Chapter 1756 - 719: New Year (Part 2)

Chapter 1756: Chapter 719: New Year (Part 2)

Just a little bit, it was off by just a little bit—if Jiang Qingkui really had any experience at all, she would have already ascended on the spot and "enlightened" Zhou Wang to death.

Besides those more official bets, the various little "games" they played every day were countless—things like "Xue Ding’e’s base layer," "damp selfies," and so on.

A thousand‑mile dike collapses in an ant hole.

And that solid, unbreachable heart defense Jiang Qingkui had built from childhood, which had never been broken by any man, had long since become riddled with holes through all the days and nights of pushing and pulling with Zhou Wang.

It was obvious that normally Jiang Qingkui would never take the initiative to bring up these topics, let alone joke about them with Zhou Wang, yet right now she was saying it openly.

"This time, I want to make a bet with myself."

Jiang Qingkui smiled faintly. "I bought the groceries, carefully tidied myself up, even specially picked the kind of outfit you like best..."

"Cough, cough, don’t talk nonsense. My interest in black stockings, high heels, uniforms and stuff like that is, at best, average."

Zhou Wang lied with his eyes wide open.

Jiang Qingkui only slanted him a sidelong glance, didn’t argue the point, and went on: "I didn’t know where you’d go, but the only place I could get into on my own was here, so I chose to come here and wait."

"Of course I understand how low the odds are that things play out the way I imagined. You might not come back here at all, and even if you did, Jiang Mo would be by your side, and my waiting would be meaningless, but..."

Jiang Qingkui paused here. She lowered her lashes, her tone softening.

"I told myself, if—if you really show up alone, if that least likely outcome really happens, then that means it’s arranged by heaven. I... don’t really have any reason left to resist."

The last sentence from Jiang Qingkui was almost a whisper. Even with Zhou Wang’s ears fully pricked, he still couldn’t quite hear.

He immediately panicked.

"Hey, Qingkui, say it clearly. And then? Since I showed up, what would you do?"

Jiang Qingkui didn’t answer. She only looked at Zhou Wang deeply, her expression playful.

"You seem awfully anxious?"

"No shit I’m anxious... You’re the ultimate fantasy from my teen years, my twenties, and my thirties all rolled into one. Now that it looks like that wish is about to come true, how could I not be anxious?"

"Thirties?"

Jiang Qingkui was half exasperated, half amused.

But she still didn’t respond to Zhou Wang head‑on, only said calmly, "Judging from how it looks now, I seem to have won this bet, but then again, maybe... I’ve actually lost even more miserably."

On the last five words, Jiang Qingkui’s voice carried a faint rasp that went straight to Zhou Wang’s heart.

"Alright, hurry up and eat, or the dishes will get cold."

Before Zhou Wang could go fully "beast mode," Jiang Qingkui suddenly tucked away that seductive look, propped her smooth chin on her hand, and jerked it toward the dining table.

This rare girlish posture, appearing on Jiang Qingkui, had a flavor all its own. Zhou Wang felt like this woman was going to drive him insane.

She was especially different today, and especially... soul‑stealing.

But Zhou Wang also realized that, without noticing it, he’d let Jiang Qingkui lead him around by the nose again. He decided to steady himself and regain the initiative, so he cleared his throat lightly and returned to proper composure.

Only, before picking up his chopsticks, Zhou Wang made a seemingly casual suggestion: "Want a drink?"

"Feels like we should have a drink."

Jiang Qingkui nodded thoughtfully, then got up and searched the glass wine cabinet, finally pulling out a bottle of red.

"A 2010 Patus. I’ve heard that vintage is pretty good... We’ll go with this one."

Zhou Wang could only admire Jiang Qingkui’s eye. This Patus vintage wasn’t just "pretty good"—it was exactly why it had the confidence to be hailed as the "king of wine" in Bordeaux... The market price of this bottle started at over fifty thousand, and it was a regular at many small auctions.

But Zhou Wang still acted disgusted. "We’re... just drinking red wine?"

"Yes, just red wine, and only this bottle."

