Chapter 286: Xing Yuan’s Hobby

Zhou Ming and Chen Yunfei didn't stay in the lounge for long; after their discussion, they left. Shen Xin was waiting in the lobby. When Zhou Ming arrived in the lobby, he frowned immediately upon seeing Xing Yuan there, accompanied by a pair of twin girls who looked about sixteen or seventeen.

Typically, twin sisters, as long as they aren't too lacking, are quite pleasing to the eye, and considering Xing Yuan's status as a billionaire from the 80s, he would certainly have chosen well. The quality of these twin sisters was very high, with their identical looks, temperament, and figures making them even more impressive. However, Zhou Ming didn't have time to admire them at the moment because Xing Yuan was currently entangled with Shen Xin.

"Journalist Shen."

Zhou Ming called out. When Shen Xin and Xing Yuan turned to look at him, Xing Yuan immediately put on a victorious expression and said to Zhou Ming, "Ah, it's Advisor Zhou. Still here? Please wait a moment. Journalist Shen is conducting an interview with me."

Shen Xin, however, was not cooperating. As soon as Xing Yuan said this, she quickly ran back to Zhou Ming and said, "My interview is over."

Slap!

Xing Yuan felt like Shen Xin had slapped him in the face with her action. But as a successful billionaire with ten billion in his hands, he couldn't let this minor humiliation get to him. The anger on his face vanished quickly, and he suppressed his frustration as he said to Zhou Ming, "It seems that Journalist Shen and Advisor Zhou are quite close!"

Zhou Ming had no interest in engaging with Xing Yuan and merely replied, "Journalist Shen and I are good friends," and was about to leave. However, Xing Yuan didn't want to part ways just yet and immediately stopped Zhou Ming, saying, "Advisor Zhou, would you like to have a meal with me sometime? I have some matters to discuss with you, and Journalist Shen can join us as well. It's about the funding management for this highway project."

"Are you not planning to argue with me over the management of this money, Mr. Xing?" Zhou Ming asked with interest.

"To be honest, this is not a small amount of money, and I don't want to give it up. But if the discussion is with Advisor Zhou, it's not entirely off the table," Xing Yuan said.

"Mr. Xing, you're being so generous. Then I suppose I should go; otherwise, it would seem like I'm being petty," Zhou Ming said.

Xing Yuan laughed heartily, "Well, it depends on how Advisor Zhou interprets it."

In the end, Zhou Ming went with Xing Yuan to the private room for dinner. As Zhou Ming mentioned, Xing Yuan's comment had cornered him into a position where refusing to go would make him appear petty. Of course, Zhou Ming was also curious to hear what Xing Yuan had to say; otherwise, if he continued to back down, even if Xing Yuan had extraordinary abilities, he wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

Xing Yuan led Zhou Ming to the private room, ordered drinks and food, and then poured a glass of wine. He raised it and said, "Advisor Zhou, I must first apologize with this first glass. I said many things at the meeting that were excessive."

Zhou Ming waved his hand and said, "Mr. Xing, there's no need to apologize. They say business is like a battlefield. Since we're both in the arena, we naturally have to go all out. Especially for a project like this, which is worth at least ten billion, we must give our best effort. If I were in your position, I might have been even more aggressive."

"So, Advisor Zhou is also a very formidable person!" Xing Yuan laughed, "But anyway, drinking first is never a mistake."

Xing Yuan clinked glasses with Zhou Ming, and the twin sisters he brought also took a drink.

After drinking, Xing Yuan asked Zhou Ming, "I heard Advisor Zhou made his fortune in Port City, and you mentioned you met Journalist Shen there. Is that something you're comfortable sharing?"

"There's nothing much to say, just luck," Zhou Ming replied vaguely. "I don't think these things are important. Mr. Xing, let's get down to business."

"It seems Advisor Zhou is very proactive and efficient. So I won't beat around the bush," Xing Yuan said, "Actually, I have no other intentions. I just want to discuss a collaboration with Advisor Zhou."

Zhou Ming raised an eyebrow and asked, "What kind of collaboration?"

"Of course, it's about the management of the funds for this highway project," Xing Yuan said. "I am a legend from Jiangnan, and you are a legend from Lingnan. We both represent figures at the forefront of economic reform and opening up, and we're often compared in the media. So, I think if we continue to compete, neither of us will benefit."

"Instead," Xing Yuan continued, "it would be better for us to discuss collaboration and share this big cake together. With your influence here and my financial acumen, we can expand this cake, and whatever the profit returns, we can negotiate a share…"

Xing Yuan paused here and then added, "I'm not questioning your ability, Advisor Zhou. It's just that, whether it's you or me, we would need time to digest such a large amount of money. To maximize benefits, the best approach is to cooperate and combine our strengths. What do you think?"

