Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

Ding Xingteng first glanced around the room, his eyes landing on Ji Xiong and Shi Huqing. He frowned slightly. These two look like big shots, but... hanging around with Zhao Dong, they can't be anyone important! With that thought, he spoke bluntly, "Zhao Dong, the old man is in the private room next door. He wants you to come over for a couple of drinks, so you should head on over."

Zhao Dong was somewhat surprised. "The old man is next door?"

"Yes, it's his seventieth birthday today. He's celebrating here, and when he heard you were nearby, he asked you to come over."

Zhao Dong's thoughts grew complicated. He remembered dating Ding Lan for three years and the disdainful treatment he had received from her family whenever he visited. Only Ding Jianguo had never looked down on him. In fact, he had been very fond of Zhao Dong, treating him like his own grandson. Unlike Ding Xingteng and Tian Fangmei, Grandpa Ding was a genuinely kind person. Thinking of this, Zhao Dong felt he should indeed go and see him.

"Alright, Uncle Ding, I'll head over in a bit."

Ding Xingteng nodded. Beside him, Shi Huqing spoke up with a frown, "Young Mr. Zhao, who is this person, acting so high and mighty? When asking you to come over, doesn't he know to use the word 'invite'?"

Zhao Dong waved his hand with a smile, indicating that he didn't mind, but the words seemed to have provoked Ding Xingteng. Staring at Shi Huqing, he huffed, "Who I am is not for you to know. Know your place!"

Shi Huqing was amused. In East Sea, he was a man of considerable stature. His close friendship with Ji Xiong alone proved he was much more than a simple hotel owner. His network in East Sea was extensive, and it wasn't just that he had assets over a billion; he could also hold his own in a conversation with various leaders and important figures. This was the first time he had ever been ridiculed so openly.

Immediately, Shi Huqing's expression darkened as he stared at Ding Xingteng. "You're telling me to know my place?"

Ding Xingteng snorted. "Judging by the fact you're with Zhao Dong, I assume you aren't anyone capable. The fact that I'm even speaking to you is a sign of respect! Don't you know your own status?"

Shi Huqing narrowed his eyes. "Now you've made me even more interested. Who exactly might you be?"

"My name is Ding Xingteng!" he announced proudly. "I own Ding's Processing Factory in East Sea! Surely you've heard of it?"

Shi Huqing frowned. He genuinely hadn't. He had at least some knowledge of every notable figure in East Sea. Could it be... this Ding Xingteng actually has some incredible background?

Seeing Shi Huqing fall silent, Ding Xingteng's pride swelled. After all, new money tended to make one arrogant. He pointed at Shi Huqing and said, "I suppose you wouldn't know. Fine, you're not qualified to know anyway. Let me put it this way: my factory's assets are at least five million! Ever heard of Bowen Construction Company? I get my contracts from them! It's my son-in-law's family's company!"

Shi Huqing was taken aback, his expression turning odd. Assets... of five million? To me, five million in assets is nothing! Is this Ding Xingteng trying to be funny? And that Bowen Construction Company... why does it sound so familiar? Right, the owner of Bowen Construction tried to send me a gift through a third party once, but I couldn't be bothered and refused it outright. Could it be... the same one?

Looking at Ding Xingteng, Shi Huqing's brow furrowed deeper. For a moment, he couldn't figure the man out. If you called him impressive, he was just a contractor for Bowen Construction, which amounted to nothing. But if you said he was a nobody, how did he have the guts to talk to Zhao Dong like that? For a moment, Shi Huqing didn't know what to say, worried that Ding Xingteng might have some unusual relationship with Zhao Dong that he didn't want to disrupt. So, he simply pursed his lips and said nothing.

Nearby, Ji Xiong also frowned. Bowen Construction Company... I feel like I've heard that name. I think they're a downstream client of one of my suppliers... Ji Xiong was always very attentive to the affairs of his group, so he was quite familiar with its downstream clients and suppliers. This Bowen Company was indeed a downstream client of one of his suppliers, meaning they held absolutely no sway in his circle. So how can this man be so brazen? For a time, Ji Xiong also couldn't make sense of Ding Xingteng's background.

Seeing that both men had fallen silent, Ding Xingteng assumed they were intimidated. He chuckled and said, "See? I told you. My status is beyond your comprehension. Anyway, I've said enough. Zhao Dong, make sure you come over later!"

With that, Ding Xingteng left and returned to his own private room. Tian Fangmei immediately asked, "Old Ding, where's Zhao Dong?"

As the group looked at him, Ding Xingteng snorted. "Don't even mention him. He's in there drinking with a bunch of shady friends!"

Tian Fangmei curled her lip in disdain. "I knew it. That Zhao Dong hasn't changed one bit over the years. He hasn't made a dime, yet he's pretending to be rich, eating at a place like this. Has he no shame?"

Ding Lan's aunt, Ding Qin, laughed scornfully. "Sister-in-law, you should be thankful our little Lan didn't end up with that what's-his-name Zhao Dong. If they were together, you'd be the ones suffering."

Tian Fangmei beamed. "Xiaoqin, you're so right. By the way, Xiaoqin, I heard your family landed a great contract, worth six or seven million. Don't forget to cut your brother in later!"

