Chapter 34: Presidential Suite
The aftereffects of last night's madness were unmistakably clear at this moment.
Every bump was a form of torture for her.
Gritting her teeth, her face was somewhat pale, and her body was held stiff and upright as she tried not to lean on Jiang Chen.
"Uncomfortable?" Jiang Chen noticed her abnormality and turned his head to ask in a low voice.
Su Qingge shook her head, her gaze fixed on the vast white snowy plains outside the window. "I'm fine."
Just as she finished speaking, the wheels rolled over a deep pothole. The entire car tilted violently to the right.
Su Qingge let out a startled cry, her body falling uncontrollably toward Jiang Chen. Jiang Chen reacted quickly, his right hand grabbing her waist and pulling her steadily into his embrace.
"Why act so tough?" Jiang Chen frowned, applying a bit of strength with his hand to adjust her position so she could lean more comfortably. "Lean on me and sleep for a while. This road still has a long way to go."
Su Qingge's body stiffened for a moment before finally softening.
That familiar masculine scent, with a faint hint of tobacco, enveloped her.
In this enclosed, bumpy space, the scent gave her an inexplicable sense of peace.
She stopped resisting, leaned her head on Jiang Chen's shoulder, and closed her eyes.
In the front, Chen Man happened to see this scene through the rearview mirror.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Chen Man snorted, holding a makeup mirror to touch up her lipstick. "Some people say no on the outside, but their bodies are quite honest. They're even using a human cushion."
Su Qingge's eyelashes fluttered. She didn't open her eyes, but a blush crept onto her cheeks.
Jiang Chen ignored Chen Man's sarcasm and turned to look at Lin Wan on his left.
Lin Wan hadn't spoken at all, just quietly staring out the window. Sensing Jiang Chen's gaze, she turned her head and forced a somewhat strained smile.
"Xiao Jiang, what is it?"
"Sister Wan, are you cold?" Jiang Chen felt that her hand clutching his arm was a bit chilly.
"I'm not cold." Lin Wan shook her head. Her eyes lingered for a moment on where Su Qingge was leaning against Jiang Chen's shoulder before quickly looking away. "I'm just a bit sleepy."
"If you're sleepy, sleep for a bit." Jiang Chen moved his left shoulder, gesturing for her to lean over as well. "My shoulders are wide enough; I'll lend you half."
Lin Wan was stunned.
She looked at the shoulder so close at hand. It was another woman's support, yet now, he was generously sharing half of it with her.
In the front, Chen Man grumbled again, "Oh, I'm sleepy too. How come nobody's lending me a shoulder to lean on?"
"You're in the passenger seat. Isn't the leather seat enough for you to lean on?" Jiang Chen joked with a scolding tone.
Lin Wan couldn't help but smile. The bit of bitterness in her heart seemed to be diluted by his joke. She hesitated for a moment before finally, tentatively, leaning her head over.
A beauty on each side.
Jiang Chen watched the withered trees and snowy scenery receding rapidly outside the window, his heart exceptionally calm.
At this moment, in this bumpy old car on this snowy journey, these three women with vastly different personalities seemed to have reached a subtle balance.
Even if this balance was as fragile as the icicles outside the window, shattering at the slightest touch.
...
At four in the afternoon, the sky was already beginning to darken.
The mud-covered toyota prado finally drove out of the mountains and onto the national highway. The road conditions improved significantly, and the car's speed picked up.
A stretch of lights appeared ahead.
"We're here." Old Zhang spat out his cigarette butt. "Mudan City is just ahead."
The three women in the back seat all woke up.
Su Qingge sat up straight and tidied her somewhat messy hair.
Lin Wan also let go of Jiang Chen's arm, rubbing her hands together in a bit of embarrassment.
"Finally here." Chen Man stretched, her joints cracking. "This trip nearly broke my back. Kid, where are we staying? Let's get this straight—I'm not staying in a guesthouse. I want a five-star hotel with a big bathtub!"
Jiang Chen took out his phone and checked the map.
"The Hilton," Jiang Chen said calmly. "We're heading there now."
Although Mudan City wasn't a provincial capital, it was quite prosperous.
When the car stopped at the entrance of the Hilton's grand lobby, the feeling of returning to civilization made all four of them breathe a sigh of relief. The doorman eagerly opened the car door and helped with the luggage.
As soon as Chen Man got out, she took a deep breath of the city air, tinged with exhaust fumes. "I'm alive! This is the life!"
Jiang Chen paid the fare and gave Old Zhang an extra two hundred yuan for cigarettes.
Old Zhang left happily.
Stepping into the lobby, they were greeted by the warmth of the heater, accompanied by the specific fragrance of a high-end hotel.
The marble floor was polished to a mirror shine, and a massive crystal chandelier cast a soft light.
"Ladies and gentlemen, checking in?" the receptionist asked with a professional smile.
Jiang Chen took out his ID and a black bank card. "One room."
"One room?" The receptionist was stunned. Her eyes swept over the three graceful women behind Jiang Chen, a flash of surprise in her gaze that she quickly concealed. "Sir, we have executive suites, but if the four of you are staying..."
"Presidential suite," Jiang Chen interrupted her. "Is there a vacancy tonight?"
"Yes! We do!" The receptionist's eyes lit up, her attitude instantly becoming more respectful. "Our hotel's presidential suite is on the top floor, with an expansive view and an area of three hundred square meters. It has three independent bedrooms, a private theater, and a jacuzzi..."
"We'll take it."
Swipe card, sign. The actions were smooth and practiced.
Beside him, Su Qingge watched Jiang Chen's fluid movements, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
Once upon a time, this kind of spending was routine for her.
But over the past six months, to save money for her employees' salaries, she had even been frugal with budget hotels.
"Let's go." Jiang Chen held the room card and looked back at them.
The elevator went straight to the top floor.
When the heavy double wooden doors were pushed open, Chen Man let out an exaggerated scream, kicked off her high heels, and rushed inside.
"Wow! This carpet! This sofa! These floor-to-ceiling windows!" Chen Man, like a child seeing the world for the first time, threw herself onto the massive leather sofa and rolled around. "This is the life! Kid, you're the best!"
Lin Wan appeared more reserved. She changed into slippers at the entrance and neatly arranged everyone's luggage.
Su Qingge walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the heavy traffic of the city below, but her brow was still slightly furrowed.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Chen walked up behind her and handed her a bottle of evian water he had just taken from the fridge.
"I'm checking tickets." Su Qingge shook her phone; the screen showed a gray "Suspended" status. "The high-speed rail to the provincial capital hasn't resumed yet. They say that section of the road and bridge is still under repair. The earliest flight isn't until tomorrow night."
Although the five million had been transferred and the situation was temporarily stabilized, there was still a debt of 25 million. While not urgent, if she didn't rush back to take charge soon, there would still be many variables.
"Don't worry." Jiang Chen took a sip of water. "If the train doesn't work, we'll find a car. As long as the roads are open, there's always a way."
"But it's so far, who would be willing to drive?" Su Qingge sighed. "And in this kind of weather."
"Money makes the world go 'round," Jiang Chen smiled. "Let's eat first. We'll have the energy to figure something out once we're full."