Perhaps recalling something herself, Jiang Qingkui’s face flushed. "Tonight... I’d rather stay clear‑headed."

"...Alright then."

Seeing that Jiang Qingkui wasn’t taking the bait, and still wanting to appreciate her queen posture a bit longer, Zhou Wang could only agree regretfully.

After that, the two of them slipped into casual conversation, as if this really were just an ordinary meal. Jiang Qingkui didn’t bring up work at all, only spoke about some past stories from Jing City. The mood was light and pleasant.

Until, at some point, Jiang Qingkui suddenly raised her glass. Zhou Wang clinked his with hers, and then heard her red lips part:

"Zhou Wang... Happy New Year."

"Hm?"

Zhou Wang didn’t react at first, until he faintly heard some kind of shouting from outside the window. He turned his head and saw that the night sky outside seemed to be briefly lit up.

Above the bustling downtown not far away, a projection swept across the sky like an aurora. Brilliant lights gathered over the city, forming huge numbers: "2025."

...Fireworks and firecrackers were banned year‑round in Beidou, but the Charm of modern technology was displayed just as Perfectly in this ultra‑first‑tier city.

Electronic fireworks, drone shows, massive light displays, artificial snowfall... All kinds of technological methods erupted together in the night sky at 00:00, warming every traveler struggling within it.

Zhou Wang unconsciously walked up to the floor‑to‑ceiling window, quietly admiring the beauty before him.

"It’s the New Year."

"Yeah, it’s the New Year..."

Jiang Qingkui also came to stand beside him, murmuring.

"Qingkui, Happy New Year."

Zhou Wang smiled. "I hope in the past year I haven’t disappointed you, and I hope in the new year you’ll still be by my side."

Jiang Qingkui pressed her lips together in a smile.

Disappointed—how could she possibly be disappointed...

The "three‑year pact" Zhou Wang had promised her had, in fact, been fulfilled in less than a year... Strictly speaking, that had been the first bet between them.

She hadn’t yet realized her original startup dream, but she had, As You Wish, become the helmswoman of a 10‑billion‑scale conglomerate.

It was a goal she had no idea how many years of her own hard work it would take to reach, yet with the support of the young man beside her, she’d achieved it so easily.

She had even already bought an apartment in Magic City.

Looking back on the past year felt like a dream.

"If, at this time last year, someone had told me that on next year’s New Year’s Eve you’d spend it alone with a man, and even cook him a meal of your own accord, I would’ve thought that person was crazy..."

Jiang Qingkui said softly, a strange emotion in her tone.

Zhou Wang froze for a moment, then turned around.

Jiang Qingkui also angled her body slightly. She was already 1.75 meters tall, and with slender high heels on, she stood completely level with Zhou Wang—if he hadn’t grown another two centimeters later, he might have been half a head shorter than her.

And now... they were just about even.

Zhou Wang’s throat bobbed imperceptibly. He subconsciously stepped closer, his gaze gradually fixing on the flush on Jiang Qingkui’s delicate cheek.

Jiang Qingkui didn’t dodge. Instead, her breathing turned briefly a little faster.

But just as Zhou Wang leaned in, about to taste those crystal‑soft, moist lips, Jiang Qingkui suddenly laughed lightly and retreated a step.

Zhou Wang instantly felt a little embarrassed and angry, glaring hard at Jiang Qingkui.

"Mr. Zhou, if you’re too hasty, you can’t eat hot tofu, you know."

Jiang Qingkui lifted her slender fingers, tracing a circle on Zhou Wang’s shirt collar, half‑smiling.

"You... what exactly do you want?"

Zhou Wang felt himself losing control again.

Had this woman secretly gone somewhere for advanced seduction training? How was she so especially alluring today?

"I have a Gift I want to give you."

Jiang Qingkui smiled softly. "It was originally prepared as your birthday Gift, but on this special day, using it as a New Year Gift should be OK too..."

"What Gift?"

Zhou Wang couldn’t wait.

"Mm... try calling me ’big sister’ first, let me hear it?"