The clandestine private room buzzed, the consumption of food and drink continuing, yet a subtle, unusual tension had settled over the atmosphere. Ning Yao grew quiet, while Guan Yingying subtly pinched Wang Zhuo’s thigh, signaling him with her eyes to pay more attention to the actress.

Wang Zhuo’s lips curved upwards; taking it as a simple gesture of concern for the Movie Queen, he nodded lightly. After taking a delicate sip of the red wine from the rim of his glass, Ning Yao set it down and rose with a slight curtsy: “I’ll just use the restroom.” “Hold it right there.” Wang Zhuo suddenly reached out, grasping her left hand, and smiled, “You were planning to sneak out to toast Mr.

Ma, weren’t you? Perhaps even apologize on my behalf for my ignorance?” “Uh…” Ning Yao managed a sheepish smile, unsure how to respond.

Having her intentions completely exposed by Wang Zhuo put her in a severely defensive position. “Director Ning’s acting isn’t all that impressive, is it?

I saw right through it,” Wang Zhuo chuckled towards the women, pulling Ning Yao back into her seat. “Don’t bother going.

If I’m not mistaken, Mr. Ma and his entourage are already heading this way.

How could Mr. Ma miss the chance to run into Movie Queen Ning?” As their hands met, Ning Yao felt the warm heat radiating from Wang Zhuo’s palm.

It was as if a spark shot across her skin, plunging inward and igniting a long-dormant flame deep within her core. She sat back down wordlessly, resting her hands on her lap again, her left hand lightly settling over Wang Zhuo’s right.

When the young man’s large hand gently slid out from between her palm and thigh, she felt a faint, lingering sense of loss. This sensation was something she hadn't experienced since her youth.

In that moment, Ning Yao finally realized that she had become infected by the young man’s pride, dominance, charisma, and consideration, and an ambiguous affection had begun to blossom within her… Wang Zhuo noticed the Movie Queen’s shift in demeanor, but he didn’t have time for deep consideration now: “Anqi, clear away the wine on the table and bring out the strong liquor.” Anqi immediately set to work, efficiently clearing the red wine and beer aside, replacing everyone’s glasses. Anqi also helped place two bottles of baijiu on the table, opening one at Wang Zhuo’s silent instruction.

Wang Zhuo stood up, picked up a bottle, seemed to glance towards a specific direction in the room, then quickly made a gesture for silence. He snatched a bottle of mineral water from the table, holding the water bottle in his left hand and the baijiu bottle in his right, pouring with both hands for everyone.

By the time he had filled all five glasses, more than half of the mineral water bottle was gone. The others noticed that when he poured, the ratio of baijiu to mineral water was roughly one to two.

A rich, heady aroma of liquor now saturated the entire room. He tossed the water bottle behind him, winked at everyone, and then a soft knock sounded at the door.

“Come in!” he announced loudly, simultaneously raising his bottle sideways, adopting the posture as if about to pour for Guan Yingying. Thus, when Jiao Yuanbo pushed open the door and ushered Ma Qiang inside, they were greeted by the intense smell of baijiu filling the room, and saw Wang Zhuo raising a glass to top off a lady’s drink.

Ma Qiang paused, surprised to see them immediately upon entry, drinking baijiu straight from those heavy two-and-a-half liang glasses. This group—one man and four women—certainly seemed to enjoy their drinks robustly!

During his momentary lapse, Jiao Yuanbo introduced him with effusive warmth: “Miss Ning Yao, this is General Manager Ma Qiang of Yingyu Industries.” The private room held only one six-person table, plus a coat rack tucked into a corner, leaving barely enough space to open the door fully. Therefore, after Ma Qiang, Jiao Yuanbo, and Hai Jun entered, Ma Qiang’s two bodyguards were left standing outside.

Logically, Ma Qiang’s personal attendant should have entered, with either Jiao Yuanbo or Hai Jun stepping out to make room, allowing Ma Qiang to operate comfortably. But since Jiao Yuanbo and Hai Jun had already initiated conversation, and with the room being too small to accommodate more people, the current arrangement was unavoidable.

Ning Yao stood with a gentle smile, extending her hand across the table toward Ma Qiang: “General Manager Ma, a pleasure to meet you.” On Ning Yao’s right sat Anqi, an exceptional beauty; especially after having whitened her complexion, her spirited charm was rare. Anqi’s opposite, Anqi, was also stunning, but Guan Yingying, seated between Anqi and Wang Zhuo, held a prestigious position and possessed a potent combination of beauty, poise, and aura that in no way paled in comparison to the newly crowned Movie Queen, Ning Yao.

Yet, Ma Qiang seemed entirely blind to these three beauties. His gaze swept over their faces and figures only briefly.

He thought: Heirs are heirs; what kind of beauties haven’t I seen? What women haven’t I played with?

Ma Qiang’s appetite was currently fixed solely on actresses. Until he grew tired of that taste and changed his focus, the other women were mere background noise—less significant, in his eyes, than a second-rate star who might have slept with countless older men.

A beauty of Ning Yao’s caliber, especially one holding the title of Movie Queen—even if it was just for television, slightly diluting its prestige—was equivalent to his ultimate prize. After all, as the fortunes of Guoshou grew, so did the ranks of the young elites, but how many Movie Queens emerged each year?

It was a classic case of high demand and low supply! Although Ma Qiang was only a year older than Wang Zhuo, he was already a seasoned veteran of the romantic scene.

He did not grab Ning Yao’s hand and hold on in a lecherous display, as some older, starving men might; instead, he shook it just long enough before releasing it. The Movie Queen’s fingers were slightly cool, soft, and slender.

