Reborn with Consumption System-Chapter 516 - 237: Effortless and Formidable Youth_2

The scoundrel gazed deeply into her eyes and asked softly, "What is it that makes Sister Ting’s heart fantasize yet hold back? Can you tell me?"

Heavens! This little rascal is slaying me!

Guo Qingting’s heart pounded furiously in her chest.

Han Lie’s charm score of 79 wasn’t exactly top-tier handsome.

And Guo Qingting wasn’t the type to obsess over a man’s looks; none of her previous boyfriends had been particularly handsome.

But Han Lie’s most devastating attribute was that his eyes alone were completely maxed out.

They were clear, clean, and mysterious, seemingly capable of conveying deep emotions. Up close, it felt as if there were black holes in the depths of his pupils, tugging at one’s scalp and drawing them inward.

Added to that was his extremely skillful line delivery; his voice, after lowering his larynx, became deep and magnetic. Breath rose from his core, brushing against the edges of his vocal cords. A textured overtone blasted into her eardrums, rampaging inside her skull and making even the tips of her toes tingle.

For women, a man’s voice is the primary trigger for fantasy, with visuals coming second.

The scoundrel’s dishonorable surprise attack, a two-pronged assault, caught Sister Ting completely off guard, and she was utterly defeated. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Her mind filled with strange images conjured by Han Lie—the young man’s shoulders were solid, his body even more so, beads of sweat trickling down his muscles, rolling down, down, down... No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t see an end to it.

What exactly was Sister Ting fantasizing about yet holding herself back from? Regardless of whether her lips admitted it, her heart was honest.

Han Lie saw her timidity, her trembling, her shrinking away, and thought to himself: Sister Ting isn’t all that great after all. So passive. I wonder where all her apprehensions come from.

So he took the initiative again—with a reverse grip, he wrapped an arm around her waist, and with a pull, he settled her onto his lap, facing him.

Then the scoundrel tightened his hold around her waist, gently laid his head on her chest, and stilled.

"You... don’t..."

Guo Qingting was initially flustered. But when she realized Han Lie made no further moves, seemingly just needing an embrace, her impulsive yearning and tender compassion for the young man erupted simultaneously.

...

The next day, when Han Lie left the hotel full of energy, the beautiful Ting actually woke for a moment and sleepily chided, "Little rascal! Come back early!"

Heh, Sister Ting really is different after all...

Han Lie left the hotel and went straight to another banquet.

Today’s meal was arranged by Senior Manager Gao from Citic. Old Zhang had already tipped off a couple of friends at brokerage firms; now, it was their turn to vie for Han Lie’s business.

Old Gao had booked the restaurant three days in advance: a place called Jade Orchid Garden, which served official Sichuan cuisine.

The restaurant was nestled inside a peaceful old western-style building in Jing’an District. It had an inconspicuous and serene façade, but the interior revealed a hidden gem. Great screens, painted with scenes of semi-obscured mountains, forests, and a partially hidden sun, emanated an air of grand yet unpretentious artistry.

Today, Han Lie brought Liang Wu along.

Whether an assistant joins the table at such functions isn’t a hard and fast rule; it depends on status. When dining with a "big brother," his assistant is an honored guest. The assistant of a "little brother," however, can only wait outside.

Now, holding the ABS project, Han Lie was the "big brother."

The banquet itself was unremarkable, but the food at Jade Orchid Garden was truly excellent.

The six-course appetizer selection might not have suited everyone’s palate, but each dish had a distinctive flavor. The rainbow noodles were average, but the Dadao Golden Silk Noodles were outstanding. The Wagyu Mapo Tofu and the premium abalone in its natural juices didn’t taste much like typical Sichuan cuisine, but their flavor was surprisingly fresh.

Han Lie ate to his heart’s content but left immediately after finishing, without giving Old Gao any definite commitment.

At noon, he returned to the hotel to subdue Sister Ting. In the afternoon, he proceeded to a banquet hosted by Guotai Junan.

It was another top-notch restaurant, another meal enjoyed with great delight, and another session of noncommittal responses.

On the way back, Liang Wu tentatively asked, "Boss, other brokerage firms have contacted me. Should we set up a time to meet them?"

"No need," Han Lie waved his hand dismissively.

"Then..." Liang Wu was a bit perplexed. "Why don’t you just agree to Citic or Junan? Aren’t we pressed for time?"

Smart as the young assistant was, she lacked experience in real business negotiations and couldn’t quite grasp Han Lie’s strategy today.

"My merely attending their banquets is giving them enough face," Han Lie explained, intending to cultivate her understanding. "Brokerages are just channels. They’re necessary, but dozens of firms can do the job. This deal isn’t massive, but its appeal lies in its simplicity and being cost-free for them, as the difficult parts are all handled by us. Whoever lands this project stands to effortlessly earn a bonus of over a million. Thinking they can fool me with just one meal and a few pleasantries is underestimating me. I met with two firms in one day to send them a signal. Now, let’s see who shows more sincerity. If things go as expected, they should come to me with new terms tomorrow. I don’t care about this bit of money, but I do care about their attitude. Essentially, this is no different from you putting pressure on the hotel manager."

Liang Wu was sincerely impressed, feeling she had learned something new. "Boss, you’re so commanding!"

Just as Han Lie anticipated, the next day, Senior Manager Gao from Citic, accompanied by a manager from their asset management department, paid him a direct visit. Their sincerity today was much more apparent, and the terms they offered were quite good.

Throughout the day, Han Lie received four groups of visitors at his company but still didn’t commit.

「On the third day」

Finally, someone couldn’t sit still any longer. Late at night, Old Gao went directly to Banyan Tree, bringing a gift box.

"Teacher Han," he said, "the company really can’t lower its terms any further. The company has its reputation to consider, and so do the leaders."