Ding Qin laughed proudly. "Sister-in-law, what are you saying? Of course I'd think of my brother if I had a project! To be honest, this contract is from the Dingsheng Group here in East Sea. They outsourced a project to us. We just met with the Dingsheng Group heiress yesterday. She was quite easy to talk to and seemed to have a good impression of us, so the contract is pretty much secured."

Tian Fangmei's face bloomed into a smile. "That's wonderful, just wonderful! When you're feasting, just leave a little soup for us. You and my brother-in-law are truly impressive, managing to get connected with people from the Dingsheng Group. Your brother and I will probably never have the chance to meet people like that in our entire lives. We'll have to rely on you."

Just as she was speaking, the door to the private room was pushed open, and Zhao Dong walked in, holding a bottle of liquor.

All eyes turned to him. When Ding Jianguo saw Zhao Dong, he immediately broke into a wide smile. "Xiaodong! Come, come sit next to Grandpa!"

Ding Jianguo was overjoyed to see him. Zhao Dong smiled back. "Grandpa, it's been too long. I brought a bottle of good liquor for us to try."

On his way over, Zhao Dong had grabbed a bottle from the table in his room—a bottle of Shi Huqing's treasured Moutai, worth over 60,000.

Seeing that Zhao Dong had brought liquor, Ding Jianguo smiled. "Xiaodong, you're too thoughtful. But I'm just an old bag of bones. Good liquor or bad, as long as you're drinking with me, I'm happy!"

Zhao Dong came and sat down next to Ding Jianguo, filling both their glasses. Ding Jianguo glanced at the bottle, his eyes widening in surprise. "And it's Moutai! This must have cost a pretty penny!"

Zhao Dong laughed. "It wasn't that much, Grandpa. As long as you enjoy it."

Just then, Tian Fangmei interjected with a sarcastic tone, "Grandpa, do you really think this Zhao Dong can afford to bring you good liquor? It's probably a fake! How could he have the money to buy Moutai?"

Ding Xingteng added with displeasure, "Zhao Dong, even we can't afford to drink Moutai regularly. Do you really have the money for it, or is this a fake?"

Zhao Dong looked at the family, his eyebrows furrowing slightly. "Uncle, Auntie, I wouldn't stoop to deceiving Grandpa with fake liquor. You're overthinking things."

Tian Fangmei rolled her eyes disdainfully. "Who knows if you would or not. After all, it's not like you can afford the real thing."

Ding Jianguo was now displeased. He barked, "That's enough! All of you, shut up! This is Xiaodong's kind gesture. Real or fake, I'll enjoy drinking it!"

Zhao Dong narrowed his eyes, glanced at Tian Fangmei, then ignored her. He raised his glass to Ding Jianguo with a smile. "Grandpa, a toast to you. How has your health been lately?"

Ding Jianguo downed his glass in one gulp, smacking his lips. "Still the same old story," he laughed. "Just an old bag of bones. I've come to terms with it. We all have to die sooner or later."

"That's not necessarily true. I'll write you a prescription later. If you stick to it, I guarantee you'll live a long and healthy life!"

Ding Jianguo was astonished. "Xiaodong, you know how to write prescriptions now?"

Zhao Dong smiled. "I learned some medical skills in the army. I know a little!"

"That's great!" Ding Jianguo said immediately. "And since little Lan is a doctor, the two of you..."

As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something. He slapped his forehead with a bitter smile and sighed. "Xiaodong, look at me, my memory's going. I almost forgot about you and Lan..."

Zhao Dong just smiled, showing it was all in the past. "It's nothing, Grandpa. Come on, let's drink."

As the two drank, Zhao Dong glanced at Ding Lan. She remained silent, her head slightly bowed, seemingly lost in her own thoughts.

Nearby, Ding Xingteng snorted. "Zhao Dong, I see you've picked up a talent for telling tall tales these past few years. You know medicine now?"

Tian Fangmei also scoffed. "Anyone can claim to be a doctor these days. Zhao Dong, do you even have a medical license?"

Zhao Dong swept his gaze across the room and replied calmly, "Who says you need a license to diagnose an illness? I don't have one, but I can tell that Grandpa's liver has been bothering him recently. Am I right?"

Ding Jianguo froze, stunned. "Xiaodong, how did you know that?"

Zhao Dong gave a faint smile, then turned his indifferent gaze to Tian Fangmei. "And if I'm not mistaken, Auntie Tian, you've been suffering from insomnia lately, frequently waking up in the middle of the night with an urgent need to urinate. Furthermore..."

Zhao Dong took a sip of tea and glanced at Ding Xingteng. "Furthermore, Uncle Ding, you've been feeling a certain... lack of vigor recently, haven't you? A growing fatigue, making it difficult to perform. I'm sure you've received your fair share of sarcastic remarks from Auntie Tian at night because of it."

Ding Xingteng was dumbstruck, his face turning from red to purple, then to black. It was true. He had been feeling powerless lately. Sometimes he couldn't even get an erection, and when he could, it would only last for two or three minutes. He had visited numerous hospitals, seen many doctors, and tried countless remedies, all to no avail. He had endured endless nagging from Tian Fangmei at night because of it, but... how in the world could Zhao Dong know about something so private?

For a moment, a dead silence fell over the dinner table. It was as if Zhao Dong's words had just ripped away their last shred of dignity.