Looking at Xing Yuan, Zhou Ming had to admit that, despite Xing Yuan's eventual failure, his ability to set up a hundred-billion-dollar company during the transition between the 80s and 90s showed he had considerable skill.

Xing Yuan's argument was also quite persuasive. He first praised both sides, then discussed profit distribution, hitting all the key points. For an ordinary person, they might have been swayed by this, but Zhou Ming was not.

"Mr. Xing's proposal is quite constructive and tempting. However, I still stand by my point: this project will never be given to you. There's no negotiation because you can't guarantee the returns and principal," Zhou Ming said.

This made everyone in the private room pause. Xing Yuan then mocked Zhou Ming, "It seems Advisor Zhou has made his choice. It's a pity, but I respect your decision. However, if the project does end up with me and you come back to me later, I might still find a way to give you a share."

The twin sisters beside Xing Yuan immediately chimed in, "Yes, Mr. Xing is very generous. Advisor Zhou, don't worry about getting nothing."

Shen Xin also spoke up for Zhou Ming, "Do you think you've already won? Don't forget where this place is."

"Journalist Shen, I didn't say I've won," Xing Yuan said to Shen Xin, "I just said that if the project ends up with me, Advisor Zhou still has a chance, though it's slim. Even though my connections aren't here, my mind and money-making methods can compensate."

Xing Yuan then smiled at Shen Xin, "I know you and Advisor Zhou are close, but even with a good relationship, you need to face reality and not blindly follow."

Shen Xin suddenly stood up, glaring at Xing Yuan. But she didn't really get angry; she just coldly said, "I need to step out to the restroom," and then left the room without looking back.

Watching Shen Xin leave the private room, Xing Yuan said to Zhou Ming, "Advisor Zhou is lucky to have such a woman who cares so much for you."

Zhou Ming smiled, neither confirming nor denying. Xing Yuan didn't dwell on this topic and said to Zhou Ming, "Advisor Zhou, you know me, but you probably don't know me well. I'm just an ordinary worker who used to work in a factory. But I understood back then that I wouldn't always be just a worker with a fixed salary. I would definitely rise above hundreds of thousands of people!"

"Of course, I'm not power-hungry. I have no other hobbies, just two: making money and women. That's why I have Xiaoyan and Xiaobing with me."

Xing Yuan leaned back in his chair and gestured for the twin sisters to come closer. The twins moved to his sides, and Xing Yuan put his arms around their youthful bodies, even boldly placing his hands on their chests and fondling them in front of Zhou Ming.

With Zhou Ming as an audience, the twins' faces turned red with embarrassment. They wanted to push him away but found themselves powerless against Xing Yuan's insistence and could only endure silently.

So, in front of Zhou Ming, Xing Yuan performed a show of fondling. At first, he only touched them over their clothes, but later, whether due to discomfort or intentionally showing off for Zhou Ming, he reached under their clothes.

The skin-to-skin contact, combined with Xing Yuan possibly touching sensitive spots, elicited intoxicating moans from the twins.

Just as the passionate scene was about to heat up, Xing Yuan suddenly stopped and asked Zhou Ming, "How does Advisor Zhou feel? Xiaoyan and Xiaobing are girls from an art school. Though they look like they're only sixteen or seventeen, they are already twenty this year. And as girls who have been practicing dance from a young age, their figures are quite impressive."

"Mr. Xing seems very knowledgeable," Zhou Ming said.

"I wouldn't say very knowledgeable, just experienced," Xing Yuan said. "As I mentioned, I have no other hobbies. I enjoy making money and women. Making money is for having women, and having women motivates me to earn more.

"I particularly enjoy tearing down the high and mighty facade of those artistic women and dominating them physically. You don't know how exhilarating that feeling is!"

Xing Yuan continued, "There was once a vice-director of an art troupe in our unit, someone I had known since childhood. She used to look down on me a lot. Once, before I became successful, she slapped me in public when I accidentally bumped into her. Guess what happened later?" Xing Yuan grinned. "Now, I make her and her daughter spend the night with me. Can you imagine that kind of humiliating thrill?"

The atmosphere in the room grew tense as Zhou Ming listened to Xing Yuan's boastful and crude remarks. The twins, still in Xing Yuan's embrace, appeared increasingly uncomfortable, but they remained silent.

Xing Yuan's demeanor was casual, almost as if he was discussing something trivial, completely oblivious to the discomfort of those around him.