Ma Qiang filed that sensation away, intending to savor it later, and said with a smile, “You truly live up to your reputation, Miss Ning Yao. Of the three Movie Queens I’ve met, you possess the most gentle, Eastern feminine temperament—truly perfect.” Guan Yingying glanced slyly at Wang Zhuo, a hidden smirk playing on her lips.

She thought that this Mr. Ma’s skill at complimenting women was off by at least a hundred thousand miles compared to Wang Zhuo’s.

She wished Director Wang could give him a proper coaching session! Wang Zhuo remained standing.

Sensing her gaze, he returned a subtle glance. Seeing that he understood her meaning, Guan Yingying struggled to suppress a laugh, turning away to pretend she was searching for something in her clutch bag to mask her amusement.

Wang Zhuo won women over with skill, ability, and resources; Ma Qiang won them over by flaunting his status, position, and wealth. The difference between their realms was vast—if they started at the same point, Ma Qiang would need a rocket engine just to keep up with Wang Zhuo taking a leisurely stroll!

In terms of height, looks, and charisma, Ma Qiang was inferior to Wang Zhuo. Ma Qiang hadn't taken Wang Zhuo seriously to begin with, and seeing him standing beside Ning Yao now only made him feel more conspicuous.

He smiled subtly and asked, “Miss Ning Yao, won’t you introduce me to your friends?” Ning Yao paused, but Wang Zhuo preempted her: “No need to trouble Sister Ning. I am Wang Zhuo of Shengshi Wangchao.

General Manager Ma must have heard of me, right?” Wang Zhuo?! Wang Zhuo!

Jiao Yuanbo and Hai Jun flinched, exchanging startled glances. They never expected this man to be the rising star Wang Zhuo from Jiangzhou’s hero registry.

While the name Wang Zhuo might be common, in Jiangzhou, only one person could claim to be Wang Zhuo of Shengshi Wangchao—the favorite of Secretary Qin, the very man who brought down the former secretary over the Huihai case! A man’s reputation precedes him.

Upon learning this was the Jiangzhou Wang Zhuo, all lingering annoyance from Jiao Yuanbo and Hai Jun vanished. As local fixtures in Jiangzhou, how could they not know Wang Zhuo’s power?

The thought that they had just subtly tried to sow discord between General Manager Ma and Wang Zhuo made them regret their actions fiercely. Whether a conflict arose between them or they made peace in a friendly reunion, the outcome would not be good for those two.

While they were fidgeting nervously, they saw Ma Qiang freeze for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. “So you’re Wang Zhuo?

I have heard of you!” “Oh?” Wang Zhuo waited for him to elaborate. After a slight pause, Ma Qiang calmly laughed, “Kong Kun and I grew up on the same street.

Director Kong is my maternal uncle.” Kong Kun? Kong Zhi?

Wang Zhuo’s brow gradually knitted together. Guan Yingying’s expression stiffened as well.

The Kong family in the capital—weren’t they the second-largest shareholder of Shengshi Wangchao? Seeing Wang Zhuo’s expression shift from calm nonchalance to solemnity, Ma Qiang grew more confident.

He took charge, turning back to instruct his subordinate, “Da Nan, go get two chairs. I’m staying here for a while to chat and catch up with Wang Zhuo!” The follower called Da Nan acknowledged with a grunt and quickly walked out.

“So you are Wang Zhuo,” Ma Qiang re-assessed Wang Zhuo, tapping his fingers lightly. “Kong Kun mentioned you.

Little brother, you’ve done well.” “Oh?” Wang Zhuo temporarily suppressed his dissatisfaction with Ma Qiang’s high-and-mighty tone and asked calmly, “What did he say about me?” “He said you’re good at fighting, hah!” Ma Qiang roared with laughter. The phrase ‘good at fighting’ carried different connotations depending on the tone.

Ma Qiang’s words, accompanied by his laughter, sounded like praise on the surface, yet they were actually a subtle put-down, suggesting Wang Zhuo possessed only the brute force of a warrior, while simultaneously asserting his own superior position, placing Wang Zhuo a step below. This was a classic maneuver among the younger elites: appearing to be equals while establishing social hierarchy through veiled language—the so-called ‘defining who is senior and who is junior.’ Truthfully, Ma Qiang didn't rate Wang Zhuo highly at all.

The Kong family and the Ma family were old allies, and he even shared a kinship connection through his maternal uncle, Kong Zhi, the second largest shareholder of Shengshi Wangchao. Within their circle, he was vaguely aware of the business dealings of other families.

Shengshi Wangchao had secured the mining rights for Taoyuan Copper Mine only after a directed private placement that ceded some interest to a group company under the Kong family’s umbrella. The entanglement of interests was complex, but although the Kong family didn't directly manage the mine, they held considerable sway.

In Ma Qiang’s external view, Wang Zhuo was merely a puppet displayed by Shengshi Wangchao to appease the public. To put it plainly, Wang Zhuo was nothing more than a watchdog maintained jointly by the Kong and Qin families!

Ma Qiang, as the master’s nephew by marriage, why would he give a mere watchdog any regard? Though Wang Zhuo couldn't fully decipher Ma Qiang's true intentions, he clearly perceived the disdain and contempt in his tone and expression.

But if Ma Qiang was blind to subtlety, Director Wang certainly was not! He sneered internally and said to Anqi, “Apprentice, why are you standing around?

Hurry up and pour General Manager Ma a drink.” To be continued...