation, waiting for her verdict.

“They look good.” Xie Bingran says softly.

Su Rong’s face lights up with a sweet, joyful smile.

Bing Ge thinks for a moment and slips the headphones around her neck.

You know, it actually suits her…

The big headphones with her baseball cap and full Louis Vuitton outfit make her look effortlessly cool and stylish.

Hmm…

It really comes down to face and vibe.

…

…

The seafood hotpot is bubbling away.

Drinks and beverages are poured all around.

Xu Chen sits next to his father Xu Zhiquan and Teacher Fang Jun, pouring wine for them.

He was going to offer toasts, but there’s no need—he’s not the only one.

Nie Fei leads the drinking crew, including Jiang Yuze and Gu Xinxi, in rounds aimed at the chairman and the big investor.

Old Xu welcomes every glass with a laugh, downing them one after another.

Sister Fang Jun seems to have built up her tolerance, clinking glasses left and right.

Soon, her usually expressionless face flushes with red, radiating comfort and joy…

Xu Chen and Nie Fei focus on hosting and chatting with Xu Zhiquan and Fang Jun.

Wu Feifei and Su Rong stick to Bing Ge like glue, the three of them inseparable.

Bing Ge sips a glass of juice, while Wu Feifei and Su Rong pour themselves shots of liquor.

The strong drink makes the two young ladies stick out their tongues, but they’re still happily toasting Bing Ge…

Sun Aimi can’t handle her liquor; after a couple of glasses, her face is flushed and her eyes glassy.

Now she’s happily munching away, showing her true foodie side—that’s why she has those cute baby cheeks.

…

…

Between meals, hosts Gu Xinxi and Wu Feifei kick off several rounds of the big raffle.

In Chairman Xu’s 100,000 yuan cash pool, the biggest prize of 28,000 yuan goes to Sun Lingfeng.

The young man is overjoyed, stumbling through his acceptance speech: “I’ll work hard for Fei Jie and Young President Xu!”…

Xu Chen draws 6,666 yuan, and Bing Ge gets 8,888 yuan.

The fact that Bing Ge won 2,000 more than him leaves Xu Chen feeling a bit jealous.

From Nie Fei’s sponsored Sony laptops, one goes to Gu Xinxi, and the other lands with Nie Fei herself.

Fei Jie donates it again, and it ends up with Wu Feifei.

Wu Feifei snags two of Fei Jie’s prizes and is ecstatic.

Though from a wealthy family, she’s not chasing material things…

Ever since meeting Fei Jie, she’s seen her as a role model—confident and capable.

Winning Fei Jie’s gifts twice feels like fate and a personal boost.

Young President Xu’s five Nokia phones go to Fang Jun, Jiang Yuze, Tang Xiaowei, Gu Xinxi, and Su Rong.

The ‘money god’ Fang Jun donates hers, and it circles back to the tipsy, chubby-cheeked Teacher Aimi.

Su Rong, who drew Young President Xu’s phone, is beaming but clearly buzzed.

With a flushed face, she looks at Xu Chen and mumbles incoherently:

“￥%#*&…

~~(uu)”

…

So, tonight, everyone leaves with gains and smiles.

Young President Xu sips his cola, feeling great.

He glances up and notices Xie Bingran watching him.

The somewhat drunk Wu Feifei and Su Rong hang on Bing Ge like accessories, one on each side.

Xu Chen shakes his head in resignation, imagining how tired Bing Ge’s shoulders must be.

Xie Bingran frees one hand and pours a small glass of liquor, offering it to Xu Chen.

Xu Chen pauses but takes it instinctively.

Bing Ge raises her juice glass and clinks it with his.

Xu Chen smiles:

“I’ll stick with cola—I’ve got to drop Miss Wu off later.”

Xie Bingran: “Oh, no problem…

They’re both crashing in my room tonight.”

Xu Chen: “??!”

Huh?!

When did they decide that?

And without asking me!

If they’re in your room…

Where does that leave me?!

There’s only one bed, right?

You three?!

…

Xie Bingran sips her juice and blinks, eyeing the liquor in Xu Chen’s hand.

Xu Chen sighs helplessly and tosses back the 53-degree Guojiao in one go.

He turns the glass upside down to show it’s empty…

Bing Ge smiles in satisfaction and refills it.

Xu Chen says with a straight face:

“This is straight liquor, 53 degrees…”

Xie Bingran smirks with a hint of disdain:

“What’s the matter? Can’t handle it?”

Xu Chen narrows his eyes and downs it again.

But Bing Ge’s already pouring another.

Xu Chen hesitates but hands over his glass.

She fills the small cup.

Xie Bingran raises her juice and clinks glasses again.

Then she says quietly:

“Thanks, Xu Chen…”

Xu Chen blinks: “Thanks for what?”

Xie Bingran doesn’t explain, just smiles and drinks her juice.

Xu Chen sighs lightly and finishes his drink.

After three strong shots, his head starts to spin…

Well.

Alcohol does lift the spirits.

