Chapter 500: Chapter 35: Dressed to Impress
To deal with Commissioner John from the Royal Research Institute, Zeng Xuerou even rummaged through her wardrobe for several outfits.
"These are all new clothes my mother insisted on buying to expand my wardrobe," thought Xuerou. She felt there was no need to purchase new clothes just to meet someone. Xuerou usually dressed more maturely than her peers, which was useful for driving without a license. Her attire would be appropriate for formal meetings.
Xiao Xian had grown past 1.66 meters, and Xuerou herself was 1.64 meters tall, both with standard figures. Yet, Xuerou appeared more composed and steady compared to Xiao Xian.
After discussing with her mother, when they met Researcher John, they decided to say they were two sisters, Xuerou being the elder. During the meeting, she would handle communication, while Xiao Xian would only need to give a brief explanation on pharmacology.
To match their different temperaments, Mrs. Zeng made deliberate choices in their hairstyles and clothing.
Once everything was prepared, Mrs. Zeng, along with Xiao Xian and Xuerou, hurried to the Wanhe Hotel’s tea lounge.
Meeting in the tea lounge rather than a room was accommodating Commissioner John’s request, to make the encounter seem more casual.
Fortunately, traffic was decent that day. The trio arrived at the hotel’s tea lounge during afternoon tea time around 2 PM.
As a renowned five-star hotel in the city, Wanhe’s tea lounge had a pleasant ambiance, spanning 200 square meters decorated mainly with beige and green tones.
Rows of beige sofas were arranged in a scattered fashion next to floor-to-ceiling windows.
Outside the windows was the hotel’s indoor swimming pool; shimmering blue water where a group of handsome men and pretty women in swimwear were frolicking and splashing around.
Not far from the pool was a specialized beach volleyball court made with white sand brought in from Yudai Beach in Hainan.
No one was playing volleyball on the sand; instead, a few brown-haired foreign children were squatting, playing with small iron shovels and sand pails.
When Mrs. Zeng arrived with Xiao Xian and Xuerou, Commissioner John was already seated in the tea lounge.
In front of him was a mocha cup with a few sips taken. Indeed, John was a typical Englishman with distinguished manners. His blue eyes and brown curly hair, neatly trimmed hair and nails, his beard shaved with meticulous care.
Dressed in a light blue suit over a white shirt, he forewent wearing a tie to keep the atmosphere of the meeting casual; the formal business vibe was slightly relaxed.
As Mrs. Zeng approached, John’s gaze shifted back from the pool. He saw Mrs. Zeng first, then promptly stood up offering a handshake to welcome them.
While his attention seemed to be on Mrs. Zeng, the corner of his eye had already taken in the two young ladies behind her.
The slightly older one, in a beige dress and with a round face framed by medium-length hair, had bright and steady eyes that betrayed a reserved and resolute personality.
The one at the back was younger and a bit taller, wearing a similar dress to the lady in beige. Her long black hair cascade around a melon-seed face; her gaze was elusive, not focused in any particular direction, and her steps were light. At first glance, it was difficult to discern her character and preferences.
However, one thing was sure; these three ladies, each with a distinct age and presence, drew the attention of most people in the tea lounge upon entering. Even guests frolicking by the poolside glanced over, undoubtedly intrigued by the charm of these three women.
"Welcome," with three guests present, John, adhering to etiquette, pulled out the seat for Mrs. Zeng, the most senior among them. Xiao Xian and Xuerou then sat on either side of her.
Surprised to hear John speaking fluent Chinese, Xiao Xian and Xuerou were both taken aback.
Xiao Xian’s English was good but admitted she couldn’t speak a foreign language as naturally as one’s mother tongue, like John could.
"There’s no need to be so astonished. Mr. John was a genius from a young age. He’s fluent in English, French, Spanish, and Chinese," recalled Mrs. Zeng at the dinner table that evening, surprised herself when John had spoken several authentic Chinese wine toasts. From an educational perspective, it was indeed beneficial for Xiao Xian and Xuerou to interact with a person like Commissioner John. "Mr. John, these two are my daughters, Xuerou and Xiao Xian, and they are also the developers of the hangover medicine."
John had asked Huang Tengchong to gather information about Mrs. Zeng and the pharmaceutical factory. However, Huang Tengchong couldn’t find much about Mrs. Zeng’s personal background, only mentioning her being a widow who raised her daughter alone and also being a well-known property developer.