In his hazy gaze, Bing Ge across the table looks even softer and more inviting.

…

…

The party winds down around 9 p.m.

Fei Jie has the still-sober Tang Xiaowei and Gu Xinxi brew hot tea and prepare fruit to sober everyone up.

Old Xu slips away with a cigarette, heading to Xu Chen’s general manager’s office.

He sits in the ergonomic chair, puffing smoke and zoning out.

Xu Chen spots his dad and brings in a cup of warm tea and a fruit plate.

“Everything okay?”

He hands the tea to his father.

Xu Zhiquan: “This little bit of booze won’t get me drunk.”

Xu Chen pulls up a chair and nibbles on the big red strawberries.

“You’ve been in Shanghai just handling work, haven’t had time to explore.

Tomorrow, let Fei Jie show you around, and the day after, Bing Ge and I will join you.”

Xu Zhiquan takes a drag and laughs:

“Sounds good! I’ll wait for my son to show me Shanghai!”

He exhales a long plume of smoke and adds softly:

“It’d be perfect if your mom were here—to see the big city and your company…”

Xu Zhiquan pauses, then murmurs:

“Back then, with no money or experience, the farthest I took her was the Provincial Capital…”

Xu Chen falls silent, a wave of sadness rising.

Xu Zhiquan smiles again:

“Anyway, don’t worry about that.

Just enjoy your time with Bing Ge during the New Year’s holiday!”

Xu Chen smiles: “Okay.”

Xu Zhiquan: “Do you have enough money?”

Xu Chen: “Dad, the 100,000 you gave me at the start of school is still untouched.

Plus the allowances you’ve sent lately…

And now I’m running my own company, so I can pay myself.

Fang Jun and Fei Jie are even talking about end-of-year dividends for me!”

Xu Zhiquan looks at his son with pride and affection:

“My boy’s got talent!

Just one ad project and it’s a million or two…

When I was your age, I was in the factory, earning thirty or forty yuan a month!”

Xu Chen: “Times were different—back then, it was still the era of ration coupons.”

Xu Zhiquan takes another puff, full of nostalgia:

“Time flies…”

He remembers something:

“Does Bing Ge have enough money?”

Xu Chen laughs: “She’s loaded now—earns way more than me!”

Xu Zhiquan: “Huh?”

He takes a drag, surprised.

Xu Chen: “Forget the competition prizes; her endorsement deals start in the millions.”

Xu Zhiquan nods with a mix of amazement and pride.

He glances at Xu Chen with a sly grin:

“My son has good taste!”

Xu Chen chews a strawberry and chuckles.

Xu Zhiquan: “I heard from Fang Jun that the city gave Bing Ge a house as a reward?”

Xu Chen nods:

“Yeah, in West of the City New District. She’ll probably pick up the keys before the year ends.”

Xu Zhiquan sighs:

“Incredible!

You two young ones earn way more than I ever did!”

Xu Chen: “What Bing Ge and I make is hard-earned.

But once Chenfeng Technology takes off, it’s all about capital growth—on a whole other level.”

Xu Zhiquan laughs heartily:

“I’ll take that as a good omen from my son!”

…

…

By nearly 10 p.m., Nie Fei wraps things up.

“Take the morning off tomorrow—no rush to work.”

She tells Gu Xinxi, Jiang Yuze, and the others.

“Thanks, Fei Jie!”

Xu Chen and Xu Zhiquan step out and sort the arrangements.

Jiang Yuze will take Fei Jie home.

Sun Lingfeng and Tang Xiaowei handle Sun Aimi and Gu Xinxi.

Old Xu, Xu Chen, and Xie Bingran will manage Fang Jun, Wu Feifei, and Su Rong.

These three ladies are still pretty tipsy.

Sister Fang Jun clings to Nie Fei, while Wu Feifei and Su Rong hang on Bing Ge.

…

…

Half an hour later, at Tonghai University Guesthouse.

Old Xu escorts Fang Jun to her room.

Xu Chen and Bing Ge maneuver Wu Feifei and Su Rong inside.

The two girls sang the whole way, making the escorting duo cringe a bit.

Now, they’re out cold on the bed, faces flushed.

Wu Feifei clutches Su Rong’s arm tightly.

Su Rong has her thumb in her mouth, sucking like a little cat…

Xu Chen and Xie Bingran look down at them and sigh in unison.

…

“Think you can handle it?” Xu Chen asks.

“No problem, I’ll help them change out of their clothes,” Xie Bingran replies softly.

Xu Chen winces at the thought.

He turns to Xie Bingran with a pitiful look:

“But who’s going to take care of me?”

Xie Bingran says nothing, just gives a dismissive eye roll.

Xu Chen persists shamelessly:

“I don’t care—I want a hug, I want a kiss!”

Xie Bingran narrows her eyes, ignoring him completely.

Frustrated and a bit tipsy, Xu Chen grabs her and plants a kiss on her soft lips…

On the bed, the two girls stir slightly and turn their faces away.

…

…”